Cathygh

False advertising?

On Arcadia in August freedom dining was held in Meridian Lower Restaurant. It opened at 6, but some people do queue early - from 5.30. I don't think there is much point in doing that as it's a big restaurant and does not fill up very quickly. I can't offer advice aboi Christmas day, other than have a word with your TA and find out if Christmas Day dining is allocated shoreside or on the ship. If it's on the ship you would need to speak to the Maitre D' assuming that he/she does the allocation.

What a wonderful way to spend semi retirement! Ross on Wye is lovely, especially Symonds Yat. Wales is quite close by too. One of my favourite places is Rye, but I've only stayed in hotels so I can't comment on the restaurants. Brighton is another - I love the vibe, great restaurants - I have actually eaten out there! May be too busy in the summer?

When I compare prices bewteen land and cruise prices I use the lead in balcony price. When going abroad to a hot place, I would always have a balcony in a hotel. In the Uk, cruises beat most 4* hotel half board ( which we usally book) prices by £££. Not keen on airbnb/self catering - I'm known for my lack of cooking- and looking for somewhere to eat every night can be a faff. I actually find it stressful and I get hangry so it's much better for me to just go downstairs and eat when I want. Plus the DH won't go self catering anyway.

Soory I thought you were in the US. Yes Canada is much better value for money. Was in Vancouver & Victoria in 2019, I loved it

You should try Iceland then, if you think the UK is expensive. At in the UK and Europe you pay the price you see and not have to pay extra taxes and extortionate tips etc

At Southampton you go through security first and then check in. It was very quick. We travelled in April and no in YC. Boarding begins at 10am, and ends at about 4pm. Lots of people turned up early and it wasn't a problem. You can stay on the ship till noon on disembarkation day but have to be out of the cabin by 7.30 am.

I remember now, we were in Ocean Grill on August 25th and although we weren't affected some tables near by had very long waits for starters and mains.

ATM you can't pre book either Sindhu or Ocean Grill, but it was no problem getting what we wanted on board

Yes vivo is too small, dark and dingy. I think we were on the same cruise. I had 8.30 table of 8, brilliant waiters but I was stuck with a racist who supports apartheid. I wish we had changed. BTW was your food hot? One of our table sent his fod back every night as it wasn't hot. I found the meat and fish to be hot, but not the veg.

The cover charge for Ocean Grill was £15 last month. Excellent food, Sindhu was also the best I've had for years. I didn't try Glasshouse but I would have done if it had been open in the evening.

As the external windows in the public rooms on Arcadia seem to be held in place with badly applied putty, will they be replaced by November next year?

Most people chose fish or pan fried chicken (again!). We had the same menus as we had on Iona in May/June but somehow the standard of cooking was better on Iona. I didn't have a single complaint about the food on Iona, which is unusual for me. My DH loves the P&O breakfast but didn't like it on Arcadia.

He only sent it back because it wasn't hot, and sometimes he coudn't chew it. The whole table sent back beef wellington on Celebration night as the meat was inedible.

Maybe on Aurora, I can't say but not on Arcadia. We had an excellent waiter but even he couldn't get the kitchin to deliver our food hot, some one on our table ent his dinner back every night.

I am sorry to say there are no discounts with P&O for being a certain age, or if there are we have never been offered any

I don't know why these things are inconsistent across the fleet. On Arcadia in August we had the biscotti and the free cakes. Staff shortage may be?

Skarfabakki is what I meant. Just come fomr there. Most private tours pick up from outside the terminal, it's a few minutes walk. Some tours have pick up points in town. For this you need to take the free shuttle to the Harpa Buliding and walk from there.

Yes. Very disappointing. No chocolates afterwards either. I won't bother dressing up for it again if it's not a special menu

If you have 2 formals a week, only one comes with a celebration menu. Pan fried chicken and steak is available every single night, with one fish, one other meat and 3 non meat choices, one of which, and some times 2 are vegan. There is usually another meat choice on the Chef's Recommendations menus @DamianG I am very jealous of the venison. w didn't have once on Arcadia on the 3 week cruise I have just got off

Sorry I have no further information but I will post anything I hear about

The photo area is closed, I don't know if it will reopen or if a kitchin could be installed as well.

Someone on my last cruise complained to the Loyalty Manager because she booked 2 years ago and had paid so much more (double, I think) than other passengers in the same grade of cabin who booked late. He told her that certain large agents buy the cabins at launch and sell them off cheap if they haven't sold them by final payment. I am not sure how accurate this is. I am not aware of agents undercutting P&O by hundreds of pounds after final payment. Most of them under cut by a few per cent and seem to follow P&Os price rises and falls. IMHO.

It's buy 6 cans 500ml each for £7.65 and save 15%. I usually buy 5 litres in port or 2 if i have to carry it far.

The Loyalty Manager on our current cruise told one of our dining companions that he receives more complaints about passengers paying different prices for the cruise than anything else. I was very pleased that my TA called me and gave me the opportunity to cancel and rebook this cruise at a much lower price with lots of obc. This was just after final payment. It is one of the few cruises I booked on launch day because before covid I tracked the prices and they always rose and the cruise always sold out. However it is clear now that the cruise had lots of empty cabins. There was also a late deal offered to single travellers. I was told there are 400 singles on board. Anyway P&,O don't have to offer refunds when prices drop but they must think that by doing so they are looking after their customers.