Interestedcruisefan

Limelight was great last night. Really high quality meal. I would say approaching Epicurean quality. I've created a thread about Mary Mac already. Superb entertainer. Things to be aware of. They allocate tables according to first come first served. With the best tables being given to the first guests to arrive etc. The show started at 7pm we arrived 6.45pm and by then we were near the back once we entered. 5 to 10 minute queue to get in. But all very smooth and well organised. Similar to 710 club there are pillars that can obstruct the stage view in there. It's a wide stage though and Mary Mac used all of the stage!!! So it didn't detract from her show. I've done Limelight before on Britannia. This is a bigger club. On Britannia they simply had the act after the meal with nothing else. Which I questioned back then. It was one of the 3 night staycation cruises when we were all wearing masks still. Last night they served amuse Bouche and starters then had an interlude of about 20 minutes where the Limelight Band played some songs alongside a singer from the entertainment crew They then served main and desserts without entertainment and then Mary Mac came on (backed by the band at 9pm) She performed til 10pm. When most people left including us. The band was due back on at 10.30pm at which stage other passengers would also be allowed in Worked very well. Very smooth. They all know what they are doing. The dinner is great and last night's act was superb as stated. Very enjoyable night Some photos to follow

Our captain mentioned it was a 65 day cruise ish on Aurora Would be a shame to let something like that ruin their cruise But they should have perhaps laid on shuttles somehow (if possible) to allow passengers from Aurora to access the normal port area. (Maybe they did) Something went wrong with one of the Arvia shore excursions yesterday in Saint Lucia. No idea what or where. But about 4.30pm there was a big group of disgruntled excursion guests lining up at Guest services to complain at the same time and all being directed to go to the shore excursion desk from 5pm

Higher up on Arvia are more decks including a jogging deck. And another walking deck which are the ones we have been using. But they don't extend the full perimeter of the ship but still are plenty long enough for us They aren't covered either And have sunbeds and Jacuzzis and chairs all around them None of which get in the way at all

Yes just checked out Arvia. Deck 8 is classed as a Promenade deck. It's huge and wide. But it's not covered. And you do have sunbeds and chairs and Jacuzzis at you say. There is also an outdoor bar area at one end at least that you would have to "promenade" though when open. I imagine people use that area on sea days. Didn't have time to check both ends this morning. At 8am ish there was nobody on the promenade other than other walkers and some people dining outside the Quays. It's definitely wide enough to accommodate the sunbeds and chairs and the Jacuzzis though. It's approaching 8 metres wide in many places.

Like I say on Arvia you simply avoid that area and sit or lie somewhere without the screen. Plenty of choices. They also have decks with music and without. We prefer the ones with background music most of the time on holiday. But can enjoy decks without the music as well. I keep thinking with Arvia that it's hard to complain about something on the ship you don't like when there's options elsewhere on the ship that offer the opposite of what you don't like. Hope that makes sense. We've all got preferences of course. When we first started cruising we were definitely drawn to ships offering big outdoor screens tbh. We imagined watching films on them in the evenings. They seemed an exciting option to us. Despite then being on ships numerous times with big outdoor screens I think weve probably watched a film at night once ! Always found something else we wanted to do more once on board! Lol

No sunbeds on any of the decks to date we've been on have got in the way of us walking on Arvia. Loads of places to walk. Loads of space to walk in 100 per cent on Arvia you can't hear the sound from the big screen from other sunbathing areas of the boat. Even when they have the roof open. Maybe that's en extra advantage of having a big ship. It's big enough to avoid the places you don't like Like most on here. We don't want to spend sea days near the big screens on ships. Too overpowering. On Arvia the spaces they've designed at the front and rear of the ship with multiple pools etc ensure you only have to be impacted by the big screens if you choose to be impacted We pass through the area sometimes on the way to other places we want to be on the sea days. The dome is clearly very popular with young and old passengers though. It's always busy and always a big mix of agegroups there But just not for us on seadays. On this ship it doesn't impact people who don't want to be there though. You do have to go looking for it to be impacted by it on Arvia. I can understand why on smaller ships a big outdoor screen can spoil enjoyment for those that don't like them

That's exactly what appeared to happen yesterday. Passengers were getting loudly applauded and standing ovations from people on the ship as they eventually made it onboard last night Seemed to be a huge party there most of the afternoon

Yep looks like they've given her a week on both ships initially? She's got a lot of shows on this cruise and it's a big club to fill each night with guests prepared to pay 25 each. But as word spreads I don't think that will be a problem. I would pay to watch the show again. However, will avoid doing that and hope she's on next time we cruise instead Meal was excellent in there last night as well

Ok will check out exactly what the options are on Arvia in that respect. Most decks we've walked on have sunbeds as well but nowhere near where we've been walking. Not noticed if any are covered or not. In the weather we've got weve been using uncovered ones though on the upper decks The one ive been using the most so far is high up and i do know is 7 laps to 1 mile and stops where the skydome starts so doesn't go round the whole ship But there's definitely plenty more options we've not been using as much Will try and understand what all the options are. There's a low down one that we went around late afternoon the other day and never saw a soul albeit people had probably gone in their cabins by then to start getting ready for dinner

What is classed as an official promenade on a ship?

There appear to be numerous prom decks on Arvia? At least we've been walking round numerous decks as though it's a prom deck. Alongside others. Also at least one specific one where you can jog (but most still walk around the jogging one to be honest) I assume the smaller ships have less options for this? And so with less options can get equally busy on their prom decks and equally with people who want sun beds in the best areas etc? I looked at Aurora (admittedly from a long distance away from above yesterday) And it didnt appear to have made any real use of the front of the ship for nice seating areas or pools outside? I could be wrong though Everything seemed to be at the top of the ship in terms of outdoor areas on Aurora On Arvia there seem to be promenade options from the 8th floor upwards (at least) and literally everywhere around the ship front, sides and back outside space to enjoy?

I'm not sure what the cost for data roaming would be for me nowadays. I know it's been brutal in that past. But I have to have daily access to emails and do some online work daily from my cabin. I can't just do that stuff on port days sadly. I did consider it.

If you are on a P and O cruise anytime soon and you see Mary Mac is performing in the Limelight Club do yourself a favour and make sure you book a place to watch her She's on Arvia now doing her trial week for P and O. If they don't sign her up for every cruise they can get I would be amazed. I predict she becomes the go to act for the Limelight clubs aboard P and O ships for years to come. You heard it here first!! Brilliant act. A drag artist from Scotland. Who is incredibly funny, has a great voice and can dance as well!! Lol Shes got it all! Perfect cruise ship entertainer. 11 out of 10. And fair play to P and O for booking her. I was very sceptical before the show. But like I say don't hesitate to book this show if available on your cruise. Superb entertainment.

I kind of agree about sitting on a beach in blazing sunshine not being great. We sat/lay in the sea most of the afternoon (which was lovely in comparison), drank rum and watermelon and snorkelled in between

We are heading to the Limelight Club soon to enjoy dinner (hopefully) and to watch Mary Mac A drag act from Scotland!! Lol That's going to be a first for us. On or off a cruise Will take some pics and report back tomorrow!!

Don't be afraid Weve barely seen a queue worth mentioning so far on Arvia If you can't book any of the restaurants you like on the app go and speak to the specific restaurant managers. If you are able to sit down early 6pm to 6.30pm I predict they will find you spaces. Weve booked a 6.30pm at Sindhu and 6pm at epicurean like that. We also got in the 710 club just by asking if they had any space and without a booking at 7pm The managers want to help you if they can

Plus we had a local beer as well!!

Note aurora also visiting st Lucia today. They got the short straw having to dock next to all those containers

Arvia and Aurora both docked together in St Lucia today They put size before age and gave Arvia the nicest dock We had a great day today Joined up with some other passengers and paid 30 us dollars each for a minibus tour to the North side of the island. We stopped at Pigeon Bay or Beach (can't remember) for 3 hrs as part of the tour. Our beach was directly adjacent to Sandals. We did some nice snorkelling (took our own snorkels) saw plenty of fish and a school/shoal of 15 squid!! Fabulous guy selling coconut, watermelon and pineapples filled with rum from a boat Pics to follow We paid 15 us dollars for a watermelon filled with rum and 2 straws (with a free refill included) lol

Hardly seen anyone wearing a mask anywhere on this holiday on or off the ship If I see someone wearing a mask now I kind of assume they must think theyve got covid and don't want anyone else to catch it Unless they are vulnerable themselves

We weren't asked to show any proof of anything for the Arvia 14 night Caribbean cruise for barbados And nobody asked to see proof of our Barbados immigration online completion either I kind of think Barbados just trust you if you've got in on a plane from UK!! Lol

Some more pics of St Lucia from the ship this morning

Yes that makes total sense I do feel that on Arvia there are spaces where you can find the peace and quiet when you need it. Not counting your own balcony of course. At which stage maybe you can imagine the ship isn't the size it is. There's multiple prom decks on Arvia. Each one probably no busier than the prom deck you enjoy. Multiple pool areas. 18 whirlpools! Again each one probably no busier than on smaller ships I only fully realise the size of this ship when I'm off the ship looking at it from the outside in When I'm on it. I can only ever be in one part of it at a time so to speak What we cant ever do on here is get to know and recognise all the passengers of course However we have made friends with a few on the ship as well and it's amazing how often we bump into them despite the size of the ship Pros and cons of big and small ships The biggest pros of the big ships for me are the value for money and the huge choices of things to do and enjoy on board

St Lucia today Here's the view from our balcony this morning

I understand that I think big ships are brilliant for families and the younger cruisers by and large Because they offer so many things to do and different places to eat. Incredible range of entertainment as well I do think more experienced cruisers can enjoy them as well. If they choose the places on the ship they prefer. But I totally get why some people prefer smaller and more intimate ships We are on as a couple so just dine together each night. So we pick and choose when we want to be somewhere quiet and refined or when we want to be somewhere busy and lively. Really suits us having so many choices And we like the size of the ship for getting our steps in! Lol I'm averaging 11,000 steps a day My wife far more as she goes jogging every day as well!