Cathygh

Thank you, I have googled and found conflicting info and prices, some in euros, some in £s, some add on a sevice charge, some don't. My TA said a pint of beer was £4.50, but on ones I found online were in euros. I don't know what exchange rate is used as 7euros is £6.21. £4.50 is reasonable for a pint of beer, £6.21 is daylight robbery. I looked at the easy package and my TA wanted £30 a day, another TA quoted £19 a day. The worst thing is that I can't find any prices in the MSC website, which is very dodgy in my eyes.

That is such a shame as it can't get under the bridge. Why did they build it so big? Bergeb is one of the best ports? The I think thereare lots of things with the design, no draweres in the cabins being one of tthem/

Thanks for posting this. I have just booked a short break on Virtuosa in April to see if we like it. Could you possible post the drinks menus? And do they add a service charge? Thanks

Sorry I don't but on another channel there is a page about Arvia's cabins and suites. There might be some info there.

Thank you

Do you think it will be easy to get a table in the MDR for 8 adults (and possibly 3 children if they don't go to the kids clubs) c 7/7.30 pm. We are in 4 cabins. We won't want to eat earlier or later. Thanks

You can park at hte West Quay Multi story for £5 a day and either walkmor get an uber to the port

Book a suite or be a high tier peninuslar member. Caribbean level may be? Someone will know.

Gosh never seen that one. So they would have to change and launder the duvet at every bed change I guess.

On the subject of Princess, bed changes are easier for their stewards as there isn't a full duvet to change. For those of you who haven't experienced this, there is a sheet on the bed, with a duvet in a cover which is like a fitted sheet. It is si much quicker than faffing around with a full duvet cover and less exertion is involved.

Alcohol in the shops in town is far cheaper than at the duty free shop at the port. Last time we got the bus to Europa Point, strolled around, got the bus back to the Trafalgar cemetary, walked back through town, picked up a botttle of Southern Comfort for the DH and diamond earrings for me. What's not to like?

Glass house was fully open on Azura in October, I think it depends on if there are enough chefs and waiters. You should have guest speakers and I had a letter saying arts and crafts classes should be available in future.

Very interesting, thank you. However this has not been communicated down the lines. I asked for chicken on a recent cruise and was told it was not available that night. Another time I was told it would hold up the serving of the main course to the other diners on my table while it was prepared for me. So I will test this on my next cruise in May.

The different dates for half term is a real pain when you have children and teachers in the family in different parts of the country. The only one that stays the same is May half term so when booking our family cruise for this year we had to go with May half term as the schools don't announce their calendars before cruises go on sale.

It's a few years since I did a Caribbean cruise so there will be pax on here with more recent experience. So there's lots of beautiful beaches and opportunities for diving and snokelling, if that's your thing. It's not ours, so we did a rum tour in Domincan Republic. This was excellent and at the time they were not exporting the rum to the UK, but that might have changed. We did a chocolate farm tour in Grenada and a historical tour in Antigua to Nelson's House. In Tortula we picked up a tour outside the port, with a very entertaining guide who took us around the island. There is not much to do in the port there. In Aruba we went to see the pelicans and I think in Bonaire and Curacao we did our own thing. A choice between the Canaries and the Carribean is really a personal choice. I have been to the Canaries several times. They are not known for their rum, but I have enjoyed the tours to the volcanoes. There generally seems more to do than in the Carribean but that's my personal opinion. The flight to Tenerife is clearly much shorter than to Barbados and there is no jet lag. If going to the Carribean is a once in a life time thing then go for it, as there are lots of ways of going to the Canaries and you can go all year round and I see you have been there before. I hope that helps.

I wonder what the general definition of younger people is? My closest female relatives and their friends, all in their 30s love afternoon tea, and have done for several years. Sandwiches, cakes and prosecco what's not to like?

I think that if your passport is stamped on entry to the EU, it has to be stamped on exit, this is due to the 90 day rule which I think means you can only spend 90 days out of 180 in the EU. Please correct me if I'm wrong!

To just pop back to the topic of food supplies. Some of the suppliers Pando found could not deliver to Southampton for 7am several times a week and thought the timing wasn't relevant as they did not understand the logistics of turn around day. However I am not aware that this is a problem for other lines that case based in Southampton.

Some ggod news! Haad a letter from P&O just now, saying, in brief (can't get a decent photo of it to post here) Peninsular Club Cocktail parties are back World Cruise and Grand Tour events are back for Ligurian tier Afternoon tea will be back New activities - art and crafts, dance classes etc My Holiday app will be optional so you can make face to face bookings (not sure this is new - you could still do that) No news about prawns, chicken or cocktail napkins.

With reference to the above comments about entertainment on P&O, having just done a Princess cruise where the Princess Patter was 2 pages full of endless events in the shop, quizzes (which I like) Art Auctions, occasional talks which only gave the title and no information abut the topic or the speaker there were no dance classes or exercise classes. Evening shows and music performances were ok but I think P&O is better. P&O's daily Horizon paper has more in it IMHO. TBH, P&O seems to still be struggling with staff recruitment and procurement of food and drink. I have bored everyone to death with my gripes about that. I don't think it is fair to compare cruises as they are now to any cruises prior to 2020, and not even to a year ago. A year ago cruise shops were not sailing at the same capacity as they are now, staff shortages were not so obvious and the Food & Bev supplier in Southampton had not gone bust. I think it is fairer to just compare cruises from the last 6 months as all lines have their issues.

There will be 11 of us on Iona in May looking to eat together every night at c 7pm. I can't see that happening under the current arrangements. 7pm is our compromise time between the ones who eat at 6 and those who eat at 8 I do wonder if Arvia only has 2 MDRs as P&O thought most of the passengers would opt for alternative dining? But the cost of living crisis means that people aren't spending money in Speciality Dining Restaurants and this is putting the MDRs under pressure.

Yes of course, thanks

I certainly hope that continues. Part of the problem for the grandchildren ( and parents) on the cruise was that we had been on the same ship the previous week and also had lots of chicken. Our next one together is on Iona so hopefully there will be no problem for them food wise. One parent is talking about bringing a suitcase full of food to avoid the same situation she had last time.

The current issue with P&O seems t be the same as it has been for the last 10 months or so. Lack of staff which they say are trying to address, and food and drink supply issues partly caused by collapse of their main supplier in Southampton. However they really need to pull their finger out and get this sorted, I have a final balance to pay in 20 days for a May half term cruise on Iona and if my grandchildren can't get chicken (as occurred on their last cruise in October half term) there will be a riot.

Thank you Barbara, I think it is doable but not in one cruise, and as you say a land tour might be an option