Reviews

excellent and good service.

enjoy the evening entertainment.

we had a window room this time and it was nice waking up and looking outside, we usually have a inside.

always friendly and helpful

Superb! Get the Indians crew to run the ship, they are far more efficient and helpful

Do you intend offering any compensation re-the appalling Christmas & New Year cruise? obviously the weather is outside your remit, but missing 2 ports?? and not seeing another due to fog, nothing to compensate for this was put into the itinery, and you cannot escape from the absolutely abysmal entertainment.

 I am complaining to IGLU where I booked and no doubt friends on Twitter will also add their views, but you cannot just forward a mundane and ineffective response to my email sent to Carol Marlow, I want compensation for what can only be classed as a ruined Christmas and New Year. P & O should respond robustly to what I outlined, not a wishy washy 'please go away' type of letter. For goodness sake, P & O package detail for this trip comes no where near how its advertised, as it absolutley did not live up to even a modest expectation.

Kindly respond, or pass this letter to a senior position that has the authority to look properly at things.

SEE COPY BELOW OF MY LETTER TO CAROL MARLOW (M.D)

 Dear Carol,

Think of my husband and I as 'secret shoppers' who are now providing you with a unique and total update of a P & O Voyage I have just returned from my 7th or 8th P & O Cruise aboard the ORIANA. We were in Cabin E140 deck 6, The weather was dreadful throughout most of the voyage, but I am aware that you have no governing over that, however we missed 2 ports of call Cadiz and Malta and Lisbon was hardly visible due to thick fog, so three ports were really not part of our trip.

We like so many others on board were dissatisfied with our cruise experience because of these missed ports and bad conditions which made seeing Lisbon a no no, however there are some salient points that really need addressing, and some great aspects that need highlighting, this way changes can perhaps be made for the future of P & O

DINING We dined each night at 1st sitting in the Peninsular restaurant, at table 65, the service and standard and choice of cuisine served was excellent and above reproach. The staff were ALWAYS supremely polite and attentive, and the overall experience of all 6 on our table was superb! We mainly breakfasted in the Conservatory, and we found the popularity meant hunting a bit for an available place, however again the food choices and standards were superlative, and again the staff were all attentive and professional. We took snacks in Al Fresco, and this too gave us intimate and enjoyable light lunches and we again experienced superb service at all times with beautifully cooked hot snacks etc. All our dining experiences were excellent!

CABIN Our cabin was large enough and comfortable and our Cabin stewardess MARION was spotless and meticulous in her cleaning routine, she really does deserve the highest praise, her standards should set a precedent, she is an asset to P & O BARS The bars were always well kept and waitress and waiter service excellent, this was to all bars on board, and again cannot be faulted

ENTERTAINMENT The in-cabin entertainment (TV) was dire! Channel 5 which showed re-runs of once popular sit Com's was very poorly managed, for instance we would watch 'Life on Mars' and halfway through it would switch to 'Are you being served' or David Walliams sit-com. and for two whole days there was nothing at all shown on channel 5, and as this is only a 'recording' organised by on board techies it was a really poor outcome as with the inclement weather forcing many to their cabin they found nothing to watch! I telephoned reception twice to ask about it, and was fobbed off with the techie is not at his post, 'we will get back to you' which never happened. I also asked personally at the reception about this, and was told someone would be in touch, which again didn't happen. The film choices shown were old hat. When people are away for Christmas and the New Year, they like to watch sit-Com's so putting together a better package that runs on a continuous 12 hour cycle would be good, as if one is unwell the distraction of a sit-com during the early hours is helpful. Many men on board were asking why the football matches weren't screened through their cabins or indeed through Chaplin's- the Cinema. Why not introduce a DVD library at a nominal cost , say £1 a film?

 CHAPLIN'S Absolutely dire!!! Firstly throughout the first week the cinema was so cold that I wore a coat in there, it was only after many complaints that the heating was restored, however the choice of films shown was abysmal. Elf! and old old films, the choices were for children or very elderly people. The Way and the Kings speech were packed out, but other films were ridiculed as rubbish by film goers.

ENTERTAINERS & TALK HOSTS With the exception of Lee Wilson - comedian, the entertainment was a huge let down. a talk about 'Concorde' The cleaning lady of Kim and Aggie notoriety, it really was dire. The Headliners are fun to watch, but they are not strong on singing, though for effort dance and costumes they were good. Next 10 band from Harlequins , well this girl is talented and provided a superb show for New Years Eve in the Pacific lounge, her vitality and sheer energy to get the party swinging was admirable, she deserves P & O recognition of her talent, on the other hand Free Spirit which were the resident band in the Lord Taveners Pub were a shambles, the girl singer was mainly off chatting to two old ladies she was acquainted with or not there at all and we were told she was seasick. Often they did not even turn up for their advertised slot.

The violinist was great, but one show of this was enough, as with the other singers on board, as on a second show songs were repeated as were lots of their comments. More comedians and even hypnotists, magic shows that kind of entertainment would have given a better experience to people. And why not shows like 'open the box' with a good prize? The entertainment needs a total overhaul Promoting a big jackpot bingo game would have had the ladies in by the drove, and would have easily covered a jackpot payout.

SPA The sauna was leaking through the ceiling for a time, and the Steam room was also closed for repairs for a time and the Jacuzzi was cold for a few days. I attended a good talk from Byron on the causes of back pain, he and Paul are very knowledgeable on health The beauty treatments are way way overpriced. If they were significantly lower the staff would be working flat out as people would then take advantage of the offers, but the offers that were displayed were risible! A barbering offer of £49??? that made my husband guffaw. They could have put on a hairdressing wash and blow dry offer for the ladies of £20 and they would have been fully booked. So there you have it Carol, I hope this may help you in some way, as P & O cruising is wonderful, but mainly for the cuisine!

I was a director of the Chambers of Commerce and Industry during my career, and I know the importance of improvement that can affect companies futures, so these comments are designed to assist you. If you need a future 'secret shopper' on a forthcoming P & O Cruise, I would be delighted to assist you.

 I would also like to know if P & O are reimbursing for the missed ports? Yours sincerely

Great cabin and excellent stewardess

Was impressed by the consistent high quality.

Headliners were terrific

Cabin was very comfortable.Would not recommend L311 though as this has slightly restricted view and a bit noisy at Sailaway time.

Crew in all areas could not have been more friendly or helpful

Best food on board was from pool self service fresh made for you

very poor

cabin was great but could not use balcony at night

service was good

fifth p and o cruise. best food in peninsular restaurant yet with attentive service

ok but arcardia last year much better

lovely

thank you to phrasant and orson in peninsular for brilliant service.

We were really impressed with the dining in the Peninsular Resteraunt and could not fault the food for any of the evening meals, plus our waiters were great.



Breakfast was usually eaten in the conservatory, we had no issues as the food was fine as long as we watched the times we eat breakfast to miss the busy times.

Entertainment onboard is generally better on the sea days as we took part in the quiz which was held in the Lords Tavern and carried points over from quiz to quiz.



It made it better that we one the last 2 quiz's on the last night aboard! the other in the bar laughed as the crew member was from the same town as us!



The magic show in the Theater Royal was amazing to watch and if you ever get chance to see one aboard please do.

The beds in the cabin are that comfy we had to go out and buy a new one when we got home. Our cabin Stewarddo seemed to be able to read minds as he never once disturbed us but each time we returned the cabin was spotless.



Could have been a Little larger perhaps but thats a minor issue.

Faultless throughout.



The service offered onboard and the crews attitude made the holiday one to remember.

Food itself was very good, but cold by the time it got to the table and eventually given to the right person, past service has been more than superb.

Again this has gone downhill, although Jimmy James was fantastic, a real crowd pleaser.

Clean and spacious, comfy bed, just would have liked to be able to sleep in it, nothing on the TV after midnight which doesn't help when you are kept awake. We ended up having to get dressed each night and go upstairs for a coffee until about 4am just to get some peace and stop ourselves from going stir crazy.

Get better service on a car ferry

All the food was delightful.



We had a nice table for 2 and our waiter was very attentive and friendly.

Very good

The cabin was bigger than I expected. It was very quiet and the bed was comfy.



Cabin steward was there to welcome us and looked after us very well.

The above were all niggles that we would have put down to experience, but the advertised, & expected from my wife’s previous experience, “superb culinary experience" was a real damp squib. P & O what has happened? The general vegetable selection consisted of piles of cabbage (presented & dished out a la school meals) & when the kitchens did run to a differing choice we were presented with over boiled vegetables where all taste had been removed. 90% of the soups were watery & tasteless, beautifully creamed potatoes turned out as a cut square of a hard white inedible substance whilst steaks that could be mistaken for minute steaks were placed (I cannot use the word presented) in the centre of a plate looking lost, traditional English trifle that was fruit with custard poured over it & a cheese board that was so pathetic it was a joke.

Out of all the nights on board, we had 3 parts of meals that were at the level we expected. On our first night of dining, my wife had tears in her eyes & was struggling to find a rational explanation for the monumental difference in what she was being served to that given to her on her previous cruise. With, by the end of the week, the waiters (who were excellent in their manner & attentiveness) apologising for the food they were serving & on occasions asking if we wanted another main course due to the size, you can only imagine the complete disappointment.



Venturing outside the main restaurants to dine in the buffet areas, it became a task to find somewhere to seat especially during sea days.

When we missed a stop due to the weather at Grenada, not a lettuce in the salad bar.

These are a couple of overheard remarks – a suggestion for the toasted teacakes was donation to a clay pigeon shoot & one lady after eating the Lasagne at the Italian Buffet suggested that next time “they might learn to make it”.



Not normally ones for doing the en mass tours, we did however join the Galley Walk in the hope of meeting the Executive Chef, which we did. I asked him somewhat tongue in cheek, how he kept his food standards high. It was rather concerning that he did not appear to understand my query. Taking away our reaction, it is a basic given within the hospitality trade that the people at the top will only maintain standards if they themselves are presented with the food i.e. they can see how it looks (we tend to eat with our eyes) & taste it so they are confident enough to put their name to what is coming out of the galleys. Trevor Glass’ comments ranged from we have good managers & staff to, when pushed “well we have meetings”. It would be unfair to place complete onus on Mr Glass as he is probably following the company line which appears to be cost cutting, but mass production appears to have taken over in a big way & this has been grasped with both hands.

I have never bought the argument that if a catering operation is geared for 3000 plus people standards will reflect this. P & O are marketing themselves as professionals in this area & the version of the truth we were presented with on Azura was a long way off the mark.

I would argue that if P & O have made their choice to go for the cut-price market, & judging by the mediocre cuisine we were presented with they have, they need to stop presenting the standard of cuisine as they are currently (certainly for the cruise on the Azura).

To watch my wife spend time preparing for a wonderful formal evening wearing all her finery and then be served a “school meals” dinner was quite a joke if it was not so sad. Standards also extend to the dress code. It is made quite plain in the booking information & once on board that during Formal & semi Formal nights, gentlemen are required to wear a jacket in the main dining rooms. This should be enforced. We witnessed several incidents where jacketless passengers pushed past the restaurant manager with an “I’ve paid so I’m eating in the restaurant”. Your managers & security staff must have the experience to be able to tactfully deal with these situations, but these people were allowed to remain.

The ship itself is excellent and the many venues aboard the ship lived up to the marketing spiel. The entertainment was generally very good, including the Headliners Theatre Company who worked their socks off to give many excellent performances, guest speaker Mick Testoni & a good choice in David Lampiere-Laughton. One or two of the acts were rather “tired”, but we accept that all needs must be catered for & acts from television shows from several years ago appeal to the masses.

The final nail in the coffin as far as our cruising experience was a request for a replacement bottle of shampoo. This seemed to fall repeatedly on deaf ears as far as our cabin steward was concerned and when a telephone call was made to reception, it was unbelievably refused citing “you are only allowed one bottle”. We felt so strongly that we went to reception where we pointed out that having paid over two thousand pounds to stay in their floating hotel were they really rationing a small bottle of shampoo. An extremely embarrassed member of the reception staff organised a replacement very quickly.

My wife & I have travelled the world over the last 25+ years & I can honestly say, we have never been as disappointed as we were in December. There appears to be a change of mindset, but from our view point a company that epitomised the traditional quality British cruise line has gone the way of so many other institutions were the bottom line comes above the experience of it’s passengers. We can only base this assumption on Azura & hope for the sake of P & O that this is not the case on your other vessels.

A bit repetative, and the usual crush in the Belvadere

The same old thing i'm afraid, seen it all before, time for a change i think

It was just fine, nice and clean, our cabin stewart, was an absolute treasure, nothing was to much trouble for him, our last two cruises we had a suite, this cabin stewart did more for us than both butlers did when we had suites, and was a much nicer person.

We are alway blown away by the service we receive