P&O Ventura

[londinium]

Hi everyone. My wife and I, after years refusing to listen to the cruise addicts, have booked a 7 day cruise on Ventura to see what it's like. The agent told us how wonderful it will be, but left lots out, such as charges for on board food, drinks and some activities. Can anyone spare the time to tell us what we will have to pay for and what is free. In particular, which restaurants if any, don't cost anything to eat in.

Any other helpful information would be nice to hear, e.g. how much for a wash and blow dry?

[stopgo]

Welcome Londinium to the wonderful and wacky world of the C/C message

board. If you go on the topic board and look for reviews of the Ventura you will find all the information you need includeing photos. Sorry I can't

help more but have not sailed on her.

[daiB]

Hi everyone. My wife and I, after years refusing to listen to the cruise addicts, have booked a 7 day cruise on Ventura to see what it's like. The agent told us how wonderful it will be, but left lots out, such as charges for on board food, drinks and some activities. Can anyone spare the time to tell us what we will have to pay for and what is free. In particular, which restaurants if any, don't cost anything to eat in.

Any other helpful information would be nice to hear, e.g. how much for a wash and blow dry?

 

Hi Londinium

 

1. Food charges..... Nil... except 2 small specialist restaurants which have a cover charge £10 to £15. You do not need to use them. The main restaurants and SS are free.

 

2. Booze same as local bar prices.

 

3. Spa services you pay for and can be pricey

 

 

 

:):)Happy Cruising:):)

 

 

 

:cool:

 

 

Dai

[BrianI]

We have just returned from Ventura and enjoyed it. From the P&O website this is what is included in the price you pay.

 

Stateroom accommodation on board your ship, with facilities as per grade booked.

 

Meals on board as follows:

 

- Early morning fruit juice, tea or coffee plus continental breakfast in your stateroom

- Light or buffet-style breakfast from a choice of different venues or a full English breakfast in the restaurants

- Mid morning coffee

- Mid morning ice cream

- Buffet-style lunch or three course lunch in the restaurants or on some days a barbecue or speciality buffet

- Snacks throughout the day from any of the Select Dining venues

- Afternoon tea with sandwiches and delicious freshly-baked cakes

- A six course dinner in the restaurant.

 

Daytime activities:

 

- The ship’s newspaper, detailing the full day’s programme of entertainment and events.

- Sun loungers on deck for sunbathing and relaxing.

- Fresh towels supplied for sunbathing and drying off after swimming.

- The use of swimming pools, whirlpool spas, gymnasium, golf driving nets, table tennis, shuffleboard, short tennis, deck football and cricket

- Card games, chess, scrabble, backgammon and Trivial Pursuit.

- Interest talks on most cruises with help and advice from our specialist lecturers. They vary from painting to beauty demonstrations and a chance to improve your dancing.

- A library stocked with mysteries, histories, romances plus guides to some of the places you’ll be visiting.

 

All evening entertainment:

 

- Captain’s Reception - a glittering occasion and an opportunity for you to meet the Captain and his officers. Naturally the drinks are on us during the Captain’s Reception!

- Lavishly staged show spectaculars. There will be compilations of West End and Broadway shows and tributes to well known stars.

- Cabarets with singers, comedians and speciality acts.

- Classical recitals and concerts on most cruises.

- A cinema on Artemis, Aurora and Oriana showing feature films including recent releases.

- Quizzes and panel games - just a bit of a challenge with a prize for the best team effort.

- Dance music with live bands, playing a wide range of music from the 40’s to the present day, and disco.

- Special theme evenings selected from Tropical, 60s & 70s and Black & White Ball theme.

 

The Reef - our children and teenagers’ programme on board Aurora, Oceana, Oriana and Ventura:

 

- A Junior Club for 2 - 4 year olds & 5 - 8 year olds, staffed by our qualified Reef Rangers, with an extensive programme of play, sport and entertainment.

- For teens (9-12 years) and teenagers (13-17 years) a full programme of activities including quizzes, sports, pool games, competitions and discos.

- Special children’s tea.

- Captain’s ‘Coketail’ Party - a chance to meet the Captain and the drinks are on us!

- A night nursery for children up to 5 years (See ‘Families’)

 

All UK and overseas port taxes.

 

UK Air Passenger Duty on fly-cruise holidays.

 

Flights from/to the UK for all fly cruise holidays.

 

Coach transfers to/from the overseas port/airport for all fly cruise holidays, if taking flights on the dates shown in each itinerary.

 

Going Ashore: Ship-to-shore tenders for when you anchor off-shore.

- Port guides with details on the history and culture, places of interest, restaurants, transport and shopping details, plus a few words of the local language and a map

- Illustrated talks by experts on your ports

- Facilities for changing your money into local currency for most of the ports of call our ships visit, subject to on board exchange rates (buy/sell).

 

 

This is what is not included

Travel Insurance.

- Travel to and from Southampton or the airport.

- Optional shore excursions at your ports of call.

- Coffee and drinks in the bars, all drinks and wines in the restaurant and in your stateroom.

- Cigarettes and tobacco though it’s worth remembering that these are at lower prices than at an equivalent standard hotel ashore.

- Dinner at the Select Dining venues is by reservation and a Select Dining charge will apply in the evening and at lunchtime in the Orchid Restaurant and Arcadian Rhodes on Arcadia, in The White Room, East and Ramblas on Ventura and at Oriana Rhodes.

- Balcony Dining on all ships.

- Tips at the end of your cruise.

- Any optional purchases made at the various outlets on board i.e. the ship’s shops, photo gallery, art auctions etc.

- Hairdressing, beauty and spa treatments on all ships.

- Kinesis gym and hydro pool on Arcadia and thermal suites on Arcadia and Ventura.

- Selected fitness classes and services.

- Telephone calls, faxes, Internet access (where applicable) and e-mails from the cyb@study.

- Laundry Service: though there are free launderettes available for your use on board.

- Room Service

A complimentary standard 24 hour room service menu is available. Charges apply to some premium items.

- All costs for medicines & treatment in the ships Medical Centre though you will find that these costs will generally be reimbursable under your holiday insurance subject to validity of cover and any excess.

- Any scheduled flight upgrades.

- Airport hotels for fly cruise holidays are offered at a special rate.

- Any vaccination or visa costs.

- Optional entertainment facilities including handicraft materials, bingo, golf simulator, souvenir programmes and computer services.

- Special shuttle bus and city transfer services.

 

 

I dont know why they mention shuttle buses as I have never paid for a shuttle bus with P&O. We never used the "pay" restaurants as the main restaurants were more than adequate although we did have the tapas in the Ramblas bar, which costs £2.50 for any three of the menu (out of about 10 choices.)

I would also add that the self service restaurant is open 24hours and there is a pizza place near the swimming pool. There is a coffe place at the bottom of the atrium and although you pay for the coffee, the selection of cakes, tarts etc displayed alongside are free. You will not go hungry

Brian

[tom_uk]

The 'extra charge' restaurants are East ("Pan-asian fusion"); The White Room (menus by Marco Pierre White); and Ramblas (spanish-style).

 

Have look at my blog for my account of a recent cruise on Ventura:

http://tomtotley.wordpress.com/previous-cruises/cruises-in-2008/ventura-cruise/

[londinium]

Many thanks for replies so far. I found the agent had mislead us and phoned P&O to check on some stuff. Lucky I did or we would have been upset during the cruise. Thanks again. :)

[StLucia]

Just back from the wonderful transatlantic on Ventura. The prices for the specialist restaurants went up for our cruise to:

White Room - £25

East - £15

Ramblas - £5 for full menu or various for tapas.

 

We went in white's and thought it was very good. Did not go in the others but everyone we met enjoyed them.

 

Drinks are a fair price, cocktail of the day good value at £2.50 otherwise £3.95 for a pina cola, lovely. No 15% automatic service.

 

Hope you have a wonderful time.

[Aplmac]

Nice recent pics of Ventura at URL..

http://www.angelfire.com/wizard2/cncisland/bigships/ventura.html

 

 

 

Here's one..

 

 

You can view a larger image of the above

by clicking on the pic you'll find at URL..

http://pictures.cruisecritic.com/showphoto.php?photo=5847&cat=509

[stopgo]

Just back from the wonderful transatlantic on Ventura. The prices for the specialist restaurants went up for our cruise to:

White Room - £25

East - £15

Ramblas - £5 for full menu or various for tapas.

 

We went in white's and thought it was very good. Did not go in the others but everyone we met enjoyed them.

 

Drinks are a fair price, cocktail of the day good value at £2.50 otherwise £3.95 for a pina cola, lovely. No 15% automatic service.

 

Hope you have a wonderful time.

If you go before 6-30 the White Room is £15 and East £12 50p

[idparky]

If you go before 6-30 the White Room is £15 and East £12 50p

 

Wrong again!

 

The White Room and East only open at 6:30pm.

 

The prices actually vary depending on the length of your cruise.

The shorter the cruise the more expensive the restaurant.

[idparky]

Welcome Londinium to the wonderful and wacky world of the C/C message

board. If you go on the topic board and look for reviews of the Ventura you will find all the information you need includeing photos. Sorry I can't

help more but have not sailed on her.

 

How strange!

 

In this thread you claim to have sailed on Ventura :-

 

http://cruiseforums.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=880474&page=2

 

Lies now?

[Gerrym]

How strange!

 

In this thread you claim to have sailed on Ventura :-

 

http://cruiseforums.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=880474&page=2

 

Lies now?

 

 

 

Its nice to see alot of positive reviews for the Ventura, its a ship thats difficult not to fall in love with. From the moment you step on board its like visiting an old friend, familiar and a feeling of belonging that surounds you as soon as you step on board.

 

 

hmmmm

[capnpugwash]

hmmmm

 

This is fantastic, a nautical Midsomer Murders. :cool:

[stopgo]

Welcome Londinium to the wonderful and wacky world of the C/C message

board. If you go on the topic board and look for reviews of the Ventura you will find all the information you need includeing photos. Sorry I can't

help more but have not sailed on her.

At the time of this posting 30th Oct, I had not sailed on her. Last month was when I took my 2 week holiday. We got the reduced price at the White Room and East because we dined before 6-30, I hope this clears things up for you.

[BrianRennie]

Hi everyone. My wife and I, after years refusing to listen to the cruise addicts, have booked a 7 day cruise on Ventura to see what it's like. The agent told us how wonderful it will be, but left lots out, such as charges for on board food, drinks and some activities. Can anyone spare the time to tell us what we will have to pay for and what is free. In particular, which restaurants if any, don't cost anything to eat in.

Any other helpful information would be nice to hear, e.g. how much for a wash and blow dry?

We noticed there was a vast array of extra revenue earners on our Tropical Delights 7-21 Nov, which we found annoying.

 

(1) Internet 100 mins £21 plus login name charge £2.95 I think it was - rip off!

(2) Room Service - pizza and other items charged, most petty as pizza free in Frankies.

(3) Most decent films on the TV - £3.95 or £5.95 (and decent still meant not the latest)

(4) White Room £20 pp, East £10 pp, Ramblas £2.50 or £5 (There were deals though)

(5) Photos - very expensive - first time we've not purchased any photos on a cruise.

(6) Excursions - very expensive - we didn't bother with any.

(7) Tips - your account will be debited automatically if you are on freedom dining - £22.40 each! we cancelled this, as we only ate there 3 times in 14 nights.

 

Apart from this, we were unimpressed by the cruise overall.

[stopgo]

P/O cruiseing doesn't suit everybody, but at least you have tried it. Its the way cruise holidays are going on P/O, cheaper holidays but extra charges once on board.

[stopgo]

I know its off topic, but does anybody know whats happened to idparky, he seens to have taken a vow of silence.