Standards have slipped!
Aurora Cruise Review
Contributor Level:
Purser
Cruises: 4-6 cruises
Review: 1
Helpful Votes: 23
Review summary
We had been so looking forward to this cruise, but it was hugely disappointing, due to the food. I hope P&O can improve & get back to where they were pre-pandemic.Embarkation
We had checked in on line, but process in terminal seemed confused. It may be teething troubles.
No physical check of Covid vaccination passports. Staff simply took our word, even though we had them ready to be examination. This was poor.
Porters no longer unload cases from the car. Might be a small thing, but adds to that special feeling of being on a cruise.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
In comparison to previous cruises with P&O, food was poor, whether in buffet or restaurant. Poor choice, repetitive & a make-do-and-mend approach to menu offerings. Who knew lasagne is a British classic, with or without pesto mashed potato?
Excepting breakfast, food in the buffet was often tepid at best.
The menus in the restaurant were not representative of the menus on P&O’s website. Don’t regard Lancashire hotpot or cottage pie as “decadent” or “fine dining”.
There was an over reliance on beef, sweet potatoes & squeaky French beans.
Onboard Activities
Entertainment
Whilst I didn’t go to the shows, there was a lack of singers in the bars. Just one poor fella, The Busker, who was run ragged to the detriment of his voice.
Service and Staff
Staff as ever, superb.
There weren’t enough of them though so they were super busy, but always smiling.
Ship Quality
Ship is looking a little tired.
No evening turndown service anymore, so no chocolate on the pillow.
No lotions & potions in the cabin either.
Both might seem trivial, but they make passengers feel special & mark the difference between an overnight ferry & a cruise ship.
Cabin / Stateroom
Ship tip
Be prepared to eat in one the pay dining rooms if you want a plentiful, hot meal with great choices available. I’d recommend The Beach House.
Thumbs up
0
Ports of call
No shuttle buses & there should’ve been. It was a long walk. There weren’t any drop kerbs for wheelchair users to take them out of the road, so it was back to the ship.
This is an adult only ship with many passengers with mobility problems.
Disembarkation
Smooth as ever.
Traveler Photos
7 Comments
taylor858 2 years ago
I was on this cruise and I have no complaints about the choice of food or the quality, whether in the main dining room or the buffet.
We had a fantastic cruise but do agree the small things disappearing is disappointing.
Hopefully the the staffing levels will return to pre covid levels in the near future.