Kin, I've done a cruise with Cunard, P&O and Princess.
Cunard was excellent and as you would expect.
P&O, I've done a few on the smaller boats and one on the one of the new larger ship. The smaller boats were far better than I expected and very enjoyable - I can find little, if anything, to fault. The large ship (Ventura) was a nightmare and NEVER to be repeated.
I have it on reasonable authority that P&O are working toward a 2 tiered approach and are gearing the larger ships to affordable, family, easy holidays. Whereas the smaller ships will move upmarket and focus on quality and higher standards.
It was summed up quite succinctly in that the larger ships will not have black tie evenings, where as the smaller boats will continue with this tradition and, in fact, increase the dressy evenings.
