You can pick your cruise but not your passengers!

One of the biggest problems for first time cruisers, and for that matter established cruisers, is that while you have complete control of the choice of ship that you will sail on, the same can’t be said about your fellow passengers! This fact was brought home to a number of passengers on a New Year’s cruise aboard P&O Cruises’ new Ventura in the Caribbean this month. Passengers, who had booked well in advance for the voyage, were joined at the last minute by a number of travellers who had booked at the 11th hour, at 50% less than the brochure price. Regular passengers complained of food fights, brawling and foul language. There were reportedly fights between two families from Manchester over who ’had the better champagne’ and the ship’s Captain was booed as he tried to count down to midnight on New Year’s eve.

Passenger’s also reported that that some children tried to set fire to the ship’s Tamarind Lounge, while two teenagers were put ashore in the Caribbean due to their continued bad behaviour. However, P&O Cruises’ says that it has yet to receive any formal complaints for Ventura’s 3,300 passengers on the cruise! Heavy discounting is OK, in fact it’s almost de rigueur in the industry today, but cruise lines should be aware of the types of ‘new’ passengers that such cheap fares can attract. The British cruise market is growing fast, but regular passengers don’t need the Chav or Benidorm set taking to the high seas because of bargain prices! Sphere: Related Content