P&O mania

[The-Sev]

Hi again,
It seems that most of the conversations here revolve around which P&O ship that members have been on or are booked to depart on....
Do any of the regulars actually sail on any other cruise line?
I was hoping for a more eclectic set of discussions, that could help me with upcoming choices.
In fact, the whole forum seems very under populated...lots of posts from 7 to 10 years ago.
Tumbleweed...

[Meg 50]

it's because this forum was borne out of the failings of P&O at keeping their own forum going - so David set this one up for regulars from there.

so it is a tad P&O centric though other lines are discussed - even river cruises...

Lockdown stopped a lot of cruises, so there is a natural break -which has taken a while to grow out

[The-Sev]

Okie dokie,
Thank you for the reply Meg. I don't think this site will suit my purposes so, although I'm sure everyone is lovely, I think I'll spread my wings further afield.

[Meg 50]

BUT - this forum is not attached to any travel agent - unlike several of the larger ones - which means it is easier to be objective and critical as necessary - isn't always easy when a board is moderated by someone 'with an axe to grind'

[Onelife]

Hi Meg, I’ve never thought of it that way…point well made.

[Stephen]

The-Sev
Do any of the regulars actually sail on any other cruise line?

Yes.
Apart from P&O we have sailed on Celebrity and Saga.

If you look down the forum home page you will find various members discussions on a variety of cruise lines.

[Ranchi]

Done a couple on Princess & have another booked. Having said that we have done many more on P&O(though the newest P&O ship we have sailed on is Britannia.) Things have changed on P&O but we still quite like the product. When we have travelled Princess before we had an v good offer on their ‘Plus’ package. This gives staff gratuity ~$15 ppday, drinks package, (at the time) also free use of Alfredo’s Italian, free Wi-Fi & a few other perks. We don’t drink but the plus package worked fine for us…at that price. We haven’t booked it on our forthcoming cruise. Princess have a medallion system for your cabin door, purchases and even tracking cabin companions around the ship. The madeallion along with the app means can order a drink & the waiter will find you…it does work. Theatre shows are better on Princess. I guess you can detect a but!
Well here goes. Princess have a very positive vibe perhaps a bit bright for us. The daily programme is chock full of full but most activities are unhosted and therefore don’t always go ahead. For example Ballroom dancing was scheduled for 5:30 to 6:30 on Sky Princess. At about 5:20 a couple of crew members started to move seats & tables to the edge of the Live lounge and at 5:30 piped music started to play. Ballroom dancing box ticked but no real commitment to it. P&O have hosted dancing sessions. In a similar vein, there was a table tennis competition scheduled most days but the ents staff decided that games would only go to 7 points ‘otherwise it would take too long.’ We also found Sky quite crowded ( much more crowded than P&O’s similarly hulled Britannia.) Finding a seat around the atrium in the evening was very difficult…although the drinks waiter did manage to find us in the future cruises office (the only seats we could find) that had closed for the evening.
Dining; we prefer MDR on P&O. Princess MDR food looks good but sometimes disappoints. Buffet provision on Princess is much more comprehensive than On P&O. Princess also have an International Cafe which is very good for snacks etc. late into the night. Big casino on Princess.
We like the organised activities on P&O; quoits, shuffleboard and table tennis. We find these activities are fun but also quickly build up a network of acquaintances and this gives the ship a friendlier feel.
Princess ships are glitzier than P&O.

[Portsmouth]

I think I'll spread my wings further afield.

Hello The-Sev, Be a shame if you did leave..
As some above have said, this forum does not just stick to P&O cruise ships it covers several other cruise lines. Not everyone posts about their cruises but even so, some are willing to make a reply about the lines they have cruised with, when a question is raised. So keep in touch and let us know how your cruise was when you return

[Onelife]

Yes’, especially about the fine dining etiquette…I’d love to hear how the other half live