Little things
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Topic author - Second Officer
- Posts: 236
- Joined: June 2016
Little things
What little things no longer seen/done/given would you like to see return for P&O cruises?
What little things currently seen/done/given would you be happy to give up?
Personally, I would love the brass band and ticker tape send off we had on our very first cruise but haven't seen since. I would also love the cruise overview sheet which used to be waiting in the cabin as you boarded. It outlined, inter alia, the various acts on board, the guest speakers, the formal nights, and helped put the whole cruise in context and allow one to sort out specialist dining etc.
In exchange for those I would be extremely happy not to have slippers or 'grade pins'. In addition, the after dinner sweet offerings, which I find make my teeth scream
I note the loss of, but do not particularly mourn, big biscuits and after dinner savouries.
What about you? What have I forgotten (or never experienced, only having started cruising in 2010)
What little things currently seen/done/given would you be happy to give up?
Personally, I would love the brass band and ticker tape send off we had on our very first cruise but haven't seen since. I would also love the cruise overview sheet which used to be waiting in the cabin as you boarded. It outlined, inter alia, the various acts on board, the guest speakers, the formal nights, and helped put the whole cruise in context and allow one to sort out specialist dining etc.
In exchange for those I would be extremely happy not to have slippers or 'grade pins'. In addition, the after dinner sweet offerings, which I find make my teeth scream
I note the loss of, but do not particularly mourn, big biscuits and after dinner savouries.
What about you? What have I forgotten (or never experienced, only having started cruising in 2010)
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- Commodore
- Posts: 15991
- Joined: January 2013
- Location: Down Souf. The civilised end of the country :)
Re: Little things
My wife misses the route map in the brochure for each cruise.
And yes, the brass band send off.
We don't miss paying the silly price for the measly sail-away champaign.
And yes, the brass band send off.
We don't miss paying the silly price for the measly sail-away champaign.
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- Ex Team Member
- Posts: 11358
- Joined: January 2013
- Location: Cumbria
Re: Little things
Oh yes, the brass band, or better still the pipe band at sailaway. It's not the same without it. I like the chocolate truffles after dinner but not keen on those jelly things (turkish delight?) and bits of cake/biscuit. Glad you can still get strawberries dipped in chocolate which are absolute heaven. Sorry to see the demise of the little plastic wallets for your cruise card. We now take along those plastic ones you sometimes get with train tickets.
Not keen on the new biscuits which are invariably broken when you open them (and don't travel well!!!) much as I was fed up with the old oat crumbles.
Not keen on the new biscuits which are invariably broken when you open them (and don't travel well!!!) much as I was fed up with the old oat crumbles.
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- Commodore
- Posts: 15991
- Joined: January 2013
- Location: Down Souf. The civilised end of the country :)
Re: Little things
With you there Foxy about the biscwits, loved the old oat crumblies. These new ones although OK just don't cut the mustard. Cut backs again.
Silver service is another thing I miss.
I'd like to see each bar stock the drinks as advertised. For example, you want a draught Stella, all the bar menus list it but only one actually has it! At least that was the case on Aurora!
Silver service is another thing I miss.
I'd like to see each bar stock the drinks as advertised. For example, you want a draught Stella, all the bar menus list it but only one actually has it! At least that was the case on Aurora!
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- Senior First Officer
- Posts: 2271
- Joined: January 2013
- Location: sarf London
Re: Little things
our first cruise had umpteen different ways with potatoes - usually 2 variations at each dinner and rarely repeated.
these days we're lucky if we get 2 variations all cruise
these days we're lucky if we get 2 variations all cruise
Meg
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- Commodore
- Posts: 15991
- Joined: January 2013
- Location: Down Souf. The civilised end of the country :)
Re: Little things
And they can't cook a proper roast potato to save their lives.Meg 50 wrote:our first cruise had umpteen different ways with potatoes - usually 2 variations at each dinner and rarely repeated.
these days we're lucky if we get 2 variations all cruise
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- Commodore
- Posts: 15991
- Joined: January 2013
- Location: Down Souf. The civilised end of the country :)
Re: Little things
Dump the pillow chocolate and upgrade the biscuits
Bring back the lunchtime made to order sandwich bar.
Bring back the lunchtime made to order sandwich bar.
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- Ex Team Member
- Posts: 11358
- Joined: January 2013
- Location: Cumbria
Re: Little things
I like to go back to my cabin to find the pillow chocolate but as a confessed chocoholic I would.
I don't know what they do with the roast potatoes because they are like no others I have ever had.
On some ships they plate up an example of each of the sweets so you get a preview as you enter the dining room. I think that's a good idea as they always look totally different when you get them to what you think you are ordering.
I don't know what they do with the roast potatoes because they are like no others I have ever had.
On some ships they plate up an example of each of the sweets so you get a preview as you enter the dining room. I think that's a good idea as they always look totally different when you get them to what you think you are ordering.
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- Commodore
- Posts: 15361
- Joined: February 2013
Re: Little things
I hate the odd after dinner things these days, especially the shrivelled up dry cake things. I'd be happier with an After Eight!
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- Captain
- Posts: 11366
- Joined: January 2013
Re: Little things
Hi Obf...like you I loved the sail away bands
How about a few professional photographers instead of the hordes of unfocused kids popping up around every corner inviting us to say cheese!!
How about a few professional photographers instead of the hordes of unfocused kids popping up around every corner inviting us to say cheese!!
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- First Officer
- Posts: 1973
- Joined: August 2013
- Location: Poole Dorset.
Re: Little things
I think the supposed roast potatoes are steamed and then coloured with caramel and baked just enough to dry them out. At least the roast pots are roasted on QM2.
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- Commodore
- Posts: 15991
- Joined: January 2013
- Location: Down Souf. The civilised end of the country :)
Re: Little things
Mervyn and Trish wrote:I hate the odd after dinner things these days, especially the shrivelled up dry cake things. I'd be happier with an After Eight!
Agree, they're horrible. More cut backs
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- Senior Second Officer
- Posts: 762
- Joined: January 2013
- Location: Ellan Vannin
Re: Little things
Well that's all put me off completely. We haven't cruised for five years but were going to the Med with Arcadia in two weeks time. We're not going to bother now.
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- Deputy Captain
- Posts: 8977
- Joined: January 2013
- Location: Huddersfield
Re: Little things
I'm with you Meg, where have all the variations gone there far too many flavourless new potatoes and those odd hexagonal shaped roast potatoes, although on Britannia last month the roast potatoes were more appetising, maybe they were Aunt Bessie's. Rarely do we see all the tasty variations of mashed potatoes, or duchesse, Lyonaisse, dauphinoisse, hasselback etc, Celebrity certainly do provide more variety in their menus and their overall food standard is much higher, just a shame P&O can't do similar.Meg 50 wrote:our first cruise had umpteen different ways with potatoes - usually 2 variations at each dinner and rarely repeated.
these days we're lucky if we get 2 variations all cruise
John
Trainee Pensioner since 2000
Trainee Pensioner since 2000
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- Captain
- Posts: 11366
- Joined: January 2013
Re: Little things
kaymar wrote:Well that's all put me off completely. We haven't cruised for five years but were going to the Med with Arcadia in two weeks time. We're not going to bother now.
Hi kaymar....As you haven't cruised for five years you will undoubtedly notice some of the changes/cutbacks but they will hardly impact on the enjoyment of your cruise
Go for it.
Regards
Keith
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- First Officer
- Posts: 1861
- Joined: January 2013
- Location: Hampshire
Re: Little things
I agree about the biscuits - rarely can you open a packet to find even one that's not broken - don't know how they can continue with using the supplier - suppose they are cheap! If they are going to provide biscuits then at least let's have ones that come out of the packet whole. They could get rid of the pins - do they still supply them, don't remember them on our last cruise in May? I also agree about the biscuit/cake things they put on the table after dinner - chocolates lovely, the rest no thank you.
I'm not keen on the Baked Alaska thing myself but I know lots of people are but now no flambee at the table. I was reading an old cruise diary last night and I'd written about the Head Waiter coming round with the brandy and lighting it on the Baked Alaska.
Carole
I'm not keen on the Baked Alaska thing myself but I know lots of people are but now no flambee at the table. I was reading an old cruise diary last night and I'd written about the Head Waiter coming round with the brandy and lighting it on the Baked Alaska.
Carole
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- Senior Second Officer
- Posts: 815
- Joined: September 2014
Re: Little things
I know there is no chance of it ever returning but I liked the old film movies. The DVD or whatever they use now leaves me a bit cold.
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- Second Officer
- Posts: 389
- Joined: February 2013
- Location: Mold
Re: Little things
Variety seems to be missing now. There used to be many different themed cruises, newcomers, anniversary, antiques, sporting, Richard Baker music cruises ( quite a few more than we now have). Every evening dining was an 'event' with the beautiful coloured menus on the table. There was no need for select dining then although I do miss Gary Rhodes from the late naughtiest. The current obsession with so called celebrity chefs does nothing for me although I accept many people like them.
We did our first cruise on a newcomers cruise in 1997 and received £50 obc which was a big help at the time. Anniversary cruises(had to be an anniversary ending 0 or 5) also attracted obc and a free Photo and cocktail party. I could go on but all I would sAy is that cruising I still incredibly good value even though I now get lumbered with the dreaded single supplement.!
We did our first cruise on a newcomers cruise in 1997 and received £50 obc which was a big help at the time. Anniversary cruises(had to be an anniversary ending 0 or 5) also attracted obc and a free Photo and cocktail party. I could go on but all I would sAy is that cruising I still incredibly good value even though I now get lumbered with the dreaded single supplement.!
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- Second Officer
- Posts: 389
- Joined: February 2013
- Location: Mold
Re: Little things
Sorry, I got carried away a bit . I should have just said the little things I miss are Artemis and Adonia. And it should have read Naughties and not Naughtiest!
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- Senior First Officer
- Posts: 4897
- Joined: January 2013
- Location: Kent
Re: Little things
What about the real rose for the ladies on formal night. That was always a nice touch
Gill
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- First Officer
- Posts: 1839
- Joined: February 2013
- Location: Gower, Swansea
Re: Little things
I miss the lovely biscuits too, the ones these days are almost inedible.
Warners have lovely packets of biscuits.
Lindsey
Warners have lovely packets of biscuits.
Lindsey
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- Senior First Officer
- Posts: 2861
- Joined: March 2013
- Location: Lancashire
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- Senior Second Officer
- Posts: 762
- Joined: January 2013
- Location: Ellan Vannin
Re: Little things
Onelife wrote:kaymar wrote:Well that's all put me off completely. We haven't cruised for five years but were going to the Med with Arcadia in two weeks time. We're not going to bother now.
Hi kaymar....As you haven't cruised for five years you will undoubtedly notice some of the changes/cutbacks but they will hardly impact on the enjoyment of your cruise
Go for it.
Regards
Keith
Well, OK then, onelife. We've been to the Pound shop and bought some custard creams and a packet of After Eights. That should do it and sod the extra expense. I'm also checking out prices for a brass band.
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- Senior Second Officer
- Posts: 526
- Joined: January 2013
- Location: Derbyshire
Re: Little things
I agree wholeheartedly with Sunseeker and OBF.
Slightly off topic. Colin, I am now in the same position as you. I cancelled the Cruises my darling Husband and I had booked, then some friends asked me about one of them. I thought long and hard and rebooked it. I have to pay the balance in a couple of weeks and, honestly, don't know whether I can go through with it just yet. The Cruise isn't until January and I might feel a lot different then, but, to loose the deposit is a lot less than losing the whole lot. What a decision?
Slightly off topic. Colin, I am now in the same position as you. I cancelled the Cruises my darling Husband and I had booked, then some friends asked me about one of them. I thought long and hard and rebooked it. I have to pay the balance in a couple of weeks and, honestly, don't know whether I can go through with it just yet. The Cruise isn't until January and I might feel a lot different then, but, to loose the deposit is a lot less than losing the whole lot. What a decision?
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- First Officer
- Posts: 1195
- Joined: February 2015
- Location: Nottingham
Re: Little things
I would love a brass band send off especially for our Christmas Cruise on Oceana, a band playing Christmas tunes as we set sail would be great.