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P&O Cruises VIP day feedback thread. Non-attendees: tell P&O Cruises about your ideal cruise - £250 voucher prize draw! NOW CLOSED

132 replies

MichelleMumsnet · 30/08/2013 16:27

This thread is for the 6 Mumsnetters who attended the VIP day on P&O Cruises' family friendly ship, Azura. Hope you all had a wonderful time!

If you didn't attend the VIP day you can still get involved by telling P&O Cruises about your perfect family friendly cruise holiday. Where in the world would you sail? What facilities would you like to see on board? What activities would you, and your DCs, like to be able to get involved in while on board?

Everyone who shares their thoughts on this thread will be entered into a prize draw to win a £250 Love2Shop voucher.

VIP attendees:

We have a few questions we'd like you to answer, but please add any other comments you may have.

  • What was your and your family's, overall experience of your day on-board Azura?
  • Were you surprised by anything you found, or didn't find, on board?
  • What were your/your DCs highlights of the day?
  • What did your DCs think of the facilities on-board?
  • After your experience on Azura, would you consider going on a cruise for a family holiday? If so, why? If not, why not?
  • Overall, if it came up in conversation, would you recommend going on a cruise to your friends and family? If so, why? If not, why not?

If you have any photos you took on the day please do upload them onto this thread, we'd love to see them! Please note that P&O Cruises may use these pictures on their facebook page, website or any other marketing material.

Thanks and good luck with the prize draw!

MNHQ

OP posts:
IncaAztec · 06/09/2013 08:55

I didnt attend but:

Where in the world would you sail?

I would really, really like to go on a Carribean cruise. I've heard its like a millpond and the facilities on the ships over there are amazing.

What facilities would you like to see on board?

  • Hydrotherapy pool, Kids club and night nursery (at least from age 2), pub for DH, Spa, lovely restaurants to choose from. No tipping policy!!

-What activities would you, and your DCs, like to be able to get involved in while on board?

My DC would like photography sessions, I would enjoy aqua-fit type sessions. My DH would like purely to relax!

SaltySeaBird · 06/09/2013 11:50

Non attender, avid traveller but have never been on a cruise.

I'm not sure they appeal to me really, I imagine them to be a Butlins on water, a floating Brits abroad resort or OAP bingo gathering (and while there is nothing wrong with Butlins, resorts or OAPs it is just not what I want from my holidays. I'm sure that none of the people who like these sort of holidays would like mine).

That said, if I saw the right cruise I would give it a go.

Where in the world would you sail?
Somewhere remote, places which are harder to access otherwise. I'd love to cruise around the polar regions. Failing that the South Pacific! Dream cruise would be the Galapagos.

What facilities would you like to see on board?
Small vessels with only limited facilities would suit me fine, a nice communal area for example.

What activities would you, and your DCs, like to be able to get involved in while on board?
Ecological based talks on the places we were visiting. Photography advice sessions.

Not really the type of cruise I think this this discussion is about!

wickeddevil · 06/09/2013 13:18

Really dissapointed that some of those picked didn't attend. I have been unsure about whether or not a cruise would suit me and really wanted to be picked and have an opportunity to find out.

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

Manchesterhistorygirl · 06/09/2013 13:24

Salty have a look at princess cruises up in Alaska, they carry national parks guides onboard. It's somewhere we are considering when the kids are a bit older.

Manchesterhistorygirl · 06/09/2013 13:26

They do have doctors onboard, in fact they have fully equipped ICU's the facilities are amazing! Ds2 cut his eyebrow open and we had cause to visit the hospital and it was superb.

wickeddevil · 06/09/2013 13:29

What was your and your family's, overall experience of your day on-board Azura?
I would have liked to find out. We like visiting different locations, and so are attracted to the idea of a cruise, but at the same time are worried that it might be quite claustrophobic once on board. I was hoping for an opportunity to judge this for myself.

Were you surprised by anything you found, or didn't find, on board?
That some of those selected weren't on board!

What were your/your DCs highlights of the day?
We weren't chosen, so went round the Mary Rose instead.

What did your DCs think of the facilities on-board?
I wanted to know whether a cruise would suit my DCs aged 4 and 15 and would have liked to see the facilities

After your experience on Azura, would you consider going on a cruise for a family holiday? If so, why? If not, why not?
I am still not decided. I am unsure about spending such a large amount of money on something I am not certain about.

Overall, if it came up in conversation, would you recommend going on a cruise to your friends and family? If so, why? If not, why not?
Wouldn't be able to comment.

StillSlightlyCrumpled · 06/09/2013 15:27

One of the things that appeals to me is the medical care on board. DS2 has a complex medical history that makes travelling abroad very concerning. I am always armed with a letter detailing his condition & dried medicine in case he needs it.

It is reassuring to think (that whilst we'd have to pay for it) that we could access care & advice for him without a language barrier.

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 06/09/2013 15:53

We used the medical facilities on Royal Caribbean when DD cut her head open and were very impressed, we weren't charged either.

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 06/09/2013 15:55

For those who missed out, there are short mini cruises available from Southampton (2 days to France and back for example), so you don't have to commit huge sums, I think they use them to fill gaps in the schedules as well as to give people a chance to try them out.

Theimpossiblegirl · 06/09/2013 16:33

That sounds really good- how do you go about booking them?

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 06/09/2013 16:45

P&O mini cruises

Royal Carribbean mini cruises

Probably others too.

UniqueUsername · 06/09/2013 18:13

I'd have loved to have gone on this day. We've never been on a cruise and DH is not keen but I tend to think they could be a great holiday with options for all generations. I'd probably choose a med cruise for our first to try it out but in terms of a dream destination for a cruise I think it'd have be caribbean island hopping. Though reading this thread has made me realise there are lot more cruise destinations on offer than just the hot obvious places, Scotland, Norway for example.

Pleased to hear the people who were selected and made it had fun.

saintlyjimjams · 06/09/2013 18:49

My ideal cruise would be a smaller cruise ship and not involve any flying. I don't think we could cruise with our kids as the eldest is severely autistic and I can't see it working really. (We do manage ferries to ireland but that's about it). We'd like pools, pools and pools. All the boys would like decent wifi as well but ime (on the ferries anyway) it's incredibly slow at sea.

Turnipvontrapp · 06/09/2013 20:00

I didn't attend the VIP day but my perfect family cruise would involve seeing lots of wildlife, maybe in Alaska. I would like to see amazing sights. I would want the ship to be fairly small and not be all formal or stuffy. A small cinema would be good, swimming pool with slides. Space to move in a cabin and one that sleeps families of 5. Water sports at stop-offs would be good. As would cycling.

Don't want much do I! Grin

TheSkiingGardener · 06/09/2013 20:47

The problem with the mini cruises is they are used a lot by people on stag and hen dos and are very, very different to how a cruise ship usually is. We wouldn't go on a mink one again!

Salty there are tons if cruises around doing exactly what you suggest, many specialist lines do very exploratory cruises. On P&O they have lecture program's and experts on board to give them on various topics. Usually there are classical recitals too. Very enjoyable before dinner.

camtt · 06/09/2013 21:45

non-attender and I have never been on a cruise and also not sure a cruise would suit our family but:

I would like plenty of stop offs and ideally a cruise where you can see something most of the time other than ocean (that might mean that a cruise is not for me!)

the cabin should be comfortable and homely, because we might want to spend some time there

activities for children of different ages - snorkelling would be good for my 8 and 10 year old

lifeguard on the children's pools ideally

Like the sound of the night nursery, although not sure what age it goes up to as it would be nice to be able to have a meal with DH occasionally without the children

wouldn't want to have to dress up for dinner, I would like a choice of a more relaxed style of dining as well, and definitely good wine

GetKnitted · 06/09/2013 22:16

Where in the world would you sail?

Pacific Islands!

What facilities would you like to see on board?

Swimming pool, spa, cinema .... and a library!

What activities would you, and your DCs, like to be able to get involved in while on board?

The kids would love to have activities like swimming, games and crafts, maybe themed on the sea, maybe some educational about the next place we would dock. They would love to be the experts when we got off the boat. I think the older one would want to do activities all day, but the little one just in the morning.

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 06/09/2013 22:36

Hadn't thought about the stag and hen night aspect! Maybe not such a good idea then.

Lampshadeofdoom · 07/09/2013 11:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

goldenretriever · 07/09/2013 18:16

Where in the world would you sail?

Ideally not too far away, probably around Spain.

What facilities would you like to see on board?

Playground, a theatre

What activities would you, and your DCs, like to be able to get involved in while on board?

Child friendly activities and entertainers

kateandme · 07/09/2013 19:39

a perfect cruise would be anywhere with family/friends being the priority.there needs to be good food.good facilities,lounging areas comfy beds,electrical tv etc.a place at the end of the day to go when the days activities are through.somewhere where you can always get fed slef catering facilties etc.
the activities need to be catered for for each guest.whether active based,relaxation based each one needs to have as much effort in as possilbe to make it an experience.a good mix.

is1 · 07/09/2013 19:41

I would love to cruise around the Caribbean - the weather is so nice and it is beautiful.

lottytheladybird · 07/09/2013 20:32

My ideal cruise:

Q: Where in the world would you sail?
A: Somewhere warm, where good weather is fairly reliable. Somewhere that's not so easily accessible by plane.

Q: What facilities would you like to see on board?
A: Lots for toddlers - soft play, classes, shows, rides, toys. Baby changing facilities everywhere, so that you never have to go too far. Buggy friendly - wide aisles and places to park your buggy.

Q: What activities would you, and your DCs, like to be able to get involved in while on board?
A: Dance, gym, craft, music classes.

500internalerror · 08/09/2013 08:34

What is the family accommodation actually like on a ship then? Something like travelodge would be fine,but a few of you mentioned bunk beds and flip down beds? Also, do the cheaper rooms not have windows, or is that a fabrication of my head?!

The nighttime childcare sounds amazing!

The kids would love a cruise, but there is no way on earth we could afford it. And even if we had a windfall, I think I'd still be stuck in the mindset that its a waste to be stuck on a boat for all that money iyswim? Surely it's like staying in a hotel for most of a holiday & not venturing into the real world?

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 08/09/2013 08:41

Well, having only been on one, my experience of the rooms is not all encompassing, but as for the stuck in a hotel idea, I suppose it depends on the ratio of sea to port days you choose, mine was half and half, so we went to 7 European cities in 14 days all with minimal effort on our part, albeit only for short, day trips.