Best part about my P&O Avria September 2023 cruise was leaving it in Southampton.

Summary

The best part about my P&O Avria September 2023 cruise was leaving it in Southampton knowing I will never return. Our cruise was a very full cruise with 5000 passengers. It was very clear from boarding that the P&O resources was “rock bottom” for this 5000 passenger cruise – shameful P&O.

Been cruising since the 70s. This is my first cruise since COVID started. On this cruise I can see how the accountants have had a massive impact with shocking cut backs everywhere on this ship – it is very noticeable. I will avoid coming back on this ship and maybe cruising with P&O altogether. Negatives

To gain access to the Avria resources like restaurants, entertainment and shore excursions etc was via a browser page App that was poor to use and very difficult to connect. The App never flowed or worked for me and all passengers I spoke about the App – agreed. So the App was not just a “me thing”. To book restaurants for a specific time after 6pm involved a fee as only premium restaurants were available after 6pm. Entertainment always appeared fully booked and again difficult to access to book. Thankfully we booked all our entertainment before we boarded via the P&O webpage.

The App – made it difficult to eat after 6pm without payment. I think it was deliberated to drive up revenue for P&O. Restaurants that never involved a fee at meal time after 6pm involved queuing. I will not return to this ship because of this App and these meal arrangements. The App and meal arrangements spoilt our overall cruise holiday. The only meal guaranteed involved queuing at the buffet restaurant on deck 16 called The Horizon.

To make reservations after 6pm I ended up using restaurant front desks which worked well for me. Bring back 2 sitting dining times please.

On average our premium meals took around 3 hours and around £70 for 2persons. We also paid a premium fee and then paid further charges on our food we choose. Absolute disgrace! Premium dining was expensive; disappointing slow and a poor experience overall. Like everything else I felt the Premium Restaurants were under staffed. If P&O are going to charge – P&O need to up their game by delivering the service promised – Premium dining on the Avria is complete disgrace and rip-off.

Why do P&O have an App and a paper based daily cruise news – surely the Cruise News should be included in the App – the accountants can make another saving here too and save the environment reducing the rubbish generated from old Cruise News editions.

Noticeably lack of staff everywhere, especially bars. The only sure way to get served was to go the bar. Current staff working to maximum under much pressure and very noticeable. Cabin staff serviced the cabin once in the morning and then worked in our areas till 10pm. Found this sad and distressing.

Two smoking locations were not suitable on top decks for the large smoking population on this cruise. No lighting in the areas making it a hazard. Also when it rained there is nowhere to smoke so folk smoke illegally in places on the lower deck under cover. P&O are driving this behaviour. P&O need to accommodate smokers in all types of weather to stop illegal smoking. P&O are very happy to profit selling cigarettes – so please P&O make smokers more welcome please. How about including mid ship like – deck 8 on one side. Shameful P&O!

Lifts for wheelchair users are a complete disgrace especially during peak times. During peak times folks went to lower decks to get lifts which gave wheelchair users no chance. Saw 2 nasty and ugly situations which highlighted P&O have little care about folks in wheelchairs when it comes to lifts. Shameful P&O!

Positives

Great quality cabin

Great food

Water refills stations

Love the wide cabin corridors.

The waiters I met from Zimbabwe were excellent and engaging and very helpful.

All the staff without exception were great and helpful.

Entertainment in the Headliner Theatre was excellent.

The massive changes to the Cabin staff to visit and service your cabin once a day in the morning worked for me. I saw this as a bonus and a plus point.