Teddy123

Which deck and cabins are these, please?

The galley fills the centre of Deck B from just forward of the aft lifts to about half way to the mid-ship lifts. The noise isn't continuous, but can occur at any time. I guess it may not disturb some people, but it certainly did my wife and me.

Aurora is great apart from the fact somebody thought it was a good idea to put the galley for the buffet and room service just across the corridor from some of the most expensive cabins on board - so guests there get an assortment of bangs and rattles from the galley 24/7 and disturbed nights.

A bit surprising to see people very upset by the use of the word "perverse" but happy if this is replaced by "illogical" - the two are simply synonyms.

There are so many ways of getting 5% off the advertised P&O price - using the right travel agent, using a cash-back site, having shares such as BT, belonging to a particular employer scheme, etc - that NOT getting it should be the exception!

Just one of each course is enough for me, but two years ago we ate in the Glasshouse on Britannia and I so enjoyed the small number of chips I'd been served that I asked for another helping. The waiter came back and said I couldn't because the chef had refused to cook them! Of course, I complained but still didn't get them. Some time later, a more senior manager came and offered an apology and said he hoped I would dine in the Glasshouse again - I didn't.

There is always a vegetarian option in the Verandah but I don't know if you can order from the general vegetarian menu because we have never thought the Verandah worth the extra cost, to have either it's vegetarian option or the same vegetarian food as in Princes Grill. You seem to equate being vegetarian with being unadventurous; some of us are vegetarian because we think it's the right thing from an ethical viewpoint not because we are fussy or unadventurous.

I can't speak for BC as it's ten years since we dined there, but in the Grills, MOST, but not all, of the tables are for two. They are pretty close so you can build up a rapport with your neighbours, but have the freedom to dine at a time of your own choosing.

 

It works extremely well.

I agree - it certainly works very well for us. We choose Cunard and Grills mainly because of the availability of a dedicated table for two for all meals at a time we select. Of course, for some people sharing a table is part of the cruise experience they enjoy - but since we always go for a table for two, I can't comment on how it works for larger tables, other than to say as I've observed it, people who arrive early start early and others join as and when they get there.

I have not been on Britannia ships however my traveling companion often skips formal nights and has attended theatres in shorts with no issue on a number of ships. He simply ignores the formal dress and continues to enjoy his holiday. You may find a few funny looks from the money class and wannabe/pretend money class on board but other than that no issue.

There are all sorts of ways in which passengers can ignore the conventions/rules, and ignore the impact they have on the overall ambience - and therefore on their fellow passengers - and just do what they want. This selfishness can manifest itself from embarkation right through to disembarkation, and cover most things in between. If people want to take the attitude "it's my holiday, I'll do what I want" without considering others, there's little that can be done about it - other than what I do, which is choose a line where such behaviour is minimised.

I have never had room service on any ship. Do many people order to the cabin? Can't think of anything worse than eating in my bedroom, unless I'm ill!

It's eating on the balcony that can be attractive - but not so much now!

If people who arrive early don't want to board early, then waiting in a comfortable area for their allocated time will be OK. If, however, they arrive early to get on early, then they should respect everybody else, stick to the rules (by all means lobby to get them changed) and stop being selfish.

Lots of people here are arguing people want to arrive early but don't want to board early. Surely the answer is to provide them with somewhere comfortable to wait but not allow them to start any part of the embarkation process until (almost) their allocated time. If they don't want to board early, they won't mind this and they won't put any extra pressure on the staff or impact passengers who are arriving on time for an allocated time that is earlier than the early-arrivers have, so everybody is happy!

Thank you. That is not good. I would not be happy if I followed the rules and P&O did not keep to the agreement.

But I defy anybody to name any process that involves hundreds of thousands of people every year and never ever goes a bit wrong. Of course there will be some people who have to wait, but the real question is how often it happens, not whether it ever happens. Now, no doubt, there will be a flood of people here saying how much they have had to wait, but these boards aren't representative enough to either prove or disprove any assertion about the quality of the process. (And if I ever fail to get onboard reasonably soon after my allocated time, I reserve the right to be annoyed!).

I don't think arriving an hour early is trying to jump the queue at all.

 

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As long as you accept that as a consequence you have to wait an hour (inside), it isn't. If you think you should then board before your allocated time, it obviously is.

We were quite happy to wait inside the terminal for 30 to 40 minutes not outside in the wind. we had already driven down the day before as we have a 5 and a half hour journey down. Stayed over night in Winchester and arrived an hour early as we weren't sure of the road conditions. we normally have to wait in the CPS queue but this time we were processed quickly. Its difficult judging times when you've a long journey to make and we would always try and get there a bit sooner rather than on the dot/late. I'm not advocating arriving at a ridiculously early time trying to jump the queue so to speak .

OK - I see your point about being outside.

Just back from the Britannia and embarkation was diabolical. The worst we have experienced. We were allocated a 2.30pm slot. Arrived at the port in the CPS car queue approx. 1.30pm. We were processed really quickly proceeding to the cruise terminal to be met by a huge queue of very annoyed, cold, freezing passengers waiting outside in the wind. We had to wait outside for about 30 to 40 mins. Boy was it cold! We eventually got to the top of the escalator to be asked if we were on a coach? When we showed our E tickets we were fast tracked through which was literally minutes. Some people after us were an hour or so early and were told in no uncertain terms to go and wait until it was their boarding time. Not happy bunnies!

So you were asked to arrive at 2.30 but instead arrived at 1.30 and then had to wait 30 minutes. The time to moan is when you arrive on time and then have to wait.

We travel in Princess Grill whenever the itinerary is right (P&O usually otherwise) and find having a dedicated table for dinner etc, is great - as is the food and service usually. But the worst food I have ever been served on a ship was in Princess Grill on QM2 - a piece of battered fish for lunch that was stone cold. I should have sent it back, but for various reasons, soldiered on.

Superior Deluxe Cabins get a free bathrobe. At least they did last time we were onboard, and according to the P&O website still do - but that still says suites have an iron and they were removed from all cabins in January!

My strategy, which I think has given me the best deal all round the world, is: a) get a card (usually a debit card) that doesn't impose a surcharge for foreign cash withdrawals; b) before leaving home, get just enough in foreign exchange for immediate use - onboard rates are usually terrible; c) once abroad, get cash using the card in an ATM. Mainly, though, I pay everything I can with a credit card that also doesn't impose a surcharge for foreign transactions.

It also matches my time for Aurora in a few weeks. The message from P&O is clear - pay for the most expensive non-suite cabin (Deluxe Balcony on B Deck) and get a boarding time later than everybody else!

People who are exposed to Norway's claim that "it's OK to hunt minke whales" should understand that the rest of the world (except Iceland and Japan, because they do the same thing) condemns it - see, for example, https://eia-international.org/whale-advocates-condemn-start-norwegian-whale-hunt. 90% of the whales killed are pregnant.

A simple answer to the original question: yes. Perfect? of course not. Fit for purpose? yes.

But that's often what happens when auto grats are put on the bill.

But they are also added automatically on Cunard so the mere presence of auto gratuities can't explain any differences.

gentlemen will often dine in jackets on non-formal nights.

Wearing a jacket on non-formal nights is part of the Cunard dress code, so isn't really optional (a tie is). P&O dress code does not require a jacket or tie for non-formal nights, although one occasionally sees them.

The big difference is the availability of Grills cabins/staterooms/suites on Cunard. We like to travel in Grills and have our own, dedicated table so that we can go for breakfast/lunch/dinner whenever we like and know we will get the same table (always asked for a table for 2 and always got one so far). On P&O there is no such option and if you want a table for 2 for dinner with Freedom Dining it's usually a case of queue for 30 minutes before the dining room opens, or eat 90 minutes after it opens - nothing in between (and with fixed dining, a table for 2 is scarce). Grills also get a separate lounge and deck area.

Some see this either as a disadvantage or an irrelevance, but having the option is the big difference. I know this thread is not about itineraries, but they are the only reason we now go with P&O - we only sail with P&O if Cunard don't go there.

With service like that I hope you removed the service charge

 

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Which of the staff who benefit from the service charge do you think were responsible then, and so needed to be "punished"?