Ventura was launched in 2008 as one of the P&O Cruises Grand-class ships. It was refurbished in 2013. Ventura is a large family-friendly ship with plenty of onboard activities for all ages. The 116,017 tonne vessel has 15 passenger decks and can accommodate 3,074 passengers and 1,239 crew.

[fa type=”bed”] Accommodation

Ventura offers 1,555 cabins in eight categories. There are 1,030 outside cabins, 434 inside cabins and 881 have private balcony space. All our cabins are air-conditioned and have Egyptian cotton sheets, free tea and coffee making facilities, refrigerator, hairdryer, safe, television and en-suite bathrooms with toiletries pack. Room service is available from early morning until late evening at no extra cost.

[fa type=”cutlery”] Food

Ventura has 12 places to dine including three main restaurants. Saffron and Cinnamon offer Freedom Dining which encourages guests to have dinner wherever they prefer (from 6pm to 9:30pm), while Bay Tree offers Club Dining (the same time and table each night). Formal nights feature gala menus by Marco Pierre White. Select dining options carry a modest extra charge and include The Epicurean, for classic British fare, Sindhu, for a fusion of Indian and British cuisine, and The Beach House for a chilled-out grill.

[fa type=”ticket”] Activities

The Oasis Spa Complex has a beauty salon, saunas and steam rooms. The Oasis Pool is situated outside the spa and has two hot tubs. Treatments include massages, facials, acupuncture, manicure and pedicure. The fully equipped gym offers a range of fitness classes such as indoor cycling, Pilates, yoga and body sculpt. There is a sports court, golf nets, three pools, six hot tubs, a library, a large theatre and a night club on board.

[fa type=”group”] Families

There are plenty of facilities for kids including a video games room, splash pool, disco and coffee bar. There are supervises daily activities for children according to their age: Splashers (2 to 4 years); Surfers (5 to 8 years), Scubas (9 to 12 years); and H20 (13 to 17 years). Ventura offers separate rooms for various age brackets to hang out and play (The Den and Decibels, Toybox and Jumping Jacks). Children who are under 13 years old must be signed in and out by their parents or guardians. Teens are allowed to make use of the Oasis pool bar.

Verdict

– Cruise Passenger

I should say here that fares booked in advance can be extremely cheap. This cruise was for us but others paid almost double what we did .Lastly gratuities are £5.50 per person per day. Its an awful way to be paying staff. We paid it and gave several staff tips on top. Its down to yourself as to how you want to manage that one. All that said a fantastic experience. We have already lined up our next 2 cruises. I hope this rather lengthy message is of help to anyone who are planning to go on their first cruise or are considering one. . – johnnyd57uk

– Cruise Critic

– Berlitz