Jump to content
Cruise Critic Community

Entertainment on board.

JeanieC,Aston

By JeanieC,Aston,
in P&O Cruises ( UK )

 Share

Recommended Posts

JeanieC,Aston

JeanieC,Aston

Posted
Posted (edited)

Just returned off 11 night Ventura cruise on the 25th.

One of the things I like about P&O is the evening entertainment,,I was delighted pre cruise to learn that ‘Pulse’ would be the resident band having seen them 3 years ago on Britannia.


Alas I was disappointed to find instead of the originals of x2 female and x2 male singers plus backing band it was now x1 female and x1 male singer the male being the original,,unfortunately they were a pale imitation of the former.

 

I also found other entertainers a bit lacking,,,the lady who sang probably 8 nights out of 11 in the Tamerind was a bit limited in her repertoire and ‘Busker’ Matt the wandering guitar player lived up to his name.

The comedian I thought was old hat,,I believe his late night ‘risqué’ show was a bit better.

 

Not sure if it was due to Covid restrictions but the CD was invisible and the entertainment team tried,,but that was it.

Edited by JeanieC,Aston
Link to comment
Share on other sites
zap99

zap99

Posted
Posted
3 hours ago, JeanieC,Aston said:

Just returned off 11 night Ventura cruise on the 25th.

One of the things I like about P&O is the evening entertainment,,I was delighted pre cruise to learn that ‘Pulse’ would be the resident band having seen them 3 years ago on Britannia.


Alas I was disappointed to find instead of the originals of x2 female and x2 male singers plus backing band it was now x1 female and x1 male singer the male being the original,,unfortunately they were a pale imitation of the former.

 

I also found other entertainers a bit lacking,,,the lady who sang probably 8 nights out of 11 in the Tamerind was a bit limited in her repertoire and ‘Busker’ Matt the wandering guitar player lived up to his name.

The comedian I thought was old hat,,I believe his late night ‘risqué’ show was a bit better.

 

Not sure if it was due to Covid restrictions but the CD was invisible and the entertainment team tried,,but that was it.

Britannia and Iona both have Pulse. I think they are a bit like Boney M. Loads of them🤣

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Harry Peterson

Harry Peterson

Posted
Posted
10 hours ago, JeanieC,Aston said:

Just returned off 11 night Ventura cruise on the 25th.

One of the things I like about P&O is the evening entertainment,,I was delighted pre cruise to learn that ‘Pulse’ would be the resident band having seen them 3 years ago on Britannia.


Alas I was disappointed to find instead of the originals of x2 female and x2 male singers plus backing band it was now x1 female and x1 male singer the male being the original,,unfortunately they were a pale imitation of the former.

 

I also found other entertainers a bit lacking,,,the lady who sang probably 8 nights out of 11 in the Tamerind was a bit limited in her repertoire and ‘Busker’ Matt the wandering guitar player lived up to his name.

The comedian I thought was old hat,,I believe his late night ‘risqué’ show was a bit better.

 

Not sure if it was due to Covid restrictions but the CD was invisible and the entertainment team tried,,but that was it.

Sadly, it's been going this way for some time, and times are so tough now for cruise companies that it's just one more inevitable area of cost cutting.  The entertainment provided now on P&O is a shadow of its former self, and whilst cruises are certainly cheaper than they were, taking inflation into account, you're not buying remotely the same product.

 

Most people accept that in order to keep cruising.  Some conclude that things have now gone too far.  There is always the option of a better quality cruise with another company at a higher price - but there's also the option of holidaying in some other way.

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites
kalos

kalos

Posted
Posted
8 hours ago, zap99 said:

Britannia and Iona both have Pulse. I think they are a bit like Boney M. Loads of them🤣

 

I'm not sure but I think I've got a pulse ? I just can't put my finger on it :classic_unsure:

I feel sorry for some of the comedians, one I saw fell through the floor boards,

I suppose the poor guy was just going through a stage really .

The best ones always walk out on stage and ask if there is anyone in the audience 

called Michael ? It's always better if you do a Mike check first :classic_smile:

  • Like 1
  • Haha 6
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Cruise Puss

Cruise Puss

Posted
Posted
2 hours ago, Harry Peterson said:

Sadly, it's been going this way for some time, and times are so tough now for cruise companies that it's just one more inevitable area of cost cutting.  The entertainment provided now on P&O is a shadow of its former self, and whilst cruises are certainly cheaper than they were, taking inflation into account, you're not buying remotely the same product.

 

Most people accept that in order to keep cruising.  Some conclude that things have now gone too far.  There is always the option of a better quality cruise with another company at a higher price - but there's also the option of holidaying in some other way.

 

My Husband and I have to agree.  We've been travelling with P&O for 20 years now and the entertainment has deteriorated over the years. It was, however, very good when we went on one of the 4 night seacations at the beginning of July when Angie Brown (extremely good guitarist) played almost non stop every night in the Atrium.  It was completely different to the 2 week cruise we have just spent on her down to the Med., where there was one male pianist from 6pm until 7pm for some nights in the Atrium, but that was it, he only played some of the nights and only for 1 hour - hopeless frankly.  There was a pianist in the Crows Nest, and Pulse played in The Live Lounge (and, as always, were extremely good).

 

I will add that we went on a Princess cruise at the beginning of September and their entertainment is fabulous. There was music of some sort every day in the Piazza (equivalent to the Atrium) from midday everyday, almost non-stop until late in to the evening.  It was also in other areas of the ship in the evening, again, almost non-stop.  So Princess obviously aren't cutting back on their entertainment. They also had photographers on board (as did Queen Elizabeth when we went on her at the end of Sept.).  We can't understand why P&O can't have photographers on board - it makes it more normal, even if you don't like them.

 

Queen Elizabeth also had a reasonable amount of entertainment on board so they are not cutting back there either.

 

It seems that cruising is different across cruise lines at the moment even though they are owned by the same company.  Very strange.

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
yorkshirephil

yorkshirephil

Posted
Posted
4 hours ago, Harry Peterson said:

Sadly, it's been going this way for some time, and times are so tough now for cruise companies that it's just one more inevitable area of cost cutting.  The entertainment provided now on P&O is a shadow of its former self, and whilst cruises are certainly cheaper than they were, taking inflation into account, you're not buying remotely the same product.

 

Most people accept that in order to keep cruising.  Some conclude that things have now gone too far.  There is always the option of a better quality cruise with another company at a higher price - but there's also the option of holidaying in some other way.

That pretty much sums it up for me too, I also think that because we keep seeing the same acts over and over they also become a bit stale.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
molecrochip

molecrochip

Posted
Posted

Pulse is now the name of the house band on most of the family ships. There is no permanent lineup and I believe the singers and musicians can move between the different versions of the band/ships depending upon their contract.
 

That said, often the band will change at the same time so far chance of them returning together.

  • Like 1
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Angel57

Angel57

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, Harry Peterson said:

Really?  That's awful - what next, a betting shop, a greyhound track and a whelk stall?  🙄

Don’t give them any ideas. Otherwise this will all be introduced across the fleet due to “customer feedback” 🙄

  • Haha 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Britboys

Britboys

Posted
Posted
2 hours ago, majortom10 said:

It is plainly obvious to me you get what you pay for and P&O are fast becoming the "bargain bucket" of the cruise industry.

It will be interesting to see the prices for 2023/24. Will they remain at similar levels just to get deposits coming in or will there will be an obvious rise in them...

Link to comment
Share on other sites
zap99

zap99

Posted
Posted
2 minutes ago, Angel57 said:

Don’t give them any ideas. Otherwise this will all be introduced across the fleet due to “customer feedback” 🙄

Is there a difference between a betting shop and a casino. RCI have snails on the MDR menu. Aren't they similar to whelks?.🤔

  • Haha 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Waju

Waju

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, Harry Peterson said:

Really?  That's awful - what next, a betting shop, a greyhound track and a whelk stall?  🙄

Don't forget Primark and Home Bargains 😀

 

Is there really a KFC???

Link to comment
Share on other sites
zap99

zap99

Posted
Posted
4 minutes ago, Waju said:

Don't forget Primark and Home Bargains 😀

 

Is there really a KFC???

We have been on Britannia twice this year and Iona once. No KFC that we can recall. If there was a quick visit would make a pleasant change.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
davecttr

davecttr

Posted
Posted
17 minutes ago, Waju said:

Don't forget Primark and Home Bargains 😀

 

Is there really a KFC???

I think it was a joke, there is the Quays eatery which has 3 serveries, Hook, Line & vinegar serves fish & chips and they were very good with proper chips. The Fusion Asian Kitchen serves currys etc with rice /noodles. The Broadwalk Diner american grill serves burgers and there is one southern fried chicken option. The chips here are thin american style. There is also a servery around the corner for deserts, salads etc etc. The Quays also does breakfasts in the morning. It is all free and you don't get to handle the serving utensils

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites
terrierjohn

terrierjohn

Posted
Posted
23 minutes ago, zap99 said:

We have been on Britannia twice this year and Iona once. No KFC that we can recall. If there was a quick visit would make a pleasant change.

I was hoping they had re-started offering chicken breast burgers in the lido grill. Last cruise we were on the chicken at the lido was thighs, which are a bit crunchy when you put them in a bap.

  • Haha 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
yorkshirephil

yorkshirephil

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, Britboys said:

But there's still MSC...😀

If MSC did some of their longer cruises from Southampton I would be a happy bunny, however I don't think a lot of the brit cruise fans would go for it. There is also Costa but again fly cruise, albeit I have not risked them.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing
  • Forum Jump
    • Categories
      • Welcome to Cruise Critic
      • New Cruisers
      • Cruise Lines “A – O”
      • Cruise Lines “P – Z”
      • River Cruising
      • ROLL CALLS
      • Cruise Critic News & Features
      • Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
      • Special Interest Cruising
      • Cruise Discussion Topics
      • UK Cruising
      • Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
      • Canadian Cruisers
      • North American Homeports
      • Ports of Call
      • Cruise Conversations
×
×
  • Create New...