Leeds to Barbados direct does not mean non-stop! Bizarrely the stop was Manchester to take on more fuel, the short runway at LBA does not allow the full tank etc. Note: This does not apply on the way back as the fuel is all used up and the return flight is non-stop. Irritating as a stop at Manchester was, this was made much worse because the plane had come from Manchester (without passengers) but also without its special luggage containers. Now these are absolutely crucial. What happens is that luggage is not loaded in the usual way; it is placed in these special bonded containers and is indeed bonded. So at no time do you see or handle your luggage until you get to your cabin on board ship. Indeed you are bonded yourself in that you step off the plane, straight onto a coach and straight to the ship without seeing the terminal building at all. Note: this will only apply to those passengers sailing that same evening; those who have their day in Barbados the following day will no doubt have to pass through immigration in the usual way. To return to the flight. We boarded two hours late to be told this tale about the containers. In order to get us on our way, they borrowed containers from Pakistan International Airways and had to unload these in Manchester and transfer to Thomson containers while we re-fuelled! Not an ideal start. The return journey was very irritating in that the crew were slapdash and, as I said in my original review, talking at normal volume throughout the night. We were on the first row of the Premium cabin and had no opportunity to rest at all. The food and wine service was sketchy. The entertainment was not the Return menu - which was not working - but was the outbound selection which one had, of course already seen. Breakfast was a strange business. I thought they had left it late to start and indeed they had to abandon the service to start landing procedures with several passengers in economy not served at all. It has since been suggested to me that perhaps they didn't have enough breakfasts on board! When we did eventually land - on time - we had to wait in a freezing (literally) baggage hall for over an hour and a half because they could not get the luggage hold doors open. As I said originally, this reflects badly on P & O. Passengers were saying it was P & Os fault for using Thomson. Sorry this is such a long tale but you did ask! Cheers

Thank you very much for your detailed reply. Now we have been forewarned we will not be too upset when it happens (he said hopefully) and will just have to take it in our stride. Very odd that there is a re fuel at Manchester! Have trouble sleeping anyway so will just have to turn Ipod up and hope i drop off. As you say it reflects bad on P&O, but hopefully they may have sorted a few problems out by next November. Thanks again for your reply. Alan

We too dined in the White Room - - - - twice. Worth noting the menu did change on our second visit , and the choice was much nicer than the first visit. My advice would be to take a look at the menu's for both weeks and take your pick!!!! Have a fantastic time.