We have recently returned from a 4 night cruise on board Ventura - a P&O Cruises grand-class ship - and it’s time we give an in-depth review of our experience from boarding, food, to disembarkation.
WHAT IS VENTURA?
With gross tonnage of just over 116 thousand, Ventura was Christened in April of 2008 by Dame Helen Mirren, with a re-fit in April 2013, Ventura has a capacity of 3,078 guests and 1,205 crew.
Ventura along with its sister Azura is a grand class cruise ship with 11 ships built in this class. 9 are in service with Princess Cruises and 2 with P&O. Built in 2008 she was one of the largest cruise ships built for the British market. For further ship information click here.
COST
We booked this cruise 2 weeks before departure at a cruise only cost of £580 for 4 nights via iglu cruises who were around £50 cheaper than booking directly with P&O. This equated to £145 per night or £72.50 per person per night.
We chose the late saver fare which did not allow us to choose a cabin and knew there would be a risk of being allocated an exposed balcony cabin however we ended up with a fully private balcony. There were also no additional benefits to this fare.
With the short notice we managed to book parking via CPS for £70 so around £17.50 a night. Slightly more expensive per night than a 7 night cruise which would cost £95.
For our pre-cruise hotel we booked the premier inn in farnborough west for £39. This placed us around 45 minutes from the cruise terminal cutting a considerable amount of time from our overall journey.
BOARDING
Since the covid pandemic, the boarding experiences is vastly different to what was the norm before. Although companies are beginning to losen up their testing requirements, for our cruise, we completed a pre cruise covid 19 lateral flow test 24 hours prior to boarding with RANDOX. We used their app to send off our test result and then awaited the return of a Fit to Fly certificate in order to board the following day.
By completing the test before having to enter the terminal, this boarding process was very streamlined. From a member of staff checking our test certificate, insurance documentation and our passports, we were directed straight to the check in desk where a member of staff checked our details once more, handed us our keycards, and we were on our way to the ship via security. In all, this took about 20 minutes.
Once onboard, we were directed to our Muster station. A member of crew scanned our keycards to show that we had attended our muster station and were aware of where to go if required. We can’t falter this system at all, it was very quick and efficient throughout.
CABIN
We had booked a balcony cabin for this trip through IgluCruises, paying £598 for the 4 night cruise. we had watched videos prior to this trip and were aware that it was not the most modern of cabins onboard the P&O Fleet, however, Ventura is rumoured to have another refit in 2023.
The cabin was still very functional, with a nice sized open closet to store plenty of items of clothing with shelving and a safe beside. The bathroom left something to be admired, the water pressure wasn’t the best, and there was a shower curtain instead of a glass alternative. There was minimal storage within the shower cubicle itself. The bathroom felt quite cramped, but thankfully the shelves beside the mirror helped with storage of other toiletries.
In the cabin itself, we had this laid out in a twin configuration, and they were surprisingly comfortable. Aircon worked fine, and kept the room at a nice maintained temperature.
Some of the cabinets seemed quite worn and in need of TLC. The light shades on the bedside table were stained from years of use. Plug wise - the room was sufficient, with UK and US sockets in the room. There was a kettle with tea and coffee available, and an empty fridge too which we filled with drinks we took onboard with us.
The balcony was large, with 2 deck chairs, a small table, and a foot rest. The furniture was worn but practical none the less.
FAVOURITE SPOTS
During our time on Ventura we managed to explore a lot of the ship. It has an unusual wrap around promenade which covers both deck 7 and 8. The forward promenade was a favourite with exceptional views at sea and in port.
Speaking of view points there a numerous areas across the ship where you can get some amazing photos…
The sports deck 19 provides views of the ship looking forward as well as aft down to the terrace pool.
Deck 16 forward outside area in front of the oasis spa is great for front facing views.
Overall the ship felt a bit dated in its decor however the upkeep appeared to be to a high standard with crew constantly cleaning.
FOOD & DRINK
For menus click here.
Food on Ventura was of a good standard. The menu options within the main dining rooms was varied and catered to its audience whilst the buffet provided a rotating selection of different foods each day.
The buffet is generally where we spend most of our time eating.
Drinks were varying in prices with on tap beers starting from £4.75, cider from £4.95, a small glass of wine from £5.50, cocktails £6.95 and soft drinks £2.25.
Our favourite premium venue onboard was the Glass House, with a nice menu offering a fantastic 8oz sirloin steak at an additional £7.50 which has become a firm favourite. We have even tried to replicate this dish at home with varying success.
The Glass House also offers a selection of ‘three piece sweets’ each with 3 individual desserts to try on a plank. On this cruise we tried the British retro and asian fusion with new favourites including the strawberry and elderflower chocolate wagon wheel and Japanese citrus fruit meringue pie.
Further premium dining includes…
The beach house offering American influences food in a sectioned off park of the buffet seating area on deck 15. There is a cover charge of £7.50 with some menu options available at an additional cost. We enjoyed eating here with the halloumi sizzler plate and key lime sundae particular highlights. If you decide to go for the beef fillet lava rock it is rather messy so make sure you don’t wear your best attire. We also visited the beach house on celebration night as it did not have a dress code which allowed us to dine normally without suiting up.
For indian cuisine with a British twist try Sindhu on deck 7. Unfortunately we didn’t get to try this restaurant on this cruise but hope to on our next P&O sailing.
The Epicurean on deck 17 is great for an occasion with a refined menu of classic dishes. We didn’t have dinner here on this cruise but have on other P&O ships and enjoyed it immensely. Alternatively there is Afternoon Tea at the Epicurean served a few times per cruise which for £14 per person provides a modern twist in flavours to the traditional afternoon tea. Make sure to book in advance as this sells out quickly.
Room service is also available at an additional cost with a sandwich costing £1.50, cheeseburger £4.75 or pizza also £4.75. In room continental breakfast remains free of charge.
ENTERTAINMENT
We love the entertainment on a P&O cruise. From embarkation onwards there was a large selection of activities including…
In the arena theatre you could catch the folk music of the trawler men, the magic and illusion show astonishing, comedian Micky Zany and a rock inspired show called Paradise City.
Havana on deck 7 was great for a drink and live music. We visited most nights catching the resident band pulse performing pop hits, guilty pleasures and 80s shows.
The Tamarind club is a slightly smaller venue also with live music. Here we managed to see vocalist Rosie performing reworked versions of hit songs.
The pub onboard is the exchange. Here you can catch live football as well as live music and karaoke.
Finally for a more relaxed environment there is Metropolis. Here you can find a pianist most evenings.
The fortunes casino next to the exchange provides a selection of slot machines, black jack as well as roulette.
There was also a cinema showing films such as Belfast, West Side Story, a cowgirls song and marry me.
Quizzes, Archery, bingo, shuffleboard, quoits, get togethers for solo travellers, dance classes and table tennis.
Finally the oasis spa provides numerous therapies, hair cuts as well as the retreat for an additional charge. The serenity adult only pool and bar is also located here. We tried to visit the pool but found it closed at 6pm each day.
ITINERARY
This was a 4 night cruise to Amsterdam, we docked near the heart of city in the evening of day 2 and remained docked until the morning of day 4 due to heavy fog. We found the location fantastic for what we wanted to do. We left the ship in the morning of day 3, and booked an Uber to take us into the city. The drive took under 15 minutes, and cost less that £8. Perfect for those of you who want a quick and convenient location to explore Amsterdam.
OVERALL
We booked this as a last minute cruise with little interest in the destination but just the desire to be at sea on a cruise ship and had a great 4 days. It was good to experience another P&O ship, especially one with some really unique features.
We would definitely book this ship again for an alternative itinerary!
Thanks for reading this review of our trip on P&Os Ventura and don't forget to check out our vlog below:
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