showingdiva

Although those who have previously cruised with any line know that price is a guarantee, inside, based on 2 sharing. The reality of wanting a balcony or more, picking your own cabin, choosing select for OBC / parking, cruising solo etc is very different.

Bruges is lovely. Not unlike York. However, don't discount Ghent or Blankenberge either.

I would hope not. Your choice (I do the same on a situation by situation basis for what it's worth, and did on both Virtuosa and Queen Mary 2). I certainly wasn't the only person.

They seem to be doing away with everything I liked about food on their ships. As a pescatarian, I was always happy with the go-to prawn cocktail and salmon. P&O ignited my love of lobster thermidor, which was reliably on the gala night MDR menu. I keep hoping something may inspire me to book a post-pandemic P&O cruise. Not doing it for me at the moment. If Cunard attempted to do away with afternoon tea, I think there would be a mutiny much worse than the Bounty.

Is it only the formal MDR afternoon tea that's been cut, or do they still have it in some form in the various buffets?

With all that OBC, yes .. yes, you probably are. But most importantly, have a great cruise, and remember that the bigger the ship, the more likely you are to be able to find a bit of deck or a lifeboat to lie face down and sleep it all off

How sad. Thoughts with her family and friends and all who have lost loved ones in this tragedy.

I have walked away from a very small deposit on Iona in April. Was a bit reluctant because of the good price I got at the time on one of the extended balconies. However, the cruise line I am going with solved that by changing me to one of their extended balconies, with the price (including drink package) hundreds of pounds cheaper than either the price I got the P&O cruise at (or the price now). Are they some sort of wonder cruise line who gets everything right? No. But I love the ship. Cabins still serviced twice daily (admittedly not a personal game changer). There are clearly cuts across the cruise industry for numerous reasons, and I'm sorry that the OP has experienced problems on Arcadia, and that it's not just confined to teething problems in Iona and Arvia. She's still a ship that holds many happy memories. However, as I've alluded to previously, I work on and with many cruise lines in my home port, pre and post-pandemic. It appears that P&O have an above average amount of issues that need sorting one way or another.

Awwww ... I'll always love her ❤️. Originally planned for Holland America, with a Cunard funnel. She's special. Just wish her owners would love her a bit more.

Arcadia has had intermittent plumbing issues from the outset. I wonder if it's just her, or is this something that has also affected similar Vista / Spirit hybrid classes, a few of whom are / have been in service with Holland America.

As one would expect on an Italian ship (albeit one with a head office in Geneva), bread, pasta, continental meat, cheese, gelato and pizza are very good on MSC (I am a fussy, pescatarian Scot). And a special mention to every flavour of panna cotta, which is available at all times in the buffet. Salads, both ready made and ones you select yourself are good. Nice flavours and combinations. MDR portion sizes aren't huge (not that I would want to be faced with a huge bowl of pasta), but the waiters don't mind at all if you order a third starter, main or dessert to share.

The non-alcohol version is called a Daiquiri Zero. It's addictive. As part of the alcohol free package, you also get soft serve ice cream from the bar at the rear of the pool deck. My favourite combination of that so far is vanilla ice cream, lemon sherbet and passion fruit sauce.

I should probably also have mentioned that you will need to take a plug adaptor with you - Virtuosa wasn't originally built to serve the UK market. She has US and EU plugs in the cabins. USB ports are under the bedside lamps.

Have been on Virtuosa twice, the last time being early summer 2022. I have to put my hand up and say that I would never have considered a cruise ship of such a size, despite working on board them in my home port. Or MSC for that matter. Virtuosa is a stunning ship. Very clean, and with an easily negotiated layout. MDR food is good - it's not Michelin star, but is certainly on a par with a good restaurant. The buffet is vast - seating, including outside, towards the back, is often much quieter. As one would imagine with an Italian ship, pizza, pasta, gelato and freshly made mozzarella is great. Drinks packages are good value - my highlight cocktail (mocktail in my case) is the strawberry daiquiri. Theatre shows, like the ship in general, are dazzly and bright. Enthusiastic, talented entertainers. The theme of the shows sometimes go off on a bit of a tangent, but I've just accepted to like them at face value. The planetarium light show in the galleria is mesmerising. Hola! tacos and cantina is fantastic. Book as soon as you can after embarkation, as it gets filled quickly (it's not that big). The £17.99 all you can eat is outstanding value. Guest services can be difficult to hear or understand as there's frequently a musician playing only a few feet away. MSC UK land customer services are flaky and inconsistent. Try not to amend anything before you go - stick to the original plan. I'll be back on her in May.

That's fantastic. What a very talented man. Thanks for sharing the photos.

I suspect a lot would be prepared to pay a premium. But .. at that ball park figure, given the age of Arcadia and, in particular, Aurora, both would need a serious period of dry docking, major refurb and general ongoing investment in order for them to compete with the ever-expanding Viking fleet, Seabourn, Saga, Regent etc.

Yes, that sounds right, you would need to be on a ship before 21st December 2024. You have a lot more at stake to lose than I did by walking away. But the hundreds (plus a drink package) I saved to go back on a ship I never thought I would like, but actually love, will more or less pay for my second cruise.

They told me this morning that if I wished to transfer the cruise - which was due to sail on 22nd April this year on Iona to the Fjords - I would need to book a cruise that sailed before 21st April 2024. This would be difficult as I'm booked on Virtuosa on the same fjords cruise, and also on Euribia later on in the year. This would have reduced me to either going winter or early spring with P&O. I have to confess that when she initially said it, my reaction was "pardon?"

I spoke to P&O this morning. To cancel an Iona fjord cruise. Girl on the phone was lovely, but she had mentioned this. Essentially, if I wished to transfer, I would have had to have sailed out of Southampton within 364 days of the original booking date. "For any bookings made prior to 3 August 2022, if you wish to reschedule your holiday, you can make one further booking transfer up to the date that the balance for your holiday is due. This is available on Select Price and Early Saver holidays. However, the new booking must be of equal or higher value and must sail within 12 months of the original departure date (or 6 months for a World Cruise, Classic Southern Hemisphere Journey, Grand Tour or Exotic Fly-cruise)." I couldn't do this due to the restrictions in actual cruises available, so chose to walk from the original tiny deposit. As I've said recently, I'm happy to cruise with them again, but some of the changes, and the cost of sailing solo with them on top of the huge gulf in price between saver / select have been a huge decider compared to other cruise lines offering an identical cruise. As for the ships, never been on Ventura, but as the veteran of many an Arcadia voyage, her balconies are a decent size compared to her fleet mates, she's good in seas. I do, and will always love this ship. Aurora, I find the interior a bit quirky, but nonetheless had a lovely cruise on her.

Because Aurora has a dining area mid-ships, there's decks where you can't walk from one end to the other. At the time, had an elderly parent on tow, who also didn't do enclosed lifts. The walk up to the Orangery 😕. I was just about needing oxygenated

But too many crazy stairs in a M.C Escher way

True. I wasn't a fan of Aurora's layout when I was on board, but I do recognise a fine looking ship when I see one, and she is one. Arcadia. I have a much more emotional attachment going on with her.

As I suspected in my previous post. Sad about this one. Pre-covid, she had been a regular to us in Edinburgh, and I've worked aboard her a few times. Happy little ship, lovely crew and a diverse passenger demographic.

29th May - 2nd June 2023. Applicable to English and Welsh schools only. Not in Scotland or Northern Ireland.

Ghent is lovely, isn't it. My preference to Bruges. Also like Blankenberge as an alternative.