After cruising with 6 other companies, we thought it was about time we tried P&O. This was the repositioning cruise from Southampton to Genoa. We arrived at Southampton about 12.45pm after a pleasant train journey from Oxford. There were taxis right outside the station, so we got one to Ocean Terminal and went up to the waiting area, where we were issued with a card with a letter on it. When our letter was called we went to check in and were soon on the ship and on our way to the buffet! We had some lunch and about 2pm an announcement was made that the cabins were ready so we made our way to our cabin – C343. It was a lovely cabin although the bathroom was quite small, as was the balcony. The cabin was nicely decorated and clean, but sadly not the balcony, which is in need of some repair. The rail along the front had two quite big rusty holes in it. We met our cabin steward, Jolwyn, who was very nice and then unpacked and made our way to the theatre for lifeboat drill. Strangely no-one checked if we had attended or if we had put our life jackets on properly!

We had been allocated Freedom Dining, which we were pleased about and went to the buffet on the first night. Others nights we alternated, sometimes the Ligurian Restauarnt, sometimes the buffet, both having very good food, although we were told that it had deteriorated by some people who had been on before! The Indian night in the Plaza was particularly well attended.

We sailed out of Southampton in the sun and so it continued for the whole holiday – we couldn’t believe our luck, especially when we saw on the news that Britain was being lashed with gales and the North of England and Scotland were having snow! Read more