P&O dress code

[Fashionista101]

My fiancé has surprised me with a 4nt cruise to the Netherlands for our 10yr anniversary!
My parents cruise a lot but I think they went super posh. Has anyone done this cruise?
The ship is called Ventura. What was the dress code to dinner? And what's the crack with this wine package? How does it work and how much is it? Thanks

Have you checked the website?

THIS IS A GOOD GUIDE 😊

@florafawna oh great idea 🙄

If you can't help feel free to just not comment

@iklboogiemanunderthebed ah thanks, I'll have a gander at this 👍

Not posh at all if you don't want it to be. I went on Ventura with 2 very young DC (baby & toddler) and we ate casually (buffet restaurant) each night so no need to dress up at all (jeans and trainers were fine).
My parents came with us and chose to dine formally so wore black tie attire on those nights. Smart casual is fine, to eat in the restaurant on a non-formal night.

Ah ok thank you. So you can basically choose to either go formal or not. And is that formal option every night or just one? I don't have a cruise personaliser yet as only booked last night but I'm excited to find out

Formal night is usually only once per sailing (twice on 14 night cruises)

@Fashionista101 - yes. There is the option of not bothering with the formal at all if you don't want to.

I've been on a P & O cruise, on formal nights you can wear a dress or smart trousers & a top, men don't have to have a Dinner suit, they can wear a normal suit & shirt. I saw lots of people who didn't wear evening dress on the formal nights. The night you sail & the last night are usually casual nights, if you dont want to dress up at all you can eat in the other restaurants on the ship. There is so much food being served that you won't go hungry, breakfast is served in the main restaurant, there is a self service breakfast served upstairs usually from 9.30, morning coffee & cakes are served mid morning, lunch is served in the main restaurant from 12.00, the lunchtime food is amazing, as well as traditional food there was a different curry with all the trimmings every day, there is also lunch served in the self service cafe as well, at 2.30 the self service pizza restaurant near the pool opens, at 3.00 afternoon tea & sandwiches are served, Dinner is served From 6.30 in the main restaurant, there is a midnight buffet if you are still hungry plus other small restaurants around the ship. I absolutely loved the cruise I went on, I didn't want to come home again.

We didn't pay for the wine package, just bought wine whenever we wanted it, register your debit or credit card on the day you board & then you just show your cruise card to book anything you pay for to your account, prices aren't much higher than you would pay in a pub, there are sales of different things every day, like watches, gold, jewellery etc. You get your photograph taken a lot whilst you are on board the ship, you can choose to buy whatever you want, they are lovely reminders of your trip.

I got married on that ship. Dress code is smart unless its black tie then a dinner dress. No one looked out of place as the buffett was open to so walking around the ship was a mix of dress. Dinner was lovely so high end eatery wear

Ah thank you so much for your replies, I think we're going to be hooked! I have the perfect dress I got in a sale a few months ago and haven't been invited to any black tie event this year so I can wear it!!! I don't think we will bother with the wine package either. Wow so much food - unsure I'll actually fit in the dress by the end 😂😂

Do you realise that you can take 1 litre of wine or spirits per adult on-board at Southampton, along with unlimited mixers? You can only take one bottle of alcohol each though, so you can't mix and match to make it up to a litre.

Ventura is a lovely relaxed ship. The formal night will probably be on a sea day & definitely not on the first night. The Marco Pierre White dinner is lovely.

Just came back from 7 night cruise on P&O had 2 formal nights and the rest smart casual. For formal nights are not that dressy no ball gowns more like things you would wear to a Christmas party.
Casual nights were a smart dress, or trousers and a nice top. Some of the bars on the ship required you to follow the dress code of the night.

Hi Fashionista101,
Congratulations on your anniversary!
I agree with all the great feedback here and would add a couple of points:

1. It's your holiday and if you'd like to really glam up, do so - you'll feel and look elegant and enjoy the experience, whether it's a little black dress or a ball gown!
2. The drinks package is great value if you're going to drift in and out of the bars, enjoy a drink while on deck or during dinner / entertainment. Even things like a bottle of water soon add up and if you're going to splash out , then a drinks package makes sense.

Have a lovely time!