Have just come to write a review and note my Daughter Donna has already done so.....I cannot add anything more than what she has said.(Only that it would have been nice to have seen our 9yr old Grandson more but there was so much for him to do he was off at the club almost every day..our 7 yr old Granddaughter spent more time with us though!!!!!!!!!!!)
I was very UNSURE about cruising but as my Husband wanted to, felt I must do at least the one, However we both enjoyed it very much and are thinking about cruising gain next year...again with P&0
EXCELLANT IN EVERY WAY

This was our 2nd cruise on the Oceana, and this time around we bought my parents along as our enthusiasm had intrigued them slightly. We did a cruise which was for 7 nights taking in Vigo, Lisbon, Bilbao & Brest. We were very lucky with the weather, it was fabulous throughout the week, though a little hazy in Bilbao in the afternoon.
We had 2 cabins which were outside with balcony next to one another on B deck. There were 4 of us in our cabin so our beds were 2 lower & 2 upper, whereas mum and dad had a double and was much roomier in theirs! Our first cruise we booked a mini suite so obviously MUCH larger and the children sleep on the sofabed.
I would'nt want to stay in a regular cabin again if there are to be 4 of us, but was impressed with the amount of storage space because it was ample.
Restaurant, kids clubs, staff, service, food the list goes on .... we were happy with every aspect.
We had 2 lovely waiters at dinner every night and the children were made to feel very welcome.
Thanks again for a wonderful time.

Just to add to my last review..we ARE now going on another P&O cruise on the Ventura to the Norweigan Fjords in June 2008. Can't wait !!!!

okay well this wud have been my second cruise aboard the oceana. just the same as last time we boarded 2 yrs ago. cudnt fault anything. we all had a superb holiday and have booked our next one upon the new superliner designed for britain 'ventura' in may 08 around france and guernsey. Also the main one that my family and i are looking forward to has to be the caribbean christmas one thats booked for dec08/09!! bring on the partying ive got high expectations for this one!!!

This was our first cruise so did know what to expect but pleasantly surprised . The cleanliness of the oceana was of five star standard , nothing could have been better in that department, The food was particularly good and plenty of it so putting on weight was no problem. The staff was very good , our cabin was kept spotless at all tines, and the staff in the restaurant were exelent, always served us with a smile , and could not do enough for us , by the end of our cruise we were on good terms with them and enjoyed a laugh and a joke at meal times. The entertainment was very good with a different show every two nights , it was so good we have booked up for next year on the Ventura , we will be going to the canaries.

My husband and I and my husband's sister and her daughter (24) sailed from the Caribbean back to Southampton in March this year. The ship was exactly the same layout as the Sea Princess which we had sailed on the previous year and had I known this I would have chosen a different ship. I much prefer the layout on the Oriana. The food was excellent (better than the Sea Princess)and we did visit both the restaurants where you have to pay a surcharge. Both were excellent value for money and worth the £7 each it cost us. We loved the freedom dining and had no problems booking a table and never had to queue when we didn't pre-book.
I found the ship fixtures were looking a bit shabby in places although spotlessly clean. The chair arms were very worn in some bars and could have done with re-covering. Our cabin seemed smaller than other ships I've been on but the steward was excellent and couln't do enough for us.
I thought the evening show entertainment was good but I found the bar entertainment poor.There was a pianist who didn't sing or say anything and a group from hungary who did the same dance steps to every song. - Could do better!!!
We will not be sailing back from the Caribbean again as my husband thought there were too many days at sea and only so many quizzes you can endure in one day. Perhaps if we had sailed in the summer it would have been better as the weather was poor once we hit halfway. Very windy and dull.
My one gripe is the tips being added to your bill. I like to pay my own tips and so I always visit reception to cancel my tips at source. I feel that you pay a lot of money to go on a cruise and for that money you are paying for good service so you should not be made to feel you have to tip everyone and their aunty!
All in all we had a good time and I would recommend P&O to anyone.

Just returned from our Fly/Sail trip on the Oceana and wanted to comment on the exceptional standard of the whole holiday. Some of the comments that we read before we left were a little worrying but no such worries were experienced. The Cleanliness of the ship was faultless and the speed that everything was made ready for the following day was just brilliant.
The food could not be faulted and the choice of food was so good in all the restaurants that we tried.
I praise the staff from Cabin Cleaners, Bar Staff, Receptionists and waiters, and their enthusiasm for all that they did was exemplary.The Entertainment was good although we watched only two shows and the theatres were beautifully appointed and it was a treat to attend.
The people that we met during the cruise were really nice, and we will certainly save up to cruise again.
Thank you all for a wonderful 'Holiday of a Lifetime'

Firstly, I would like to say that I am 17 years old and not a 'seasoned' cruiser like so many of the people making these posts, however, I have been on four P&O cruises in the last three years, once on the Oriana and the rest on the Oceana.
In my opinion some of the ratings being given are really harsh, as I could not find any faults at all in any part of my holiday.
We go in December for christmas and new year, however, this year we did not book in time and are having to go somewhere else, I am dreading it.

With regards to food I have to say I am most probably the worst eater ever but the staff were willing to make me almost anything I asked for, infact for Christmas dinner I managed to convince our waiter that I wanted a bowl of spagetti with no sauce which came at the same time as the rest of the meals. They were even nice enough to make sure I was eating right and watching out for me.

The entertainment was also pretty ace. There was a good mix of shows, nothing to boring, and then there was the cinema which had some good films.

I'm one of those people 'thundering' down the corridoors, not for kids tea but strolling to bed at 7 am, but there was quite a big group of us, the only people who stayed out so late and I don't think any of us were noisy, most of us were with our family and wouldn't want anyone to wake them up so behaved in a way which wouldn't wake anyone else up. Although going for breakfast in formal wear did attract some funny looks.

I really don't want anyone to be put off by what they have read here and to try it for themselves. 30 of us went last year and 2008 there will be around 40 of us, ages 5 - 70, and if they last three years are anything to go by we will have the time of our lives.

Just come back from our first honeymoon cruise on the now nearly famous OCEANA in the CARRIBEAN. We read through the posts on this site before we set off on our epic journey, which was quite useful about the cruise itself. The ‘Paradise Islands’ were, however, not quite what we were expecting!
Here are our views:
Our cruise started in Barbados. No matter how you go about it – getting there is tiring! We set off from Bournemouth at 4.30 am, got to Gatwick at 7.30am, spent ages queuing to get through security checks, and finally took off at midday. There were 350 people on our plane (chartered Airbus A330), and it is a ‘sardine flight’, no matter how you look at it. We’ve never seen isles so narrow, and not much legroom for those over 5ft 10”. Food did eventually arrive, we were staving by then – so take some rations incase.

81/2 long hours later we landed in Barbados. We were the last plane to arrive, and travelled by small taxi van through the darken back streets of Barbados to get to the ship. This was our first taste of a Caribbean Island, and it was surprising to us. There were rough shacks for most of the way, on bumpy old roads, with some people selling things through their kitchen windows to try and earn a few dollars.
After seeing brochures, and holiday programmes for years on this ‘paradise’ part of the world, we thought these islands would be wealthier, and fairly ‘tidy’, but this is certainly not the case. Not that this was an issue for us at this point, just not what we thought.
We arrived at the port, when through security checks to get to the ship, then got our first glimpse of OCEANA. This ship is huge – we were amazed. We were directed to our cabin, and told that our bags would arrive later that evening, which they did. We were then called for a lifeboat drill, and went for dinner in our ‘arrival’ clothes after that. Some people moaned at this, but we were quite happy for safety to come first.

The ship was spotless throughout, all the staff are very helpful all the time. The food was endless and high quality. We ate on the top deck in the Plaza for Brekkie and lunch, so we could enjoy being on the ocean waves with a great view, rather than in the lower restaurants. We also enjoyed helping ourselves to the food choices (including 1 inch thick fried bread, hmmm…I can taste it now!) All the tables are cleared and cleaned immediately.
The evening meals were mainly served in the 2 main restaurants, which are identical – one above the other. We had selected club (set) dining, opting for a table of 6, so we wouldn’t be stuck with 1 couple if we didn’t get on. These 6 course meals were amazing, with most dishes a work of art, just like a top restaurant.
After a couple of days, we were feeling stuck with the wrinkles at our table talking about wrinkly subjects most of the time, and were looking for a way out. This opportunity arose on day 3 when one of our lot had caught the Noro virus. This woman’s husband was confined to his cabin for 3 days, but she was allowed out to sit at our table and possible bring the virus with her. It was tiring trying to suck in each breath from new air, rather than her old stuff. The change to freedom dining was a great escape. New people to talk to on most nights, and most with ages in our century. You can book 2 nights in a row (and now book at any time in the day), and at the time you want, rather than 6.30 or 8.30pm. There were generally longer queues for people wanting to eat at 8.30pm (in both restaurants), so earlier is better. Also, we didn’t want to go to bed with a full tummy, as you would with a later sitting, and could fit in the shows at normal times.
There were about 4 pools, and 4 or 5 jacuzzis, all of which are heated. It’s a great fun being able to dip in the pools at any time to cool off, or to try and get an appetite back before the next meal. You tend to get used to sitting down for a meal, when you are still stuffed from the last one.
We have to say that P & O were very thorough about dealing with this dreaded virus (we’re had it before, and it makes you want to die). For the rest of the cruise, everyone had to wash their hands with disinfectant gel around all food areas on the ship, even if you went back to the buffet for a top up. This was the same for returning to the ship.

As far as the Islands were concerned, things started off very well with a beach barbie on CATALINER Island off Porte Rico – this was fantastic, and perfectly run by P & O, whose chefs took the food ashore (they have 90 chefs on board). That beach was just great. The touts will drive you mad if you cross the boardwalk to their mini shops.
ST MARTINS was the first Island to berth up to. Get a water taxi to the town – fairly interesting to see – especially with about 10 jewellery shops next to one another – how do they stay in business all selling the same thing? You can swim on the town’s beach just next to where the water taxi drops you off. Nice water, warm and clear. Get to the airport and see the jets almost landing on the beach.
DOMINICA is a bit of a dump. Don’t even think of going to the town, it needs pulling down. Do go up through the rain forest and see all the fruit hanging in the trees - amazing to the twin waterfalls – they are great. If you do a bit of light boulder climbing, you can swim in the rock pools – one cool and one hot, take a picnic. The botanical gardens are also worth a visit. Don’t look for a beach, they are rubbish.
St VINCENTS –. Don’t bother walking to the town, it’s a total bombsite. We went to the best beach on the Island – not good at all. The sand was dirty with rubbish, as was the sea, and people were selling drugs openly on the beach.
St KITTS – this Island was a disappointment. Another lousy town, and the beaches weren’t that good. The only good thing was that because the sand was dark, so the sea was very warm. 100’s of small crabs on the beach, try and catch them before they go down a hole.
ST LUCIA – more high expectations that didn’t really materialise. You can walk to the town, but it’s not really worth it for the same souvenirs as all the other Islands, but with St Lucia on them. There were rats running around the markets. The main beach was very great though, near the Sandals resort.
Have some fun in the Rum Bar/karaoke next to where the ship docks before you depart – great fun!
ANTIGUA - another dump generally as far as the town goes. Some decent market stalls, if you can cope with being hassled all the time. Luckily, our chosen taxi guy took us to Sandals beach, and there were no touts! (hooray – at last!) This was Dickenson Bay, and the beach was out of this world, we couldn’t stop taking pics and vid. Go into the Sandals resort, amazing, each cottage has their own mini pool, right on the beach, in a mini forest. This is one place in the Caribbean we would like to come back to and stay for a week with all the watersports included. There are lots of other fantastic beaches, but they may have touts.
BARBADOS – we didn’t see any beaches here, it rained like mad the whole day we were there. We got a taxi to the town, which was the largest we saw the whole cruise. There was a large variety of stuff to see, but we didn’t feel that safe in this town, and were glad to get back to the ship. There is a very good indoor shopping market next to the ship, with lots of things to take back home for friends.
The flight home was bad. We sat on the runway for 2 ½ hours as they tried to fix a fuel leak. Very bumpy the whole way, and we flew back at nearly full speed to make up time. The wings nearly came off as we approached the UK in gale force winds, at a ground speed of 720mph (faster than the speed of sound).

Some people moaned a bit that P & O were trying to make more money from passengers on stuff while on board, like the onboard markets, tours, photos, auctions, etc. Generally drinks were reasonably priced, some of the cocktails were a bit pricey for the amount of alcohol content. The thing is, these cruises are at low prices, and they have to fly you all the way to the Caribbean and back, so they have to try and make money somewhere. Their system works well, you only spend on things you want to.
This cruise was a bargain for what it delivered.

Caribbean Touts:
This is a cruise of 2 parts – the cruise, and running the touts barricades. The touts can spoil a great cruise if you let them. You need to do things right to stop this happening.
Do not make any eye or voice contact with any touts, taxi drivers, etc. unless you want to get hassled to spend money (any eye or voice contact constitutes a sale!). Just pretend you don’t see them (unless you want to buy from them). It takes a bit of practice, but it can be done.
If you go on P & O official tours, you wont see many touts, unless they take you to busy areas.
- don’t pay the price they say in the beginning, they expect to be knocked down. If they don’t drop they price, walk off until the price comes down, or just go to the stand next door and look back at them.
-same thing with taxis. We were offered a tour to the waterfalls and beach for $80 for 2 people. We offered them $20 and settled for $30.
-make sure that you confirm the total taxi price for the people travelling, and whether it is 1 way or return.

Our TOP TIPS:
-If you have females travelling with you, they will want to take over most of the hangers in the cabin, and leave you with the scraps – so buy at least 10 cheap plastic hangers to take, and don’t let them know you have them until you have your shirts installed on them in the cabin.
-Suitcases with wheels are heavy (4.5kgs). If you have females travelling with you, they will take over most of the allowable weight with endless clothes/shoes. Buy cheap non-wheeled suitcases (@ 1.5kgs), this will allow you about 3kgs more baggage per case, so you will be able to take some of your own clothes as well. You don’t need wheels – grab a trolley at the airport for your bags – then you don’t see them until they get to your cabin.
-Make sure you follow the airport regulation on liquids before you leave home, etc, otherwise it will be stressful at the Airport security checks
-You can/should use US dollars on every Island – and it easy to work out the £ rate, just divide by 2. Get change in Dollars as well. They are generally very honest about your change
-Don’t change money in the UK. Take a wad of cash in £’s, and change it into dollars at Oceana’s reception – their rate is slightly better than anywhere in the UK.
-Your cabin’s safe is 100% safe. You are the only one with the password, so you can leave £1000’s in there, + credit cards or anything and it will be completely safe.
-Only get dollars in low denominations, not higher than 20. Ask for lots of 1’s, 5’s and 10’s
-If you are going on a tour, or just out to see the ‘towns’, leave a towel on your favourite sunbed before you go out, otherwise the best ones will be taken.
-buy things from the onboard shops towards the end of the 2nd week – the prices are generally lower.
-choose thin taxi drivers, they are less likely to take you for a ride with the final taxi price (the fat ones are eating too well on their profits from charging too much).
- going on private tours is cheaper than going on P & O ones. You need to do your research and battle with the taxis/touts on private ones though.
- alcohol, especially all types of rum is so cheap at some of the port markets (about £2 or £3 per large bottle). You can take this back to your cabin and mix your own cocktails if you are on a budget.

To summarise:
Life on board this highest quality ship was just great for the whole 2 weeks. This was our first proper cruise, and it made our honeymoon even more special, thanks to P & O. There were always things to do, the evening shows were very good, as were the top deck parties, the Caribbean nights, etc. If we had been stuck on one of those Islands for 2 weeks at a bad resort/beach we would have wanted a divorce - it would have driven us mad (and it would have probably cost the same as this cruise). We would have probably killed a few touts in the process. They spoil these Islands (and lots of other places in the world too). We understand that they live on very poor Islands and are desperate for dollars to live a basic life for themselves and their families, but they actually get less business by driving people away with their incessant hassling of potential customers. We bought lots from them, but you can’t help all of them all of the time.
There were a lot of stunning beaches on these Islands, and the water is actually that amazing colour, but you have to do your research to find the best ones. You can get nearly as nice beaches in Greece though, although the Islands are drier, but they are much nearer.
Would we go to the Eastern Caribbean Island Cruising again?
-umm…no, been there, done that, had a great time though
What if it was free?
umm – can we have the money and go somewhere else instead
Do you wish you had got married on board?
-no, we saw 5 couples getting hitched on our cruise. We thought it would be on deck so you could at least see the sea. Unfortunately, it takes place near the front of the ship in a small office with no windows – not inspiring
Would we sail with P&O again.
-definitely, P&O were a great company to sail with, and the discount prices make it a bargain cruise, if you don’t go mad with tours and drinks. Probably do Greece, or Norway (but not with Norwegian Cruise Lines – they are bad!), or the Canaries next time. Or maybe Mexico, but we would do more research to find out what the Islands were like first (and the touting).
All in all, we had fantastic time, and lots of great memories! Now where did we put that slimming class phone number?

Wow ! ......... oh, you want more info ?

This was our first cruise and we were slightly worried that we would be too young, out of place, you know how it goes. How wrong we were.

We flew to Barbados to pick up the ship. Long flight on a charter flight and don't bother paying the extra for the "Premium Cabin" on first choice - it is no different other than you get seat back TV. I could have biught several portable DVD players for the extra it cost.

But once you arrive it's awesome. Off the aircraft and straight onto a bus to the ship. No customs, no immigration, no going stir crazy watching an empty luggage carousel going round and round and round. It's all taken care of and you luggage miraculously arrives in your cabin on the first evening. BLISS !

One tip, tip your cabin steward on the first day and promise a further tip at the end of the cruise. He'll jump though hoops of fire for you and they can make or break your holiday.

My other tip is if you can, book freedom dining, different people and different table every night until you a meet a group you get on with then just tip the waiter and Maitre d' and they'll keep you together on the same table. If all else fails - have fun with it. My wife and I had a competition to see who could pick the most interesting table to sit on - great fun and boy did we meet some characters !

Did mush the same cruise as some of the other review but with differing results. Be selective on the trips and excursions you do - it doesn't take a brain surgeon to work out which trips need organising in advance and which trips you can do yourself.

Yes some of the islands are run down, that's part of their charm. Everywhere the people are very friendly, even the touts can be a laugh if you don't take them too seriously. You're on holiday - have fun and live a little. We ended up going off to a bar with one of the taxi drivers after we negotiated a trip that P&O were charging $ 70 each for, down to $50 for the cab and driver for the day. We saw all the sights, rainforest, swimming in a pool fed by a waterfall, traditional Reggae bar, at our own pace and in our own time. Fantastic.

Be careful in St Lucia - it's addictive. We did the catamaran trip to les Pitons, botanical gardens and the volcano. It was brilliant and on the way back to crew serve up a fantastic barbecue and rum punch. But be careful, it starts as rum punch, then rum munch, then pum runch, then you fall over, giggle a lot and eventually get back to your cabin on Oceana and miss dinner - or was that just me ?

Anyway, it's a great holiday - enjoy it - and did anyone else notice that Captain Roger sounded like Boycie off of Only Fools and Horses ? By the way, Captain Roger told us that the average age on our cruise was 43 - and I helped to increase the average by a few years !

Have fun !