Topic: Caribbean Cruise Jan 2011 (P&O Ventura) Advice Please!

Hi, my boyfriend and I have booked a 15 nt Caribbean cruise on 29th January 2011 on the P&O Ventura. We have never cruised before and would like to get some advice on best excursions, spending money needed etc.

The cruise starts in Barbados with an overnight in port the first night. It then calls at Bonaire, Aruba, Ocho Rios (Jamaica), Grand Turk, St Maarten, Antigua, Dominica, St Lucia and then back to Barbados for the flight home.

We were wondering if anyone has any advice about which excursions to do in the different ports? I was also wondering what there is in each port? Do you need transfers to the beach/ bars etc or are these within walking distance?

We were also wondering whether anyone knows how much drinks cost onboard and how much spending money we should take? (We are both in our mid 20s and enjoy a drink!) Also, what currency should we take? I was advised by somebody that US dollars would be accepted in all of the ports but I'm not sure if this is right or not?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

Hi Lucy

Welcome to the forum. You will find that the Caribbean is one of the easiest places to do your own thing with regard to excursions. There are always lot of taxis/minibuses at all the ports of call. They will take you wherever you want to go and are much cheaper than the ship's excursions. For example, you can take a half day tour of the island and be dropped off back at the ship, or they will drop you at a beach for the afternoon and even arrange to pick you up from there in order to get you back to the ship on time. The drivers are very knowledgeable and will normally give you a running commentry throughout the tour. It's well worth climbing Dunns River Falls when you are in Jamaica.

US dollars are acceptable everywhere - just make sure you get any change in dollars rather than local currency, although we have never had a problem with this.

Can't help you with the price of drinks as we have never been on Ventura, but I am sure someone will be able to give you some advice on this.

Enjoy your cruise.

Hi Lucy and welcome to the forum.

There is lots of information already on this site about Caribbean ports of call and excursions.

If you click on the search facility at the top of the page in the dark blue section, put your port of call in the keyword section with a dash and excursions, you should find lots of info. come up.

I haven't been to all the ports on your itinerary but certainly as far as St Lucia, Antigua, Grenada and Dominica are concerned, it's so easy to do your own thing.

Although it is easy to get taxis that will take where you want to go, it's best to do lots of research on each port beforehand.

If you google each port and get on to the tourist websites, you will find lots of private companies that offer excursions which are usually better and cheaper than the cruise ship offers.

Happy surfing.

Hi... I have been on the Ventura a few times though not on the cruise you are going on, so I cannot help you about ports etc. but I can advise you on the best buys and prices of drinks. The drink prices on Ventura are very low compared to some other cruise lines, about the same price as english pubs. What we have found though is if you like a drink in your cabin you can order 1 litre bottles of at very good prices through the interactive channel on your cabin t.v. it is very simple to do and is delivered within hours of ordering. example of prices:- Smirnoff vodka..£9.50. ..£6.50 on last day of cruise in the duty free shop,..Bells whisky £14.25,..Gordons Gin 12.00,..Malibu and Archers both about £10. You are allowed to take alcohol on board and if you want to take on wine to drink in the restaurant you have to pay a corkage fee. Hope this helps, Have a great cruise.

Hi Lucy,

We were in the Caribbean on Ventura early this year and had a wonderful time. It is a excellent ship although being so big does take a while to get used to. Take your time exploring. This is all part of the holiday.

As has already been said, taxi's are a great way of getting about. It is so easy to use them. They can be found on the dock side and offer many trips. In some resorts water taxi's are also available. Enjoy.

Can't be to specific about the drinks charges on board but I have to say that they did seem reasonable. I was told by fellow passengers that P&O charges are lower than Royal Caribbean but I do not know this for sure.

what a tremendous picture of ventura
don't happen to have a link to it anywhere in full resoltion do you
i'd liek to send it to myself at work for my wallpaper :D

Thanks everyone for the info! I have just found a full price list for drinks on the ventura posted by somebody on one of the other message boards so thought I would post it here incase anybody else is trying to find out as well:

Gin:
Bombay Sapphire £2.30
Gordon's £2.10
Beefeater £2.00

Vodka
Stolichnaya £2.60
Absolut Blue £2.35
Smirnoff Red £2.15


Rum
Bacardi Reserva £2.15
Bacardi Carta Blanca, Captain Morgan’s £2.00

Whisky
Johnnie Walker Black Label, Chivas Regal £2.4o
Teachers, Bells, Famous Grouse, Johnnie Walker Red Label £2.10
Vat 69 £2.0
Malts[/SIZE][/FONT]
Highland Malt - Glenmorangie £2.60
Speyside Malt -
Glenfiddich, Glenlivet
Islay Malt - Laphroaig, Bowmore
Island Malt - Highland Park, Scapa
Bourbon
Jim Beam £2.15
Canadian
Canadian Club £2.15
Irish[
Jameson £2.15
Bristol Cream, Tio Pepe, Croft Original £2.10

Brandy and Cognac
Remy XO Premier Cru £5.50
Cognac V.S.O.P £2.65
Cognac*** £2.40
Brandy £2.25
Armagnac £2.40

Port
Late Bottled Vintage £2.15

Liqueurs and Soeciality Spirits - £2.35

Baileys, Drambuie, Cointreau, Archers Peach Schnapps, Tia Maria[Southern Comfort, Tequila, Amaretto, Sambuca and many more All measures 25 millilitres or multiples there of

COLOR=blue]Beers and Lagers

Draught Beers
Lager Pint* £2.60
Lager Shandy Pint* £2.50[
Bitter Pint* £2.35
Bitter Shandy Pint* £2.25
Bitter 1/2 Pint* £1.20*Draught beers available in selected bars only

Lager

Becks 330ml - Germany £2.35
Grolsch 330ml - Holland £2.35
Stella Artois 330ml - Belgium £2.35
Budweiser 330ml - USA £2.35
Carlsberg 330ml - Denmark £1.95
Fosters 330ml - Australia £1.95
Beck's Non-Alcoholic 330ml - Germany £1.95

Ales and Bitters
Old Speckled Hen 500ml £2.40
Marston's Pedigree 500ml £2.35
Boddingtons Draught 440ml £2.10
Caffrey's Irish Ale 440ml £2.10
John Smiths Extra Smooth 440ml 2.40
Newcastle Brown Ale 440ml £2.10
Bass Pale 330ml £1.85
Guinness Draught Can 440ml £2.40
Cider:
Magners 568ml £3.45
Strongbow 440ml £2.10

Alcopops
Smirnoff Ice Red 275ml £2.50
Bacardi Breezer 275ml £2.60

Champagnes and Wines

Champagne
Moët & Chandon Brut Imperial NV
Bottle £35.95
Glass 125ml £6.00

House Champagne
Bottle £31.75
Glass 125ml £5.30

House Champagne Rose
Bottle £37.95
Glass 125ml £6.35

White Wine (by the glass 175ml 250ml)
Pinot Grigio, Italy £3.35 £4.35
Piesporter Michelsberg, Germany £4.00 £5.00
Sauvignon Blanc Overstone, New Zealand £4.15 £5.15
Chardonnay, Neales Flat Langhorne £4.60 £5.60
Creek, Australia
Blush Wine (by the glass 175ml 250ml
White Zinfandel Beringer £4.15 £5.15

Red Wine (by the glass 175ml 250ml
Merlot Santa Monica, Chile £4.00 £5.00
Shiraz Tullumbra Estate, Australia £4.00 £5.00
Pinotage, Bergsig Estate, South Africa £4.15 £5.15
Cabernet Sauvignon Neales Flat £4.50 £5.50
Barossa, Australia
Pinot Noir Overstone, New Zealand £4.70 £5.70

House Wine (by the glass 175ml 250ml)
Californian Red, White, Blush £2.65 £3.65
Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, White Zinfandel
Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot
Spritzer
Glass £1.95

Exotic Cocktails

Chocolate Banana - £3.50
Kahula, Fresh Banana & Cream

Blue Lagoon
Vodka, Blue Curacao and Lemonade

Bahama Mama
Light and Dark Rum mixed with Banana Liqueur, Orange
Pineapple Juice
]Hurricane - £3.75
Equal shots of Light and Dark Rum, Gin, Amaretto
Orange Juice, Pineapple Juice, Grenadine & Lime
with dashes of Angostura Bitters

Mai Tai
Blend of Dark and Light Rum, Amaretto, Orange
Pineapple Juice

Long Beah Ice Tea
Smirnoff Vodka, Gin, Tequila, White Rum and Cointreau
topped with Cranberry Juice and a squeeze of Lime

Pina Colada - £3.95:
Blend of Rum with Pineapple Juice and Coconut Cream
Caribbean Cruise
Light Rum, Malibu, Blue Curacao and Sweet & Sour

buried Treasure
Crème de Cassis, Pineapple Juice and Coconut Cream

Miami Vice on Ice
Blend of Crème de Banana, Blackberry Brandy & Dark
Rum with Pineapple Juice, Coconut Cream and Grenadine

COLOR=blue]Contemporary Cocktails
Sea Breeze Delight - £3.85:
Vodka and Grapefruit Juice mixed with Cranberry
Juice and Soda

Dark Rum, Orange Juice, Lime Juice and Grenadine


Double measure of Beefeater Gin, Lemon Juice
Bay Breeze
Absolut Citron Vodka, Pineapple and Cranberry Juice
topped with Soda
Peachtree Cooler - £4.10
Peach Schnapps and Lemonade
Fruit Daiquiris
Strawberry Mix or Fresh Banana, blended together with
Mount Gay White Rum, Sweet & Sour and Lime Juice

Sloe Boat to Seville
Sloe Gin, Southern Comfort, Vodka and Orange Juice

Fun on the Beach
Peach Schnapps and Vodka mixed with Orange &
Cranberry Juice
Matgarita
Tequila, Cointreau, Sweet & Sour and Lime, on
the rocks or frozen

Lynchburg Lemonade - £4.40
Jack Daniels Bourbon topped with Sweet & Sour
Lemonade

Cuba Libre
Double shot of Havana Club Light Rum with cola and Lime
Blue Bayou
Blue Curacao, Malibu Rum Liqueur, Coconut Cream and
Pineapple Juice

Pimms Turbo
Pimms & Lemonade with an extra shot of Gin

Classic Cocktails

Pimms No.1 - £2.95
Gin Based Classic

Tom Collins
Gin or Vodka, Sweet and Sour topped with Soda

Whisky Sour
Bourbon topped with Sweet & Sour and Soda

]White Lady - £3.25
Cointreau & Gin shaken with Sweet & Sour mix

Manhatten
Jim Beam Bourbon, Cinzano and Angostura Bitters

Vodka / Gin Martini
Gin or Vodka mixed Dry Vermouth shaken or stirred
straight up or on the rocks
Pimms Misty
Pimms, Pineapple Juice and Ginger Beer

Screwdriver - £3.45
Black Russian
Kahlua and Vodka with Coca Cola

Pimms Rose
Pimms No1 with Cranberry Juice
Brandy Alexander
Brandy, Crème de Cacao, Nutmeg, Milk and Cream

Harvey Wallbanger - £3.75
FGalliano, Vodka and Orange Juice built over ice
Singapore Sling
Beefeater Gin and Cherry Brandy with Sweet & Sour

[Bloody Mary
Generous measure of Vodka mixed with Tomato Juice
Tabasco

Snowball
Advocaat, Lemonade & Lime Juice

COLOR=blue]Martini Collection.

Sapphire - £5.50
Bombay Sapphire Gin and Dry Vermouth

Russian
Stolichnaya Vodka, Tia Maria and a dash of Sweet Vermouth

Le French
Stolichnaya Vodka, Crème de Cassis, Cinzano Bianco and Pineapple Juice
Melon

Apple Sour
Absolut Vodka, Apple Juice and Lime
Cherry Dream
Stolichnaya Vodka, Dry Vermouth and Cherry Brandy

Apple Cosmopolitan
Absolut Vodka, Apple Juice and Pineapple Juice

Absolutely Fabulous
Absolut Vodka and Dry Vermouth

Orange and Peach Delight
Peach Schnapps, Absolut Vodka and Orange Juice

COLOR=blue]Champagne Cocktails

Bucks Fizz - £3.25
Champagne & Orange Juice

Kir Royale - £4.35
Crème de Cassis topped with Champagne

The Classic Champagne Cocktail - £5.10
Cognac, white sugar, Angostura bitters, topped
with Champagne
Pimms Royal
Pimms No.1 topped with Champagne

Ritz Fizz

Green Jade
Midori Melon Liqueur, Crème de Banana topped
with Champagne
Bellini
Peach Puree, Peach Schnapps, topped with Champagne

COLOR=blue]Mocktails

Oriana Sea Breeze - £1.85
Cranberry and Apple Juices mixed with Lime
and Lemonade

Orange, Apple and Lime Juices with a dash of Grenadine

Surfers Paradise
Orange, Pineapple and Apple Juice
Longboat Fizz - £1.95
Pussy Foot
Pineapple, Orange Juice, Lemonade & Grenadine

Cranapple Cooler - £2.05
Cranberry and Apple Juices topped with Ginger Ale

Cool Colada
Blended Pineapple Juice, Cream, Colada mix and ice

Strawberry mix, Fresh Banana and Pineapple Juice

COLOR=blue]Soft Drinks

J20 - various flavours - 275ml - £1.65
ORANGE JUICE - 330ml - £1.40
APPLE JUICE - 330ml - £1.40
APPLETISE - 275ml - £1.40
BOTTLEGREEN PRESSE - various flavours - £1.35
ELDERFLOWER PRESSE - 250ml - £1.35
FRUIT JUICES - 150ml - £1.25]
GINGER BEER - 330ml - £1.
LEMONADE & LIME - 250ml - £1.15

COLOR=blue]Soft Drinks (Post MixCOLOR

SPLASH - 100ml - £0.50
COLOR=blue]Diet Drinks
SPRITE LITE - 330ml - £1.10
FANTA LITE - 330ml[/SIZE

COLOR=blue]Mineral Waters

STILL & SPARKLING - 11/2 litre - £1.65
SPARKLING - 330ml - £1.30
STILL - 330ml - £1.00
RED BULL - 250ml - £1.90

COLOR=blue]Soda Water
SODA WATER
SODA BY THE GLASS 250ml £0.40
Postmix splash with spirits - no charge
CORDIALS/SQUASHES £0.60
COLOR=blue]Coffee and Speciality Coffee

FILTER COFFEE - £1.00
FLOATER COFFEE - £1.30
CAPPUCCINO - * £1.50
LATTE COFFEE - * £1.50
MOCHA COFFEE - * £1.50
POT OF TEA - £0.95
]HERBAL TEA - £1.30
HOT CHOCOLATE - * £1.50
Available in certain bars only
ROYAL Cognac - £4.25
CALYPSO Tia Maria - £4.15
FRENCH Cointreau
MURPHISIO Baileys & Amaretto
MEXICAN Kahula
O'REILLY Baileys
BALMORAL Scotch - £3.65[
IRISH Irish Whiskey
JAMAICAN Rum

Drinks and Ice cream packages

On Ventura, Oceana, Aurora and Oriana, there is a soft drinks package which gives 20 refils of 330ml soft drinks from a soda fountain at a cost of £20. This is also available on Arcadia but not Artemis, though not advertised due to the lack of children.
This can be combined with an similar ice cream package for £35. The ice cream package alone is also £20. There is not, however a soft ice cream (Mr Whippy) machine on Arcadia or Oriana.These can only be booked on board



Thanks again for your help and it would be great to know any other tips anybody has

Also- does anybody know whether you can pre-book the white room restaurant or do you have to wait until you are onboard? We really want to go there but have heard it gets booked up very quickly. Has anybody else eaten there?

QUOTE:

what a tremendous picture of ventura
don't happen to have a link to it anywhere in full resoltion do you
i'd liek to send it to myself at work for my wallpaper :D

Hi, glad you like it, taken at Grand Turk earlier this year.

PM sent.

QUOTE:

Also- does anybody know whether you can pre-book the white room restaurant or do you have to wait until you are onboard? We really want to go there but have heard it gets booked up very quickly. Has anybody else eaten there?

Hi Lucy,

The White Room is well worth a visit we loved it and managed to eat there twice. We booked as soon as we boarded using our cabin phone others on board didn't and couldn't get in. If you phone P & O I'm sure they'll tell you if you can pre-book, if so I would definately. East was excellant too but didn't seem to be as busy we didn't have a problem booking it a couple of days beforehand.