Last Friday, some members of our customer care team visited P&O's newest and largest ship at sea, the Ventura. Here’s their take on the day
The first thing to strike us about the Ventura was her sheer size, and that she shares the familiar design of P&O ships, huge yellow funnels and a bright white exterior. Once onboard, we found Ventura to be a real breath of fresh air with her modern decor and cosmopolitan feel, the interior proved to be where she really comes into her own. Our tour began on the Lido deck where we were shown the first of Ventura's 5 swimming pools, complete with high quality wooden sun loungers and bright décor poolside. Although slightly on the small side, the pool has an impressive sliding glass roof for when the weather isn't so favourable. There was also two Jacuzzis bubbling close by (two of eight onboard), so finding room for a dip shouldn't be a problem.
Next we moved on to the kids club, which was equipped with everything to keep even the most active amused. Facilities range from PS3s, rock band, ball pens and our personal favourite, a pop-up pirate.
After challenging several members of the tour group to a game of Jenga we took in the gym. It’s a fully equipped, state of the art facility with tread mills and cross trainers looking out at the open sea. If the sea views don't do it for you, the tread mills are equipped with individual LCD TV’s to keep the mind busy while you burn some calories.
Our tour then took us through the 12 onboard bars, all fitted out to a high standard with a unique twist. Our personal favourites were the English pub with its very traditional, yet modern feel - a combination that really worked. There was also the Metropolis bar, which really shows off the technology utilised onboard. It features large monitors across one wall displaying panoramic views over some of the world’s most famous sky lines, including New York and Tokyo. Each has been filmed for 24 hours so the view matches the onboard time, making it a truly magnificent experience.
Finally we had a look at the onboard accommodation; each cabin was tastefully decorated with a LCD TV and of similar standard to a good 4-star hotel. All balcony cabins had a pair of binoculars, which we found to be a nice touch. All in all, the Ventura is an impressive host, well worth considering if you’re undecided about your next cruise holiday.