Red Leicester

Generally on trains you pay for travel, not for seats. Ironically the cheapest tickets, those in advanced, give you a mandatory seat reservation. The walk up fares do not. Go figure. Nothing worse that not knowingly taking someone's usual seat on the train and spending 45 mins having daggers aimed at you. Personally, like my cruises, my commute is my time and I don't want to be disturbed. Occasionally a colleague will jump on part way which is highly irritating. There is also one person who is sporadic on my commute that has some irritating habits, if I see them I make a beeline for the next car. Only once, on Arcadia, did I regularly bump into someone on a cruise who was so loud and annoying I would walk out the bar and head somewhere else if I spotted them. It's good to be different, if we were all the same life would be boring.

I'd be allocated the buffet or pool grill. And I'd be happy. Or it would end up like most reality TV shows, not that I watch. Contestant Number 1 is Red Leicester, they like Grand Theft Auto games. Contestant Number 2 is Double Gloucester. They get on with anyone except those who play Grand Theft Auto.

And if conversations on mixed tables go the way of some threads on here it would be a frosty week or two's evenings. Hmmmmm, that's how I get my table for two...

Certainly heard about people getting bargain basement fares and then going all out to get premium treatment and working their way via managers to get their own tables for two. It is an odd thing to do though, mixed tables. You don't do it in a normal restaurant. On my train journey into work people go out their way to avoid sitting next to someone until every single seat is taken. Some would rather stand. And on 3+2 seating that middle seat... It's another change in society I think. As I said up above those we recruit now won't make phone calls. They do everything but. No-one asks me for contact details of anyone anymore as I only hand out the phone number. I'm unsociable. I always have been, that's just me. On Iona I can be a small fish in a big pond and hide. That said I am a thoroughly decent chap and if someone speaks with me I'll speak back.

Okay.

You will never please all the people all the time. 80/20 rule. In 30 years it'll all be different and I won't want it to change but it'll have to so it can serve the new demands and markets.

Everyone needs to accept change happens. As I keep saying some change is good.

We all fit into several. Sadly I didn't quite fit into the male, 30-39 and from Rochdale bracket last week, though bonus points to the surveyor who stopped me who thought I was under 39. Different ships for different people. Just wish people would fathom that out and stop criticising the newer ships and new cruisers. There's a lot passive aggressive comments.

Go back 100 years and people wore suits, stiff collars and that all day. I don't see even the traditional cruiser doing that at 11:00 on a sea day. Shocking behaviour! Just for me, starting on Oriana, then Arcadia then Iona it got more relaxed and less formal. I'm glad. The typical cruise passenger in 40 years time, unlikely to be me unless I make my mid-80s, will look different again. In my 24 years working ties have gone and the it would appear the inability to make a phone call to someone is also going. "I've emailed / messaged / texted / Teams-ed them". Bringing it back to the original ask... try one, see what you think. Not every ship or line is suited to every person. It can take a bit of trial and error. Don't worry what others think, go for yourself and find what does it for you. Interestingly Mrs RL and me were looking at MSC and their Yacht Club, whilst the retreat stuff appeals things like the fine dining and butlers are not for us so weighing up the value. P&O don't yet really have a ship within a ship thankfully. Well, not that I have noticed.

I think Strictly has probably revived ballroom dancing somewhat. There was a thread on here about activities as people were missing bridge and I stated, along with other, I knew no-one who plays aside from my dad. A board game room would go down well with me... but not others. It's difficult to get a balance. Tastes, hobbies and interested have certainly changed.

Articulated much better than me!

This is going to be really difficult to answer without potentially annoying people or starting a massive thread of traditional vs new and what does this Red Leicester know as they've only done a few cruises how dare he claim to know. That said... Iona and Arvia appear to be marketed to families and those with children. You get that vibe walking around the Iona, can't vouch for Arvia. Some things are missing like the library which is missed by some as ships before then have always had one. As every other ship has had a library this one should too but... it doesn't. Does it need one? No in my opinion. People have Ereaders and phone, tastes change. Give the room up to something else. Less formal nights too, I think, which is good in my opinion. Arcadia and Britannia have a totally different vibe and I'd say are quieter and much more traditional. Less aimed at families and children, in fact certainly Arcadia is adults only from memory. More formal nights. If I had children I be headed for Iona and Arvia as first choices for sure. But I am able to pick my ship based on the itinerary and not the ship. Iona and Arvia feel a younger passenger base (though I have no proof) but it still doesn't feel a ship to go on for a party cruise if that makes sense. I've seen other ships which seem more fun and loud but they are not for me. On the ships themselves I keep myself to myself but have no negative experiences of my fellow passengers on either bar the usual Tommy Toppers, those who will point out they have done far more cruises than me. To me, and note I said to me, Iona and Arvia are moving with the cruising market. Ones like Arcadia are still aimed at the more traditional cruiser and serve that market. Where there are negative comments are from experienced cruisers trying the new ships as they are shiny and new and they have to do them. They are radically different from what they are used to in many ways. As I always say it's your cruise, pick the ship you want, do what you want and don't worry about others. It can be trial and error. Would I rush back to Arcadia? Depends where it was going. Would I rush back to Iona? Depends where it was going. If they were both going to the same place I would probably pick Iona over Arcadia assuming it was outside of school holidays! But we are all different with different needs.

Iona is the only ship I've done twice at the moment. I loved it. You can be a small fish in a big pond. I'm glad you enjoyed it too. It divides opinion on here I find. Everyone rushes to try the new ships but as it's aimed at a different market it now has its vocal critics. Some change is needed to move forward. There a now a mix of ships for the differing markets and you can tell the atmosphere of each. I'm not the life and soul of the party and go to relax and Iona has enough about it to keep me entertained. Norway and Sweden are the best destinations I've been to as well and itching to go back! Very jealous. I was in Southampton today on a trip out to test my new camera, monocular and spotting scope and had a pang of jealousy with Iona in and people coming and going.

Not sure how this thread got randomly revived after 18 months! As I said above back then drinks packages are very marmite. Either love or hate. If you want one then take it. If you don't think it's worth the value then don't. Don't sweat the small stuff about what others do, their choice! Mrs RL and me take the soft drinks package, weighed it up and it works for us. Pay as we go on alcohol. It'll be different for others no doubt and that's fine.

Thank you @TigerB, all updated and credited to you. Funchal has moved since I visited a couple of years back. This could be the first update / move I've done.

Not been to Porto so not on me map I’m afraid. All gen gratefully received.

Cost cuts from TfL following the pandemic. Red Arrow routes (507 and 521) were primarily commuter aimed services to get people to / from t’offices. Since the pandemic usage dropped and they are not sustainable. My limited understanding is to get continued funding TfL had to make x amounts of cuts and central London bus routes were reviewed and efficiencies made. Many route duplicated each other for miles and carrying fresh air. So cuts and changes made to maintain key links. The 11 has linked Victoria and Liverpool Street continually for 110+ years according to my records and was diverted to Waterloo in 2023 to replace the 507. I’m not an expert at politics and we have drifted off topic. Happy to help with journey enquiries. Call it a passing interest / occupational hazard.

507 was withdrawn last year. You need an 11 now been Vic and Waterloo.

That said depending on the Medway town you may need to change at Dartford or London Bridge for Waterloo East. Some Medways only have the Thameslink service to Luton.

I'd say try and get a Charing Cross train service, bail at Waterloo East, walk along to Waterloo and catch the SouthWestern service to Southampton Central.

Where in Kent are you coming from? You can hop along the coast with some changes if near Ashford or into London and back out. If via London then Waterloo - Southampton is quickest. Victoria - Southampton is much slower. Again depending where in Kent you travel from Waterloo East - Waterloo may be convenient and has ramps / lifts to help. If you want to message me offline for further info then feel free to.

Shameless plug for my map of berths and shuttle buses. Went to Stockholm in 2022 and straight into my top five ports. The sail in is awesome, I took a timelapse off the back of about three hours transit out before my battery ran out. Had a overnight stay and left mid-afternoon on Day 2. Shuttle buses provided and dropped off as shown on my maps. No issues.

Following an incident a few years back train dispatch rules and methods have changed. More people use the railways in the UK compared to Ireland. The Passenger Train Interface (PTI) is one of the biggest risks associated with running trains and is taken very seriously in the UK. BR train services haven't existed since the mid 90s. The Cobh - Cork service is useful though, we had two days in Cobh and the option of getting to Cork was easy and appreciated. Cork station was a little way out of the centre though.

Shameless plug for my map. Click here

Here's a link to the current Cobh - Cork railway timetable. Half hourly on Monday to Friday and hourly on a Saturday and Sunday. 26 mins into Cork. I did this a few years back, it was a booked hourly service but IE ran extras on the day. It was busy but had a seat both ways. https://www.irishrail.ie/getmedia/07903094-cff0-4db2-88a3-1eab9ca81359/13-Mallow-Cobh-Midleton.pdf