Selbourne

Thanks. You posted that info as I posted my question about that! On the basis that we avoid buffets we will aim for the Golden Lion (assuming that it will be open). I just hope that we can get in, as I should imagine that it’s where those ‘in the know’ head! Am I correct in thinking that the food in the Golden Lion is included in the fare (free)?

Thanks. Does the Britannia restaurant open for lunch on embarkation day, or is everyone other than grills passengers expected to use the buffet?

I very much doubt that they can and strongly suspect that if a passenger does this they smile appreciatively and put the bottle back into stock. Even if they wanted the bottle (unlikely I should imagine) I doubt they would risk taking it back to their cabin. They would be terrified that it could be perceived that they had stolen it from the stocks that they distribute, which would result in instant dismissal. They would have no receipt for it or definitive proof that it had been gifted to them.

Indeed. We could still hear it when we got back to our cabin 2 decks above!

Thanks. As long as it’s a sit down restaurant lunch that will be fine. We avoid buffets like the plague! We have a 12.45pm embarkation so hopefully will be on board in time.

It was in the atrium when we were on Iona and it rather spoilt the show in the 710 club, as we could hear all the ‘silent’ disco participants singing at full pelt over the performers we were watching.

Delighted to hear that you had a great cruise and yes, those late breakfast times in the MDR are fantastic. I wish they’d do that on the other P&O ships (or at least some way towards it). 9am cut off on port days and 9.30am on sea days still seems to prevail on most ships, which we find a rush. Interesting that you ignored the app and just walked up and were seated immediately. Makes a mockery of the app!

When we were in PG on QM2 we had embarkation lunch in the PG restaurant. We are BC on QA and were rather hoping to have lunch in the BC restaurant as soon as we embark. Do you think that’s unlikely?

Thank you for taking us along with you. I enjoyed reading your first instalment. Have a fabulous cruise. We like Ventura.

We disliked the promenade deck on P&Os Iona, as it felt disconnected from the ocean being surrounded by a tall glass screen (as you usually get on the top decks) and was mostly uncovered so could only be used in dry weather, but I’d swap the Iona promenade deck for what I’ve seen so far of the version on Queen Anne! I’m relieved that we have a balcony!

I’d be very interested to see the a’la carte additions for Britannia Club and whether they remain the same for the entire cruise (as they did when we tried PG on QM2) or vary by day. If the food is as good in the standard Britannia restaurant as it sounds on the menus then we have a lot to look forward to.

Do I take it from this comment that you are dining in Britannia Club? If so, aside from the restaurant size, how are you finding the food and service (we are booked in BC on QA for two cruises). Thanks.

We shall reserve judgement until we board QA in a few weeks time, but I can’t say that I’ve been overly impressed from the few videos I’ve seen so far. P&O U.K. have done the same thing. We really didn’t like the public areas on Iona and felt that they were like a conference hotel, and the atrium like a shopping mall or airport. I wonder if the same interior designers were used for Queen Anne? I was also shocked at how poor the promenade deck looked. It may be how the camera has captured it, but it seems very narrow and very large portions of it have no view out as they are obscured by lifeboats. On many other cruise ships the lifeboats are suspended above the promenade deck and you walk underneath them, so that the view isn’t compromised. I guess that the approach on QA allows for more unobstructed balcony cabins or public rooms?

@Solent Richard (or any others onboard) How are you finding the included dining experience and which dining room are you using? There were reports of excessive delays earlier in the cruise in (I think) the Britannia Dining room. We have booked Britannia Club and I haven’t seen any comments regarding that yet. Also, nobody has mentioned the food yet (other than the pay extra venues), which I am guessing is a good sign! Thanks.

Yikes 😂 No wonder those who go on Iona and Arvia outside of school holidays say the ship didn’t feel that busy! To be fair, the schoolchildren in themselves weren’t a problem at all when we were on Iona in August. It was irritating that almost every restaurant that we went to had a screaming baby or unruly toddler near to us, but I guess that can happen outside school holidays as well on any family ship.