Little things

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sunseeker16
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Little things

#1

Post by sunseeker16 »

What little things no longer seen/done/given would you like to see return for P&O cruises?

What little things currently seen/done/given would you be happy to give up?

Personally, I would love the brass band and ticker tape send off we had on our very first cruise but haven't seen since. I would also love the cruise overview sheet which used to be waiting in the cabin as you boarded. It outlined, inter alia, the various acts on board, the guest speakers, the formal nights, and helped put the whole cruise in context and allow one to sort out specialist dining etc.

In exchange for those I would be extremely happy not to have slippers or 'grade pins'. In addition, the after dinner sweet offerings, which I find make my teeth scream

I note the loss of, but do not particularly mourn, big biscuits and after dinner savouries.

What about you? What have I forgotten (or never experienced, only having started cruising in 2010)

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Stephen
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Re: Little things

#2

Post by Stephen »

My wife misses the route map in the brochure for each cruise.

And yes, the brass band send off.

We don't miss paying the silly price for the measly sail-away champaign.

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oldbluefox
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Re: Little things

#3

Post by oldbluefox »

Oh yes, the brass band, or better still the pipe band at sailaway. It's not the same without it. I like the chocolate truffles after dinner but not keen on those jelly things (turkish delight?) and bits of cake/biscuit. Glad you can still get strawberries dipped in chocolate which are absolute heaven. Sorry to see the demise of the little plastic wallets for your cruise card. We now take along those plastic ones you sometimes get with train tickets.
Not keen on the new biscuits which are invariably broken when you open them (and don't travel well!!!) much as I was fed up with the old oat crumbles.

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Stephen
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Re: Little things

#4

Post by Stephen »

With you there Foxy about the biscwits, loved the old oat crumblies. These new ones although OK just don't cut the mustard. Cut backs again.

Silver service is another thing I miss.

I'd like to see each bar stock the drinks as advertised. For example, you want a draught Stella, all the bar menus list it but only one actually has it! At least that was the case on Aurora! :crazy:

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Meg 50
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Re: Little things

#5

Post by Meg 50 »

our first cruise had umpteen different ways with potatoes - usually 2 variations at each dinner and rarely repeated.

these days we're lucky if we get 2 variations all cruise
Meg
x

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Stephen
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Re: Little things

#6

Post by Stephen »

Meg 50 wrote:
our first cruise had umpteen different ways with potatoes - usually 2 variations at each dinner and rarely repeated.

these days we're lucky if we get 2 variations all cruise
And they can't cook a proper roast potato to save their lives.

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Stephen
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Re: Little things

#7

Post by Stephen »

Dump the pillow chocolate and upgrade the biscuits :thumbup:

Bring back the lunchtime made to order sandwich bar.

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oldbluefox
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Re: Little things

#8

Post by oldbluefox »

I like to go back to my cabin to find the pillow chocolate but as a confessed chocoholic I would.

I don't know what they do with the roast potatoes because they are like no others I have ever had.

On some ships they plate up an example of each of the sweets so you get a preview as you enter the dining room. I think that's a good idea as they always look totally different when you get them to what you think you are ordering.

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Mervyn and Trish
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Re: Little things

#9

Post by Mervyn and Trish »

I hate the odd after dinner things these days, especially the shrivelled up dry cake things. I'd be happier with an After Eight!

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Onelife
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Re: Little things

#10

Post by Onelife »

Hi Obf...like you I loved the sail away bands :thumbup:

How about a few professional photographers instead of the hordes of unfocused kids popping up around every corner inviting us to say cheese!!


Frank Manning
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Re: Little things

#11

Post by Frank Manning »

I think the supposed roast potatoes are steamed and then coloured with caramel and baked just enough to dry them out. At least the roast pots are roasted on QM2.

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Stephen
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Re: Little things

#12

Post by Stephen »

Mervyn and Trish wrote:
I hate the odd after dinner things these days, especially the shrivelled up dry cake things. I'd be happier with an After Eight!

Agree, they're horrible. More cut backs

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kaymar
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Re: Little things

#13

Post by kaymar »

Well that's all put me off completely. We haven't cruised for five years but were going to the Med with Arcadia in two weeks time. We're not going to bother now.

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towny44
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Re: Little things

#14

Post by towny44 »

Meg 50 wrote:
our first cruise had umpteen different ways with potatoes - usually 2 variations at each dinner and rarely repeated.

these days we're lucky if we get 2 variations all cruise
I'm with you Meg, where have all the variations gone there far too many flavourless new potatoes and those odd hexagonal shaped roast potatoes, although on Britannia last month the roast potatoes were more appetising, maybe they were Aunt Bessie's. Rarely do we see all the tasty variations of mashed potatoes, or duchesse, Lyonaisse, dauphinoisse, hasselback etc, Celebrity certainly do provide more variety in their menus and their overall food standard is much higher, just a shame P&O can't do similar.
John

Trainee Pensioner since 2000

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Onelife
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Re: Little things

#15

Post by Onelife »

kaymar wrote:
Well that's all put me off completely. We haven't cruised for five years but were going to the Med with Arcadia in two weeks time. We're not going to bother now.

Hi kaymar....As you haven't cruised for five years you will undoubtedly notice some of the changes/cutbacks but they will hardly impact on the enjoyment of your cruise

Go for it. :thumbup:

Regards

Keith


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Re: Little things

#16

Post by CaroleF »

I agree about the biscuits - rarely can you open a packet to find even one that's not broken - don't know how they can continue with using the supplier - suppose they are cheap! If they are going to provide biscuits then at least let's have ones that come out of the packet whole. They could get rid of the pins - do they still supply them, don't remember them on our last cruise in May? I also agree about the biscuit/cake things they put on the table after dinner - chocolates lovely, the rest no thank you.
I'm not keen on the Baked Alaska thing myself but I know lots of people are but now no flambee at the table. I was reading an old cruise diary last night and I'd written about the Head Waiter coming round with the brandy and lighting it on the Baked Alaska.

Carole


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Re: Little things

#17

Post by Ranchi »

I know there is no chance of it ever returning but I liked the old film movies. The DVD or whatever they use now leaves me a bit cold.


colin parry
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Re: Little things

#18

Post by colin parry »

Variety seems to be missing now. There used to be many different themed cruises, newcomers, anniversary, antiques, sporting, Richard Baker music cruises ( quite a few more than we now have). Every evening dining was an 'event' with the beautiful coloured menus on the table. There was no need for select dining then although I do miss Gary Rhodes from the late naughtiest. The current obsession with so called celebrity chefs does nothing for me although I accept many people like them.
We did our first cruise on a newcomers cruise in 1997 and received £50 obc which was a big help at the time. Anniversary cruises(had to be an anniversary ending 0 or 5) also attracted obc and a free Photo and cocktail party. I could go on but all I would sAy is that cruising I still incredibly good value even though I now get lumbered with the dreaded single supplement.!


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Re: Little things

#19

Post by colin parry »

Sorry, I got carried away a bit . I should have just said the little things I miss are Artemis and Adonia. And it should have read Naughties and not Naughtiest!

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Gill W
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Re: Little things

#20

Post by Gill W »

What about the real rose for the ladies on formal night. That was always a nice touch
Gill


Whynd1
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Re: Little things

#21

Post by Whynd1 »

I miss the lovely biscuits too, the ones these days are almost inedible.

Warners have lovely packets of biscuits.

Lindsey

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screwy
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Re: Little things

#22

Post by screwy »

!990s prices...oh well....suppose not.
Mel

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kaymar
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Re: Little things

#23

Post by kaymar »

Onelife wrote:
kaymar wrote:
Well that's all put me off completely. We haven't cruised for five years but were going to the Med with Arcadia in two weeks time. We're not going to bother now.

Hi kaymar....As you haven't cruised for five years you will undoubtedly notice some of the changes/cutbacks but they will hardly impact on the enjoyment of your cruise

Go for it. :thumbup:

Regards

Keith

Well, OK then, onelife. We've been to the Pound shop and bought some custard creams and a packet of After Eights. That should do it and sod the extra expense. I'm also checking out prices for a brass band.

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Jean W
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Re: Little things

#24

Post by Jean W »

I agree wholeheartedly with Sunseeker and OBF.

Slightly off topic. Colin, I am now in the same position as you. I cancelled the Cruises my darling Husband and I had booked, then some friends asked me about one of them. I thought long and hard and rebooked it. I have to pay the balance in a couple of weeks and, honestly, don't know whether I can go through with it just yet. The Cruise isn't until January and I might feel a lot different then, but, to loose the deposit is a lot less than losing the whole lot. What a decision?

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Raybosailor
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Re: Little things

#25

Post by Raybosailor »

I would love a brass band send off especially for our Christmas Cruise on Oceana, a band playing Christmas tunes as we set sail would be great.

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