Norwegian Fjords
Ventura, 01 Sep 2012, 7 nights, Cruise only
Itinerary overview
Exploring the Norwegian Fjords by ship is one of the most spectacular ways to see this stunning region. Mountain streams wind their way through vivid green hillsides. Towering cliffs soar dramatically from crystal clear waters. Mighty glaciers take on the blue hue of the sky above.
Port stops
| Day | Port | Arrival | Departure |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Day | Cruise from Southampton | ||
| Day 2 | At sea | ||
| Day 3 | Stavanger, Norway | ||
| Day 4 | Skjolden, Norway | ||
| Day 5 | Geiranger, Norway | ||
| Day 6 | Bergen, Norway | ||
| Day 7 | At sea | ||
| Last Day | Southampton |
Prices per person
| Room type | Best Price from | Book |
|---|---|---|
| Inside Stateroom | £ 599 | Book here |
| Outside Stateroom | £ 749 | |
| Balcony Stateroom | £ 949 |
What's included?
Ventura
Ventura - P&O Cruises
The P&O Ventura is the largest cruise ship ever built for the British market. Onboard this 115,000 tonne vessel, guests can enjoy a varied array of entertainments, sports facilities and gourmet dining options.
Staterooms on the P&O Ventura feature a combination of modern convenience and elegant, traditional comfort. Guests can enjoy benefits such as satellite television, a telephone, air-conditioning and a mini-bar. Each stateroom comes with a spacious en-suite bathroom, and many feature private balconies, offering spectacular ocean views.
At once stylish and charming, the P&O Ventura is home to over 7000 works of art. From the pristine dining rooms to the art deco theatre; everything onboard the Ventura gives the impression of taste, elegance and style. P&O pride themselves on the friendly atmosphere of their cruises, and with over 3000 passengers onboard; you’ll have no problem meeting friends with similar interests!
Families are warmly welcomed onboard the P&O Ventura, and the ship offers everything from a Kids’ Club to specialised children’s restaurants. Younger passengers can meet Noddy and his friends, or enrol in the ship’s ‘Rock School’. You’ll also find great facilities for children elsewhere on the ship, including an exciting kids’ splash pool.
Facilities on Ventura
Dining on the Ventura involves a range of different options. From Pan Asian, Italian and Mediterranean restaurants, to prestigious formal dining halls, you’ll be able to find something onboard to cater for every taste. Celebrity Chef Marco Pierre White has his own restaurant onboard too, so be sure to pop in to enjoy some fabulous gourmet treats!
As the evening draws in, guests on the Ventura can unwind in a quiet lounge with a little live piano music, or catch a film at the ship’s cinema. If you’re looking for something a little more lively, then wander down to the central promenade. Here you can find a wide range of bars and lounges, featuring live music, cabaret shows, and karaoke – as well as a casino, comedy club and a cinema!
Other facilities onboard the P&O Ventura includes the decadent Ventura Salon. Here guests will be able to indulge themselves with an invigorating health treatment, such as full-body massage or a rejuvenating facial. The Ventura also hosts a number of fascinating lectures and talks from guest speakers, including the ever-popular Tate Talks.
Facilities
Statistics
Decks of Ventura
Cabins on this deck:
No cabins on this deck
Cabins of Ventura
Members reviews
Donside said:
We being myself my hubby and my sons 18 and 16 have just returned from another wonderful trip on Ventura we have just enjoyed 14 nights in the Caribbean this is the second Caribbean cruise in 3 months we have done on Ventura and we cannot really find anything to complain about. The flight out of Gatwick was on time we were looked after on board and arrived in Barbados on schedule where we were met by a fleet of busses and promptly taken to the ship, check in was fast and efficient. We were greeted by our wonderful cabin steward who took care of our every needs for the following 2 weeks. Our cabin was a good size with everything you could need, always plenty of hot water plenty of hanging space and daily changed towels. Our food was plentiful of good choice and excellent quality no complaints at all. The entertainment was good we saw at least 1 show a night sometimes 2 the only time we struggled to get a seat was at the 9pm show in the areana theatre but as there are 3 shows a night not too much of a problem. There was always plenty of daytime activities for all our ages ie sports, films, quizzes etc. Shopping on board was adequate with some occasional bargains to be had. We were unable to dock one day but within half and hour the entertainment staff had put on and extra programme of events. Between the 2 cruises we did quite a few excursions and the ones we did we found to be ok maybe a little overpriced but more or less what we expected. The ship is a large ship and not as formal as previous P & O vessels but we found her to be a very friendly ship both passengers and crew. The children that were on board were very well behaved and seemed to have lots of activities but cannot comment on this as we did not use the kids clubs etc. All public areas were extremely well kept and clean a couple of bit of carpet in the waterside were fraying quite bad but only to find one night after midnight they were being replaced. We were on freedom dinning as we booked late this worked well but I personally preffered club dining as you get to know your waiters and they know your preferences on freedom you have a different waiter every night but still the excellent service you get from club dining. The only complaint I had was how rude and arrogant some of the other passengers could be to the staff totally out of order they do a fabulous job. We did use the Gym and found this to be very good with personal trainers if you required them didn't use the spa as didn't seem to have time and never got round the trying the White Room, East or Ramles but everyone we spoke to regarding these venuse praised them highly My last compliment must go to Neil Oliver the entertainment officer and all his fantastic collegues they do the most wonderful job especially the most enjoyable sail away parties which we all thought was a good addition to the rest of the more usual activities. If you like a cruise with a fun factor about it Ventura will not disappoint we will definatly be sailing on her again cant wait!!!
srt1000 said:
This has got to go down as the most memorable 2 weeks holiday ever, having never been to the Caribbean this was the perfect way to see a lot of the islands in one trip. The Ventura is a very beautiful ship and the staff onboard are very efficient and eager to please. You are spoilt for choice with all the different restaurants onboard, the quality of food is of a very high standard
Glo said:
We had originally booked an inside cabin on Ventura, but luckily changed this to a balcony cabin, having read that the views were so spectacular from the ships' balconies in the fjords. I woke early around 5am just to catch the first sight of the magnificent views. Wow!!! Well worth paying the extra if you can for a balcony cabin. We even had a champagne breakfast delivered by room service and as we had a balcony cabin on the stern of Ventura ,this was such a great way to see Norway. Service in the Saffron Club dining room was very good, waiters were so eager to please. We has 6.30pm first sitting, table for 2, the food was first class, though did feel a little rushed. But we were then able to go straight to the Arena theatre to catch the great shows put on. Only disappointment was the waiting time when on an excursion, purely because of the large numbers getting on and off at each port. Excursions were pricey, but we were not brave enough to do our own thing, next time we will. We have decided to return to Norway, especially Flam and Olden as these were our favourite places.
Bailliei said:
Just got back from what I can only describe as the best holiday of my life - cruising on Ventura is an absoloute must and open to everyone. The ship is packed with innovation which ensures there is never a dull moment. I cruised with my partner and we both loved this ship. If you like fine dining - then I suggest a visit to the White Room - Marco Pierre Whites restaurant onboard - what beautifully presented and mouth watering dishes - perfect for that special treat. The Spa onboard has all the treatments you could ever wish for and the service is second to none. For a day in the sun, head out onto deck,and you will find the laguna Pool bar where you will always be treated by a smile and warm welcome ready for a day of sunbathing and cocktails - heaven! We booked a junior Mini Suite with balcony which was very stylish and so spacious - loved the champagne which was chilling ready for our arrival. I am now looking to book my next holiday on Ventura as 100% hooked - try it - you will not be disappointed!
annie2 said:
enjoyed it immensly but its all abit of a mishmash at the moment. they need to sort the kids age clubs out,you can't put 17yr olds with 13yr olds.my 17yr old son was lost,for the first 5days.The cleaners were vaccuming when my husband and i were having a late drink,and the oldies were putting towels or books on the beds early,and not coming back for most of the day,untill it cooled down,very annoying,the royal carribean have got all the above sorted out. When all these things are sorted it will be much better,as the rest was fantastic especially for young families,the noddy experience was great,and the child care,but to attract more you also need a creche for baby's.
Jim3 said:
Ventura! Why did we do it. This ship can only be described as 'Butlins at Sea'. The Kids ruled. Not the little ones, On the whole, the parents did their best and you can understand the occasional noisy outburst. Our problem was the 9-16 age group. They run everywhere. they monopolise every pool and spa tub. Their clubs seem to encourage them to play up. The 'Family' entertainment seeme to start at totally un-family friendly times. Family disco at 11pm putting on of the largest bars off limits to those who wanted to use it. However, the adults bars seemed to shut at about 1 am. In fact, we were sitting in one bar at 0130 and the lights went out. No explanation, no comment, just darkness. In the cabin, requests for small items like the card to indicate 'Do not disturb' went unfilled. The request for a new bar of soap had to be referred to a supervisor for permission. The ship rolled almost constantly regardless of sea condition and the inability to dock at Lanzarote was explained once and briefly by the Captain over the PA system and not mentioned again. Additional activities for the day stuck at sea amounted to additional kids football training. P&O are unable to manage the greedy indivduals hogging the sunbeds for hours on end with towels,books etc. Their answer was to say that the passengers should remove items. What a recipe for confrontation, and I witnessed 1 or 2 ugly incidents only being avoided by 1 side backing down to avoid a fight. On the whole, P&O should seriously look at their market and decide whether they want their new ship to be a creche at sea or a serious holiday venue for people who have worked all year to afford their break. Next time, I'm going either Cunard or Royal Carribean. they, at least appear to know how to treat their clients.
Sal062 said:
After reading bad reviews about Ventura before we set off we were quite concerned but thought ok we will go with an open mind on this, after all it was our much awaited holiday. There were four of us together, and we spent most of the first week trying to find something to complain about. We dined in The Saffron Restaurant with wonderful service and a good menu each night. The main theatre entertainment was good, but we didn't like some of the comedians in the other shows, so we left. After all it is personal choice, and everyone is different. We heard complaints of - too many people on board ! Children annoying in the pool! Then why did they chose to go on a large family ship? We had a great time and it was just what we expected it to be.
mo6 said:
14 nights of good food and entertainment, great service and value for money. The only draw back we found was that the ship was constantly rocking when the ship was in motion.
mjb123 said:
We enjoyed a wonderful week on the beautiful new ship Ventura. Our cabin was spacious, comfortable and well furnished, with the added bonus of a lovely private balcony. The food was up to P & O's high standard and restaurant service was attentive and every attention to detail catered for. The decor was traditional and sumptuous. The entertainment was wonderful, with shows by the Ventura Theatre Company to rival the West End. There was a good mix of special guests, Brian Conley, Mark Williams and an excellent Dusty Springfield tribute singer. Despite the number of passengers, we experienced little or no problems when going ashore and there was never a feeling of being overcrowded on board. There were a small number of children on board, who appeared well behaved. The choice of children's clubs and facilities seemed very good. All in all we had an enjoyable week and would not hesitate to return to Ventura.
Bobbybass said:
We have just returned from a proper operational 'paid for' cruise that covered 7 nights (ie not travel promotional ) .It was my 74th cruise since 1979 and I must say it was by far the worse. As soon as we arrived on board it was obvious that the ship was hugely overcrowded and none of the departments could cope. This was contrary to the experience of the 'trial cruisers' and travel agents reports that appear here before the ship 'did it for real'. A possible reason for this was outlined by two seperate couples we met, who had been on the Maiden voyage the week before and were also shocked that this second week had descended into mayhem. They had made enquiries from staff and had been told that; despite being told that the ship was sold out ( I was told this) there were actually a huge number of cabins left empty and 1000 passengers less. If you were on the maiden or the 'tasters' try and imagine another 1000 people !. This was obviously something that P&O had realised some time back because on our first visit to the Cinamon Freedom dining (early) , we were given a pager and told that no tables were left. The two large banks of pagers did not just turn up over night, and must have been ready for this expected problem. Having spent an hour waiting in a bar, the pager bleeped and we got a table, but other who had been waiting were told they would not get in that night. This was a bit sad because by this time, there was nowhere else to go !. We therefore had to book every freedom dining event to save going hungry. Things carried on like this all week. Breakfast the next morning we opted for the buffet style, but seats were impossible to find and we often ended up outside on the deck. The theatre involved being there 30 minutes before performance, or you would end up standing as many did. I think I read that it holds 750..?..but if you do the maths with 3500 passengers, they will not fit into three performances. At the ports of call we would arrive and only have a single file gangway for the first couple of hours. Add to this scanning each persons card and you will soon realise how long 3000+ people will take to get off. I can tell you...its about 1.5 hours !!. The in-house theatre shows were as laughable as they get. The lead singers...couldn't. ... There was a very muscley guy on board with a tall muscley woman. During the show they would lift each other and support at wild angles, which initially was interesting...HOWEVER....doing it in almost every show became very tedious !. You just thought 'here's Mr Muscley lifting old sinuey again '. The concept of it being a good family holiday seemed sound, but didn't apear to be working well. A family with a 2 year old said that 1 Noddy theme room did not a 'cruise make' and they would not come again. Older kids did better with computers , bungey etc...but the adults would leave them to do their own thing. As such they would run about bars even at 11pm...congregate in the stair wells and disrupt shows. Several passengers complained to a senior bar type person who said that he was not happy either, but was told that this was policy and that kids could run about and be served in the bars (soft drinks of course !!). As such many adults packed out the Metropolis bar as they said the others were unusable due to noise etc. There were 300 kids on board and I'm told that the summer holiday target months are to be 900/week. The cabin was a nice balconey on the stern and was immaculately maintained as you would expect. The loo was working intermitently from day one, as did many other passengers. The corridor between the photo gallery and the Tamarind smelt seriously of raw sewerage for the whole week. Over the week my wife and I must have spoken to over 100 people, not one of whom said they would ever come back. They all had their own upsets in different ways. Disabled people were made to abandon wheelchairs and walk up the gangway with staff looking on. I queried an officer if he thought this was good and he said its 'bridge policy'. A bride married on board and her family occupied 2 tables in the Saffron. On her wedding day she was not allowed to sit next to her mother as it would 'confuse the system'. A man had booked a three day taster cruise for a friend, only to discover its being promoted for stag nights. The list went on. My wife and I just stopped worrying and took things as they came along, but huge numbers were really upset. If you have kids age 8+ ish...and maybe want to take Granny/Grandad it may work for you. As long as you are patient in queues...very patient !. Cruise 74 for me and it will be my one and only P&O.
benjack3006 said:
I was lucky enough to go on an overnight visit on the Ventura last Sunday the 13th of April. I had a JD grade balcony cabin which was an excellent mid ship location on C deck. The balcony was overlooked, although the advantage of this is you get a balcony twice the size of everyone else and it is only the very front of the balcony which is overlooked, so personally I did not find this an issue. I have 2 small children so I was very keen to see the children's facilities. P&O have promised a family ship and that is definately what the Ventura is, there is a large night nursery with plenty of beds and travel cots, so whilst you are safe in the knowledge your little one's are fast asleep you can enjoy all the evening entertainment. There is a fantastic teen area with lots of game console's and a huge screen for them to watch movies. There are lots of climbing area's and a great kitchen and craft room. Having been on lots of cruises, my overall opinion of the children's facilities is that the Ventura has got it exactly right. The food on board is excellent and the service was very efficient. The whole ship is very classy, and whilst it is very modern, P&O passengers will still feel very at home onboard.
helga said:
As one of the few people to visit Ventura before her naming ceremony, I have to say on first impressions on the dockside; I was not disappointed at all. She lived up to all the hype that surrounded her. Once onboard the experience got even better. I viewed a variety of cabins and all were very light and airy, even the inside cabins. Some were more spacious then others, but all had a separate storage/dressing area with en-suite bathroom, flat screen T.V, tea/coffee making facilities and dressing table. I had a balcony cabin on Riviera Deck and the private balcony is big enough for two passengers to sit and relax on, however when standing up you can view balconies of those cabins below. I dined in the informal Waterside Restaurant for lunch/afternoon tea, which served an array of sandwiches, cakes, biscuits, scones, quiche, chips and other hot food; you could also help yourself to tea, coffee of water. For dinner I dined at the Bay Tree Restaurant, which is one of the main dining rooms for club dining. At both restaurants the food was delicious, with a variety to choose from whether you help yourself or choose from a menu. The service I also received was of a high quality and always with a smile and friendly to talk to. There were plenty of bars to choose from, my favourite
Nyoka1 said:
Having never been on a cruise ship before I was pleasantly surprised at how much there was to do on the ship. Due to the size of the ship you still felt like there was plenty of space.
SLUFFM said:
As a firm P&O customer I was very pleased to be able to see the Ventura on an overnight function recently. I have to say that it was a little bit of trepidation that I accepted as I was not sure that the
Fimbles said:
I was lucky enough to spend the night on board Ventura with a friend of mine. What a ship!! Grand, elegant and impressive, very P&O. Once we where shown to our cabin JD balcony cabin on Riviera Deck, we very quickly unpacked, and went on a tour of the ship. I did find it easy to find my way around even without a map. Everything was clearly signed so you know where you are all the time. We started in the Atrium on P Deck. In the glass lifts (yes we did go up and down a few times) It covers three decks and changes colour throughout the day. Arena theatre was very grand which was teared all the way round with wide screens dotted all over the place. We had a late lunch in the Waterside self service restaurant that was lovely so much to choose from with a great verity of hot and cold food. Then on to the children's areas, I wish i was a child again! There was so much for them to do for every age, they have thought of everyone and every child's taste in what they choose to do. Noddy was in the toy box, for the toddlers. Computers and game stations for the older children's and teens. Outside play area's pools, the cirque Ventura there was so much for them to do. I don't think you would see your child all day on this ship. All the staff couldn't help enough they went out of their way to help you with anything.The Oasis spa had so many different treatment i was amazed from manicures to heated ceramic beds and everything in between it is a must for both female and male guests. I did have a quick look around the gym it was very well equipped large with lots of classes on offer.I did only have a look! We then made our way down to the, The White Room how impressive Marco Pierre White, both elegant and divine dinning. East was a taste of the orient. Beautifully designed. We then went back to Ramblers for a quick refreshment before getting changed ready for the Capetian's cocktail party. We popped in to the Red bar For a glass or two of champagne. Then on to the Havana bar for more champagne. Dinner was called around 8.30pm so we made our way down to the Bay Tree Restaurant for a wonderful 5 course dinner. The waiters and food both superb. We went to the Exchange bar to see what talent was on the karaoke then made our was to the Tamarind Cub for a few comedy show's some of it was funny but not for me. So off we went to the Havana bar to watch the legends they are all very good. Then the bar turned into a night club until 2am. So buy the time we got back to the cabin it was time for bed. We got early and went back to Waterside for our breakfast there was so much to choose from. I am a great fan of P&O and loved this super-liner i would recommend this ship to families, couples, singles of all age ranges, there is something for everyone young and old. I can't wait to get on board again!
Liz1 said:
I was lucky enough to be invited to visit the P&O
Helena1 said:
I visited the Ventura when she was docked in Southampton. First impressions was that she did not feel as big as she really is. The outside cabin i stayed was a really nice size, bit huge but not too small either. The beds are lovely too. We ate in the Bayside which was beautiful, they offer all sorts as well so you will not be dissapointed. We tested out some of the bars too. They all have their own evening entertainment from stand up comedy, jaz, tribute acts and discos. The kids facilities are out of this world. They have something for each age group. I would definatly travel on the Ventura as a family holiday or couples holiday. Over all i think the Ventura is a great ship with brilliant facilities, including fantastic pools with sunloungers, evening bars to suit all needs and intrests, great dining options and good contempary cabins.
Max said:
P&O Cruises invited me to experience their new superliner Ventura in Southampton before her official
radob1 said:
I was lucky enough to be invited to visit the ship before her naming cermony. Once on board I got the chance to explore the ship. I must say first impressions were very impressive!! All cabins viewed were of a very high standard, the cabins have lots of space and a separate area for storage, Flat screen television and facilities for making tea and coffee. The family suite was one of the best cabins I have ever seen. I dined in the Baytree restaurant and the food was very nice, there is a good variety of food on offer. There are also a range of other dining facilites (11 in total). The one that really caught my eye and look really good was EAST. If its a drink you fancy there are numerous bars to choose from ranging from a cuban themed bar to a good old tradtional english bar. Most of them have evening entertainment including Tribute acts, comedy and Jazz. The gym facilites are excellant and the Oasis spa looked very good too! The kids clubs offered a wide range of activities for all age groups and children would be entertained morning. Noon and night, I even got to see Noddy!!! Overall this was a very very good ship and I wouldn't hesitate in taking my family aboard for our holiday....
tt1 said:
I was lucky enough to be invited to one of the launch partys on board the p&o Ventura. The welcome from the staff was very professional and friendly and the service was second to none. The ship had lots of small bars and restaurants which had a nice cosy feeling and we did sample at least 5 out of the 8 or so bars. We had dinner at the Bayside which was silver service and the food was just the melt in your mouth style which you come to expect on board the ships. We had lunch at the waterside which is less informal but tasted just as nice. We sampled some entertainment in the form of a show and some tribute singers such as Robbie Williams and Kyle which were of a high standard. Our balcony cabins were very comfortable and spacious with a large closet, tv, tea/coffee making and the most comfortable bed I have ever slept in. I think the best thing about the ship though apart from my bed was the children's facilitys which were on deck 16 and ranged from noddy themed rooms to teenagers computer consoles . It was just fantastic and you can be sure that if you take kids on board then you will be sure that there cruise will be just as fantastic as yours. The spa looked very inviting and the ship also had a few different features such as scalextric at sea, tate modern, 5 pools and a Marco Pierre white restaurant I definitely would want to take my family on board
toterri said:
I was lucky enough to get a cabin on the Ventura Welcome Party Cruise, especially considering that the entire ship sold out within an hour of going on sale. With that kind of popularity, the Ventura immediately had a lot to live up to. And to be honest, she delivered pretty well. The 2-day itinerary set sail on Friday 11th April from the port of Southampton and cruised to Zebrugge (Bruges) and back. This was a cute itinerary that gave just enough time to explore the ship and enjoy a break away from it all. For those onboard that were new to cruising, this particular choice would have been perfect as a taster. From the outside the Ventura looked huge. Although I knew she would be 115,000 tonnes, I just wasn
