Have I made a big mistake?

[u2cruiser]

Sounds a bit like sour grapes to me. Never heard anything so ridiculous. That agent needs reporting to P&O!

Initially, I was a little worried about Ventura, after the bad press a few years ago. I couldn't have been more pleasantly surprised. There were some large family groups onboard, but we never saw the slightest bit of trouble, but lots of camaraderie and genuinely nice people. I'm sure Aurora will be the same.

[Scrapnana]

I have read and seen reports on TV of men (and women) behaving badly. I really believe these are isolated incidents. Carnival has a real "party" reputation but I know people who have been on about a dozen Carnival cruises and have never seen any problems. I think the TA you visited likely has a better deal with some lines and therefore bad mouths those he doesn't.

I bet you will have a fantastic cruise!

[Host Sharon]

Originally Posted by Scrapnana

I have read and seen reports on TV of men (and women) behaving badly. I really believe these are isolated incidents. Carnival has a real "party" reputation but I know people who have been on about a dozen Carnival cruises and have never seen any problems. I think the TA you visited likely has a better deal with some lines and therefore bad mouths those he doesn't.

I bet you will have a fantastic cruise!

I think you might be confusing Carnival Cruise Lines with the parent company Carnival Corp (and it's UK subsidary which owns Cunard, P&O, Princess, Hal and Seabourn among others). P&O are nothing like Carnival Cruise Lines!

[sez809]

I am sorely tempted to email P&O, just saying that local (unnamed) agent has told me this, and that I am very concerned about my family holiday. Just to find out what their "official" line would be, of course.....not trying to tell tales, you understand!!


Sarah

[indiana123]

Definitely no bad behaviour on Oriana l7 nights over Christmas/New Year. Nice friendly atmosphere though.

The worst incident we saw was a lady who complained to the Maitre'd that her comnpanion had more feta cheese on his salad than she did. This caused great concern... does this count!

[Denarius]

I have sailed with P&O over 20 times on a variety of ships and have never seen or heard of any behaviour such as the OP's travel agent describes. Could it be that some other lines pay higher commissions?

[marylizcat]

I suspect you may be using a High Street travel agent and not a dedicated cruise agent? High St ones tend to know little about the product they sell, so take everything they say with a pinch of salt and use a specialist agent in future!

[sez809]

Originally Posted by marylizcat

I suspect you may be using a High Street travel agent and not a dedicated cruise agent? High St ones tend to know little about the product they sell, so take everything they say with a pinch of salt and use a specialist agent in future!

Yes indeed, a high street agent! We have now booked, but direct with P&O. (We did use a long standing cruise agent for a cruise a couple of years ago, but despite being in existence for decades, they went bust!! ABTA bonded though, so all was not lost!)

[somersettop]

Just to echo everything that has been said, We recently had a fab cruise on P&O Oceana. No trouble whatsoever,


Enjoy your holiday

[LN50]

We first cruised on the current Oriana in her maiden season with our (then young) children. We loved it.
Over the years we have introduced my Mum & Dad, sister and BIL, and both of our, now adult, children's partners, all coincidentally having their first cruise on Oriana.

We did have a significant break when we did other things, but have over the past few years returned to cruising for most of our holidays.

It it great to try other lines, some things you will like, other things you will dislike. It is good to try something different.

Go with an open mind and you will have a wonderful time, ignore the moaners... there are always a few wherever you venture.

[southwinds]

There are a lot of agents out there very miffed about the COMMISSION they are getting from P&O ( which was reduced ) they will recommend thecruise lines that pays them the most wont they??????????????


USE a cruise agent... or book direct......

[southwinds]

I have done over 25 cruises with P&O and NEVER seen any bad behaviour that you mention.... Go and enjoy your cruise.

[TRISH BISH]

We were on the Azura on the 9th june around the Bay of Biscay ,we have always cruised Princess but decided to give P&O a try. We paid full price for this cruise and then P& O in their wisdom slashed the price and gave balcony cabins for the price of an inside with the eventual consequences.Fights in the cabaret lounges between wedding guests lots of bad language and rowdy groups around the pools, The captain put two groups ashore in Cherbourg it was so bad.I have been assured by lots of other P&O guests that this was a one off and only because the cruises were so cheap the type of guests who were on board decided to cruise for a change.Ithink that they will have addressed this situation by now but I just wanted to let everyone know that it did happen and it doesnt take much to turn a lovely experience into a nightmare.

[Host Sharon]

It's noticable that the two documented occasions of rowdy behaviour are on the two largest ships, which have more cabins to sell, and hence the late price-slashing on occasion.

So to reassure the OP - I seriously doubt Aurora would have similar issues.

[NDG]

Originally Posted by TRISH BISH

We were on the Azura on the 9th june around the Bay of Biscay ,we have always cruised Princess but decided to give P&O a try. We paid full price for this cruise and then P& O in their wisdom slashed the price and gave balcony cabins for the price of an inside with the eventual consequences.Fights in the cabaret lounges between wedding guests lots of bad language and rowdy groups around the pools, The captain put two groups ashore in Cherbourg it was so bad.I have been assured by lots of other P&O guests that this was a one off and only because the cruises were so cheap the type of guests who were on board decided to cruise for a change.Ithink that they will have addressed this situation by now but I just wanted to let everyone know that it did happen and it doesnt take much to turn a lovely experience into a nightmare.

Travelled on Azura over Easter. Also a late deal with upgraded cabin, but no issues as this. Sorry it happened to you.

Travelling on Aurora in January and will let the OP know how it goes.

[daiB]

Has anyone got any proof that any bad behaviour has been down to passengers who picked up very late cheap deals. I would suspect not There are a lot of assumptions being made around this whole issue.

A poster has said that there were "Fights in the cabaret lounges between wedding guests".

Wedding guests do not sound the kind of people who would book early, these things tend to have to be planned for some time.

Very cheap last minute deals have always been available, a friend in our bridge club never booked more than about 2/3 weeks before a cruise as she had contacts in Southampton.

Likewise reports of incidents have been around ever since we started to cruise 11 years ago.


Gan Canny


Dai

[davecttr]

Originally Posted by daiB

Has anyone got any proof that any bad behaviour has been down to passengers who picked up very late cheap deals. I would suspect not There are a lot of assumptions being made around this whole issue.

A poster has said that there were "Fights in the cabaret lounges between wedding guests".

Wedding guests do not sound the kind of people who would book early, these things tend to have to be planned for some time.

Very cheap last minute deals have always been available, a friend in our bridge club never booked more than about 2/3 weeks before a cruise as she had contacts in Southampton.

Likewise reports of incidents have been around ever since we started to cruise 11 years ago.


Gan Canny


Dai

Indeed, there would have to be definitive evidence that the rowdy behaviour and fights took place between late booking guests. I imagine that P&O profile the passenger mix for each ship/cruise and this would bring up any correlation so they could apply corrective measures to future cruises.

Weddings tend to be high stress situations anyway with probably too much alchohol consumed. Extended family members don't always get on. Heck, some even hate each others guts. The lower classes hit each other and the posh ones use poison a la Poirot