Harry Peterson

Controversial here, perhaps, but I agree with all of that. As a generalisation only of course, with many, many exceptions.

An excellent summary of the position P&O is in now. It’s seen by Carnival as the most profitable route, and I’m sure they know exactly what they’re doing. Their track record is one of success. This put me in mind of Ryanair, which was a full fat airline, making losses, until Michael O’Leary came on the scene in the late 1980s and transformed it, bit by bit, into the money making machine that it is now. Those early passengers during the crossover period must have felt the way many longer term P&O customers feel now, but times change and people adjust expectations. I do wonder what would happen if a younger Michael O’Leary became CEO of P&O or Carnival.

That’s a pretty astounding post when you read the detail - and outrageously bad behaviour. Speaking personally, I’d welcome more young people on cruise ships because they tend to have more open minds and make better conversationalists. Not a rule, of course, but just what we’ve found. Age itself is no barrier though, but it does depend on attitudes not being blocked by years of moaning about young people. The same young people that are paying for our pensions and healthcare! Your family sounds delightful, and most young people will be the same. It’s not young people that cause the problems - it’s unruly louts, and they come in all sizes and ages!

Maybe she’d been reading this thread and was worried for her mother’s reputation?😇

Class has very little relevance today. As others have said, it’s not about supposed class - it’s all about socialisation, behaviour and awareness of others. These people would claim to be from the upper echelons: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullingdon_Club But I’d wager nobody here would want them anywhere near a cruise ship.

That’s a very fair point. Minimal effort required by the P&O IT team, but what a payoff in terms of customer goodwill. The ones I like are the letters which start by referring to me as one of their most valuable customers - when I’ve bought nothing from them for years.

Opinions will vary, but a lot of us use one particular specialist cruise agent. No High Street branches but an excellent reputation and you may be able to negotiate a small additional discount with them. You need to sign up with them first (no charge or commitment). Not able to name names or give clues I’m afraid.

As a fellow tractor boy (in exile) I agree. The staff are great and do their very best - but you can't win against the company accountants, constantly shaving away at every penny they can cut out. They'll fill their ships, sure, but what was a luxury holiday is now a commodity, and commodities don't carry premium prices. I think we're already seeing this in the price war that's currently going on, with prices as low as £50pppn again. Cruises aren't the only holidays either.

Possible with P&O Cruises too, Zap. Quiet word with the butler and an appropriate tip…..

We agree yet again, Mrs Goggins. Buffets are not part of the cruise experience we’re looking for. Nothing wrong with the food - just everything else! The old style P&O MDR experience suited us well enough, with good company, good service and good food. No complaints at all. Occasional dinners in the Epicurean were also a treat. Buffet breakfasts in hotels are one thing, but not lunches and dinners. For us, anyway.

Perhaps we just have different expectations. Let’s just agree to differ on our respective views of the present day P&O.

Good service and good food in pleasant surroundings isn’t old fashioned, and it’s readily available in many places. It was on P&O too once, and not necessarily with silver service, which died out on P&O many years ago.

I’m not sure that elegant dining is a ‘thing’ these days. It was one of the big attractions for us with the old P&O, but it’s not, I think, what the P&O target market wants.

Beautiful place - one of our best holidays ever, and so relaxing. Not to mention the gelati of course!

I suspect we’d all have different recommendations because there are so many types of air fryer, but this might be a good starting point to help decide which sort would suit you best: https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/review/best-air-fryers

You can’t go, can you Brian - though it has to be comedy gold, properly played, so I’d be sorely tempted. Jane’s got the best idea, but how about a face mask to the groin area and a plea of insanity?

LOVE that one, Jane! Did you get that a lot in your practice?

That’s very kind of you - best spend it on the hair and nails!

Well done! That’s a bargain in anyone’s book. Delighted that someone on these forums benefited.

It’s looking very much as if the old days of cheaper late deals has returned, for whatever reason. Dynamic pricing and consequent very low prices on early bookings took over for a few years, and it was extremely difficult to better those prices, but maybe there aren’t enough people prepared to book that far ahead now to make higher prices after that stick.

Morning everyone. This is for Jean @jeanlyon really: Salcombe: What's it like living in the UK's most expensive seaside town? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-65206098

Just a heads up really, in case anyone’s interested. There really are quite a lot of incredibly cheap deals available at the moment, with insides at below the £50 pppn mark. Not for everyone, but an absolute bargain for some!

Excellent points - but they never, ever, go down well in these forums for obvious reasons! The old, old story is always the same - they’re earning more than they would in their home countries. Morality never comes into the equation.

I noticed this on another forum: Arvia Mediterranean 14 nights Departure Southampton 16 Apr 2023 Arrival Southampton 30 Apr 2023 Stateroom Inside stateroom PF, GUAR Fare Saver Total price for 2 £1080 Quite some price £540, even for an inside! Not selling too well? Wrong demographic?

Sometimes, one has to accept that one's demographic no longer fits........Club 18-30 kicked me out when I got my bus pass! 🙂