This was our first and very likely only cruise!
We have nothing to compare it to therefore but the luxury and splendid food we were told to expect were obviously on different ships ( Royal Carribean from what many other passengers told us )
I am sure with the food that people confuse quantity with quality because our local Brewers Fare pub is as good as P&Os best efforts and so much better than the Waterside self service restaurant which was truly dire.
The staff were not that happy or helpful either i.e. when trying to book an excursion I asked for details and was told "there are only 8 spaces left do you want them or not" those were the only help I got!
All that money wasted SIGH

I dont know what ship the previous person sailed on but it certainly wasnt the ship I sailed on in April. The food was excellent, the entertainment was second to none, especially the theatre group - first class. Our only complaints were the queues to get off the ship when in port and also the spa staff. We attended a couple of the 'free' demonstrations, only to be told that too many had attended and therefore the demonstration was cancelled, however we were welcome to book a 'one to one' session with one of their staff. Just a con to get you into the spa for 'paid' treatments. Apart from that - an excellent cruise ship.

sailed on ventura transatlantic from barbados to southampton everything about this ship is fantastic great food something for all tastes brilliant entertainment every night second p/o cruise will definitely cruise with them again can not praise them enough

This cruise would be my 9th cruise and i have never done a weekend cruise before however, the food was terrible, i had steak that was asked for well done raw, then chewy. I was unable to disembark as the gatways were closed off. I then asked the receptionist if they knew where i could go i was told several different answers. The staff on board were very rude, i then said goodbye to my cabin maid and was ignore, she then rudely walked off. I will never be travelling on the Ventura again.

Waited ages for our luggage to be delivered to our state room. The staff in Waterside were very unfriendly, the food in Waterside was a bit monotonous. I think P&O need to go on an RCI Cruise to get a few ideas.

We actually went away in January 2010

I don't normally do reviews but when i looked at reviews on the Ventura they were mixed so thought i would write one for a change. We went on a Caribbean Cruise in January 2010, myself (27) and my husand (36) and we had an absolutly amaxing time. We got married on the cruise and Captain Alistar Clarke was great and a big thank you to James the wedding coordinator - i would recommend to anyone thinking of getting married abroad, do it on a cruise.

This was our first cruise and to start off with we were upgraded to a suite which was absolutly amazing and we had the best butler ever.

The facilities on board are brilliant, plenty of pools and sun loungers. I must admit some people did complain about the sun lounges but we always managed to get a couple together as long as you weren't bothered about being around the pool but the only time you really had a problem were on the sea days. A bit of music around the pools would have been ideal during the day as didn't always have anything on until late afternoon around the pool areas.

We used the spa on the morning of our wedding and the treatments are absolutly brilliant and i would highly recommend to go for at least one treatment, the pindakarma massage is great.

Breakfast is good, good choice and can have sit down breakfast served to you or buffet breakfast. Plenty of options for lunch whether you want a snack (pizza, burger) a buffet lunch or a 3 course lunch - all of which are really good. Evening meals again if you go for freedom dining you have the option of buffet or sit down meal. We ate in the East restaurant which was good and also the White Room which was nice as we sat out on the balcony but the food wasn't much different to what you can get in the other restaurants just a more personal service.

Drink prices are really reasonable, we were really shocked. Cocktails are about £3.50 and they do a different offer on a cocktail each day which is about £2.70. Beer and spirits are also really good prices but wine can be expensive.

Some of the entertainment was great but some not so much, some of the cabaret acts were a bit rubish, the comedians were good and some of the shows that they have on in the arena are well worth going to. The Mercury Rising show was brilliantly funny, would recommend watching him if you get the chance.

Loved pretty much all the ports that we went to although thought Dominica wasn't anything special but everyone has a different opinion. Loved St Marteen definetly my favourite island.

Our wedding day on board the Ventura was magically and we would not change anything about it. The photography team are great and made us feel really relaxed. I would highly recommend the Ventura to everyone and we will definetly go on it again when we have the money.

Jan 15th to 30th 2010.Just off the Ventura after 15 nights on the Caribbean,and it was excellent.Having read some of the reviews I actually wonder what some people are looking for on a holiday...Oh! ive got the answer...a good moan about nothing.One English women complained that there were to many people with tattoos on the ship...dear o'dear.The ship was very big but it didnt stop people meeting and mixing.We met some lovely people,especially Tony and Emma from Berkshire who also had a ball.
The bar waiters/waitresses were a credit to the company...big mention for Rose,Vincent and Umar in the Exchange Bar (our meeting point),they were superb to us and our new friends. Rose is a gem of a young lady and her sense of humour matched ours.
All in all we found the ship faultless and had a wonderful holiday.
Well done to P+O.

p.s. we won a few quizzes :-)

Sailed on the ventura 2010 around the caribbean.shall discuss the itinary of the cruise followed by our opinion of ventura,the staff and the food.

Flew from leeds & bradford airport friday jan.29th direct to barbados 10am.good flight with thompsons.arrived in barbados around 3-0pm local time,4 hrs behind uk.straight off the plane onto a waiting bus and drove us to the port.photo's for our id cards then onto the ship,visited our cabin dumped our hand luggage and met our 2 friends for drinks at 4-45pm not bad i thought.
On this cruise you had a choice of an overnight stay in barbados when you arrive or on your return to port 2 weeks later.we chose the first because shiela our friend was having her birthday the following day,so we decided to have her birthday in barbados,not bad is it?

BARBADOS SAT.DAY 2
.Woke up at 6-0am went to bed to early,we were whacked out.this day was shielas birthday.10-0am jumped into a taxi for PAYNES BEACH $15 barbados each one way.4 sunbeds $30 "b" not a bad beach.after 3 hrs left the beach back to the ship for lunch, used the local bus $1-50 each.you must try these buses,loud reggie music.doors not working.packed with people drove through bridgetown at break neck speed.never stopped laughing.
After lunch we walked to the bridgetown oval to barbados v windward cricket match only $5 entrance fee.
After the cricket back to the ship for evening dinner in the pierre white restaurant for shielas birthday.[shall mention p.white later]
Left barbados 7-20pm.

SUNDAY 3rd day. Sea day.Typical sea day up early if you want a particular spot for your sunbed.bbq at lunch time round the main pool

MONDAY DAY 4. ANTIGUA. Breakfast 8-30am minibus outside the port[doing our own thing] $20 tour to shirley heights,nelson's dock yard,rain forest and valley beach $5 extra. 4 hrs very good.the presentation at shirley heights is very good dont miss it.back at the ship for 2pm.

TUESDAY DAY 5. ST KITTS.Late breakfast cracking views while having breakfast.tender to port.today we booked the sugar cane railway through the excursions on the ship.£35 very good,2 hrs trip on the train at 9mph.open top carriages with rum punch.

WEDNESDAY DAY 6.SEA DAY. sunbathe and swim mixed with a few drinks.

THURSDAY DAY 7.GRAND TURK.Grand turk is basically a cruise terminal with a nice beach which is owned by carnival.you pay top whack for drinks $6 a bottle,enjoyed the beach.

FRIDAY DAY 8. SEA DAY.Sunbathing.

SATURDAY TORTOLA.DAY 9. Taxi to canes garden beach $12 each return.this beach is ridiculously perfect.horseshoe bay,palm trees,perfect beach for families.old beach bars that look they might fall down any minute.beds $5. beer $4. sat in a bar at the very end of the beach watching pelicans dive for fish,superb day.

SUNDAY DAY 10.ST. MAARTEN.Taxi outside the port to sunset beach,this beach is at the end of the airport runway,it's an experience standing on the beach with big jets coming into land 50ft above your head. a nice bar there to. $16 return each back into phiipsberg a very nice place,good shops,bars and beach.bucket of beers 5 carib $10.

MONDAY DAY 11. ST.LUCIA. Booked a catamaran from the ship £36 each to the 2 pitons. 9-0am from the port side.visited marigot bay,where they filmed dr dolittle.into a bay for a swim.out with the rum punch then onto the 2 pitons. a very good morning.

TUESDAY DAY 12. DOMINCA. Taxi from port side to trafalgar water falls $25 each. $5 entrance fee. very busy.drove through the rain forest.very nice scenery but a poor country.

WEDNESDAY DAY 13. ST VINCENT. Taxi to villa beach $5 each dropped off at an hotel where you can use the facilities.nice beach but get there early.can also use a water taxi from the port.

THURSDAY DAY 14. GRANADA. St george. Water taxi to grand anse beach $8 return.very good beach.beach waiters,guitar player walking round the sun beds singing to you beers $3 sunbeds $5.nice day.had a walk round the spice market in town,every stall sells the same produce,nice smells.

FRIDAY DAY 15.DEPART FROM SHIP 1-0pm Cracking holiday.

THE SHIP. We enjoyed being on the ventura.the cabin we had was 243 on panama deck.we found it ok for two people plenty of hanging space,big shower,nice hair drier ladies.onboard cabin information very good through the tv.you can log into your onboard account at any time,good films and port information.the bed was superb.
THE BARS.we liked all the bars on ventura especially the METROPOLIS at the rear of the ship,sophisticated and classy.THE EXCHANGE big and airy.TAMARIND a nice small concert area.RAMBLAS the spanish bar with a tappas eaterie very nice.THE RED BAR for predinner drinks.THE ARENA theatre was nice with good viewing,drinks brought to your seat.

THE BAYTREE RESTAURANT.this is where we ate.we had table 65 the service was not very good. 2hrs on more than one occasion for our meal.food was good.did not leave a tip for the waiters.3 other tables were empty on the last night,do i need to say anymore.

OUTSIDE ON DECK. pools were good.need to be up early on sea days to grab a sun bed,the breakers was our favourite pool bar.

STAFF. i found the staff a bit conservative,nice and polite and a bit shy no x factors.

THE SHIP. WE found the ventura handled herself quite well when we had a choppy sea.

All the best sam.

It was nice to read so many complimentary reviews regarding the cruise, many of which I agree with, but not all. Unfortunately, my wife and I were two of 250 souls who had to remain an additional 27 hours in Barbados due to aircraft failure for our Thomson flight back to London, Gatwick.

The arrangements during this very long period were left to P&O as agents and with responsibility for our well being. Rather surprisingly, this was a first time experience for P&O and the lack of planning became very obvious as interminable hours passed without any updates. Many of us resorted to telephoning the UK where there appeared to be more detail then from the staff on board who were more concerned with the new passengers boarding.

The latter point became more of a problem for P&O when it became known there would be no flight on the 30th. In short the object of the exercise was to get us off the ship as quickly as possible, with representations of a 5 star hotel for the evening with food and drink, as it was all-inclusive.

We left the ship only to find a 3 star hotel with no food and some fruit juice....water had to be purchased at a shop 5 mins walk from the hotel, at night!

So beware of the 'Pontius Pilate' treatment if everything does not go according to plan on these cruises. One poor old lady actually fainted from the stress and it took until the next day via calls to London to reach the ship and demand P&O staff come to the hotel and explain what was going to happen and when....nothing short of a disgrace.

Coming back to the cruise, compared to a cruise taken on the Arcadia 5 years ago the Ventura was good but far from excellent and unfortunately the final 26 hours did not help matters, and is somewhat consistent with comments made about the uniformed staff who have little interest in the passengers.

We were on the Ventura for the 15 day Caribbean cruise.
We were very impressed by the whole experience. P&O had gone the 'extra mile' to make sure that all aspects of the cruise were enjoyable. The crew were unfailingly courteous, attentive, anxious to please and invariably smiling. We experienced a couple of minor lapses in the standard of service but these were quickly rectified as soon as we brought them to the attention of the crew. Where the company do fail is in dealing promptly and appropriately with complaints. They appear to take the approach that if they ignore it long enough it will go away!They could learn a lot from their crew in this respect. Would definately recommend 'freedom dining' as it gives you the opportunity to meet lots of wonderful people. Apart from the price of the wine and the cost of internet access everything else on board was excellent value. Well done P & O.