P&O Differentiators - 6 Things That Make P&O Cruises Different...

[@well-blazeredman6187]

Good video. The no-tipping policy and dress-code are pluses for overly-formal me. The Royal Navy used to have a standing invitation to place one of its officers on a P&O cruise-ship for a week or two. One of my post-career regrets was not having volunteered for it. Seemed like an opportunity for a lot of fun.

[@MattsOceans]

I think it would be complete culture shock to spend a week on a cruise ship having been in the Royal Navy for years!!! If you want formal, check out Cunard....

[@liseoppenheimer7255]

The no tipping is the best thing P&O have done. I’m sick of being nickel and dimed for everything on other cruise lines. Just tell me the price then leave me alone. Being from Canada, we really enjoyed our 2 recent cruises with P&O. Unfortunately, we cannot book directly from their website. Their North America reps are Vacations to Go.

[@MattsOceans]

Thanks Lise - even better is the fact that P&O's crew are so used to Brits (and others) not tipping that there isn't any of that awkward hovering from crew at the end of the cruise! Interesting data point on US booking - I know P&O goes out of Barbados so its interesting there isn't a direct booking option in North America...

[@petshopgirl39]

Same here. First time cruisers. Sailing on Iona to the Fjords in September. It’s very appealing to sail from Southampton. No flying and the usual airport stresses and strains.

[@MattsOceans]

Tricky to get anywhere really hot from Southampton within a week but you wouldn't expect that heading to the fjords anyway! Thanks for watching

[@petshopgirl39]

@@MattsOceans we positively wanted to see the Fjords and a land-based holiday in Norway would bankrupt us! Cruising seems like a much more affordable way to see the Fjords. We’re a bit done with flying at the moment, largely due to the amount of long haul flying that we’re doing at least twice a year to visit family abroad. Hence the appeal of cruising from Southampton!

[@70PaulK]

Good topic. I've just returned from a my first P&O trip on the Ventura, having previously sailed many times with Marella. I felt that P&O was a bit unclear about its identity, as it had a lot of loyal passengers who liked the formal nights and dressing for the restaurant, yet plenty of us newbies were heading for the buffet. Many customers were below their onboard spending credit, so there were queues at the shops on the last night to use up the remaining balance. I suspect it will move towards the freestyle market and make some of their ships all inclusive and scrap fixed dining times.

[@MattsOceans]

There is a place for formality, but I agree that this place will probably end up being Cunard!!! Freestyle cruising is the way forward... And the last day on board credit spending spree is not just a p&o thing - just observed it on MSC too!

[@TonyLon]

Having done 5 P&O cruises over the years I tend to agree with most of your comments Matt. Although if you think P&O are formal you really should try Cunard (although even with them their regular clientele think standards are slipping. Even a few years ago they used to insist on a jacket to be worn to all dinners but that has been relaxed somewhat recently!) And as for the 99% British clientele; that is entirely because P&O don't market themselves outside the UK (excepting P&O Australia which is a separate concern) and indeed I don't even think they can be booked by non-UK residents. But this is common across various cruise lines that are aimed specifically at certain geographical markets. For example in the UK - in addition to P&O - we have Fred Olsen & Saga. The Germans have AIDA (also a Carnival Brand) and on a smaller scale the French have Ponant & Club Med. And then TUI also have sub-brands such as Marella (aimed at the Brits) and Mein Schiff (for the Germans). Have you ever considered any of the luxury lines (Silversea, Seabourn or Regent Seven Seas), or even the semi-luxury brands (Oceania, Azamara or Viking)?

[@MattsOceans]

Thanks Tony. I looked hard at a Cunard trip but couldn't quite make it work.... It was a "regular" cruise and I kind of feel that I need to do a transatlantic if I'm going to go with them... With 2 steamer trunks full of formal dress! I've certainly considered a luxury cruise but that will have to wait until my subscriber count has at least one more zero on the end!!! Perhaps 2... And a good friend of mine who has 300+ days on various luxury lines reckons Viking is the best of all of them these days.... Out of those 6, Azamara is the most likely.... Have also looked at an Aida cruise around the Indian Ocean - they'd take my money but I don't know how integrated you'd feel as a non-German speaker. The video title would write itself though!

[@iloveanimals1662]

P&O have gone downhill. I'd rather pay more and have better food. The ships are beautiful but without sounding stuck up,it's a bit Butlins for me.

[@mike_maple]

Thanks Matt, good analysis. I would just point out though that on my March Virtuosa cruise this year, I supped many cocktails from the Easy Package range at €7 each - quite a good range really and considering you can get a decently strong Long Island Ice Tea for €7 I was happy - very happy... But yes there were expensive cocktails too.

[@MattsOceans]

Thanks Mike - just disembarking the Virtuosa again today and had noticed the good range of lower cost cocktails - non branded spirits but they're mixed anyway so that doesn't matter so much... May well take that option on my next MSC adventure

[@amw3311]

Interesting to hear your perspectives. I am taking my son on Arvia in July and from following the various social media pages, it is a very different experience from the one you describe for Azura. Dress codes whilst still mentioned, are not universally adhered to. They’ve got some new drinks packages launching at the end of this month. There doesn’t appear to be much in the way of dancing lessons either. In fact many of the people posting their experiences, mention the ‘moaners’ who are perhaps more experienced P&O cruisers expecting the sort of thing you have described in your video. I have only cruise one before with P&O back at the end of 2019, and I’ve done many other cruises with other lines, so it will be interesting to see how Arvia works out for my disabled son and me.

[@MattsOceans]

Thanks so much Alexis. I think I say in this video (or another one in this series) that I doubt the experience on P&O's newest ships is the same as we experienced on the Azura, which is one of P&O's oldest... Really wish the ship names weren't so similar! I can imagine the region cruises through makes a difference to the on-board experience they offer too.... But I think it all supports my point that P&O seems to be flexing what they offer under the "P&O Cruises" brand quite significantly such that people who may have an expectation from a previous cruise may find the next P&O experience to be quite different....

[@liseoppenheimer7255]

P&O allow passengers to bring 1 L of spirits as well as mix onboard on embarkation day. We never had to buy a drink at all , except for specialty coffees.

[@MattsOceans]

Another great data point! I tend to go for the drinks packages (important for the thoroughness of the view I always think - ha ha!) but this is good to know... There's an entire industry growing around smuggling booze on cruise ships... Makes for an amusing half hour on amazon if you have a search!

[@annasutton8078]

We are first time cruise customers. Nothing to compare so just going with it in October. Like the fact that its British and we leave from Southampton.

[@MattsOceans]

Have a great time - should be a good experience from home base!

[@Fish29077]

You should give P&O cruses Australia a go. Very different again.

[@MattsOceans]

I'd love to! A reputation for being a party boat, if I recall?

[@peetbothma6982]

Thanks Matt. Point 1 alone makes this worth exploring for me. Not a fan of the American style cruise🍾🍷👍🇿🇦

[@MattsOceans]

I can understand that!

[@colinjosling2108]

You have misses off the free onboard laundry room

[@MattsOceans]

I did! In fact they have several I believe???

[@colinjosling2108]

@@MattsOceans I recently sailed with celebrity silhouette ship and to my disappointed I found out that they do not have w laundry rooms like they do on P&O boats. Celebrity would have charge me $3 to wash a pair of Socks, where P&O have free to use laundry rooms on all of their floors, as a matter if fact four on most floors. This I think you should point out on your vlogs. Me and my youngest have a channel called cockney and son travels which we have just started. Its very much a non polished vlogs, I would be grateful of your views on it. Cheers