Fly/Cruise Blues…..

I’m just back from a 7 night Fly/Cruise with P&O around the Med on Ventura.  This was my very first Fly/Cruise, and I was eager to find out how streamlined and ‘stress free’ this kind of cruise compared to boarding from Southampton.  I’ve got to say, I wasn’t impressed. P&O did their bit and cannot be faulted, I am aiming all my anger and frustration at Thomas Cook Airlines who yet again failed to provide an acceptable, comfortable and on time service to its passengers.  A cursory and throw away standard apology of technical problems, so put up and shut up attitude really made my blood boil, and almost put me off the whole fly/cruise option…  You may have seen the recent programme ‘Dont Get Done, Get Dom’ who highlighted this airline and its chronic lack of customer care and service. So it wasn’t a rare occurrence!

Up at the crack of dawn (3:00am) for the drive to Gatwick.  We’d arranged a Meet & Greet with Maple Manor Car Parking, and right on time, there they were.  Swift hand over of keys, and then up to check in. (I highly recommend Meet & Greet service.  It’s usually the same price or cheaper than having to drive to the airport car parks, and then heave your luggage on the shuttle bus for the 10- 15 minute journey to the terminal).  We just drove to the pick-up/drop off point at South Terminal and handed over our keys!  As simple as that!

P&O have their own check in desks at the airport for their flights, very well organised, and we had checked in and said goodbye to our luggage in record time.  We wouldn’t see our suitcases until we were in our cabin on board ship.  Lovely touch!

So had to sit around for a couple of hours until our Thomas Cook flight was called, which was a bit boring, but not long to wait now!  All went well until we actually boarded the flight, then the delays began.  ‘Technical problems, baggage handlers were on a go-slow’ which meant we sat for half an hour before the Captain announces proudly and sounding very pleased with himself, that we would be ‘pulling back in 30 seconds’ and yes we did, only to stop a little further along the runway for another 45 minutes…… We finally took off 2 hours later than scheduled.  Which meant that by the time we arrived in Venice, other flights had arrived, full of passengers waiting to join the ship………

Have you ever been in a queue which doesn’t seem to be moving while all the rest of the queues around you do?

We experienced this from the moment we arrived at Venice Airport, including the line of coaches waiting to pick us up and take us to the ship.  All the other coaches quickly filled up with passengers and sped off, while we were sitting like lemons waiting for our driver who seemed to have a bit of a bladder problem, as he had to keep rushing off to the toilets.

Consequently we were the last coach to leave, and of course last to arrive at the Embarkation port, which by this time was absolutely heaving with people waiting to board.

We were given a number and told to sit and wait until it was called, ‘How long?’ I asked, ’20 minutes’ I was told.

Did you know that a Venetian 20 minutes is in fact 1hr 15mins in English?????

We were herded like cattle by abrupt, port staff.  There was only one refreshments bar and one member of staff serving,  to get a drink and something to eat, with the inevitable long queue of thirsty travellers who, like us, had been up since 3:00am, and who were now tired, hungry and very irritable.

Finally! We were checked in and directed on to the ship.

And like the majority of other passengers, made our way up to the buffet Restaurant, as by this time I could have cheerfully eaten a rancid horse!  A quick bite to eat, offload our hand luggage in our cabin, and then back off the ship to explore Venice!

We had about 3 hours to do a whistle stop tour of the city which was plenty of time.  We decided to take the People Mover, (1.30 Euro per person each way), then a 20 minute walk through the back streets to St Mark’s Square.  Easily signposted to the Rialto Bridge & the square, and so much cheaper than a Water Taxi (15 Euros return).

When you leave the ship you will be approached by various port staff asking if you would like a water taxi for £15 return – yes – pounds!  Take the People Mover, its 5 minutes’ walk, you can’t miss it, and if you get tired and want a Water Taxi or Vaporetta back to the ship, it’s cheaper to hop on one at St Mark’s Square.  Lots of booths to buy your tickets from.

So after 3 hours of frantic photo taking, and posing on bridges, we hopped on a water taxi and headed back to the ship, in time for the famous Venice Sail Away.  I’d heard from previous passengers about the magic of this event, and was eagerly looking forward to it.  And you know what? I was not disappointed!  Fantastic views from deck. (Go Port side for the best views) and pick your spot lively as port side fills up very quickly!  Grab yourself a drink from the Breakers Bar, and take in the magnificent views as you leave Venice along the Grand Canal.  Breathtakingly beautiful!

So putting my experience at Gatwick with Thomas Cook Airlines  down to a ‘one off’, I moved on, and looked forward to 7 nights sailing around the med, thinking lightening cant strike twice – can it??

Next instalment – Day At Sea & Life On Board

Have you just come back from the Ventura 21st May? and flew on Thomas Cook Airlines from Gatwick?  I’d love to hear your experiences.