Not Cruised With P & O For Many Years

Having racked up 18 P & O cruises from 2000 to 2011 we decided to have a break from cruising. Recently we tried a Thomson Cruise which we enjoyed but it was very different from what we were used to with P & O. As we are looking to reconnect with P & O we wondered if there have been many changes over the past 7/8 years. What we enjoyed most about P & O was the formal nights giving us the chance to dress up (kilt outfit for me and nice long evening dress for Mrs T), the resident classical musician doing 5 or 6 recitals per 2 week cruise, the after dinner speakers, the day time special interest lectures during the day, the Syndicate Quiz in the evening and decent evening entertainment. Some of these had started to disappear from some cruises towards the end of the times we cruised with P & O so we would be obliged if anyone could update us on the current ways on P & O ships.

Thanks

I should say things are organised much as you have previously experienced. The main differences are the size of the ships increasing. To some extent the passengers are different insofar as technology has moved on and mobile phones, lap tops and internet seem to be a bigger part of passengers lifestyle. I should avoid cruise ship photographer photos which now seem to be displayed more on tv modules instead of a wall of photographs. You should also avoid the cruise ship "personalised" DVD where they do standard stock scenes and intersperse them with specific scenes which feature you and your party. These in extreme cases have included others weddings edited in, in error - overall very expensive. "Freedom" dining has got more popular with people eating evening meals at random times instead of first/second sitting.

Regards John

I would personally say you will notice a vast difference in P&O from 7/8 yrs ago and not all for the good. We used to do 3 cruises a year with P&O and have done nearly 30 since our first cruise on one of Aurora's maiden voyages in 2000 currently our last cruise on P&O was 2016 but we havent stopped cruising.

Hi...yes a few changes. P&O's version of Silver Service has now gone completely...meals come ready plated. There doesn't seem to be the same port lectures in the theatre. I have noticed that ladies on formal nights don't wear " ball gown" dresses quite as much....more cocktail style dresses although your wife will not be out of place if she decides to wear one and you will look perfectly fine in your kilt. Pre dinner nibbles seem to have disappeared from some bars. The walk around the galley hasn't happened on our last couple of cruises. No " sweeties" in the cabin although biscuits and chocolate are still left. And as John said a lot more are choosing Freedom dining in place of !st and 2nd sitting.

Lots of changes, some good but most have cheapened the product.

There are still formal nights and they are still well subscribed so you can take your kilt and fit right in.

Classical music is now the luck of the draw depending on the cruise director. Sometimes you get musicians and they are excellent and sometimes you dont get any at all. Most recitals, when available, are through the day.

It’s the same with after dinner speakers. They are now as rare as hens teeth. There are still good daytime speakers.

The plus points are more availability of freedom dining and (extra charge) very good speciality restaurants to choose from. The Glass House is also nice for casual dining and tapas.

Newer ships like Brittania also offer the Limelight club with (pay for) Cabernet style entertainment and interesting cookery classes. (The balcony cabins are however like tiny window boxes with little to no room).

Room sevice now comes with a charge for everything but breakfast. The tips have increased a lot from when you were last onboard.

Embarkation now has specific time slots and you can be very late in the day getting onboard, depending on the cabin you are in.

The food in the MDR is not as good as it was but that is just my opinion nor is the buffet. Cruise prices are however lower than they were so with the saving on the cruise price you can upgrade your experience by booking the extra pay restaurants.

The demographic of the cruises is also younger than it was on some voyages.

You will still enjoy a great cruise but it has changed a lot.

The Syndicate Quiz still takes place each evening on all the P and O ships as far as I am aware :)

They have also abolished ‘semi-formal’ nights. Only the two dress codes now, not three.

No band at sailaway at Southampton.

Sent from my iPad using Forums