bee-ess

1 minute ago, Dermotsgirl said:

I’m so sorry, Brian 😂

 

it’s just that Bee-ess sounds like the feminine version of something, like lioness or tigress, so I always assumed you were a girl! 😂

Never thought of that - It is my initials - BS

2 minutes ago, Interestedcruisefan said:

I agree don't even book them then ?

 

Unless I've misunderstood you have now confirmed what I said bee-ess?

 

You didn't have to stay up til midnight to do all that. And everything you wanted last night you thought was sold out last night is  available now

 

Exactly what I expected based on my experiences of Arvia and Iona?

 

You've got stressed when there was no need?

 

You've jumped on a bandwagon as others have said that you didn't need to?

 

 

 

 

I don't need to justify my decisions to you.

Are you saying that you knew that more slots are added the next day.

I wish I was that clever.

3 minutes ago, Interestedcruisefan said:

No ive always gone 8.30pm shows (the busiest shows on Arvia). I've only done one early show ever and that was the last one on Iona?

 

If you wait til day before then you might have a problem getting the 8.30pm show

 

So just book 2 days before or book them all a day or two before you get on the ship if you want to be safe

 

And if not don't complain if you don't get it

 

Total scaremongering is suggesting you need to be booking theatre shows a week before at any time

 

It's just more drama that doesn't actually exist

 

 

You don't think that the situation may have changed since you were on. Arvia when you breezed through everything. Megabear has been on there last 2 weeks and I tend to trust her comments.

3 minutes ago, Dermotsgirl said:

the OP has already explained that everything she booked was not available the next morning. If she’d thought, oh, there’s no need to rush, she’d have missed out. 

I'm a he !! - Brian.

2 minutes ago, Megabear2 said:

Your choice. I'm sorry but on these full up cruises if you want the 8.30 or that time there is literally no availability onboard.  I'm not lying, and I'm a little tired of repeating myself. There is literally no availability, if you don't believe me, I can't  change it. You go to early shows I cant comment on those but I am not making it up. The middle show is completely full and dining is full from early people until 8.15 or so.  I've no reason to make it up, I wish it was different.

I also have no reason to make it up either, the situation was as I have described.

Back to my comment in Post 1 - if this is what is required to book up restaurants I don't really want it, to be honest I would rather have fixed MDR Dining and 1 or 2 Specialities. We have always booked up specialities easily in the past. 

4 minutes ago, Selbourne said:

Bee-ess has already answered your question in post #4. Apparently none of the 8 bookings that they made at midnight last night would have still been available this morning. 
 

Although having just looked there are more time slots available nownow strangely enough - there were only a small amount of later slot times last night for Epicurean, Sindhu, Beach House and Green and Co. Now there are slots at 15 min intervals. I think what happened was that there were a lot of people chasing a few slots.. A big factor also was the inability of the IT to handle the demand, hence loads of buffering. As I said I have learned from this for next time, I chose to do that but will not next time.

We could have easily have got the MDR and Olive grove for 6PM but we don't eat early.

1 minute ago, Interestedcruisefan said:

What did you guys all book at midnight together that's now sold out though?

 

I can't figure out what I'm missing?

 

If there's been drama about everybody trying to book something at midnight together for Arvia I'm just wondering what exactly that was you were all trying to book together?

 

 

I have told you the experience I and others had, I booked at Midnight as I was advised to do this as a friend had problems 2 cruises ago. It was a nightmare and I won't do it again as I have learned my lesson. I have nothing else to add.

9 minutes ago, Interestedcruisefan said:

I still don't understand what you've been able to book on Arvia at midnight that wouldn't be available today?

 

There isn't actually a lot you can book at this stage that would sell out this quickly is there?

 

They don't have Norwegian Taster on Arvia like on Iona?

 

I'm honestly intrigued?

 

 

If you look on the face cloth you will see lots of complaints about the problems people had last night - it was not lack of slots as much as not being able to book them, loads of buffering and a race to actually get them booked and paid for..

5 minutes ago, bee-ess said:

Double Post

21 minutes ago, terrierjohn said:

I am so glad that I have no desire to book chargeable speciality restaurants on specific days at certain times. If I really want to book one I will pop into the restaurant once on board and check with a human as to what times and days are available, and then book it. Will this work, well it has done on our last 3 cruises, even though "The Computer said No".

It may well be, I hope it is John !

15 minutes ago, lincslady said:

So you got exactly what you wanted even leaving it a lot later, presumably?

We did get what we wanted thanks

9 minutes ago, Interestedcruisefan said:

You've chosen to go on and do that at midnight

 

You didnt have to

 

I'm sure everything you wanted that was available last night to book you were able to get?

 

I'm sure it would have been available to book today and tomorrow as well?

 

You are just one of the ultra extra organised ones 

 

Good for you. But like I say you chose to do that?

 

Nobody forced you to and it really isn't necessary IMO

 

99 per cent of guests aren't panicking like you?

 

Most won't attempt to book anything until they are on the ship or nearer to the  cruise

 

I honestly feel you've created your own panic a little bit. With all due respect

 

What exactly did you book at midnight for Arvia that you don't think would be available today or later this week for example?

 

Nothing we booked last night was available this morning

I am not panicking or exaggerating. Sometimes we ordered and paid OK, Most times the slot was taken before we could pay and we chose a different slot.

The IT cannot cope with the many people trying to book at the same time, loads of buffering and then messages to say that the slot has already been taken before we could pay.

Maybe the situation has changed since your last trip.

I am no stranger to IT with 45 years experience or cruising with 25 years experience, so youy are not talking to a newbie in either.

We are on Arvia on June 11th and today is the day our Dining and Entertainment became available.

We logged on at Midnight last night to book our Dining and it was very frantic with lots of buffering and bookings being cancelled before we could pay for them, literally before we could get into the basket to checkout, even though we were doing this process one booking at a time and losing half of them seconds later.

We got more or less what we wanted in the end but it took over an hour to book 8 slots and have made sure we have proof of the bookings for when we lose them as many have done on cruise that has just ended..

We are not early diners so have not booked MDR's or Olive Grove as they only had slots up to 6:30 available.

NO sign of any Entertainment to book at the moment., although there was a message on the page tp say available on 27th May !! which has now been removed but nothing there to book.

I could tell by our first and last order numbers that there were many people on there at midnight trying to do the same thing - but if this is future of cruising on these new large ships I'm not sure that it is for us. Holidays should be relaxing not stressful (as this was last night). It is a bit of a shame as we really like Britannia which does not have this hassle, but the 'fear of missing out' is causing this panic to prebook on an IT system that cannot cope with the demand. I cannot see much being left to book when we get on the ship in 2 weeks.

We will go with an open mind but have to say we are not impressed with the panic to prebook stuff like this.

18 hours ago, tring said:

 

 

I have a particular interest in port times for our US/Canada cruise in September, so will email P&O for the actual times as suggested.  Can I ask what email address you used for P&O when asking for them though, to make sure I have the best chance of getting a response?

 

Thank you both for reporting you were able to get the actual times the ship is due in port.  Though of course I do realise there can easily be some changes a better approximation would be very useful for that cruise.

 

Barbara

 

I type a question into this and they reply by email

https://www.pocruises.com/frequently-asked-questions

10 hours ago, Megabear2 said:

This is sadly taking a turn for the worse and getting a bit too deep and personal.  When people start telling me I'm enticing people to complain and cancelling holidays I think the time has come for me to.move on.  I have decided not to post anymore on this link as it isn't and never was intended to be anything other than posting on my holiday experience.  Thanks.

I'm very sorry that you are not posting on this topic anymore. We are on  Arvia in 3 weeks time and am very grateful to you for your posts that have highlighted many things to avoid such as Palma shuttles. I have found your posts to always be very fair and to the point. From a selfish viewpoint I would like to you keep posting as it highlights deficiencies that can only help us and future cruisers on Arvia, but fully understand why you choose to stop. Please enjoy the rest of your cruise and thank you for your helpful posts on this topic. 

We go there in 4 weeks time and are happy with Palma. Would rather have that then a last minute change, at least we can plan what to do now.

It looks though Arvia is in Palma today.

It it there with Seaview and Celebrity Edge - so 2 ships with over 5k passengers have been allowed in, I thought that the rules say that is not allowed.

10 hours ago, Megabear2 said:

As long as it is somewhere else not a relaxing day at sea ...

Nor an overnight in Barcelona

44 minutes ago, purplesea said:

No, still no change to the itinerary!

Getting late to change now, perhaps they have got around the rules

On 5/5/2023 at 12:54 PM, purplesea said:

I'm on that cruise too and no news!! Still showing as a port of call.

Any news about Palma change yet ? Getting close now

On 4/18/2023 at 7:58 PM, Megabear2 said:

Is this the 14 May departure due Palma 19th - that's the one I'm on.  Port schedule actually shows Seaview, Edge and Arvia in port that day so assumedly we won6 be going.

Hi, Megabear, Any news about Palma cancellation yet, it is getting very close to 14th now.

Has anyone else on Arvia had Palma cancelled for the upcoming Summer cruises yet ?

We have used to train to Rome a couple of times but not for a few years. We stopped when they changed where the port shuttle drops which made ot harder to get to the station, We didn't have any problems, I seem to remember there were a number of trains during the day. This link will help

https://www.rometoolkit.com/airport/civitavechia_train.htm

Seems to be 10% deposit req'd now, has been 5% for past launches.

Won't be bothering this time, going to wait for offers/bigger OBC.

12 minutes ago, Megabear2 said:

On the days with big clashes Celebrity have been moving Edge to Ibiza as a substitute but she of course is under 3,500 passengers. Will have to wait and see

Would be happy with Ibiza, just don't want overnight in Barcelona, we have been there so many times, we struggle with 1 day there now so don't really want 2.