Discussion
Spent a week on her in April bouncing down to Lisbon. Excellent catering and service but I found the floor layout confusing, and the ship has been dumbed down following her refit to cater for the chicken and chips brigade. Luckily the ship is so long they can be on the lido shouting 'Agadoo' or whatever they do and I'm too far away to hear them 
It's all about packing as many people in as possible and extricating as much money as possible from them while on board.
We couldn't get into Oporto due to bad weather. The captain could have gone to Vigo, but said as we'd already been there we'd spend the day at sea instead. That means a port fee saved and 3,500 passengers stuck on board spending money. A shirt for 'only £50' indeed! So on an 8-day cruise I got three half-days on land.
Note: It is funny how once upon a time ports were where ships went to get out of a storm; now if there's a storm they cannot get into them...
We couldn't get into Oporto due to bad weather. The captain could have gone to Vigo, but said as we'd already been there we'd spend the day at sea instead. That means a port fee saved and 3,500 passengers stuck on board spending money. A shirt for 'only £50' indeed! So on an 8-day cruise I got three half-days on land.
Note: It is funny how once upon a time ports were where ships went to get out of a storm; now if there's a storm they cannot get into them...
I may have been naive but the general idea was to get to foreign destinations and see them!
It's exciting to be on board to start with but after a couple of days the novelty wears off a bit and then it's like being in a slightly bumpy Travelodge, albeit with very good food!
I think Southampton to Lisbon is not a good route anyway; a lot of sea and generally rough for little return. I'd do another cruise but probably fly to somewhere nicer to start with.
It's exciting to be on board to start with but after a couple of days the novelty wears off a bit and then it's like being in a slightly bumpy Travelodge, albeit with very good food!
I think Southampton to Lisbon is not a good route anyway; a lot of sea and generally rough for little return. I'd do another cruise but probably fly to somewhere nicer to start with.
Simpo Two said:
I may have been naive but the general idea was to get to foreign destinations and see them!
It's exciting to be on board to start with but after a couple of days the novelty wears off a bit and then it's like being in a slightly bumpy Travelodge, albeit with very good food!
I think Southampton to Lisbon is not a good route anyway; a lot of sea and generally rough for little return. I'd do another cruise but probably fly to somewhere nicer to start with.
HaHa! You have nicely summed up why I have never fancied a Cruise. The thought of being 'trapped' would drive me mad. As a mode of transport I could see the attraction. A relaxed way to get from Southampton to New York as an example. Like a posh ferry crossing!It's exciting to be on board to start with but after a couple of days the novelty wears off a bit and then it's like being in a slightly bumpy Travelodge, albeit with very good food!
I think Southampton to Lisbon is not a good route anyway; a lot of sea and generally rough for little return. I'd do another cruise but probably fly to somewhere nicer to start with.
Simpo Two said:
Spent a week on her in April bouncing down to Lisbon. Excellent catering and service but I found the floor layout confusing, and the ship has been dumbed down following her refit to cater for the chicken and chips brigade. Luckily the ship is so long they can be on the lido shouting 'Agadoo' or whatever they do and I'm too far away to hear them
Paul.B said:
Simpo Two said:
I may have been naive but the general idea was to get to foreign destinations and see them!
It's exciting to be on board to start with but after a couple of days the novelty wears off a bit and then it's like being in a slightly bumpy Travelodge, albeit with very good food!
I think Southampton to Lisbon is not a good route anyway; a lot of sea and generally rough for little return. I'd do another cruise but probably fly to somewhere nicer to start with.
HaHa! You have nicely summed up why I have never fancied a Cruise. The thought of being 'trapped' would drive me mad. As a mode of transport I could see the attraction. A relaxed way to get from Southampton to New York as an example. Like a posh ferry crossing!It's exciting to be on board to start with but after a couple of days the novelty wears off a bit and then it's like being in a slightly bumpy Travelodge, albeit with very good food!
I think Southampton to Lisbon is not a good route anyway; a lot of sea and generally rough for little return. I'd do another cruise but probably fly to somewhere nicer to start with.
I thought it was perfect, personally. Travelling at night while you're asleep and waking up in a different country each morning to go and explore. I've heard Royal Caribbean are better catered to keep you entertained each day/night than P&O, but I found the P&O service to be pretty-much perfect. Going on Independence of the Sea in a few weeks, so I'll see how they compare.
In a fairly random quirk of fate, I'm flying off to meet her in Lanzarote in a week, to see some stuff in situ.
Coming back via Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Lisbon to Southampton over the course of eight days. First time out.
Hear in the office that Ventura is the least formal, most family oriented ship in the P&O fleet.
If that's not your bag, there's always Aurora, or Cunard's Queens...
Coming back via Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Lisbon to Southampton over the course of eight days. First time out.
Hear in the office that Ventura is the least formal, most family oriented ship in the P&O fleet.
If that's not your bag, there's always Aurora, or Cunard's Queens...
Gassing Station | Boats, Planes & Trains | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff