P&O shops closing?

[insanemagnet]

It’s that type that I was talking about earlier in the thread and sadly there do seem to be many more of the demanding “snap the fingers” type of people around since the prices reduced which is a bit of a contradiction.

 

That isn't my experience.

 

By far the rudest people I have had the misfortune to encounter are those that loudly tell you about the vast number of cruises they have been on and then bore on about how they have been on this ship and that ship.

[Eglesbrech]

That isn't my experience.

 

By far the rudest people I have had the misfortune to encounter are those that loudly tell you about the vast number of cruises they have been on and then bore on about how they have been on this ship and that ship.

 

Personally I have never come across that however our experiences are obviously all different.

[wowzz]

That isn't my experience.

 

By far the rudest people I have had the misfortune to encounter are those that loudly tell you about the vast number of cruises they have been on and then bore on about how they have been on this ship and that ship.

I would concur with that, and they mainly only seem to have sailed with P&O.

 

Sent from my SM-T580 using Forums mobile app

[Eglesbrech]

I would concur with that, and they mainly only seem to have sailed with P&O.

 

Sent from my SM-T580 using Forums mobile app

 

I have had people who talk about their cruises at length but they were neither rude nor loud and if they become boring just turn the subject. Don’t allow them to ”bore on”.

[snaefell]

I have had people who talk about their cruises at length but they were neither rude nor loud and if they become boring just turn the subject. Don’t allow them to ”bore on”.

 

That can be easier said than done IME,we certainly have had that experience,we were on Britannia recently where finding people to have a decent conversation about,what we would consider normal subjects(ie sport,weather,work) before the names of previous ships started seemed difficult,probably some of the funniest moments were listening to two groups/couples doing this to each other,neither really seemed to be taking much notice of what the other was saying!

 

On the subject of people treating staff badly,my Wife has worked in hotels since the early 1980's & is constantly telling me how often they are spoken to rudely these days,certainly seems to be getting worse,it isn't a cheap hotel so price dropping wouldn't seem to the problem there.

[pisces14]

Personally I have never come across that however our experiences are obviously all different.

 

I'm always reading on cruise forums that people come in contact with others who bore them with how many cruises they've done. We've been cruising for 7 years now and like you have never met anyone who has done that.

[BanburyBlue]

I'm not sure I would say I've had that many fellow passengers banging on about how many cruises they've been on. I do find though that it can be a conversation ice breaker when you're thrown together with someone you don't know in the freedom dining restaurant for example. Normally it starts with 1, introductions, 2, "are you enjoying the cruise?" quickly followed by "err, have you been cruising before?". Which I do accept can be vary dangerous - especially with some people whose first cruise was the Ark!!

 

The other icebreaker is photos of grandchildren - mind you, it's always much more fun showing off photos of your own, rather than look at someone elses ;-).

[Eglesbrech]

:)

I'm not sure I would say I've had that many fellow passengers banging on about how many cruises they've been on. I do find though that it can be a conversation ice breaker when you're thrown together with someone you don't know in the freedom dining restaurant for example. Normally it starts with 1, introductions, 2, "are you enjoying the cruise?" quickly followed by "err, have you been cruising before?". Which I do accept can be vary dangerous - especially with some people whose first cruise was the Ark!!

 

The other icebreaker is photos of grandchildren - mind you, it's always much more fun showing off photos of your own, rather than look at someone elses ;-).

 

You haven’t been on the Ark yet, really? I thought everyone had done that cruise, you must try it. Noah is such a lovely captain and the food in the restaurant is so very fresh. But then again I preferred (insert ship name) myself, Been on it several times, such lovely fellow passengers. But for the best entertainment you must try (insert name of ship) :)

 

I would rather be blethered at about ships than shown pictures of children I don’t know and will never meet. Now in my humble opinion that is really boring but I will look politely, make the expected comments, ask one question about the said sprog and then change the subject.

 

You are right though, they are good ice breakers.

 

We were at dinner one night when the ice breaker from a rather grumpy older gentleman was “so how did you vote in Brexit”- I don’t recommend this as a topic as it raised passions and in some cases blood pressure.

 

Stick to the weather, ports, cruises and if really necessary grandchildren.

[Selbourne]

We are obviously all different! I would much rather hear about people’s cruise stories than sport, the weather or work. I go on holiday to get away from those things! It’s entirely natural to talk about cruises as, until you get to know someone, it’s the only thing that you have in common. We have picked up loads of great tips from those with more cruising experience than us. If you don’t like talking about cruises, best not to share a table!

[daiB]

We are obviously all different! I would much rather hear about people’s cruise stories than sport, the weather or work. I go on holiday to get away from those things! It’s entirely natural to talk about cruises as, until you get to know someone, it’s the only thing that you have in common. We have picked up loads of great tips from those with more cruising experience than us. If you don’t like talking about cruises, best not to share a table!

 

 

 

I am with you on this, I do like to talk to others about their cruising experience. I find it interesting.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

[BanburyBlue]

It's one of those things - talking about cruises to other people who like cruising is a good way to get to know people. I'm sure it's the same for everyone in that there are people I've taken to instantly, and others I would jump into a doorway to avoid at all costs!

[snaefell]

We are obviously all different! I would much rather hear about people’s cruise stories than sport, the weather or work. I go on holiday to get away from those things! It’s entirely natural to talk about cruises as, until you get to know someone, it’s the only thing that you have in common.

 

The one thing that you have in common is that you are on that particular cruise but we also have another thing in common & that is having a life which icludes our different ideas/opinions/experiences on a variety of things which we enjoy finding out about.

Absolutely right that we are all different,we met people on Britannia's Transatlantic recently who were on it because they did it last year & enjoyed it so much they booked this year & next year,as much as we enjoyed the cruise we couldn't imagine doing that,also booking Cruises so far ahead as many do has been something we couldn't even think about even if we wanted with fixed holidays that varied year to year.

Although we did our first cruise in 2007 we have only managed 2 more so far(there should have been another but a cruise on Queen Mary 2 had to be cancelled under sad(at the time) circumstances which seem almost comical now!),there is so much to see out there,much as we are sick of flying we still have unfinished business in the USA & really want to get to the Far East which we haven't managed so far,so much to do so little time,happy travelling!

[Denarius]

:)

 

You haven’t been on the Ark yet, really? I thought everyone had done that cruise, you must try it. Noah is such a lovely captain and the food in the restaurant is so very fresh.

But some of the other passengers can behave like animals at times.

[Denarius]

But some of the other passengers can behave like animals at times.

But you get a lot of sea days.

[Zombatar]

Had an e mail from P&O today to let me know that I can now shop at Dixons travel on board Ventura. Well isn't that something to look forward to!!

 

In the past Jennifer bought me a lovely TAG watch for my birthday and I have bought her some smashing tanzanite jewellery and both at very competitive prices. All this I assume will soon be gone and other retailers will take over.

 

Perhaps Lidl or Aldi will take over the little shop where you buy all the bits you forgot to pack and Perfume Store will sell you your very up to date fragrance.

 

Who knows, maybe William Hill will run the casino and Burger King take over the buffet.

 

Welcome to the future!!

 

Peter and Jenny

[Tom Baker]

Sounds much better than what tat they had previously. Do Currys still own Dixons?

[Selbourne]

Sounds much better than what tat they had previously. Do Currys still own Dixons?

 

I agree. With High Street retailers I would think that better products would be sold and at keener prices. We have never found anything of interest to us onboard and things that we would buy (aftershave, perfume etc) are cheaper online. As things stand, they rely on those wishing to use up on board credit or customers who don’t check prices online. Perhaps that’s why the internet service onboard is so poor and expensive ;)

[emam]

Dixons are going to compare their prices with Amazon, Argos and others and will offer a double discount if you find it cheaper.

 

 

http://www.dixonscarphone.com/news-and-media/press-releases/2017/15-09-2017

[Monorail Orange]

Are Dixons replacing Harding Bros. completely or are they just a concession in the ship shops?

[majortom10]

Are Dixons replacing Harding Bros. completely or are they just a concession in the ship shops?

 

Harding Brothers are being replaced by an American company used on other Carnival company ships, Dixons is just a small concession.

[P&O SUE]

The shops aren’t a great part of my cruise experience but on my first cruise (in 2012) I bought some P&O fudge for my parents. They really enjoyed it so it’s become a sort of a tradition that I always buy some for them.

I’m going on Ventura next week, coming back just before Father’s day. I thought I’d be able to get some for a present for my Dad but I’ve seen discussion on Facebook that they don’t sell these basic items anymore on Ventura. Just think it’s a shame. First cruise they had a picture of the ship on the box but last couple of years no picture just a bland nothing picture!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[Monorail Orange]

Harding Brothers are being replaced by an American company used on other Carnival company ships, Dixons is just a small concession.

Ah thanks for that. I thought it'd be odd if they were replacing the existing shops with Dixons.

 

 

So anyone have a review on the 'new' shops on the ships where the changeover has occurred? Much difference?

[jeanlyon]

Have done many cruises, always a Table for 8 on Club Dining. Never had the problem of other cruisers telling us how many cruises they.ve one. Not had that problem ever.

[happy v]

Ah thanks for that. I thought it'd be odd if they were replacing the existing shops with Dixons.

 

 

So anyone have a review on the 'new' shops on the ships where the changeover has occurred? Much difference?

I don't think the new shops are any better, in fact there I think there was less choice in the perfume shop.

The jewellery had the prices displayed at the beginning of the cruise. This was later hidden, for obvious reasons.

I don't buy duty free but I was told it was now more expensive.

[Monorail Orange]

^Thanks. Well if they are much of the same, then that's ok. Shame on the price hikes though. But then, like you, I don't buy any of it either.