Sent an email to P&O about this cruise well before we sailed, we are still awaiting the reply! Phoned Bolsover and they gave me the information required but after boarding the ship realised even they had been not told the truth.
At the time of booking we booked club dining we were given freedom dining and told to use the phone app by reception when we complained they said they would inform the restaurant and to go to freedom on the first night, but we went to club dining half an hour before and complained they apologised and said they would sort it but we stood our ground and was given a table for first sitting as booked.
This should not happen it’s very stressful and a very bad start to what turned out to be a very good cruise but reception as good as accused us of not being honest and asked that we showed them our original booking paperwork which I had in the cabin hence the reason they hadn’t bothered to get in touch with the restaurant.
The food and portions for us were good, some breakfasts were slow and cold and not too order ( they waste so much toast by not listening) but in all the waiters did a first class job obviously understaffed and a lot still training hence the sometimes strange breakfasts! Our evening waiters Costov & Norman were brilliant they really made the cruise after speaking with some passengers in the same restaurant we really thought we we’re in a different restaurant as they had nothing but complaints about the food being cold and service.
The daily itineraries left a lot to be desired we enjoy deck games and they have definitely been watered down almost into oblivion such a pity as that is where our loyalty lies with P&O.
deck quoits is traditionally played on ships and is great for meeting up with like minded passengers who enjoy deck games.
The dancing classes were always at the same times as the outside games and although the children on board were young the entertainment was definitely biased towards them for outdoor sports.
If you look at the daily happenings on board it is even more geared into trying to sell you services.
The resident artists on board were very good and we were amazed at how many shows headliners did nearly more than a world cruise we did on that one they spent more time ashore and sunbathing than working so this cruise they were brilliant and a really good team that worked well together.
Some of the solo entertainment left a lot to be desired but headliners shows and the resident musicians made up for the bad ones.
When we booked this cruise we hadn’t realised it was the Queens jubilee but it was very well celebrated on the ship with an evening party on the open decks on a very nice warm evening and a garden party with waiters walking around with none stop trays of nice treats plus of course a slice of jubilee cake Avery hot afternoon but very much enjoyed.
The ship seems well maintained except the back deck and bar area it really needs some TLC it’s very shabby and looks unkept ready for a refit! But we noticed passengers who decided that the ratten couches were there’s to lie and sunbathe on not for people to sit on! didn’t help maintain there upkeep! The crew on this ship were amazing they obviously work long hours and are on their feet for long periods of time so it’s incredible where they get their cheerful smiles from.
P&O in our opinion have no loyalty whatsoever to their most traveled passengers They do not answer emails asking simple things that could be put on the information page like how many formal nights so we know what to pack ( or are they aiming for Butlins at sea?) I obviously asked about our dining arrangements because it said freedom dining and our original booking was club which of course they ignored.
The loyalty package is now none existent if you have on board credit they do not give 10% if you have on board credit unlike Princess who seem to have more respect for their long time passengers You loose your status if your on the top 2 tiers if you don’t fulfil the night’s required on board ship.
but Princess respect the business you have given them and once there your status remains.
They also proudly boast that the top tires receive an annual gift in appreciation.
The gift was given on board initially until I think 2013 but we have been Ligurian and Baltic for some time on and off and only ever received a calendar addressed to my husband only and haven’t received anything since 2019 that was before covid! If they are not going to supply these presents addressed to both customers or not at all they should not boast about offering it they don’t even send a club magazine anymore which includes the main staff that are onboard The moisture packs are no longer in the stateroom and there are no facecloths unless you ask your cabin steward who on this cruise was Joao and an exceptional steward who looked after the cabin and us extremely well he always had our cabin ready before we came back from breakfast which was excellent service.
There is no longer a turndown service at night but that didn’t bother us as the stewards have to do sanitise duties after the morning service so are still very busy.
After it seems the deck games are obviously heading towards extinction our preferred line is now Princess but things change in all businesses so P&O May have a re think about things and look after their smaller adult only ships that cater for all sorts of people who just want a nice old fashioned cruise with traditional things and not lots of young children who some parents think it’s their right to let them run around the ship unattended including restaurants, I love children but when it affects the quality of others who enjoy cruising adult only is the answer and keep the deck sports we are not all couch potatoes with our heads in books and in front of tv screens and are definitely not ready for OAP cruising.
The ports were good even though there was 2 last minute changes which we still really enjoyed Cartagena instead of Valencia neither of which we had been to but given the weather (hot) maybe the replacement was a better option the other port was Marseille replaced with Toulon again possibly a better choice given the hot weather again a new port for us so we enjoyed the day there as well.
We do miss the port guides P&O used to issue and the book before you board setting out all the information required.
I do not live on my Mobil phone only using it for phone calls when on holiday it gets turned off so this new idea of having to book everything through the phone app which doesn’t seem to work anyway is a nightmare, fortunately our waiters booked any special meals we wanted and reception booked the theatre every night for us but still we had to queue to give our cabin number and name.
Unfortunately all cruises seem to be getting this idea of using the apps to do things but it is totally alien to me I don’t want to spend my holiday with a phone stuck to my ear the idea of cabin cards was so ladies didn’t need to carry handbags with them and mobile phones do not fit in my pockets.
Apps are not my idea of a relaxing holiday things should be able to be booked before you board, even Princess’s app does not work.
When they do is the time to bring it forward not upset peoples holidays.