Deterioration in Restaurant/Bar Service

Having recently returned (16th Feb) from cruising the Caribbean on Ventura we find it hard to believe the drop in the standards in service, in particular the restaurant waiters and certain bar staff, since we were last on Ventura in September (Norwegian Fjords). In the restaurant (Cinnamon) the waiters leaned across the table to serve and collect dirty plates before everyone on the table had finished their course. One of our party of four received her main course before the starter course was finished by the others. The waiters leaned on the backs our our chairs whilst talking to us. On a table adjacent to ours we saw waiters putting out table settings ready for the next sitting before the guests on the table had finished their coffee. This in our opinion is not silver service and the usual expected and previously experienced P &O standard. In the buffet Waterside restaurant when asking for a cold plate for salad was told only hot plates were available probably simply because they couldn’t be bothered to get one. Having cruised with P & O for many years on all their ships this has been our only complaint and worst experience. We feel that more training should be given to the much depleted hotel staff. We conclude by saying that our cabin steward Sijo was the best and most courteous and helpful we have had on P &O ships.