Chose this because I knew of P&O being one of the top cruise lines in the 1960s and 70s. It was a real disappointment. P&O Australia have destroyed the P&O brand. Probbaly a factor of being bought over by the down market Carnival Crusie LInes. P&O used to be like travelling first class on an airline it has now deteriorated to budget airline. Cheap tickets and have to pay for everyting at high prices. The main purpose of the voyage was to extort as much money out of the passengers for drinks that they could. Usually arrive at port in the morning and leave at 6pm so that the passengers would spenfd money on the ship rather than in the port. Some ports were aonly a few hours away and it would have been nice to see some night life but this was never possible.

The food was mediocre. There was a special restaurant with wine tasting and a special menu but it was never open except when the Captain wanted to entertain his own friends. For the so called formal dinners half the people did not dress up.

Outside meal times one had to buy food, which should not be the case. The ships crew (Mostly Filipinos) were very good but the ships officers never mixed. One usually expects a Captains cocktail party on a ship but this did not happen. The only time the Captain could be available was for signing autographs in the shop (very tacky) or marketing cruises Read more