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Topic: P&O Cruises for Americans?

Fairsky
First Class Passenger
Member # 781

posted 09-01-2002 11:25 PM

I am an American, but I was looking at P&O's brochure for their Aurora cruises next year. Some of the itineraries are really wonderful (better than what Princess is offering in 2003). But I was wondering a few things:

1. How many Americans can you expect to find on a P&O cruise?
2. I've cruised with Princess numerous times, will my experience with P&O be very different?
3. How does the experience differ from typical American cruise lines?

I'd love to hear from any Yankees that have sailed with P&O for your impressions.

Posts: 1685 | From: Chicago, Illinois | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

cruiseny
First Class Passenger
Member # 2928

posted 09-01-2002 11:58 PM

May I add another question - how does one even book a P&O cruise in the US?

I have no problems getting brochures, but haven't seen anyplace to book P&O outside of the UK...

I agree that the itineraries are rather interesting, and that Princess' (traditionally very interesting) itineraries are getting duller by the minute ...

Posts: 4730 | From: New York, USA | Registered: Mar 2002 | IP: Logged

Fairsky
First Class Passenger
Member # 781

posted 09-02-2002 12:16 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Cruiseny:
May I add another question - how does one even book a P&O cruise in the US?
I have no problems getting brochures, but haven't seen anyplace to book P&O outside of the UK...

The P&O website has a number to call to book reservations from north america.

I also imagine that contacting Princess reservations might be a start... they may be able to direct me to another number for P&O.

Posts: 1685 | From: Chicago, Illinois | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

billee
First Class Passenger
Member # 1133

posted 09-03-2002 02:26 PM

Call P & O in London to book your cruise. That's what I did. It's not expensive.

Posts: 159 | From: Baltimore, MD USA | Registered: Mar 2000 | IP: Logged

PamM
First Class Passenger
Member # 2127

posted 09-03-2002 02:57 PM

quote:
Originally posted by billee:
Call P & O in London to book your cruise. That's what I did. It's not expensive.

..or use a UK travel agent. Plenty online. Just read the small print of any travel insurance you have, or may get. Insurance bought through the cruiselines here will only cover UK residents. My annual policy only covers me for trips booked and paid for in the UK, so it may or may not be the same the other way around.

Pam

Posts: 12176 | From: Cambridge, UK | Registered: Jun 2001 | IP: Logged

philcheese2001
First Class Passenger
Member # 2426

posted 09-03-2002 06:32 PM

Skyej,

Greetings to you in the Windy City of which I have only ever experienced the delights of O'Hare Airport, en route to other U.S.destinations!

I am sure most Americans would like the British hospitality when cruising P. & O. Formal nights tend to be just that. We do like to dress up tuxedo/dinner suit, I would say even more so in recent years, as much as 90 per cent perhaps.
Food is very much slanted towards the British palate, I am sure you could cope with that!

Entertainment does,again, tender for British taste, with our quirky humour, and I am sure you will join in singing "Rule Britannia" with the rest before too long! The theatres on ORIANA & AURORA are superb.

Over 30 years I too have grown blase to itineries, been there, done that, got the souvenir that will harbour dust for ever more etc. I tend to go for the ship and the voyage, the experience of being at sea.

As someone as suggested go to the U.K. agents sites , Look for offers, DO NOT book with P.& O. at brochure price. Our prices are,in the main, higher but there are deals to had. Frankly we do not get enough Americans on P.& O Cruises . It would be nice to see more of our cousins from over the pond, come over, enjoy the European ports, you will not experience culture on this scale in the Caribbean!

Good luck in your search for something suitable.

Phil.

*** ORIANA ..27th OCT.02
*** OCEANA...24th May 03.

Posts: 181 | From: Liverpool,European Capital of Culture 2008 | Registered: Sep 2001 | IP: Logged

gohaze
First Class Passenger
Member # 586

posted 09-03-2002 07:18 PM

Golden Bear used to be the North American General Agents for P&O and we still get the blurbs sometimes... give them a try at 800-551-1000
...peter

Posts: 1909 | From: Vancouver.BC | Registered: Sep 99 | IP: Logged

Grant
First Class Passenger
Member # 1000

posted 09-04-2002 10:42 PM

I have fequently cruised with P&O and love them; but they are definately not similar to Princess. Princess caters to the American passengers in every way, and is so doing do not recognize the customs, holidays or traditions of other nations. In fact, it is almost a snub to other nationalities.
P&O are the same, but for the British and citizens of their old colonies (Canada, New Zealand, Australia etc). EVERYTHING in done the British way, from food to entertainment. They almost take delight in not doing something the American way (ice in drinks, buttered toast, hotdogs...). While most nationalities can take humourous digs at themselves, and thus at others as well, often the American passengers take offense at the satirical British humour. While it is not commom to find Americans aboard P&O, you will find people from many of the British Commonwealth nations. They all get along great, and as long as YOU want to fit it, rather than having them accomodate your desires, you will have an excellent cruise. I would rate P&O significantly higher than Princess.

Posts: 834 | From: Victoria, BC, Canada | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

cruiseny
First Class Passenger
Member # 2928

posted 09-04-2002 10:50 PM

Grant - if you think Princess is a snub to other nationalities, how about RCCL?

Despite being a Liberian company, the flaunt their pseudo-American-ness to no end... This is something that annoys me.

I agree about other Americans, many tend to be stubbornly of the opinion that anyone from another country is by birth inferior... They refuse to even recognize the validity of other peoples' beliefs... In foreign countries, other American travellers can be so rude to the natives as to be outright embarrassing!

That said, I've just had this discussion on another board... And saying that, I suppose I risk being skewered for being an anti-American American... I am not... But must we be so arrogant to those who don't happen to be Americans?

Anyhow, sorry, that is an issue that just annoys me to no end...

Personally, the P&O ships (Oriana and Aurora) look really magnificent... It is a shame that they do not have any active marketing here at all.

Posts: 4730 | From: New York, USA | Registered: Mar 2002 | IP: Logged

bmajor
First Class Passenger
Member # 1754

posted 09-05-2002 12:05 AM

Like Grant I have sailed many times with P&O and
would have to rate them tops.........
First voyage was in 1984 from Southampton to
Auckland on Canberra,then Arcadia from Hong Kong to Sydney and then for the last 6 years we have enjoyed joining Aurora and Oriana on short segments of the World Cruise, while they are in our waters..
The standing joke last time, was that we were using them as ferries across the Tasman....
Met many wonderful friends on board.....
a lot of people do the World Cruise every year,so on boarding you see see many familiar faces.
As far as Americans being on board,can recount 2 instances...
Met one group of American "cruisers "that could not wait to get to Sydney to get off and go home ...not enough" life" on board for them...
Then met a wonderful American couple who joined Aurora at SF and cruised to Sydney,....had a few days there and then joined Oriana to sail home...
they loved days at sea, and the laid back relaxed way P&O operate......
On the other side of things, we have been on an American ship where the comedian made a topical joke in his show that had the audience rolling on the floor with laughter,while we sat there ,not having a clue what they were laughing about......
Now of course we have Pacific Sky,and very soon Pacific Princess sailing out of Sydney........
yet another chance to experience a change of culture....

Posts: 1371 | From: Orewa.New Zealand. | Registered: Jan 2001 | IP: Logged

robynp
First Class Passenger
Member # 3315

posted 09-05-2002 02:08 AM

Bmajor,
I'm sure we must have crossed paths at sea on a P&O voyage! Have been a P&O fan for years - starting with Fremantle to Sydney on "Himalaya" (late sixties? was a slip of a girl of course), and 3 half-world voyages with other P&O ships.

I too was on the 1984 Southampton to Sydney on Canberra, and also the Honolulu to Sydney sector of Aurora's world cruise this year.

Interestingly two of our dining table companions were 2 Americans who - as you said - sailed from San Fran to Sydney on Aurora and back on Oriana. We all waved off Aurora when it left Sydney and then we in turn waved off our American friends when Oriana left our shores. I wonder if they were the same couple? Couldn't image there were too many passengers on board who had organised their trip like that. Lee (retired US Navy) and Kathy were their names? They were so happy with their P&O experience - they may well do it again!

Posts: 26 | From: Sydney, Australia | Registered: Sep 2002 | IP: Logged

bmajor
First Class Passenger
Member # 1754

posted 09-06-2002 10:54 PM

Isnt it a small world after all.
We were on Aurora this year from Auckland to Sydney, with friends who went on to visit family in Sydney and Melbourne,while we flew back to Auckland
(ever priced a one way Trans Tasman air Fare?) and then joined Oriana and sailed up to Honolulu....got to see the Bay of Islands without rain......
The 84 Canberra voyage was my first cruise experience,memories are flooding back.......
after evrything that happened on that voyage it is a wonder I ever ventured back on a ship....
but what an introduction to cruising.....
we had it all.....
Wild Atlantic storms....missed ports......
ship breakdowns....more missed ports....and passengers leading a revolt..........
If you would like to share memories of that voyage we could start a new thread in the Mid Ship lounge section.....
We are booked on Pacific Princess's first sailing out of Sydney but have not heard anything back yet as to a cabin allocation,but dealing with P&O
we are used to it........
Also wait listed on Aurora again from Ak to Sy then willmake our way to either Fremantle or Melbourne and join Oriana to sail home via Tassy ,Picton and Wellington.

Posts: 1371 | From: Orewa.New Zealand. | Registered: Jan 2001 | IP: Logged

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