This was my 4th cruise and despite the very bad reviews we were looking forward to sailing with P&O for the first time and spending 12 relaxing days with our dear friends.

I was pleasantly surprised from the outset as embarkation (getting off was a whole different issue - so bad not even worth discussing!) was seamless and the initial feel and look of the Aria was clean, smart and inviting. Instantly though we got a sense that staff, although polite did not seem happy??

I initially put this down to the fact they really do not get a break as one load of passengers leaves and another boards immediately? As the days rolled on though the mood did not appear to change. The service staff are overworked as the ratio of staff to passengers is not balanced at all. They work very long shifts, given bad food and openly treated poorly at times by management which we witnessed! Read more