Excuse my ignorance.....

[wakelover]

.....but what is this "British taste" and "Britishness" I keep reading on the P&0 boards.

 

I have sailed P&O (only once) and am still dying to know what they mean. Can anyone explain as I feel I am missing something. Do they mean the food, the entertainment, the service? If so, what identifies something as British.

 

Anyone else confused on this one?:o

[M62Man]

Have been on P+O twice and Royal Carib Legend and Princess in last 2 years. Interesting comparisons.

I think Britishness means our traditional perceptio of cruising and holidays eg ordely qeueing , not making a fuss, wearing silly floppy sun hats, afternoon tea, cooked breakfast, quiet discrete service as opposed to being continually harassed to "enjoy yourself "and "how are you today"( Legend experience).Everyone hitting the deck and trying to find a sunbed when the sun is out.Kids all over the place and not always behaving well.

Lots of familiar accents - food with a British slant.Kettle in cabin, able to bring drink on board.

Dressing up - we enjoy the formal nights and woe betide you if you do not dress properly and thats just the large dose of frozen shoulder from other passengers for letting the side down

On the RCC ship no chance of a decent cup of tea, lots of american palate food e.g cookies, frozen yoghurt, beef - lots of ways!Not allowed to bring drinks on board - real pain if you fancy a quick G+t whilst getting dressed for dinner.Food got a bit tiresome after a week.

Lots of american accents- depends if you like it or not.Very in your face - have a nice day stuff- especially the entertainment staff -bit of a pain really. Very relaxed dress code, not enforced- you might prefer this.

 

I think Princess sits in between the 2- we enjoyed a mix of nationalities and met some very nice cultured americans "doing europe". Thoroughly enjoyed Princess and the mix of passengers.

 

Whichever company, I think the timing and ports of call are key factors- a cheap cruise in school hols could put you off for life which would be a real shame.Get the best cabin you can afford and try to go outside of school times for your first experience or a no kids ship. Pick some nice ports and book a couple of shore excursions and in some ports just get off and go for a wander. Happy cruising.

[loobylouuk]

Before i get flamed for saying this its all tongue in cheek!

 

It seems to me that it very much depends on your age!:D

 

If you are the older seasoned cruiser it means everything ENGLISH..... Tea, cooked Breakfast, English bacon, formality, Gin & tonic, accents, Entertainment and queing quietly... oh and definitley baked beans!!

 

If you are younger and have your own hips:D :D :D none of the above seem quite so important! The most inticing British thing about cruising is that you can go from Southampton!

[Shogun]

Hi There,

 

While US folk and UK folk see many things the same way on many points we view the same thing completly different as such there can be a feeling that is hard to put into words,

 

example,

 

a few years ago I visited Grenada just after it had been destroyed by a hurricane, we were one off, if not the first cruise ship in, the locals were so pleased to see us, shops with no glass in them or roof etc but goods cleaned and put out for sale, I bought some small items and chatted, one store keeper got me an ice cold drink free charge as he could see I was dripping, not used to the heat.

 

the American I was with did not buy anything and complained about the lack of items, services etc to the point that she was going to write to the cruise company and demand a refund due to the state of the island.

 

Now not all Americans are like that and not British folk got a free drink but we may be similar but we are not the same as such a ship with 75% UK is different to a ship made up of 75% US folk.

 

yours Shogun

[UK family]

Good points from Lou and M62 & Shogun

Would like to make a mention of always being able to enjoy a fabulous curry at lunchtime! Also a PROPER afternoon tea with real English tea (No revolting Iced Tea on tap all over the place...!! ) Whereas if one wants English tea on other cruise lines you have to request it.

Being able to "book a table" in a restaurant rather than reserve - we had a very strange incident one eve on Princess when we wanted to book a table...the poor waiter thought we wanted to buy a book..!!

Cabins instead of staterooms, shower cubicles instead of stalls, wardrobes instead of closets.... Proper biscuits and not soggy cookies, proper puddings and not whipped up angel delight with spray on cream.... Meals served by silver service (not on Oceana now????) and LOADS of vegetables. (I almost got scurvy on RCI last year...one night after being served just mashed potato and one carrot I asked for some green vegetables, the waiter kindly brought me a whole dinner plate of brocolli EVERY single night..hmmmmm, not that keen on broc!!)And what is it with Americans liking mashed potato with every meal??? It was so odd, every night this stuff would appear - even at a lunchtime BBQ!! Must be popular in America.

& the BBQ's!! P&O know how to produce a BBQ!!

Our favourite drinks to be found...Pernod, Pims etc (we could not get either on either RCI /Princess) - not the end of the world of course, but a shame when one is used to your own favourite tipple on holiday!).

 

The ships (Oriana and Aurora) were built for the Brit market and therefore are much more subdued in colour and style, far more relaxing on the eye than the others - this I believe it something quite distinctive for the British cruiser, adding to the ambience and sense of style that only the British seem to have.

- If you take a look over on the Cunard board, there are people who can explain the British way of cruising far better than I - they seem to have it spot on!

Oh! and I am not old....and still have two very agile hips thank you!!:)

So finally the realisation that after many many cruises with P&O, and now having tried other cruise lines, we know that we shall be sticking with P&O or Cunard in the future!:)

[wakelover]

Good points from Lou and M62 & Shogun

Would like to make a mention of always being able to enjoy a fabulous curry at lunchtime! Also a PROPER afternoon tea with real English tea (No revolting Iced Tea on tap all over the place...!! ) Whereas if one wants English tea on other cruise lines you have to request it.

Being able to "book a table" in a restaurant rather than reserve - we had a very strange incident one eve on Princess when we wanted to book a table...the poor waiter thought we wanted to buy a book..!!

Cabins instead of staterooms, shower cubicles instead of stalls, wardrobes instead of closets.... Proper biscuits and not soggy cookies, proper puddings and not whipped up angel delight with spray on cream.... Meals served by silver service (not on Oceana now????) and LOADS of vegetables. (I almost got scurvy on RCI last year...one night after being served just mashed potato and one carrot I asked for some green vegetables, the waiter kindly brought me a whole dinner plate of brocolli EVERY single night..hmmmmm, not that keen on broc!!)And what is it with Americans liking mashed potato with every meal??? It was so odd, every night this stuff would appear - even at a lunchtime BBQ!! Must be popular in America.

& the BBQ's!! P&O know how to produce a BBQ!!

Our favourite drinks to be found...Pernod, Pims etc (we could not get either on either RCI /Princess) - not the end of the world of course, but a shame when one is used to your own favourite tipple on holiday!).

 

The ships (Oriana and Aurora) were built for the Brit market and therefore are much more subdued in colour and style, far more relaxing on the eye than the others - this I believe it something quite distinctive for the British cruiser, adding to the ambience and sense of style that only the British seem to have.

- If you take a look over on the Cunard board, there are people who can explain the British way of cruising far better than I - they seem to have it spot on!

Oh! and I am not old....and still have two very agile hips thank you!!:)

So finally the realisation that after many many cruises with P&O, and now having tried other cruise lines, we know that we shall be sticking with P&O or Cunard in the future!:)

 

We went on the Arcadia and experienced this...

 

1) They had stopped serving the curries and many passengers complained.

2) I asked for a French Martini....they asked me what was in it???? How the heck do I know, I just drink the stuff! Very poor bar service.

3) Food - poorly presented and bland. I have never in all my born days seen a prawn cocktail presented so terribly. I've seen better on my own dining table!

4) The worst entertainment experienced anywhere...I've heard more entertaining buskers on the underground and I wasnt in the minority with this opinion either.

5) Officers sitting in the bar slagging off the captain within earshot of us.

I kid you not! We complained.

 

Furthermore....

6) DON'T SAY A WORD AGAINST RCI COOKIES....you'll start a riot!

7) Cunard - probably theLEAST British ships at sea.:eek: Trust me...my father sailed QM2 - he was not impressed...and he knows what he's talking about!

 

Personally I think some people confuse Britishness with some sort of class pecking order....what what?;) Believe me...there is absolutely no class in looking down ones nose at anything or anyone! And many P&O people do it...they think wearing a posh frock makes you upperclass.....well it doesnt.

[wakelover]

Okay so fairs fair....What we enjoyed about P&O....

 

1) Sailing from Southampton (which we are now going to do with RCI:D )

2) The people we made friends with (but we also keep in touch 3 years on with the US friends we made on RCI)

3) Kettle in the cabin.....admittedly hard to get a good cup of tea on RCI..but they tried bless 'em when we asked!...more than my French Martini .. I believe they had to phone a friend.;) A concoction of sorts arrived in the end so I guess its a point each on that one!)

4) Bigger bathroom in the P&O balcony cabin than a D1 balcony on RCI (but not as nicely appointed or kept as clean as RCI....BY A LONG SHOT!)

5) Disembarkation....we were pleased to be get off!;)

[T4TC]

I think all cruise lines have their good and bad points, its all down to personal choice and experience of a particular line or ship, and this does change over the years, for instance P&O has changed since being part of Carnival, more penny pinching than the old days. My next cruise - RCCL Navigator.

[daiB]

We went on the Arcadia and experienced this...

 

1) They had stopped serving the curries and many passengers complained.

2) I asked for a French Martini....they asked me what was in it???? How the heck do I know, I just drink the stuff! Very poor bar service.

3) Food - poorly presented and bland. I have never in all my born days seen a prawn cocktail presented so terribly. I've seen better on my own dining table!

4) The worst entertainment experienced anywhere...I've heard more entertaining buskers on the underground and I wasnt in the minority with this opinion either.

5) Officers sitting in the bar slagging off the captain within earshot of us.

I kid you not! We complained.

 

Furthermore....

6) DON'T SAY A WORD AGAINST RCI COOKIES....you'll start a riot!

7) Cunard - probably theLEAST British ships at sea.:eek: Trust me...my father sailed QM2 - he was not impressed...and he knows what he's talking about!

 

Personally I think some people confuse Britishness with some sort of class pecking order....what what?;) Believe me...there is absolutely no class in looking down ones nose at anything or anyone! And many P&O people do it...they think wearing a posh frock makes you upperclass.....well it doesnt.

 

 

 

1 Well they must have listened cos we had them in October, at lunch. Loooovely.

 

2. No problem with Gin & Tonic, You will drink foreign ******.

 

3. Never had a bad meal on Arcadia and not one complaint on our table. The snails were magnificent.(They must have been British):cool: And the crepes suzette. Excellent. Spot on Steaks. Then there is Arcadian Rhodes. Just 'Superb'

 

4. Never go to shows. Linda was impressed.

 

5. Never got near an officer apart from the Portunus booze up. when we spoke to the Captain and a few others.

 

6. Pass

 

7. Pass

 

 

I am still a little confused by the term British Cruising. It must be more than Tea, G&T's, Curries and Baked Beans.

 

 

:)Happy P&O Cruising:)

 

 

Dai

[Refined Rob]

I have only been on a couple of cruises, both with Princess, and being British on board an American ship is quite a revelation.

I always think of the British persona as being middle aged, and that American persona as teenagers, trying to hard to be adults. Both have there good and bad points, but in the main we strive to be decent and honest.

A cruise liner that has more of a British style than an American style? Well I suppose it is like British Pub Grub vs. McDonalds, both supply food but in slightly different surroundings. ;)

[dak]

I think I’ll throw in my two pence worth!

What makes a British ship or cruise?

I don’t really know, since it’s quite subjective and not all Brits or Americans can be tarred with the same national brush. So in general……….

Brits seem to prefer understatement rather than “in your face” glitzy finishes. Wood, or wood effect, is much more preferable to shiny metal and lighting effects everywhere one looks.

Despite Arcadia being quite clearly a mix’n’match of HAL, Cunard and P&O, I quite like her. However the Belvedere is, in my experience, seriously (too) crowded at breakfast and lunchtimes and simply cannot cope.

Brits seem to like to be reminded that they are on a ship, rather than a floating hotel. (By and large, we seem to be passengers rather than guests.)

Brits tend to use the public rooms and open areas rather than the cabin balcony, although this seems to be changing as the new ships are festooned with balconies.

The food is undoubtedly different, but does one not eat escargots in France?

The British “afternoon tea” is one of our quaint customs I would rather keep. Our colonial cousins on Cunard seem to appreciate it too.

The passenger flow seems to be more natural and less inclined to force passage through spending opportunities (although she-who-must-be-obeyed still manages fine, thank you).

It’s fine to make an issue of formal nights, but it’s only 4 out of 14 and we have left the days behind when formality was required throughout the ship after 6pm. Personally, I think that the ship takes on an altogether more polite atmosphere on such evenings.

The casino is much smaller and is not a focal point.

The port per day is not important. Sea days are relished.

Southampton departures are not as important to me any more since the demise of BAConnect. (Perhaps Ventura could team up with FlyBE to create “Noddy Airlines” which would probably be an improvement on FlyBE’s current offering.)

I have never tried RCI or Celebrity, but I look at the Voyager webcam in the shopping mall and think “not on your life!” However, I do not discount Celebrity.

I don’t think P&O have yet had a “balcony jumper” as seems to be in vogue across the pond.

It wouldn’t do if we were all alike, but equally, under the Carnival banner, it seems to me that there is a great deal of homogenisation going on in the fleets with the standards dropping substantially.

In summary, there is a fair number of differences, but let’s keep them!!!

I would dearly love to see a 30-40,000 grt ship with a tiered fantail, a sharp bow and reasonable draught, but reality says that such ships are unlikely to see the light of day again and we are limited to boxes with blunt bows that crash into waves sending shudders through the ship. The alternative is to sail on QE2 or QM2.

So let’s make the most of what we’ve got and enjoy our cruising.

David

[daiB]

I think I’ll throw in my two pence worth!

 

What makes a British ship or cruise?

 

I don’t really know, since it’s quite subjective and not all Brits or Americans can be tarred with the same national brush. So in general……….

 

Brits seem to prefer understatement rather than “in your face” glitzy finishes. Wood, or wood effect, is much more preferable to shiny metal and lighting effects everywhere one looks.

Despite Arcadia being quite clearly a mix’n’match of HAL, Cunard and P&O, I quite like her. However the Belvedere is, in my experience, seriously (too) crowded at breakfast and lunchtimes and simply cannot cope.

Brits seem to like to be reminded that they are on a ship, rather than a floating hotel. (By and large, we seem to be passengers rather than guests.)

Brits tend to use the public rooms and open areas rather than the cabin balcony, although this seems to be changing as the new ships are festooned with balconies.

The food is undoubtedly different, but does one not eat escargots in France?

The British “afternoon tea” is one of our quaint customs I would rather keep. Our colonial cousins on Cunard seem to appreciate it too.

The passenger flow seems to be more natural and less inclined to force passage through spending opportunities (although she-who-must-be-obeyed still manages fine, thank you).

It’s fine to make an issue of formal nights, but it’s only 4 out of 14 and we have left the days behind when formality was required throughout the ship after 6pm. Personally, I think that the ship takes on an altogether more polite atmosphere on such evenings.

The casino is much smaller and is not a focal point.

The port per day is not important. Sea days are relished.

Southampton departures are not as important to me any more since the demise of BAConnect. (Perhaps Ventura could team up with FlyBE to create “Noddy Airlines” which would probably be an improvement on FlyBE’s current offering.)

I have never tried RCI or Celebrity, but I look at the Voyager webcam in the shopping mall and think “not on your life!” However, I do not discount Celebrity.

I don’t think P&O have yet had a “balcony jumper” as seems to be in vogue across the pond.

It wouldn’t do if we were all alike, but equally, under the Carnival banner, it seems to me that there is a great deal of homogenisation going on in the fleets with the standards dropping substantially.

 

In summary, there is a fair number of differences, but let’s keep them!!!

 

I would dearly love to see a 30-40,000 grt ship with a tiered fantail, a sharp bow and reasonable draught, but reality says that such ships are unlikely to see the light of day again and we are limited to boxes with blunt bows that crash into waves sending shudders through the ship. The alternative is to sail on QE2 or QM2.

 

So let’s make the most of what we’ve got and enjoy our cruising.

 

 

David

 

 

Mind but, you get a canny lot for tuppence.

 

And talking of money, WE PAY MORE. Thats better.

 

 

:):)Happy Cruising:):)

[UK family]

I think I’ll throw in my two pence worth!

 

What makes a British ship or cruise?

 

I don’t really know, since it’s quite subjective and not all Brits or Americans can be tarred with the same national brush. So in general……….

 

Brits seem to prefer understatement rather than “in your face” glitzy finishes. Wood, or wood effect, is much more preferable to shiny metal and lighting effects everywhere one looks.

Despite Arcadia being quite clearly a mix’n’match of HAL, Cunard and P&O, I quite like her. However the Belvedere is, in my experience, seriously (too) crowded at breakfast and lunchtimes and simply cannot cope.

Brits seem to like to be reminded that they are on a ship, rather than a floating hotel. (By and large, we seem to be passengers rather than guests.)

Brits tend to use the public rooms and open areas rather than the cabin balcony, although this seems to be changing as the new ships are festooned with balconies.

The food is undoubtedly different, but does one not eat escargots in France?

The British “afternoon tea” is one of our quaint customs I would rather keep. Our colonial cousins on Cunard seem to appreciate it too.

The passenger flow seems to be more natural and less inclined to force passage through spending opportunities (although she-who-must-be-obeyed still manages fine, thank you).

It’s fine to make an issue of formal nights, but it’s only 4 out of 14 and we have left the days behind when formality was required throughout the ship after 6pm. Personally, I think that the ship takes on an altogether more polite atmosphere on such evenings.

The casino is much smaller and is not a focal point.

The port per day is not important. Sea days are relished.

Southampton departures are not as important to me any more since the demise of BAConnect. (Perhaps Ventura could team up with FlyBE to create “Noddy Airlines” which would probably be an improvement on FlyBE’s current offering.)

I have never tried RCI or Celebrity, but I look at the Voyager webcam in the shopping mall and think “not on your life!” However, I do not discount Celebrity.

I don’t think P&O have yet had a “balcony jumper” as seems to be in vogue across the pond.

It wouldn’t do if we were all alike, but equally, under the Carnival banner, it seems to me that there is a great deal of homogenisation going on in the fleets with the standards dropping substantially.

 

In summary, there is a fair number of differences, but let’s keep them!!!

 

I would dearly love to see a 30-40,000 grt ship with a tiered fantail, a sharp bow and reasonable draught, but reality says that such ships are unlikely to see the light of day again and we are limited to boxes with blunt bows that crash into waves sending shudders through the ship. The alternative is to sail on QE2 or QM2.

 

So let’s make the most of what we’ve got and enjoy our cruising.

 

 

David

 

Great post David - you said just what I would have liked to have said!!:)

 

 

a

[wakelover]

Mind but, you get a canny lot for tuppence.

 

And talking of money, WE PAY MORE. Thats better.

 

 

:):)Happy Cruising:):)

 

What do you mean Dai?

[miss mental]

Hello,

 

I'm not sure what you mean about the british paying more? Do you mean we pay more in the UK than in those in US? Or do you mean P&O is more expensive than US ships? I have just booked Xmas/ New Year 08 on Ventura and I consider it to be quite reasonably priced compared to Legend & Navigator. I loved Legend, Will I dislike Ventura? I doubt it very much. I'm sure we'll love every minute of it!

 

Heather:)

[daiB]

Hello,

 

I'm not sure what you mean about the british paying more? Do you mean we pay more in the UK than in those in US? Or do you mean P&O is more expensive than US ships? I have just booked Xmas/ New Year 08 on Ventura and I consider it to be quite reasonably priced compared to Legend & Navigator. I loved Legend, Will I dislike Ventura? I doubt it very much. I'm sure we'll love every minute of it!

 

Heather:)

 

 

 

No what I am talking about are the very cheap fares offered to our American cousins compared to what we can access. eg. the following link to Vacations to Go. Many of these deals are not available to UK citizens.

 

http://www.*****.com/emailtick.cfm

 

 

Many specific deals have been highlighted in the past showing a considerable difference between what is charged in the US compared with the UK for the same cruise.:mad:

 

 

:)Happy Cruising:)

 

 

 

:cool:

Dai

[Globaliser]

I'm not sure what you mean about the british paying more? Do you mean we pay more in the UK than in those in US?

Yes: usually, if you book a particular cruise through a UK outlet, you will pay significantly more than if you were to book exactly the same cruise through a US outlet.

 

But this is very common. Not for nothing are we known as rip-off Britain.

[miss mental]

Hi

 

Can we use US TA's then ??

 

Regards,

 

Heather:confused:

[Shogun]

Hi There,

 

Missmental,

 

Yes we can use US TAs however, some cruise lines will not give you credit etc for your sea days, others make booking process hard, others refer you back to UK agents.

 

You do have a lot more protection booking through a UK agent but on a like for like sale you pay more in UK.

 

 

yours Shogun

[loobylouuk]

Hello,

 

I'm not sure what you mean about the british paying more? Do you mean we pay more in the UK than in those in US? Or do you mean P&O is more expensive than US ships? I have just booked Xmas/ New Year 08 on Ventura and I consider it to be quite reasonably priced compared to Legend & Navigator. I loved Legend, Will I dislike Ventura? I doubt it very much. I'm sure we'll love every minute of it!

 

Heather:)

 

 

Hi Heather, I also have found this.

I booked Venturer today to go in May and it was £1300 cheaper than Independence. They both look like great ships but that swung it for me.....or was it the promise of Noddy!!:)

[daiB]

Hi

 

Can we use US TA's then ??

 

Regards,

 

Heather

 

 

 

Yes you can except that you cannot book all lines. here is a quote fro the Vacations to Go web site:-

 

"Note: Holland America, MSC, Oceania, Princess and Star Clippers now prohibit U.S. travel agencies (including Vacations To Go) from selling cruises to customers who do not have a residence in the U.S. or Canada."

 

Certainly I have heard of people using V T G. but unless the cruise is UK to UK you have to arrange your own flights. I have not seen many UK to UK cruises even mentioned.

 

 

:):)Happy Cruising:):)

 

 

 

 

:cool:

Dai

[loobylouuk]

Its a good site though Dai, isn't it.

I've rung them once when we were going to USA to get a price, thinking that the advertised one might be a bit on the fictional side! but no it was the price advertised.

They seem soooo cheap its not fair!!

Lou

[daiB]

Its a good site though Dai, isn't it.

I've rung them once when we were going to USA to get a price, thinking that the advertised one might be a bit on the fictional side! but no it was the price advertised.

They seem soooo cheap its not fair!!

Lou

 

 

 

 

:mad::mad:EXACTLY:mad::mad:

 

 

 

Happy expensive Cruising

 

 

:cool:

Dai

[Refined Rob]

Quick caution,

 

I booked a cruise with a TA in Florida, because I wanted the Grand Suite and 2 other suites beside it. It saved over £10,000, but I had lots of problems with money being taken off my Amex by the TA for no reason, and it took 18 months to resolve. Also now I get invoices from Princess directly asking me to pay for the cruise which ended 2 years ago!!! :eek:

 

 

Rob.

[UK family]

Hi Heather, I also have found this.

I booked Venturer today to go in May and it was £1300 cheaper than Independence. They both look like great ships but that swung it for me.....or was it the promise of Noddy!!:)

 

Good deal Loobylou! Now then...that Noddy chap...:eek: !