themanwithahat

Hi. We are considering a family cruise (11 of us) probably in July 2016 - a 12 or 14 night to the Canaries or the Med - out of the school holidays, Ventura or Azura.

One of our number is worried about there being too many children running about on those ships which are advertised for families. I've been on Ventura twice, Azura once, all three times in the school holidays and hardly ever saw any children.

Outside of the school holidays and with the slightly longer cruise, it may be quieter I'd think ? Can anyone confirm this (or otherwise ?)

TIA

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My Parents will be sailing on Saturday on brittania to the fjords. They want to keep in touch with us. What's the best way .using a mobile, using there iPad and paying for wifi onboard.or does p&o still have the facility to use the free community webpage on p&o webpage?

I think the Wifi is ropey. You may be better off going into town and finding a cafe that does Wifi or similar :)

iPad and Mobiles (assuming a smart mobile) are pretty much the same thing, it's just a matter of size. (iPhone = large iPad basically !) Any reasonably new iPhone or Android phone (samsung sony et al) will do (or Blackberry/Windows phone).

2 chat options basically : install them before you go - Skype which has video calling and Messenger which is text only (though you can send pictures). We've just been to Egypt on an AI and the hotel was nice though the Wifi was pretty ropey and Skype worked well enough. Practice before you go if your folks aren't very tech-savvy.

You can also use text messages ; some carriers have pretty good text rates for non UK texts/calls, some are appalling.

If your folks have an unlocked phone you could buy an international SIM card which might be useable as well. Most phones you buy from the usual shops are locked (e.g. they accept O2 Sim cards and nobody else's) though they usually will unlock them if you ask nicely.

Select also gives you choice of dining sitting and table. I think you can switch the free parking to be OBC as well.

With regards to shuttles there is a file PO_Shuttle_information.pdf which has a list of all ports, whether a shuttle is available/needed and where it is chargeable. We went on Azura last October on a saver and had buses free at Bilbao, La Rochelle and Brest (don't know about Cherbourg). They seem to be free if it isn't reasonably practical to do it any other way.

It says, for N526 ports (do not know how current it is !)

Vigo - none

Lisbon - available, chargeable

Lanzarote - available , chargeable

Gran Canaria - none

Tenerife - available

Madeira - available, chargeable

La Coruna - none

You can ask here or at whatsinport.com about the availability of transport at Madeira, Lanzarote and Lisbon.

Ventura is great. We've been on it twice and its twin Azura all three times in the school holidays. Hardly ever seen any children - you see them at meal times and shows sometimes but there aren't hordes of them running about all day IME anyway ! Seems like the kids clubs keep them busy (never used them).

L8R: We are not pool and sunlounger hounds so it may be different there ?

Yes. They can split up fours in theory.

We went on a saver on Azura, the four of us as two linked bookings. The P&O lady (and people here) said it was highly likely we would have a table together at the same time and place (possibly with someone else) because they try their best to arrange that. but that it wasn't *guaranteed* and we had no control over what time/type of dining (she also pointed out we could use the buffet, and if we ate in the speciality restaurants every night we'd still be ahead financially....) - we got a table for 4. I suspect 9 times out of 10 we would. But I can see 12 is optimistic.

For the cheap fares, you get the leftover choices, and that's fine by me normally. (Sometimes it's worth it, we stayed in an AI hotel a couple of years ago in Cyprus for £400pp inc flights. I reckoned it was so cheap we could eat out all the time and still be ahead. It was actually decent...)

I think everyone is right, to sit together (especially) we need select fares, thanks to all who responded.

Hi. We are considering a Fred Cruise.

My son (who is 18 and not bothered about children's activities, the "style" won't bother him) is a bit of a fussy eater, he's not to keen on exotic food - when we were on P&O this didn't matter because their menu (almost) always had steak & chips sorts of food available, the same every day.

Is there a similar kind of thing on Fred Olsen ? Are there alternative eateries (like the shipboard grill on P&O) or small meals on room service ?

From what I've seen of the menus it looks like there is a decent choice.

He doesn't make a big fuss about it or anything, but I would him to enjoy dinnertime.

All opinions/advice welcome :)

Hello

 

Just a few questions if I may, I know you can take wine to drink in your cabin but how much can you take? I was thinking of packing a couple of wine boxes in our luggage rather than heavy and breakable bottles, would this be ok?

 

Also I can only drink caffeine free coke as I get problems with too much caffeine. Would I be allowed to bring some cans on myself or do they serve it onboard?

 

The answer to your drinks question is verging on, as much as you can physically fit in your cabin. Son drinks a lot of coke and last time we took 36 cans on with us :)

There are I think restrictions if they think you have an absolutely absurd amount more to manage drunken behaviour than booze costs. P&O drinks costs are much the same as an English pub, it doesn't seem to be a profit centre for P&O.

You can't take it into the restaurants though, without paying a charge. They may (guess !) make an exception if there is a medical reason and they do not have caffeine-free coke.

L8R: There are weight limitations if you are flying into your cruise. We did one of the first Genoa<->Venice fly cruises and whilst it was well organised, there isn't a great deal of opportunity to nip to a Genoese supermarket to get drinks.

We are considering a 'family cruise' next year which will probably be 11-12 people.

Q1: Is there any issue with the dining rooms having this many people who want to sit together ? Primarily, I would think, fixed dining at night, breakfast/lunch would be difficult, perhaps ?

Q2: Is this feasible on saver fares ? We have had no problems with two bookings linked together for dining, what are our chances with 5 or 6 linked together ?

Thanks for anyone who has any knowledge and/or experience.

Yep, about 20 minutes or so. Led off the plane onto a bus, no baggage collection or anything. A gentle wander through the (not particularly attractive) backstreets of Genoa on a coach.

I feel RCCL is a family ship w/ great entertainment and lots to do (read your compass - my brother didn't ), I really haven't seen people misbehaving b/c of drinking. Go on one of the bigger ships if possible, just more to do. Sorry, I can't compare, which ship are you considering?

Independence of the Seas.

Hi. We're considering trying RCI - perhaps one of the three day short cruises that are on sale for May from Southampton.

We've been on P&O and Cunard and enjoyed both. I get the impression RCI is very "American styled" - is this right ? This wouldn't bother us as we like Orlando (for example).

Are the cruise lines really that different ? There seems to be lots more activities going on on RCI, and lots more things to spend money on :)

Are the three night cruises likely to be booze cruise types ? I heard the same about the first cruise we did (P+O 4 nighter) but there was no sign of such at all.

Thanks for any advice you may be able to give.

Man-with-a-hat

It's probably a couple of hours .... quite a long way.

At the risk of being flamed I think yes - you should give it up if you are leaving for an hour.

 

Other lines manage it well with deck or pool boys who leave cards on empty sunbeds and if they are not claimed within 30 mins, everything is removed and the sunbed freed up.

What a brilliant idea.

We are taking our grandson on this ship...should I be concerned? Hopefully, this review was an exaggeration?

I don't know about this ship per se. My opinion is that all you can get from cruise reviews is a general outline from reading a significant sample of them.

Some of the ones I've been on are ridiculously nit picking, and some of them I cannot believe were written by people on the cruise (or are lying, or are written by people who work for other cruise lines).

For example, someone once wrote of a P&O Cruise I was on that "the MDR was like school dinners" (para.) ; in which case they must have gone to a very expensive school. I'm pretty sure when I was at school we never had steak or lobster .... or waiter service ...

If review after review after review brings up the same points they may have some validity.

You will get a far better balanced view, IMO, by reading these forums about your choice, and asking questions.

Read the reviews, certainly, but look for those who've written more than "this was all brilliant" (no thought) "this was xxxx because (followed by a rant)" (bone to pick). You'll find odd measured reviews written by people who've taken some time over it (I hope the 2 or 3 I've written are like this).

My sister who has been on four different lines (including Celebrity), all at about the same sort of price, reckons there isn't a fag paper between them. Some are better at things than others, but there's usually counterbalances. Some attract a different clientele (e.g. MSC, Disney, Fred Olsen, CMV).

If these ships were as bad as some reviews suggest, this forum would be empty, because no-one would go on Celebrity twice, would they ?

Maybe slightly extreme.

Only slightly. It's malicious selfishness, I can't abide it. People can accidentally do something selfish or thoughtless, I do sometimes, but these people know exactly what they are doing.

Yes, we've seen that a few times and also reserving two for the sunscreen football and two in the sun etc. These issues are fairly easy to sort out if P&O wanted to. More difficult is the family or large group who reserve a bed for every person in their group but half of the never get used or the person leaving a single on either side of them in order to give themselves some space. You can't easily eradicate selfishness like that.

Of course you can.

Do not forget to charge them for the usage of cartridge.

I would say 10/15 minutes !

Yes. Long enough to go get a drink, or a snack, or a loo break. Bring it on. I'd personally keel haul those who hoard them for days

"Well, I looked at the picture in the brochure in 1997, so that entitles me to leave my towel here until the ship is broken up for rust".

Top of the rock of Gibraltar.

 

You can always say then that it was the altitude went to your head on bad days,:( and on good days you can always say that your marriage will last as long as the rock stands firm.:D

If she says no you can push her off.

Hi all booked our first p and o cruise yesterday on Oceana 2nd sept ,we had a good price for a mini suite c2grade saver fare at our local ta.How long will it be before we know our flights ,dining arrangements and cabin number etc, we have cruised 5 times before with thomson and decided to have a change.any advice tips etc gratefully received thanks in advance

Cabin ; you should know your grade, but the actual cabin, IME 2 weeks before hand, though it does vary.

Flights ; don't know but these are non-P&O so would imagine a fair time in advance.

Dining Arrangements ; card on your bed when you board.

First three cruises I just wore my normal dark jacket and everyday shoes - though I did have a proper shirt and a bow tie. Full dress isn't mandatory as long as you are smart.

Aside from the buffet, you could also try the speciality restaurant(s) on some or all of the formal days.

These have the same dress code as the normal MDR (I think). If you want to wear t-shirt and jeans , the buffet is your only option (or room service ?)

 

Why oh why do P&O think that the whole British public is obsessed with Come Dancing, soccer, soaps and now baking?

I absolutely hate all three. Talk about stereo typing. :mad:

 

Quite frankly they are starting to make me thik that perhaps my next cruise will be with another company. Incidentally in the past we have met a very nice family from the U.S. and another from Canada on P&O ships but other than the odd individual from other countries the vast majority of passengers were from the U.K.

?? Ballroom dancing has been on cruises since the dawn of time (the Strictly Cruises are specifically marked). Some football matches are on in a bar, nobody watches Soaps at all. I think Britannia has a cookery school (?not sure) but it's hardly obssessed with baking.

Hi All

 

so question is P&O just to British.

 

yours Shogun

How British is too British ? I think the main difference is most people you meet will be from the UK. Virtually everyone we spoke to was UK based.

Food varies a fair bit, but is still British influenced, as is the Entertainment. The most comically British bit is the Sailaway which is great fun and a bit, well a lot bonkers. But very British :)

Here http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2025644 I uploaded a week's "Onboard magazines" and menus (speciality and daily restaurants) - two files. It will give you some idea of what goes on and obviously what the food is like.

Note that this included I think only one pure sea day. If your cruise involves a lot more sea days the Horizons will likely be different.

I am from Australia and traveling on Oceana in April. all Carnival, Princess and P&O Australian based ships have the tips built into the price. Like our English cousins, we don't really do tips in this

part of the world, and therefor the majority of the ships are catering for it. I really think P&O Uk should consider the same, I would rather pay up front then be in for a rude surprise when I get the bill!

It's about getting the base advertised prices as low as possible "from £xxx". From a competitive PoV people can be a bit thick and not compare the 'total package'.