11/04/2016, Post- mortem on the Ventura cruise.

It is the second worst ship I have been on,beaten to the pole position by the Silversea Cloud.Taking into consideration the 6 star rating of the Cloud, the astronomical prices they charge and a second rate accomodation they provide, Ventura in comparison is a palace. But compared with another P & O ship, Oceana, my absolute favourite of all cruisers - first class food no other ship equals, delightful and correct service, facilities second to none, the layout of the ship excellent and best ever for people travelling alone - Ventura was a great disappointment. Dull,gloomy,in need of a total refurbishment and in great need of a complete overhaul technically-leaky pipes, water dripping in the main theatre,in front of the Cinnamon restaurant and in several other places,the hygiene poor,stained carpets, the area around the terrace pool was dirty when we left Southampton,in the coming days more dirt gathered,nothing swept, nothing washed.The two levels directly above the pool equally dirty.I did point this out to an officer about five days into the cruise,it did not make the slightest difference.Any establishment is only as good as the management. Ventura needs to replace the couldn't care less people in charge for people who know and love their job.Because if you know what you are doing, a job on a cruise ship can be wonderful.If the people at the top are lousy,everything is lousy,except when the sun shines,and when the sun does not come out and day after day it is gloomy,windy and rainy,it all makes for a miserable time. When on the first day I discovered the Library was closed, my heart sank.It was a turn out for the book I never expected! And the waiters had completely forgotten you serve from the right.Always.These are not little things.These are things that matter in a supposedly four star restaurant.Their table manners are just as important as the passengers'table manners, if not more. In various leaflets we were given,the travellers were accused of bringing on board Norovirus. No,Ventura, I did not bring any virus on you, you breed your own.You are not a cared for ship.You are not a loved ship. And in a state you are in now, I would not sail on you again. There were some pleasant moments on the ship, of course,I always make the most of every situation. When the Library was finally opened and I had access to the books and dictionaries, my heart jumped with joy and every day seemed so much nicer, when Mr Clem Curtis came on board to perform,all the unpleasantness was somehow pushed into the background.He did not disappoint,at 76 still quite a smoother,not the best voice anymore,true, but who cares! He really is in a class of his own. Even Badness [ taking on Madness} a band I had never heard of before,brought fun and joy,full of energy,they all could play musical instruments and even sing in tune.I boogied with the best of them! But it all could have been so,so much better.