Enjoyable overall but several disappointing aspects compared with our many previous cruises with P&O.
Buffet restaurants were frequently short of crockery and cutlery; service was variable from excellent to indifferent; freedom dining had not been a problem on the occasions we’d used it previously but we had to wait up to an hour and a half on the first 2 nights so we requested a set time for the 3rd evening in the Saffron or Cinnamon restaurants – we were given a place in the Bay Tree where, despite the fact there were numerous empty tables, the service was poor and the wine waiter didn’t appear until we were well through the main course – even then he took orders from the other couples on our table of 6 but not from us! We therefore made bookings in the speciality restaurants from then on which involved extra cost but the service was excellent, particularly in the Sindhu.
Entertainment was middling and the Burt Bacharach show on the final night was spoilt by singing which was far too harsh and loud (the dancers were fine) and one solo female performance of “A House is not a Home” which is essentially a sad song, was murdered by being sung at the top of her voice.
As I’ve said, we enjoyed it overall despite the criticism but it was nowhere near as good as previously.