Ventura Review
Rating by category
Additional details
Looking to escape the cold Lake District for some warmth, we'd spotted this cruise months before, and so we were able to choose the exact cabin in the right spot, 11 months before we sailed. Although we've tried quite a few lines, we always return to Ventura... not a glitzy ship, with an indoor pool (a must for us), and sensible guidance rules re: tipping... we don't choose lines which insist on offering low prices and then sneakily add vast amounts of tips on top these days.
This would be our 5th cruise with Ventura, so it felt like returning home.
The first week and a half had only one port, in beautiful Madeira, before heading to Barbados, 6 days away. Unfortunately, a medical emergency meant that the captain had to increase the speed, and so we arrived a day early so that the patient could be hospitalised. This gave us all an overnight in the port, which was a bonus to many. The next day we met forum friends who had flown in to meet Britannia from the UK.
Cabin Review
A typical Grand Class cabin, which makes the most of the space by having a separate dressing area. As always, the cabin gives a special welcome with the tea tray, biscuits, dish of sweets and the flower in the vase.
Port Reviews
Madeira (Funchal)
Such a beautiful island; this time OH used both cable cars to discover part of the island he'd not visited before. For a first timer who isn't taking a ship's tour, the HOHO buses leave across the road from where the shuttle buses stop.
Grenada
Not good for seeing see life, but a pleasant beach day.
St. Lucia
Beach day for OH.
Martinique
I've been before, to see the volcano and the museum. A good day for OH, who took the local ferry across to an island for a very few €€€, and managed to get some snorkelling in!
Ponta Delgada
What a wonderful place... un-commercialised; green and pleasantly warm without being scorchingly hot; full of fantastic Portuguese architecture and history. Fabulous.
Southampton
Arrival and departure only.