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P&O Cruises

MV Oceana

Your Rating:
Reviewed by: Phil Harrison
# previous cruises: 21 to 30
Date of Trip: July 22, 2007
Itinerary: Europe

Yes try it - it has certain advantages over a land based holiday.

Overall the cruise was enjoyable and the food was excellent in the dining room less so in the buffet area. Some of the staff weren't all that helpful and friendly though.

Yacht and Compass favourite bar but smoke still an issue. There is a walk round deck and plenty of open deck space. Pools are nice and clean but bit small for number of passengers

On Freedom dining in Ligurian food very good some waiters very good, some surly. Buffet in Plaza was average and very crowded and noisy. Closed too early 9.30 to make way for pay restaurant. Grill very good good variety.

Cabin inside cabin small and not much drawer space adequate wardrobe space. Shower very small and lacking in power I'm 6ft 2 and had to stoop.

Entertainment varied. Jimmy Nairn musician good very versatile, Mike Doyle comedian so-so. Dance/singing company Stadium Theatre average no better. Gary Newbon sports speaker reasonably entertaining. Daytime activities bit limited one of show lounges was used a cinema but could have done more often. Enjoyed playing cricket though!

Dublin - Caught shuttle into Dublin all shuttle were very good and prompt and am so glad P&O don't charge unlike most cruise lines now. Sampled some Dublin bars just for atmosphere Dublin is beautiful but very packed with tourists .Went on open top tour this is brilliant for seeing lots of sights without too much walking and the inevitable crowds! Our ticket got us on the Red and Green buses the Red has recorded commentary but the green which we got later on (as it is hop on hop off) was live commentary and hilarious. Some of the Americans just didn't understand the Irish humour though. The guy at the start said .we are just waiting to sober up the driver by walking him up and down for a bit!. some looked genuinely worried. Got on and off at few places spent most time at Jamesons Distillery nice pub/restaurant round the corner.

Bilbao - Had arranged a private tour through totally Spain very reasonable private minibus all day for 450 Euros. Only problem was that the driver spoke 2 words of English .Good Morning. so we had to struggle with my rudimentary Spanish and getting others to translate. We went to the Guggenheim just to have a look which is stunning the flower cat statue impressed us all young and old. Then went to Bakio via fantastic scenery rolling green hills with lots of Swiss style cottages, lovely unspoiled beach resort with fantastic surf .The on to a church that is on an outcrop of rock San Juan de Gaztelugatxe however you have to walk to it and its very hilly and takes about an hour on the way back,we didn't have the time or stamina really but the views were absolutely fantastic.

Went back to Bilbao via the Transporter bridge quite near the terminal in Santurce which basically has a hanging compartment that carries cars and passengers very impressive feat of engineering and very old 1880.'s.

La Rochelle - Had been to la Rochelle before which is a lovely harbour town but as we had been we went to a water park in the next resort along at Chatellaion-Plage. It was very cheap to get into (4 Euros) and had indoor and outdoor pools and slides the kids loved it.

Guernsey - Tendering took AGES I got a ticket and was told it would be about a 40 minute wait it took an hour and 40 minutes for us to be called. Loud cheers every time a number was called. Just pottered round shops as didn't have much time. There is both babysitting and a kid's club my youngest enjoyed the club and the staff seemed very good she has been to other clubs and not wanted to go she was happy to go to this one.

Real mixture of passengers lots of families but also older passengers and numerous wheelchair users of all ages. most people friendly and pleasant.