Suite Questions

[daiB]

We have sailed from Southampton and would do again but it's all part of mixing it up and keeping it fresh with new experiences.

 

It's like the people who moan about the same B&B they go to every year in Blackpool - but then continue to book it!

 

But if we did get 2 or 3 days bad weather then like you we would see these as wasted days.

 

If I was scooter bound that would make me MORE determined to get out there and see things that perhaps someone scooter bound 30 years ago could have only dreamed of.

 

Either through disability awareness programmes and campaigning or enforced legislation, airlines and airports are now fantastic at working with those passengers who may need extra assistance pre departure or onboard - and quite right too.

 

Enjoy your skiing!

 

 

But what about those of us who cruise with P&O on a very regular basis and never moan. I have used planes with my scooter and it is a pain. I do not want to do it again. The way you go on is if I was doing something dreadful.

 

I cruise with P&O because I like it.

 

Why should I change just to please you.

 

I do not want to fly.

 

 

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[daiB]

Well said Rich. It seems from these forums that P&O's core customer favours Southampton and the accompanying Bay of Biscay and 2/3 dead days with potentially unpleasant weather. To be fair, if we lived close to Soton we would maybe give it a try but for us we like to fly off to wherever the cruise departs from and feel "on holiday" straightaway.

Having said all that, if I had dramatically decreased mobility, I may feel differently. Off skiing on Saturday - while we still can!

 

 

Well yes there are people who enjoy sailing from Southampton. To us they are not dead days at all.

 

 

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[richleeds]

But what about those of us who cruise with P&O on a very regular basis and never moan. I have used planes with my scooter and it is a pain. I do not want to do it again. The way you go on is if I was doing something dreadful.

 

I cruise with P&O because I like it.

 

Why should I change just to please you.

 

I do not want to fly.

 

 

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Dai

 

My post above (post 21) makes no mention of disability or scooters. It simply states that I think it is a shame that people dont make the most of the destinations out there by flying and instead get stuck in a P&O Southampton rut.

 

It was not aimed at you.

 

Then Jaceyar quotes my post and they not me mention reduced mobility and I respond to that saying it would make me more determined to fly/cruise.

 

It was not aimed at you.

 

I thought your New Years resolution was to be less tetchy?

[Gymbod]

I've never sailed from Southampton, but one of the main reasons I find P&O so attractive to the Caribbean is that you can drop off your luggage at the airport and you don't see it until it's outside your door, no collecting cases, immigration etc just straight to the ship and you can upgrade to premium seats at little cost. I've flown to the US in the past and am put off by the thought of the immigration procedure, lugging cases to a hotel for a night and then to the ship the next day having been spoilt by the ease of P&O :)

 

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[richleeds]

Gymbod

 

They do seem to have hit onto a great idea with this concept and for those in the Midlands upwards who can fly direct from Birmingham, Manchester or the Scottish airports etc it is barely more hassle than spending 6 hours on a coach to Southampton.

 

To more or less guarantee sunshine (or at the very least warmth) it would seem a quicker way to get into holiday mode than potentially 3 days of dull grey skies and choppy seas ex Southampton.

[daiB]

Dai

 

 

 

My post above (post 21) makes no mention of disability or scooters. It simply states that I think it is a shame that people dont make the most of the destinations out there by flying and instead get stuck in a P&O Southampton rut.

 

 

 

It was not aimed at you.

 

 

 

Then Jaceyar quotes my post and they not me mention reduced mobility and I respond to that saying it would make me more determined to fly/cruise.

 

 

 

It was not aimed at you.

 

 

 

I thought your New Years resolution was to be less tetchy?

 

 

Nice try' but I was replying to no 25 which is quite clear as you talk about being scooter bound.

 

Why are you so determined to get people to leave P&O, you clearly have a great problem with them why exactly do you post on this site if all you ever say is go elsewhere?

 

 

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[daiB]

We have sailed from Southampton and would do again but it's all part of mixing it up and keeping it fresh with new experiences.

 

It's like the people who moan about the same B&B they go to every year in Blackpool - but then continue to book it!

 

But if we did get 2 or 3 days bad weather then like you we would see these as wasted days.

 

If I was scooter bound that would make me MORE determined to get out there and see things that perhaps someone scooter bound 30 years ago could have only dreamed of.

 

Either through disability awareness programmes and campaigning or enforced legislation, airlines and airports are now fantastic at working with those passengers who may need extra assistance pre departure or onboard - and quite right too.

 

Enjoy your skiing!

 

 

This is the post I replied to.

 

 

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[richleeds]

Nice try' but I was replying to no 25 which is quite clear as you talk about being scooter bound.

 

Why are you so determined to get people to leave P&O, you clearly have a great problem with them why exactly do you post on this site if all you ever say is go elsewhere?

 

 

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Again you are missing the point, Jaceyar talked about having dramatically decreased mobility - can you not see that or are you choosing not to see that? I never brought it up.

 

So I replied saying if for example I was scooter bound (or had dramatically decreased mobility if you so wish to word it) then I would not see that as any reason not to fly and I would take advantage of the leaps and bounds that airports/airlines have made in recent years to make it the best experience I could.

 

I have no wish or determination for people like leave P&O and neither do I think that if I post daily chants on here saying "leave P&O" that anyone would take a blind bit of notice.

 

If I have a "great problem" with P&O, then please enlighten me to what it is - we still cruise with them.

 

What I do stand by and what I always say is that variety is the spice of life and its a shame if someone limits themselves to only one line and one departure point thus limiting the itineraries, ports and destinations and ultimately holiday experience that is available to them.

[silversurf]

We enjoy land tours, recently flying 18 hours to start our tour. But a couple of years ago we cruised with a US line, first flying to Puerto Rico. Our flight from London was delayed causing us to miss our connection to Puerto Rico. Very rude staff in Miami giving us little assistance. Eventually we reached Puerto Rico, but our booked onward transfer to overnight hotel did not materialise, so we took a taxi. Arrived at prebooked hotel around 3 oclock in the morning, hotel was huge and we spent over an hour wandering round with our cases trying to find our room. Then fire alarm went off at five (false alarm). Pick up transfer to ship at 11 oclock. At 12.30 we were still there. Hotel entrance was chaos, people,luggage and mini buses everywhere. Nobody knew which buses went where and staff were stressed and extremely rude.

Arrived at ship 14.00 hours. Complained at reception, they were not interested.

Ship was beautiful but drinks prices were soooo expensive and service not brilliant. Never again.

So if I wish to cruise again it would be from and to Southampton. If I want the Caribbean I would fly and stay in an hotel.

[annieuk]

We have been on fly cruises to the Caribbean, and to ones to New Orleans which ended in the Caribbean. We have also been on several cruises from Southampton. I don't mind being on a plane but I hate everything that goes with it - the hours we spend in an airport just waiting, the security etc. It is worth it to go to the Caribbean but I don't enjoy it. I would rather sail to the Caribbean from Southampton as I enjoy sea days but my husband quite likes to fly so sometimes we fly and sometimes we go from Southampton.

 

We live very near Southampton so it's ideal for us. We are usually checked in and on board within an hour of leaving home. For me that's when the holiday starts - if the weather's good, sitting on the balcony with a glass of fizz as we leave Southampton. The next couple of days, which some people classify as 'boring' are unwinding days for me - at least two whole days to relax, to enjoy just being on the ship with the excitement of the holiday ahead. We must have been lucky but we've never had a 'bad' crossing of the Bay.

 

I don't think there's a right or wrong choice - surely it's up to each individual to decide what suits them best - if people want to fly then fine, if people want to go from Southampton then that's fine too - it's choice! Don't criticise what other people choose to do - do what suits you - we do!

[richleeds]

I would rather sail to the Caribbean from Southampton as I enjoy sea days but my husband quite likes to fly so sometimes we fly and sometimes we go from Southampton.

 

Perfect! You take a balanced view, know that both options have the plus and minus points and continue to use both to get the best out of your holidays.

[Gymbod]

Hello Gymbod,

 

I have stayed in Suite A750 on Azura. It was lovely & we would have no hesitation in booking it again.

 

Hopefully (!) I have attached a photo showing the balcony.

 

Joan

 

Hi Joan

Just wanted to say thank you I can see the photo now on my computer, the balcony looks great :)

[the english lady]

We do seem to have wandered a long way from the original subject which was a query about suites.

[daiB]

We do seem to have wandered a long way from the original subject which was a query about suites.

 

 

Exactly.

 

Oceana suites are wonderful, you can have a football match on them they are so big. That may be slightly exaggerated :)

 

 

 

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[daiB]

Exactly.

 

Oceana suites are wonderful, you can have a football match on them they are so big. That may be slightly exaggerated :)

 

 

 

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Might have to be a small sided game.

 

 

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[scifimonkey]

I am also on Britannia this summer in a suite so was interested to read the earlier part of this exchange. We have always enjoyed P&O in the past although not in suites and are looking forward to it greatly. Britannia looks like it will be an amazing ship.

I have to say that the range of perks associated with a suite do seem to pale compared to those offered on Celebrity who also sail from Southampton and with whom we have sailed in suites for the last two years. I'm sure that we will have a great time on Britannia however I wonder whether breakfast in Epicurian will compete with a separate suite restaurant, a separate bar with complementary drinks, snacks and entertainment, priority seating in the theatre and two fee free speciality restaurant bookings as well as the butler and priority boarding/ tendering that is common to both lines. Celebrity also offer a temporary upgrade to elite loyalty status for the extent of the cruise for suite guests with all the perks associated with that as well ( inc laundry, Internet, retail discounts etc).

I think comparing prices it is clearly a bit more expensive (Celebrity suite on an S class seems to be the equivalent size to Britannia's suites) but it is not as expensive and some of the other exclusive lines mentioned elsewhere in this post so it will be interesting to see if these extra perks seem worth the extra cost when we have had the P&O suites experience.

Maybe P&O might consider upping the suite offer a bit?

[Big Foot]

Hi Joan

Just wanted to say thank you I can see the photo now on my computer, the balcony looks great :)

 

Hello,

 

You are more than welcome; glad it helped.

 

Joan

[annieuk]

Agree Dai - my favourite suite C deck on Oceana and in around 8 weeks we will be in there again! Can't wait. After being in that suite we then had a suite on Azura which, at a guess, is probably less than half the size and the balcony a quarter of the size. It was still very enjoyable but the Oceana suites are wonderful.

[Gymbod]

I am also on Britannia this summer in a suite so was interested to read the earlier part of this exchange. We have always enjoyed P&O in the past although not in suites and are looking forward to it greatly. Britannia looks like it will be an amazing ship.

I have to say that the range of perks associated with a suite do seem to pale compared to those offered on Celebrity who also sail from Southampton and with whom we have sailed in suites for the last two years. I'm sure that we will have a great time on Britannia however I wonder whether breakfast in Epicurian will compete with a separate suite restaurant, a separate bar with complementary drinks, snacks and entertainment, priority seating in the theatre and two fee free speciality restaurant bookings as well as the butler and priority boarding/ tendering that is common to both lines. Celebrity also offer a temporary upgrade to elite loyalty status for the extent of the cruise for suite guests with all the perks associated with that as well ( inc laundry, Internet, retail discounts etc).

I think comparing prices it is clearly a bit more expensive (Celebrity suite on an S class seems to be the equivalent size to Britannia's suites) but it is not as expensive and some of the other exclusive lines mentioned elsewhere in this post so it will be interesting to see if these extra perks seem worth the extra cost when we have had the P&O suites experience.

Maybe P&O might consider upping the suite offer a bit?

 

I have to agree that the perks associated with the suites on P&O seem nowhere what you get on other cruise lines, I can't talk from experience but a friend who sailed on Celebrity last year in a suite said the same, she also mentioned this to the P&O cruise sales guy on Azura over Xmas and he completely agreed that the perks for suites could be better much better!

 

Having said that it won't stop me booking a suite, the space and the breakfasts in the select restaurants are enough to keep me booking so I suppose all the time people are booking and paying for them they won't feel the need to change them:(

[Selbourne]

I am also on Britannia this summer in a suite so was interested to read the earlier part of this exchange. We have always enjoyed P&O in the past although not in suites and are looking forward to it greatly. Britannia looks like it will be an amazing ship.

I have to say that the range of perks associated with a suite do seem to pale compared to those offered on Celebrity who also sail from Southampton and with whom we have sailed in suites for the last two years. I'm sure that we will have a great time on Britannia however I wonder whether breakfast in Epicurian will compete with a separate suite restaurant, a separate bar with complementary drinks, snacks and entertainment, priority seating in the theatre and two fee free speciality restaurant bookings as well as the butler and priority boarding/ tendering that is common to both lines. Celebrity also offer a temporary upgrade to elite loyalty status for the extent of the cruise for suite guests with all the perks associated with that as well ( inc laundry, Internet, retail discounts etc).

I think comparing prices it is clearly a bit more expensive (Celebrity suite on an S class seems to be the equivalent size to Britannia's suites) but it is not as expensive and some of the other exclusive lines mentioned elsewhere in this post so it will be interesting to see if these extra perks seem worth the extra cost when we have had the P&O suites experience.

Maybe P&O might consider upping the suite offer a bit?

 

Thanks for sharing that info about Celebrity. Very interesting indeed and I agree that it makes the benefits for P&O suite passengers seem paltry in comparison.

 

I don't know enough about Celebrity to know whether or not we would like them, but we would only ever be interested in cruises too/from Southampton and we like P&O because of the Britishness. We have never been on any other lines, but from what we've seen of them on TV the American ships seem brash and tacky (I.e. American!) and would not appeal to us. We wouldn't want to holiday with loads of noisey foreigners either, preferring the (mostly) civilised and quieter Brits!

 

That said, the ability to spend most of the cruise in exclusive environments does appeal, so I will definitely investigate further.

[scifimonkey]

Selbourne, i re-post below my first impressions of the differences between P&O and Celebrity posted a Year or so back before many of the current suite perks came in. Hopefully this will give you some idea if it would suit you. Micheals club is now the suites only bar/ lounge.We have met some wonderful Americans and some obnoxious ones but the same can be said for Brits so I would not worry that it would be too great a culture shock.

2nd time around we were more prepared for some of the negatives and hardly noticed them as I guess we just worked around them. We also had a drinks package so we're less conscious of the ubiquitous service charge and the additional suite perks were another big plus. Currently we have cruises booked with both P&O and Celebrity booked so we do not hold a major preference for either.

 

We have travelled on Ventura, Azura and Silhouette and had a great time on all of them. IMHO X is not better than P&O but it is different in feel and in what it does well. Whether you like one or other will depend on exactly what you want from your cruise and how easily you can adapt to the differences.

ship/finish/design - slight win for X mostly down to the atrium and associated spaces and a bit on cabin finish. Only negative on X cabins is a lack of tea and coffee making facilities but maybe that's just us being typically 'British'.

Service - another slight win for X maybe this is due to the compulsory 15%service charge on everything or maybe it is training? That is not to say the service on P&O is in any way poor it is just exceptional on X.

MDR - big win for P&O, better atmosphere, less compressed tables and more effort made on formal and theme nights. Cheese board available every night. The food quality we have found more or less the same.

specialist restaurants - slight win for X but only because the choice is wider.

Entertainment - big win for P&O both in the main theatre and around the ship. For us the specialist club type venues on Ventura and Azura are far better than musicians haphazardly stuck in odd corners of bars however good the actual musicians actually are. Silhouettes club lounge was almost always half empty on our cruise relegated to karaoke. It seems that for US cruisers the draw of the casino and the martini bar is much greater than a secondary show and the ship is set up to cater for that taste.

Bars - win for X in terms of quality and variety the martini bar the molecular bar and Michaels Club are all excellent. We loved Metropolis and Planet but they cannot compete other than for entertainment.

Formal nights on P&O seemed better to us with greater participation and more of a special evening feel. (Though this will not attract if you would rather travel casual, this seems much easier to do without feeling like you are compromised for choice on formal evenings.)

Ports - P&O score for free port transfers but X seem to consistently have longer in port and most cruises have less sea days (though that is based on the number of UK departures which enforce a couple of days lead in and sail out to virtually anywhere.) so a draw for us here. P&O excursions also seemed to be significantly cheaper. Probably why the main topic of conversation on X roll calls is private excursions.

On board spend - for us at least it has been much lower on P&O as the drinks prices are cheaper even before you factor in X's compulsory 15% gratuity on everything. It shows up big time on bottles of wine where a huge number of good quality wines can be obtained for under £25 on P&O whereas you would do well to find anything under £25 on X and then there is 15% on top of that. 14 bottles of wine and it adds up. On top of this P&O allow bring your own. X will confiscate and there are no exceptions.

Generally we felt that X exploited every opportunity to fleece the flock whereas if P&O were doing the same it was slightly less obvious.

Fellow travellers - this is really subjective however being in a minority on X led to a more interesting range of conversations and views and a fair degree of cross cultural amusement compared to P&O where Welsh and Scottish were about as cosmopolitan as it got and Irish was positively exotic. I for one wish that P&O marketing were a bit more international. On the other hand P&O's policy of always offering a shared table on select dining led to some really interesting dinners compared to X's policy of seating you as a family only. Ideally being offered the choice would be best so you could choose according to your mood.

 

We have future cruises booked with both X and P&O based primarily on itinerary and am sure we will enjoy both equally but for different reasons. In so far as both have their irritations you just adjust to suit! I would hate to think that anyone passed up a chance to try either on the back of this post as unless you are intent on building elite status in one or the other I would urge people to try both.

Last edited by scifimonkey; March 30th, 2014 at 01:39 PM.

 

Apologies if this is a bit off post but I thought it might be helpful to the OP..

[daiB]

Selbourne, i re-post below my first impressions of the differences between P&O and Celebrity posted a Year or so back before many of the current suite perks came in. Hopefully this will give you some idea if it would suit you. Micheals club is now the suites only bar/ lounge.We have met some wonderful Americans and some obnoxious ones but the same can be said for Brits so I would not worry that it would be too great a culture shock.

 

2nd time around we were more prepared for some of the negatives and hardly noticed them as I guess we just worked around them. We also had a drinks package so we're less conscious of the ubiquitous service charge and the additional suite perks were another big plus. Currently we have cruises booked with both P&O and Celebrity booked so we do not hold a major preference for either.

 

 

 

We have travelled on Ventura, Azura and Silhouette and had a great time on all of them. IMHO X is not better than P&O but it is different in feel and in what it does well. Whether you like one or other will depend on exactly what you want from your cruise and how easily you can adapt to the differences.

 

ship/finish/design - slight win for X mostly down to the atrium and associated spaces and a bit on cabin finish. Only negative on X cabins is a lack of tea and coffee making facilities but maybe that's just us being typically 'British'.

 

Service - another slight win for X maybe this is due to the compulsory 15%service charge on everything or maybe it is training? That is not to say the service on P&O is in any way poor it is just exceptional on X.

 

MDR - big win for P&O, better atmosphere, less compressed tables and more effort made on formal and theme nights. Cheese board available every night. The food quality we have found more or less the same.

 

specialist restaurants - slight win for X but only because the choice is wider.

 

Entertainment - big win for P&O both in the main theatre and around the ship. For us the specialist club type venues on Ventura and Azura are far better than musicians haphazardly stuck in odd corners of bars however good the actual musicians actually are. Silhouettes club lounge was almost always half empty on our cruise relegated to karaoke. It seems that for US cruisers the draw of the casino and the martini bar is much greater than a secondary show and the ship is set up to cater for that taste.

 

Bars - win for X in terms of quality and variety the martini bar the molecular bar and Michaels Club are all excellent. We loved Metropolis and Planet but they cannot compete other than for entertainment.

 

Formal nights on P&O seemed better to us with greater participation and more of a special evening feel. (Though this will not attract if you would rather travel casual, this seems much easier to do without feeling like you are compromised for choice on formal evenings.)

 

Ports - P&O score for free port transfers but X seem to consistently have longer in port and most cruises have less sea days (though that is based on the number of UK departures which enforce a couple of days lead in and sail out to virtually anywhere.) so a draw for us here. P&O excursions also seemed to be significantly cheaper. Probably why the main topic of conversation on X roll calls is private excursions.

 

On board spend - for us at least it has been much lower on P&O as the drinks prices are cheaper even before you factor in X's compulsory 15% gratuity on everything. It shows up big time on bottles of wine where a huge number of good quality wines can be obtained for under £25 on P&O whereas you would do well to find anything under £25 on X and then there is 15% on top of that. 14 bottles of wine and it adds up. On top of this P&O allow bring your own. X will confiscate and there are no exceptions.

 

Generally we felt that X exploited every opportunity to fleece the flock whereas if P&O were doing the same it was slightly less obvious.

 

Fellow travellers - this is really subjective however being in a minority on X led to a more interesting range of conversations and views and a fair degree of cross cultural amusement compared to P&O where Welsh and Scottish were about as cosmopolitan as it got and Irish was positively exotic. I for one wish that P&O marketing were a bit more international. On the other hand P&O's policy of always offering a shared table on select dining led to some really interesting dinners compared to X's policy of seating you as a family only. Ideally being offered the choice would be best so you could choose according to your mood.

 

 

 

We have future cruises booked with both X and P&O based primarily on itinerary and am sure we will enjoy both equally but for different reasons. In so far as both have their irritations you just adjust to suit! I would hate to think that anyone passed up a chance to try either on the back of this post as unless you are intent on building elite status in one or the other I would urge people to try both.

 

Last edited by scifimonkey; March 30th, 2014 at 01:39 PM.

 

 

 

Apologies if this is a bit off post but I thought it might be helpful to the OP..

 

 

Excellent post and very helpful.

 

 

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[jaceyar]

It's interesting Selborne that you think P&O Brits are quieter and more civilised than those on American ships. We sailed on Ruby Princess in 2013 which was mostly Americans but also many other Nationalities. The atmosphere was far more classy and civilised that the Brit-filled Ventura was on either of my trips this year. Our dining on Ruby was a lovely experience - on Ventura, the mdrs are as noisy as school canteens. You go to any foreign hotel - who are the noisiest guests?

[daiB]

It's interesting Selborne that you think P&O Brits are quieter and more civilised than those on American ships. We sailed on Ruby Princess in 2013 which was mostly Americans but also many other Nationalities. The atmosphere was far more classy and civilised that the Brit-filled Ventura was on either of my trips this year. Our dining on Ruby was a lovely experience - on Ventura, the mdrs are as noisy as school canteens. You go to any foreign hotel - who are the noisiest guests?

 

 

Was the noise on Ventura in freedom dining or club as we did both on Azura on a back to back and the difference was marked. Club dining was peaceful and freedom was busy. With the noise level up one or two notches.

 

 

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[jaceyar]

Was the noise on Ventura in freedom dining or club as we did both on Azura on a back to back and the difference was marked. Club dining was peaceful and freedom was busy. With the noise level up one or two notches.

 

 

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We found the noise was just as bad in either. Wierdly, the buffet and Beach House were a haven of calm.