Just a couple of queries?

[Coolgran]

Have just booked our first P & O cruise on Oriana. Does every cabin have a fridge and a safe? Is tea and coffee available all day at no extra charge?

I am sure to find lots of other things to ask. We have done most of our cruising on QE2.

Any hints & tips would be welcome.

 

Coolgran

[daiB]

Have just booked our first P & O cruise on Oriana. Does every cabin have a fridge and a safe? Is tea and coffee available all day at no extra charge?

I am sure to find lots of other things to ask. We have done most of our cruising on QE2.

Any hints & tips would be welcome.

 

Coolgran

 

 

 

Hi Coolgran

 

 

1. yes

 

2. You have a kettle and tea/coffee in the cabin.

 

3. You can get Tea/Coffee in the self service venue most of the time but I am not sure if it is all day

 

 

 

:):)Happy Cruising:):)

 

 

 

:cool:

 

 

Dai

[BrianI]

Hi Coolgran,

We have just finished a cruise on QE2, last world cruise sector LA-Southampton, and frankly we were very disappointed. We did a cruise on Oriana last November so we can compare the two ships. I can see the reason for your questions as we did not have a fridge on the QE2 and the cabin was very small (outside on deck 5), and restaurants were not open continuously.

 

On Oriana you should find larger cabins, stocked with kettle, tea/coffee, biscuits, all have fridge, safe, TV, more wardrobe space and a bigger bathroom.

There are numerous places to eat and you can get coffee/tea in most.

There is the Conservatory (self service) open most of the day, the main restaurants, Peninsular and Oriental, with waiter service open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Quite often there is a speciality lunch in the Oriental, such as seafood, curry, tapas etc as an alternative to the normal lunch in the Peninsular. Afternoon tea is served in the Peninsula at 4pm. Its much better than the QE2 Queens Room as you get the choice of about 6 types of tea in your own individual teapot, or coffee, sandwiches, fresh scones, cakes, clotted cream, selection of jams etc. Tiffanys at the top of the atrium is available for light snacks (menu changes every 4 days) and individual coffees/tea (small charge) and there is a 24hr snack place called Al Frescos, near the swimming pool, that does pizzas and others. It is very popular for a late night snack as they also have sandwiches, muffins cakes etc, tea, coffee, hot chocolate (no charge) If you want to push the boat out there is the Gary Rhodes restaurant which has a supplement of £15pp, but is very good. In reality there any many more eating options than the QE2.

 

As public rooms go there is a lot more on Oriana. There is a cinema, large dance room (Harlequins), Andersons (beautiful room for a quiet drink and they serve coffee at 10am (no charge)), Pacific lounge (caberet), Lords Tavern (pub) and Crows Nest (front top) Crichtons (cards), Library, casino.

 

I am sure you will enjoy Oriana. If you want to know more just ask

 

Brian

[Coolgran]

Thank you for a very comprehensive reply. What a lot of useful information especially as you were able to compare the two ships.

Did you find QE2 more formal or about the same dress wise? I am not implying that you wore a dress:D

 

Regards

Coolgran

[BrianI]

Thank you for a very comprehensive reply. What a lot of useful information especially as you were able to compare the two ships.

Did you find QE2 more formal or about the same dress wise? I am not implying that you wore a dress:D

 

Regards

Coolgran

Yes QE2 was more formal, it was either dinner jacket or jacket and tie every night, which was a bit much in the Caribbean. The normal P&O routine on a 14 day cruise is 4 formal, four semi formal and 6 smart casual and you can pro-rata this if your cruise is not 14 days. The description of each (taken from the P&O website) is as follows

Formal

This is the opportunity for ladies to wear formal evening wear such as a ball gown, trouser suit or a cocktail dress. For men, a dinner jacket or tuxedo are the norm, otherwise a dark suit and tie or even a kilt and jacket is fine.

Semi-formal

Ladies can wear anything from tailored trousers to smart separates or an elegant dress, while men can wear a jacket and tie. However, smart shirts that do not require a tie are also acceptable when worn with a linen jacket or blazer.

Smart casual

Stylish resort or leisurewear is ideal, for example casual separates, dresses or smart jeans for ladies and openneck shirts, polo shirts and trousers or smart jeans (not shorts) for men. Men are not required to wear jackets on Smart Casual nights. We would request that sportswear, (e.g. trainers, tracksuits and football shirts) are not worn in the evenings.

 

The first night and last night are usually smart casual. The first formal is usually the second night for the Captains welcome aboard and the others are normally on sea days or short port days where itinery allows. There is usually a black and white formal night near the end and there will be a tropical night on a casual night for brightly coloured shirts/dresses.

 

I find that most ladies tend to dress up most nights regardless so you cannot be overdressed.

 

One thing I did not mention earlier is that there will be a chocoholics one day in one of the restaurants mid afterrnoon, which is always well attended, if you like chocolate cakes etc. This is followed by a walkthrough of the kitchens.

 

Brian

[Coolgran]

Once again thanks for the information, we are looking forward to our cruise, what is your opinion on the way each ship copes with rough seas?

Coolgran

[BrianI]

Once again thanks for the information, we are looking forward to our cruise, what is your opinion on the way each ship copes with rough seas?

Coolgran

Pretty much the same. The two are vitual the same weight wise. The seas were not too rough on QE2 but on Oriana last Dec we had a force 12 hurricane in the Bay of Biscay. The was an occasional heavy roll and some glasses slid off the shelf in the cabin but the motion was quite slow and most people were unaffected.

Brian

[Coolgran]

That is very re-assuring. I always felt secure on QE2 even in the Bay of Biscay in a force 10 but you seem to have done ok in a mighty force 12!!!

If there are any other tips you or anyone else has I would be glad to hear them. Thanks

 

Coolgran

[Coolgran]

Another query or two. Do P&O supply shuttle services at the ports and whereabouts in Lisbon does she dock?

Thanks in anticipation

Coolgran

[feebee_71]

Another query or two. Do P&O supply shuttle services at the ports and whereabouts in Lisbon does she dock?

Thanks in anticipation

Coolgran

 

Coolgran,

 

The question about shuttle depends on the ports and how close to the town the port is.

 

In Lisbon the ships dock quite a way outside the town and the do provide a shuttle into the main square. The first year we docked there we did our own thing and went to Cascais (a fishing town a bit further along the coast - about 30 minutes by train) we walked from the ship to the train station which was a bad idea - we were walking along the docks in very high temperatures (especially on the way back) and it took about 20 minutes to get to the station nearest the docks.

 

The second year we did the Red tram tour by ourselves - it is a round trip of most of Lisbon that starts opposite where the shuttle drops you off and took about 1 1/2 hours and had taped commentary in a range of languages. The first tour was about 10am and we bought our tickets on the tram - they cost 17 euros/adult and 8.5 euros/child.

 

One word of warning - he second time we visited Libon we only had a 1/2 day there and we went back to the queue for the shuttle bus about 11:30am and waited almost an hour for our turn to board the shuttle This may have been because everyone was trying to get back to the ship early (in time for lunch?) but it meant that the ship was almost an hour late leaving port after waiting for everyone to get back onboard.

 

Feebee_71 :)

[Coolgran]

Thanks for that Feebee the reason I wanted to know about Lisbon is that we have relatives living about 2 hours from Lisbon and if we can find out where we dock we might be able to get them to pick us up and we could then go to see where they live. If not then we will arrange to meet them in Lisbon and spend the day there, we do know Lisbon quite well, probably better than they do so either option would be ok, it is all about time really.

 

Coolgran

[BrianI]

Coolgran,

The dock normally used in Lisbon is immediately after passing under the 25 April bridge. P&O always have shuttle buses if the dock is out of the city centre and there is usually no charge.

Brian

[Coolgran]

BrianI

Thanks for that I know exactly where you mean, that is a big help to us. It is where QE2 used to also dock so we will be able to give directions. We are due to arive at 8.a.m. How long will we be before we can go ashore?

 

Coolgran

[BrianI]

BrianI

Thanks for that I know exactly where you mean, that is a big help to us. It is where QE2 used to also dock so we will be able to give directions. We are due to arive at 8.a.m. How long will we be before we can go ashore?

 

Coolgran

P&O are normally pretty quick in setting things up so you should be able to go ashore around 15mins after docking, say around 8:15 provided there are no problems like bad weather delaying the arrival or delays waiting for pilot etc.

Brian

[Draper225]

yes there is a kettle and safe, and tea and coffee in every cabin.

=]

[Coolgran]

Another query. What are the opening times of the Library?

Coolgran

[BrianI]

Another query. What are the opening times of the Library?

Coolgran

The library is open all the time but you can't take books out when the librarian is not there, as the bookshelves are locked off. Cant remember when the librarian is there but it seemed to be most of the time and I dont think you will find it a problem. There are plenty of books available for loan and also a good reference section including travel guides for most places in the world.

Brian

[Coolgran]

Thank you once more. We went on a cruise with Royal C. one year and the Library was only open for an hour or two a day and then only if someone remembered to turn up, the Oriana sounds more user friendly.

Coolgran

[BrianI]

I know what you mean. We went on a RC cruise a couple of years ago. The "library" consisted of a small alcove with a few tatty books and no librarian and it just seemed you took what you want. Oriana is totally different. There is a librarian and books are booked out to you on your cruise card. It is equally as good as QE2, if not better.

Brian