Semi formal nights to be dropped on Ventura and Oceana!

[tom_uk]

Apparently, OV1 and OV2 are the two most profitable ships of their size in the whole of the Carnival Fleet.

 

It could be a reflection of the prices that UK-based passengers are prepared to pay. I believe that prices for Carnival's 3, 4 and 7-night cruises in the Caribbean, of which they do an awful lot on many ships, are very low indeed.

[bpayne5576]

I definitely will not sail P&O. I do not understand what is the wrong with evening wear being formal. It puts us in another style which shows us off or better dress. Oh well tjhis cruise goes downhill like a few more. TAKE A BATH before dinner.

[daiB]

I definitely will not sail P&O. I do not understand what is the wrong with evening wear being formal. It puts us in another style which shows us off or better dress. Oh well tjhis cruise goes downhill like a few more. TAKE A BATH before dinner.

 

 

???

 

You know this change is only 2 of the 7 ships.

 

 

:):)Happy Cruising:):)

 

 

:cool:

 

Dai

[LibraLass41]

Apparently, OV1 and OV2 are the two most profitable ships of their size in the whole of the Carnival Fleet.

 

 

Then why are they disbanding at the end of this year??

[The Welsh Man]

My Understanding is that they are going to P&O Australia.

 

I noticed your doing the Canaries on Oriana in May, I'm doing a similar trip in April 09, where are your port calls?

 

Only Ventura left then, but after recent events might be a long wait!

 

Take Care

 

Carl

[stopgo]

Then why are they disbanding at the end of this year??

You have already asked this question many times already, and its still the same answer. They are not being disbanded but redeployed to Australia, MattyBarlow already told you this on the last page.

[Single Cruiser]

Then why are they disbanding at the end of this year??

 

As others have pointed out it's not disbanding but the ships are being relocated to Australia, and in stages, only one ship this year, so OV exists until the end of 2010!

 

This point has significance because in the Carnival UK CEO Dingle's statement it refers to a "rationalisation of the fleet operations" bearing in mind March and Oct 2010 see Azura and Queen Elizabeth added to Carnivals Uk market.

 

I think its a simple question of supply and demand. OV was launched for a new market of younger cruisers, the existing ships don't have the rock walls/bowling alleys/ice rinks that would attract them and instead it has attracted some people from P&O and a mainly 50-60+ age group.

 

P&O will try and focus these people to switch to the P&O brand. For the families and younger passengers maybe ships like ... ooh Ventura & Azura?

 

Like the average workplace now and 20 years ago. Then people all wore suits no matter what, now, even our CEO of a multi-national was in his jeans and a jumper recently. The next generation of cruisers don't want the regiment of being told what to do, what to wear, when you must eat.

 

To carnival a £s a £. If I was in a sales and marketing in Carnival I'd be looking at traditional cruising on the Cunard line, the P&O line having some ships child-free and the rest adopting a more casual freestyle approach to pick up the market or they go out of business!

[LibraLass41]

From memory I think the ports are Lanzorte (never been there), Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Maderia,Vigo,

My first cruise was a canaries one with Lisbon in it,Lisbon was great especially the sail-in under the bridge.

[charben]

I don't agree with stopping semi formal nights, where can I go to sign petition?

[LibraLass41]

I don't agree with stopping semi formal nights, where can I go to sign petition?

 

I wrote a letter by email to p&o to complain as did lots of others....but it will go ahead.It is only Oceana and Ventura....

I am on a 7n Oceana cruise in August and am unhappy too, I will 5 smart casual nights.

[LibraLass41]

As others have pointed out it's not disbanding but the ships are being relocated to Australia, and in stages, only one ship this year, so OV exists until the end of 2010!

 

This point has significance because in the Carnival UK CEO Dingle's statement it refers to a "rationalisation of the fleet operations" bearing in mind March and Oct 2010 see Azura and Queen Elizabeth added to Carnivals Uk market.

 

I think its a simple question of supply and demand. OV was launched for a new market of younger cruisers, the existing ships don't have the rock walls/bowling alleys/ice rinks that would attract them and instead it has attracted some people from P&O and a mainly 50-60+ age group.

 

P&O will try and focus these people to switch to the P&O brand. For the families and younger passengers maybe ships like ... ooh Ventura & Azura?

 

Like the average workplace now and 20 years ago. Then people all wore suits no matter what, now, even our CEO of a multi-national was in his jeans and a jumper recently. The next generation of cruisers don't want the regiment of being told what to do, what to wear, when you must eat.

 

To carnival a £s a £. If I was in a sales and marketing in Carnival I'd be looking at traditional cruising on the Cunard line, the P&O line having some ships child-free and the rest adopting a more casual freestyle approach to pick up the market or they go out of business!

 

 

 

Thank you Craig for your very interesting and informed reply.

Are you in the cruise business or a very keen cruiser?

[stopgo]

I don't agree with stopping semi formal nights, where can I go to sign petition?

You could aways wear your semi formal gear on non semi formal nights as a protest. Or your smart casual on formal nights or your formals on non formal nights as a further protest.

[jestella321]

we are going on ventura in june and we are going to wear semi formal on 5 nights regardless as i think many others will also do

[tom_uk]

P&O will try and focus these people to switch to the P&O brand. For the families and younger passengers maybe ships like ... ooh Ventura & Azura?

 

P&O's problem with that approach is that I don't think Ventura & Azura are good enough. The ship in UK waters that attracted all the plaudits for family cruising last year, and which (I gather) is selling like hot cakes for this year, is Independence of the Seas. For the target market everything else palls in comparison. Ventura & Azura will definitely be seen as second-best.

[stopgo]

That's it, rubish the Azura its only just off the drawing board and your having a pop already.

[Single Cruiser]

Thank you Craig for your very interesting and informed reply.

Are you in the cruise business or a very keen cruiser?

 

I know people who work on some of the ships but also a very keen cruiser, between May 2005 and May 2009 I will have spent 2.5 months onboard.

[tom_uk]

That's it, rubish the Azura its only just off the drawing board and your having a pop already.

 

If I was to suggest that, say, Fred Olsen's Black Watch wasn't much cop as a family ship, would you regard that as rubbishing Black Watch? I wouldn't: I haven't been on her but people I know have, and have reported that if you want a traditional cruise experience on a classic ship, Black Watch is excellent. But as a family ship? - no way.

 

I wasn't rubbishing either Azura or Ventura: I've had an excellent cruise on the latter and hope to cruise on the former in summer 2010. I was simply reflecting the widely-reported view that Independence of the Seas hits the spot perfectly as a family-orientated ship, while Ventura, although better as such than other P&O ships, isn't as good for family cruising as the RCI ship.

[daiB]

P&O's problem with that approach is that I don't think Ventura & Azura are good enough. The ship in UK waters that attracted all the plaudits for family cruising last year, and which (I gather) is selling like hot cakes for this year, is Independence of the Seas. For the target market everything else palls in comparison. Ventura & Azura will definitely be seen as second-best.

 

 

Well Tom,

 

There were 3000 people on N902 who thought she was fantastic, certainly different and an excellent addition to the P&O fleet.

 

I fail to see why a ship being different should be bad, each ship in the fleet is different and there is now great choice with P&O. Let us be happy with that instead of having a pop at a ship which may not tick anyones predetermined boxes.

 

And how can anyone have a go regarding Azura when she has only started to be built.

 

No doubt I o S is fantastic, and I have no doubt that I would love her as well. However I would not put her down without sailing on her. Even then I am sure there would be enough for me to like not to do that.

 

Other factors are soon going to come into play ie currency exchange. RCI and other brands have spends on board in $'s and so what you pay this year will be 20% to 40% higher than last.

 

As we spend approx £400+ a week this would be a considerable increase.

 

 

 

:):)Happy Cruising:):)

 

 

 

 

:cool:

 

Dai

[tom_uk]

Dai:

 

I fail to see why a ship being different should be bad

 

With respect, I didn't say 'bad' : I very carefully said 'not as good' (as IotS).

 

Remember, I've been on Ventura, and had a great cruise.

[daiB]

Dai:

 

 

 

With respect, I didn't say 'bad' : I very carefully said 'not as good' (as IotS).

 

Remember, I've been on Ventura, and had a great cruise.

 

Is your statement " 'not as good' (as IotS)." not just a subjective opinion. Who made it?

 

It is difficult to say that one ship is better than another because it is so subjective. Which is why I would never say that one was better.

 

Clearly they are different and that is an objective statement.

 

But one 'better'???

 

 

 

:):)Happy Cruising:):)

 

 

:cool:

 

Dai

[Gerrym]

Well Tom,

 

There were 3000 people on N902 who thought she was fantastic

 

 

Dai, thank you, I had a very good laugh at that one. Do you have any more tall stories?

[cruisebore]

Well Tom,

 

There were 3000 people on N902 who thought she was fantastic, certainly different and an excellent addition to the P&O fleet.

 

 

Dai

Whilst you were carrying out this what appears to be an extremely comprehensive survey. Did you notice how many sun beds were free at 11.00 am on a sea day?;)

 

 

Oh and if its not too much trouble, their location please :D

 

Cruisebore

[11cookie]

Hi everyone I am going to Amazon on 7th March 2009 flying to Manaus. We have been told 4 formal nights and rest semi casual due to hot weather and also we have upgraded to premium on flight but no extra baggage has been given just 23kilo wherever you sit !!.

I love dressing up and personally this new dress code is good for the men. They are really hot with ties and jackets on so nice trousers and open neck shirts are really nice, men could still wear a tie if they wanted to. Personally wherever I go I will always wear a nice dress and look good, I have my really fancy long to floor dresses for formal etc and I still have lovely ankle length and calf length dresses for the new smart casual. All I can say is people should dress up for dinner in the restaurant and as long as the men or women dont turn up for dinner in shorts and trainers i personally dont mind. I hope if anyone dresses like this for dinner they should be refused entry to dinning room. I have cruised 4 times with P&O and love their cruises, they are very reasonable in drink prices behind bar and they still let you bring on your own alcohol not like some others that take them off you, probably because their bar prices are sky high and people drink their own in cabin.

 

Happy hols Elaine

[LibraLass41]

Hi everyone I am going to Amazon on 7th March 2009 flying to Manaus. We have been told 4 formal nights and rest semi casual due to hot weather and also we have upgraded to premium on flight but no extra baggage has been given just 23kilo wherever you sit !!.

I love dressing up and personally this new dress code is good for the men. They are really hot with ties and jackets on so nice trousers and open neck shirts are really nice, men could still wear a tie if they wanted to. Personally wherever I go I will always wear a nice dress and look good, I have my really fancy long to floor dresses for formal etc and I still have lovely ankle length and calf length dresses for the new smart casual. All I can say is people should dress up for dinner in the restaurant and as long as the men or women dont turn up for dinner in shorts and trainers i personally dont mind. I hope if anyone dresses like this for dinner they should be refused entry to dinning room. I have cruised 4 times with P&O and love their cruises, they are very reasonable in drink prices behind bar and they still let you bring on your own alcohol not like some others that take them off you, probably because their bar prices are sky high and people drink their own in cabin.

 

Happy hols Elaine

 

Hi Elaine

Firstly the 'new dress code' is for Ventura and Oceana from SOUTHAMPTON cruises so weight luggage restriction isn't a problem.

The only reason they seem to have for dropping the semi-formal nights is to relax the dress code and a lot of people are not happy about this - but then, perhaps a lot of people are, and new cruisers who are used to OV cruises which finish in 2010 may be what P&O are looking to tempt into pando.

 

Fly cruises have 4 formals and the rest Smart (not semi) casual and have done so for a long time because of the weight restiction, so nothing new on your Amazon cruise, the reason as you say is so men don't have to wear jacket and tie, and only need to do this on the 4 formals, and ofcourse this helps with luggage allowance.

 

I agree totally with your last comments about alcohol prices and taking onboard, the prices are reasonable - for now- and comparable with pub prices in the UK... lets hope they stay that way!;)

[davecttr]

I am a potential P&O cruiser and for me the relaxation of the dress code makes it more likely that I will try Ventura or Oceana next year. It always strikes me as peculiar that P&O will try to impose a dress code on its guests that a premium hotel would not!. Do hotels insist on formal attire 2 days a week not just to use the restaurant but to use ANY facilities in the hotel? In the brochure it says the days dress code applies to the WHOLE ship, not just the restaurant. I don't like dressing up but could manage a blazer or light jacket plus tie but would not like to be excluded from the casino because it is a formal or semi formal day. If you are observant even ties are less common for the fashionable, even when wearing a suit!.