Alternative Cruise ideas from P&O

[sunbaker]

Hi everyone,

 

I have been thinking for a while it might be nice to try a different cruiseline, after a bad experience with P&O.

 

We are giving P&O another chance in July, however, as has been mentioned on this forum, P&O is not a 5 star cruiseline and prices are quite expensive considering this, compared to some better quality lines.

 

Just not sure what is the best line to try... I have heard discussions comparing Princess Cruises with P&O Aus and also Rhapsody. Now I have just heard from lolabunny777 about Starcruises out of asia.

 

Please add your suggestions here for good value QUALITY cruises. I don't mind flying to the port, especially when sometimes it may still be cheaper. (especially if I can use my frequent flyer points!! LOL)

 

Thanks ever helpful CC members!

[mummsie]

Hi everyone,

 

I have been thinking for a while it might be nice to try a different cruiseline, after a bad experience with P&O.

 

We are giving P&O another chance in July, however, as has been mentioned on this forum, P&O is not a 5 star cruiseline and prices are quite expensive considering this, compared to some better quality lines.

 

Just not sure what is the best line to try... I have heard discussions comparing Princess Cruises with P&O Aus and also Rhapsody. Now I have just heard from lolabunny777 about Starcruises out of asia.

 

Please add your suggestions here for good value QUALITY cruises. I don't mind flying to the port, especially when sometimes it may still be cheaper. (especially if I can use my frequent flyer points!! LOL)

 

Thanks ever helpful CC members!

 

We have sailed on a few different lines now. Star out of Asia is fine depending on which ship you decide. Our last Star cruise was on the Aquarius - we knew beforehand she was a rust bucket and would be full of Asians but it was still quite a surprise. It is a floating casino - very little entertainment but what they do have was excellent. They normally have some dancers from South America and a Chinese acrobatic troup who do combined shows. We didn't need to get to the lounge early as most of the passengers on board were only interested in gambling. Food is all Coles Cafeteria style and mostly either Chinese or Indian food as you would expect. Passengers on this ship were 60% Indians, 30% Asian and the rest European. We still had a great time - we always make the best of it and we did find there was an Indian buffet at the stern of the ship that served excellent food. We ate there for most meals.

 

We will be sailing on Costa out of Asia in a few weeks so after that time, will have some more information on that line. They don't tend to get very good reviews but considering that 90% of the reviewers are from the US that is to be expected. They usually want everything for nothing.!! :D

 

We have also sailed on NCL which we love. It is just so relaxed. No need to worry about dressing up - just turn up to the main dining rooms when you feel like it. When we did the Baltics cruise last year - even including air fares and accommodation in London, it worked out cheaper than taking a cruise out of Australia.

Next year we are looking at a few different cruises out of either Southhampton or Copenhagen. They are moving a lot of ships there from the Caribbean and Alaska. - Too many choices and not enough time or money. Mummsie

[Shiraz49]

Hi everyone,

 

after a bad experience with P&O.

 

Don't be blinkered get out there and try some of the other cruise lines ...... you won't see security cameras everywhere on Princess, RCL, NCL etc (apart from the casionos and restricted areas) as you do on P&O.

 

Overseas cruises that include the fly/stay/cruise package are great as you don't have to spend 2 or 3 days cruising to get to your first port but can also select some that include a sea day every other day or so .... Asia is a great location, Hawaii used to be OK not sure now that there is really only 1 NCL ship based there. If time and budget allows there are some good fly/cruise packages available to the Greece/Spain regions.

 

Oh, you wll also find a smaller difference between Inside/Outside/Balcony pricing on non Australian sailings (guess we're just here to be ripped off).

[johndon]

Hi Sunbaker

We have cruised with Star, P&O and Princess. As one CCer reported it all depends on which ship you cruise on with Star. We went on Superstar Gemini, a smaller ship which at the time was sailing out of Singapore. I think it spends most of its time out of Taiwan now. We also did a crise with Leo out of Singapore ( Also Star) It was a much larger ship with mainly Asians as passengers. Dining was a feedlot type buffet with mainly chinese food and gambling was a big issue.

P&O was a disaster with the ship breaking down in Noumea and having to return early to Sydney. (never again)

Last Xmas we did the Xmas cruise to New Zealand out of Melbourne on Dawn Princess and cannot speak highly enough of that cruise (see my review).

There are so many to pick from these days.

Try and book on line with a US based TA and you will save heaps. We have booked on Dawn again for a Fiji cruise for October and have saved $1200 each for a 13 night cruise by booking online with the US TA as compared with the "Saver" brochure price.

 

Go for it.

 

 

Johndon

[Ausgirl]

Royal Caribbean's Rhapsody of the Seas was absolutely wonderful - I have posted a review in the review section if you need more details.

[Spanish eyes]

I have sailed with 4 different cruise lines (see my signature).

My favourite is Royal Caribben. Their ships ares beautiful & tastefully decorated with large open centrums, especially the Radience class ships & they tend to maintain their ships very well. The staff (for overseeas cruises at least, never sailed from Aust) are always very helpful & friendly.

Having said that, any cruiseship can have a problem or an employee can be having a bad day which can lessen your enjoyment of your cruise. Unless something major happens you just have to try not to let small things ruin your cruise.

I would definately try another cruise line, at least you'll have something to compare P&O to, at most you could find a favourite that you'll want to go back to again & again.

Whatever you choose have a great time.:)

[rugbypopsie]

Hi, The Diamond Princess' Aus/NZ trips are great and can be had at really good prices particularly the one just before Christmas. It is a lovely ship and very popular with Aussie and Kiwis. Also the trip bringing her from Asia in November was a lovely itinerary,

Bangkok/Cambodia/Vietnam/Singapore/Darwin/Port Douglas/Airlie Beach/Brisbane/Sydney...18 days of bliss. There is a reverse itinerary in Feb.

[ging466]

We went on Superstar Gemini, a smaller ship which at the time was sailing out of Singapore. I think it spends most of its time out of Taiwan now. Johndon

 

Hi

 

I went on the Superstar Gemini too...it was fabulous however Star sold it off. They prefer the larger ships...it was such a shame, the crew were superb.

 

Cheers

ging466

[mummsie]

Hi

 

I went on the Superstar Gemini too...it was fabulous however Star sold it off. They prefer the larger ships...it was such a shame, the crew were superb.

 

Cheers

ging466

 

I agree - it was a fantastic ship. We loved sailing on her. mummsie

[Kiwi Kruzer]

I agree - it was a fantastic ship. We loved sailing on her. mummsie

 

Superstar Gemini was a lovely ship.

We cruised on her in 2000 from Singapore up to Phuket and back.

Those cruises were great. Star cruises marketed Singapore return to Australians and NZ'ers, and Phuket return to the Brits, so the pax mix changed halfway through each cruise.

[sayaguru]

Our first cruise was on Superstar Leo when it came here when the SARS virus hit Asia. We were amazed at the luxury of the ship.

After that we cruised on Diamond Princess then we went on Pacific Sun. Sure it wasn't as luxurious but we loved it. We just lowered our expectations. After that we went on Royal Caribbean- Rhapsody of the seas. The US$ drove me crazy and I thought the prices were too expensive.

 

The more expensive ships offer more with regard to lounge areas, and activities I thought. I was a little bored at times on Pacific Sun but never on the others.

I suppose it depends what your interests are too.

I'd go on any of those ships again.

[lilly4350]

We have sailed P&O Sun twice. And we have vowed we never set foot on that boat again. We have sailed Holland America and Star Virgo. Loved them. And we are sailing on Royal Caribbean's Radiance of the Seas in 23 days (but who's counting!). If you do your homework well, you can get an overseas cruise for not much more than Aus cruises. And you can get to see the world. The wishlist includes Hawaii circle, Baltic Sea, Panama Canal, and the Eastern Canada cruises. Oh, well, dream on.

[The Fox]

Hi everyone,

 

I have been thinking for a while it might be nice to try a different cruiseline, after a bad experience with P&O.

 

We are giving P&O another chance in July, however, as has been mentioned on this forum, P&O is not a 5 star cruiseline and prices are quite expensive considering this, compared to some better quality lines.

 

Just not sure what is the best line to try... I have heard discussions comparing Princess Cruises with P&O Aus and also Rhapsody. Now I have just heard from lolabunny777 about Starcruises out of asia.

 

Please add your suggestions here for good value QUALITY cruises. I don't mind flying to the port, especially when sometimes it may still be cheaper. (especially if I can use my frequent flyer points!! LOL)

 

Thanks ever helpful CC members!

 

Hi ,

 

Although I am sailing with P&O Australia twice this year they would be my last choice......the reason i am sailing is by invitation from close friends for special occassions.Star cruises own N CL and they interchange ships eg: superstar leo is now Norwegian Spirit.Star cruises were excellent when i had sailed on them but my daughter sailed on Virgo in sept 09 and said that they have dropped their standard big time.Princess and Royal Caribbean are both excellent and their ships are much more modern than P &O.For me P& O are much more expensive for 2 berth cabins compared to Princess and RCI....but if you like 4 berth then P&O is the go.Dont get me wrong P&O put on good cruises.I just prefer other lines because of the more modern ships and the price.

 

Cheers

 

Col:)

[redrob1234]

We are doing a 7 day cruise out of Los Angeles on the newish ship Carnival Splendor. Family of 4 costing USD $2230 for a Balcony cabin on deck 11 with Spa priveliges - add tips of USD 280.

 

Grab a cheap flight to LA.

 

Have cruised Princess in the Caribbean 10 years ago - fabulous, does not even compare to P&O.

 

The US ships compared to the P & O ones we have here is like comparing Harrods with K Mart......

 

I'm doing a girly cruise for 3 days with P & O in July and its costing me more for that in an inside cabin than my 7 day cruise to the Mexican Riviera.