P&O/Princess Help please...

[luv2cruzuk]

Hi All,

 

We've only ever sailed on Princess, however we are going on Cunard's QM2 in January and then Ventura in May, followed by Arcadia in November.

 

Can you please give me your opinions on Dress Code comparisons and general atmosphere/activities/food on the P&O ships compared with Princess.

 

Basically, I really like Princess... so am I going to like P&O just as much? or more?

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Oh one other thing... we usually choose Anytime Dining on Princess.. Do P&O offer this arrangement?

 

David.

[tom_uk]

Re. comparisons with 'Anytime Dining' on Princess: P&O do indeed do something comparable, at least on the ships you will be cruising on. Here's a link to a page about the options on Ventura:

http://www.pocruises.com/pocruising/learnmore-ventura-freedom-dining.aspx

 

and on Arcadia:

http://www.pocruises.com/pocruising/learnmore-arcadia-freedom-dining.aspx

 

Both ships also feature 'Select Dining', which is basically the extra-cost restaurants.

 

Since you've cruised on Golden Princess several times, you might find Ventura a tad disconcerting. She'll be very similar, but there will be differences in certain locations.....

 

As to whether you'll like P&O as much as you like Princess, only time will tell. What was it about Golden Princess that made you really like it?

[luv2cruzuk]

Hi Tom,

 

Thanks for your reply...

 

I'll take a look at those links a bit later. As for Golden Princess.... I guess, it's because she was my 'first'! Also the fact that there was so much to do on board and so many places to hang out, due to the size of the ship.

 

I'm probably one of the few who actually likes the Skywalkers design, and also like all the different pools and dining venues.

 

Will P&O be much more formal than Princess? I don't mind formal.. perhaps that's another reason why I like Princess... to me they had the Formal balance just right (for me anyway).

 

In anycase, I'm sure I will like P&O... as you say, time will tell. In my opinion, Golden was so much better than the Sea Princess for various reasons... age of ship & passengers, size, dining venues, activities, stability at sea etc (But that is just my opinion)

 

Anyway, I shut up talking about Princess too much... this is the P&O board after all.

 

Cheers,

 

David

[Esprit]

Our first 3 cruises were with P&O and were great (2 Caribbean and 1 Med').

 

I didn't care much for the wasted days to and from Southampton and really wanted to go to the Med again so we tried Princess last year. WOW! So much better than P&O in all respects.

 

We like formal nights too but it didn't bother us that there were fewer of them on Princess and it was noticable the number of passengers that didn't bother or changed after diner. It didn't spoil our enjoyment of those nights one bit.

 

For us the thing we liked above P&O was the friendliness of the other passengers. No moaners and no rudeness from OAP's (who are a rare sight on Princess ships anyway). Our teenage kids also loved meeting up with other nationalities and continue to maintain contact via the internet.

 

I had given Ventura close consideration but the itineraries were so poor compared to Princess and we had such a fantastic time aboard Emerald last month we booked it again for next summer the week we got home.

 

We will sail with P&O again and most likely on Ventura but only in the Caribbean. To go on Oceana again having been used to the size of Grand and Emerald and all they have to offer I'm sure I'll be disappointed with the lack of variety.

[MattOsprey]

Hi,

We have done P&O and Princess, and loved them both.

 

My wife prefered Princess and I prefered P&O.

 

To be fair, there isn't much in them. I thought P&O was slightly more formal (which we like), with most men wearing tuxedo's.

 

The thing I liked more on P&O was the fact that the entertainment was British based. Quiz's that involved UK questions rather than questions about America's founding fathers. The comedian was Roy Walker. These are the things I prefered. That said, there were great American's onboard Princess. It was nice to see a different culture. The casino has craps tables, which are brill.

 

You are so lucky to have three fantastic cruises booked!!!

 

I am sure you will love them all.

[jo-b]

We've cruised both and enjoyed both.

 

I think P&O dress codes are very similar, but are adhered to by more people and for the whole evening.

 

We are also trying QMII in October for a crossing (not a cruise I understand from their boards!) and that seems to be more formal than P&O. But who knows until you try it.

 

If it is a cruise what else can you do but have a great time! :)

[luv2cruzuk]

Thanks for all your replies... you have reassured me in many ways.

 

Yes, I'm very lucky to have 3 cruises booked.... I've got to have something to look forward to all the time and I think cruises are such good holidays. I'm a 33 year old guy and am certainly hooked!

 

Regards,

 

David.

 

PS. Hey Jo, the QM2 Transatlantic will be great! I love crossing the Atlantic and it will be great on that ship I'm sure... something really special.

[LibraLass41]

P&O formal nights are very well adhered too. Even on the 3n cruise I came off a few days ago nearly all the men were in tux, and no one changes back into other clothes afterwards, I have read American Princess pax do. P&O of course is very british, using £ instead of $, UK voltage plugs, brit entertainers and brit pax. Which is the main reason I choose them.:D

I love sailing out of Southampton. The 2-3 days at sea give you a chance to wind down and time to explore the ships nooks and crannies before the first port.

 

Sue

[cruisebore]

IMHO

1) Food is better on Princess.

2) Generally staff seem friendlier on Princess, I like the way they learn your family name rather than the 'cop out' sir and madam.

3)Captain's Circle benefits are a zillion times better than the Portunus Club.

 

P&O 9 cruises 3 more booked

Princess 13 cruises 1 booked

 

Cb