re cruise B514

Britannia sails well but is too large. Have sailed with P&O since 1964 on Canberra 1st Class and on all the other ships of theirs inc. Maiden voyage of Aurora, and the Farewell Cruise of Canberra and always top suites, so opinion is at that level. Standards have gone down, food is not good and quantities small. Lack of fresh vegetables and choice on menu not good. Did not expect to find jam rollypoly, bakewell tart and bread and butter pudding on the menu. Wines although ok choice could have been wider and some more up market qualities. Price of wines same or dearer than restaurants in the UK. Suites are too small, had 2 guests for breakfast but table far too small, so entertaining non existant. Balcony good, Cabin steward, Saga, excellent and very attentive. Butler fine and co-operative.
Service in Epicurean very good and food better by far but at ?œ28 per head with no refund of the food not taken in the Oriental is a sign of the need to make money and I am afraid at the expense of the old traditions, no free ice cream, milk in first before the tea, clearing tables whilst people still finishing their meal. The Retreat, at ?œ25.00 per person per day is disgraceful. The crew are very good and all excetionally friendly but have not been trained with the old standards of P & O and it just those standards, choice of food, silver service,dress up for dinner etc that made P & O the best there was. Sorry but the atmosphere was of an upmarket Butlins. Captains Cocktail Party, firstly he was 29 minuets late, made short speech, said a joke, not even a good one, and then said good night. No introduction to the Captain, no contact with any Officers at all and no photos and so on. Well still prefer Oriana, the captains like
Rory Smith, so must look at smaller ships !! Might mean changing from P &O and I will be sorry to have to do this. Seems Carnival have other ideas as to what the english need for cruising. Did I enjoy the cruise, yes and the ship was good, apart from the “”fire in the engine room”” on the first night and then “”exercise, exercise Man over board.. Captain then says, dont panic, this is only an exercise and we wondered who it was that went overboard just for the exercise !

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