It has takem me until now to write this critique because I came back so angry and disappointed : we have been cruising with P and O and princess ships for 12 years or more including the Ventura : NEVER WITH P and O again!!

canaries was on my bucket list for my 70th brthday gift

problems started when couldn't have table for 2: instead we were put on a table for 6 with people I didn't want to spend the next fortnight with

was told we needed to go to freedom dining which meant that we were queuing for up to 2 hours waiting for a table : this meant we missed early shows : several of the late shows and a an afternoon film were cancelled : were sent off with a buzzer after having been stood in a long queue

the food in the main was poor quality and choice and for the mostpart served cold : also for the self service buffet was similarly poor : using cold plates : found log black hair in my fruit salad , complained but faced with general indifference from all the staff

The general atmosphere on the ship was lacking because of disgruntled guests and overworked staff doing many different jobs - no turndown service or chocs to make the cruise experience special

In some cases an excessive amount of alcohol consumed early in the day due to on-board spends : probably the root cause of a family being told to leave the ship : 

Ship broke down : engine wouldn'n start leaving one of the ports

No sail aways : no party atmoshere

2 free drinks given as compensation : 

no guest speakers only people selling their wares : no afternoon teas

entertainment repatative :

black tie nights were a damp squid

the only consistent positive were the dances spoilt on night by patent insisting that children on dance floor was ok

on dance event scuppered because of photos being taken at the christman tree too close to the dance floor

The ship in the main looks very tired with carpet stuck down hazzard tape for instance

This cruise cost us both about three and half thousand pounds, a great part of our pension

P and O need to get their act together and stop trying to recuperate their Covid losses

Ventura Review

don't be fooled by the glitzy ads on tv -wouldn't get back on this ship f.o.c

Rating by category

Additional details

Find a Ventura Cruise