Looks like ov is to be relaunched

[Presto2]

If, say, Ventura became OV, what would be the main differences?

Place her in the Med, cut out the formal dining, and introduce freedom dining through out......is there anything else special to OV which would have to be done to her?

Jo.

 

There were no main dining rooms - either for freedom dining or for set dining times so your choice was either the buffet or specialist restaurants - the Bistro was one and I can't for the life of me remember the other one though it was on the deck and very nice! Apart from that am not sure of any others.

 

:)

[Denarius]

If, say, Ventura became OV, what would be the main differences?

Place her in the Med, cut out the formal dining, and introduce freedom dining through out......is there anything else special to OV which would have to be done to her?

Jo.

An interesting question!

When Ocean Village first launched the concept was revolutionary. In the days of only fixed time "club" dining and restrictive dress codes with "semi-formal" as well as formal, the idea of being able to dine whenever you wanted with whom you wanted, and wearing what you wannted, came as a breath of fresh air. Since those days, however, other lines including P&O have embraced the concept of "freedom" dining, and dress codes on most lines have been relaxed to disconinue semi-formal. Such is the case already on Ventura and Oceana. In reality, there would not be much left to change.

If Ventura became OV therefore - or if, as I believe more likely, Ventura and/or Oceana were rebranded as P&O Contemporary within P&O with the remaining ships becoming P&O Traditional - I suspect that the changes would be minimal. I would expect to see the end of club dining, with all MDRs becoming freedom dining. I would also expect compulsory formal dress to be discontinued, possibly in favour of optional formal as per NCL and Regent Seven Seas. I expect however, that these changes would happen eventually anyway. Apart from possibly some changes to the onboard entertainment and activities to reflect a younger customer base, I suspect things would otherwise remain largely unchanged.

[Single Cruiser]

There were no main dining rooms - either for freedom dining or for set dining times so your choice was either the buffet or specialist restaurants - the Bistro was one and I can't for the life of me remember the other one though it was on the deck and very nice! Apart from that am not sure of any others.

 

:)

 

La Luna!! :)

[Presto2]

Maybe change a few crew cabins to guest cabins as need less crew but yep the only real thing is abolishing dress codes and fixed seating times.. Would imagine they'd still have a waitered main restaurant but anytime turn up a bit like NCL do..

 

Don't think that OV2 had a waitered restaurant - am sure they were buffet style but some other past OV cruisers may put me right. To be honest, I think it was the one thing we missed when we did OV2 (though we had a great cruise)

 

:)

[Presto2]

La Luna!! :)

 

Ahhhhh, that's the one ---- thank you ! :D

[Single Cruiser]

Don't think that OV2 had a waitered restaurant - am sure they were buffet style but some other past OV cruisers may put me right. To be honest, I think it was the one thing we missed when we did OV2 (though we had a great cruise)

 

:)

 

No OV didn't. But after being on NCL the waitered freestyle was nice and a lot quicker service than RCI were. Then the other ones could be a 24hr buffet and a main buffet. Assuming a ship with buffet and two main dining areas..

[wales4ever]

Great! Then perhaps there will be no more "can I wear jeans in the main dining room" questions.

 

Go on Ocean Village and wear what you like. :p

[Essexlass2]

Great! Then perhaps there will be no more "can I wear jeans in the main dining room" questions.

 

Go on Ocean Village and wear what you like. :p

 

My DH husband and I don't agree with that last comment. Whilst we're not into formal and are not looking forward one bit to the dressing up required on Azura, we do feel that smart casual is nice for evening wear whether in a restaurant, theatre, bar, etc. We really didn't like to see some people simply not bothering to make any effort whatsoever on OV during the evenings.

 

That's just our opinion anyway, but we do so hope that OV will come back again as we loved her so much and have so many happy memories from those cruises.

[History addict]

Great news if they start fly cruising in the Med. I don't mind formal dining or P and O however what I really want is a good modern British style cruise line permanently based in the Med operating 7 night itineraries. If one of the P and O ships did this I'd be a regular. We've hardly been to the Med since our last OV cruise 2 years ago.

[skioncruises]

If it were ever to happen they would have to introduce fly/cruise holidays as OV had in the past as there is no way we would consider cruising on any ship out of Southampton. 530+ miles before cruise actually started plus too many sea days before first port.:eek:

[Longislandtea]

If it were ever to happen they would have to introduce fly/cruise holidays as OV had in the past as there is no way we would consider cruising on any ship out of Southampton. 530+ miles before cruise actually started plus too many sea days before first port.:eek:

 

I agree 100% with you.... I think smart causal should be normal and dress up if and when you feel like it. The main reason that I started cruising was to wake up in a different country each day. SEA DAYS ARE BORING !!!

 

:D:D:D

[Denarius]

Great! Then perhaps there will be no more "can I wear jeans in the main dining room" questions.

 

Go on Ocean Village and wear what you like. :p

Hopefully not.

I could not care less what other people are wearing at dinner as long as it is clean. For some P&O passengers however it appears to be an obsession, given the endless fretting on this and other fora.

[jocap]

We enjoyed our two cruises on NCL so much that I'm sure OV would be for us.....NCL, unfortunately, push the selling to a silly degree, including selling over priced scratch cards in the theatre.

We did see some poorly dressed people going for dinner-sleeveless vests and baseball caps, but we also saw some scruffy youths, directly down from the basket ball court, being told that a dining room was full....

On the whole, NCL pax dressed for comfort, and were clean and tidy.

Jo.

[berlingo]

also remove room service, introduce regular art auctions, do away with the evening cabin steward service, ensure no bread or pastries are baked on board and ban passengers from taking their own alcohol on board and you have recreated ocean village.

[marconi]

If this turns out to be true an obvious choice would likely be the older Oriana, of which I am taking a sector voyage Sydney to Southampton in february.I have seen that the 2013 season world cruises haven't got the Oriana doing one.

 

Just my thoughts.

 

Regards Frank.

[riderhotlegs]

also remove room service, introduce regular art auctions, do away with the evening cabin steward service, ensure no bread or pastries are baked on board and ban passengers from taking their own alcohol on board and you have recreated ocean village.

Just to put you right all bread and pastries were baked onboard oceanvillage and if you knew how to beat the system you could get alcohol on as well never had a problem in any port on 21 ov cruises, neither did alot of other passengers. Like all cruise ships if you flaunt what you have got then get it bonded if you dont back to the cabin it comes.

[geecee1]

The other question of course is, are some people clutching at straws:confused::confused:

 

 

:)Happy Cruising:)

 

 

 

:cool:

 

Dai

 

Maybe we are Dai. But we have nothing left now that the OV ships have gone.

I came late to cruising(i.e.aged65) going on OV1.

The perfect HOLIDAY, laid back, friendly, bags of atmosphere and only 2 sea days. To most OV types, like myself, any day a sea is a wasted day.

Tried Ventura Dec 2010. Fine vessel, no atmosphere( the Exchange Pub was a prime example), poor buffet food compared to OV, MDR food very ordinary. Thankfully there was East and the Beach House at night.And 4 sea days!!!

P&O created a demand for a product and the removed it hoping that most of us would be tempted to go for the "cruise experience", but I, and many like me have reverted to land-based for the forseeable future

[Single Cruiser]

Well I got a reply back from P&O that said "We have no plans to reinstate the Ocean Village Brand"... :(

 

The question I would like to ask the P&O faithful on here...

 

 

In 2015 the new ship with over 4,000 new berths, assuming 26 cruises a year (av 2 week) would require 104,000 NEW P&O passengers in addition to the churn (with many P&O pax in 70s/80s stopping cruising).

 

In the current branding with society heading towards more freestyle (offices/theatre/etc..) can you honestly say that in the next 4 years (well they'll start taking bookings in 2yrs time) an extra 104000 P&O brand passengers will be found..

 

So would they change the brand (and risk the wrath) or will they get rid of the older ships in the fleet... (Oceana would be what 15 in 2015?)..

 

Nevermind its NCLs new ships for me then in 2013 and 2014...:D

[u2cruiser]

 

In the current branding with society heading towards more freestyle (offices/theatre/etc..) can you honestly say that in the next 4 years (well they'll start taking bookings in 2yrs time) an extra 104000 P&O brand passengers will be found..

 

 

On the other hand Single Cruiser, could it be that new, younger cruisers are looking for something different to their every day freestyle lifestyle?

 

My daughters and partners seem to be attending more and more dressy/black tie occasions lately, even though they enjoy freestyle working and social environments.

 

Not sure how they'll fill all those berths but I know lots of people who are considering trying a cruise who never would have in the past. :)

[blitznbobs]

I for one will be upset if Ventura is lost to p and o. To me they've got it right for young families who need certain things but still like the opportunity to put on a fancy frock .., p and o will lose me if they shed Ventura as Azura is quite negative to children and I like silver service etc so ov just wouldn't suit us... I guess I'd have to go with rci them but this would be a compromise to us...

[Single Cruiser]

I for one will be upset if Ventura is lost to p and o. To me they've got it right for young families who need certain things but still like the opportunity to put on a fancy frock .., p and o will lose me if they shed Ventura as Azura is quite negative to children and I like silver service etc so ov just wouldn't suit us... I guess I'd have to go with rci them but this would be a compromise to us...

 

It won't be the newer ships. I know the smaller ones have niche cult followings so guess they plan to attract more passengers.. Of course in 2015 Oriana would be 20yrs old!

[Single Cruiser]

On the other hand Single Cruiser, could it be that new, younger cruisers are looking for something different to their every day freestyle lifestyle?

 

My daughters and partners seem to be attending more and more dressy/black tie occasions lately, even though they enjoy freestyle working and social environments.

 

Not sure how they'll fill all those berths but I know lots of people who are considering trying a cruise who never would have in the past. :)

 

Hmm different circles.. Last year for my Dads 70th and Sisters 40th we had few cabins/suite on OV. Both my folks, Sister and my nieces all want to cruise again. Have tried but they won't do Dress Up cruises.. To quote my Mum "it's not a relaxing holiday if you have to start getting dressed up"..

 

NCL have ordered two more 4000+ freestyle ships for 2013/2014 so there is demand. Just can't understand why no one is targeting the 10s of thousands UK passengers waiting...

[Essexlass2]

Hmm different circles.. Last year for my Dads 70th and Sisters 40th we had few cabins/suite on OV. Both my folks, Sister and my nieces all want to cruise again. Have tried but they won't do Dress Up cruises.. To quote my Mum "it's not a relaxing holiday if you have to start getting dressed up"..

 

NCL have ordered two more 4000+ freestyle ships for 2013/2014 so there is demand. Just can't understand why no one is targeting the 10s of thousands UK passengers waiting...

 

Let's hope they read their forums here then!! :)

[History addict]

To be honest, I'd be happy if P and O just decided to do more fly-cruises in the Med. I don't mind if dining is formal or casual, though do prefer the latter, but I don't take more than 7 days of holiday at any one time and that limits where I can get to from Southampton. Cruising is all about the destination to me and I want another good carrier in the Med on 7 days routes.

 

Thomsons have great itineraries but their ships are old and I can't get my preferred grade of cabin (balcony) at the right price

 

RCI - not impressed, my experienced was of disorganised chaos. Would prefer a ship with less of a family appeal - too manyn children on board

 

MSC - similar to RCI but with the added negative of not being good at organising transfers to/from ships

 

Celebrity would be my preferred line but they only do longer Med itineraries

 

NCL - haven't tried yet but something makes me hesitate before booking them.

 

Ocean Village was the best all-round line we've tried. As we're in our 40s they also had more activities aimed at our age group.

 

There is a definate gap in the market here - P and O, are you listening?!!

[Denarius]

"This next generation ship will deliver the ultimate P&O cruise experience, with "sophisticated wows" and new features to attract thousands of newcomers to our brand, and equally to resonate with existing P&O cruise passengers by giving them the "P&O-ness" they recognise and love" - Carol Marlow, P&Os MD, in new Portunus Club magazine.

What does this mean?

I suspect that it means that the new ship will placed in direct competition for passengers with competitors like RCI and NCL by offering a similar, less traditional, overall cruise experience, whilst retaining the Britishness of P&O with menus, entertainment etc geared to Brtish tastes.