Ventura without kids?

[celticfc]

Why are so many people bothering about this thread when they obviously dont want to suffer children.

 

I may cruise Ventura next year and it may well be during the school term. (Suppose you will want me publicly flogged for this crime)

 

This ship is being directly marketed at families, therefore I do not plan to hide them away in kids clubs to satisfy all of you who forget what its like to be young. Its their holiday too and they can choose kids club or formal dining, mine like a mix.

 

PO cater for Adults only they should also cater for families by barring the cantankerous, grouchy, "children should be seen and not heard" brigade.

 

The rudeness I have experienced on cruises was always from the Adults only brigade who with walking stick in hand would knock over my kids to get on the lifts before them. Like they had some define right to queue jump kids.

 

Never in my entire life have I witnessed such horrid behaviour to kids as I have on cruises. How do you explain to a small child in a buggy why a grumpy old "git" growled at them for smiling sweetly and saying hiya.

 

I seen this repeated more times than I care to remember so please please if you are intolerent to kids please do not cruise Ventura.

 

I am fed up apologising for the fact my kids are sharing your air space and will no longer tolerate this abusive rude behaviour, and will challenge this on future cruises.

[Refined Rob]

Celticfc,

 

I could not agree more with your comments, our children have been refused entry into lifts 'adults only, no children' they were told. My mother 76 was also told she could not get into a lift by other middle aged passengers because she was using a walking frame and 'there was not enough room' (only 4 people in the lift). Why people go on holiday and can't smile, and pretend that they are enjoying themselves is beyond me.

 

We could start another thread Ventura without grumpy people.:rolleyes:

 

Rob. :)

[daiB]

I agree meal times with young children is never nice, we tried the formal sittings only once and never again. We now use the anytime choice, and take the children to the buffet or the pizza area. Then ship them off to kids club and we can then go and enjoy a nice quite meal without them. Large ships are great for getting away from anyone, there is always an area that you can find without anyone around. Adult only pools and of course children only pools do help.

 

Hope you enjoy your big ship experience

 

Rob.

 

ps, we do take the children out on formal nights, very early (feed and get photos - then off to the kids club with them).

 

 

I think that children as they grow older should eat with the adults and this is an important part of their social education. In that way they learn how to behave and become a credit to there parents.

 

How ever when they are young it may be that the children are allowed to leave the table early, so that they can get on with their priority having a great time in the kids club.

 

On one of our earlier cruises we had a number of families with children and on a few nights they created a children's table. This worked fine and adults and children had a good time. There was a little noise but no more than a a table of adults having a good time.

 

Personally, as a retired teacher I am well used to children, in many situations and I am perhaps more attuned to what is normal behaviour and when it goes beyond that and needs dealing with.

 

As I have said I do like Arcadia but not because it is child free.

 

 

 

 

 

:):)Happy Cruising:):)

 

 

 

 

 

:cool:

 

Dai

[cruisebore]

Some seem too, or have I have missed the point.

Are the anti kids, anti smokers (in their place)

and presumably the anti having a good time brigade

miffed with P&O for introducing a new ship that does not match their requirements?

 

Cb

[soletread]

Hello sue hope your well been a while since I have been on the site

 

I adore the Acardia in fact of my 8 cruises so far the Arcadia was the best we did the baltics in 2006

 

We are a childless couple under 40 and although I have no issue with children I don't want to share my quality down time with them to be honest

 

To be able to sit round the pool and sip a cocktail without the constant bang bang of kid related deck entertainment squeeling and yelling is total bliss

 

I think if your on a cruise with kids other peoples don't bother you but when you don't have any to worry about why but up any body elses

 

In regards to Arcadia she is a tastfully fitted ship created for an adult market and as designer in the fashion industry I find the lack of gordy blink and falshy colours rather refreshing

 

I'm back on the Arcadia in July and cannot wait just wish there were more contempory child free ships around

[LibraLass41]

Totally agree with all your comments Soletred

 

I wish people would stop knocking Arcadia, I get fed up defending her to be honest. I think a lot of older pax just CAN'T ACCEPT she is different....she does a small atrium, she IS modern - so what? If you want glitzy OTT go on a American Ship or NCL.... Why can't there be different ships for different people...

 

Ventura is advertised as a family lovin' ship with lots of 3/4 berth cabins, go in July and August peeps but don't come back and complain about the kids onboard!:eek:

 

I will never go on a child friendly ship in the school holidays ever,

 

Sue

[StLucia]

The rudeness I have experienced on cruises was always from the Adults only brigade who with walking stick in hand would knock over my kids to get on the lifts before them. Like they had some define right to queue jump kids.

 

 

I am fed up apologising for the fact my kids are sharing your air space and will no longer tolerate this abusive rude behaviour, and will challenge this on future cruises.

I was saddened to read your comments. I do not use a walking stick, also I avoid using lifts and walk instead, because I'm able to, I leave the lifts to for those who have no choice. Maybe one day you’ll be disabled and need to use a lift. No, I do not agree that people should be rude to other adults or children. But I do not think your attitude to this sets a good example to your children. Yes, we have booked a cruise on Ventura, and I have not got a particular problem that there will be children on board. But I do think that children should be encouraged to respect others who are not as able as they are young or old.

[Host Sharon]

I have been told by someone who has actually been over her that Ventura is VERY geared towards children so hopefully she will be the ship that parents go for, leaving the lovely Aurora and Oriana for us adults!! I think you will like Artemis Jean - a truly traditional ship ...and with only one main restaurant the food was always hot!

[Host Sharon]

Totally agree with all your comments Soletred

 

I wish people would stop knocking Arcadia, I get fed up defending her to be honest. I think a lot of older pax just CAN'T ACCEPT she is different....she does a small atrium, she IS modern - so what? If you want glitzy OTT go on a American Ship or NCL.... Why can't there be different ships for different people...

 

Ventura is advertised as a family lovin' ship with lots of 3/4 berth cabins, go in July and August peeps but don't come back and complain about the kids onboard!:eek:

 

I will never go on a child friendly ship in the school holidays ever,

 

Sue

 

Why do you feel you have to defend Arcadia? We all like different things from our cruises...thank goodness!

[The Monocled Mutineer]

I don't think I have ever "knocked" Arcadia although I have a preference for the designed for the ex.UK market ships (Oriana & Aurora). The Ventura (as well as the Oceana) are ex.US market design builds that have been adapted for the ex.UK market. The Oceana is my least favourite of the currnt P&O fleet I have cruised on (only the old Arcadia [now OV1] was worse, and that was ex.US market too).

 

As regards Arcadia, I visited it in her inaugural week in Southampton, and posted this "review" shortly afterwards.

 

~~~

 

I was only on it for 2 hours back in her launch week in April 2005, but here is my opinion on her, drawn from that short experience.

Arrangements for joining the Sapphire tour (11:00 Saturday 9/4) went smoothly.

We followed more or less the self-tour guide.

1st impressions. All in all a restrained palette of colours and images with mainly modern (and sometimes fairly representational, naïve expressions of) art.

Very definitely a feeling that we would be very comfortable on this ship with a wide variety of comfortable rooms many of them quite small & intimate.

Tour deck to deck.

Sky Deck 11.

This is amid-ships reached by amid-ships lifts and staircase only. This has the highest enclosed, public space.

Given over to the ORCHID RESTAURANT and ORCHID BAR with very fine views if you are dining port or starboard. The décor was pleasing in a restrained oriental way and would be my favourite dining venue from the point of view of anticipated ambiance. I do feel that as this space is not utilised during the day, P&O should consider having the Orchid open for lunch on sea-days (with a supplement). This space was originally going to be the Queens Grill and Queens Grill Bar when the ship was destined for Cunard as

Queen Victoria.

Fwd on deck 11 can be found a large sunbathing and observation deck, observations hampered by large tinted glass forward facing screens.

Sun Deck 10.

Open decks for sunbathing. Forward can be found the CROWS NEST. Smaller than the Crows Nests on Aurora/Oriana, rather ordinary furniture and fittings and very plain ceilings.

Off from the Crows Nest, Starboard is the VICEROY ROOM. Can be reserved for private functions and was dressed for the tour as a wedding chapel.

The Skydome Roof (and its accommodation for when being slid back) took up an appreciable proportion of the available open space on this deck.

Aft and towards amid-ships can be found relaxation, gentle exercise and quiet rooms called DIVERSIONS and THE RETREAT.

Lido Deck 9

Forward can be found the GYMNASIUM, & OASIS SPA. There was a large indoor hydropool facing aft onto the NEPTUNE POOL area. This large pool and deck area is covered by the Skydome and comes complete with a bar and grill. Here we were treated to Bucks Fizz and sandwiches and nibbles. Further aft is a large self-service restaurant called THE BELVEDERE which is zoned into a number of culinary themes.

Aft of here outdoors is the AQUARIUS POOL & BAR with a large sunbathing deck. This seemed to us to be the most favoured area for living the outdoor deck life at sea. A sensational piece of kinetic water and metal sculpture adorns this pool.

The aft rail as well as looking over the wake also gazed down on the balconies of the aft suites and staterooms on decks 7, 6, 5 & 4. Deck 8 aft suites and staterooms are spared this indignity by having a metal canopy over their balconies which of course will not be popular with sunbathers who book these

cabins & suites.

Australia Deck 8

Given over to suites and cabins. The 2 aft suites Venice & Tokyo have wraparound decks but as stated in the Deck 9 description are somewhat in the shade due to the canopy over the verandahs.

The suites themselves are not true suites to me as they do NOT have a separate sitting room and bedroom. The bathrooms were spacious but were by no means opulent and only 1 toilet in the suite.

All cabins and suites have LCD TVs which takes up less space and the décor was generally pleasing. Wardrobe space for a suite was not overgenerous. Indoor suite dining could be achieved on the spacious verandah where there was a round teak table with 4 chairs.

The staterooms with balcony were much as per Aurora/Oriana and the wardrobe space was noticeably and proportionally more generous here than in the suites.

Bermuda Deck 7

Given over to suites and cabins (including suites and mini-suites amid-ships vs aft). The same comments as per suites although we thought the mini-suites were a much better value space and in keeping with our expectations.

Best value cabins are of course the inside cabins (and on lower decks the outside cabins, to a lesser extent) and were very much in keeping with the standards achieved on Aurora/Oriana. I would be delighted to cruise in one of these spaces with again the wardrobe space being quite generous given the

overall space allocated.

Canada Deck 6

Given over to suites and cabins. Not explored.

Decks 5 & 4 (sorry can’t remember the names). Given over to cabins. Not explored.

Promenade Deck 3.

A real wraparound teak deck covered in by the upper superstructure and with no real-pinch-points.

Fwd can be found THE PALLADIUN Theatre. A two tiered theatre dressed in blue and purple palette and for a ship of this size we thought appeared to be quite small. It did not seem to have the grandeur & space of Aurora/Oriana versions.

Aft of here Port side are the 3 “lecture” rooms for NEW HORIZONS and to starboard is the CYB@CENTRE. The Cyb@Centre had a very modernistic, clinical feel. Aft of the Cyb@Centre was a very pleasing looking coffee bar called CAFFE VIVO.

Aft was the Library but this was locked as were the adjacent shops.

Aft of here was a large tables and bar area called THE PIANO BAR. The décor does not stick in my mind (Remember we only had 2 hours to see everything).

CELEBRATIONS is a revenue desk where you can order flowers, special occasion packages, etc.

Aft of here to starboard is the photo gallery. I liked the feature of large blow up nostalgic photo panels on the doors of the photo displays when the photo gallery is shut. It reminded me a little of the Heritage trail onboard the QM2.

Aft can be found the upper deck of the main MERIDIAN RESTAURANT. This coupled with lower deck area (Florida Deck 2) creates a large dining space without it appearing too “prairie” like. We were not allowed down into the lower level as the “great & the good” plus Gold Portunus members were having

lunch!

The two-tiered restaurant is very much the legacy of the original design brief for Holland-America who always feature this dining room configuration on their ships.

Florida Deck 2

Fwd is the lower level of the Palladium Theatre. Aft was the MONTE CARLO Casino with the usual zoo of machines and tables. To starboard was the very pleasing RISING SUN PUB. With an authenitic “repro” (!) pub décor. My wife does not like pubs (and for that matter ship pubs) but she was quite taken by the décor and space here. The bar was also one of the longest I have seen on a ship.

Aft of here was the art gallery with the “virus” of unhung pictures creeping from this space along the corridors. To port was the GLOBE which is a versatile entertainment show-lounge (with a cinema screen evidently). It had quite an intimate atmosphere, we thought. Further to port was ELECTRA the ships

disco club which seemed to push all the right buttons décor, technology and light-show wise.

Aft was the Arcadian Rhodes. This a la carte restaurant I was surprised to see had a fairly ordinary décor although a comfortable space. With the black menus and “exciting” cuisine I was expecting décor to take my breath away.

Over to starboard we LIKED the INTERMEZZO BAR with it’s purple and pink velvets and unusual bar stools. This would be very much our pre & post prandial spot.

Aft was the SPINNAKER BAR, a large and comfortable tables & bar space.

Aft was the lower level of the Meridian Restaurant.

Greneda Deck 1

Given over to non-balconied cabins, inside cabins and the Reception. Other than passing though to embark/disembark we did not explore.

 

[celticfc]

I was saddened to read your comments. I do not use a walking stick, also I avoid using lifts and walk instead, because I'm able to, I leave the lifts to for those who have no choice. Maybe one day you’ll be disabled and need to use a lift. No, I do not agree that people should be rude to other adults or children. But I do not think your attitude to this sets a good example to your children. Yes, we have booked a cruise on Ventura, and I have not got a particular problem that there will be children on board. But I do think that children should be encouraged to respect others who are not as able as they are young or old.

 

Glad to see you were saddened!

 

Dont think I made my self clear enough to you with regard your sarcasm about using the lift.

 

Have you tried carrying a pram up 5 flights of stairs, while trying to hold a small childs hand at the same time when you suffer from muscle weakness!! Now I agree not all disabilities are evident however the pram was surely a give away as to my need to use a lift?

 

To then wait your turn for a lift to be then jostled and pushed out of the way and worse still to try and step over my pram which happened on numerous occasions almost kicking my child in the face.

 

These seemingly poor, disabled, elderly people would have given a champion sprinter a run for there money.

 

So pardon me for thinking my need was just as worthy as theres in relation to using the lift.

 

All I ask is they like me wait there turn and maybe just try a little smile when smiled at.

 

In addition RESPECT is a two way thing, show a little and you will receive a lot.

 

:p :D :)

[Refined Rob]

It does always amaze me why people feel the need to rush to get anywhere on a cruise ship, it is not as if the buffet will run out of food! :rolleyes:

 

Bit like our driving habits, always in a rush to get nowhere.

 

Rob.

[Elaine0138]

Older people are not the only ones who barge into the lifts, I have the scar to prove it.

[StLucia]

Glad to see you were saddened!

 

Dont think I made my self clear enough to you with regard your sarcasm about using the lift.

 

Have you tried carrying a pram up 5 flights of stairs, while trying to hold a small childs hand at the same time when you suffer from muscle weakness!! Now I agree not all disabilities are evident however the pram was surely a give away as to my need to use a lift?

 

To then wait your turn for a lift to be then jostled and pushed out of the way and worse still to try and step over my pram which happened on numerous occasions almost kicking my child in the face.

 

These seemingly poor, disabled, elderly people would have given a champion sprinter a run for there money.

 

So pardon me for thinking my need was just as worthy as theres in relation to using the lift.

 

All I ask is they like me wait there turn and maybe just try a little smile when smiled at.

 

In addition RESPECT is a two way thing, show a little and you will receive a lot.

 

:p :D :)

 

You did not explain in your previous posting that you were waiting at a lift with a pram. Clearly if you were, you needed to use the lift. I was not being sarcastic in relation to the lift merely honest. I have also brought up my own children but I always did and still do give way to disabled and the elderly.

This is clearly an emotive subject, but we all need to show a little more consideration to each other in life and on this board.

[Host Sharon]

Does P&O have a better reputaition when it comes to "Less kids"? Because this is what I'm looking for. No kids...sing me up.

 

Arcadia and Artemis are both child-free ships! :D

[themanwithahat]

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Edited April 24, 2015 by themanwithahat
Wrong place !