daiB

Exactly where does it say that food in the MDR is fine dining. If you think any mass catering can be fine dining you are in cloud cuckoo land.

I could have written this On the sauce front I have heard complaints that the chicken was not there and the person only wanted plain food. Just goes to show with catering you are not going to please everyone.

I work on the principal that i fall back on the steak if nothing takes my fancy. I have only had one steak in 3 cruises. The always available items are the least desirable in my mind. I don’t tend to eat deserts. As I am too full and I keep away from carbs.

Sorry don’t agree at all we have been on Ventura, Aurora, Iona and Britannia and the food has been good. Because people had said that there wasn’t not so much choice we have looked a menus from previous cruises and its just not true. Outside of MDR we have found that what is available on Iona in terms of quality and choice is certainly a level above.

Iona and Arvia.

Not that much less if at all. We have looked back to menus over the past 15 years. Iona is excellent BTW.

Interesting your comment abut the layout of the lower decks and going the the bottom deck at the stern and being stuck. Well if yo have traveled on other P&O ships like Oriana, Aurora Ventura and Azura you will find the same set up with two restaurants on one deck with the kitchen between. You will also find this on the Princess Grand class ships and the ones similar to Britannia. It’s not just Britannia.

Not on P&O.

I have usually in the Crows Nest or Metropolis on Ventura.

Also, depending on the ship you both should get an invite to the Caribbean lunch.

You get the champagne, etc as these cabins on Princess are Mini suites. On P&O you still get the goodies but without the early embarkation. I assume because there are too many of them. Certainly on Ventura all of the balcony’s on D deck are of this type.

Exactly.

How odd we cruise 5/6 times a year and 1 always see our cabin steward not long after getting to our room 2. Never had a problem with the cleaning our cabin. 3. Not bothered about seeing officers but they are coming back. On Britannia tow month ago, we chatted with the Cruise Director for 2 hours 4 We always chat to the staff, most particularly the cleaners 5. We have never had our coffee in a take away container, ever 6 Always had water served without asking and bread always appeared at the start of the service and there was always more if you wanted. 7 I have never had a problem getting a drink at the bar. 8 I have never seen a cocktail made by machine. This I find the oddest comment. As I said all of the things you say you have missed I have had on every cruise I have been on and 10 of them have been since lockdown.

More like 11/12 we are booked on both the Ventura cruises. However we would be now very happy with the Iona one. Sea days rule.OK. 🙂

No you mentioned the Well-being Cruises. Which have only been advertised since the change of itinerary on Iona. You wondered why they were not popular? An odd remark as they had only been released a few weeks ago. I know all about the changes made.

Because they are “new” They have to promote them when they come out. Who said they are not popular, they have only just been announced.

There have been the odd cruise but never on a regular basis. Possibly on Aurora or Arcadia being adult only but families want sun in the summer holidays.

Yes if round UK cruises were in demand then P&O would have been doing them for years. They can work if you can sell them in the US. So Princess do them.

The replacement round Britain cruise had TA involvement it was a TA who asked for it presumably after the Baltic cruises were cancelled 3/4 of them this year.

Not in my experience. Cakes available on Britannia and Iona. Must just be me.

No cake, free? There was on Britannia in July and Iona in March. How do I get these things?? Oh on Aurora at Christmas.

I like the idea of discounts for over 60’s actually over 70’s would do. 🙂

On our 10 cruises since the lockdown, a lot of back to backs. I would say that it was still 80% + wearing DJ’s. This was on Ventura Aurora and Iona. The Iona cruises being partly in school holidays. The younger element seem to be the ones who try the most. On Iona there were very long queues for formal night photos.

Very simple just need to collect a new card from reception. You have to get up early if you want breakfast and you now get an invite to the lunch for suite and upper tier passengers. And the ship is yours for most of the morning.

Our cruise is the 19 night to the Greek Isles which tends to be very popular and one of the few direct cruises from Southampton to that part of the med.