Overall a disappointing experience. It doesn’t help to have seen the ‘salami slicing’ cost saving measures affect the quality of the cruise each year, having cruised with P&O ships mainly for over 20 years. The ship is rather tired and though the cabin size and layout (superior balcony) is good, it needs a refurb. Doesn’t help that we’re not told the times of flights before choosing an airport. Our flight was a late one and was delayed for an hour - not great to arrive on the ship at 8pm and hardly have time to eat before having to attend the safety brief. Quality of food was overall okay but the buffet has deteriorated in recent times and it doesn’t help not to be able to use a tray to carry the food. Better quality offerings in the MDR but, certainly for breakfast, it was busy there and the wait for food was interminable. Custards and soups are particularly watery - not worth bothering with and there is rarely an exotic piece of fish or cut of meat which used to be standard fare on P&O ships. Having to vacate the cabin by 8am on the day of departure is not ideal, particularly when the flight, again, is later in the day. It would also have been useful to find out before the cruise that main bags had to be packed and left outside the cabin by midnight before departure - we would have brought larger carry on bags if we’d known. It’s a shame that there isn’t more by way of port guides - there used to be talks about the destinations and other interesting areas.

The whole entertainment programme seems to be dumbed down with many events geared towards selling things and a feeling of ‘Butlins’ about the whole experience. It’s a shame there are no longer lounges in which to sit and read - only bars where you tend to feel you should spend money. Whilst it’s not great shakes that there is no longer a turn down service, it seems a pity that you have to request even to have your room serviced in the morning. The speciality restaurant ‘Epicurean’ is still excellent but they no longer seem to vary the menu during the weeks’ cruise.

The staff are excellent as always though the entertainment, as per the Butlins comment above, left something to be desired. After more than ten cruises with P&O, I think this is the last one. We are more likely to pay more and cruise less often in future, perhaps with Saga, Crystal or Cunard.