Opportunity for sun after winter, family relaxation however it is the first time we have had such a poor experience with P&O. Hygiene was appallingly maintained for first week hence a significant norovirus outbreak. Passengers were allowed to regularly slip into buffet areas without any sanitising. Norovirus protocol resulted in staff serving you the buffet. Food was dumped on plates in ‘piles’ very unappetising. Evening and lunch meals, even when first in were luke warm. Breakfast service ground to a complete halt with the serving staff grappling with opening everyone’s cereal packets in frustration they threw half the contents in the bin. I had to ask for 3boxes to get an average bowl of cereal despite explaining this it was ignored. Had to return for milk, spoons etc, it was such a fiasco. They need training in how to plate up a meal if norovirus protocol requires them to. Smoking areas were far too extensive the coral pool on deck 15/16 was always heavily smelling of smoke. The Malabar on deck 7 had an awful unidentifiable smell to the area hence we avoided that too. ‘Surfers’ grossly overcrowded 100plus 5-8year olds. Absolutely ridiculous. The reef Deck 16 became a daily health and safety hazard with the sheer volume of children and parents. Queues of half an hour for every session and tooth brushing in the line with taking place to ensure a place especially in the mornings on sea days. Cabin was tired. Beds and bed linen quality was very pleasant. Service from cabin steward was good he was attentive, approachable and friendly. Recycling seemed to be taking place daily. Waiting staff varied greatly some were excelllent some were dismissive to the point of rudeness. Officers seemed ‘hands on’ especially in the dining areas, a very visible presence. Embarkation felt, for the first time, like a cattle market plus no hand sanitiser was given at check in which is shockingly poor for P&O. Disembarkation was yet again a complete farce with self help gangways doors changing at very short notice causing chaos in the waiting areas as those who had queued from 6am were left at the back of a very very long line. Royal carribean was fantastic as disembarkation in comparison.

Adult entertainment shows were tired with such old well overused jokes and dated acts largely aimed at get a reaction from where passengers lived in the UK or the ugliness of woman. P&O need to massively modernise their entertainment in this respect as the ones we saw have been done to death. Children’s early tea was rammed. Older children 10-17 need a sepearte time as it became dangerous for the younger ones with loaded trays missing their heads by inches. The children enjoyed the magic shows and circus skills very much and despite how busy the reef was they thought the rangers, for the most part, were very nice, kind and caring. Partner enjoyed rock band UK a new addition for us to the daily entertainment. Astonishing wasn’t at all and extremely loud def take ear defenders if you decided to watch. The gym machines need maintaining and calibrating this wasn’t observed once. Nothing was said by the staff when toddlers were running around in the gym despite notices displaying a strict over 18 policy. The swimming pools were closed due to sickness one day, too much sun cream another day and ‘maintainance’ on a third day. The tv screen above the pool was a nice touch to watch a film of an evening. Staff were very attentive in offering blankets during the movie.