RCI fan wants to try P&O

[celticfc]

Hi all, I have been on 10 cruises all sailing from Southampton with RCI, however I refuse to pay the over inflated prices for summer 2015.

 

We normally sail Jun / July and are happy to do Med or Canaries. There will be 4 of us myself, hubby and 13 year old twin girls. Can you recommend a ship and for anyone who has sailed both lines can you convince me I will enjoy as much as previous 10 cruises.

 

Many thanks

[terrierjohn]

don't

[bobstheboy]

"Can we convince you ?"

 

Well I'm not even going to try. If you need convincing to try a different line then stick with what you know, and enjoy the over priced RCL experience.

 

Incidentally, it was for just that reason we tried Pando and enjoyed both our cruises last year, but it's your choice, not mine.

Edited January 26, 2015 by bobstheboy

[Presto2]

If you want to give something a go then go for it.

July Canary Islands - we are on the Britannia at the end of July.

 

Have to say that we tried RCI for 4 days last October and would not want to do it again in July / August. If you love your entertainment like the rock climbing and wave riders etc then you will be disappointed with P&O.

[daiB]

don't

 

 

Very helpful answer, but your good at those.

 

 

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[scifimonkey]

Think it probably depends on what you enjoy most about your cruise and what your girls like. If it's a frenetic action filled day with water slides and climbing walls it may not float your boat but apart from those speciality entertainments that RCI specialise in I suspect that most of the other elements of a cruise you will find are all in place. You may find that P&O and the folk on board treat formal nights more seriously and that may suit you or not. You will find that you are not 'nickel and dimed' as the Americans call it so much on P&O. Drink is slightly cheaper too. Entertainment of the song and dance variety is on a par IMHO and if you choose a larger ship, Ventura, Azura or Britannia, enjoy chilling in the sun and having good food and wine then you might even prefer it. The children's clubs are good and in the school holidays there are loads of children on board so plenty of opportunities to make friends for your daughters. After 10 cruises on the same line I would say that a change of scene might be quite refreshing. We worried when we tried Celebrity after a number of P&O cruises but now would be happy to sail with RCC, P&O or X depending on the itinerary and the calendar. We don't consider any of them as being much ahead of the others overall but they each do some things a bit better and we adapt to suit.

Nb (we are an early 50's couple with a 13 year old son (who actually prefers Celebrity so go figure))

[ellyg1824]

We are the opposite x done rci and loved it but wary of p and o x love the Indy but the whole booking has been a sham x no cabin number, no dining time x will unless they change go back to rcl as it's much more professional x

[celticfc]

As expected it wouldnt be CC if I didnt get flamed for asking a question.

 

Not too bothered with the wall or the flow rider, more trying to find out if there is plenty for teenagers to do.

 

We love the MDR experience and RCI has gone and chopped that up! like set dining with good waiters. Also like a wee gamble in the casino.

 

Tried looking for info on Britannia and cant find much.

[celticfc]

Think it probably depends on what you enjoy most about your cruise and what your girls like. If it's a frenetic action filled day with water slides and climbing walls it may not float your boat but apart from those speciality entertainments that RCI specialise in I suspect that most of the other elements of a cruise you will find are all in place. You may find that P&O and the folk on board treat formal nights more seriously and that may suit you or not. You will find that you are not 'nickel and dimed' as the Americans call it so much on P&O. Drink is slightly cheaper too. Entertainment of the song and dance variety is on a par IMHO and if you choose a larger ship, Ventura, Azura or Britannia, enjoy chilling in the sun and having good food and wine then you might even prefer it. The children's clubs are good and in the school holidays there are loads of children on board so plenty of opportunities to make friends for your daughters. After 10 cruises on the same line I would say that a change of scene might be quite refreshing. We worried when we tried Celebrity after a number of P&O cruises but now would be happy to sail with RCC, P&O or X depending on the itinerary and the calendar. We don't consider any of them as being much ahead of the others overall but they each do some things a bit better and we adapt to suit.

Nb (we are an early 50's couple with a 13 year old son (who actually prefers Celebrity so go figure))

 

Thanks for the great response, I just loved Indy and now its gone looking for something new and not sold on Anthem particularly their Dynamic Dining concept also refuse to pay over inflated prices for Explorer.

[john watson]

I should look at Ventura, Britannia and Azura in that order. I think one will be med fly cruises which are a bit awkward. You should like these ships and I would say consider inside or deluxe Balcony.

 

Regards John

[celticfc]

I should look at Ventura, Britannia and Azura in that order. I think one will be med fly cruises which are a bit awkward. You should like these ships and I would say consider inside or deluxe Balcony.

 

Regards John

 

Thanks John

 

Do you know which cabins have sofa bed, as we dont fancy the beds that fold out of the ceiling?

[CCFC]

We are the opposite x done rci and loved it but wary of p and o x love the Indy but the whole booking has been a sham x no cabin number, no dining time x will unless they change go back to rcl as it's much more professional x

 

Reading the RCI forums its hardly more professional. Lack of cabin number with P&O would have been explained to you when you booked as would the dining time, you took the cheaper option.

 

As said above they really are chalk and cheese, RCI for me has the edge on entertainment but they do tend to take your money once aboard. The drinks are more expensive by a long way and some (but more than P&O) of the food is chargeable.

 

For me while RCI has a wow factor its not as elegant as P&O, depends what you are after.

Edited January 26, 2015 by CCFC

[scifimonkey]

We are already booked on Britannia for the summer and are slightly surprised that there is not more real photography to be seen rather than CGI's but there is a separate P&O web site that is reasonably enlightening about what the facilities are. Also the ship is similar to royal princess so some of us have researched that for guidance on layout.

Be prepared for narrow balconies and no central staircase which is exercising the bile of one or two people.:eek:

I guess like any form of construction they will still be touching up the paintwork and fixing the light switches right up to the day before the first sailing in April so I doubt if we will get any decent images or feedback until it's maiden voyage.

Even then knowing these boards it will be a hail of doom and gloom over some minor teething problem. In the end we left it until August to hopefully allow the ship and the crew to settle in and I am sure that we will have a great time.:):)

[terrierjohn]

Very helpful answer, but your good at those.

 

 

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The OP said she loved RCI and had done 10 cruises with them, do you honestly believe they would enjoy P&O.

[scifimonkey]

Thanks John

 

Do you know which cabins have sofa bed, as we dont fancy the beds that fold out of the ceiling?

Can't speak for Britannia but both Ventura and Azura have fold out sofa beds in the deluxe balcony cabins.

[scifimonkey]

Oops sorry before someone corrects me the Britannia maiden is of course in March not April so hopefully the decoration and second fix electrics will be complete before April!!!.

[Thejuggler]

If the only reason not to do another RCI is price keep checking the price. Both RCI and Celebrity have an all inclusive promotion at the moment. It appears to mean lots of extras are free, in reality the cost of the freebies has been added to the cost.

 

This makes them look expensive when compared to other cruise lines, so you need to do the sums carefully. Do a price now and another at the end of next week when the promotion has finished and see if the price falls.

 

I've not looked at a P&O brochure this year, but last year families were excluded from saver fare options so families had no choice than to pay full fare.

[daiB]

If the only reason not to do another RCI is price keep checking the price. Both RCI and Celebrity have an all inclusive promotion at the moment. It appears to mean lots of extras are free, in reality the cost of the freebies has been added to the cost.

 

 

 

This makes them look expensive when compared to other cruise lines, so you need to do the sums carefully. Do a price now and another at the end of next week when the promotion has finished and see if the price falls.

 

 

 

I've not looked at a P&O brochure this year, but last year families were excluded from saver fare options so families had no choice than to pay full fare.

 

 

No that was changed

 

 

 

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[RobboM]

Hi, we have been on 6 cruises on P&O and 6 on RCI, and to be honest we have loved them all! We like the glitz of RCI just as much as we like the elegance of P&O. The OP is right to say that RCI is now more expensive particularly when you add on the more expensive tips and drinks. But like others have said - it depends what you want out of your cruise. My advice would be to give P&O a try but don't expect the glitz! You won't find an ice rink and climbing wall, but you will find great places like the Glass House and East / Sindu! We love them all! Rob!

 

 

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[richleeds]

I don't think you as parents will have any issue with P&O though it is a very different beast to RCCL, however I do think the twins will find P&O a bit dull/beige/underwhelming in comparison.

 

If they had never cruised before I don't think it would be an issue but they will be forever comparing to the lack of wow factor they are used to on RCCL.

 

I would advise sticking to RCCL until the twins are older and do their own holidays then you can enjoy the elegance of P&O as a couple.

[celticfc]

I don't think you as parents will have any issue with P&O though it is a very different beast to RCCL, however I do think the twins will find P&O a bit dull/beige/underwhelming in comparison.

 

If they had never cruised before I don't think it would be an issue but they will be forever comparing to the lack of wow factor they are used to on RCCL.

 

I would advise sticking to RCCL until the twins are older and do their own holidays then you can enjoy the elegance of P&O as a couple.

 

That's a really good point about the kids and perhaps is really the question I should have asked. I love formal nights and elegance, but my kids loved I Indy and that's why we kept returning because happy kids = happy parents. The big draw on Indy was the ice rink as they are both figure skaters. They also love the pool and arcade. Do PO have an arcade?

[bobstheboy]

I am sure you must know that no Pando ships have an arcade, if you have done your research.

 

Stick to what you know, the kids will be happy.

[john watson]

Can't speak for Britannia but both Ventura and Azura have fold out sofa beds in the deluxe balcony cabins.

 

If you can stretch to a Deluxe Balcony Cabin on Ventura/Azura (do not know about Britannia but suspect the same) you get a double bed (a la sofabed), plus two single beds. The space in the main cabin area is nearly double a normal cabin size as the sofabed is situated in its own room space. Cabin steward does all the sofabed building and putting away each day. Not sure about shower but it might be a bathtub and shower. Bigger balcony.

 

Regards John

[Iluvcruising2]

I'd say go ahead and try a different line, if nothing, just for the experience.

 

We sailed many times with Royal before trying Celebrity.

 

Then we just tried NCL last year. That was great!

 

And now we are going to try MSC later this year.

 

Overall, I think there are more similarities than differences between the cruise lines, though I guess Royal ships have the most 'wow' factor.

[celticfc]

Thanks everyone your responses have been really useful.

 

At the end of the day we love cruising and I am sure we would love P&O just as much. Cost is the number one factor for us and P&O is nearly £2000 cheaper for similar dates.