sandancer

Best attitude. We found ourselves comparing everything with Celebrity which is our favourite cruise line. Not the way to go. Once we settled down we accepted that they are different cruise lines and both have advantages. Once thing we really appreciated was that the onboard currency is £s. Also that drinks and speciality dining is way more affordable than the US cruise lines.

If this is your first P&O cruise you will find it quite different to NCL and RCI. We have 10 cruises with NCL and 24 with RCI. We have recently moved to Cunard and P&O for the convenience of cruising from Southampton. For instance P&O have formal nights, although you don’t have to dress up if you are happy to not use the MDR. We have enjoyed the four cruises we have taken with P&O but would probably not cruise on Azura again until she is refurbished.

We would be happy with that menu if we were on the Christmas cruise. Enjoy.

This is for Iona and it is for the 30th December cruise. Keel and Cow menu Christmas Day Selection Our festive creations can be enjoyed as individual dishes or why not indulge in all three courses for just £12.50. Starter Gin-cured Salmon Fillet with Wasabi Bavarois, Pickled Ginger Jelly and a Seaweed Tapioca Cracker (gf) £3.50 Main Course Norfolk Turkey and Pheasant Ballotine served with Maple Glazed Chestnuts, Château Potatoes, Poached Kumquats, Stir-fried Brussels Sprouts and a Cranberry and Apple Port Relish (gf) £7.50 Dessert Mrs Beeton’s Old Fashioned Christmas Pudding steeped in Ginger Wine with Brandy Fruit Cake Ice Cream, Clotted Cream and Cognac Sauce £3.50

Yes. Ask for a couple of wine glasses to take to the cabin.

Decided to check cruise personaliser for our Iona cruise on 30th December and sure enough Christmas Day dinner in the Epicurean and the Keel and Cow are both listed and “coming soon”. One slight problem is that we are on the NYE cruise so unless they are planning to repeat the menus on NYE, and I hope they are, it’s a bit confusing.

For the first time we have purchased a drinks package for our NYE cruise. We usually have more than enough OBC to cover drinks but not this time. We have bought the de luxe package online taking advantage of the 10% discount plus our 7.5% loyalty discount. I would like to know if there is a wine menu for wine by the glass or if it is just the regular wine list. We’ve never bought a glass of wine onboard as usually have a bottle at dinner. I can’t remember seeing wine that cost £15 or £16 a glass but look forward to trying it.

Not on Arvia or Azura, the two ships we sailed on this year.

Oh dear, that doesn’t sound good. Whatever it was I hope you got it sorted.

Try calling 0800 0523840. Phone was answered quickly by a human being. I think I had to go through the usual menu but the agent was very helpful and emailed one of her colleagues while I was on the phone to get an answer to my query. I may have just got lucky of course. To get assistance at the terminal you have to complete a form and submit it detailing exactly what assistance is required. I am hearing that people are being refused help if they haven’t done this. Good luck. Hope you get through on the phone.

We are looking at a 14 night all inclusive hotel for June 2024 in Majorca. Not in the school holidays. Even a 3* Is working out at £110 a night for the room and that’s a bargain compared to somewhere equal to a cruise. I think we, personally, have to accept that we have to pay more now if we want to travel. We tend to book our cruises as far out as possible to get the best price although I have heard many people report getting a bargain by waiting until after final payment. However, in the school holidays I think you might not find it easy. I hope you find something suitable.

We were on Azura for Christmas 2018. The decorations were stunning. We recently cruised again on Azura and has been well documented here, there have been some changes in service but nothing that really bothered us. No turn down service or chocolate on the pillow. We can live perfectly well without either. Here are a couple of photos

Even so you would not be allowed emergency exit seats which are usually the extra legroom seats. You have to be able to assist the crew if necessary in an emergency. They don’t take into consideration the level of disability, just that you need to be fully capable.

Definitely not in any other cabins. We asked on our recent Azura cruise and were told they are not provided.

I’ll bear that in mind. I always take several paperbacks and put them on the shelf after I’ve read them.

Just watched a YouTube video where Anderson’s Bar and library are detailed. I was under the impression that, like Arvia, there was no library on Iona. Can anyone confirm before I pack a shedload of books. I apologise for the heading in CAPS, I wasn’t shouting, just a slip of the iPad.

No booking. Not hard to get a table. We were seated without delay but had to wait for food. It wasn’t a major problem for us, just giving a heads up so you know what to expect.

We didn’t eat lunch in the Glasshouse on Azura last October but ate dinner twice. Both times we were there in time for opening at 6pm and told that we would have to wait between 45mins and an hour for food.

I didn’t know P&O had mini suites but haven’t been on all the ships.

That’s odd. I thought everyone got it. If you are already in a higher grade cabin or suite then there might not be anywhere to move to. We had this email for our NYE cruise on Iona even though the ship is sold out. Can only think they anticipate a few cancellations. We are waitlisted for an assistance room so didn’t bid. Our TA is of the opinion that we don’t stand much chance.

Same here. It’s a pain but def not as bad as Noro. Very sparing use of the buffet for us also.

Given the number of people walking out of the bathrooms without any hand washing and those ignoring the hand gel, it would suit me nicely if they had staff service as a routine.

I used to love going to Thorntons cafe for coffee as you got a free chocolate with it (yes, I do know it’s not really free) and when I was feeling virtuous I could get skinny hot chocolate - still with the “free” chocolate.

Bring back Thorntons I say.

They asked if he could move around the cabin without using the chair and he can as it’s not exactly a marathon from the bed to the bathroom. However any further than that is a problem. He can get up the few steps into a coach but couldn’t make it to the back to find a seat. We found the driver & guide to be really good about giving him a seat near the front. Whilst this is great I would give a lot to go back to the days when he ran marathons and wheelchairs were not in our orbit at all.