Recent experiences of P&O

[Stephen]

We are off on Ventura

How can you be "off" when you are "on"

It's a little trick I know

[Mervyn and Trish]

He's non binary.

[Stephen]

No I’m not, I’m straight as an arrow.

[oldbluefox]

We are off on Ventura July. Nothing taking our fancy tour wise at the moment, although Mr S has booked a three mile walking tour. Not for me, sound like hard work. I might keep the barman company for half hour

Does your wife know about him?

[Pam + Neil]

I forgot to say- another positive, wine waiters are back In the MDR and bar staff in bars all top class. Just like the old days. Draught lager choices bit limited though.

[Mervyn and Trish]

We are off on Ventura July. Nothing taking our fancy tour wise at the moment, although Mr S has booked a three mile walking tour. Not for me, sound like hard work. I might keep the barman company for half hour

Does your wife know about him?

No I’m not, I’m straight as an arrow.

Hmmm.

[towny44]

Pleased to hear you had a good cruise.
I think, as we come out of Covid, you just have to go with an open mind. The industry has had to face big changes and it is going to take a while before it is back on an even keel (no pun intended!). Meanwhile I feel it is just good to be back on open seas and enjoying the cruise ship experience.

On Iona at present, and it's probably 99% back to pre covid cruising, in fact apart from the occasional crew member, and even fewer passengers wearing a face mask, it business as usual.

[Ray B]

I forgot to say- another positive, wine waiters are back In the MDR and bar staff in bars all top class. Just like the old days. Draught lager choices bit limited though.

Oh joy, wine waiters back in the MDR, great news.
I did save a bundle on our last cruise, as when a bottle finally arrived at the table we were well into the main cause. Then had to take any bottle that made in to the table up to the cabin..

[Mervyn and Trish]

Yes good news about the wine waiters.

[Stephen]

I’ll second that. I do like the odd drop of red.

[Pam + Neil]

I would agree with Towny, it all seemed back to normal apart from evening turndown.
we didn’t really use the on board App to book anything as had club dining. When we want to go to the Beach House I just did this at the reception desk. I would like to see the port talks back as the staff on the tours desks had limited knowledge and just advised that we asked at Tourist Information once ashore.

[barney]

Coincidentally, I was talking with an old friend today who has come back from a Ventura cruise a little while back and they said that they were disappointed.
The things that they thought important, like no turn down and no photographers impacted their enjoyment.
They also thought that the meal sizes had decreased.
None of that bothers us in the slightest.
Horses for courses.

[Mervyn and Trish]

I agree Barney. Only the very poshest hotels service rooms twice a day and I can live without another chocolate. And we generally avoid the photographers as an expensive nuisance. As for food, well there's no shortage if you need more. Much better than wastage.

[Mervyn and Trish]

P.s. Do you prefer your horse for starter or main course?

[Onelife]

I always thought that it was the little touches, like evening turn-down, pillow chocolates which has made cruising special…in accepting theses things are now disappearing are we now being moulded into accepting cruising does come with extras if you are willing to pay for them.
I feel theses things combined with specialty restaurants and pay for shows are a turning cruising into a two-tier system.

[Stephen]

I always thought that it was the little touches, like evening turn-down, pillow chocolates which has made cruising special…in accepting theses things are now disappearing are we now being moulded into accepting cruising does come with extras if you are willing to pay for them.
I feel theses things combined with specialty restaurants and pay for shows are a turning cruising into a two-tier system.

Agree.

God that hurt

[towny44]

I forgot to say- another positive, wine waiters are back In the MDR and bar staff in bars all top class. Just like the old days. Draught lager choices bit limited though.

Oh joy, wine waiters back in the MDR, great news.
I did save a bundle on our last cruise, as when a bottle finally arrived at the table we were well into the main cause. Then had to take any bottle that made in to the table up to the cabin..

Not seen any "wine" waiters on Iona, but the table waiters do supply the wine list and take your wine orders, and it always arrives before your food. Only buy by the glass now, so no idea what they do with unfinished bottles.

[david63]

I always thought that it was the little touches, like evening turn-down, pillow chocolates which has made cruising special…in accepting theses things are now disappearing are we now being moulded into accepting cruising does come with extras if you are willing to pay for them.
I feel theses things combined with specialty restaurants and pay for shows are a turning cruising into a two-tier system.

I would not class cruising as a "two tier" system (yet). If there were two fares one that was basic and one that included the extras then I would agree - and I have said this in the past that eventually that is the way things will go.

There have always been "optional" extras on a cruise - excursions and drinks to name two.

It is no different than on land - you go to a restaurant advertising three courses for £20 only to find that most options on the menu carry a surcharge.

[Ray B]

I do agree with OL, the little touches he mentioned plus the ones over the years that we have lost, went to making a cruise feel that extra special.
I will go as far to say that the direction cruising is moving is replicating hotels on the Costas, the only difference being they float..
I know what you are saying OL, and I'm in your court.

[CaroleF]

The only thing I would miss about the evening turn down is coming back to the cabin after the show and finding the curtains drawn, and a tidy bathroom with fresh towels. Would it be enough for me not to book? No. I'd be surprised if it returns . Once some of these little touches disappear I'd be surprised if they come back. Pleased about the wine waiters though. I'm going on the Aurora 4 night cruise with my daughter who's never been on a cruise ship. It'll be very interesting to see what she makes of it, what she thinks of the level of service. I've warned her she may be the youngest on our table - club dining - and she's into her 40s, just. I'll also tell her that the ambience on some of the larger ships will probably be very different. If she like it we may go again but with her 7 year old daughter which would mean the smallest ship we could go on with P&O would be Azura or Ventura. It looks as though Azura would be out unless I want to fly, which I don't at the moment. I've always preferred Azura to Ventura although I'm not sure why. Britannia, Iona and Arvia are too large for me, too much walking I'm afraid unless I consider taking a scooter. I have done that in the past before I had a knee replacement so I know how it all works. I think I could probably cope on Ventura without one but I'll see how I feel after being back on Aurora. We are taking a collapsible wheelchair just in case, but apart from boarding and disembarking it may not get used.

Carole