P&O Cruises

I do, mainly very good experiencxes, althoguh of course it depends on what you're after. I find them a bit younger and more lively than cunard (although cunard is overall better 'quality' of cruising). I find them vastly superior to the likes of royal carribean etc, but it's all down to choice. Of P&Os current ships I've been on Oriana and Aurora. Feel free to ask any Qs.

Thanks Lou. I have strange worries about it being like a P&O ferry and there being rowdy football fans etc dotted around the place while you're just trying to get home ? What sort of cabin did you stay in? Are they quite spacious?

I'm looking at Ventura, the new one I think? It's for a surprise present (Christmas/early Birthday) for my mum (dad will go too but he is paying his own way!)though I may just book it for myself ? They've never been on a cruise (or abroad as a couple for that matter) so I'm a bit worried she might hate it - being on a boat for 7 days, might not like the ports, might kill me for booking her a wekk long holiday as my littlest sister hates them being away etc etc

I'm also a bit torn between balcony and just an outside cabin as they weather won't be scorching so nto sure the balcony would be worth it? It's a 7 night cruise taking in Vigo, Spain - Lisbon, Portugal - La Rochelle, France - Brest, France

I've been looking at booking through a gocruise rep and they seem very helpful and well priced and have a good knowledge of the ship as to finding th ebest cabin for the price etc - but then I'm thinking with the credit crunch blah blah should I go through someone bigger/I've heard of like thomas cook?

Another minor issue is the dates they go they have to fly out one month and back the other (ship goes from Southampton)but the other month's flights form here aren't realised until December so is it risky booking the cruise without the flights...

Sorry that turned into quite a ramble ?

I've stayed in both an outside (no balcony) and a balcony room, and I'd always go for a balcony now having had that experience. I really do think it's worth the extra if you can stretch to it (although they'll not know any better if you cant, what with it being their first time). Of course, picking a cruise as a gift is a gamble, but I can honestly say that I've never known anyone to go on a cruise and hate it. Even some of the fussiest, hard to please buggers I know have come back raving about their experiences. I LOVE Vigo- amazing fish restaurants and great shopping, and lots of good tours to nearby areas.

As for who to book through- just check the small print! It's worth speaking to TC cruise centre as they'll try to match most online people. I've also used these in the past: https://www.barrheadtravel.co.uk/cruise https://www.VacationsToGo.com/cruise_lines/pno_cruises.cfm

Got to run into a meeting now- back later to help more if needed (not sure I understand the issues with the flights btw, which is prob because I've skkin read and ran!)

Great thanks will check those sites when I chance. How did you find the food and entertainment on board? Is the entertainment a bit Jane McDonald (not that I think my parents would be put off by that!)

Flights issue is just annoying in that I'm looking at a cruise that goes end March, back start of April but flybe don't release flights for April onwards until end of November so if I book the cruise now I'm sort of gambling on getting a decent priced flight as soon as they are released to get them home. I can book them one way to Southampton but then it's dearer (they make it dearer for one way than return) and wait for the April ones or take even more risk and wait to book a return (2 way including a March flight that has been for sale for a while) at end of November. Or I could book a different cruise later in the year but it would be more awkward for times and again flights aren't bookable either way for those... why's nothing ever really simple ?

I think you need to take a gamble on the flights point tbh- prices ARE going to rise next year, so prepare yourself, but I think you'll find that regardless of when they go. The food is actually really good, and they will bend over backwards to cater for any whims or foibles. I remember when I ws about 14 I sent back a 'rare' steak which was medium. They replaced it with a medium rare steak. It went back. Then, with huuuuge apologies I got my rare steak next, and every other steak I ordered was cooked to perfection. I've also made it clear if ordering certain things that I expect them not to be shy with the garlic/ chilli/ other critical ingredient, so as to avoid the kind of bland dumbed down dishes that you can get in mass-catered situations. What Im saying is, as long as you can articulate what you want, they will do it. I always come back from a cruise as fat as a pig! ?

The enterainment can be a biut cheesey, but theres also plenty of good stuff- recitals, shows, films, showbands. DJs etc. Id be very surprised if they were bored!

I think my parents have been on every cunard and P&O ship and god knows what else.

I've had the pleasure of the QM2 and the Disney cruise (which I was dragged on by my in-laws, hated most of and woudl say step away from unless you have kids, in which case it's fab as they get the run ofthe ship whilst you do what you please!)

Anyhow balcony is good even if the weather isn't scorching, it's sometimes nice to just sit ourside and read or enjoy a relax before dinner whithout having to scout out 2 seats toegether on a busy deck or being relagated to the shady area under the lifeboats where no-one goes.

Food will suit any taste, there's very formal though not at all and they are very flexible. If my sisters fussy boyfriend can come back raving about the food on a P&O cruise then anyone can be pleased.

Entertainment varies. They go on about broadway / west end standard shows but a lot does tend towards the caberet end, having said that you don't have to go and I found pleanty to entertain myself with.

Oh with flights my parents haev always booked them with the cruise, worked out well when we were doing the QM2 out of NYC - their flight was delayed but as it had 30 people for the cruise onboard they held the ship.

The other option isto look at cruises out of the UK - generaly southpampton. Does mean it tends to be a bit longer to the first stop ad that you really need 10 not 7 days for a decent number of stops.

I haven't (shudders at the thought of trying to keep a 2 year old under control on a cruise ship for 2 weeks) but my mum and dad have been on P&O Oceana twice now, they were cruise virgins the first time they went and they absolutely loved it. The first cruise they went on was to the Caribbean, which they were less keen in terms of where they stopped etc than the Mediterranean cruise they are just back from - sounds similar to the one you described but I don't think they went to France, it was Tenerife, Madeira, Vigo, Lisbon, Coruna and some other places. And it was Southampton - Southampton this time so no worries re the flights. I think there are chartered flights that connect with the cruises though as first time they sailed Southampton - Barbados and I think there were quite a few flights just for the cruise passengers.

They have the same kind of views as LouM on Cunard v P&O ie the overall "quality"/luxury experience on Cunard (they were on the QM2 sailing from New York to Southampton) is greater but in terms of liveliness they prefer the P&O ships. They are about to book for another cruise for next year again round the med but taking in places like Corsica/Sardinia, either on the Arcadia or Ventura next time (can't remember which). I think they have a ship that is child free if that is something that would be important to you. I can't remember which one though.

They book quite early and shop around for the best deals, first time I think they booked through Thomas Cook and 2nd time through Barrhead Travel.

Thanks everyone. Checked barrhead online but looking dearer than what I've been quoted with gocruise but it could be worth haggling. What small print am I needing to be wary of in particular? I see gocruise are ABTA/ATOL etc protected but I'm wondering if that definitely covers their reps et al. I will book with CC anyway.

Lobster - they need cheapie domestic flights for southampton and we're in NI.

D'oh! Should pay more attention to who the OP is as I know full well you're in NI.

Then again I tend to forget that not everyone is like me and miles (thousands of them in my case!) from their parents.

I should have been more clear in my posts sorry! Miles from parents but close to shoes and clothes priced in $ - I know which I'd choose ?

We went on a med cruise with P&O, and it was fantastic. It was the Arcadia, so no children on it at all.

We had a balcony, and like LouM says, I would stretch to if it you can. MrS loved sitting out on the balcony watching all the other boats going by.

As for entertainment, it was varied. 2 of the nights it was Paul Daniels & Debbie McGee ?

Wah I my parents would love that ? Child free would probably be one of my preferences but I don't think they mind as long it is their child free ?

We do this one:

https://www.pocruises.com/

in January for 2 weeks around the caribbean and I am so excited. I've been to the caribbean before but have never done a cruise. the Ocean Village 2 ship is absolutely huge. we have a top desk outside cabin with a balcony. I don't think I could do it unless I had a window. I would get claustrophobic otherwise.

Ocean Village Website has some brilliant deals. We got 60% off the total trip and were so chuffed to get in first and book that deal a few weeks ago as the top 3 decks are now all sold out.

I am that excited that I'm buying a new dress every fortnight in 2 sizes smaller than I actually am and sticking by a diet so I can fit in to them ?

Ocean Village do lots of other cruise deals too. Sorry, I have no experience yet but thought I recommend the website.

They were actually lovely. Apparently they had a suite, and were guests on the cruise apart from the 2 nights they put on a show. I didnt actually realise Paul Daniels was a hypnotist. He was fab! They ate in the main dining room, and even queued up with the rest of us for teh BBQ when we were coming in to Palma (Mind you I think they would have been lynched if they had tried to skip ?) We got to go to the Captains Drinks (free drink .. yippeee) and it was weird standing next to them and them saying hello.

Ahh, I would love to go on another cruise.