A change of heart at P&O?

[Selbourne]

41 minutes ago, grapau27 said:

I wonder if on Iona and Arvia they are expecting the vast majority of passengers to be New and Young passengers with little or no Loyalty status.

I think that’s more likely to be the reason Graham, rather than there being too many people, especially as a lot of the loyalists won’t touch the new ships. If, however, it is a capacity issue then they could maybe restrict it to Caribbean and above? Seems odd to not acknowledge loyalty whatsoever, especially when (judging by the prices) they aren’t filling these two ships out of season. 

[Snow Hill]

On 2/7/2023 at 9:45 AM, purplesea said:

The only times we have had afternoon tea are when we have been out and got back late and missed lunch. Although the last time we had an afternoon tea on board it was a bit disappointing compared to previous times.

We have had afternoon tea three times all the cruises we have done, the last one in Epicurian was poor for my wife who is coeliac, we advised when we booked, yet the choices offered were limited and there were a number duplicate items, my was OK, but bread was dry as was the scone. 
 

I had a family afternoon tea for my 70th at a cafe in out local craft centre, who catered without any problems, for gluten free and vegetarian members of my family, there was so much food we end up taking some home. The quality was far better than anything we have had on P&O.

 

 

[Obobru]

The newer ships attract a younger guest and I don't think younger guests like myself are as interested in afternoon tea, it's a hangover from the past like a cliché Americans think of when they think of Brits. 

 

As for the turndown I like it because they changed the towels, made the bed if I have a nap and emptied the bins. Before on most ships the attendants would clean up to 15 rooms once a day and then give them a quick tidy in the late afternoon. Now they are having to clean 30 rooms fully all day which is much more work for them as these are full cleans. It's all about cost cutting their is no staff shortages just staff cuts. 

[Chrish2]

On 2/6/2023 at 10:29 PM, Red Leicester said:

The one I really don't get but causes adverse reaction is evening turndown.  Removing that has caused uproar, not just on here but on other sites / media too.  I have commented before that I just don't get what evening turndown is / was.  Maybe I'm of an upbringing or generation that lost out on this.  I can live without a second invasion of my room and the chocolate.  It gives the already hard working crew some rest.  

 

On 2/7/2023 at 5:54 PM, jamiebarnzy said:

Evening turn down was a nice touch, but I stay in many hotels and resorts which were much more expensive per a night then what the cruise cost per. Night, With no evening turn down. It was a nice touch but I rather they use the staff to give them some down time or improve the service in other areas of the ship rather then turn down the rooms. 

 

Just to be clear, the removal of evening turndown isn't giving staff a rest. They now have duties in other parts of the ship during the time they would have been doing evening turndown. It was planned before COVID came along and allows the ship to be run with less crew.

 

 

 

On 2/8/2023 at 1:15 PM, Adawn47 said:

The morning turndown isn't important to us either. It's easy to make the bed, we keep the cabin tidy and don't bath towels in the morning. Maybe the more sensible idea would be to choose a morning or evening turndown service when booking.

@Adawn47 I can't see that as feasible. Better to have a uniformed service than one that is difficult to manage.

[Cathygh]

7 hours ago, Obobru said:

The newer ships attract a younger guest and I don't think younger guests like myself are as interested in afternoon tea, it's a hangover from the past like a cliché Americans think of when they think of Brits. 

 

I wonder what the general definition of younger people is? My closest female relatives and their friends, all in their 30s love afternoon tea, and have done for several years. Sandwiches, cakes and prosecco what's not to like?

[Harry Peterson]

1 hour ago, Cathygh said:

I wonder what the general definition of younger people is? My closest female relatives and their friends, all in their 30s love afternoon tea, and have done for several years. Sandwiches, cakes and prosecco what's not to like?

You’re absolutely right - afternoon teas are incredibly popular with younger people too. But the ones they favour are very different indeed from the rushed, low quality, low service P&O ones. Much better quality food, better surroundings and much more leisurely - but at pretty high prices.

 

I enjoyed the P&O offering for what it was, but only ever as a little snack after skipping lunch.  The funniest bit was when the guy on my right (wearing a vest) asked my wife if she was my mother. Quite a robust response!  

[snaefell]

1 hour ago, Harry Peterson said:

You’re absolutely right - afternoon teas are incredibly popular with younger people too. But the ones they favour are very different indeed from the rushed, low quality, low service P&O ones. Much better quality food, better surroundings and much more leisurely - but at pretty high prices.

 

 

Yes if you watch programmes on flash eateries associated with the likes of Gordon Ramsay afternoon tea is very popular,it seems for some if it is expensive it must be wonderful!😙

Edited February 10, 2023 by snaefell

[davecttr]

Just back from Iona. My steward services 21 cabins and in the evening changes to a grey uniform and works in the MDR escorting passengers to their tables. I don't expect evening turn down service to resume.

[wowzz]

24 minutes ago, davecttr said:

Just back from Iona. My steward services 21 cabins and in the evening changes to a grey uniform and works in the MDR escorting passengers to their tables. I don't expect evening turn down service to resume.

That's a lot of work, and a long day. Hopefully the tips from the 21 cabins will make it worthwhile.

[Eglesbrech]

2 hours ago, davecttr said:

Just back from Iona. My steward services 21 cabins and in the evening changes to a grey uniform and works in the MDR escorting passengers to their tables. I don't expect evening turn down service to resume.

I would agree re the turns down as it was the same the fortnight before.
 

Some of the grey shirts were escorting passengers to tables. Some were clearing glasses and cleaning tables in the Crows Nest, some clearing in the theatre after the shows etc. The room stewards seem to be an integral part of the service team now as well as maintaining rooms.

 

[Obobru]

We spoke to a number of staff on Iona over the past week they said it's fully staffed it wasn't designed to have twice a day service the staff were hired to do hybrid jobs. They work 11 hours a day 7 days a week. 

 

The rooms are nice but not cleaned well. No vacuuming all week, no bathroom moping, no bedding change. They tidy the bed, empty the bin, and change the towels. The rooms have full packs of spare toilet paper and tissues to change yourself and under the bed is a black box with spares of glasses, cups, towels, etc should you need them. 

[carlanthony24]

Beds are changed weekly if I remember correctly so that is fine no different to what people do at home. Box under bed been like that for a while same with extra toilet paper but always find if we run low or run out they put a new roll on for you and then give you a spare again. 

 

If you want you're sheets changed then just ask they will do it for you.

[Ardennais]

5 hours ago, Obobru said:

We spoke to a number of staff on Iona over the past week they said it's fully staffed it wasn't designed to have twice a day service the staff were hired to do hybrid jobs. They work 11 hours a day 7 days a week. 

 

The rooms are nice but not cleaned well. No vacuuming all week, no bathroom moping, no bedding change. They tidy the bed, empty the bin, and change the towels. The rooms have full packs of spare toilet paper and tissues to change yourself and under the bed is a black box with spares of glasses, cups, towels, etc should you need them. 

I’m surprised that they said that it’s fully staffed. We thought they were very short staffed in some areas. I sat in the atrium for about 2 hours Thursday afternoon and some tables weren’t cleared at all during that time. It looked very messy! 

[Josy1953]

On 2/10/2023 at 5:33 PM, Cathygh said:

I wonder what the general definition of younger people is? My closest female relatives and their friends, all in their 30s love afternoon tea, and have done for several years. Sandwiches, cakes and prosecco what's not to like?

My nieces and their friends all in their 30s often meet up for afternoon tea.  My niece's daughter has decided that to celebrate her 13th birthday in May she wants to take a group of her friends for afternoon tea because that is the trend with her friends at the moment.  My niece  my sister and I are going to the same place at the same time to keep a discreet eye on them from another table. 

[snaefell]

Yes,what is young,currently not feeling very young as I am awaiting a knee joint replacement & approaching 70 I have been told that the fact I am young is in my favour,apparently I am young compared to most others in the same position,confusing!

[Obobru]

9 hours ago, Ardennais said:

I’m surprised that they said that it’s fully staffed. We thought they were very short staffed in some areas. I sat in the atrium for about 2 hours Thursday afternoon and some tables weren’t cleared at all during that time. It looked very messy! 

It's fully staffed in that every crew bed is full they can't house any more crew. The full staffing levels may not be adequate but they won't be increasing as there's no more crew beds. 

[Adawn47]

1 hour ago, snaefell said:

Yes,what is young,currently not feeling very young as I am awaiting a knee joint replacement & approaching 70 I have been told that the fact I am young is in my favour,apparently I am young compared to most others in the same position,confusing!

My cousin who is 89 refers to me as a young pup, so at 76 I'm happy with that. 

Avril

[Selbourne]

46 minutes ago, Obobru said:

It's fully staffed in that every crew bed is full they can't house any more crew. The full staffing levels may not be adequate but they won't be increasing as there's no more crew beds. 

If true, that’s a worry!

[Ardennais]

3 hours ago, Obobru said:

It's fully staffed in that every crew bed is full they can't house any more crew. The full staffing levels may not be adequate but they won't be increasing as there's no more crew beds. 

Oh dear. Not good then. Staffing levels are definitely inadequate. Previously, someone would clear the table as soon as you had finished. Passengers kept moving dirty crockery to free up some tables and so some of the tables were heaving with used stuff. We sat listening to the brilliant busker on deck 6 and I can confirm that some tables weren’t cleared at all during his stint. 
 

[jeanlyon]

3 hours ago, Adawn47 said:

My cousin who is 89 refers to me as a young pup, so at 76 I'm happy with that. 

Avril

Me too Avril, although my wonderful friend of 86 has just died, so got nobody to call me a young pup any more.

[zap99]

3 hours ago, Obobru said:

It's fully staffed in that every crew bed is full they can't house any more crew. The full staffing levels may not be adequate but they won't be increasing as there's no more crew beds. 

On Azura last week, there seemed to be plenty of staff in the various restaurants.  Service was quite good. Turndown would be good, but I think we have seen the last of that.

[davecttr]

Crew to passenger ratios

Arvia/Iona - 2.95

Britannia - 2.7

Azura - 2.48

Ventura - 2.55

Arcadia - 2.41

Aurora - 2.17

 

sums it up nicely, more passengers per crew member on the new ships

[Harry Peterson]

5 minutes ago, davecttr said:

Crew to passenger ratios

Arvia/Iona - 2.95

Britannia - 2.7

Azura - 2.48

Ventura - 2.55

Arcadia - 2.41

Aurora - 2.17

 

sums it up nicely, more passengers per crew member on the new ships

Just wait till ChatGPT takes over - crew/passenger ratio 1:1000 plus chatbot. 

[Selbourne]

10 minutes ago, davecttr said:

Crew to passenger ratios

Arvia/Iona - 2.95

Britannia - 2.7

Azura - 2.48

Ventura - 2.55

Arcadia - 2.41

Aurora - 2.17

 

sums it up nicely, more passengers per crew member on the new ships

 
I suspect that those figures are based upon lower berth occupancy only (as stated passenger numbers usually are), so the figures are even more skewed than that on the family ships and even more again in school holidays.
 

All told, it completely explains why cruises on the adult only ships are so expensive and why the reports of staff shortages seem to be most prevalent on Iona and Arvia. 

[davecttr]

Yes, lower berths only