Cruise Talk: P&O Changes

Cruise Talk

Cruise News

Welcome to Cruise Talk the Internet's most popular discussion forum dedicated to cruising. Stop by Cruise Talk anytime to post a message or find out what your fellow passengers and industry insiders are saying about a particular ship, cruise line or destination.

>>> Reader Reviews
>>> CruisePage.com Photo Gallery
>>> Join Our Cruise Club.

Latest News...Royal Caribbean kicked off the countdown to a new era of family vacations, officially welcoming Star of the Seas* into the family. After nearly two years of construction at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland, the keys to the next revolutionary Icon Class ship were officially handed over to Royal Caribbean just a few weeks ahead of its August debut in Port Canaveral...

Latest News...Oceania Cruises has taken delivery of Oceania Allura, its eighth elegant boutique ship.The 1,200-guest Oceania Allura, built at the world-renowned Fincantieri Shipyard in Genoa, is the second ship in Oceania Cruises' Allura Class and heralds the evolution of Oceania Cruises' legacy of offering culinary- and destination-immersive travel experiences. Oceania Allura follows her sister ship...

Latest News...Carnival Cruise Line’s sailings from New Orleans are delivering even more fun now that Carnival Liberty is back following a comprehensive dry dock that added new features to the ship. Carnival Liberty joins sister ship Carnival Valor, which returned to Port NOLA last month with many enhancements after a similar dry dock. The first guests to experience the ship’s new features embarked on Sunday...

More Cruise News...

my profile | register | search | faq | forum home

»	Cruise Talk » Cruise Lines » P&O Changes

UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!

Author

Topic: P&O Changes

mec1
First Class Passenger
Member # 4287

posted 05-26-2005 04:49 AM

Elsewhere people have been talking about the Princessification of Cunard.

What I find more alarming is the Carnivalisation of P&O.

Just got the new brochure and it is formal (albeit in very small print) that room service is charged for. In addition, dining arrangements have changed and are no longer uniform across the fleet - Oceana offers the equivalent of Princess "Personal Choice Dining" and, as the brochure helpfully points out, offers plated meal service whereas the other ships offer silver service (they don't as it happens, they offer semi-silver service with plated food and silver service of vegetables). All downhill from here I expect and I hope that QE2 at least continues to offer real silver service even down to having lemon squeezed over your fish for you. In fact, I think for a combination of value and style, Caronia class on QE2 is looking better and better.

Posts: 1675 | From: London, England | Registered: Nov 2003 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 05-26-2005 09:33 AM

I think Carnival are taking a big risk messing with us Brits. Our cruise passengers are just not the same as American passengers, in general. We tend to be traditionalists and are certainly not the ‘fun ship’ brigade. Things like the loss of formal dining and fees for room service DO matter to many of us.

If Carnival take all of these traditions away, why book P&O or Cunard at all, for that matter. Fred Olsen and Saga appear to be committed to traditional ships and a more traditional British atmosphere. There are plenty of other smaller vessels out there catering for us Brits, too.

If P&O become fully ‘Carnivalised’, we might as well book RCI or NCL, as they are cheaper.

[ 06-07-2005: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

sunviking82
First Class Passenger
Member # 4930

posted 05-26-2005 10:23 AM

When Carnival first took over P&O/Princess, I was concerned about the future of Princess. Princess had gone downhill from 2000 to 2002 and I was not pleased. But since Carnvial Corp has invested in them, they have made a complete turn around. Service is much improved back to the level of their smaller ships in the mid 90's and dinner is again a 5 course event. Personal Choice dinning is being requested not by Carnival, but by the passengers on board. Since both Traditional and Personal Choice are offered, everyone is happier. Carnival does not interfer unless a brand is struggling. Holland America is among the best and has been owned by Carnival for years as is Seaborn. Cunard and P&O have not done well over the past several years and Carnival is now looking to one distiguish the two brands and two shake them up. Some experiments will fail and other will succeed, but P&O and Cunard need work and Carnival knows it. They have stayed the same too long and future cruisers are looking for a different experience even in the UK.

Posts: 383 | From: Minneapolis Minnesota , USA | Registered: Aug 2004 | IP: Logged

Patsy
First Class Passenger
Member # 5611

posted 05-26-2005 04:57 PM

Carnival are certainly investing in a lot of their brands and adding newbuilds (or transferring to another line) while the likes of Cunard is getting overlooked. Makes you wonder why they bothered buying them out at all if there'll only be 2 ships (once QE2 is retired) in the fleet.

Posts: 2023 | From: Hythe, Hants | Registered: Apr 2005 | IP: Logged

Matts
First Class Passenger
Member # 4120

posted 06-07-2005 08:07 AM

quote:
Originally posted by sunviking82:
Cunard and P&O have not done well over the past several years and Carnival is now looking to one distiguish the two brands and two shake them up

At the risk of being shot - I have to say that having tried cruises on QE2, QM2 and Oriana in the last 9 months, both from Southampton, I would be hard pushed to tell you the service differences or think of reasons why Cunard QE2 justify the higher price.
Being shippy of course I love Cunard but lets be honest one gets to sail on an ageing ship without the wow factor of new ones - its all heritage. As for the service, well P&O food was practically identical to Mauretania QE2, and the P&O entertainment was much much better.
QM2 and QE2 could be from different brands from what I experienced.

Posts: 829 | From: London, United Kingdom | Registered: Sep 2003 | IP: Logged

mec1
First Class Passenger
Member # 4287

posted 06-07-2005 08:17 AM

So if Carnival decide on one brand for Britain, what would you prefer?

P&O, with the Queens in white with buff funnels?

Or Cunard, with Oriana becoming Aquitania, Oceana = Caronia, Aurora=Mauretania, Arcadia=Berengaria, Artemis+ Franconia in Cunard colours?

Posts: 1675 | From: London, England | Registered: Nov 2003 | IP: Logged

Matts
First Class Passenger
Member # 4120

posted 06-07-2005 12:01 PM

I think I would want Carnival to go the other way and properly differentiate their brands. Its all very well working to 'improve' service standards but when that means that the onboard product is going the way of the ships (all looking the same - ok not yet true for us brits but I suppose we will eventually go that way) then you can't justify price differentials between ships.
Incidentally the Carnival UK has started. On return Southampton at the end of my Oriana trip, the stores lorries came alongside and were not marked P&O but Carnival UK!

Posts: 829 | From: London, United Kingdom | Registered: Sep 2003 | IP: Logged

Patsy
First Class Passenger
Member # 5611

posted 06-07-2005 01:00 PM

I agree. What's the point of having different brands if you're going to make them all the same in newbuild looks and everything else?

I picked up the brochure today (how long before they start calling it a book?) and noticed too it said about wedding coming soon on Arcadia, Aretmis and Oceana. I thought you could already get married on Arcadia because it's registered in Hamilton. Are they re-registering Oceana too (if Artemis doesn't come back next week with Hamilton on the stern)?

Posts: 2023 | From: Hythe, Hants | Registered: Apr 2005 | IP: Logged

lasuvidaboy
First Class Passenger
Member # 4527

posted 06-07-2005 01:27 PM

From what have seen, the Brits that like the less formal more 'American' cruise expierence would cruise w/RCI or Princess. The only thing I can think of is that they will offer the more traditional P&O style on a few of their ships while the others go the mass market direction. As I recall Cunard tried that route in the 1970s w/Cunard Princess and Countess in the Caribbean and US West Coast. Cunard offered the more traditional service aboard QE2 while the others were more 'fun and sun' ships.

Posts: 7654 | From: Hollywood Hills/L.A. | Registered: Mar 2004 | IP: Logged

Corey H.
First Class Passenger
Member # 5202

posted 06-09-2005 02:37 PM

When I was on the Fantasy last year, there was no charge at all for room service. But we gave a $1 tip.

-Corey

Posts: 172 | From: TAMPA Florida USA | Registered: Nov 2004 | IP: Logged

OceanVoyager
First Class Passenger
Member # 5585

posted 06-11-2005 08:28 AM

Hi everyone, interesting topic this as I'm very pro P&O & Princess.

The things that have changed that I really think are not in keeping with tradition are the charging for Room Service and perhaps more so the charging of a fee to use the Shuttle buses whilst in port. Apart from say a port like Oslo, it is the natural for the ships to be quite a distance from the City Centre. To me this is just penny pinching!

The semi-silver service to me is a lot less stuffy than full silver service, I am quite capable of squeezing a lemon over my fish! There again it is a personal preference, and I have always been of the opinion if you want the full treatment, spend the money on Cunard.

I do find that having one dining class reagardless of cabin grade is far better as it create's far less of a "them and us" situation, but, there again, it is merely a personal preference.

I would like to give Cunard a go sometime, especially a transatlantic crossing from Southampton to New York.

I saw a lot of the historical similarities between P&O & Princess still in force when on honeymooon aboard the Caribbean Princess last year, even down to the P&O house flag still showing on the Officer's caps!

We are trying out Arcadia next year, as we are planning for a family in the not too distant future.

Aurora and Oriana will always be my favourite's, true modern thoroughbred's, and are probably the two best looking modern cruise ships afloat along with superior sea keeping qualities.

Kind rgds,
Andrew

Posts: 627 | From: Hythe, Southampton, UK | Registered: Apr 2005 | IP: Logged

seatrial
First Class Passenger
Member # 1658

posted 06-11-2005 09:54 AM

I have never cruised on P&O, but I am considering the Oriana for next May to Norway. I have always envisioned P&O as at least as nice as HAL (maybe better). Is this not the case? I have never paid for room service on HAL or Princess. This seems really odd. Is the charge for something special like maybe full dining room meals in-cabin, or is it for just anything including basic breakfast.

On that note, how does P&O compare to HAL? I enjoy HAL the best for the most part, after 15 cruise on various lines. Is the Oriana in good shape; when was she last refurbished? I know very little about the ship, but I think that from the exterior she is one of the best looking modern ships. I love that she actually has a nice forward viewing area and that stern really makes me smile.

Thanks

Posts: 122 | Registered: Oct 2000 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 06-11-2005 12:46 PM

quote:
Originally posted by seatrial:
On that note, how does P&O compare to HAL?

HAl is aimed at American's and P&O at Brits - but fortunately we spaeak the same language. I'm not sure how one compares two ship-board cultures. If you enjoy 'different' experiences and are flexible you may well love P&O.

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

All times are ET (US)

Ultimate Bulletin Board^TM 6.1.0.3

VACATION & CRUISE SPECIALS

Check out these great deals from CruisePage.com

Royal Caribbean - Bahamas Getaway from $129 per person

Description: Experience the beautiful ports of Nassau and Royal Caribbean's private island - CocoCay on a 3-night Weekend Getaway to the Bahamas. Absorb everything island life has to offer as you snorkel with the stingrays, parasail above the serene blue waters and walk the endless white sand beaches. From Miami.

Carnival - 4-Day Bahamas from $229 per person

Description: Enjoy a wonderful 3 Day cruise to the fun-loving playground of Nassau, Bahamas. Discover Nassau, the capital city as well as the cultural, commercial and financial heart of the Bahamas. Meet the Atlantic Southern Stingrays, the guardians of Blackbeard's treasure.

NCL - Bermuda - 7 Day from $499 per person

Description: What a charming little chain of islands. Walk on pink sand beaches. Swim and snorkel in turquoise seas. Take in the historical sights. They're stoically British and very quaint. Or explore the coral reefs. You can get to them by boat or propelled by fins. You pick. Freestyle Cruising doesn't tell you where to go or what to do. Sure, you can plan ahead, or decide once onboard. After all, it's your vacation. There are no deadlines or must do's.

Holland America - Eastern Caribbean from From $599 per person

Description: White sand, black sand, talcum soft or shell strewn, the beaches of the Eastern Caribbean invite you to swim, snorkel or simply relax. For shoppers, there's duty-free St. Thomas, the Straw Market in Nassau, French perfume and Dutch chocolates on St. Maarten. For history buffs, the fascinating fusion of Caribbean, Latin and European cultures. For everyone, a day spent on HAL's award winning private island Half Moon Cay.

Celebrity - 7-Night Western Mediterranean from $549 per person

Description: For centuries people have traveled to Europe to see magnificent ruins, art treasures and natural wonders. And the best way to do so is by cruise ship. Think of it - you pack and unpack only once. No wasted time searching for hotels and negotiating train stations. Instead, you arrive at romantic ports of call relaxed, refreshed and ready to take on the world.

Holland America - Alaska from From $499 per person

Description: Sail between Vancouver and Seward, departing Sundays on the ms Statendam or ms Volendam and enjoy towering mountains, actively calving glaciers and pristine wildlife habitat. Glacier Bay and College Fjord offer two completely different glacier-viewing experiences.

More Vacation & Cruise Specials...