Shrewsbury on Tour

Good evening one and all… We have our first cruise with P&O this October, previous 3 each with NCL and RC. With no bad experiences whatsoever. Just fancied a change this year. Especially on Arvia big ship, lots to do etc The price, sailing from Southampton, was a massive attraction. However after reading various threads, Christ alive what have we done. Can it really be that bad at every corner……Carry on Cruising springs to mind.. But after Arvia hits an iceberg in the next 24 hours, or an asteroid hits the main dining room..will probably sacrifice our deposit and stick with tried and tested. Not for us…. Cheers

Indeed they do…. Personally we never use main dining room, it’s just pre plated buffet food. Weatherspoons is probably better… Why shorts, I suppose in much hotter temperatures it’s more relaxing in shorts, than suit etc. There’s a perception that a suit is smarter, most are I’ll fitting, creased etc. Just my opinion…. Cheers

Hi, Thanks for the reply. Do all the other restaurants allow jeans on a formal night?? cheers

Hi, Thanks for the reply. We both like a drink on holiday, so we will definitely get value for money on the beverage package, That all sounds fine, as we tend not to use the main dining room. Many thanks

Sorry have posted twice…it’s the stress of booking…

Good morning, Thanks in advance for any advice/ help given. Looking to switch to P&O after 3 Cruises with RC and 2 with NCL We currently have a cruise booked with RC leaving this September from Southampton.We booked on the previous cruise and today the price is £500 cheaper including the room credit, it makes my blood boil!!! So before I cancelled and rebooked with gritted teeth. I checked out P&O There are some possible benefits…. Free parking. — Is that at the cruise terminal?? Better room credit…. Drinks package £40 PPPD. £70 on RC Do P&O do I dining package?? Or is it PAYG?? All good I think…..but On all are other cruises I have been able to wear shorts in the evening at any venue. I understand that this probably not possible with P&O. Happy to wear dark denim jeans in needed too…is this possible?? Cheers…

Good morning, Thanks in advance for any advice/ help given. Looking to switch to P&O after 3 Cruises with RC and 2 with NCL We currently have a cruise booked with RC leaving this September from Southampton.We booked on the previous cruise and today the price is £500 cheaper including the room credit, it makes my blood boil!!! So before I cancelled and rebooked with gritted teeth. I checked out P&O There are some possible benefits…. Free parking. — Is that at the cruise terminal?? Better room credit…. Drinks package £40 PPPD. £70 on RC Do P&O do I dining package?? Or is it PAYG?? All good I think…..but On all are other cruises I have been able to wear shorts in the evening at any venue. I understand that this probably not possible with P&O. Happy to wear dark denim jeans in needed too…is this possible?? Cheers…

Hi, Thanks for any help in advance…. Last year sailing out of Italy we managed to get the drinks package for £40 PPPD. Cannot find better than £70 which equates to best part of £1700 for our 12 night cruise on 21/09 Has anyone managed to find some amazing offers??? Cheers

Good evening, Just back off the odyssey. We had the UDP also. We tried every restaurant once to start. We would never go back to Wonderland again. We found the food poor in comparison to other specialty venues. It’s style over substance for sure. Whoever thinks that tomato water is edible needs shooting….the majority was bland and uninspiring. Cheers

Hi, We docked at Haifa first, everyone has leave the ship to get their Israel visa. Some get straight back on, some go on excursions some go independently into Haifa. You collect a ticket the day before, a lot of folks who booked independent excursions lost out because they did not leave the ship until 3pm. We went into Haifa, asides from the German colony garden which was closed. There’s nothing there. Ashdod, we booked a independent tour with a local company. Got off fine, it’s busy but ok. The old Jerusalem is incredible. As mentioned earlier the Dead Sea is not. Thanks

Good afternoon/ evening to all. I have asked plenty of questions prior to this cruise, would be more than happy to answer any questions that anyone has about the odyssey or the itinerary itself. My thoughts as follows. Positives… Very quick boarding Great drinks Speciality restaurants great apart from Wonderland!!!! Dining package worked in Pub, Playmakers and Wine Bar. Fantastic. Non management staff, awesome as always.They make the cruise. Bravo Exceptional bar staff. Not busy, no queues etc Fantastic stateroom. Immaculate every day. Flowrider, Bumper cars, Ifly awesome. Great ports apart from Haifa and Dead Sea (Ashdod) Good quizzes and varied entertainment. Plenty of seating. Stand out members of staff… La Toyah and George in the Pub Joanna in the Schooner They went above and beyond. Negatives…. Wonderland worst restaurant I’ve been to, style over substance. Some food just not edible. Tomato water simply vulgar… It’s just not good. Cruise director and Activity manager, only show their face at premium venues 270 and theatres . Never seen in bars for quizzes etc, Just don’t get how some folk swoon all over them. Just not good enough. Too much shopping, it’s like a shopping centre selling tat all day and night. Selling so called brands at 80% off it’s just a con, hundreds fall for it… Needs a another resturant and bar instead of all the retail outlets. Even the normal goods in duty free are 3 to 4 times more expensive than back home. Toilet paper, bloody hell. Please use a different brand. It’s like grease proof paper. Haifa, absolute waste of a port it’s just a visa stop port. £12 for a pint in Israel wow… Dead Sea, is a complete dump, and that’s being nice, it’s disgusting vile cess pit. Overall, despite above. We loved the ship and the cruise. The day to day staff fly the flag. Sad to be back home. Roll on next cruise. Cheers

Sorry…forgot to say the ship is the Odyssey of seas leaving on 07/10… yipeee.. First cruise since covid….

Good afternoon / evening.. Thanks for any advice and help in advance … Any thoughts on the best boarding day lunch options.. We have the UDP, but you cannot book in advance any venues.. We board 12.30 ish so I suppose around 1.30.. Cheeers

Hi, Thanks Will wait for a few days… Odyssey of the seas from Rome…only took 3 days for bid to be accepted. I guess the ships not full… Cheers

Hi, Thanks in advance for any help / advice given. just today got the news of my Royal Up offer being accepted. My set sail pass has been updated but the luggage tags remain with the previous room location / type etc. I had previously checked in. Any thoughts if they will update soon, or will I have to complete at port. We sail in 1 week. Thanks

That’s a perfect example of how confusing it is…there needs to be much better clarity. Did the UDP work at the pub?? cheers

It’s all very confusing….which it should not be. On buying the UDP you should’ve advised what is included… Will wait till we board..,.straight to the pub…

Cheers, hope it works when we go in 2 weeks… Thanks

Good afternoon / evening Any advice given is much appreciated. There seems to be lots of contradictions regarding what venues allow the use of the UDP on Odyssey of the seas..we are sailing in a few weeks, trying to get some clarity.. The majority seem to agree that Playmakers and Giovannis bar are included?? Any thoughts if the Pub is included?? Or does it just depend on the sailing. Cheers

Hi, Many thanks….already booked the UDP. So that’s a bit of pig to be honest. Will wait until we board and book like crazy…. thanks again.. cheers

Good evening from the UK, Any help in advance is much appreciated. Just checked in online for up coming cruise on Odyssey this October. Looking to book several restaurants prior to boarding. Been on the app and it still shows a cost even though we h@ve the UDP. Any thoughts, does it actually charge your card?? Then when you board, goes to no charge because you have the UDP?? Many thanks

Hi, many thanks for the info. Thanks

Good evening / morning, just too check as it’s disappeared from the website, to confirm that Playmakers is included on the UDP on the Odyssey of Seas. Sailing on the 07/10/22. Many thanks in advance. Cheers