Well, after our horrendous experience last year on Oriana, this cruise was make or break for P & O. So what was the result? For that, dear readers, you will need to read on.
We were greatly impressed with the food for us veggies. A veggie menu is now in place which is changed daily both for lunch and dinner. It usually consisted of 3-4 choices for each course and we could not fault it (although some non veggies we spent time with thought the main menu was not as good as previously.) The Head Waiter we were allocated for Andy’s dietary requirements was excellent, nothing too much trouble and an asset to the Company.
Our cabin was the same grade as previously (HB) although this time on deck B instead of deck C. So, same size cabin but much smaller balcony. It did seem smaller but this time we had the hoist in the cabin, otherwise identical to before. As regards the hoist, we had hired it from Mobility at Sea as it is now too dangerous for Andy to transfer without it. It was a godsend although it was a challenge to use it on carpets (we have wooden floors at home), even more so when we were leaving Crete faced with wind speeds of 55knots and Andy dangling from the hoist, hanging on for dear life as I tried to reposition it for transferring him into bed!
Unlike Captain ‘invisible’ from last year, this Captain, Stephen Howarth, was seen regularly around the ship talking to passengers and was always the voice from ‘The Bridge’. I did accuse him at one point of ‘stalking us’ as we kept bumping in to each other. Other officers were very visible chatting to passengers and being seen in the public places.
Most other passengers were very kind to us by being helpful (without being asked) when we needed to get to the outside - either holding doors open or holding the lift doors open (what a refreshing change from last year).
So, would we cruise with P & O again???????
Hmm, if it was a destination we really wanted to go to but, it would need to be on either Azura or her sister Ventura. This is also the second 19 nighter we have sailed and we would not do another. With Andy’s health, 19 nights is pushing it to be away from home for so long.
The only real negative was disembarkation which was a complete and utter shambles, they really do need to sort that out.