mutziputzi

I wonder if the ‘mini bars’ will reappear?

The drinks package for us is £72 a day I cannot really be bothered to carry on drinks and then buy bottled water coffee etc £36 seems good value.

Yes I will let you know we sail on April 1st.

Well how funny we were sat outside a pub on Sunday having exactly the same conversation! We have our first suite booked in 3 weeks time, and are aiming to have most lunches and dinner in the room. We also have a drinks package and wondered the same. We did wonder whether we would have to fetch our own. Would be nice to have them delivered.

If wish id asked him now how the changes are going to be implemented call me a cynic but he said there were too many chefs caught up on a relatively few special diets, I'm afraid it came across as a cost cutting exercise, after all the head waiter will not have to come round in the evening and write lists. Perhaps if someone else goes on the galley tour they maybe able to get more answers.

We were on a paid galley tour the head chef told us they were extending the menu and that as from July there would be no need to pre order the evening before. I guess they must be adding more low-fat vegetarian gluten free items.

as I tried to post this 3 times I will keep it brief and answer questions should anyone want any answers. As from July there will be no pre ordering food for the next day in the evening in the MDR for those on special diets

I always read these threads with a smile, amazes me the keenness to get on board but walk around the first sea day and the ship looks either like a public library or a sleepover. I'm always surprised what the rush to get on was about.

I love to look on the back page top left to see what the 'whinge of the day is'

There's usually not much diversity, blocked toilets, hand washing, sun bed hogging, very occasionally an original one.

As one poster said after a few cruises there's not much of a surprise in the horizon.

I always assume everyone pays so let's say 18 cabins occupancy around 33 allowing for singles 33 x 2.50 a day plus nominal wages from PO and bonus, extra tips which we always give would rack up a few hundred quick maths over 11 days 1'000-1.5000 pounds would go a long way in India.

Last night at dinner everyone in our vincinity gave envelopes even us who left auto grats on gave ours an extra £20 (the lowest we have ever given as they were useless), but I cannot pay £1000s for a holiday and not do it, stupid I know.

MPW gala menu included halibut (fantastic) chicken also great and calves liver. Other nights 3 soups a salad option nicotine, Greek, Caesar, and many more. Main courses tandoori lamb,red mullet, pork belly, (amazing) chicken tikka nice to have curry at night. I had an aubergine and pasta vegetarian option one evening also very good.

As I don't eat deserts myself can't comment on taste but the choice was amazing and everyone enjoyed them although they were on the large side. My husband just wanted fruit salad one evening but that came in a soup bowl not the usual little dish.

On Ventura a completely new menu even on gala night I will get menu later and post what the choices are.

Just back off Ventura where they are trialing a new dinner menu. MPW was at the restaurants to meet and greet, have to say after 15 years of the same menu the new one was fantastic. A very nice salad course which is great for me as don't very often have starter or soup, although have to say the starter of scotch egg was amazing. The portions are much bigger as well, which I'm sure will please some.

Without commenting on the decision not to go to Cherbourg, we were filled with dread at the thought of another sea day. These are so boring as the original poster pointed out, a hairdressing demonstration! For goodness sake. We have now decided that p o is not for us after many many cruises, and no we haven't just got used to them we just prefer more choice in the daytime. We met a couple it was their first cruise and they were bored rigid, they thought the daytime entertainment dire.

It seems to me they are now just floating library's. The passengers are either walkers/talkers aimlessly walking round stopping to chat to anyone who will listen, or readers/sleepers. These can be found in any public lounge in the daytime, we were amazed how many people were asleep/reading in the glass house on 2 sea days people were queuing to eat. I can never understand why people just don't stay in their cabin to read.

The daughter had her very young son so stayed as he didn't understand what was going on, and really looking forward to cruise. Regarding cruise, this will be our last new year cruise, done many, we also stopped doing Xmas after the last 8 years as last years was so dull. I loved the ports on this cruise but thought the sea days were a bore.

Our friends who also go every new year were on Ventura and said the same, last new year for them as well.

Regarding the medical emergency on aurora the lady who died was taken off in Southampton (her daughter stayed on and our son became freindly with her and spent most of the cruise together), so I don't think this had any impact on captain vago. I have met him several times before around the ship on other cruises, so surprised not to see him. Perhaps his new wife was on board!

Sorry I have to disagree, found it embarassing listening to him, he kept saying I'm not a singer 'why take the money then'? We left half way through and met two couples the next day who also left before the end. (Maiden Voyage)

I never fill the form at the end of the cruise, P O should know how well there staff are performing, and I doubt that i'm the only one, so what happens then? Re bonus..I also did email P O last year after being on two four day trips (of which neither time was there an end of cruise comment sheet), the reply from them was they are sent via email (they weren't) so do the room stewards get excellent for all these short cruises, of which there are many?

I have the auto tips removed and write on the form that when p o give a clear answer as to where the auto tips go (and I don't mean to whom) I will leave on.

Also how long does it take to collate all the information from the forms? If I give a tip I want that person to receive it straight away not months later.

When we gave our dinner waiters their tips (mid cruise) they hid it very quickly under some menus!!!

Our room steward at xmas said in all his years he had never received so much from one cabin, i was astounded as we only gave double, not a massive amount.