what are the differences between cunard and p&o

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poole boy
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what are the differences between cunard and p&o

#1

Post by poole boy »

having been on p&o for 12 cruises we could not find anything to interest us for 2019 so we have booked a round britain cruise for august 2019 on
queen victoria could anyone tell us what is the differences between p&o and cunard please.
graham
Last edited by poole boy on 30 May 2018, 23:01, edited 1 time in total.

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GillD46
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Re: what are the differences between cunard and p&o

#2

Post by GillD46 »

On Cunard men are expected to wear a jacket every night. There is no loyalty discount, but they do give a generous internet allowance for their regular cruisers and vaious other small perks.

The ships have a much more traditional feel, they are very beautiful internally, onboard currency is the US$, drinks are more expensive and have 15% gratuity added as well, auto gratuities are a little more than P&O.

There are four main restaurants, allocated according to cabin grade:
Britannia - for inside, outside&balcony cabins
Britannia Club - Britannia Club balcony cabins.
Princess Grill - smaller suites with no Butler
Queens Grill - largest suites all with Butler service.
The Grills passengers have a seperate bar and on QM2 a Concierge lounge.
Unless they are seen entering the restaurants, nobody knows which category a passenger is booked in, everyone is treated the same.

All cabins have robes and slippers. All cabins receive a bottle or half bottle of ghastly bubbly (Pol Acker) on arrival.REALLY horrible!

They have the best lectures on board, QM2 has a Planetarium. Passengers are very international, usually well travelled, very interesting people. Less moaning than P&O.

We really like Cunard, they “fit” us, or we fit them!

Hope this helps a bit - though I am sure I have forgotten to add something important. I think you’ll find more similarities than differences. Enjoy.
Last edited by GillD46 on 31 May 2018, 07:23, edited 1 time in total.
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poole boy
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Re: what are the differences between cunard and p&o

#3

Post by poole boy »

Gilld 46
thank you very much most helpfull

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sunseeker16
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Re: what are the differences between cunard and p&o

#4

Post by sunseeker16 »

The buffet is better laid out and has a better selection of better food.

MDR meals tend to be meat heavy/veg light. Cheese comes as three tiny slices on an individual cold plate - very disappointing. Breakfast is good

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GillD46
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Re: what are the differences between cunard and p&o

#5

Post by GillD46 »

sunseeker16 wrote: 31 May 2018, 08:15
The buffet is better laid out and has a better selection of better food.

MDR meals tend to be meat heavy/veg light. Cheese comes as three tiny slices on an individual cold plate - very disappointing. Breakfast is good
True, but you can always request a side dish of steamed vegetables, I do almost every night.
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anniec
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Re: what are the differences between cunard and p&o

#6

Post by anniec »

Gill has just about said it all. However, the dress code changes slightly shortly (from memory, around now) and jacket every evening/formal wear on formal nights not now required in the pub (Golden Lion) or Casino (it never was required in the buffet or the adjacent large room (Winter Garden). This has caused a degree of consternation in certain quarters, but it remains to be seen if it makes any difference to the general ambience.

The equivalent to the Crow's Nest (Commodore Club), ie the high forward bar, is (IMHO) very much nicer on Cunard - furnishings far superior, for example. Speciality restaurants not as good on Cunard (again IMHO) - The Verandah has a rather hefty surcharge and is pretty underwhelming.

Hope you have a superb time.

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GillD46
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Re: what are the differences between cunard and p&o

#7

Post by GillD46 »

That reminds me, one of the pop up restaurants in the buffet (the Indian restaurant Coriander) is absolutely superb.
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JillD66
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Re: what are the differences between cunard and p&o

#8

Post by JillD66 »

Thanks "nearly same Gill"! We've only been P & O, so far, but booked a QE cruise - going in 10 days!

Thanks for the info about dressing gowns and slippers - I'll cross them off my packing list. I thought as we only had a lowly balcony, we wouldn't get any little luxuries!

Indian sounds nice too! On P & O in the main dining room, we're used to waiters who tell us just to ask if we want anything, so on Cunard, if we'd like extra veg, do they supply it? (or do all extras come with a surcharge!!)

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GillD46
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Re: what are the differences between cunard and p&o

#9

Post by GillD46 »

Just ask for some vegetables, they do tend to be the same each evening, but are nicely steamed.
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Mervyn and Trish
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Re: what are the differences between cunard and p&o

#10

Post by Mervyn and Trish »

Great info thanks Gill. We are on QV next year for 7 nights. We've only been on QM2 before. We spotted the QV week which is almost back to back (just one day in a hotel in Southampton between) with 7 nights on Azura. Due to amazing early booking prices we were able to treat ourselves to a suite on Azura and Princess Grill on QV. Looking forward to it. But before then it's Sapphire Princess this year.

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GillD46
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Re: what are the differences between cunard and p&o

#11

Post by GillD46 »

Mervyn and Trish wrote: 31 May 2018, 18:56
Great info thanks Gill. We are on QV next year for 7 nights. We've only been on QM2 before. We spotted the QV week which is almost back to back (just one day in a hotel in Southampton between) with 7 nights on Azura. Due to amazing early booking prices we were able to treat ourselves to a suite on Azura and Princess Grill on QV. Looking forward to it. But before then it's Sapphire Princess this year.
Sounds great.
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Re: what are the differences between cunard and p&o

#12

Post by oldtimer »

The one thing that puts me off Cunard is NO tea or coffee making facilities in your cabin. Would miss my cup of tea when wake up and back from an excursion. Would be a pain keep ringing room service.


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Re: what are the differences between cunard and p&o

#13

Post by anniec »

oldtimer wrote: 05 Jun 2018, 17:32
The one thing that puts me off Cunard is NO tea or coffee making facilities in your cabin. Would miss my cup of tea when wake up and back from an excursion. Would be a pain keep ringing room service.
There are now kettles etc. in all Cunard cabins. Same underwhelming biscuits as P&O, I'm afraid.

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GillD46
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Re: what are the differences between cunard and p&o

#14

Post by GillD46 »

Yes Cunard have had tea trays in all cabins for a while now, a year at least. We occasionally use the Illy coffee machine, which is actually really quite good, and certainly far better than the one P&O offer, the name escapes me just now, in their suites.
Gill

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