Harding Bros - Going, going ....

[david63]

Gone - well at least on Ventura - http://www.pocruises.com/explore/articl ... t-q-and-a/

From reading that article it looks as if the new "retail partner" is a firm called Dufry which appears to be Miami based. I wonder if we will notice any difference with their merchandise or will it still be the same?

Perhaps the "Paddy's markets" will go - we can only live in hope

[Whynd1]

In my opinion they will no great loss, especially seeing what was on offer on Oriana last week.

Lindsey

[poole boy]

Does anybody know when the Ventura refit is happening

[david63]

Does anybody know when the Ventura refit is happening

It is happening now - she is due back in Southampton on Tuesday

[Mervyn and Trish]

I could definitely live without the car boot sales cluttering the atrium

[Suekersh]

Also going on Aurora from May this year.

[poole boy]

Thankyou david63 have not heard anything about this refit but we are trying ventura for the first time to the canaries in late october so lets hope they make a good job of it

[screwy]

Gone - well at least on Ventura - http://www.pocruises.com/explore/articl ... t-q-and-a/

From reading that article it looks as if the new "retail partner" is a firm called Dufry which appears to be Miami based. I wonder if we will notice any difference with their merchandise or will it still be the same?

Perhaps the "Paddy's markets" will go - we can only live in hope

Dufry is the same duty free outlet thats in many Airports.

[Gill W]

Just back from Fred Olsen's Balmoral, and the retail outlets there were Hardings. Therefore the shopping experience was the same as P&O. The logoed goods were the same as you'd get on P&O, just labelled up Fred Olsen or Balmoral. The tat tables were much in evidence too. I think it's about time P & O changed the retail franchise and Hardings are very stale now. I'll be curious to see what is different with this new group

[colin parry]

When we first started cruising, Allders had the concession for the shops on P&O ships. Although not 'topclass' they were certainly superior to Hardings. I'm not sure they even exist anymore. Like many other of their changes, e.g. MPW for Gary Rhodes, it makes you wonder what criteria they use, or can we guess!