scarlet ohara

We did that full transit cruise in Feb 2008 too - but in reverse. We flew to Acapulco and home from Barbados. It was the first time we had a balcony and spoiled us for evermore!! I too remember looking down and wondering how on earth the ship managed to fit in as there seemed very little room. I can’t believe it’s 15 years ago!

I think it’s the Antigua flights from October which are still waiting to hear about the airline- although they’ve been told by P&O it will be TUI or Virgin. We have friends flying out from Manchester for a week then staying on to Southampton. If the flights were confirmed we might consider joining them so long as we could get premium seats

I will definitely try it next time. Thank you all

I would love to know how to do this. I’ve read other threads about using routers etc and didn’t really understand them. We both have iPhones and I know how to use them as hotspots here but not sure how to do it onboard

Thank you - so just the same as it used to be. We'll manage fine sharing one package between us. Thanks for coming back so soon. I’m really enjoying your blog by the way. Enjoy the rest of your cruise

Sorry if these questions have been covered but I’ve tried searching and not found the answers We have booked another cruise and will need to buy internet for some of the days. On previous cruises one of us has bought a day pass about midday and we have alternated logging on until midday the next. Now that the new internet packages have been rolled out, is this still possible. Cruise personaliser gives an option for each of us to buy an internet package for 1,2,3 or 4 devices. Does this mean that if only one of us buys a package for one device we can no longer “share” the package by using the same log in details alternately. If so, presumably to use an iPad and an iPhone would require a package for 2 devices, even if for the same person. There isn’t much difference in price between both of us buying a package for one device or only one buying a package for 2 devices (it’s slightly cheaper). Thanks for any information

Thankyou Leomins and Carlanthony24. Very helpful

What time do the flights generally leave the UK. I’m assuming outbound is a daytime flight and the return flight is overnight. We are thinking about possibly trying an Arvia cruise this time next year and the flights aren’t available yet, nor is the carrier. If it’s daytime there won’t be any need to sleep but wondering about the return

If this happened to us, we would happily volunteer to fly home. I’m a terrible sailor and prefer fly cruises but have sailed from Southampton many times too. It’s only a few days short and if the seas are very rough, I probably wouldn’t enjoy the sail home. On Britannia, we are usually in a deck 9 balcony, (low down and midship) so presumably someone from deck 8 who didn’t want to fly could be moved into our cabin

If we had been slightly earlier, I suspect we would have been sent to the queue. Maybe we were lucky that the traffic was so slow around Southampton, some/many people with earlier checkin or priority might not have reached the port. But it seemed that they were calling people from the queue by arrival time, rather than who was first. We met a couple who were on one of the coaches which didn’t arrive till 3.30 and they were all given priority and waved straight through. They said that the queue then was really long

We are on Britannia just now and had the best boarding ever. We were allocated 12.45 which is the earliest we have ever had. We stayed in Southampton on Thursday night, having sent our luggage ahead via BHC. We strolled up to Ocean Terminal at 12.15, past all the traffic at a standstill, just as they were calling for those with 12.45 arrival times and were directed straight into the terminal. Minimal queuing inside for checkin or security, went straight to our muster station and were sitting in the Glass House before 12.45, having our first fizz of the cruise!! it looked as if they were calling to those in the queue who had 12.45 arrivals to come forward

They seem to have stopped the gold stickers- there were actual prizes on Iona recently. Hubby collected a bottle stopper, usb stick x 2 and a car usb charger for winning a few. Not sure why they’ve stopped the stickers

Oops, that’s a typo!! Unfortunately I don’t think about a 100 is an exaggeration- we couldn’t believe what we were seeing. We never saw it as busy any other time, although it was always busier than the previous cruise - we usually only had breakfast there

If you are looking for a quiet lunch on embarkation I’m not sure that The Quays will suit. We walked past on 11Feb, our B2B changeover day. To say it was mobbed is an understatement- there must have been at least 109 people queuing- the queues for the 3 stations ran into each other and were several deep. The queue for fish and chips extended almost to the end of Sindhu- (the neighbouring restaurant for those who haven’t been on Iona/Arvia yet. It may be more civilised on a quieter cruise- I don’t know what it was like on our embarkation 2 weeks earlier.

Sorry for any misunderstanding- it was formal dress mainly on the formal night(Valentines day) but smart casual the other nights we ate in Epicurean

We were on G303 with a boarding time of 1.45. Our taxi arrived early and we arrived at 1pm. We started queuing outside and thought it might take a while but nobody looked at the time on the boarding passes and we were in the atrium onboard within 30minutes. Didn’t even get a chance to sit down as our queue just kept moving. We were ahead of the coaches which probably helped. Cabins ready was shortly after we boarded and our cases were already at the cabin. Very smooth

I think we were lucky that we were on the cruise before as well, which was when bookings opened. Also, we tend to eat early and we’re happy to go at 6pm when the restaurant opened

While Epicurean guests last week on Iona was almost fully formal dress, the rest of the ship were fairly casual with not many DJs amongst the men. I can understand why when it’s only one night of the holiday.,Even for 2 nights of a 2 week cruise it’s a lot of extra luggage

There were single diners in the Olive Grove, Beach house, Sindhu and Epicurean each time we were in them the last 3 weeks. We didn’t manage to get into Olive Grive in the evening. On G303 there was no pre booking or booking on board- it was all turn up and get a pager. No virtual queue for it either. On G304 it was booking only, but was fully booked for evenings from the first time we tried. It never appeared on the “app” at all. We were advised to try at lunchtime, but were in port most days. It would be helpful if P&O would be consistent with each restaurant as to whether they are pre bookable before boarding or onboard as that might help lessen confusion

We arrived home yesterday after our first ever B2B cruise. We had a great time on G303. We hadn’t prebooked anything and used our massive amount of OBC to eat in all the speciality restaurants- Epicurean 3 times- bought the basic internet package which worked well and we generally had a great time. Embarkation was very smooth, we arrived at 1pm and never even got a chance to sit in the terminal, it was straight to checkin. We saw all the Headliners shows even though some were initially showing fully booked, but turned up just at the start and hit seats no problem- at the 8.30 shows. There were always seats free even when showing as fully booked. We like doing quizzes and there were several each day. The weather was good and many people were on sun beds on deck 8, and presumably on the higher decks too. We had a cabin with the extended corner balcony. The “normal” bit of the balcony had plenty space so we didn’t really need the extended area, and indeed felt awkward that if we turned from the balcony edge, we saw straight into the neighbouring cabin. The bed was near the balcony which made access to the wardrobe easier. We thought there was plenty space for our clothes- we use packing cases anyway so the lack of drawers wasn’t a problem. However the long balcony meant that there was no view lying on the bed, only of the long wall of the next balcony. So I wouldn’t book one of these cabins again, but would go for one in the middle of the row. I would avoid the adjacent couple of balconies Then came G304. There had been an increase in norovirus cases which we were unaware of- but we received a letter asking that we get off in Southampton at least between 10 and 12noon- and we were given additional OBC of £30 each, to “buy lunch”. But we were also invited to the Peninsular Lunch as we were B2B so only bought a coffee!! This time I had prebooked Lee Mead in Limelight who was fantastic. It only became available 2 weeks before boarding. Unlike previously the seating is now in the order you arrive, not by date of booking. There are about 8 tables for 2 in the front row, with mainly fours in the row behind. i had also tried to book Epicurean for Valentines Day but it was fully booked when I woke up on the morning booking opened. However we visited the restaurant the first night onboard G303 and explained and were able to get booked. There was a special menu including 3 glasses of wine for the same £30 charge with “upgraded” wines available for £7 or £8 per person (not glass) G304 was so different from G303. It was so busy everywhere- tables in the bars were left uncleared for ages, waiters were overwhelmed, especially on the sea days. The weather didn’t help, it was rather dreich for the first couple of days so no one was outside on sun beds. Not helped by the app not working for the formal sea day that was Valentine’s Day- so not sure what happened with meal bookings. Our internet package didn’t work this time and after 2 days they refunded it- before the app collapsed. I think it may just be too many trying to use it. There were hardly any quizzes on the sea days and in the evenings. There were 2 so called comedians on who were not remotely funny. Gareth Oliver was hilarious though Having said all that, we made the most of it but wouldn’t book a one week cruise again. We had managed to book restaurants early on changeover day and again had loads of OBC. One comment is that it isn’t really Freedom, as you can’t really just decide in the evening where you want to eat. Embarkation was a breeze. We did self disembark and had asked for 7am as we have a long drive, but we’re allocated 7.40. We had finished breakfast by 7 so thought we would head down to deck 6. Couldn’t get in a lift so hubby carried the cases down. No queue on deck six and we were off. Interestingly, no customs officers this time whereas loads of people having their cases searched last week ( which we had never seen on a cruise before) Sorry for the ramble- we enjoyed Iona a a ship but would be wary about booking at peak times

We were apprehensive before we boarded, this was our first post Covid cruise and I was very aware of all the adverse comments about lack of staff, Poor service etc. But we genuinely didn’t see anything of concern in the whole fortnight. There were always plenty seats, we got into the shows by just turning up a few minutes before they started etc. we really enjoyed ourselves and booked another cruise in May. This morning we commented that we’d happily go back on Iona, it’s just so different today. I hope it’s better tomorrow and will feedback when I can

We were also on the cruise and agree abut the MDR menus- very uninspiring. We didn’t actually eat there at all, as we had so much OBC to use. We had 3 meals in epicurean which were great. We enjoyed the Chefs table on the first formal night but cancelled the second in favour of the Keel and Cow. We are doing back to back so are still onboard. We got a letter to the cabin last night asking us to leave the ship before 10 and not return before 12, to allow extra cleaning. We were given £30 each in extra OBC to cover the cost of lunch ashore! But we also got vouchers to attend the peninsular lunch so only got a coffee in town., We had a great cruise but are rather regretting staying on. It is a completely different vibe - very very busy. And children everywhere! We didn’t realise it is school holidays in some places- our son is a teacher in the North East and they aren’t on holiday till next week. Brodies was jam packed and so noisy we couldn’t hear the announcements. We took 30mins to get a drink, there were only 2 waiters serving. The couple who say beside us took almost an hour! The queue at the quays was about 30 people at each of the 3 serveries- we never saw more than 2 or three the last fortnight. I really hope it settles down- it just seems so different from the last cruise- we just hope we aren’t in for a big disappointment

We’re on board Iona just now. We have been able to book for all the restaurants although we tend to eat early so I don’t know what the availability for later meals is. it has been confusing as before boarding the website said we could book the olive grove/ but we can’t it’s only bookable via the virtual queue. we didn’t really want to book much in advance as we have a shed load of OBC to use so I was worried that there might be no availability- but we have been able to book all that we wanted Service has been fine, not rushed and not too slow either We are very happy with our first cruise since Jan 2020!!

I’m on Iona at present and we went to chef’s table last night. I thought it was pretty good. We had a window seat on a take of two. The service was reasonable. We sat down at 6pm just as the captain was making his announcement and were finished before 8 as we were in time for the 8pm quiz in Brodies. There was a bit of a delay getting our main course which the table beside us had way before us. But our desserts came soon after we finished and at the same time as the table beside us. it was rather annoying with loads of people walking through though. The drinks orders arrived promptly and we could have ordered more quite easily I’m not sure I would have wanted to pay extra unless it was a nominal charge but we thoroughly enjoyed it.

Hi, I googled “Home TPN support” and it came up with various links to UK hospitals information leaflets for patients. One of which includes the following What are the benefits? The aim of HPN is to allow people with intestinal failure to go home and to live as normal a life as possible. Many people on HPN go out to work, look after a family, go on holiday and take part in sport and social activities like anyone else. It might be worth speaking to your local department/ specialist nurse to see what they think, albeit it wouldn’t be feasible until your wife is stable. In my experience (retired GP), most of the specialities dealing with long term chronic illness are very keen for patients to live as normal a life as is possible. best wishes