End of an elegant era

I’VE cruised for more than 20 years with various companies and it used to be a nice experience to look forward to.

You get different standards with each brand, which is all right because you should know what to expect.

P&O used to be independent, but after it was sold to Carnival that was the start of the decline.

The first major change was the introduction of Ventura to the fleet. A large ship catering for families, it was nicknamed Butlins-on-Sea.

I have no problem with that as long as their loyal following are still catered for.

Regular cruisers have seen various little things dropped, such as roses presented to ladies on a formal night, garlands on tropical nights and a change from silver service to plated dishes.

There has been an increase in the number of tables the waiting staff have to serve and the number of cabins the stewards have to clean.

The biggest change to hit P&O is the switch from small/ medium size to large ships, such as Britannia.

One of the problems with these cruise lines is that it is cashless — that is, until the last day when you are presented with your bill.

This appears to be the case with Britannia, leaving the last port with guests enjoying themselves drinking away until someone appeared as a clown, sparking a brawl.

Traditional cruisers who have been loyal to the P&O brand should be catered for. Big is not always best, even though it may be cheaper. BERNARD BOND, Gillingham, Dorset.