1st and last time on P&O

[Footyref1]

Been on many cruises from tui to royal Caribbean and must say the P&O iona has been the worst. For an English ship the language barrier from reception desk staff is appalling the way they speak to people especially the elderly when they need help with a mobile device, as nobody’s been told there is very little to no internet on the ship 95% of your normal websites are not available. Even though you have to pay an extra £300 plus if you want google. There are a lot of good points but unfortunately they are overwhelmed by the bad. There seems to be no dress standards or behavioural standards on this ship. They say staffing is short but a lot of staff we have seen are scuffing their feet and standing around this includes the officers in charge of main restaurant. Not good when there’s plenty of tables need wiping and clearing. At the busiest times its the same pace. Got help us all if there’s an emergency!!!!

 

[Bobthebaker]

Been on many cruises from tui to royal Caribbean and must say the P&O iona has been the worst. For an English ship the language barrier from reception desk staff is appalling the way they speak to people especially the elderly when they need help with a mobile device, as nobody’s been told there is very little to no internet on the ship 95% of your normal websites are not available. Even though you have to pay an extra £300 plus if you want google. There are a lot of good points but unfortunately they are overwhelmed by the bad. There seems to be no dress standards or behavioural standards on this ship. They say staffing is short but a lot of staff we have seen are scuffing their feet and standing around this includes the officers in charge of main restaurant. Not good when there’s plenty of tables need wiping and clearing. At the busiest times its the same pace. Got help us all if there’s an emergency!!!!

Spot on about P&O customers on Iona. We did our first cruise in November this year and sad to say the customers behaviour was in a lot of cases unsavoury to say the least. We never had a problem with any staff and received excellent service in all bars, restaurants and at the customer service desk. We are a couple 70 & 66 and got no flippant attitude when we needed I.T. guidance. Decided cruise Holidays are not for us so it was the first and the last. Maybe an age thing but I do find that unfortunately people of my age can be rather rude and abrupt in their interactions with younger generations, sad but a true observation.

 

[Footyref1]

Staff wise we have now been told they are 500-800 staff short on this ship as the more experienced staff have been put on their new ship to train staff. Xmas and new year evening meals were awful with most diners kept waiting up to two hours to be seated with cold meals served. Not a manager to be found!!! So many more failures due to staff shortages and inexperiences. They should be paying us to help them. Doesn’t help when officers front of house are using fingers taking food from servery whilst on duty and eating it walking around. Not a good example!!!!