AURORA - "Simply The Best?" or "On the Road To Nowhere!"

Tina Turner's hit single is played at every opportunity on board P&Os queen of the fleet but since a Canary cruise last year has 12 months sailing around the world made a difference ? Sadly, yes ! Whether the result of the American Carnival takeover or whether a direct impact of Aurora's fateful engine replacement this year costing P&O $millions in repairs and lost revenue, the message and ethos is now an overwhelming sense of cut back, downsize and generate as much IOR (increased Onboard Revenue) as humanly possible. It is a very sad stain on what could otherwise be a very pleasant cruising experience.

Cover charges in the Pennant Grill (the outside restaurant) have risen in 12 months from £5 to £6.75 a 35% increase! Meals are free everywhere else. Even an espresso or cappuccino at dinner now requires a surcharge ! Bar waiters are on commission and as a result assault you at every opportunity with a tenacity rivaling that of double glazing salesmen. I sit down and zap the waiter is there. Read more