CliveJ

Kind of you, Sir/Ma'am ! Fair point too - if in doubt, speak to a real person ! May even work ! If, as it seems, you're on Arvia now, hope you continue to have an excellent time. Thank you !

Oh, wow, I don't laugh 'out loud' much nowadays, but in the context of what's been debated here all evening, that restriction is as ludicrous as anything I've heard in a fair while ! Only travelling in the one - brand new - smart pair of 'trainers'(pricier & smarter than many a pair of acceptable shoes)...so by that criterion likely to be denied dining if anyone looks down when I turn up at 6p.m. ! Terrific !

Gee...hope you're right, Sir !

And some just wish to be seated quietly in a corner with a 'please DON'T look at me' statement of their own.

Wow - you wouldn't like to start a cruise line, would you ? Yours is an approach that perhaps a few others, including P&O, might consider - 'comfortable'/'their choice'...as long, of course as it's not genuinely offensive !

OK, Sir, may as well lay into your post, since at least one of the folk I was 'debating' with has deleted all his conversations. Afraid what, among a fair few other things, you DON'T find when you're you're offered an excellent no-fly solo price on a cruise are the details which the line in question might later present as requirements (once of course you've given them your money). Not sure that, in these days of 'inclusivity', most people would be expecting to be 'excluded' from an event simply on the basis of what is deemed 'acceptable' to wear( & please don't harp on about swim trunks etc., that's not the issue here)...and I fear, from a fair bit of research in the last few weeks, that some of the 'traditional' passengers may feel a little more strongly about such things as 'formal wear' than the cruise company themselves. A good few recent passengers/bloggers/vloggers have suggested that with a respectable shirt/tie (which I'll for sure be wearing) there will be NO problem getting into the MDR/Chef's Table of 'celebration' night. A few others, without suggesting that they're recent cruisers, have informed me that if I don't like the policy I should book somewhere else. I'm not actually debating who's right or wrong any more - it's a 'never the twain shall meet' scenario; I'd just like to know what's actually going to happen in a week's time when I turn up at the MDR on Mar. 6th. So, if anyone can spare me the contempt clearly owing to anyone who dares flout the conventions that they hold so dear, MIGHT I GET IN, PLEASE ?!

No wish - at all - to take exception to your post, Sir/Ma'am...but practicality comes into this too. What proportion of your baggage allowance might be taken up by a suit that you may wear for, perhaps, 5 hrs. over 2 weeks ? I have such clothes (well, if they still fit ?!), but carting them round the country (or much further) just to be polite - sorry, in this day & age, seems a step too far !

Kind of you, Jane. I don't seem to be having a lot of joy with my opinions on CC tonight. Don't desperately care...not a lot else to do when you're old but to be a bit contentious & see what happens ! Haven't actually checked the Arvia postings...will do so, though of course circumstances dictate (& recent YT vlogs suggest the Iona cruise on Mar. 4th could be packed out !). The app ? Yep, sure, will ask as/when necessary. Well aware IT has its uses...but perhaps not for old idiots like me.

Bye bye, MajorTom - have a great cruise...your way; I'll try to do so in mine !

Right - fine...no problem at all with manners/respect. Are the cruise lines, in this case particularly P&O, aware of/prepared to adapt to this. Everyone's paid for 2 'smart' dinners - perhaps there should now be provision made to accommodate those who don't wish to splash out on appearance in one 'formal' room, while for those who do....?

Quite - & as suggested in my post to MajorTom, cannot the two 'camps' co-exist for a couple of hours, without fractious exchanges (& this is only an online forum in writing...never mind the nonsenses that people will come out with onboard). Does my failing to don a suit/DJ(while happily compromising with a smart shirt/tie) spoil the evening for those who want to dress 'to the nines' ? What other areas of some guests failing to respect the preferences of others would P&O like to include here - suspect we could all think of a few ?

Oh dear, oh dear, MajorTom - we appear to be on the same cruise, but should perhaps stay 3 decks apart. This is the age of 'inclusivity', not exclusivity. There are not, actually, so many cruises operating out of Southampton for those who can't/won't fly. P&O are one of those who do...and is it REALLY a 'dealbreaker' in 2023 that those who'd rather not (for practical as much as expense reasons) pack 'dresswear' for a couple of hours on 2 nights out of 14 CANNOT dine in the same restaurant as those who'd rather dress formally ?

Yes, Sir - if not for the remarkable full board price (£585 for a fortnight...SOLO - yes, I know comparing prices is iniquitous, but it's relevant here) I would not be in this position. Have booked all I want/can in advance, but have NO confidence in, frankly, anything else. Perhaps for that price I don't deserve to, but it's not an inconsiderable sum for a pensioner....and, generally, when you book a holiday on sea or land you know what your restrictions/limitations are. Here, I'm guessing. Will try to get back on CC after return, in order to give those cruising later in the year, like yourselves, a clearer picture of what actually transpired !

Sorry - is this a reply to my post ? In which case...yes, I know what it says on the P&O site, and I know what a fair number of recent cruisers have said actually happened in their experience...but I have NO clue what I'm actually going to find arriving at the MDR on Iona at 6p.m. on Mar. 6th.

Yup - get the 'suits your pocket' in these difficult times; .but...having to choose your cruise based on whether you have to 'dress up' on formal nights ? No...that's not remotely user friendly in an era where cruise lines SURELY have to be, with SO many alternatives.

Exactly as it should be...no-one's 'right' and, within fairly obvious limits, no-one's 'wrong' either. But sadly this is a P&O dress thread, so...?

Thank you to all whose comments I've read here ! On Iona in 5 days' time - frankly...DREADING the whole experience after all I've seen/read online. On my favourite line, MSC, as most probably on others, your 'set' dining time/table is generally a huge comfort. I really quite liked the idea of 'freedom' dining, but the reality (+ the utter uncertainty of ever getting a booking in a 'speciality restaurant', most of whch will only open on embarkation day & get snapped up by priority boarders) means a disproportionate percentage of the success of the cruise depends on whether you have ANY joy getting on the 'app' & reserving things once onboard (yes, have booked a few dinners/shows in advance, but on a 14 night cruise, not enough to feel confident of a successful holiday, since so much is 'enquire onboard').

Always good to hear opinions...but - am boarding Iona in 5 days...& neither from P&O or, definitively, from ANY forum online, can I tell if with a decent shirt/tie I will get into the MDR/Chef's Table on 6th/16th of March. No fault of anyone here...but actually makes a complete nonsense of expectations. Absolutely NO point in being told 'Well, it depends on the attitudes on the night'. I have no wish to disrespect anyone, or any traditions, but as a solo cruiser, to pack a formal outfit to dine, on my own as likely as not, for a couple of hours on 2 evenings, makes NO sense whatsoever. On my preferred line, MSC, there would be NO debate. I shall turn up to the MDR on Mar. 6th and, very simply, if turned away, will NEVER cruise with P&O again. Personal opinion - not interested in being told what a pillock I am - but, I'm afraid, a valid comment on the prevailing 'indecision' as to whether 'celebration' MUST exclude those who'd prefer to stay 'smart casual' on THEIR holiday.

Well, I started the thread....wondering whether I could 'gazump' my unappealing 15:45 boarding time next Sat. (Mar. 4th|). Seem to be as many opinions/experiences as there are members posting ! My conclusion - will arrive quite a bit earlier...& see what transpires - and of course if it doesn't work, I know who to blame ! Happy cruising everyone.

Yeah frugging hilarious; oh dear, another ficking typo !

Any of you experienced how 'strict' the dressing-up for celebration nights has to be ? Our dining's opened this a.m. for G306, & after a bit of hassle with cards (already registered one, but was then told to 'add a new card' when booking Sindhu/Epicurean) have managed to reserve some shows & dining slots - including the 2nd celebration night in Chef's Table. Now - will have a decent/shirt tie, but no intention of packing jacket/suit etc. for a couple of hours in 2 weeks. Do people get in with a shart/tie...or, maybe, are there options for borrowing/hiring a jacket for the evening ? No money wasted if not, as 'Chef's' is included...but it would be pleasant if possible. Thank you.

OK - that's excellent info., thank you ! Will try some bookings.

Hello - may get quicker answers on here than trying to contact 'customer services' at P&O ! Our dining booking for departure Mar. 4th opened early a.m. today. Not many available...mainly 'ask on board', but Sindhu they want you to pay £10 per person, & Epicurean £24. Now - is that just a cover charge IN ADDITION to the a la carte prices you'll be charged, or is it something they'll deduct when you eat, and charge only to make sure people actually turn up for their booking, having already paid some money ? Also, since 'Chef's Table' is included on celebration nights, I booked one of them - but apart from a decent shirt & tie, am NOT going to have 'posh' clothes just for a couple of hours in a restaurant. Any experience of what people seem to have been allowed to wear on these gala nights in the MDRs & at 'Chef's' ? Many thanks - really quite a palaver for a 'holiday' !

Perhaps not Skydome - shows were put up directly under the blurb about Skydome, but looking at the bookings it talks about decks 6/7, so must mean the main theatre. Maybe acoustics a little better there !

Ah - interesting ! Am on G 306 directly after this, and as a 'returnee' to P&O ( 1 Dec. cruise only; much prefer MSC!) after 10 years, the pre-cruise problems are far greater than expected ! Only today, after a forum 'tip' (not this forum, sadly) managed to book 3 Skydome nights from the very, very few remaining (had absolutely NO clue they were available)....& have every intention of being up at midnight tonight, after which some of our restaurants are apparently bookable - and they call this a holiday ! Do hope, please, there are some more 'live' updates from on board (not the itinerary, we're doing Spain & Portugal mainland), but rather on how/if it all works. Frankly, thus far, I rather wish I hadn't bothered !