My daughter and I boarded the Azura in Malta for a week cruising the Croatian coast.
The P&O welcome was not its usual happy one.
We were just told to find our Muster station, register, then find our cabin._x000D_ We went straight to Sindhu to book an evening meal for the first night, only to be told the restaurant was full.
It was an important date for us and my daughter pleaded to be accommodated.
Finally they said we could eat at 6pm.
At 6pm there were 4 people in the restaurant and when we left, it was only half full.
I guess the staffing is an issue.
(The food was excellent)._x000D_ The service in all the other venues is pretty hit and miss.
Waiters leaning across tables, not understanding orders and calling our names across the table (data protection!)._x000D_ The buffet is just a nightmare.
Too small and quite a limited choice from earlier cruises.
The cocktails advertised were never forthcoming as they did not have the ingredients._x000D_ Formal nights are a joke.
We went to dinner in our finery as did all the table we sat with, so why were there men on the next table with only short sleeve shirts and no ties? We were told that they were offered jackets at the reception but we saw no evidence of this.
The rules should be enforced by the staff.
If you don’t want to dress up, go to the buffet! Also, if you order a bottle of wine and don’t drink it all, you have to carry it round with you! Health and safety?_x000D_ Senior staff were visibly lacking.
We saw no one from the senior management walking round the ship.
I guess they knew there were rumblings and didn’t want to get involved!_x000D_ The entertainment was ok although there were so many technical issues, it became a running joke – I wonder if the performance will get to the end!_x000D_ The spa was a huge issue.
Having booked the thermal suite for a two hour slot, we finally got in half an hour late, to find 5 heated beds, 1 steam room, 1 other room and one that was not in use.
Most other thermal suites have a dip pool at least._x000D_ We went to the art gallery with a view to purchase a painting, but were totally ignored by the member of staff who gave drinks to two other couples and ignored us.
One lost sale._x000D_ No photographers anywhere! I know they are the bane of cruisers’ lives but it was actually nice to have a look at them and usually buy one! None at the formal nights either, another time when we would have bought one._x000D_ Our cabin was clean and our steward very good but we did miss the evening turn down and pillow chocolate – another saving!_x000D_ Afternoon tea is not available in the Epicurean.
We were told we could go to the buffet – not quite the same ambiance!_x000D_ No port talks, no paper with the port details and maps on, no Great British Sailaway – something we love even in the rain! No buffet themed nights, no free shuttle bus, the list goes on.
I guess P&O are cutting corners which is very sad._x000D_ The App is another joke.
It doesn’t work in half the places on the ship and when it does it’s a nightmare to navigate.
If it hadn’t been for my daughter, I wouldn’t have eaten, seen shows or booked trips as I couldn’t get my head round it._x000D_ _x000D_ The ports were good, especially Dubrovnik and Split.
The other two weren’t really geared up for hundreds of tourists! We did have some sun and were able to sit on deck at times._x000D_ _x000D_ Between us, my daughter and I represent traditional P&O passenger demographics.
One early 70’s with a disposable income and 30 cruises under her belt, and one into her 30’s, tech savvy and foodie.
We pride ourselves on our loyalty to P&O and have had some wonderful cruises, but we came back thoroughly disappointed and will probably now defect!_x000D_ _x000D_ We didn’t want a standard holiday, we wanted an experience, but sadly, this cruise fell far short of that.
