This was our first cruise with P & O. I wasn't impressed. Firstly, We booked the cruise to visit the port of Flam which was cancelled only 3 weeks pre cruise so I wasn't at all happy. That was the whole reason why we booked so we could go on the railway. P&O informed me that there were too many ships in that port that day so they had to arrange an alternative. On walking on board we barely had one foot in the atrium and we were bombarded with staff trying to sell the spa and various other goods. i thought give us a chance to get settled. I was expecting the ship to have more of a wow factor - after cruising with RCI this was a disappointment. RCI Navigator was so much more opulent and being that was our first cruise we were amazed at the decor and the layout of the ship, not only that, the staff were HAPPY and friendly and we felt they made the effort to make our holiday enjoyable. I suppose different cruise companies do different things but I missed the Mahdi Grat and food festival themes nights that navigator put on - there was nothing like that on Ventura - nothing on our last night. We did get a souvenir from the waiters - a folder of the weeks menus and we also received a cruise log which I thought was lovely, but it would have been nice to have something of a farewell show - navigators was brilliant. I personally thought that Ventura was like an enormous ferry, it was lack lustre,sedate and had no atmosphere. I didn't like the layout of the ship either but that maybe just a personal view. Although the staff were pleasant, they wasn't very happy and warming, I found this quite off putting as they were so happy on the Navigator. The entertainment wasn't that great except for Clem Curtis from the Foundations, he was excellent and really got the passengers up on their feet and enjoying themselves, as for the the tribute Elton john and lulu I can only hope that the real stars don't ever get to see them!!! I was looking forward to the 60/70's disco until We were ordered by the host to jump up and down in the air when we heard a particular record and the do kangaroo impressions on the dance floor when we heard Ralph Harris record!!! I'm game for a laugh but really-I was expecting a disco where the norm is to dance on the dance floor to music being played, not to jump around like a kangaroo! I was grateful I was sitting at the back at the bar. We wasn't the only passengers complaining. I also think the sail away days are a bit naff. On the plus side the food was good and the drink prices were reasonable, I liked the tea making facilities and fridge in the cabin. I was also amazed that the majority of staff were male Indian hardly any ladies - don't know if there's a reason or not for that i was just curious. The shuttle bus into Bergen was free, on RCI they charged for this service. Although, I enjoyed the cruise and the ports of call, I wouldn't cruise on Ventura again, it just wasn't what I was expecting, it didn't live up to all the hype of P&O cruises. I wonder if the other P&O ships in the fleet are any better??? my next cruise will be with RCI