Ventura - Just back this morning from Caribbean

[cruisebore]

Actually the people who like her most belong to the:-

 

ovappsoc.co.UK.

 

 

They all love Ventura.

 

 

Gan canny

 

Dai

 

 

Dai

You will have to come up with something better than that, or P&O may think about sacking you as their spokesperson

:rolleyes:

 

Cb

[Gerrym]

dai

you will have to come up with something better than that, or p&o may think about sacking you as their spokesperson

:rolleyes:

 

Cb

 

 

lol !

 

 

:)

[daiB]

Dai

You will have to come up with something better than that, or P&O may think about sacking you as their spokesperson

:rolleyes:

 

Cb

 

 

With the amount of money I spend.

 

 

No chance.

 

Ventura will do for me I don't use sunbeds or the enteryainment. The casino is fine by me.

 

 

BTW OV cruisers do like Ventura ......look at their section of this site.

 

 

Gan canny

 

 

 

Dai

[andyc567]

This Class of ship designed for Princess cruises, originally only carried 2500 pax. Then the bean counters got to work and they stuck another deck of cabins on all the new builds. However the public areas and facilities remained the same as for the 2500 pax build. No wonder there are problems.

It won't be long before you have to pay to hire your sun loungers, but at least this may stop those who like to have one in the shade as well as one in the sun

 

Cb

 

That would make sense, 2500 passengers and she may well cope..

 

I think that there are deffo issues with public spaces, especially the decks on sea days.

 

Lets all blame the bean counters !!

[MattyBarlow]

Ventura certainly has more soul than Azura. Just as the OV ships generally had more soul than the P&O ones. I'm booked on Ventura in November as she really is not that much different from what OV used to offer.

[A UKCRUISER]

We got back from Ventura 26th Feb, never had a problem with sun beds there was only 4 sea days so just got up to pool area early and got our beds by the pool each time. Entertainment was ok fogwell flax was good and they had a couple of tribute acts which we also enjoyed, hughie Taylor has worked for the company for 31 years so p@o must rate him. Yes it's a busy ship but we always found a bar where we could sit and have a drink.

We also prefer smaller ships but would and will sail on ventura again.

By the way I,m told that the circqe trapesy Thingy is being removed to make way for more sunbeds so this should help.

Happy sailing

 

Bill@karen

[cruisebore]

By the way I,m told that the circqe trapesy Thingy is being removed to make way for more sunbeds so this should help.

Happy sailing

 

Bill@karen

 

 

Will they be providing oxygen stations on the way up?

I believe the air is a little rare at that height/altitude ;):D

 

Cb

[daiB]

Will they be providing oxygen stations on the way up?

I believe the air is a little rare at that height/altitude ;):D

 

Cb

 

 

Nearer the sun .................better sun tan:D

 

 

:)Happy Cruising:)

 

 

 

:cool:

 

Dai

[jeanlyon]

Good Lord, sounds just like Azura. exactly the same. too crowded. Sunbeds like sardines in a can. We also had Martin Daniels, reasonable and Flogwell Fax - useless. Never again for us on a ship like that. The noise from the Seascreen all day was enough to send anyone running for a chair right at the top of the ship. CD was absolutely awful. Did we enjoy our holiday - yes, because we wouldn't let anything stop us, but for us a much smaller ship in future, although we are on arcadia in August.

[kevinyork]

Nearer the sun .................better sun tan:D

 

 

:)Happy Cruising:)

 

 

 

:cool:

 

Dai

 

Long way for the Bar Stewards to walk with your drinks :D Its way too dangerous sunbathing all day and not keeping your liquid (Stella) intake up.

 

Think the Cirque thing was a gimmick anyway and without it then Ventura has exactly the same kids facilities as Azura so its gonna be even harder to differentiate between the two.

[cruisebore]

If you are looking for a bargain then possibly Azura will be the best bet. The older, and the more sophisticated cruiser having tried her, will in general will not be boarding her again. Now Ventura is a different kettle of fish as she appeals to the football shirt Karaoke crowd who love her and will continue to book in their droves.

So if you are slim enough to fit on the new narrow sunbeds, slightly hard of hearing so as not to be bothered by the sea screen and the moaners; memory not as good as it used to be so you can't remember the acts on your last cruise. Azura could well be the ship for you. ;):D:D

 

Cb

[Single Cruiser]

Leanne Taylor on Azura was useless. Couldn't even pronounce Azura correctly, kept saying Azora. I haven't come across a decent P&O one. Joff Eaton of RCI is superb and almost a celeb on the ships due to the great job he does.

 

Yep good old Mr Fawlty. I mean Joff was great! A CD you'd pick a ship because he was on it!

[MattyBarlow]

A CD you'd pick a ship because he was on it!

 

 

 

 

Have to agree with you there Craig. I would be disappointed if i returned to IOS and he was not CD.

[wilson2579]

We got back from Ventura 26th Feb, never had a problem with sun beds there was only 4 sea days so just got up to pool area early and got our beds by the pool each time. Entertainment was ok fogwell flax was good and they had a couple of tribute acts which we also enjoyed, hughie Taylor has worked for the company for 31 years so p@o must rate him. Yes it's a busy ship but we always found a bar where we could sit and have a drink.

We also prefer smaller ships but would and will sail on ventura again.

By the way I,m told that the circqe trapesy Thingy is being removed to make way for more sunbeds so this should help.

Happy sailing

 

Bill@karen

Hi Bill and Karen, Did you book your sunbeds and come back later or were you able to get them when needed. The sunbed thing is my pet hate when we go on land holidays, just don't like having to be up at the crack of dawn for a sunbed and always feel guilty about leaving a towel on them. We don't need to be around the pool so anywhere will do. We are off on Ventura in 4 weeks time (school easter hols) so will be busy.

Trish

[sticks52]

Two comments..

 

1) Very nice large ship, excellent food etc.

 

2) Far to many people, have to queue for everything, tables at breakfast, lifts, entry/exit from ship, theatre etc.

 

And the sunbed situation, well what can I say other than no chance on sea days, and is nothing done about towels and books being used to reserve sunbeds for hours on end.

 

On the whole, a excellent cruise, but a smaller ship with fewer people for us next time.

i agree with you we are just back from 2 weeks on ventura we had looked forward to this ship thinking it was the answer to our perfect cruise having been on navigator of the seas which we thought a bit pricey with the 15% on top of each drink and all that. But the entertainment was rubbish on ventura for the whole fortnight i would say maybe 4 good night entertainment the only time you saw the entertainment team was on the sailaway party or for avery quick quizz which you could see they were not interested in doing on the navigator there was plenty sunbeds and the entertainment was much much better as was the food the buffet on ventura was a joke it was more a cattle market the ship was lovely but very badly designed in my opinion after reading the forums i think we might try a smaller p & o ship if no joy go somewhere else

[andyc567]

i agree with you we are just back from 2 weeks on ventura we had looked forward to this ship thinking it was the answer to our perfect cruise having been on navigator of the seas which we thought a bit pricey with the 15% on top of each drink and all that. But the entertainment was rubbish on ventura for the whole fortnight i would say maybe 4 good night entertainment the only time you saw the entertainment team was on the sailaway party or for avery quick quizz which you could see they were not interested in doing on the navigator there was plenty sunbeds and the entertainment was much much better as was the food the buffet on ventura was a joke it was more a cattle market the ship was lovely but very badly designed in my opinion after reading the forums i think we might try a smaller p & o ship if no joy go somewhere else

 

Snap, Exactly what we thought !!!

 

Ventura has far to many passengers and the public area's can't cope.

 

We have been on both Costa Victoria (1900 passengers) and Costa Atlantica (2100 passengers) and both are far better, no problems at all.

I think both Costa ships are a little smaller (80,000 tons'ish) and have slightly smaller public area's (not a lot) so the reduced passenger count is far better catered for.

 

Deffo a smaller ship next time, maybe P&O again..

[rumchaser]

Oh dear! Recently booked first ever cruise (on Azura, Caribbean November 25th) and am beginning to get a little concerned. Although we've never cruised we are well travelled and normally go long haul in decent all inclusive hotels. I've always rejected the idea of a cruise as I spent 20 years in the RN and have visited most of the islands in the Caribbean. However, my wife has wanted to cruise since she saw one of the spectacular ships berthed in Jamaica a couple of years back and I finally relented. Have I done the right thing? Lots of complaints on here regarding Azura. Any positives would be much welcomed.

 

RC

[ROSEBASKETS]

Oh dear! Recently booked first ever cruise (on Azura, Caribbean November 25th) and am beginning to get a little concerned. Although we've never cruised we are well travelled and normally go long haul in decent all inclusive hotels. I've always rejected the idea of a cruise as I spent 20 years in the RN and have visited most of the islands in the Caribbean. However, my wife has wanted to cruise since she saw one of the spectacular ships berthed in Jamaica a couple of years back and I finally relented. Have I done the right thing? Lots of complaints on here regarding Azura. Any positives would be much welcomed.

 

RC

 

Read the reviews on here or at cruise.co.uk, most people on here have polarised views and the reviews will give a more balanced view. Having not been on Azura I cannot comment but it's much like ventura which is fine, don't worry and go enjoy yourself, you're holidays what you make it!

[daiB]

Do not be concerned new cruisers love the experience.

 

Go and have a.great time.

 

Gan canny

 

 

Dai

[jeanlyon]

Rumchaser, although we did not particularly Azura for the reasons I gave, I still had a great holiday. Our cabin was an inside one and was very comfortable. The food was excellent. Our dining companions were very pleasant and we also enjoyed the Planet Bar each evening before dinner.

 

Have a great time.

 

Jean

[Denarius]

.

By the way I,m told that the circqe trapesy Thingy is being removed to make way for more sunbeds so this should help.

Happy sailing

 

Bill@karen

The area on Ventura formerly occupied by the flying trapeze is now occupied by the sports court - the sports court on Azura is also in this position. On Ventura, the area at the front of the ship formerly occupied by the sports court is now filled with sun beds for general use. On Azura this area is occupied by the (extra charge) Retreat, whose customers have sole use of the adjoining Oasis pool - this pool is available for all to use on Ventura. Azura has, therefore, less public deck space and pool facilities than Ventura despite having more cabins. Such is progress P&O style.

[pinktulipshopping]

Rumchaser,

yes you have done the right thing! We loved our cruise on Azura a few weeks ago,a really great ship with lovely food and great entertainment.Spoilt for choice of things to see,do and eat.We would do it all over again !

So do look forward to it,can't see how you wouldn't have a great time,

 

regards

Carrie