New to P & O... a few questions!

We are pretty frequent cruisers (mostly Princess) but just booked a cruise with P&O to Norway while we are visiting England! We are excited, but some of my family has a few random questions! I have found most on the website, but can't seem to find the following.

1. Are any other drinks besides water offered at dinner free of charge?

2. How much is the ice cream (having to pay is going to be a huge adjustment for us haha!)

I think that is it for now. I'll gladly take any other tips or hints! :)

Only water offered free at meal times. They do icecream packages on the family ships, may be worth getting one of these, dont know the cost sorry.

Only water offered free at meal times. They do icecream packages on the family ships, may be worth getting one of these, dont know the cost sorry.

There is always ice cream for dessert in the dining rooms . I would just have my ice creams while on shore instead of the pricey packages on board. Tea or coffee is offered after dinner free of charge.

Good choice of Tea. You might find that the weather is not warm enough to enjoy ice cream as frequently as on warmer destinations.

I find that the drinks are reasonably priced and there is a really good choice of wine available. Speciality restaurants are also reasonably priced and IMO offer really good quality food and service. If you like no fuss casual dinning experience then Beach House and Glass House are recommended. Both charge but it is worth it.

Expect a British experience. The breakfast is to British taste and in my opinion amazing.

Norway is one destination where some of the stops require a tour to make the most of it so do your research.

IMHO the ice cream package isn't worth it. We researched it a couple of years ago and you only save about the cost of one ice cream. The only tea or coffee available after dinner as standard is ship's brew. I think if you want a speciality coffee or a latte/cappuccino etc. you can order one, but these are chargeable. Drinks and service charges are cheaper , drinks don't automatically attract a service charge. The Grab and Go on the Lido deck is good if you just want a light lunch (sandwich, wrap, salad), and my family like the dessert pots, although they're too sweet for me.

I always have a cappuccino after dinner in the MDR and have never paid extra for it - is this another money-making ploy by P&O?

Michele

Yes you can always get cappuccino free after dinner, might be worth telling them that is what you want when you order your dessert just in case they have to go elsewhere to get it. Strangely I think you have to pay for latte. They always offer tea and normal coffee after lunch and dinner, after dinner you get a little chocolate or shortbread etc with it. The round ones you get normally on a formal night are yummy.

Ice cream is available for dessert every lunch and dinner in the MDR, 3 scoops in different flavours, but you can ask for extra or all one flavour or whatever you desire. We always ask for ice cream with whatever dessert we are ordering as well.

Thank you everyone! I appreciate your input! Hopefully we don't stand out too much as half of us are Americans haha!

I have started looking at shore excursions and we might be a bit late for the ones we are eyeing :(

Thanks again!

Didn't have to pay for cappucinos or latte's after dinner earlier this year on Aurora and never have on any P&O ship. If you request one from Costa then obviously there'll be a charge.

Thank you everyone! I appreciate your input! Hopefully we don't stand out too much as half of us are Americans haha!

 

I have started looking at shore excursions and we might be a bit late for the ones we are eyeing :(

 

Thanks again!

Just be aware of the stricter evening dress code on P&O, especially on formal nights. Ice cream may be chargeable but alcoholic drinks are a lot cheaper.

Hi, just to remember that service charges are far less on P&O - basically, there are none and it is left at your own discretion. Ok there are auto tips etc but this is very much up to what you want to do. Coming from the USA though I imagine that you will 'get' the whole 'tipping thing' anyway - unlike many from the UK.

Specialist restaurants are way cheaper - we love the Glass House and Beach House - and the alcohol policy for what you can bring onboard is more generous. OK P&O have changed now re one bottle of wine per person when embarking, but it also says alternatively 1 litre of spirits per person.

Bottles of water are way cheaper and you can order 6 1.5 litres of water for about £10 delivered to your cabin. This is much cheaper than when we have been on other US lines.

The food is more geared to the UK passengers as you would expect, but as long as you are happy to go with the flow you will have a great time.

Enjoy

:-)

Hi, just to remember that service charges are far less on P&O - basically, there are none and it is left at your own discretion. Ok there are auto tips etc but this is very much up to what you want to do. Coming from the USA though I imagine that you will 'get' the whole 'tipping thing' anyway - unlike many from the UK.

 

 

 

Specialist restaurants are way cheaper - we love the Glass House and Beach House - and the alcohol policy for what you can bring onboard is more generous. OK P&O have changed now re one bottle of wine per person when embarking, but it also says alternatively 1 litre of spirits per person.

 

 

 

Bottles of water are way cheaper and you can order 6 1.5 litres of water for about £10 delivered to your cabin. This is much cheaper than when we have been on other US lines.

 

 

 

The food is more geared to the UK passengers as you would expect, but as long as you are happy to go with the flow you will have a great time.

 

 

 

Enjoy

 

 

 

:-)

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We are pretty frequent cruisers (mostly Princess) but just booked a cruise with P&O to Norway while we are visiting England! We are excited, but some of my family has a few random questions! I have found most on the website, but can't seem to find the following.

 

1. Are any other drinks besides water offered at dinner free of charge?

2. How much is the ice cream (having to pay is going to be a huge adjustment for us haha!)

 

I think that is it for now. I'll gladly take any other tips or hints! :)

Thank you everyone! I appreciate your input! Hopefully we don't stand out too much as half of us are Americans haha!

 

I have started looking at shore excursions and we might be a bit late for the ones we are eyeing :(

 

Thanks again!

Hi Cruise Crazy,

We were on P & O a few years ago and found so many things we liked - the Great British Sailaway where everyone sang along with the entertainment staff to familiar songs, the brilliant selection of ports visited, and the challenging trivia contests. As the only Americans onboard, we were asked many, many times why we were on the cruise. You will be able to have your own unique experience to answer the question.

Hi Cruise Crazy,

 

We were on P & O a few years ago and found so many things we liked - the Great British Sailaway where everyone sang along with the entertainment staff to familiar songs.........

Goodness.....that makes me cringe!

I don’t get the sail away party .... seen it on YouTube and thought it was a Butlins type style cheesey cringeworthy thing - would avoid like the plague!

You can get fruit juice ,tea ,coffee at breakfast in the buffet free

Then you get free tea and coffee all day in the buffet resturant

Don't forget you get a kettle in your room and tea bags and coffee and biscuits replaced as you use them

We take a few bottles of soft drinks/ water on board with us for in our cabin

We done this cruise last year loved it

Didn't have to pay for cappucinos or latte's after dinner earlier this year on Aurora and never have on any P&O ship. If you request one from Costa then obviously there'll be a charge.

I tried one of these free coffees, a so called Cappuccino, after dinner recently on Ventura, it was weak and tasted a bit like dishwater, and took much longer to be served. After that I stuck with the regular coffee which is just about OK.

We are taking our Canadian SIL and BIL on Ventura next month, we have cruised with them on Celebrity and RCI before, but I am rather nervous that P&O might just be a little too "British" even for Canadian tastes.

I tried one of these free coffees, a so called Cappuccino, after dinner recently on Ventura, it was weak and tasted a bit like dishwater, and took much longer to be served. After that I stuck with the regular coffee which is just about OK.

 

We are taking our Canadian SIL and BIL on Ventura next month, we have cruised with them on Celebrity and RCI before, but I am rather nervous that P&O might just be a little too "British" even for Canadian tastes.

We had an American couple on our last holiday and they loved the Britishness of the ship and fellow passengers. They weren't just being polite they were really into it especially the sailaway which we tend to dodge. They did mention though that the British don't do real burgers:)

I don’t get the sail away party .... seen it on YouTube and thought it was a Butlins type style cheesey cringeworthy thing - would avoid like the plague!

They are awful - avoid like the plague! I've never been one for flag waving jingoism but these "parties" are really no more than an excuse to sell more Pimms.

We had an American couple on our last holiday and they loved the Britishness of the ship and fellow passengers. They weren't just being polite they were really into it especially the sailaway which we tend to dodge. They did mention though that the British don't do real burgers:)

This is very true. We have been on may American cruises - mostly Carnival and NCL - and the quality of the burgers is out of this world. The American cruising experience is a lot different to ours; less formal, more family oriented and much larger meal portions. Pricier drinks and far more tipping, though. We are sailing with RCC from New York in August.

Goodness.....that makes me cringe!

Familiar songs like Rule Britania. :)

I always have a cappuccino after dinner in the MDR and have never paid extra for it - is this another money-making ploy by P&O?

 

Michele

I'm not really a coffee drinker, but on our first P&O cruise in 2012 I asked for a cappuccino after dinner rather than the standard coffee and was surprised when we were asked to sign for it as a chargeable item along with our wine and the children's soft drinks. I've never bothered since because it was awful anyway - I either have the standard MDR coffee/tea, or if I want a cappuccino I go off to the Costa on board. Maybe I should try again and see if I get charged this time?

This is very true. We have been on may American cruises - mostly Carnival and NCL - and the quality of the burgers is out of this world. The American cruising experience is a lot different to ours; less formal, more family oriented and much larger meal portions. Pricier drinks and far more tipping, though. We are sailing with RCC from New York in August.

The burgers are fairly poor, but they do a rather nice fried chicken burger at the poolside grill which I really enjoy.

We are Brits who love Princess but going with P and O to Norway (June 4th); Once previously with P and O - completely agree with the more British feel, unfortunately sometimes involving the service! Found the quality of food similar with less exciting buffet on P and O. Entertainment similar standard, drinks prices lower with more choice of English ales, quizzes more relevant to British tastes and I personally love the sailaway, just good harmless fun....

I hate the jingoistic, flag waving faux patriotism of the sail away, but am aware that some people like it, and P&O milk it for all it is worth, due to the extra drink sales.

Each to their own !

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