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VENTURA EXPERIENCE |
| Reviewed By: Bryant, Clevedon on 3rd Jun 2008 |
| Cruise Line: P&O Cruises |
Times cruised before: 6-10 |
| Cruise Ship: Ventura |
Sailed:
May,
2008 |
| Destination: Iberia |
Age: 56-65 |
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Cabin B 732 inside. 23 May - 30 May. Freedom Dinning Iberian Interlude.
Firstly may I say what an impressive ship “Ventura” is, slick, spacious, well designed, comfortable cabins yet a little on the small side compared to ex Arcadia (Ocean Village) comfortable beds, and pleasing décor.
Embarkation was fast and efficient at arrival 12.30pm – expecting 1 hour cues for parking at CPS (FOC) but from arrival to being shown to the Waterside Restaurant and seated by 1.30pm some service.
Cabin serviced by “William” was quite satisfactory, except to say on Thursday my folder containing my personal blog in which I wrote each day in the A4 folder holiday information pack A4 size was kept at the bedside cabinet, but when on this day we returned to the cabin it was on the dressing table. Now there was just no way in which I would have left that folder out on display with postcards written on as well.
You did not require an alarm clock on “Ventura” as when docking was more than enough to wake you up with the ship shuddering (quite amusing when laying in bed)!
Dissatisfaction: First of all, we decided on “Ventura” mainly as it covered ports we had never done before in 9 years of cruising also never before taken a cruise with P&O fleet except ex Arcadia Ocean Village & 2 (4 times there) We were more than disappointed when on 27 May Captain Alaistair Clark gave the announcement around 8.50 that due to industrial action in the French port of La Rochelle we would not be staying in the port and would set sail at 11am for our next French port Brest – therefore no tours that day.
At 3pm I received a text from the UK saying there was a second day of Strike Action in the French ports, therefore if UK knew of continued Industrial action from the media and Road Haulage drivers on Tuesday, then WHY did Captain make the decision to proceed there anyway on to Brest.? We were now very angry and dismayed.
Surely he would of known on the Tuesday and may be could of missed Brest port out and proceeded straight to Guernsey and we had two days there to make up for the two wasted days – although the ban was lifted at 1pm but too late for tours also the “shuttle bus service” was to the city shops area of no great interest to many of us who were lucky enough to get the first shuttle out that day – we saw what was available on route and went straight back to the ship where there was cues for the 7 shuttle buses laid on THREE decks high for those then choosing to wait for the shuttle in 2 hour cues – what a complete waste of time. We then did not sail out of Brest port until 7pm. We did not think it was a good example of a captain to keep information to a minimum yet alone pay good hard earned money to a company that can’t make it’s passengers happy on just one weeks holiday.
The Freedom Dining we chose at the Beach House for evening meal which was of poor quality, it lacked choice, dull, uninteresting and mainly warm and not hot. We chose the Beach House due to our first formal evening at the Cinnamon restaurant when we asked for a table for two, were shown to a table of six, and did not enjoy the pompous attitude of those guests. Therefore our decision to not to dine in the Cinnamon Restaurant which was booked by time anyway – so in my eyes not Freedom Dining. Although breakfast choice was excellent (if you eat a full breakfast which I don’t my husband does and said it was the “Best meal of the day”
Lunchtimes at the Beach house was the cold buffet mainly, but were not able to reach the tomatoes, cucumbers, or peppers as the glass shelf came down too low and you had to go without. Some times there was a member of staff there who would “spoon” on your requirements if asked or waited long enough. Children could not reach in and adults were trying to stretch under the protruding shelf. A Very POOR self service design.
Evening Meals also lacked choice and variety.
Entertainment: Adrian Walsh was a first class cabaret act for all ages to enjoy. As were the “Ventura” Theatre company - - Chronicles was an excellent performance as was Explosion in the Arena Theatre. Also Rob Linacre at Havana.. Other venues were quite packed at 9.30.
As for the EXCHANGE BAR. Only a quarter was available to smokers, it was always full during the evenings, with little or no seats available for smokers, so we shivered nightly on the smokers deck,(windy side of course) with a drink hence with that in mind our bar costs were extremely low. ! Having paid our balance then receiving a letter advising of the smoking rules, if we had of known the lack of availability then 18 months ago when we booked we could have chosen a balcony cabin and enjoyed a drink outside and out of the wind.
Public Hazard: In the Terrace Pool area outside the Beach House, if a drink was spilt on the deck as my husband knocked into our table and coffee went on the floor, he advised a staff member and a “board” was put by it – caution slippery deck!!! And 6 hours later still it was not mopped up but left.
When the decks were hosed down at night, the stools and chairs were still wet at breakfast so you could not sit down as they were never wiped over dry.
We noticed on several occasions that cabin service trays were left outside of cabins for a number of hours one example on deck 11 was over 5 hours and drinks and bottles left over night.
If you rang reception and mentioned your toilet would not flush, it was rectified within 10 – 15 minutes -
Tables were always kept wiped down and trays removed in the Beach House or Waterside at meal times – staff were efficient and helpful. Bar staff were always on hand asking if you required drinks during the day time and during meal times –
Conclusion: The cruise it’s self was enjoyable, and an experience of a large super liner amazing. Perhaps just too formal for ourselves on those code evenings. Although the staff worked very hard service was excellent, and HYGIENE in public w’c’s were of good standard. Lifts good despite the number of passengers using them at peak times.
Disembarkation: Was excellent and a head of schedule ours was scheduled for 10:15 deck 11, but were called at 9.45am. Finding luggage was easy, proceeding through customs, and to CPS car parking to pick up the car in 30 minutes from leaving “Ventura”
We did love “Ventura” but I think Ocean Village has much better meal choices and variation evenings – larger cabins, We had heard that “Ventura” was named as Ocean Village (3) but they do not have dress coded evenings –
Overall due to the two ports with Industrial Action – and no decision to move to another port on the Tuesday for the Wednesday – I’m sorry to say that I feel cheated out of my weeks holiday – and very disappointed.
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| Quality of Food |  |
| BEACH HOUSE AS WE WERE FREEDOM DINING AND ONCE IN CINNAMON RESTAURANT AS BREAKFAST WAS THE MOST FILLING MEAL OF THE ENTIRE DAY !!! DID NOT GO INTO ANY OTHER RESTAURANT DUE TO EXTRA COVER CHARGES. | | Entertainment |  |
| Most enjoyable: ADRIAN WALSH COMEDIAN. ANDRE PAYNE COMEDY AND MAGIC.ROB LINACRE VOCALIST. "VENTURA" THEATRE COMPANY "EXPLOSION" & "CHRONICLES" also "EXPLOSION" ALWAYS WENT AT THE 10.45 SHOW LESS CROWDED. | | Shore Excursions |  |
| JUST ONE - BILBAO TOUR G OLD QUARTERS AND NEW SIGHTS. DUE TO PORT STRIKES AT FRENCH PORTS LA ROCHELLE TRIPS WERE CANCELLED AS WERE BREST. | | Staff |  |
| WE THOUGHT ALL STAFF WORKED VERY HARD - SERVICE WAS QUICK AT BARS, RESTAURANTS, AND AROUND THE SHIP SERVING DRINKS ETC. WILLIAM OUR CABIN STEWARD WAS ALWAYS EARLY CLEANING OUR CABIN. ALTHOUGH OUR CABIN ON ARRIVAL WAS NOT READY UNTIL 3.30 AND MY HUSBANDS CASE ARRIVED AT 3.30 BUT MINE NEVER APPEARED UNTIL 6.30PM. | | Children's Facilities | n/a |
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| NOT ON THE DAYS WHEN THE FRENCH PORTS DISPUTE WAS AFFECTING THE SHIP - EXTRA BINGO - AND THINGS FOR CHILDREN | | Cabins | |
| BEDS WERE EXTREMELY CONFORTABLE - TEA MAKING WAS EXCELLENT. TV GOOD. ALTHOUGH A LITTLE ON THE SMALL SIZE, THE WALK IN WARDROBE WAS OF GOOD SIZE AND EYE LEVEL "SAFE" BATH ROOMS ABOUT NORMAL SIZE - BUT TOP UP OF ITEMS YOU HAD TO ASK FOR IF REQUIRED WHEN USED UP. FOOT CREAM WAS VERY HANDY TO HAVE AND USED A LOT OF !!!!! TOWELS CHANGED TWICE DAILY | | Overall Rating | |
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