p&o ventura rescues yacht

Islander captures dramatic moment cruise ship rescues sailors VIDEO

Dramatic footage captured by an Isle of Wight resident aboard a P&O cruise shows the moment their ship came to the rescue of stricken sailors off the coast of Mexico.

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The Islander, from Shanklin, was travelling on the Ventura with his wife over the weekend when the incident unfolded.

He told the County Press he was first made aware something was wrong when the 947 foot-long vessel was suddenly turned around after picking up a distress call.

He saw three sailors, one man and two women, in difficulty. He said the sails, rigging and outboard engine on their yacht, 'failed' in rough seas.

The yacht in choppy waters. (Image: Contributed)

The Ventura, a P&O vessel, approached the boat on its port side, the Islander said, and an elderly male was safely taken aboard.

He said: "As the yacht was finally secured alongside the Ventura, the sail mast started to strike the side of the ship and began to collapse.

"With the mast partially collapsed and flailing about, there was a risk of this striking the two female passengers.

"Thankfully both safely made it on board."

The view from the Ventura. (Image: Contributed)

He told the County Press the sailors were taken straight down to the medical centre for assessment.

The captain later announced that all three were safe and well.

Shortly after the rescue a storm hit the ship, he said, and the waters became 'perilous and dangerous.'

The County Press has contacted P&O for comment.

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P&O Cruise Ship Rescues 3 Sailors

The cruise ship P&O Ventura rescued three people stranded on a sailing yacht on Monday, March 20. The sailors made a call to the US Coast Guard requesting assistance after the vessel lost its steering ability in the Gulf of Mexico.

A crew member aboard the P&O Ventura who reported the rescue operation said:

“Today, as we were sailing towards New Orleans, we had a distress call from a yacht that had 3 people in it, one male and two females. We had crossed the boat before, but later we got the call, and we had to turn the ship back to rescue them.”

The rescue was completed successfully, and all three are now safe as the ship resumed its scheduled route to New Orleans.

The cruise liner, which left the port of Southampton, England, on March 2, is sailing a 35 Night USA And Caribbean voyage.

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P&O cruise ship rescues three stranded men near New Caledonia

Three men, reportedly two Australian and one British, have been rescued by a P&O cruise ship near New Caledonia as their yacht began sinking in the Pacific Ocean.

Key points:

• The men were found in a life raft close to their abandoned vessel
• It is not yet clear why their boat sank
• P&O cruises confirmed all three are now safely aboard and being cared for by their on-board team

The Pacific Dawn led the rescue operation on Thursday morning after receiving a distressing call from Marine rescue authorities in Noumea.

They asked the ship to divert from its path to assist the three seafarers.

The men — who are yet to be identified — were found adrift in a life raft close to their abandoned vessel.

It is not yet clear why their yacht sank.

In a Facebook post, P&O cruises confirmed "all three are now safely aboard … and being cared for by our devoted onboard team."

"Our wonderful Pacific Dawn team have followed the highest maritime traditions going to the aid of fellow seafarers in peril."

The cruise ship is scheduled to arrive in Brisbane on Saturday.

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Homes of Sean 'Diddy' Combs searched by federal officials, sources say

LOS ANGELES — Sean "Diddy" Combs is a subject of a federal investigation amid a wave of lawsuits that have been filed against the rap music mogul since November , a source familiar with the matter told NBC News on Monday.

Three women and a man have been interviewed by federal officials in Manhattan in relation to allegations of sex trafficking, sexual assault, and the solicitation and distribution of illegal narcotics and firearms, the source said. Interviews with three other subjects are also scheduled, the source said.

Four law enforcement sources told NBC News that federal agents with Homeland Security Investigations on Monday executed search warrants at Los Angeles and Miami properties belonging to Combs. The sources said the warrant is out of the Southern District of New York.

HSI confirmed in a statement that it "executed law enforcement actions" in New York as part of an ongoing investigation, along with teams in Los Angeles and Miami.

Homeland Security officials seized phones from Combs in Miami before he was scheduled to depart for a trip to the Bahamas, according to three law enforcement sources familiar with the warrant. Combs was in the Miami area when authorities executed the searches, sources said. It is not clear if Combs made the trip as planned.

Representatives for Combs, 54, did not immediately respond to NBC News’ request for comment Monday.

Series of allegations, lawsuits

News of a federal investigation comes after public scrutiny of Combs’ behavior after his former romantic partner, Cassie, accused him of physically and sexually abusing her for years. She made the allegations in a lawsuit filed late last year in New York under the New York Adult Survivors Act, which offered a one-year window for adult victims of sexual assault to come forward with civil claims regardless of the statute of limitations. 

Cassie, whose full name is Casandra Ventura, settled with Combs on Nov. 17, the day after the suit was filed on terms that have not been disclosed. 

Since then, three other women have come forward with lawsuits in the Southern District of New York alleging that they were sexually assaulted by Combs . Two of the women said they were teenagers at the time of the alleged assaults. 

Douglas Wigdor, who represents Ventura and a Jane Doe who filed suit, said in a statement that the searches and investigation were hopefully the beginning of a process that “will hold Mr. Combs responsible for his depraved conduct.” 

“We will always support law enforcement when it seeks to prosecute those that have violated the law,” Wigdor said.  

An attorney for Joi Dickerson-Neal, one of Combs' accusers, declined to comment to NBC News.

Combs has denied each of the sexual assault allegations, calling them “sickening.” 

A producer who worked for Combs between September 2022 and November 2023 filed a lawsuit in February alleging that Combs sexually harassed, drugged and threatened him for more than a year. The former employee, Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones, also alleged that he had video and audio evidence of Combs, his staff and others “engaging in serious illegal activity.”

Jones' attorney, Tyrone Blackburn, also represents Combs' accuser Liza Gardner. Blackburn said Monday that the federal investigation will not "prevent nor delay my clients’ pending and forthcoming actions for justice and resolution from the Combs RICO Enterprise.”

Shawn Holley, an attorney for Combs, previously denied Jones’ allegations and said that Combs’ team has “overwhelming, indisputable proof that his claims are complete lies.” 

One person who said he frequents the Los Angeles neighborhood where a search happened expressed shock.

Ryan Mendelsohn, 20, who used to live in the area and still regularly visits a nearby friend, told reporters he would see parties at the home and women outside. Other homes had parties, too, but that home had people there and women outside until 6 a.m., which was not usual, he said.

“I drive by a lot, and I see that — a lot of girls, maybe five or six girls outside, some leaving, some not, some going in,” adding he also saw Black Chevy Suburban SUVs there.

“I never thought anything of it,” said Mendelsohn, who said he did not know Combs lived there until Monday’s news coverage. “But now, it’s crazy.”

Weapons charge

Combs has had a number of legal issues in the past , but has rarely faced criminal charges. 

In 1999, Combs pleaded guilty to assaulting a record executive and was ordered to one day of anger management. That same year, Combs was accused of criminal possession of a weapon after a shooting at a New York nightclub. 

Witnesses told law enforcement that they saw Combs with a firearm at the club and that rapper Shyne, real name Moses Barrow fired into the crowd. Combs was pulled over by police in a vehicle with then-girlfriend Jennifer Lopez, and a gun was found in the car. Combs was acquitted of weapons and bribery charges, and Shyne was found guilty of the club shooting at trial. 

Since Ventura's suit and others have come forward accusing Combs of assault, the music mogul has been the center of scrutiny. He stepped down from his position as chairman of media network Revolt and Hulu pulled back from a planned reality series centered on his family. 

Diana Dasrath and Andrew Blankstein reported from Los Angeles, and Doha Madani and Jonathan Dienst from New York.

Diana Dasrath is entertainment producer and senior reporter for NBC News covering all platforms.

Doha Madani is a senior breaking news reporter for NBC News. Pronouns: she/her.

Andrew Blankstein is an investigative reporter for NBC News. He covers the Western U.S., specializing in crime, courts and homeland security. 

Jonathan Dienst is chief justice contributor for NBC News and chief investigative reporter for WNBC-TV in New York.

One dead, sailor rescued by cruise ship from stricken Fiji yacht

Thomas Bywater

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One person has died during an incident involving a New Zealand-flagged yacht off Fiji, says Maritime New Zealand’s Rescue Coordination Centre.

There were three people on-board when the vessel encountered difficulty.

One survivor was picked up by the Fijian Navy vessel Savenaca this afternoon, while the other was earlier transferred to the cruise ship, Pacific Explorer where they received medical treatment.

Both the survivors are being taken to Fiji, as has the body of the dead person. Consular services have been notified.

The crew were offloaded around 12 hours after sending a mayday signal in the waters south of Fiji last night.

The small yacht was first intercepted by P&O cruise ship the Pacific Explorer at 1am this morning.

The 2000-passenger pleasure cruiser was repositioning from Auckland to Suva in the Fijian islands when it diverted to the distress signal.

The New Zealand-flagged sailing vessel Second Life appeared to have a broken sail and the crew required medical assistance.

One crew member was winched aboard the cruise ship, while two others remained onboard, unable to be moved.

Due to rough weather, the cruise ship was unable to launch small tenders, the Pacific Explorer ship remaining at a safe distance and waiting for the Fijian navy to conduct a recovery operation for the sailing ship.

RFNS patrol boat Savenaca intercepted the immobilised yacht after midday. Republic of Fiji Navy (RFN) sailors could be seen boarding the 12-metre yacht via dirigible and removing bags from the craft.

Maritime New Zealand’s Rescue Coordination Centre (RCCNZ) confirmed that two survivors were recovered from the vessel, while “sadly one person has died as a result of an incident involving a yacht off Fiji yesterday evening”.

RFN picked up the remaining survivor this afternoon, in addition to the crewmember who was winched onto the Pacific Explorer.

“This was a challenging search and rescue operation in tough conditions,” said a spokesperson for RCCNZ. “Maritime NZ’s Rescue Coordination Centre wants to acknowledge the work of the Rescue Coordination Centre, Fiji in leading coordination of the rescue efforts.”

Both the survivors are being taken to Fiji, as is the body of the deceased. New Zealand Police and consular services have been notified.

Cruise passengers reported that the Pacific Explorer continued on its course to Fiji at around 2pm local time.

A second response vessel in the area, The Beast, a privately-owned vessel belonging to Sir Michael Hill, also diverted to assist shortly after midday.

A spokeswoman for Carnival Australia, the parent company of cruise operator P&O, said the Pacific Explorer had been first to respond to a call for assistance via the New Zealand Rescue Co-ordination Centre.

“We’d like to take this opportunity to thank our crew, led by Captain Alan Nixon, for their immense efforts in very poor conditions, as well as our guests onboard for their understanding,” they said.

Owing to the poor conditions, the rescue of remaining crew by the cruise line was not possible, but the Pacific Explorer was reportedly in touch with those aboard the Second Life throughout the evening.

“Guests will be kept up to date with any necessary itinerary adjustments as Pacific Explorer renders assistance to those in distress.”

The New Zealand Rescue Co-ordination Centre said that one of the yacht crew was now onboard the Pacific Explorer receiving medical assistance.

“Due to conditions and the comparative size of the Pacific Explorer, assisting the remaining people onboard the yacht isn’t possible.”

Passenger Ali Gilchrist Gilchrist told the Herald that the cruise ship had now left the scene and no other crew were taken aboard the ship.

“RCC NZ requested we monitor the yacht from a distance, as it is unsafe for us to get the [remaining crew] off the yacht in their condition,” she said.

The RFN released the cruise ship from observation duties around 4pm and it was now headed towards Port Denarau.

Cruise passenger John McFarlane photographed a rescue and recovery being conducted via navy launch.

“The launch from the Fijian warship went back across, we’re not yet clear on the offloaded passengers’ condition, however,” he said.

The Pacific Explorer is currently on an eight-day itinerary from Auckland with 2000 guests, mostly New Zealanders and Australians.

She was due to arrive in Suva, Fiji on Monday morning.

The 12-metre yacht, which bears the lettering Second Life on its hull, is a New Zealand-flagged ship, last seen in Nadi Bay, Fiji on September 21.

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P&O Cruises showcases multi-million pound Ventura refurbishment

Successful concepts from Azura, such as The Glasshouse, The Retreat, menus designed by Michelin -star chef Atul Kochhar in speciality restaurant East and single cabins have all been introduced on board Ventura as part of P&O Cruises ongoing refit programme.

A multi-million pound refurbishment has been carried out to Ventura to incorporate features which have proved popular with passengers on sister ship Azura.

Highlights include: The Glasshouse

• The Glasshouse has been introduced, to replace Las Ramblas bar and restaurant on Deck 7
• Installation of enomatic wine system allows passengers to buy premium wines by the glass selected by TV wine expert Olly Smith
• Conversion to The Glasshouse menu with a selection of small and large plates available for lunch and dinner (additional charge). Small plates include:chorizo, pork belly and butter bean cassoulet and larger plates include a selection of steak, burger and fish dishes with triple cooked chips as well as vegetarian options including woodland mushroom and spring onion risotto with melting camembert
• East now features a new menu designed by Michelin-star celebrity chef Atul Kochhar
• Atul has devised a unique Thai/Indonesian menu, which also includes influences from Malaysian and Vietnamese cuisine. Sample dishes include:
• 24 Hour Slow Cooked Lamb Rendang – Indonesian style curry with coconut milk, shallots, garlic and ginger
• Spiced Sea Bream – wrapped in banana leaf and griddled with shallots and green chillies

Atul Kochhar said: “Exploring flavours from across the Far East, including Indonesia and Thailand, this new and exciting menu showcases modern Asian cuisine. Incorporating mystical spices with subtle ingredients this menu is inspired by my travels throughout Asia and my love of spice.”

Single cabins

• 18 new single cabins added: 12 outside and six inside
• Located in the same area as Azura, adjacent to the Exchange Bar on Deck 6, a central location

The Retreat

• Installation of The Retreat into the forward area on Deck 16
• The Retreat is a sumptuous open-air spa terrace with sun loungers, a separate pool and stunning sea views, exclusively for adults
• Passengers can buy a full day pass to The Retreat for a small cover charge

Other changes

• The atrium features a new dance floor which will host dance lessons day and night with a live band in the evening
• Ventura is now fully wi-fi enabled
• The cyberstudy has been converted into the ship’s new library (with some fixed PCs)
• A new perfumery has replaced the old library
• A new enomatic wine system has been introduced in Waterside, the ship’s buffet restaurant. This self-service system allows passengers to buy premium wines by the glass, similar to The Glasshouse, by purchasing a wine card on board

P&O Cruises managing director Carol Marlow said: “This is the latest of several refits to our fleet. Oriana and Oceana have already had multi-million pound investments and Arcadia will be at the end of the year. We are delighted with the changes on Ventura. All of the enhancements have been made following feedback from both existing passengers and potential cruisers. Research showed that speciality restaurants were very important as well as a variety of dining with premium grills, classic fine dining, Asian and Indian menus being the most popular.

“As a result we have added these innovations onto Ventura. We have a new Asian Fusion menu in East, designed by Atul Kochhar and we added The Glasshouse grill and wine bar, both of which have proved so popular on Azura.

“Following the success of the single cabins on Azura and Oriana, we also now have 18 new single cabins on Ventura. This offers an attractive and cost effective option to solo travellers.

“The Retreat has also been a huge hit with passengers on Azura and so we now have the same concept on Ventura. The Retreat offers a private area, exclusively for adults and is the perfect place to relax, unwind and be pampered.

“All in all, these changes are very well suited to passengers seeking a relaxed and contemporary cruising experience – perfect for families, friends and couples alike. We are very excited to have these latest innovations in time for Ventura’s new fly-cruise programme to the Mediterranean next summer. Our passengers can enjoy some of Europe’s most iconic destinations in greater style and even more comfort on our new-look Ventura.”

The changes are reflected in the new P&O Cruises 2014/15 brochure. The new programme, which has significant savings for early bookers, is on sale now.

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P&O Ventura Overview

Why cruise on this ship.

Family friendly - There’s always something happening on Ventura, enjoy delicious fine dining, a tranquil spa, many quiet spaces to unwind, great sports facilities and four pools. Evenings are particularly memorable, with the lavish two-deck theatre where you’ll witness elaborate shows and stand-up comedy.

Value for Money

Delivers unparalleled experiences without compromising on affordability

Understand why that Value For Money

Welcome to the P&O cruise experience - where quality and value abide in perfect harmony.

P&O Cruises offer a distinctive style that appeals to both new and veteran travellers alike, with trademark sailings providing opportunities for the whole family to enjoy.

Cruises for those seeking an adult-only vibe are available, while those who prefer smaller ships can choose from more modest vessels.

The cruise didn't start well with my partners leatherman multitool being confiscated from our suitcase. this marred our holiday as it had been a present 60th Birthday present from his ...

Ventura, Western Mediterranean and Atlantic

Very enjoyable

A great introduction to cruising with mini cruise to Zerbrugger. Ventura was a big ship but we got the hang of it by the end! Enjoyed a quick dip in one of the pools. Shows were good. We we...

Ship Information

Accomodation

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Related Cruises

Western Europe

• P&O Cruises, Ventura

Short Break

Canary Islands

• Santa Cruz de La Palma, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Lanzarote

Spain And Portugal

• Gibraltar, Valencia, Cartagena, Lisbon

• Jul 17, 2022

P&O Ventura - What we loved and hated cruise review

We have recently returned from a 4 night cruise on board Ventura - a P&O Cruises grand-class ship - and it’s time we give an in-depth review of our experience from boarding, food, to disembarkation.

WHAT IS VENTURA?

With gross tonnage of just over 116 thousand, Ventura was Christened in April of 2008 by Dame Helen Mirren, with a re-fit in April 2013, Ventura has a capacity of 3,078 guests and 1,205 crew.

Ventura along with its sister Azura is a grand class cruise ship with 11 ships built in this class. 9 are in service with Princess Cruises and 2 with P&O. Built in 2008 she was one of the largest cruise ships built for the British market. For further ship information click here .

We booked this cruise 2 weeks before departure at a cruise only cost of £580 for 4 nights via iglu cruises who were around £50 cheaper than booking directly with P&O. This equated to £145 per night or £72.50 per person per night.

We chose the late saver fare which did not allow us to choose a cabin and knew there would be a risk of being allocated an exposed balcony cabin however we ended up with a fully private balcony. There were also no additional benefits to this fare.

With the short notice we managed to book parking via CPS for £70 so around £17.50 a night. Slightly more expensive per night than a 7 night cruise which would cost £95.

For our pre-cruise hotel we booked the premier inn in farnborough west for £39. This placed us around 45 minutes from the cruise terminal cutting a considerable amount of time from our overall journey.

Since the covid pandemic, the boarding experiences is vastly different to what was the norm before. Although companies are beginning to losen up their testing requirements, for our cruise, we completed a pre cruise covid 19 lateral flow test 24 hours prior to boarding with RANDOX. We used their app to send off our test result and then awaited the return of a Fit to Fly certificate in order to board the following day.

By completing the test before having to enter the terminal, this boarding process was very streamlined. From a member of staff checking our test certificate, insurance documentation and our passports, we were directed straight to the check in desk where a member of staff checked our details once more, handed us our keycards, and we were on our way to the ship via security. In all, this took about 20 minutes.

Once onboard, we were directed to our Muster station. A member of crew scanned our keycards to show that we had attended our muster station and were aware of where to go if required. We can’t falter this system at all, it was very quick and efficient throughout.

We had booked a balcony cabin for this trip through IgluCruises, paying £598 for the 4 night cruise. we had watched videos prior to this trip and were aware that it was not the most modern of cabins onboard the P&O Fleet, however, Ventura is rumoured to have another refit in 2023.

The cabin was still very functional, with a nice sized open closet to store plenty of items of clothing with shelving and a safe beside. The bathroom left something to be admired, the water pressure wasn’t the best, and there was a shower curtain instead of a glass alternative. There was minimal storage within the shower cubicle itself. The bathroom felt quite cramped, but thankfully the shelves beside the mirror helped with storage of other toiletries.

In the cabin itself, we had this laid out in a twin configuration, and they were surprisingly comfortable. Aircon worked fine, and kept the room at a nice maintained temperature.

Some of the cabinets seemed quite worn and in need of TLC. The light shades on the bedside table were stained from years of use. Plug wise - the room was sufficient, with UK and US sockets in the room. There was a kettle with tea and coffee available, and an empty fridge too which we filled with drinks we took onboard with us.

The balcony was large, with 2 deck chairs, a small table, and a foot rest. The furniture was worn but practical none the less.

FAVOURITE SPOTS

During our time on Ventura we managed to explore a lot of the ship. It has an unusual wrap around promenade which covers both deck 7 and 8. The forward promenade was a favourite with exceptional views at sea and in port.

Speaking of view points there a numerous areas across the ship where you can get some amazing photos…

The sports deck 19 provides views of the ship looking forward as well as aft down to the terrace pool.

Deck 16 forward outside area in front of the oasis spa is great for front facing views.

Overall the ship felt a bit dated in its decor however the upkeep appeared to be to a high standard with crew constantly cleaning.

FOOD & DRINK

For menus click here .

Food on Ventura was of a good standard. The menu options within the main dining rooms was varied and catered to its audience whilst the buffet provided a rotating selection of different foods each day.

The buffet is generally where we spend most of our time eating.

Drinks were varying in prices with on tap beers starting from £4.75, cider from £4.95, a small glass of wine from £5.50, cocktails £6.95 and soft drinks £2.25.

Our favourite premium venue onboard was the Glass House, with a nice menu offering a fantastic 8oz sirloin steak at an additional £7.50 which has become a firm favourite. We have even tried to replicate this dish at home with varying success.

The Glass House also offers a selection of ‘three piece sweets’ each with 3 individual desserts to try on a plank. On this cruise we tried the British retro and asian fusion with new favourites including the strawberry and elderflower chocolate wagon wheel and Japanese citrus fruit meringue pie.

Further premium dining includes…

The beach house offering American influences food in a sectioned off park of the buffet seating area on deck 15. There is a cover charge of £7.50 with some menu options available at an additional cost. We enjoyed eating here with the halloumi sizzler plate and key lime sundae particular highlights. If you decide to go for the beef fillet lava rock it is rather messy so make sure you don’t wear your best attire. We also visited the beach house on celebration night as it did not have a dress code which allowed us to dine normally without suiting up.

For indian cuisine with a British twist try Sindhu on deck 7. Unfortunately we didn’t get to try this restaurant on this cruise but hope to on our next P&O sailing.

The Epicurean on deck 17 is great for an occasion with a refined menu of classic dishes. We didn’t have dinner here on this cruise but have on other P&O ships and enjoyed it immensely. Alternatively there is Afternoon Tea at the Epicurean served a few times per cruise which for £14 per person provides a modern twist in flavours to the traditional afternoon tea. Make sure to book in advance as this sells out quickly.

Room service is also available at an additional cost with a sandwich costing £1.50, cheeseburger £4.75 or pizza also £4.75. In room continental breakfast remains free of charge.

ENTERTAINMENT

We love the entertainment on a P&O cruise. From embarkation onwards there was a large selection of activities including…

In the arena theatre you could catch the folk music of the trawler men, the magic and illusion show astonishing, comedian Micky Zany and a rock inspired show called Paradise City.

Havana on deck 7 was great for a drink and live music. We visited most nights catching the resident band pulse performing pop hits, guilty pleasures and 80s shows.

The Tamarind club is a slightly smaller venue also with live music. Here we managed to see vocalist Rosie performing reworked versions of hit songs.

The pub onboard is the exchange. Here you can catch live football as well as live music and karaoke.

Finally for a more relaxed environment there is Metropolis. Here you can find a pianist most evenings.

The fortunes casino next to the exchange provides a selection of slot machines, black jack as well as roulette.

There was also a cinema showing films such as Belfast, West Side Story, a cowgirls song and marry me.

Quizzes, Archery, bingo, shuffleboard, quoits, get togethers for solo travellers, dance classes and table tennis.

Finally the oasis spa provides numerous therapies, hair cuts as well as the retreat for an additional charge. The serenity adult only pool and bar is also located here. We tried to visit the pool but found it closed at 6pm each day.

This was a 4 night cruise to Amsterdam, we docked near the heart of city in the evening of day 2 and remained docked until the morning of day 4 due to heavy fog. We found the location fantastic for what we wanted to do. We left the ship in the morning of day 3, and booked an Uber to take us into the city. The drive took under 15 minutes, and cost less that £8. Perfect for those of you who want a quick and convenient location to explore Amsterdam.

We booked this as a last minute cruise with little interest in the destination but just the desire to be at sea on a cruise ship and had a great 4 days. It was good to experience another P&O ship, especially one with some really unique features.

We would definitely book this ship again for an alternative itinerary!

Thanks for reading this review of our trip on P&Os Ventura and don't forget to check out our vlog below:

• P&O VENTURA
• TRIP REPORT

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P&O Ventura

What it’s like to sail on the p&o ventura.

P&O Ventura was built in 2007 and was refurbished in 2018. Ventura can hold up to 3100 guests and has 1200 crew onboard. The Ventura is a grand class ship, is the sister ship to the P&O Azura and has 14 public decks, 8 restaurants, 6 boutiques, 5 pools and 3 show lounges.  

P&O Ventura is primarily a British cruise ship but we felt right at home sailing abroad. Ventura is a family-friendly ship. We saw Ventura as a great port intensive ship to sail on. A great ship to take you to different areas of Europe. We were on a Northern Europe itinerary and it was spectacular. We loved every minute of our sailing. Nights on Ventura are slower that other larger ships we have sailed on but we preferred the quieter nights because it allowed us to not feel like we were missing something on the ship. We were able to have a fantastic dinner, catch a few songs in one of the lounges and then head to bed to get ready for another packed port day.

Stand Out Things on P&O Ventura

P&o ventura playlist (click on playlist arrow in top right corner).

Our Review – All Things Good & Bad

Ship Design –

• Modern decor
• Easy layout
• Love the mid ship stairway and elevators. A little tip: mid elevators too busy, walk to the front or aft of deck 7 and use the elevators with little to no wait
• Mention restaurant weirdness on Deck 6 – Oriental Restaurant
• The ship reminded us of the Royal Princess. Very elegant and pretty.

Food –

• Buffet (complimentary B, L, D) – excellent buffet food for breakfast, lunch and dinner. We typically avoid the buffet on most ships but the buffet on the Ventura was the best we have experienced at sea. Everything was always so great and although, being on the small side, there was a lot of choices. 
• Breakfast – great breakfast. Loved the coffee. 
• Lunch – we loved the options for lunch. Sean had a wonderful vegan meal as well. P&O does have great options for vegetarians and vegans. 
• Dinner – we ate dinner during the Black Tie night (formal night for P&O) and it was ok. The food was good but not great. I think that was because of formal night but we thought the menu was a little too fancy. The options were just weird. 
• The one common thing in the Main Dining Room is that service is slow for all meals. Breakfast took an hour and lunch and dinner took around 2 hours. From our experience in Main dining rooms, that was a long meal. We never mind the length of a meal because we get to chat about the day and enjoy time together. But we wanted to mention the time just in case you had an activity or excursion that is time sensitive
• . Poolside Grill (complimentary L & snacks) – We loved the grill. It was an easy way to grab some chicken tenders and fries. They even had some grab and go salad and yogurt options. Loved how easy it was. 
• All in all, the Ventura had some of the best complimentary dining we have tried at sea. Especially the buffet
• The first specialty dining restaurant we experienced was Sindhu at East. This is the indian restaurant on board. And this was some of the best indian food we have had anywhere on land or sea. The food was great and there was so much of it. There was a course and then another and another and another. I didn’t know if the food would stop. 
• Something cool about our sailing is they offered a discount on Sindhu if you dined there the 1st night. I thought that was really cool and it was so great, we booked for another night as well.
• The Beach house is a cool restaurant located in the back of the buffet. They transform one quarter of the buffet seating area into the restaurant at night. 
• Loved the menu at the Beach House. Wings, ribs, burgers, steak and so many more. The options were great. 
• We had the Lavarock Steak which was a neat experience. You cook the steak youself on the stone. Basically the steak comes out rare and then you cut slices off and cook to  your taste. I loved this and the steak was so tasty. Great steak
• The Epicurean looked like an amazing restaurant. Our schedules just didn’t work out to get a reservation there. Next time we are on P&O, we definitely want to make this a priority.
• The Glass House served food tapas style. The menu looked amazing but the only problem for us was finding a table. We tried a couple nights to eat there and it was always busy. The tables are seat yourself and there is also a bar there. So most people were enjoying cocktails but not eating (most of the tables were being used to wait for the main dining room anytime dining). Unfortunately without a table, we could not eat either so we moved on to the main dining room or the buffet.

Entertainment –

• The Manhattan Club was a great place for small venue entertainment
• We loved watching the singers. We saw an Ed Sherran tribute, an Adele tribute and another night, both singers came together and performed songs together. 
• The location was awesome. It’s in the aft of the ship. There are huge windows all the way around and the view is spectacular. 
• In the evening they had a piano player and a singer. Both were very talented and it was a nice way to spend the evening.

Onboard Activities –

• The daily Horizon was delivered every day and there was always the typical cruise ship stuff going on. 
• The largest pools we have seen. 
• There is an adult only pool in the front of the ship
• It was not warm though. Indoor pools here are typically in the 80s. I would say this area was in the high 60s, low 70s. Too cold for us but everyone else seemed to really enjoy. 
• If that’s too cold for you as well, there were 2 hot tubs in this area to enjoy
• The pool area was really nice on the Ventura. It was on the cooler side so not a lot of people were swimming but definitely lots of places to enjoy the pool if the temps were more cooperative. 
• This was the most fun sail away we have exprienced. 
• Everyone was dancing and smiling and singing
• Everyone was just happy
• We definitely recommend checking this out if you are on a P&O ship. So much fun.

Video Review – P&O Ventura

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• P&O Ventura ship is the 3rd in fleet to restart international...

P&O Ventura ship is the 3rd in fleet to restart international cruises

P&O UK' s cruise ship Ventura is restarting operations on Sunday, October 3 as she sets sail for the Canaries after the demand for international voyages grew.

Half of the P&O fleet is now operational as Ventura is joining Iona and Britannia , both of which offered a series of summer UK coastal sailings and have been cruising internationally since September 25.

Azura will restart in December, joining Britannia for the Caribbean season.

P&O UK's president Paul Ludlow said that Ventura’s international restart was the result of guest confidence in cruising and was the very latest stage of P&O Cruises sailing resumption as they worked towards the return of their full fleet in spring 2022.

“Due to demand and the resounding endorsement of the first international holidays on Iona and Britannia we’ve opened up increased capacity to holiday with us. “We’re proud to have four ships sailing internationally this year giving our guests a greater choice of where and when they travel with P&O Cruises for winter sun.”

Ventura’s 12-night winter-sun cruises to Iberia (Spain and Portugal) in 2021 start at  GBP 600 pp. These will be followed by a 35-night journey to the Caribbean (roundtrip from Southampton England ) departing on January 3, 2022, from GBP 3,170 pp.

A second 35-night cruise to the Caribbean and USA with Belize , Honduras and New Orleans USA  among the 11 call ports, is scheduled to depart on February 11, 2022, priced from GBP 2,900 pp.