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Family friendly - There’s always something happening on Ventura, enjoy delicious fine dining, a tranquil spa, many quiet spaces to unwind, great sports facilities and four pools. Evenings are particularly memorable, with the lavish two-deck theatre where you’ll witness elaborate shows and stand-up comedy.
This was an unusual cruise for us in several ways We normally do 10 night plus cruises, this was just four We always have the drink package - it was not available on this sailing We always book inside or OV this time it was a superior deluxe balcony We have never sailed P&O, usually NCL, Princess or Azamara. It was DH's birthday, we didn't want a long trip, having just returned from three weeks in Maderia and we had been gifted an expensive bottle of Champagne we wanted to drink on his Birthday. So a four night trip with Champagne at Sailaway fitted the bill. I knew the ship was fairly full so expected it to be busy and had modest expectations of what to expect as regards food, service and entertainment. In fact we were pleasantly surprised and would definitely consider P&O again. The ship was in good shape, and although the outside spaces were not usable, as it was flipping freezing, we never had an issue finding a quite spot to sit, sip and people watch. I know others on the same cruise have reported that they queued for everything but that was not our experience. The cold food in the buffet was excellent - salad, cold meats and cheese aplenty. The hot food was as ever hit and miss. Fish pie, sweet and sour pork, and calamari excellent some of the chicken awful. In the MDR we used the virtual que for a table for two - 5 minute wait. Another time we walked up and accepted a shared table - no wait. Again food was hit and miss, beef wellington wonderful, pork schnitzel would have needed power tools to cut. The The staff are friendly and do what is in their remit but unlike Princess and NCL (which I feel are fair comparisons) there is no attempt to go beyond the minimum. For example In the MDR we had a table for two and our waiter was rushed off his feet while seven (yes I counted them) other waiters looked out the window or chatted as their large tables were unoccupied and they had nothing to do Overall a pleasant experience which marginally exceeded our expectations.
Oh dear! The Ventura is a tired old ship, showing her age and frayed at the edges. Nothing awful - just old. Storms and wild seas stopped us visiting Bermuda and New Orleans but not down to p&o. We ate in cinnamon nearly everyday as self service buffets have given me norovirus before. So we had about 100 meals in total. 5 or 6 we’re not up to standard but the others were perfect (if you ordered extra veg). Quite how a kitchen catering to over a thousand people Manage a perfectly soft poached egg Benedict or a lovely soft flaked haddock is beyond me . The starters were beautifully plated and certainly better than many 4* restaurants I’ve visited. Entertainment ok but could have had more live acts in the pre dinner times, say 5 to 8pm. All staff were faultless and polite. Excellent value for money. Just wish for better weather next time. Oh, and why don’t they give destination talks anymore ?
From inside cabins to balcony cabins and luxurious suites, you will find a room for every budget and taste.
All cabins are air-conditioned and well designed, to give you as much space as possible and to help you relax into your surroundings. Many feature balconies to give you additional outside space. All feature Egyptian cotton sheets, free tea & coffee making facilities, refrigerator, hairdryer, safe, in-cabin television and good sized en-suite bathrooms with toiletries pack. You will also enjoy the services of a personal cabin steward who will look after your every need, and can enjoy room service from early morning until late evening at no extra cost.
Enjoy three main restaurants offering a choice of Club Dining - the same table at the same time each evening - or Freedom Dining with no fixed seating or dining times.
There’s also the opportunity to visit the Select Dining venues of Sindhu, the first restaurant at sea from master of spices Atul Kochhar; The Epicurean, where a sense of occasion is always on the menu; and The Glass House, a wine bar and restaurant created in partnership with award-winning wine guru Olly Smith.
The ship's fantastic New Horizons programme offers to passengers the chance to leave their cruise with a new hobby, skill or passion. With classes ranging from cookery, and ballroom dancing, to feng shui and tai chi, passengers can search for true enlightenment.
When it comes to entertainment and things to do we’ve something for everyone on Ventura.
From the revitalising hydrotherapy pool, to the state of the art gymnasium, there's plenty of facilities onboard to refresh your mind, body and soul. Passengers can enjoy luxury massages and treatments in the Oasis Spa, or head out to the top deck sports court for a spot of tennis.
Ventura offers freedom for families with age-specific kids' clubs, night nursery for under 4s and dedicated family restaurants and early eating times, creating the perfect balance for families. So you can enjoy quality time together as well as time separately.
