P&O Ventura promised a classic British cruising experience. She delivered something rather more complicated than that. Here’s my honest P&O Ventura review, warts and norovirus and all.
P&O Ventura: The Basics
- Launched: 2008
- Capacity: 3,092 passengers
- Size: 116,017 tonnes
- Decks: 19
- Pools: 4
Ventura is one of P&O Cruises’ larger ships, pitched squarely at the British holiday market. She’s familiar, comfortable in ambition if not always in execution, and decidedly mid-range. Think Benidorm rather than the Amalfi Coast.
The Cabin: Aft Life on a Choppy Route
I was in cabin B756, an aft-facing cabin that sounded appealing in theory. But reader, I urge you to think twice about booking an aft cabin if your itinerary crosses the Bay of Biscay. This stretch of water is notoriously choppy, and being at the back of the ship amplifies every roll with considerable enthusiasm.
The decor was dated. Brown dominated, in that particular shade of beige-brown that was presumably considered sophisticated sometime around 2007 and hasn’t been updated since.
What saved the room from total gloom were cheerful original paintings on its walls. They were bright, bold and a welcome contrast to the muted palette. This is not, I should say, the communist-era art situation that Lisa, my travelling companion, ‘enjoyed’ in her cabin.
Storage was one of the cabin’s strengths. There was plenty of it, and an in-room safe was included.
The bathroom was well thought through: good lighting, a generous sink area with three roomy shelves and a tissue dispenser. Practical and unfussy. The towels had seen better days, though. They’d had a hard life, and it showed.
The shower was small with a nylon curtain rather than a glass door, which felt a bit budget. Toiletries weren’t low-end, though – White Company shower gel and shampoo in pump dispensers. I asked the cabin steward for body lotion and was promptly given a 300ml bottle, so full marks for responsiveness and generosity there.
Back in the main cabin, the bed was comfortable, and the room itself was a decent size with good lighting and a desk. There were British three-pin plug sockets but no USB charging points, which may irritate anyone travelling with multiple devices.
The TV had no premium channels — you pay separately to access the movie library. Tea and coffee-making facilities were refilled daily, and there was a small fridge.
Food and Drink: Room for Improvement
I’ll level with you: the food was underwhelming, across the board.
The Buffet
The buffet area — the Lido — was cramped and not designed for good flow. Getting from one food station to another at peak times required a level of determination that shouldn’t be necessary before breakfast. Quality was adequate at best, and variety was limited.
Tea, coffee and juice were available from self-service machines. Tables were cleared promptly, which I appreciated.
I should, however, mention the buffet set-up in the first days of the cruise. For the first three days, buffet self-service was not available, and food was served by staff rather than passengers helping themselves.
At the time, this struck us as suspect. With hindsight, it was a signal that something was already circulating on board. I’ll come back to that.
The Main Dining Room
We were on freedom dining, split between the Cinnamon and Saffron restaurants on decks 5 and 6. Quality and service were variable. Some evenings were pleasant enough; others were forgettable.
The highlight was the three formal nights, when Marco Pierre White designed the menus. The quality noticeably stepped up, and the whole experience felt more considered.
You can choose to share a table or have one to yourselves, which I welcome. There’s nothing worse than being forced into convivial company when you’re not in the mood for it.
One practical note: the virtual queue system for freedom dining was frequently longer than simply joining the regular queue in person. I stopped using it after the second evening.
I didn’t try any of the paid-for speciality restaurants — Beach House, Epicurean, Sindhi or Glass House — so I can’t comment on their value or quality.
Drinking
There are eleven bars on board, and many are open throughout the day, which is either reassuring or dangerous depending on your perspective. My favourite was Metropolis, at the front of the ship. It was stylish, had a good atmosphere, great views, and was a welcome escape from the more enclosed areas of the vessel.
Entertainment: Patchy but with Highlights
The ship’s in-house troupe provided most of the entertainment: they were enthusiastic but don’t arrive expecting Broadway or West End production values. The Paradise City show was lively and energetic, but ultimately so-so — more Butlin’s than Barbican.
Where the programme delivered, though, was in the talks and activity sessions. I attended excellent talks on ABBA and the Bee Gees that were engaging and well-researched.
I also attended a watercolour session where I produced what can only be described as a magnificently naff painting of a lighthouse. It was huge fun.
There was a busy programme of activities throughout the cruise, which is to be commended. My beef, however, is that a fair number of those activities either attracted additional charges or turned out to be thinly disguised promotional events. That starts to feel a bit cheeky when you’ve already paid for your cruise.
Public Spaces: Missed Potential
Ventura’s public spaces were, on the whole, underwhelming.
Many areas were gloomy, with lighting that seemed designed to obscure rather than welcome. One space in particular bore an uncomfortable resemblance to an NHS outpatient waiting room, not the vibe anyone is going for on a holiday.
The one exception was the library: a light-filled, pleasant space with books available to borrow and a daily news summary.
The Part I Really Didn’t Want to Write
On the penultimate day of the cruise, I contracted norovirus. And I was not alone.
Other passengers sailing on the Ventura around the same time were affected, and there is an ongoing class action lawsuit against P&O. I’m not in a position to comment on the legal proceedings, but I can tell you that being struck down with norovirus on a ship in the final days of a cruise is every bit as grim as it sounds. Thank heavens for the loperamide in my travel medicine kit.
The three-day delay before buffet self-service was an early warning sign (cruise staff did admit that this was an infection control measure on day 2). Whether P&O managed the risk accordingly is a question the lawsuit will presumably seek to answer.
Norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships are not unheard of. The environment, with large numbers of people in enclosed spaces sharing surfaces and facilities, is conducive to transmission. But the scale of what happened here is worrying.
Service
Cabin service was fine- attentive without being intrusive – and the steward was responsive to requests. Other service interactions were adequate rather than impressive. Nothing terrible; nothing memorable.
P&O Ventura: My Verdict
Who this ship might suit:
- First-time cruisers after a familiar, low-key, low-cost introduction to cruising
- Passengers who prioritise port calls over on-board experience
- Anyone who enjoys a very British holiday atmosphere at sea
Who should look elsewhere:
- Passengers for whom food is a significant part of the holiday
- Anyone hoping for lively, polished entertainment
Would I Sail P&O Ventura Again?
No. Not this ship, not in her current state.
The experience was mediocre in too many respects — average food, dated interiors, gloomy public spaces — and the norovirus outbreak has understandably coloured my view of the whole cruise. The formal night menus were good, the Metropolis bar was good, and the talks programme had highlights. But that’s not enough to compensate for the rest of it.
If you’re considering P&O Cruises, I’d suggest looking at their newer ships before committing. That said, Ventura has just returned to service after a refit (2026).
Finally, if you’re planning a similar cruise, my Bay of Biscay survival guide is worth a read before you travel.
About Bridget
Bridget Coleman has been a passionate traveller for more than 30 years. She has visited 70+ countries, most as a solo traveller.
Articles on this site reflect her first-hand experiences.
To get in touch, email her at hello@theflashpacker.net or follow her on social media.
I was on the P&O Ventura 2026May9th to May 23rd the second week I came down with Nova virus I was ill right up till final day I have never put in a week like it I am 80yrs old and still have after affects.How do I get in touch with the Lawsuit? I sent a message to P&O and never received reply the cruise cost myself and husband £4,500
I’m so sorry to hear that. It’s a nasty infection and completely debilitating. The only knowledge I have of these actions – which relate to cruises made in 2024 – are through the media. My undertanding is that these group claims have already been submitted but it may be worth a quick email to one of the law firms involved. These are Irwin Mitchell and Hudgell Solicitors. Good luck!