P&O for American customers?

We are considering a cruise on the Britannia in 2015, as we are interested in the itinerary for the 14-day Iberia cruise departing on July 25, 2015. We are also interested in other Europe itineraries offered by P&O for the Summer of 2015. We are a family with two teenagers from the USA, and we have enjoyed 12-day and other cruises on Princess and other cruise lines that are more geared for the USA market. We are wondering what the differences are between P&O and Princess, Royal Caribbean or Norwegian Cruise Lines. How would the dining and on-board activities be different? Also, would we likely find a fair number of other teenagers on the Britannia during the July-August cruise (our kids would like to meet British teens while on vacation :), so it would not be a problem at all if we are in the minority in that respect!)

Well P and O are geared to British tastes, so as long as you are prepared for "british food" and our terrible sense of humour, Oh and our moaning about things P and O can control and things they can't (the weather) you will fit right in.

Your children ,well they will fit in with British children, they don't seem to have the same parameters as older people.They would be young people on the Britannia voyages in the summers holidays.

We have done a river cruise that was much more international in the travellers. We spoke to anyone and every one perfectly ok, and they spoke to us.

As regards formality..Well I would says its more formal than some American lines,(NCL) but on a par with Princess.

I really think the only really big difference will be in the entertainment line.

Drink will be a lot cheaper than you are used to as well.

As English lady said P&O is more geared to British taste. I am Elite on Princess and can say that I find P&O a different experience to Princess in that it is much more sedate and in my opinion more formal than Princess, if I think back to Princess 10-12 years ago I think that P&O are about that level of formality, Princess have in my opinion lowered their level of formality to a point where I no longer want to travel with them. The food is also different on P&O, catering to the British palate rather than the American palate. I am sure though that you would find P&O passengers friendly, I have found that there tends to be a few non-UK passengers on each cruise.

You would be fine. We have travelled on Grand Princess and there weren't too many differences at all. The kids would fit in too as there would be lots of younger travellers on those dates. Britannia looks fantastic - we are tempted to give her a try next year too. Go for it.

The food is also different on P&O, catering to the British palate rather than the American palate.

Would anyone have a link to menus used on P&O? Our kids are vegetarian, so I wonder if the breakfast buffet would include items like pancakes or waffles? Also, are pizza and pasta likely to be available for lunch or dinner? I understand that the ship would have an Indian restaurant, which sounds wonderful. Thanks for your responses - this is very helpful to us.

Hi

I'm also a vegetarian and find P&O to be the best at catering for special diets. There are separate vegetarian menus for the MDR which you can order from as well as veggie options on the main menu. If you search my previous posts I think I've also posted a copy of one of the veggie menus too.

Here's a link to example menus on P&O:

https://ask.pocruises.com/help/PO/life-on-board/example_menu

Oh and there will be pasta and pizza available at lunchtimes too.

Debbie :)

I would say give it a go. We had similar concerns but reversed with travelling on Celebrity after the supposed familiarity of P&O. Both we and our son had a great time and being in the minority was a plus in our book rather than a minus.

The kids and teenagers are well provided for on Ventura and Azura so I can see no reason why Britannia will be any different and from what I have read there will be a private sun terrace and plunge pool for the teenage group on Britannia so plenty of opportunity for your kids to get to know their british peers.

I would say the food in the MDR at least was very similar on both lines and I would be surprised if you have any problems. I am not sure that you will get waffles at breakfast but the pancakes and maple syrup are fabulous.

See link to typical menus

https://ask.pocruises.com/help/PO/life-on-board/example_menu

There are always vegetarian options on the menus and may even be a special vegetarian menu if I recall.

Wine and beer is much cheaper and the beer is not all warm and dark!

No 15% service charge on everything either!

Some of the entertainment might be a bit more british orientated, more tribute acts, british comedy, more set piece secondary entertainment in club lounges rather than musicians in bars. but on the whole we found the theatre shows to be of a better standard on P&O than on Celebrity.

The casino will be less prominant though perfectly sufficient and not as crowded and if you go in August it will be soccer on the tv in Brodies not American football or baseball. (if its cricket then don't even bother, it takes too long and you'll need the entire cruise to work out whats going on)

Generally unless you simply don't get the brits (and I don't suppose you would be considering P&O if that were the case) then I am sure you will have a great time, share some great laughs at the cultural differences between us and discover as we did that actually there is a lot less that seperates fellow cruisers than that which we have in common.

About time we had more Americans on P&O, and every other nationality too.

oops, debbie posted whilst I was doing my response sorry for re posting the same link. Oh forgot to say that the food in sindhu is terrific.

My sister in law and her husband are both vegetarians and they got fantastic service last year on Azura. Each evening the MD came with a specific vegetarian menu and they chose the following evenings meals. They said the food was beautiful and it certainly tempted me.

Go ahead try it we are a friendly lot really and it'll be school holidays so lots of kids all ages it does look like a nice ship so give it a go .:)

We are considering a cruise on the Britannia in 2015, as we are interested in the itinerary for the 14-day Iberia cruise departing on July 25, 2015. We are also interested in other Europe itineraries offered by P&O for the Summer of 2015. We are a family with two teenagers from the USA, and we have enjoyed 12-day and other cruises on Princess and other cruise lines that are more geared for the USA market. We are wondering what the differences are between P&O and Princess, Royal Caribbean or Norwegian Cruise Lines. How would the dining and on-board activities be different? Also, would we likely find a fair number of other teenagers on the Britannia during the July-August cruise (our kids would like to meet British teens while on vacation :), so it would not be a problem at all if we are in the minority in that respect!)

All we can say is "Come and join us". We've already booked that cruise and are really looking forward to it. We've tended to go with Celebrity and loved the mix of nationalities - give P&O a try and enjoy the 'British feel'. Drinks will be much cheaper and, as others have said it will be more formal on formal nights only. There will be lots of teens on board as it will be peak holiday time in the UK (school holidays).

I don't think you can compare P&O to some of the others - P&O is very British and I am sure that you will love it. See you there ???:) Come for the experience ------

The cruise sounds perfect. Since Britannia is new, and obviously there are no reviews on cruisecritic yet, your comments are especially helpful. We have enjoyed reading all of them.

We have a couple additional questions, though, about entertainment. Can anyone describe the entertainment typical for P&O? On our recent Princess cruise a highlight was a string quartet. Would there likely be a variety of music? Also, what are the shows like (are they similar to the Broadway/West End type productions typical on Princess or RCL?). Thanks again.

The cruise sounds perfect. Since Britannia is new, and obviously there are no reviews on cruisecritic yet, your comments are especially helpful. We have enjoyed reading all of them.

 

We have a couple additional questions, though, about entertainment. Can anyone describe the entertainment typical for P&O? On our recent Princess cruise a highlight was a string quartet. Would there likely be a variety of music? Also, what are the shows like (are they similar to the Broadway/West End type productions typical on Princess or RCL?). Thanks again.

The entertainment will be similar to Princess, you will get the broadway/west end type shows as well as comedians, ventreloquists and magicians in the theatre, plus a few tribute acts in the nightclub venues as well as the usual guest singers and on board groups. You might get a string quartet or even a classical guitarist, but the CD and entertainment team will have a very British slant.

Try it you might like it.

The entertainment will be similar to Princess, you will get the broadway/west end type shows as well as comedians, ventreloquists and magicians in the theatre, plus a few tribute acts in the nightclub venues as well as the usual guest singers and on board groups. You might get a string quartet or even a classical guitarist, but the CD and entertainment team will have a very British slant.

Try it you might like it.

I think we would! But is there any secret to getting the most from the comedians and British humor?...

That is one thing which will be substantially different, I think, from what we are used to. :D

I think we would! But is there any secret to getting the most from the comedians and British humor?...

That is one thing which will be substantially different, I think, from what we are used to. :D

It all depends on what type of comedian they have onboard. If it's the old style 1970-80's type then the humour will be more one liners, double entendre, sarcastic. If they're more modern type of UK comic, then it will be probably be a bit more observational comedy with a bit of the above thrown in. Just don't own up to being from the USA...;);)

It all depends on what type of comedian they have onboard. If it's the old style 1970-80's type then the humour will be more one liners, double entendre, sarcastic. If they're more modern type of UK comic, then it will be probably be a bit more observational comedy with a bit of the above thrown in. Just don't own up to being from the USA...;);)

Just laugh when everyone else does --- :D;)

I'm sure you'll have a great time - and we will have a friend on the roll call that is very quiet at the moment ;):(

I imagine the biggest surprise you will find on a P&O ship is how you save a fortune on Tipping:p

The tips on P&O are very fair where we feel that adding 15% to everything as RC do is a bit of a rip off.

I imagine the biggest surprise you will find on a P&O ship is how you save a fortune on Tipping:p

 

The tips on P&O are very fair where we feel that adding 15% to everything as RC do is a bit of a rip off.

Tipping is just one of those cultural differences that we got used to on Celebrity. We will still tip on P&O as we go, but not having the 15% charge does make a massive difference. The other plus for us is that we can take on board as much alcohol as we like (within reason) and, if we do a wine tour on the holiday we can take some back on board and drink it in the cabin rather than having to store it away until we go home. :)

Your kids will be able to get pizza on the pool deck, plus there likely will be pasta in the buffet and dining rooms for lunch and dinner.

The cruise you are on is the first of the school summer break in the UK, and therefore will be packed with teens for yours to hang out with. I think there were around 1000 under 18's on my cruise on Ventura in summer 2011, and of that 1000, about half were teenagers.

We have just returned from our 14th cruise and first on P&O. Previously, we have cruised with Cunard, HAL, celebrity etc. - North American style lines.

I think you will find a big difference on a P&O ship. Most cruises these days are formulaic and P&O are no exception, however the food and entertainment is totally geared to English tastes.

It is very good and tasty but unadventurous and does not feature many salads or entrees of the type founds on US type ships. Life on board is quite formal and there were 3 black tie nights on a 10 night cruise. Although we were on a family ship - there were no teenagers aboard - although it was term time.

Whilst we enjoyed the cruise, after all it's difficult not to enjoy a cruise - we wouldn't sail with P&O again.

I think you will find a big difference on a P&O ship. Most cruises these days are formulaic and P&O are no exception, however the food and entertainment is totally geared to English tastes.

Interesting - we have posted on Celebrity threads that we thought P&O food was better than Celebrity ---- more a la carte in the MDR. I suppose it is all about individual tastes and you can only know what you like if you give it a go.:)

Re entertainment geared to UK tastes --- of course it is, in the same way that Celebrity and RCI is geared to the USA market. What do we prefer ---- we like both and accept that each is different. At the end of the day, when we holiday in Italy we expect it to have that Italian feel --- and in Greece it is Greek. Why shouldn't cruise lines be the same ----:confused:

Absolutely agree Presto but I thought the question was -would it be too English for American tastes.

In my opinion P&O deliver a very English orientated product. It does not particularly suit me but that is my preference. As you say - going to Italy - you expect things to be Italian - technically Cunard is an English line but delivers an American orientated product.

IMO, P&O is resolutely English