We have just returned from our 1st cruise and I must admit when I read some of the reviews I wondered what we were letting ourselves in for. Well, as it turns out, we had a wonderful time and met people from all walks of life young, middle aged and old, no snobs ( perhaps those that complain of them bear their own complexes).

We booked quite late and could only get an inside cabin which was very nice, plenty of room, clean and comfortable and this is what we would chose next time as it was only a base for sleeping and showering.

The food was good and plentiful and always a good variety, catering for most dietary needs.

The entertainers work tirelessly as do all the staff and we can only commend the politeness of all the P&O staff we met. They are a credit to the Captain and his Senior Crew.

The transfers, embarkation and disembarkation were smooth. We flew on time in a good aircraft all making a perfect holiday experience.

So the moaners who say there is not enough food. How much can you eat?. Those that say the staff are miserable - treat them like equal human beings - it pays dividends.

Finally those that say it is like Butlins but on sea have never been to Butlins and anyway millions of people for many years have enjoyed that type of holiday so don't knock what you have no knowledge of.

In closing I would say that my wife tried for years to get me to try a cruise and based on this experience we have missed out, but not any more as this is the first of many. So our thanks go to the Crew and Staff of the Ventura for a really memorable time.

My wife, daughter (11) and I decided to treat ourselves to an Italian cruise aboard the Ventura in August 2014. It was our first cruise so we were a little naive to some things but thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

The good points;
The food was mostly excellent! We dined in the Cinnamon restaurant in the evening as we had excellent service from the friendly and efficient waiters and wine steward. We used the upper deck restaurants for breakfast and lunch, so we could stay dressed casual. The food here was very nice, but not as good as the formal restaurants. We are early risers so we did not find breakfast and lunch much of a busy hassle. The biggest problem at times was finding an empty table, once you had chosen what to eat. Juice is only served at breakfast, chilled water during the rest of the time. Of course there is coffee (very nice) and tea of all flavours served during all hours. I found all savoury dishes tasty, but some of the sweets were a little lack lustre.

We are not wealthy, but found the prices of wine, beer etc, reasonable to that what you would pay at home. Pint of beer £3.50 average, bottle of wine with evening meal £18-£20 and cocktails £5.50. We found the entertainment very good, especially the ventriloquist who was brilliant. All of the waiters around the pool and in the restaurants worked very hard and always there to get you a drink or take away dirty plates and glasses.

I found all of the guests, from all walks of life to be very friendly and respectable. We try our best not to be judgemental with other people and as such we found everyone friendly and easy to talk to. I just do not understand some people who deem to judge other people because of their appearance and who just seem to nit-pick at every minor point. If you want friendly and respectable company to accompany a family friendly cruise, the Ventura is for you. If you prefer a ship that is more geared to formality and peace and quiet, then maybe choose a smaller and a more expensive ship.

We visited Sorrento on the trip to the farm (we were the last to get on the trip). Well worth it and Sorrento is so picturesque. We did not pay for the excursion to Dubrovnik, just paid for the shuttle bus to get us there. It's a small town you can explore easily yourself. This is well worth visiting and for Game of Thrones fans, there is a guided tour showing you the locations of some scenes. Finally, Venice is a must and I was very pleased to manage to get places for this visit that included a ride on a gondola. However, it would have been much cheaper to just pay for the shuttle boat to get you onto land and make your own way around. As we entered St. Marks square, the bells began to ring and it was just magical. This is a memory that will stay with us forever.

Tips for a better cruise;
We had to wait a few hours for our luggage to be delivered to our cabin once on board, about 2-3 hours. Our cabin steward helped and brought them to us within half of an hour of asking him to find them. We will remember to pack our bathing costumes in our hand luggage next time, along with a few toiletries.

We struggled to get onto some of the excursions as we had not pre-booked online before the holiday. Florence and Pizza were completely sold out. We could have tried to make our own way, but Florence was over an hour away and we were a little nervous of getting back in time for the ships departure so we stayed on board. However, it was very relaxing during the day and plenty of room to relax and explore the ship.

We had an internal cabin, which was adequate with just enough room for the 3 of us. However I think we would get a bigger room for a 2 week cruise. We actually saved approx £500 in one week booking an internal cabin instead of getting a balcony and a bigger room, which we were pleased with. If you are booking a balcony room, ensure that it is not overlooked and a higher deck would give you better views. We were on the Riviera deck near the top of the ship, which was great as we were near the pool decks. Our cabin steward Angelo was very friendly and nothing was too much trouble.

Our extras including drinks, photos and excursions etc. came to approx £650 in one week. We only had 1 bottle of wine with our evening meal so we didn't bother with the drinks package and we had the benefit of ordering what wine, spirits or beer etc we wanted without sticking to a pre-ordered package. I think when you buy a package deal with wine, drinks ice cream etc it just makes to drink more.

Finally during the days at sea the pool area is naturally very congested. Get up early to get a bed near the pool or you will struggle. Yes the beds are placed close together, but they are comfortable and big enough for you not to be touching your neighbour. We slept in one day and found no beds by the pool, but an older couple near us gave up some of their beds that they were saving for the kids, which I thought was a very kind gesture. People do place towels on the beds, but the ships rules state that you can remove them if you wish.

I think my wife and I would like to cruise again as it is our silver wedding anniversary next year.

We love cruises and have been on lots with different companies we went on Auzra last year so thought we would try Ventura this year. We soon got to our cabin, we had a balcony which was a bit small as we had three in our room. Staff morale was very low and no one had time to talk to you or joke with you. Other ships we have been on they always ask about your day but nothing here.

Your food was almost thrown at you. On the Gala night there was nothing on the menu I liked, on the first night we arrived we were told left hand side of menu was the same each night and the right hand side changes each night, but they forgot to say apart from Gala night. I told the waiter there was nothing I liked and could they cook me something easy from the kitchen to which I was told no. I asked to speak to the restaurant manger and again was told no we cannot cook you anything different, you can either use room service or go in self service restaurant. The problem was we were all dressed up in our posh frocks and suits, why would we want to sit around a plastic table with a tray and I was on two crutches so how would I get my food. I had nothing to eat that night. Also having paid a lot of money for the holiday why would I want to pay for room service and sit in my room and eat alone.

One night I saw cockroaches running around, another night half way thought eating my meal I moved my steak to find a human hair under it, I told the waiter and he never even offered me another meal, so that was now two nights I went hungry. Shall I go back with P&O, I don't think so, will I recommend them..I don't think so.

It is up to you make your own mind up but this has put me off using their company again as I felt they just did not care about my situation one bit. I wrote to P&O and the letter came back with it is not unusual to find a hair in your food it could happen anywhere, and it is right we do not offer alternative food on the Gala night. This is why I wrote this on here just to let you know before you go what you can expect.

Just thought I would update P&O Ventura. Just got back from 7 day Fjords cruise on Ventura one word, Brilliant! Sailed from Southampton to Bergen, what a lovely place, the harbour area was very nice made better with a free transfer from ship to town.

Next was Olden docked within easy walking distance of shops took the road train for a 1hr tour of the area at a cost of about £12 each good value we thought. Our next stop was Olden, not much to say about this as it was raining so it was just a quick walk around the town and back to the ship for a dip in the covered pool for our granddaughter.

Stavanger was our last port of call docked right in the centre of town if you can believe that. We didn't do any paid trips on this cruise as it was just to be a relaxing break. The ship is excellent, plenty to do for everyone there was 4 adults and one 8year old girl, she was thoroughly entertained by the kids club for the whole week.

The food and cleanliness throughout the ship was 1st class, we ate at the saffron restaurant for our evening meal and it was truly 5*. The beer prices we feel were quite good £3 for a pint of John Smiths the only thing we thought was a bit expensive was wine at 4.75 a glass. Overall though it was a very good value break.

Cleanliness of the ship was very good, the food was average. My disappointment was the children's club, well more the lack of it, they didn't have enough staff, booked the cruise with a promise that there was always a children's club. not so I have since complained but P&O wasn't interested so beware if you think they have a children's club every day.

The staff never smiled, on previous cruises I have found the staff very friendly not on this ship.

Royal Caribbean are far better for cruises, the staff, clubs and entertainment.

P&O isn't for me.

Just spent 11 nights on Centura to the Canary Islands, great time had by wife and I but beware of black tie nights if you are not willing to dress as basil fawlty you will be turned away from some of the venues. Staff very helpful except white shirt brigade unless you are from the suites tours not up to cost best to take islands own tour buses ship looking dated in places good ship for the I'm better than you brigade

Just returned from a two week cruise in the Caribbean flying into Barbados visiting 9 islands. Had a fantastic time a great ship with excellent crew .Ate in the cinnamon restaurant mostly, really well looked after fantastic choice and standard of food. If you’re lucky enough to get our waiters sentil and harri they are both really superb and nice people get to know them they work very hard and deserve all the credit they get. Mohammed on the dinner reception is very professional and pleasant. The theatre and headliner company where very good but longer shows would have been nice. I would say my wife and I had the holiday of a lifetime, anyone who moans about this ship needs lots of Prozac because its superb.

My husband and I spent our honeymoon on the Ventura 2 weeks on the from the 23rd November 2013 we were told we would be entitled to a free upgrade if cabins were available, on our visit to reception on the Ventura we were told that we weren’t even though we were told the ship was a 1,000 people down. The receptionists were rude and unhelpful as honeymooners we were very disappointed with our treatment and we will not be booking our next cruise with P&O.

This was our first cruise and I wasn’t disappointed. The only fault i had was I paid £1899.00 and i had other passengers saying they only paid £999.00 which was unfair as i had booked and paid over a year earlier this was for a balcony room. I will not be booking early in future it doesn’t pay too. P & O need to reward early bookings not late bookings. We are now looking to book a cruise for 2015 for our silver wedding Anniversary but I’ll be waiting for the best price.

Flight late leaving Gatwick, arrived an hour late in Barbados. Had to wait 20 minutes with the doors open as there were no buses. Arrived at the Ventura and waited 45 minutes in the bus outside the embarcation shed. Waited inline another 30 minutes being processed (27 degrees. On board, key card did not work so spent another 45 minutes waiting in line with hundreds of others with the same problem. Arrived in mini suite, which was very nice, clean and bright with a good balcony. Unfortunately the balcony was overlooked by most of the ship, and after sailawy parties there were a nuber of cocktail sticks etc on the floor of the balcony.

Food average to good, entertainment mostly good but one comedian was terrible and vitually cleared the Havana bar within 20 minutes.

Sun decks and sun beds were a complete joke, by 08:30 40-50% were reserved. The others occupied. P&O nstaff dissinterested.
Dress code, not enforced in public areas, standards very poor

Butlins meets motorway services meets Benidorm. Never agian on this ship.......