Cruise Reviews | Ventura - an alternate perspective| Cruises.co.uk

Wednesday 20th August 2008

The UK's largest cruise community and information site

Sitemap

Spirit of Adventure Cruises | Holland America Cruises | Yachts of Seaborne Cruises | Voyages of Discovery Cruises | Other Cruise Lines

Ventura - an alternate perspective
Reviewed By: D. Fisher, London on 25th Jul 2008
Cruise Line: P&O Cruises	Times cruised before: 3-5
Cruise Ship: Ventura	Sailed: June, 2008
Destination: Baltic	Age: 26-35

I found alot of hidden gems on the Ventura - which I am more then happy to share, along with a balanced view. The food was a happy medium. It was well presented, hearty and delicious. The tableside service wasn't as good, but the pax vs staff count seems a bit lower, which could explain it.. Our cabin was immaculate, the steward was fantastically attentive. A++. The exchange was smokey during the day/early evening, but perfect post 1pm. (P&O is changing its smoking policy, so this will soon no longer be a problem!) Arrive an hour after the boarding time - you will get straight on ship within 10 minutes, and be upstairs enjoying food. No muss, fuss or queing! Also, reception operates 24/7. A great time to speak is after 11pm. No ques - again great time to change money, etc! *TIP* It is SO worth paying £60 for the 2-week thermal suite pass. It is only for 5 passengers per hour, and it is, besides your cabin, the only place on the ship that does not have music piped in. It is quiet and indulgent. For an extra treat, skip sailaway and book - the vibrations of the ship departing turn the ceramic beds into vibrating massage chairs! Faaantastic! AND you can go as many times in a day as you want. I'd go early AM and later PM. The Tazzine is a fantastic place to enjoy an early morning coffee, and read your book - the staff are wonderfully friendly there - and after going a couple of days, they knew exactly what I wanted even before I sat down!! Sure there were ques. P&O could actually solve quite a few of them by opening another, independant desk away from reception that would act as a money-changing facility. I chose not to disembark in Stockholm - There were a few hiccups - between tender disembarkation & shortages of busses. Hopefully it will be sorted :) East was fantastic, and the staff there also double in the Tazzine, so I was greeted warmly indeed! The Ents staff worked really hard and were to be commended. The shows were great in my opinion with Chronicles being a 'must see' show!! The video jukebox in the exchange is a great way of unwinding after a long day of cruising - just plug in the songs you want (I recommend Nickleback's 'Rockstar') a nice cocktail, and you've got easy entertainment. If you want to spend time in the casino, but not alot of $, go for the videopoker option instead - there's a mode where you buy £25 card, and then play till everyone's out. It can last hours! There isn't alot of storage - instead there are huge closets. TIP Lakeland sell portable "classic sweater organiser" which is basically a hang-up cubby of decent dimensions (http://www.lakeland.co.uk/classic-organiser-collection/F/C/organising/C/organising-clothes-storage/product/21480_21482 ) which if you can spare £10, really, really gives you an extra edge over the few drawers that are present. Would I cruise again on the ventura? I am in fact, cruising on the 5th of December to the Caribbean on the Ventura. And I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone. It's not the aurora. But it's got a special character all it's own.
Quality of Food
Saffron resteraunt - food good, service not so good :(, Tazzine - Excellent service. East - A++ Food & Service. Both buffets = a bit of a letdown seating wise. The pizza resteraunt = good but takes a bit longer! RAMBLAS = A+++++++ MUST try the tapas, for the minute covercharge (£2.50 for 3 different tapas, at time of this cruise!)
Entertainment
Shows in the Arena were really good - but featured too heavily the couple from the x-factor. Didn't go to any comedians. Music was good in the Metropolis & red bar. Karoke was just a hoot!
Shore Excursions
Best was taste of helsinki & the chocolate tasting in wandermude. Didn't get to go to denmark, whcih to me was the highlight of the trip (Not russia!)
Staff
The cabin steward - simply amazing. Also the ents staff - they worked so hard to cover such a big ship!
Children's Facilities	n/a

Onboard Activities
There was something for everyone, of all ages, all the time.
Cabins
Lowest grade inside cabin - the showerheads were fixed, and unfortnatly the curtain didn't keep the water in. Very little drawers. But cabin steward kept it neat and well stocked!
Overall Rating

Report this review

ASK A QUESTION

COMMENT ON THIS REVIEW

Opinion: Disagree Comment by young , coventry (25 Jul 08 10:41) about this REVIEW.

well i was on this cruise the guy must have been on a diferent ship, some good things about it but i have cruised on all p and o ships this is the worst i have been on the promanade deck is too narrow if someone is sitting on a chair on deck you can hardly get by top end of promonade deck y have to go up a flight of stairs to the next deck to get down again the other side to get round the deck a disabled person or some one who can't clime can't get round the deck, the tamerind club is very nice but only a very small dance area so for anyone who likes to dance not much room ,the shows in the arena theatre where terible taped music in the theatre no orchestra for the theatre company the best show was chronicles ,the saffron resteraunt was exellent food very good as was the service our waiters could not do enough for us but we felt the ship was too big 3000 passengers and over 1000 crew would not go on her again

ASK A QUESTION

COMMENT

Report this comment

Comment by Mitchell, Heswall (28 Jul 08 15:36) about a COMMENT by young (25 Jul 08 10:41)

We were on the Baltic cruise and found the promenade deck WIDER than on the QM2 where we had to put the loungers sideways on. I agree with D Fisher's comments re PAX being rude, some of them were horrible to the staff.

ASK A QUESTION

COMMENT

Report this comment

Comment by Parkinsin, Warrington (26 Jul 08 08:45) about a COMMENT by young (25 Jul 08 10:41)

Yet another peson who seems surprised by the mumber of people on board, can you not read?

ASK A QUESTION

COMMENT

Report this comment

Comment by D. Fisher, London (25 Jul 08 11:11) about a COMMENT by young (25 Jul 08 10:41)

(Girl! And you probably saw me around - I was the blonde with all the funky hair pieces.) I didn't use the promenade deck outside. Didn't have a reason to do so, so can't comment on that, I guess, except for sailaway, and thats always packed anyways. Its true the tamarind clubs dance floor is a bit smaller then normal, but again, the only time I used it was on the 60s/70s night. I preferred Havannah, which had a nice dance area, a great bar, and plenty of cozy tables :) I guess the taped music didn't bother me much - I enjoyed the shows for what they were. Again, each to thier own - I've rebooked, because I found that the ship itself had very few problems, the bigger problems were the PAX being rude more then anything ;)

ASK A QUESTION

COMMENT

Report this comment

Comment by norsworthy, newport (26 Jul 08 23:29) about a COMMENT by D. Fisher (25 Jul 08 11:11)

we went on ventura in june and had a fantastic time and like you have booked to go on her again twice next year, as you say the only real problem was people that didn't read the brochure and moaned about the size of the ship and the number of children on board! it's for families! and you never saw the children cos they were so well entertained in the kids club or busy making the most of all ventura had to offer. i'm sure some people go looking for problems, we go looking for a good holiday.... and we got an amazing one.

ASK A QUESTION

COMMENT

Report this comment