A Couple of Questions

[nutty nurse gladys]

We have been away from P&O for several years, spending time instead aboard American lines mostly Princess and Celebrity. As we consider destinations primarily when booking cruises we are about to return to P&O shortly aboard the Britannia. We are looking forward to the cruise immensly and it will be interesting to see the changes over the last 8 years or so since we last sailed with them.

We have read several threads relating to the differences between the American lines and P&O and have open minds in relation to what to expect.

Anyway a couple of questions please.

We realise that all on board spending is in sterling, does this also apply to the casino. Especially the slot machines, is it sterling? It never seems like "real money" when inserting dollars and I sense that it will feel quite different inserting £s.

Also is there still a semi-formal dress code? its only a 7 night cruise so I understand that there will be 2 formal nights, will the others all be casual?

Finally, do they provide bathrobes in the cabins? (we have a balcony not a suite of any kind).

Many thanks in advance for your help.

[mygo1999]

I don't gamble but I have passed through the casino and it is pounds sterling. Formal nights and casual nights only no semi formal. There are no bathrobes in the balcony cabins.

 

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[PJ's]

In answer to your questions:

 

Casino - yes it is in sterling but I think you have to change sterling at the cashiers in the casino for tokens which you insert into the machines. Not sure if you want to play the tables what the procedure is. Some other CC members will know better than me. We have never played in the casino on board ship.

 

Dress code: There are now only 2 dress codes on Britannia. Formal and Evening Casual. There is no semi-formal on Britannia.

 

Bathrobes - Unfortunately you only get bathrobes if you are in a suite. Being in a balcony cabin does not get you bathrobes.

 

We were on Britannia in January 2016 and we did enjoy the experience of a larger ship albeit with a few things we were not happy with. Go with an open mind and I hope you have a great cruise.

[john watson]

Casino:

 

You can obtain chips at the Roulette and Blackjack tables during a break in play. The croupier alerts the casino manager who comes over to witness the transaction. £2 chips are normally given out up to say £30 unless you ask for £5 chips any excess you get given in £25 chips. They will give you what you want bearing in mind nobody would get or want £300 in £2 chips! They shove the cash through a hole in the table. I think you can also use your cruise card at the table to sign for chips but this attracts a 3% fee. I tend to go in with £20 and that's it for the night often break even or £10 up or down on Blackjack, it is a social game.

 

At the end of your session take all the chips over to the casino cashier and they give you actual pound notes and pound coins. In my experience Blackjack will more likely give a result over doing the slots.

 

Good Luck John

Edited April 8, 2016 by john watson

[daiB]

Casino:

 

You can obtain chips at the Roulette and Blackjack tables during a break in play. The croupier alerts the casino manager who comes over to witness the transaction. £2 chips are normally given out up to say £30 unless you ask for £5 chips any excess you get given in £25 chips. They will give you what you want bearing in mind nobody would get or want £300 in £2 chips! They shove the cash through a hole in the table. I think you can also use your cruise card at the table to sign for chips but this attracts a 3% fee. I tend to go in with £20 and that's it for the night often break even or £10 up or down on Blackjack, it is a social game.

 

At the end of your session take all the chips over to the casino cashier and they give you actual pound notes and pound coins. In my experience Blackjack will more likely give a result over doing the slots.

 

Good Luck John

 

 

Sorry that is wrong. You get the chips at the table and they are in £1's £5's or £25's. You cash them with the cashier at the end of your play. There are no £2 chips. There is now no fee for this transaction.

 

For the machines you can use your cruise card and set up an account..

 

 

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[nutty nurse gladys]

Wonderful to get so much helpful info so quickly.

Many thanks.

[john watson]

Sorry that is wrong. You get the chips at the table and they are in £1's £5's or £25's. You cash them with the cashier at the end of your play. There are no £2 chips. There is now no fee for this transaction.

 

For the machines you can use your cruise card and set up an account..

 

 

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Yes, you are correct Dai, the £2 is the ante, minimum bet on a good night. It sometimes varies as what you can bet per hand as a minimum. £1, £5 and £25 are the chips.

 

Regards John

[daiB]

Yes, you are correct Dai, the £2 is the ante, minimum bet on a good night. It sometimes varies as what you can bet per hand as a minimum. £1, £5 and £25 are the chips.

 

 

 

Regards John

 

 

Not that I would go into such places. :) ;)

 

Well not until after dinner.

 

 

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[heathcharnock]

So does this mean you can buy chips with your OBC ( without discount ), keep them in your pocket and then cash them back for sterling thus getting any excess OBC back in cash ?

[james80]

No, OBC cannot be used in the casino. That would be too easy!

[sunnyhat]

We had bathrobes in our balcony cabin on Azura last September :)

[the english lady]

We had bathrobes in our balcony cabin on Azura last September :)[/quote

 

Was it a bog standard balcony cabin, or deluxe or other such name.?

Don't some of the ships which do not have mini suites have posh balcony ones instead, that are sort of classed as mini suites ,so would get the bathrobes

[sunnyhat]

It was just a standard balcony on lido deck L305 :)

[pkpon]

There were no bathrobes in the cabin when I was on Britannia last month.

 

You can purchase them from your cabin steward.

£19.99 each or two for £29.99.

They make a nice souvenir of your cruise.

[nutty nurse gladys]

At least now I know that there's no bathrobes I will bring my own. One of the advantages of sailing from Southampton not having to worry about weight. Getting excited.

[Beachmad]

Superior deluxe balconies on Britannia, Azura and Ventura have bathrobes and slippers but not to keep.