davecttr

I think that it may be that I will be 73 years old for those cruises and I have not received an email for my January 24 cruise when I am still 72.

Or maybe a change in policy for all cruises from the financial year 2024? Maybe because of USA legal issues.

Just had 3 of these for cruises next year, just reminders about requesting assistance. Filed them for reference.

The latest Aurora 2023 deck plans from P&O show C102 and C105 as singles, C100,101 and 103 are standard outsides. 102 and 105 are smaller than the others

58 minutes ago, lebreos said:

They are 99% of the time sea days

2 on Arvia and Iona on 14nts - 4 on the rest of the fleet

4 on the rest of the fleet for 14 nights except when it is 3 as it was on Aurora this month when the penultimate day was Cobn so no formal night. Arcadia next week for 21 nights has 6 listed including the penultimate day is Liverpool.

4 hours ago, Winifred 22 said:

I have read on here somewhere,it’s handled externally so nothing to do with P&O’s  I T systems. 

Yes, I read it is a third party company, maybe Canadian, that provides 'revenue enhancing' services to cruise lines.

I use Boots Anti Viral Hand foam which is not alcohol based, dermatologically tested and claims to kill 99.99% of enveloped viruses and harmful bacteria. I have some 50ml dispensers and top up from the 200ml size to save money.

Note that Norovirus is NOT an enveloped virus which is why frequent hand washing is a good idea.

Another good idea when using the buffet is to use hand towels from the dispensers to handle the serving utensils.

Whoever comes up with a safe hand sanitiser that kills non-enveloped viruses should make a fortune.

2 hours ago, Britboys said:

I wouldn't be surprised if they've cut HQ staff to the bone and if so, no surprise that things like this happen...

Producing public information leaflets was part of my job and at one stage we had a staff grade who's job was basically proof reading, that grade was abolished later to save money. The Horizon newsletter suffers from a lack of proof reading as well. If you pay peanuts...........

57 minutes ago, Cristaltips said:

On Arcadia last August, there was no hot water in any of the public toilets, male or female.  I found it really concerning . No wonder they’ve had problems with a gastric bug

Cold water is just fine, it is the physical action of scrubbing your hands that flushes the virus down the plughole. Warm water is more comfortable but water hot enough to kill virus would scald your hands. Apparently 60 degrees C for a few minutes will do it, also use hand sanitiser but there is not one that has been proved to kill viruses of the Norovirus type.

I see the latest dress code answer on the web site Q&A is useless as well.

the question about what area of the ship dress codes apply to and the answer only mentions dining venues where the code does NOT apply. So apparently on Arvia/Iona formal dress on formal nights is required in the Quays because they are not mentioned.

No mention of the 'pop up' lunchtime Glasshouse on Arcadia either.

they do like confusing passengers 🙄

The last few cruises my priority Caribbean boarding time has been 12.15 or 12.30 so you go straight into the terminal and the check in desk priority queue. On Aurora 3 weeks ago I still had to sit down and wait to go through security though. There are a LOT of Caribbean tier passengers on the older ships and many of them turn up early.

49 minutes ago, david63 said:

But were passengers using them?

Some but not many

I was happy to find the buffet on Aurora had 4 hand washing stations with plenty of paper towels which apart from hand drying I used to handle the serving utensils. 

Does Arcadia's Belvedere buffet have hand washing stations?

4 hours ago, Megabear2 said:

It depends very much on the cruise you are buying.  Looking at a standard balcony for 2 people on the following 14 night cruises at current prices you won't get a select fare for £93pp a night:

 

Britannia - B324N - 22/9/2023 £4798 (£342.71 per cabin a night)

                   B414N - 07/6/2024 £4698 (£ 335.57 per cabin a night)

 

Ventura  -  N332 - 28/10/2023 £4698 (£335.57 per cabin a night)

                   N410 - 11/5/2024  £4158 (£297.00 per cabin a night)

 

Arvia      -   K318 - 03/9/2023 £4298 (£307 per cabin a night)

               -   K410 - 12/05/2024 £3598 (£354.14 per cabin a night)

 

Iona       -   G333 - 23/09/2023 £4198 (£299.85 per cabin a night)

               -   G406 - 16/03/2024 £3398 (£242.71  per cabin a night)

 

I picked these cruises at random to get them around the same dates, apart from Iona where I chose the latest 14 night cruise before she goes to Norway..  Obviously they all have an OBC offer on them as well but currently the 2024 Arvia cruise has enhanced OBC at £480 and Iona £360, the remainder having around £240 - £280.

 

These select fares are also the lead fares (guaranteed no cabin choice). To pick a specific location/cabin prices can go up by £60 to £110pp on top depending where they are. The Arvia and Iona ones are the smaller rear cabins so as I know from experience may have the noise issues.

 

Ventura is doing less 14 night cruises than the other ships so the Canary Islands destination is reflected in her pricing.  Last time I spoke to P&O they told me that demand for the Canaries is very high.

 

Basically if you have taken the saver fare on any of these cruises the bid may well be worth it, eg on G406 a saver balcony is £700 less than the select offering and the saver inside comes in at £1798 (£64.21pp a night).   The saving from inside to balcony on the saver would be £900, still a hefty difference.

 

That Iona G406 cruise in January is costing me £2254 at £161 per night for a select cabin deck 10 forward cabin allocated so that's £555 for single occupancy. I have no idea how I am going to spend the £350 OBC plus £150 shareholder benefit

3 hours ago, rickycheshire said:

Just sent my newly downloaded certificate off to request the shareholder benefit for October 2023 and April 2024 cruises and this has been awarded for both within 24hrs!

That's interesting, they have been saying you have to claim the benefit no more than 3 months from the cruise date.

Has Norway agreed to accept the GHIC card? Last i heard was the negotiations are continuing, however they will accept your passport instead?

edit - just checked and no mention of passport except for UK nationals resident in Norway

no GHIC card cover in Iceland or Liechtenstein either.

Hot Chocolate and Horlicks available late night in the buffet on Aurora

I did not try a Chocolicks or Horlate though 😉

Why cruise with P&O?

Solo cruiser

I don't fly any more

I now cruise for scenery and sea days (whale watching)

Favourite destinations are Norway, Iceland, Madeira and the Canaries

Not a gourmet, don't use the MDR's anymore

I like a game of blackjack in the evening, the table minimum on Aurora recently was only £3

Reasonable prices, a 21 nighter on Arcadia next month cost me £1799 for a forward balcony cabin. £85.6666 per night!. Cheaper than Premier Inn.

Happy cruising 😁

8 minutes ago, GOQ said:

I don't care, I do my own cooking so it's an improvement ☺️,I am in my 70s and I quite liked this ship.

I do my own cooking as well and not being a gourmet am happy with the food aboard. I have not been in a main dining room for years as well.

Having just returned from Aurora it will be interesting to see how Arcadia compares next month, especially as Arcadia is 5 years younger so should be in just as good condition as Aurora, 18 years is not old for a ship which if looked after can last up to 30 years.

Arcadia seems to lack an Epicurian, Glass House and Beach House. It does have Sindhu and Ocean Grill with an ersatz Glass House in the Spinnaker bar at lunchtime. Where could you put a real Glass House, I suggest the Retreat which used to be the kids club. How much revenue does that generate? Sindhu one deck above has a galley and you don't need a large galley for the Glass House. Will P&O invest the money? 

The only cruise line that i know of that does cruise and stay packages is Marella. The formats are usually 

7 nights hotel then 7 nights cruise

7 nights cruise then 7 nights hotel

14 nights cruise - two different itineraries

7 night cruises

I think a wide choice of hotels is available

they no longer cruise from the UK

To divert to tendering I notice Arvia and Iona don't have tenders just survival craft. Imagine tendering 5000 plus passengers.

On 7/11/2023 at 9:09 AM, Cathygh said:

Dave can I be nosey and ask how much you bid please?

No bid, I just received an email upgrading me.

Just received a upgrade notification for my August 21 night Arcadia cruise. I had a guarantee solo occupancy EF grade balcony for a bargain £1799 and the only slight worry was that I would end up in the 4 forward cabins which have smaller balconies. Now I have an EE grade forward on D deck one deck above 🙂

Must finish the packing for Aurora tomorrow

36 minutes ago, RaspberryCremeBrulee said:

Alesund tourist information office may be able to answer for you.

Email : Info@visitalesund.com

 

Thanks, that is what I will do. It is only half a mile from the cruise berth.

Aurora calls at Alesund next Friday and I intend to visit the Atlantic Sea Park Aquarium. Already have the aquarium ticket and intend to use the local bus. Three questions.

> Has anyone used the bus recently and what is the procedure for paying aboard.  I understand it is contactless or via PIN?

> Is the ticket one way or return and how is it validated on the return journey?

> It appears the No1 bus towards the aquarium does not leave from the bus station but from across the road but does call at the bus station on the return journey