OT: anyone cruised P&O

[alyssa0922]

Thoughts on this line? About the same as Princess? Thank you!

[chrysalis]

A long time ago.....too long ago to make a comparison.

 

Perhaps you should ask "sailed recently.."

[Pink-belle]

I would say more alike than different, if you have more specific questions I will try and give a comparison.

[KT47]

I've been on both Princess & P&O: much prefer Princess, its better in most areas. We didn't enjoy the food on P&O, the menus are limited in choice. If you like a table for two, then the MDR has a long "bench" seat along a wall, with small tables very close together with a chair opposite. You get served as though its a table for twelve....not something we enjoyed. We also thought the shows were better on Princess.

Other facilities eg: pools, Spa, gym, casino, bars etc were very similar.

Cabins very similar although you get a kettle in cabins on P&O for making your own tea/coffee which we "Brits" like!!

This was on the ships Grand Princess & P&O Ventura so very similar in size, layout etc.

If there's anything else you'd like to ask please fire away.

[silver wedding]

We have been on both numerous times prefer P&O in Europe and Princess in the rest of the world. Main difference is cost of drinks, P&O are much cheaper. As a previous poster said some ships are the same build and sometimes the crews have served on both.

[SueFrankuk]

The drinks and tips are cheaper but the food is very poor, choice and quality, we spend more money on P&O on alternative eateries, just my opinion.

[alyssa0922]

Thank you everyone! :-)

[Sanjam cruisers]

Hi alssa0922

My wife and I have cruised with P&O since 2005 and always in the Caribbean on board Azura and Ventura which are the two Grand Class ships,the Oceana is the former Ocean Princess and sister ship to the Sun,Sea and Dawn Princesses all the ships are set up for the British Market both in food and entertainment. I have noted that the UK contributers to this site have said the food is not good on this aspect I would like to disagree, I sometimes wonder what these people dine on at home as my wife and I do enjoy good food and find the food on board excellent as I previously said it is aimed at British passengers and therefore may not appeal to the American palate.The ships themselves are crewed mainly with staff from Goa and the Phillipines and I have found them to be superb in their customer service and only to happy to make sure you have an enjoyable vacation.Costs on board are cheaper than on ships using the $US as onboard currency in that there is no 15% added to drinks,drink measures may be smaller,on board gratuities are cheaper(British people have a different attitude to tipping from the US).For Caribbean cruises the ships sail from Barbados on 14 night iterinies which normally call at nine ports some going as far north in the Eastern Caribbean as Grand Turk and in the south Curaçao,Aruba and Bonaire.They do not normally call at US ports because of the problems that US immigration place in their way. at the present time the exchange rate between the $US and the£GB is in favour of the £ therefore making it more expensive for US cruisers.I have never cruised with Princess but is on my list for the future as I do enjoy my vacations in your great country and would no doubt enjoy a trip on the high seas with your countrymen/women.If you have visited the UK and enjoyed it youn may enjoy a P&O cruise.Do enjoy any future cruise you may take.I hope this information is of use to you

Edited January 25, 2014 by Sanjam cruisers
Misspelling

[saltypeer]

We have cruised on both P&O and Princess. Our preference is for Princess. It can be a very subjective thing, but our choice is definitely Princess.

 

Food: We like both.

Speciality Dining: Never bother. Don't wish to pay a cover charge when we can do Fixed Dining and get to know our table mates.

Drinks: We are not big drinkers but i think prices are fairly comparable in my eyes.

Cabins: Much the same. As previously mentioned, some ships are the same build/design. Just different colour schemes, but happy with either.

Entertainment: No major differences. We will go to shows we fancy and avoid shows we don't....simple really.

Atmosphere: Princess wins hands down. Yes you still get obnoxious passengers on both but we seem to find the Princess passengers more outgoing and chatty.

Staff: Always found the Princess staff more accommodating. Some things seem too much trouble to P&O but Princess staff will go out of their way to help.

Dress Code: Princess wins hands down. Princess has 2 dress codes, Casual and Formal. P&O has 3 dress codes, Casual, Smart Casual & Formal.

Casual means dressing like you might for a nice meal out at home (open neck shirt and pair of trousers). Smart Casual, too smart for me (shirt, tie jacket). Formal, speaks for itself (no problem getting 'dolled' up for the odd night in 3 or 4, with a dark suit, bow tie,etc). P&O.....too stuffy.

 

Sorry if these comments offend. They aren't meant too. It is purely and simply our opinion. I would never refuse to sail P&O but given the choice and the right itinerary, it would be Princess every time.

 

Pete

[bronte2]

We've sailed both Princess (a lot) and P&O but only on Arcadia. This is a child free ship and we have only sailed on segments of her World Cruise so we can't comment on Caribbean or European cruises.

 

I think the comparisons depend on where and when you are sailing. For example, Princess have ships based in Australia that cater to the local market so most of the passengers are from ANZ and there are other changes made to accommodate the local market. So you may have a different experience on these ships compared to some of the others. We have found the size of the ship also makes a difference and that depends on personal preference.

 

In the 70 odd days we have had on Arcadia we have only ever met passengers from the UK or ANZ and the ship is definitely geared towards the British market.

 

There are some things we like about Arcadia more than Princess but other things we prefer on Princess.

The only way to find out whether a ship/line suits you is to work out what sort of ship suits you, small, medium, large, what itinerary and price suits you, weigh your research and then give it a try :)

 

Princess has a great product and we have an upcoming cruise on one of the small ships which we just love, but we have also booked a segment of Arcadia's 2015 world cruise as the itinerary and price suits us.

[Sanjam cruisers]

With regard to the post by Saltypeer, P&O dress code only requires a tie on Formal night, Smart Casual - Jacket with open neck shirt, Casual-Open neck shirt smart pants, on most formal nights 99% comply with dress code majority of males wearing dinner jackets/Tuxs. In the Caribbean the smart casual dress code only applies on Azura, Ventura has Formal and Casual only. Staff - I have never had a problem with staff meeting any requirements I have asked to be met. With regard to the atmosphere on board ship I agree we British can be somewhat reserved but once we get to know you we can let our hair down, we do like a good party.If you are ever in port with a P&O ship just watch their sailaway party, last year in the Caribbean we were alongside Caribbean Princess in one of the ports and a number of her passengers were wanting to jump ship onto Ventura to join our party.

[saltypeer]

With regard to the post by Saltypeer, P&O dress code only requires a tie on Formal night, Smart Casual - Jacket with open neck shirt, Casual-Open neck shirt smart pants, on most formal nights 99% comply with dress code majority of males wearing dinner jackets/Tuxs. In the Caribbean the smart casual dress code only applies on Azura, Ventura has Formal and Casual only. Staff - I have never had a problem with staff meeting any requirements I have asked to be met. With regard to the atmosphere on board ship I agree we British can be somewhat reserved but once we get to know you we can let our hair down, we do like a good party.If you are ever in port with a P&O ship just watch their sailaway party, last year in the Caribbean we were alongside Caribbean Princess in one of the ports and a number of her passengers were wanting to jump ship onto Ventura to join our party.

 

 

I have to agree with you as regards the sailaway party up on deck......however, this can be down to the cruise director.

We have had some fantastic CD's on both Princess & P&O.

The P&O ships do have some brilliant sailaways with the Union Flags handed out to wave etc.....especially when trying to 'out do' other ships in port.

 

As long as we all enjoy the cruising experience.......let's go with it.

 

Pete

[windsor26]

They are very similar but as previously posted the food is not quite as good and there is a definite class system inasmuch as the pricier cabins have their different dining room.

The shows were better and they are stricter on the dress code

The prices for drinks and trips were also dearer when I went on them a few years ago.

 

I prefer Princess which has for me better itineries and I get more for my money.

 

That said you will enjoy either or both as you can relax and have people do everything for you

[Sanjam cruisers]

Hi Windsor26, I assume you are speaking about P&O Australia Ships as P&O UK do not have separate dining for those in more expensive cabins.As far as I am aware On P&O UK those passengers occupying suites may if they wish have their breakfast in one of the speciality dining venues such as "Seventeen" for example all other meals can be taken in the Main Dining Room, Buffet etc.

[bronte2]

They are very similar but as previously posted the food is not quite as good and there is a definite class system inasmuch as the pricier cabins have their different dining room.

The shows were better and they are stricter on the dress code

The prices for drinks and trips were also dearer when I went on them a few years ago.

 

I prefer Princess which has for me better itineries and I get more for my money.

 

That said you will enjoy either or both as you can relax and have people do everything for you

 

You're not thinking of Cunard are you? There is no class system on Arcadia and no separate dining room for the pricier cabins. I'm not sure if suite passengers can have breakfast elsewhere but even on Princess I think suite passengers can have breakfast in another area. Not having sailed in a suite I can't give any details :) but I can categorically say that Arcadia at least does not have a class system such as on Cunard where they have the Grills for suite passengers.

[NearEnough]

P & O Australia definitely do not have better dining options the pricier the cabin. Princess is certainly the better option here. P & O have only one main dining room compared with two on Princess. It is anytime dining and always a queue. A lot opt for the buffet dinner which I find is always overcrowded. Haven't cruised P & O (UK) for some time so can't comment there.

[windsor26]

Hi Windsor26, I assume you are speaking about P&O Australia Ships as P&O UK do not have separate dining for those in more expensive cabins.As far as I am aware On P&O UK those passengers occupying suites may if they wish have their breakfast in one of the speciality dining venues such as "Seventeen" for example all other meals can be taken in the Main Dining Room, Buffet etc.

 

No I was speaking about UK P&O Although it is some few years since I did a P&O from UK itself and things may have changed but in my day there was a class system for the dining rooms. P&O Australia has - in my own opinion - raised itself from 2* when it commenced here to 3.5* now

Do not flame me that is MY opinion

[Sanjam cruisers]

Hi Saltypeer, I have to agree it is all down to the Cruise a Director. I always look forward to a P&O cruise where Neil Oliver is the CD, I would love to have a quarter of that mans energy and he certainly knows how to handle an audience,he is always about the decks and is quite happy to chat to passengers ,unlike Hughie Taylor who I have named the " Invisable Man"'normally a disembodied voice on a public address system heard but rarely seen.

Happy future cruising to you.

[Sanjam cruisers]

Hi Windsor 26 I would certainly not "flame" you, we are all entitled to our opinion,things have obviously changed since you last cruised with P&O UK, perhaps for the better. My wife and I have cruised with them since 2005 always in the Caribbean and have enjoyed all our cruises in fact we will be on board Ventura 28/02/14 for another 14 nighter. We have family in Adelaide and our intention eventually is to visit them and also incorporate a cruise from Australia into the holiday. Do enjoy any future cruises you may be planning.