P&O Ventura

22 Reviews

Star Travel Rating

3/5

Review type

Cruise

Date of travel

April, 2019

Product name

Product country

Product city

Travelled with

Your husband, wife or partner

Reasons for trip

Regular holiday

This was our first cruise, and perhaps not the best ship to start off with. Several things that happened indicated that the ship itself is ailing – clanging pipes in the night, a steam escape explosion necessitating an emergency call to the whole ship at 4 am, breakdown of theater equipment cancelling a show part way through; inability to print off final bill due to IT failure. However the staff were wonderful and service great. We were unprepared to how many ‘extras’ would be extracted from us during the cruise and ended up with a £400 bill for such things as eating in surcharged restaurants on board; coffees (free coffee during the day only available in your cabin or on 15th floor); wifi (which is poor at best); photos; excursion costs etc etc. We don’t drink much and drinks were not expensive so this wasn’t an issue. We were on freedom dining and found that unless you were prepared to queue for half an hour or more before the dining room opened at 6pm you needed to share a table or wait for a ‘second sitting’ some time later. We loved Madeira, cable car is a must as is the old town, and a fab lunch of garlic prawns. Of the three islands we visited in the Canaries, Lanzarote was the best one, however in Gran Canaria and here the ship docks in the main towns which are not very indicative of the resorts. We would definitely not recommend the open top bus trip in Gran Canaria – there is nothing to see of any note in the town, much better just to get a taxi to the old town if not going further afield. We booked an excursion for Lisbon having been warned about pick pockets and over-zealous taxi drivers, but unfortunately the one we choose only took us to the Belem area (Monastery, custard pie shop and Discoveries monument) and to the town center through horrendous and slow traffic. As a point of note where the bus stopped by the Monastery we were told the custard tart shop was a short walk, but it was too far for my husband to manage so we grabbed a coffee at the nearest cafe right by the bus and got some lovely custard tarts there – saving the long trek! Lisbon shops were great, and similarly lovely lunch. We had a Superior Balcony Cabin and this was great, and worth the extra cost to have the space and a larger balcony. All in all we enjoyed the cruise and would do it again, but probably not on Ventura.

wendycl

Join the club

Become a member to receive exclusive benefits

Our community is the heart of Silver Travel Advisor, we love nothing more than sharing ideas, inspiration, hints and tips between us.

Come feel the love on a Princess cruise. You’ll enjoy the MedallionClass experience others simply can’t, and it’s exclusively for everyone. Visit incredible destinations and be involved in the best experiences around each one of them.

Experience more with Princess and connect effortlessly with the world around you, spend time away with loved ones, take a moment for yourself, and fall in love with your holiday of a lifetime, every time.

With over 20 years of experience, Wendy Wu Tours has mastered the art of creating exceptional, fully inclusive tours which showcase the very best of each destination.

Each tour is led by a world-class guide, who will highlight the very best of their homeland, and includes authentic cultural experiences so you are not just seeing the sights, but truly immersing yourself in local life.

Say hello to ease at sea. Ambassador’s purpose is simple: they want to inspire every guest to experience authentic cruising, effortlessly and sustainably. Passionate about protecting our oceans and destinations, their ships comply with the highest industry emission standards and there is no single-use plastic on board.

On your voyage, you will receive the warmest of welcomes from the Ambassador community as you sail upon the friendliest ships afloat.

This is a global co-operative co-owned by local partners using real local experts and guides, which supports local communities, environments and wildlife. It offers travellers quirky places to stay, activity holidays and learning experiences. Not In The Guidebooks gets travellers off the beaten track into local culture with day experiences and longer, immersive adventures.

From wild wellness breaks in Wales to painting in Portugal, sustainable adventures in Mauritius to food safaris in Brazil, this is immersive, exciting travel.

Seabourn’s five intimate ships carry guests to the heart of great cities, exclusive yacht harbours and secluded coves around the world, while two new purpose-built expedition ships will combine exhilarating adventures in remote destinations with the sophisticated amenities of the world’s finest resorts at sea.

From the luxury of all suite accommodations to complimentary fine wines and spirits, and a no tipping policy, Seabourn exemplifies the definition of travelling well.