kevinyork

I think it's very unfair to mention names of staff on a public forum. Especially when they cannot reply.How would you feel if it was you or a member of your family or a close friend who was being publicly criticised?

If you have problems with a cruise member of staff then raise it on board and fill in the post cruise survey and if you wish to follow up with a letter then write privately to the cruise company.

I disagree. Our cruise fare pays their wages. They perform a role in the public spotlight and therefore are open to public scrutiny.

The survey asks for feedback in the Entertainment, not the CD therefore will not pick up people's issues re the individuals. Ive added notes to mine but clearly go no avail.

As a final note, we were on RCI on a transatlantic in April and the cruise director was amazing (Clodagh O'Connor or HelloClo as she is known). She made the cruise! So professional and led so many events herself. Maybe P&O need to poach some CDs from other lines?

What amazing review. So much detail. Thank you.

Ive just found this thread from 2011 where poor Hughie comes in for some stick:

http://cruiseforums.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1463063&highlight=hughie

I know a CD doesnt make a cruise but they can have a big impact on passenger enjoyment.

Hughie is terrible. Been on two cruises with him as CD. His Wife is deputy cruise director and she is just as useless. They make sure they are there at the Captains Gala and get interviewed for the TV show but thats about it. THey dont really get involved in the sailaways and leave all the durty work to the rest of the Ents crew. I have yet to come across a decent P&O CD. Joff Eaton (former P&O) on RCI is fantastic.

I agree. Been on two cruises where he has been CD. Terrible. Mainly invisible and lets his team do all the work. With the number of people who complain about him I really dont know why he us still there.

P&O CDs are poor in comparison to RCI. However we have come across Bennie twice and at least she works hard, is very visible and is personable.

If it was me I would take the train. The cost is currently £30pp however 3 months before travel cheaper fares can sometime be found. We use thetrainline.com to check fares and buy in advance.

The 'cruise train' leaves Liverpool Street Station at 12.28 and is direct to the port arriving at 13.40.

If you wanted to get there any earlier there is a train on the hour form Liverpool Street Station to Maningtree then a connection to Harwich. Total journey time 1hr 17mins.

Both options deposit you right by the port:

Click here for Satellite view. The station could not be nearer.

Just off Adventure where we had the free premium drinks package included. The choice is excellent in terms of beers and cocktails however the house wine included is a Merlot (red), very nice, a Zinfandel (blush), too sweet for our group and a Chardonney (white), truly awful. It is extremely heavy and overpowering. Since we only drink wine with dinner this is a poor choice by RCI since it dominates. Lots were complaining and when I spoke with the Beverage Manager he confirmed there had been many complaints. There is also a white sparkling wine.

The package is available at all bars and restaurants and there were no issues getting drinks.

The poor white wine option would deter me from purchasing the drinks package on future cruises.

Hi, just booked a 14 night cruise to the Caribbean on the Azura for March 7th 2013, paid to upgrade flight to Premium, then find out P&O baggage allowance is only 23 Kgs!!!! How do they expect people to go to the Caribbean on a cruise with 5 formal nights and 5 informal nights with a 23 Kg allowance. They must have lost the plot! This will be the first and last P&O cruise we'll be going on! Even tried to pay for an increase to the baggage allowance, they won't have any of it...Anyone else got a problem with the allowance? Regards:mad:

With the price of fuel all airlines are limiting weights. It isnt really P&Os fault and you could have found out this info easily before booking if it was an issue.

We travelled with my Mum and Sister over New Year on Ventura and they love to dress up. They planned carefully and managed to keep within the limits. Dont let it spoil your holiday.

In August 2011 we were on Ventura and paid for FCD.

 

We booked Adonia Xmas cruise approx 7-8 weeks before cruise via P & O and were not allowed to use FCD.

 

Couldn't resist the offer for Arcadia Cape Town to Southampton, free flights, sails 11th April. Booked this on 10th February, again we were not allowed to use FCD.

 

It has to be used by August, if not it is £100 down the drain.

 

Tom

Just checked back in on this thread. Its appalling that P&O want to secure your custom by getting you to put down a deposit on a future cruise and then restrict the use of that deposit to higher profit cruises.

Tom, I would be very unhappy if I were you and would demand to see the full terms and conditions of FCDs as it seems they can pick and choose which cruises to allow you to use it against.

Ah that doesnt sound too bad then. How much OBC do you get by putting down a FCD?

Thanks for that. That does sound like a get out clause for them. Not sure I will bother.

Looking for a bit of advice. If you put down a cruise deposit whilst onboard, which I believe can then be picked up by any agent and used against your next cruise, do they restrict the cruises you can use it against.

The reason I am asking is the last two cruises Ive booked have been Getaway deals which are not discounted further by agents and you pay for in full when booking. I didnt want to put a future cruise deposit only to find we cant take advantage of similar Getaway deals should we wish to use the deposit against our next cruise.

Hope this makes sense.

Also, what is the benefit in terms of OBC by putting down a FCD?

Weve got £520 per cabin on Ventura this spring.

We never saw signs for that bus. I personally wouldnt risk it unless it was a scheduled, publicised service.

I posted on this thread last year with train times. In the end we didnt risk it. By the time the ship docked and was cleared we would have missed the first train and the second one didnt allow enough time.

We bought P&Os excursion which was £30 for a half day. This allowed us time to browse the shops in Katakolon beforehand.

Tried Azura and Ventura within the last year......re-booked Ventura within 2 weeks of returning. Definately a better mix of passengers ages, slightly less snob value and more relaxed and with more passenger space.

Im not sure if you have the wrong train times or I do. Just got these from the official site and it shows departures to Olympia at 08.25, 10.55, 12.52 & 14.51 and return journeys at 11.46, 13.48, 15.43. The 11.46 arrives back at 12.28 not the time you showed but this is still too tight for a 13.00 sailing.

We have all day there so may give the train a go.

Hi

Any chance you could let me have the contact details for George please?

Thanks

Kev