P&O Swimming Pools

For those who know me you will know that I like to do research no matter what I am doing; I believe you can never do enough.  Next year I have two cruises booked on P&O's Azura.  For years I have been unable to swim due to complications with my left foot, but now I am able to swim as long as the pool has a chair hoist.

Recently I was able to take full advantage of the hoist aboard Aurora and used The Crystal Pool on many occasions and afterwards I was looking forward to use the pools on future cruises on other ships.  The depths of the pool aboard Azura never entered my mind as being a problem.  Karen is only a recent swimmer and because she has to help me get off and on the hoist in the pool I wanted to check the depth.  My first stop was P&O's frequently asked questions and I was shocked by the depth of some of their pools as follows:

Azura
Aqua Pool - (outdoor pool) 1.6 metres to 2.2 metres deep.
Coral Pool - (outdoor pool) 1.6 metres to 2.2 metres deep.
Terrace Pool - (outdoor/adult only) 1.7 metres deep.

1.6 metres is 5.24 feet (shallow end) to 2.2 metres is 7.21feet (deep end).  My local swimming pool is 1.1 metres (3.6 feet, shallow end) to 1.8 metres (5.9 feet, deep end).  On Azura the chair hoist is in the deep end of the pool and I don't understand their logic.  Both ends of the Aqua pool are unsuitable depths to use a hoist because it is unrealistic to expect a carer to help; no one is 7feet tall.  I have contacted P&O to ask how they expect a carer or partner to help with getting someone off the chair hoist when the water is so deep, it is impossible to tread water and help undo a safety belt and lift the chair arms up.  These battery chair hoists barely skim the water.  On Aurora, the chair hoist had to be manoeuvred to the side of the pool and Karen would have to use her weight to pull the hoist seat down to allow me to get on in the water.  As far as I am aware all P&O ships have the same chair hoists and this does worry me.

Below are the other swimming pools that I think you should be aware of within the fleet:

Arcadia
Neptune Pool - Indoor/outdoor pool 1.8 metres deep (5.9 feet)
Aquarius Pool - 2.2 metres deep (7.71 feet)

Britannia1.1
Riviera Pool - outdoor pool 1.65 metres to 2.25 metres deep ( 5.41 feet to 7.38 feet deep)
Lido Pool - outdoor pool 1.65 metres to 2.25 metres deep (5.41 feet to 7.38 feet deep)
Serenity Pool - outdoor pool 1.65 metres to 2.25 metres (5.41 feet to 7.38 feet deep)

Oceana
Riviera Pool - outdoor pool 1.75 metres (5.74 feet deep)

Oriana
Crystal Pool - outdoor pool 1.9 metres (6.23 feet deep)
Riviera Pool - outdoor pool 1.9 metres (6.23 feet deep)
Terrace Pool - outdoor pool 1.9 metres (6.23 feet deep)

Ventura
Laguna Pool - outdoor pool 1.6 metres to 2.2 metres (5.24 feet to 7.21feet)
Beechcomber Pool - outdoor pool 1.6metres to 2.2 metres (5.24 feet to 7.21 feet)
Terrace Pool - outdoor pool 1.7 deep (5.57 feet)

The chair hoists can be found at the following pools:
Britannia - Serenity and Riviera pools - in the shallow end (1.65 metres or 5.41 feet)
Azura - Aqua pool - in deep end (2.2 metres or 7.21 feet)
Arcadia - Neptune pool in shallow end (1.8 metres or 5.9 feet)
Aurora - Crystal pool in shallow end (1.1 metres or 3.6 feet)
Oceana - Riviera pool in shallow end (1.75 metres or 5.74 feet)
Oriana - Does not have a chair hoist.
Ventura - Laguna pool in shallow end (1.6 metres or 5.24 feet)

Apart from Aurora all P&O ships in current service have water depths well over 5 feet, which in my own opinion is far to deep to offer help from a carer or partner if using a hoist.

I have always been loyal to P&O mainly because we do not fly-cruise.  In recent months members of my facebook group have said that the corporation doesn't want disabled or limited mobility passengers onboard and I have always defended the cruise line but recent incidents have made me reconsider.  They cannot openly say they do not want disabled people as that would be discrimination but the dragging of their heels over the platform lifts on Azura and Ventura, which has been nearly two years is a obvious example.  I never considered in a million years that the swimming pools would be massive problem but they are, why put a chair hoist in the deep end on Azura.  Doing this takes away yet another facility, swimming is not only enjoyable but it is my main exercise.  So unless they get their fingers out of their a**, their will be no Retreat and no swimming on my next cruises.  I think they should look at a partial refunds if this effects you.

A member of my group was onboard Britannia two years ago was unable to use the hoist because it was broken and she was told that she could only use it, if she could get out of the swimming without using it, just in case it broke.  I am absolutely horrified, it seems each ship makes up their own rules when it comes to the disabled.  Maybe they should change their hoists to manually operated ones, I use one at my local pool on a regular basis.