swanseaboy

Correct! Arcadia was supposed to be the Queen Victoria hence the USA socket point. I took a USA adapter with me to use the USA socket.

Black Friday Cruise Deals 2023 | P&O Cruises (pocruises.com) Not hugely inspiring but could be a deal for someone.

It was a sit down served lunch for me on Arcadia this August and September - no buffet.

I've been upgraded 3 times on Arcadia!! Twice from Inside to Obstructed Window and once from Obstructed Window to Balcony. All three cruises were saver fares. Never been upgraded on any other ship!

Another vote 🗳️ for Flexi Plus. £13 a month - covers worldwide travel insurance, mobile phone and car 🚗 breakdown. Marvellous 👍

Although I do like telling people, ‘I’m Baltic’ 🥶 while shivering 😂🤣

Currently onboard Arcadia so today I popped to the loyalty desk for a price for Arvia transatlantic October 2025. As a solo in a double balcony - £2,600 which includes the 10% discount. Ludicrous. As a comparison, the same cruise, Arvia to Caribbean leaving in 2 weeks (which I’m booked on) are currently offering solo in a double balcony for £1,600 saving £1,000. You’d be crazy to book early in my opinion. The early booking fare included around £65 onboard spend. Wowzers.

This is my first cruise ‘Baltic’ tier. They have a different mid cruise loyalty lunch for Baltic and Ligurian - I’m assuming the food is different but who knows?! You only get to go to the Baltic lunch - not the Caribbean one as well. I got slippers too 🤗 woo hoo 😂

Ahoy there! Currently onboard Arcadia and I have only noticed afternoon tea served in the meridian restaurant once so far this cruise. We’re on a 24 night round trip Canada. You have to study the daily horizon carefully to even notice afternoon tea mentioned - they really don’t hi-light it! Of course you can get afternoon tea (of sorts) in the buffet every afternoon if you’re prepared to brave the sharp elbows 😂

I thought VAT only applied to cruises that do not leave the UK. I did the Britannia around Britain cruise in June and they added VAT to the drinks packages on that. It's the only cruise I've been on when they have added VAT to the drinks package and all onboard purchases. I seem to recall that those guests who bought the package prior to boarding (from home) got it VAT free? I could be wrong on this as I was indeed stung for VAT when I bought the drinks package onboard. You are correct in that your peninsular discount only applies after all onboard credit has been used up.

I'm another advocate for using a credit card onboard 🙂

Ahoy there! I know P&O increased their prices for drinks packages this June. They introduced a new 'ultimate' drinks package but also increased the price of the classic package from £40pppd to £45pppd. They do however offer 10% discount if you buy before you board. Not sure if Cunard offer a discount if you buy before you board?

I know Cunard sometimes offer a TA on QM2 along with hotel stay in NYC all booked direct but I don't think P&O offer cruise and stay.

I was pulling thy leg! I do find it handy to keep my phone with me onboard. Listening to music. Checking they haven't charged me for a drink when I'm on the drinks package (it has happened a few times). Taking photo's of the evenings menu so I can peruse in my cabin before dinner. But horses for courses I completely agree.

But how are you going to take all your cruise 'selfies' if you don't carry your phone around? 😆

Take a screen shot on your phone? Not difficult. I can't be the only passenger with a bin full of paper at the end of every cruise 😆 On my recent QM2 cruise they had the daily planner Horizon on their App. It was so much easier that walking around with a paper copy which I would invariably forget! If Cunard can do it, P&O can do it 😀

Isn't all that information on the cabin TV now? I'm an advocate for less paper and waste. Horizon should be available on the My Holiday App and the paper version only on request 🙃

If I remember correctly, they said they are slowly re-introducing MDR afternoon tea back across the fleet. Possibly a post Covid thing? It was a really nice treat in the MDR. On the drinks package I had a glass of prosecco with my cakes 🤩

Afternoon Tea - The MDR version has gone. We never rated it, but I know that many did and used it if returning to the ship after lunch service had ended. There is a poor man’s version from the buffet but no clotted cream - just the squirty stuff 🤢# Just as a response to this, I was on Britannia around the UK cruise on 9th June this year and they did put on afternoon tea in the MDR on one afternoon. We were lucky enough to spot it and attend 😀

I think the App helps them prepare the much sort after 'tables for 2' otherwise they would be overwhelmed. Particularly on Arvia and Iona.

Very comprehensive review of the App. Thanks. I never book the MDR on the App. I just show up and share. It's very rare that I don't get seated immediately. This is both as a solo traveller and with cruise buddy. Always happy to share tables and normally it's instant seating.

The original drinks package used to be £39.95 pppd originally. It's only been changed in the past few weeks to the new Classic (price increased to £45pppd) and the new Ultimate package. In fairness, they have added a few more options to the Classic package. Be aware if your cruise does not leave the UK (like the Britannia around Britain cruise I did in June) they will add 20% VAT to the total price. My drinks package for my Britannia cruise came in at £729 and the cruise cost me £695. Ouch!!!

It's definitely a change in policy. A few years ago (around 2016) I took QM2 to NYC, stayed for 5 nights and sailed QM2 home booked as a package with a UK cruise agent. It was most definitely a deal on the 'net' rate yet they gave me shareholder credit on both the outbound trip and return. Looks like it is indeed 'cutbacks' 😐

I've got a cruise buddy friend who's booked on Queen Victoria with a hotel stay which was on the 'net rate'. He has also been denied his shareholders onboard credit with the same response.

Many Thanks! I'll see what happens on Arcadia 🙂