PO changes

[jacksparrow]

I am looking at a cruise on Arcadia next year but have heard that there has been some changes to how p and o do things on board ie no trays in the buffet, the steward only services cabins once a day, things like that. I was wondering if it was true and what other possible changes there has been. Thanks for any replies.

[Stephen]

Correct.

Cabins are only serviced in the morning.

[Ray B]

Yes, no trays buffet , but it hasn't caused us any convenience.

[Meg 50]

which cruise are you looking at? We have an Arcadia booked next year having tried Britannia and found it 'not for us'

[jacksparrow]

Hi Meg Mediterranean on May 1st also the one to Egypt August 2027

[oldbluefox]

Many changes to P&O and IMO not for the better. It's not what it was
Consequently we are jumping ship and trying out Ambassador. We wait and see what they are like.

[towny44]

Many changes to P&O and IMO not for the better. It's not what it was
Consequently we are jumping ship and trying out Ambassador. We wait and see what they are like.

Nothing is what it was, including the govt and both our football teams.

[oldbluefox]

Too true but we can change cruise lines. Football teams,........that's another matter.

[CaroleF]

Jack, I'm on Arcadia next week so will tell you what I think of things. I last went on a short 4 night cruise on Aurora in 2023, before that it was Aurora back in 2019. I haven't been on Arcadia since around 2013. She had a refit last October/November so she should be looking pretty smart. There were changes I noticed on my short 2023 cruise but short cruises are never good ones to compare with a longer cruise. My Arcadia cruise is 16 nights so that I will be able to judge better how things have changed. On the short cruise, yes cabin only serviced once a day. There were differences in the Dining room in the evening. The menus were shorter, there were no wine waiters and when the waiter took our order he wanted us to say what we wanted for dessert. I asked if that was really necessary as I didn't know what I'd fancy once I had eaten a starter and main course. He said it was preferable but he was prepared to wait if that was what I wanted. I said it was what my daughter and I wanted so we didn't order until we'd finished the main course. Another thing I noticed which in all my more than 30 cruises hadn't happened before was that on a port day my daughter went off to meet a friend in Amsterdam and I stayed on the ship. I was using a wheelchair at that time as I now have walking difficulties. So when the Steward came to the cabin around 10.30ish I said to come in and please get on with servicing the cabin. He said in order to do that I needed to vacate the cabin. I said I'd go and sit on the balcony, which previously I've done if I was in the cabin, never in over 30 cruises had I been asked to vacate the cabin. He insisted. I pointed out that as I was using a wheelchair that my daughter was pushing it was not easy for me to disappear for 15 mins. In the end I managed to go down to Raffles for a coffee. Maybe this is a new requirement, but certainly not one I've come across before. It will be interesting to see if the same thing happens this time, although it won't be such a problem as I will have a scooter so I'll be able to go under my own steam. I'm looking forward to the cruise and I expect to have a great time.

[Meg 50]

Jack, I'm on Arcadia next week so will tell you what I think of things. .... I haven't been on Arcadia since around 2013. She had a refit last October/November so she should be looking pretty smart. There were changes I noticed on my short 2023 cruise but short cruises are never good ones to compare with a longer cruise. My Arcadia cruise is 16 nights so that I will be able to judge better how things have changed.

There were differences in the Dining room in the evening. ..... when the waiter took our order he wanted us to say what we wanted for dessert.

we didn't have that on Britannia last year. I wonder if it just Arcadia or fleet wide?

We are on Arcadia next July - first time since 2007. So I'll be interested to hear your thoughts too

[barney]

We’ve done six with P&O post Covid.
There are changes but in my opinion, relatively insignificant.
No trays in the buffet ? Well, we rarely use the buffet so it doesn’t affect us. On the occasions that we did use it, there were no issues.
No night turn down? Again, didn’t bother us. I actually put the side lamps on before we leave the cabin.

Sure they appear to have cut back on things, but given the post Covid financial predicament, that’s sort of understandable.

Is it as special as it was?
Probably not.
Is it good value for money when compared to other holidays?
I’d say yes, personally.

We’ve done a couple of Ambassador as well and enjoyed them very much but like P&O, they don’t fall into the luxury category.

We had a land holiday in Malta a few weeks back and it was a good hotel but cost significantly more than the cruise alternative.

[oldbluefox]

You do pay more for luxury, it's true. However when I go on holiday I look for something special, something I can't get at home.
I liked turndown as a nice return to your cabin after a night out. DIY turndown is not the same. Freedom dining is not for me with people coming and going, tables being stripped and relaid whilst you're having your meal and waiters being so stretched they have no time for talking; sometimes there is a length wait between courses and sometimes you're lucky to get coffee at all.
P&O seem to have a policy of appealing more to the younger generation and to families. Ships have got bigger and prices are low but in order to achieve this cuts have had to be made. Personally I would rather pay more (on P&O) and see those special touches reinstated.
I appreciate it suits some/many. It's just not for me. I hope JS has a great time. It will be interesting to hear of her experience.

[Onelife]

Hi Foxy, I was talking to a Bolsover agent yesterday and asked if they do a turndown service for a third person sharing a deluxe cabin…she informed me that they do.

Thinking alone those lines I’m always available should you want to make the numbers up in your cabin.

[Ray B]

OL, I have heard Bolsover seem to be good, but didn't realise they offered a turn down service.

[Onelife]

OL, I have heard Bolsover seem to be good, but didn't realise they offered a turn down service.

You’ve misunderstood what I was saying Ray…Bolsover tried to turn-me-down for fear of a flood of cancelations …. I only requested that my table of eight should haver no Royalists on it

[Whynd1]

I agree with with Old blue fox. I got a bit fed up with and O and its cutbacks.I decided to try Saga, yes more expensive but the difference is astounding. The level of service is exceptionally high. Nothing is too much trouble for the staff to ensure you enjoy your holiday.
Evening turn down, fresh bedding every 5th night. It's quality all round.

If I'm going to go away , personally I don't mind paying more and in return receiving quality service .


Liked it so much booked several more.


Lindsey

[Onelife]

Unfurtunatly the majority of cruisers don’t have the luxury of being able to choose a more upmarket cruise due to the cost being prohibitive. I’ve just booked a 19-day cruise for what amounts to just over £8k, the equivalent would cost me double that if I booked with Saga. Yes; you get what you pay for but the majority of cruisers are now what the mid-priced cruise lines would call budget cruisers and are treated as such. I think to a certain extent those who experienced the standard of cruises we all remember with P&O are now the relics of a past era, those coming behind us will be none the wiser to the decline in what we once enjoyed.

[jacksparrow]

With PandO the cruise I was looking at for 2027 has already gone up by £600 and the one next year by around £1300. If they are doing all these cutbacks it makes you wonder why the increases in prices. I used to be able to get a balcony cabin for what it’s costing for an obstructed view one. Saga would definitely cost to much for me I’m afraid.

[Stephen]

No more fly cruises and P&O for me after this one.

We can afford to spend a bit more and it’s worth it.

[Portsmouth]

Did you mean No fly cruises using P&O or no fly cruises again ?
Sometimes flying to the med or maybe Miami to pick up a cruise can get you to the sun quicker than leaving Southampton especially in winter......Never say Never
+++ if you don't want to squashed in economy on the plane then upgrade to Business Class for a bit more comfort

[Stephen]

No fly or fly cruises. Dislike airports and flying.

Doing the med right now on Azura and have done the med before. Not interested in Miami. We done parts of America years ago.

Business or first is an option if you can get it on short haul, which is unlikely.

I’ll stick to UK ports as a starting point from now on thanks.

[david63]

Business or first is an option if you can get it on short haul, which is unlikely.

You can certainly get business class on short haul, but first class is unlikely. The problem with many short hauls is that they tend to be the budget lines if you want to go from a regional airport direct and they don't normally have business class.

[barney]

We have three more P&O cruises booked.
One in October this year
One in January next year
One in May in 2027
All fly cruises on Azura.
In between we have various land holidays.
The one I’m most looking forward to is with Riviera.
It’s a guided tour of Andalusia.
Fly to Malaga and stay in various places including overnight hotel stays. I think it’s Mijas, then a couple of nights in Seville, then Cordoba and finally Granada then home.
Should be interesting.
We have discussed cruising and think that the 2027 one will probably be our last, at least with P&O.
If Ambassador continues from Bristol, we might book a last minute trip.

[barney]

Funnily enough, I watched a cruise blog on YouTube this afternoon and they were talking about cutbacks across the industry.
They didn’t mention P&O but many other companies and the general consensus was that all but the very high line companies like Viking and Windstar are all guilty.

Princess, Cunard and Royal Caribbean were particularly mentioned, and to a lesser extent, Celebrity.

They concluded that if you are new to a particular company, then you don’t know the difference so are generally satisfied.

We have found this with P&O. Talk to new cruisers and they usually love it.
Talk to long time cruisers and they notice the difference.

[david63]

Talk to long time cruisers and they notice the difference.

But isn't that the same with most things these days?

Tesco, and presumably all other supermarkets, are no different - you cannot get half the stuff that you used to be able to get.