Let down by this holiday

We are due to sail on the Ventura to Norway in June. l find the reviewers comments wholly offensive claiming those who do not want to participate in formal nights should be bannished to the buffet restaurants. We like to dress up and look smart but it is not everyones cup of tea to wear black tie and this is where cruises get a bad name because of pure snobbery. We are intending not to wear black tie on formal nights and for those passengers who do not like it tough

What aload of rubbish, we were also on the same cruise and also have a 4 year old son, who had the most fantastic experience and hasn't stopped telling everyone about the 'toybox' and noddy since we have been home. What really annoys me are parents who try to leave their responsibility to other, i.e leaving the responsibility to a lifeguard when they should be with their child. Also i have to disagree with the toilets, at not one point i fould them untidy, i actually suffer from colitis so toilet areas are a must, and was very impressed by the overall standard. As to regards to not enough seats in the arena (shows) there were usually 3 different shows staggered throughout the evening. To be honest i don't know what plannet some people live on or what they expect. We found all staff helpful and didn't experience any problems

we have a 3 yr old but found kinds running riot a pain, we don't let our child do it and were fed up with others out of control, e found the reef staff very good, but really bad there was no childrens poole for little ones, oceana has a great toddler pool. self service food was not that good, however restraunt food still good. would nto go on ventura again, some staff very offish, we found the ship a bit butlins. don't know what market ventura is trying to appeal to, but nobody you spoke to that had cruised before was happy, how could an experienced cruise co. like p&o get it so wrong!! Theresa Poole dorset, we have cruised loads never again on this ship.

My only comment about this cruise and its Maiden Voyage that I also sailed on is that as this ship is advertised for familes why has P&O introduced a load of foul mouthed so-called comedians in Tamarind. 'horizon' programme even bills their acts as containing material of an adult nature, and that includes the 7:15 shows. On the Maiden Voyage comedian Jimmy Carr was using four letter words in his act in Arena at 7:15. Is this the way ahead P&O? FAMILIES BE WARNED

It seems to me that most of people these days just like to find faults. We were on the Maiden Voyage on the 18th April and could not fault anything. We did not go to all the formal nights, but you would expect to go into the main Restaurants in formal wear. One night we just went to the Waterside buffet restaurant and not dressed informal wear and went to Exchange bar, nothings was said or funny looks. And if you read all your bookets etc they all explain what procedures are etc, how many formal nights they are. As for lifeguards, I have never seen any on the cruises we have been on. GoButlins would be better for you if your wanting someone to look and care for kids

Having your son's Noddy bag searched is in my view a reasonable safety request from the Cruise line. I would as a future guest on the Ventura be very concerned if ALL bags were not searched, as it only take one nutter with a bomb to spoil everyones holiday. Keep up the good security measures P&O so that I will feel secure on my July cruise

Agree with your comments about people not complying with the dress code, as you say they should have been turned away. We saw a few people walking through the bars on formal nights in shorts and T shirts, also a few older males wearing cardigans, are they trying to make a statement. Do people not read the information in brochures and on there tickets

the only supervision that matters at the side of a pool, any pool is that of the parents. I would also like to say that my wife and i holiday with all our children and do not look to palm them off for the day in some playcentre akin to Butlins. I chose this cruise for the informality and although i would make the effort to dress formally on such nights i would not ostracise other folk who choose not to, holidays are to relax and enjoy yourself and each to their own