This was my first cruise with P&O. Much was as I expected. The cabin was functional (inside). Evening entertainment very good. Daytime entertainment poor. Main restaurant excellent service and food. Buffets very disappointing, very basic and difficult to use as it was split up into so many sections. All the staff were very good in all departments with nothing to complain about, just praise.

The main disappointment for me was that we were hit with a force 10/11 gale ("Barbara") which was no fault of P&O. However, rather than seek shelter in Oslo which seemed a sensible idea to most passengers that I spoke to, we were subjected to a 36 hour 'dash' across the North Sea in full Force 10/11 gale to seek shelter off the Norfolk coast. During this period, I personally encountered an elderly lady who had fallen out of her wheel-chair with her husband desperately trying to help her back into her chair: several elderly ladies and gentlemen with various walking aids, stranded in corridors, corners, lifts etc, unable or fearful of moving due to the ships sometimes violent movements and many passengers, including my-self who decided that a starvation diet was preferable to the risk of trying to eat something which probably would not want to stay inside ! It seemed to us mere mortals that the decision by P&O to cross the North Sea in a Force 10/11 gale had more to do with the cost of mooring in Oslo against the cost of a free mooring off Norfolk, that then the comfort of the passengers. But perhaps we were all wrong. I am sure P&O had their very good reasons for giving us a ride on natures 'big dipper' !!

However, overall, it was a good and interesting 'first trip' with P&O and I am sure I will do it again, but not in the North Sea, but still with P&O who offered generally a very good service, in a very good ship and excellent staff. Read more