Things that once were at P & O but are now… GONE!

[zap99]

39 minutes ago, Interestedcruisefan said:

I've definitely found the entertainment on the bigger ships at least to be better than ever IMO

 

High quality entertainers

 

Don't forget there's a lot more passengers to spread the actual cost of entertainment to on bigger ships with more passengers

 

Food wise there's better quality than ever available as well IMO. Standard of cuisine have improved worldwide the last 5 decades immeasurably - nowhere more so than in the UK

 

Don't forget 40 to 50 years ago if you wanted a "special" meal Berni Inns were high on the list

 

That kind of meal now is just average or below average compared to what's available

 

On the ship so many varied options. Some with a price but the prices are so low and the cost of cruising so cheap unless you insist on extra to cruise that I don't think the ships have gone backwards on anything

 

I personally think the ships have significantly improved in real terms cost, facilities on board, entertainment, food and drink options. Even in the cabins. The showers and toilets are way better quality and reliable than in the past. The size of TVs in the bigger ships way better.

 

Pretty much everything has improved IMO whilst affordability has got way better and tips have gone at the same time.

 

It's hard to say that about any other type of holiday

 

Let's see how prices do change now. But to date cruising is all positives to me

 

With P and O at least

 

 

We love our cruises and have not noticed any drop in standards, some things have changed. No turndown or chocolates, where's me canopies ? The butler didn't do it, whereas in the old days he did it all the time. All trivia that don't matter to us. Folk who enjoy everything about their holiday are somehow viewed by some as inadequate in some way. They don't know how bad things really are. How seriously poor everything is. If all is doom and gloom....I don't know why we bother Fawlty.🤣

Edited December 14, 2023 by zap99

[Interestedcruisefan]

13 minutes ago, zap99 said:

We love our cruises and have not noticed any drop in standards, some things have changed. No turndown or chocolates, where's me canopies ? The butler didn't do it, whereas in the old days he did it all the time. All trivia that don't matter to us. Folk who enjoy everything about their holiday are somehow viewed by some as inadequate in some way. They don't know how bad things really are. How seriously poor everything is. If all is doom and gloom....I don't know why we bother Fawlty.🤣

We in the UK are considered a nation of moaners aren't we

 

I try my hardest not to be. 

 

I'm in a Rotary Club. Many of the elder members are also in U3A. 

 

For those who don't know that organisation it's for retired or semi retired people to from clubs and hobby groups together.

 

One of my friends is leader of a group they've called "Grumpy Old Men"

 

 They meet for lunch once a month to complain about stuff as a group!!

 

Lol

 

Still some of the nicest people you could wish to meet of course and they do loads for Charity

 

The same guy voluntarily runs a "Memory Cafe" with his wife that meets every week for people with dementia and carers to enjoy a nice experience together with others 

 

[Interestedcruisefan]

17 minutes ago, zap99 said:

We love our cruises and have not noticed any drop in standards, some things have changed. No turndown or chocolates, where's me canopies ? The butler didn't do it, whereas in the old days he did it all the time. All trivia that don't matter to us. Folk who enjoy everything about their holiday are somehow viewed by some as inadequate in some way. They don't know how bad things really are. How seriously poor everything is. If all is doom and gloom....I don't know why we bother Fawlty.🤣

I read somewhere recently that in general we all actually  need a few struggles, a bit of pain and effort etc

 

In order to fully appreciate the good things about life

 

If everything  was always perfect we wouldn't all enjoy it as much!!

 

It kind of makes sense

[Interestedcruisefan]

"We need contrasting experiences in life to get the most from it. This is because our pleasures and pains are always relative "

 

Basically in crusing terms- you need a poor dining experience or problem with your cabin or service etc every now and then in order to really appreciate the good ones!!

 

Lol

 

Also something I learnt very early on in life:

 

An unhappy customer has the potential to become your happiest ever customer if you deal with their problem well

 

Whereas a happy customer just stays a happy customer as you never have the opportunity to go the extra mile for them

 

Basically an unhappy customer provides you with a huge opportunity to engage well and create really great relationships

 

Do P and O achieve that. Probably nowhere near enough. Not many brands their size do. They become too regimental etc

[zap99]

1 minute ago, Interestedcruisefan said:

I read somewhere recently that in general we all actually  need a few struggles, a bit of pain and effort etc

 

In order to fully appreciate the good things about life

 

If everything  was always perfect we wouldn't all enjoy it as much!!

 

It kind of makes sense

Yes, your right. Difficult choices and dealing with stress make life what it is....out to lunch....where to go...what to eat....thinking about that has stressed me out nicely. Seriously, do all our holidays go without issues ?. Of course not. If we can't get the seat we want in Headliners we will sit somewhere else and arrive a few minutes earlier next time. Life throws up loads of little problems. We deal with them and move on. It's not long before all the good stuff makes them seem trivial and they pass into ancient history. I can't remember if we had a cheese wheel in 2010, but I can remember that sunset on the sailaway from Venice.

[Interestedcruisefan]

10 minutes ago, zap99 said:

Yes, your right. Difficult choices and dealing with stress make life what it is....out to lunch....where to go...what to eat....thinking about that has stressed me out nicely. Seriously, do all our holidays go without issues ?. Of course not. If we can't get the seat we want in Headliners we will sit somewhere else and arrive a few minutes earlier next time. Life throws up loads of little problems. We deal with them and move on. It's not long before all the good stuff makes them seem trivial and they pass into ancient history. I can't remember if we had a cheese wheel in 2010, but I can remember that sunset on the sailaway from Venice.

Away from cruising we once went to Venice and arrived for the very first time by water taxi

 

I remember so well my wife and I turning to look at each other at exactly the same time and thinking this is just magical 

 

You are so right Zap. It's the magical stuff you really remember. Or should want to remember at least. 

[zap99]

57 minutes ago, Interestedcruisefan said:

Away from cruising we once went to Venice and arrived for the very first time by water taxi

 

I remember so well my wife and I turning to look at each other at exactly the same time and thinking this is just magical 

 

You are so right Zap. It's the magical stuff you really remember. Or should want to remember at least. 

We have thousands of photos on memory sticks and in the cloud. Many memories that I look at from time to time. Venice, dolphins, Santorini, Cornwall etc, etc. All the good things we have enjoyed together. When our traveling days are restricted, happy memories to enjoy again. Not any pictures of the cracked bathroom tile, or packet of broken biscuits. Life is far too short for that.

[Interestedcruisefan]

On a separate post one of the guests at my Rotary event last night caught covid whilst on a recent P and O cruise. Initially confined to his cabin but ended up with him being off loaded and flown  to Barcelona from La Coruna where he spent 6 weeks in hospital there

 

He's back recovering now but received a bill this week for 25k

 

So he's obviously  hoping his insurance will cover that but doesn't know yet