2019 to 2022: How has cruising on P&O Changed?

 

Our last P&O cruise was a wonderful trip to Iceland on Ventura in 2019. Soon after we booked a cruise on Aurora to the Eastern Med for early summer 2020. This was of course cancelled due to the pandemic. We converted our future cruise credit to a suite on a European cruise on Iona in Spring 2022, but later fearing the then Spanish habit of off-loading Covid cruise passengers into Spanish hotels, we again converted to a round British Isles cruise on Arcadia in July 2022.

And here we are…at last….onboard Arcadia and currently sailing towards Edinburgh. I admit that we were still quite nervous about the risks of Covid on a cruise ship, but, like many others on this cruise, opted for a UK itinerary as we felt safer, and for better or worse, we are here.

I didn’t intend to write a cruise blog on this cruise, but there seem to be so many differing views about cruising with P&O on social media, that I have changed my mind. I hope my blog helps to give a rational view of the current situation.

The Background

Our first cruise on Arcadia was to the Baltics in 2005, her maiden year. She was considered to be modern, stylish, and very large. There was no freedom dining, only fixed sittings with silver service. We loved the ship. Since then, far larger cruise ships have appeared, with more family friendly activities, a wider variety of dining and cabins, and we love them too.

But we have changed. We are now grandparents, older, slower, and finally retired.  And the world has changed. Not only are we at the tail-end of a pandemic, but we are also in a global economic crisis, so it seems likely that some cost cutting in the cruising industry is inevitable.

My one post Covid cruising experience is only now on Arcadia, adult only, and some things have inevitably changed, though I have no idea whether these changes are for commercial reasons or because of COVID. Time will tell…

What Has Changed?

The speciality restaurants are closed

This, we are told, is due to lack of staff. I suspect that P&O will re-open them as soon as possible, as these restaurants generate income. For the record, the lack of these restaurants did not impact on our enjoyment of our current cruise.   

The menu choices are smaller

The regular items, such as prawn cocktail, salmon or chicken breast are frequently on the menu, but not now everyday. Soup and salad have been integrated into the starter choices, though you can ask for them separately. Portion sizes are ample, but there is slightly less choice in the buffet. Jugs of cream appear to have disappeared. For the record, we have missed the extra choices, but this did not impact significantly on our current cruise, and it was good to see less waste.

There are no port speakers onboard

There were no port talks, either live or on our TV, or information sheets onboard about our destinations. For the record we really missed these, especially as the ship’s (expensive) wifi keeps cutting out, so you often can't plan in advance.

There is no evening ‘turn-down’

Unless you are in a suite, the cabin stewards no longer turn down your bed and leave a chocolate in the evening. For the record, we didn’t miss this at all. I confess, it was quite nice not having to worry about leaving our cabin tidy before going to dinner, and they gave us chocolates at dinner.

There is no TV guide in our cabin

I’m sure there used to be. This was a nuisance, as we had to keep flicking through the channels.

There are no photographers onboard

Remember those smiling P&O photographers who jumped out and took your photo at every opportunity? They've gone.  In the past we spent our time trying to avoid them, but did enjoy looking at the photos daily in the gallery. I rather hope they return.

Hygiene

Hand gel is readily available, masks are free, and cleaning is meticulous throughout the ship. Well done P&O!

Booking freedom dining, shows and excursions is encouraged via a P&O my holiday app

The ‘my holiday’ app is the big joke of our cruise. I consider myself good with technology, but I have given up using it altogether. Booking doesn't always work, the queue system often fails,  and the signal keeps cutting out. Not all passengers have tablets or smartphones, and many with the equipment just can't understand how to work the system…hardly surprising as the system doesn't work properly! They normally have one person in the library (when it is open) tasked with explaining to confused passengers what to do. I don’t blame him for his evident lack of patience, as the queues were long at first,  but it was a fiasco, and the passengers are confused. Ditch the App, P&O, until it works properly and your staff have the skills to teach the passengers how to use it!

In conclusion

I would say it’s a mixed picture. Try not to be put off by some of the negative ‘hype’ on social media, but don’t expect cruising to be as it was, at least in the short-term. It depends on what’s important to people.