Good move or Bad move P&O?

P&O Cruises currently have 7 Ships

Britannia – Large Family Friendly Ship

Azura – Medium Family Friendly Ship

Ventura – Medium Family Friendly Ship

Oceana – Small to Medium Family Friendly Ship

Aurora –  Small to Medium Family Friendly Ship

Arcadia – Medium Adult Only Ship

Oriana – Small to Medium Adult Only Ship

Adonia was the smallest in the Fleet and Adults Only but will leave P&O shortly to take place in the Azamara Fleet.

Britannia in Southampton

Those that know me, will know that of all the P&O ships I do favour the Oriana and the Aurora, and most families that sail on the Aurora fall in love with her too but that is coming to an end I am afraid.

P&O have announced most likely in the Wake of the Adonia leaving the Fleet, and the 2 new ships joining the Fleet in 2020 and 2022, already set at the Biggest ships built for the UK Family Market that the Aurora will turn to Adults Only in 2019.

Personally, I don’t think this is the best idea P&O have had, she has been a Family Friendly ship since built in 2000 and she has a strong following, but then you could say the same for the Oriana and she is now a firm favourite for Adults Only.

Aurora will return to Southampton in March 2019 after undergoing a refit, this will be the first one since 2014 so she is due on, but on her return, she will be Adults only and join Arcadia and Oriana on cruises that only allow the Adults onboard.

However this she is currently on sale for 2019 so there will unfortunately be families booked on her, I don’t see why this couldn’t have come in to play from her next set of sailings that are released on sale, I suppose the will be removing the Children Areas off the ship so it does have to co-inside with the refit, but as always this will cause upset to those who have committed early and already booked for 2019.

Aurora in the Ocean Terminal

P&O will be offering passengers the option of re-booking on one of the Family ships – Britannia, Ventura, Azura and Oceana but with Oceana on mostly fly cruises, for those that don’t want to fly it means doing a much larger ship.

P&O have said they have decided to make the change due to extensive research and guest feedback.

For those that don’t want to change to another sailing for now, they can cancel free of charge and get a full refund along with a 5% Future Cruise Credit to the value of the cruise.

Senior vice president Paul Ludlow said: “All our ships have the signature elements of dining, service and great destinations.

“However, P&O Cruises is all about choice, whether our guests want the fantastic range of activities and children’s clubs on our family-friendly ships or prefer the peace and serenity of our adult-only ships.

Are you booked on the Aurora? Have you perhaps been on a family cruise on her? What do you think, is this the right move for Aurora?