Ardennais

I’ve also heard good things about this hotel, but it’s quite a distance from us.

Ha! I don’t think the locals think a lot of it - they want ‘proper’ food! Once we started giggling, we couldn’t stop. The poor waiters were so evangelical and enthusiastic and thatmade it even worse. It was an experience, no doubt about it!

Those portions look ginormous compared to the tasting menu we ‘endured’ af Ynyshir Hall a few years ago. We were laughing our heads off by the end of the ‘meal’ as they took it so seriously and in all honesty, it was so pretentious and bizarre. The portions there were minute and we were still so hungry when we left after 14 courses I think. The whole thing was a gift but I would have felt robbed had I paid with my own money. Anyway, Ynyshir has come out top of the Michelin Guide this year, so what do I know!

Yes indeed. Our Princess cruise last week was 99% fault free and delivered what we had paid for. Can’t ask for more and I hope that my comments made interesting reading. Not comparisons of course, just observations! And like you Graham, we’ll do our best to enjoy our next cruise on Iona, wherever she sails, and whatever is open/closed/available/unavailable!

Have a lovely time!

Afraid not. A comparison is a different writing genre. My comments were expository and descriptive, not expository and comparative.

We haven’t received anything and I’m not holding my breath! It’s a shame that they don’t use this money to make good some of the missed ports etc. I’m sure that passengers like ourselves who now have to pay extra to visit Gerianger would have appreciated a free transfer. It would have been good for customer relations instead of alienating their passengers before they even sail.

No, I didn’t make a comparison. I just stated what was available on Enchanted Princess last week, which was also sailing from Southampton, and is part of the same Carnival company.

Shows how much I noticed - not! If you had asked me before you mentioned the different colours, I would have said that they were all grey metal. And another thing, on the 4th or 5th morning, my husband looked at both our medallions and idly asked “I wonder which one is mine?” We only then realised that our names were on them!

I can assure you that I understand perfectly well that they are different cruise lines, and I actually don’t make direct comparisons. You seem to think that people actively look for negatives - I don’t and I’ve yet to complain about anything major in over 10 years of cruising. You seem to miss the point, made by many posters, which I’ll attempt to reiterate, as simply as possible. I/we/they book a particular cruise based on what is advertised and promoted. The price/itinerary/ship pleases us. Then some time down the line, often just after paying the final balance, they find that what was advertised won’t actually be delivered. It could be itinerary changes, speciality restaurants being closed, children’s clubs not operational etc etc. These are the issues that cause disappointment, and to rub our noses in it, we are told that we need to ‘reset’ our expectations. As most of us are reasonable folk, we understand that things will have changed. For example, I understand that evening turndown might not materialise on P&O, or hot beverages be offered as part of cabin breakfast (even though others seems to manage!). Other components, however, are important aspects of the cruise experience for various passengers and that’s why you have posters expressing their genuine and justified disappointment - parents who want a few hours adult only time, people who want to celebrate in the speciality restaurants etc.

I didn’t know that and I’ve been wearing one for the past week!

Apart from the kettles (!!) and lack of afternoon tea, what did your contact think of the entertainment? Photography? Speciality restaurants? Cabin breakfast?

If that’s aimed at me …… I booked this Princess cruise only a few weeks ago as the price was great (Princess plus fare) and it also went to Oslo which I was keen to revisit. Apart from afternoon tea (see my comment above), it delivered what was advertised. One niggle was the fact that we docked outside Copenhagen and the shuttle would have cost $19 each. However the HoHo bus was there and a lot of people used that. I have 2 cruises booked with P&O and I sincerely hope that I won’t be disappointed, having enjoyed over 150 nights with them over the past 10 years. Unfortunately, the first cruise has already been affected as it won’t be stopping at Geiranger and as you might know, P&O now expect us to pay In the region of £59 each to get to this port which was originally advertised but which was pulled after we paid the final balance. As it happens, we never use the speciality restaurants, apart from the Glass House, so the fact that they’re closed isn’t a problem for us. It is, however, a real disappointment for many and I don’t blame them for being upset. We have cruised with Cunard, Fred Olsen, NCL, RCI, Princess, Carnival, CMV and P&O and will continue to do so. We enjoy each and every cruise. They all have their merits. As paying customers, however, we are all entitled to reflect on our experiences. I have already received the post-cruise questionnaire from Princess and will be providing feedback in the next few days.

Forgot to add. The crew wore masks. I didn’t hear any of them coughing.

There was no afternoon tea, correct. Having only been twice before with Princess, I wasn’t sure whether that was usual or not. As there were only 2 sea days, we didn’t investigate further. Not sure what you mean by rubber kettles! They were functioning kettles, which we actually only used once as hot beverages were delivered to the cabin as part of the breakfast service. I will miss that on our Iona cruise in September - do you know when P&O intend to offer that again? There were hand sanitising stations everywhere. My eyesight isn’t the best, but you couldn’t miss them. Also proper washing facilities at entry to buffet. Service was brilliant everywhere. My husband has his breakfast in the buffet and he didn’t even have to make his own tea once. Orange juice was promptly offered. The longest wait was usually for coffee in the International Cafe but the bars were really on the ball. I even used the app to order drinks sitting on our balcony. Excellent service. I’m really surprised at the coughing comment. Everyone we spoke to said how nice it was to get away from the coughing which seems to have increased again at home! I have no idea whether or not there were cases of covid. Given the situation at home, I guess that some would have succumbed, having tested negative in the 48 hrs before boarding. The fine weather meant that folks could enjoy the open decks which probably helped.

With your sense of humour, I would have thought that you would have had their undivided attention!

Hope you have a brilliant time. I wish we could stay on but work beckons!

He doesn’t ‘need’ to be anything. He’s a paying customer, commenting on changes to the itinerary. And as someone who has to plan his cruises very carefully, he’s fully entitled to express his preferences.

I’m currently on Enchanted Princess and I certainly didn’t expect everything to be the same as pre-covid. But in all honesty, we’ve been delighted to find that little has changed. I appreciate that capacity is only 69% but service is quick and plentiful. All speciality restaurants are open - not that we use them! Full photography service. Evening turndown service as standard. Hot drinks available as part of cabin breakfast. Fantastic entertainment - Rory Bremner, Lucy Porter, Ardal O’hanlon etc. Princess Plus fare provides excellent value for money. As someone else mentioned earlier, it’s possible that they’re trying to impress with this new ship. Whatever - they’ve really impressed us!

Flipping heck! What a sly comment.

All eateries seem to be open currently on Enchanted Princess. I’m sitting in the bar outside the Crown Grill and it’s quite full there.

Shouldn’t it be the other way around?! P&O could easily drop an email forewarning that booked cabins might be unavailable and at the very least give passengers the opportunity to review their booking.

Don’t you like your neighbours then?!! Seriously though, it shows how easily people can change their loyalty so businesses need to reassure their customers, not alienate them.

Simples. It’s ok to question a familiar product if you feel or fear that the product is changing (like Selbourne), without being told that you should try a rival product just to be more understanding! Most companies want to keep their customers and good businesses want to know how they can do that. P&O? I’m not too sure!

Nonsense! I like Heinz Tomato Ketchup and I would be asking questions if the recipe was changed and not for the better. Same with the facial cleanser I have used for nearly twenty years. I’m a loyal customer and would be concerned if the formulation was substantially changed. I wouldn’t feel the need to purchase every tomato ketchup or cleanser on the market to develop a ‘more understanding attitude’!