Any advice about Adonia please

[PCMRSM60]

We are looking at a cruise on Adonia next year. We have been on Oriana & Azura so far & I would appreciate any advice anyone would care to give me on the differences between Adonia & the other 2 ships - beside the obvious one of size & finding our way around the ship!

 

Also I wonder if anyone has suggestions of a good place to book a cabin for a quiet night's sleep please? ;)

 

Thanks in advance for taking the time to reply :)

[silver surfer 2010]

Main difference is size

Other ships you mention it is 3.5 times round the deck for a mile - Adonia is 16

Restricted entertainment programme and very crowded if not able to get out on deck. we were in C066 which was quite comfortable but the galley doors banged every morning at about 6-30 / 7-00 am.

A little more expensive than other ships

Not for us again but it takes all kinds and others love her

Just try it and see

[Janet-]

Adonia doesn't have a theatre just a show lounge, so sometimes all you see is lots of heads! The Headliners consists of just 5 people so you won't get big production shows but the ones we've seen have been very good. The buffet doesn't open every night. There isn't a promenade deck.

You don't say what type of cabin you want but generally for a quiet one choose one that is above and below other cabins.

I like Adonia, what you wont find are queues.

[gadabout60]

Adonia is my favourite P&O ship of the ones I have been on so far. (I have also been on Arcadia and Oceana)

 

It is smaller - but to me that is better. It can get into some ports the bigger ships can't, and it can go further into some ports - for example in St Petersburg we weren't in the cruise terminal but much further up the River Neva and in the centre of the city.

 

The ship is smaller but much friendlier. There are a couple of lovely bars and the waiters remember you very quickly. The library is lovely and a great place to sit for an hour or so on a sea day.

 

Obviously the deck area is smaller than the bigger ships but there are proportionately more balconies I think so it never seems an issue. MDR is good - I have never had anything but hot food there - as it is obviously smaller I think it is managed better.

 

Two good speciality restaurants - MPW and Sorrento - they offer a pleasant change for a relatively small surcharge.

 

Cabin wise for me its always a balcony - and my favourite deck is B deck and that is all cabins above and below you. As the ship is smaller there are not miles and miles of corridors to navigate

Edited November 2, 2014 by gadabout60

[PCMRSM60]

Thank you so much for your quick replies, silver surfer 2010, Janet & gadabout60. I like the look of B deck too & would love a balcony, but will have to decide if we can push the boat out that far! (Pun intended.) :)

 

What did you find more expensive than the other ships silver surfer 2010?

 

Anyone else with any thoughts or tips about Adonia?

 

Thanks again.

[Host Sharon]

All cruises tend to be a bit more expensive on Adonia but I love her size and find her about half a star up on the other P&O ships. Service is better, no queues, more friendly etc. But no casino if that is important to you and limited stock in shops.

[annieuk]

We have now been on all the P&O ships with the exception of Ventura. We were on Adonia for the first time this autumn and can't wait to go back on her. We have never experienced such lack of queues. At the terminal in Southampton we checked in without queuing, strolled through security and onto the ship and no-one was following us on the walkway onto the ship.

 

All over the ship there were never queues, even the buffet there was no problem getting a table, even on a sea day. I hate buffets but the one on Adonia was better than the rest.

 

The lounges on Adonia are lovely, particularly the Curzon Lounge, lots of lovely comfortable settees and armchairs. The interior of the ship is extremely elegant, lots of dark wood, lots of flowers everywhere. Yes she doesn't have a theatre but we never had a problem getting a seat in the show lounge and the 5 Adonia players were fantastic. They gave us both musical shows and two plays on different afternoons on sea days.

 

The food was plated, our first experience of this, and we thought it was the best we've had on a P&O ship - even my husband who is hard to please, thought it was good.

 

We loved how everything was in reach, no long walks or numerous flights of stairs. Yes she doesn't have all the facilities of ships like Azura or Arcadia. Her library is wonderful. It depends what you want. We loved Sorrento and the Ocean Grill, both were well worth the charge. So as long as you don't mind the lack of all singing all dancing things then you'll like Adonia.

[indiana123]

We are on her in a few days for a l7 nighter in the Med.

 

I am reading this thread with interest. I like to know bits and pieces before I go.

 

I will post my thoughts when we get back, but we are looking forward to just relaxing and 'not doing a lot'! :):rolleyes:

[PCMRSM60]

Well all your replies are really helpful, thank you all.

 

The thought of no queuing sounds great, & no casino is no problem.

 

Although I have enjoyed the shows on the other ships, a smaller Headliners group wont stop me booking a cruise which appeals!

 

indiana123, I wish you a wonderful holiday, & look forward to hearing about it when you return. I'd love to know how the weather behaves, as the cruise I'm looking at is also Med & at a similar time of year.

 

Thank you for thoughts everyone. Cruise critic is great ;)

[indiana123]

Thank you. We need to relax and do 'not a lot'.

 

The weather forecast for the B of B is 'fronts and things:rolleyes:)' so it might be a bit lively!

Edited November 2, 2014 by indiana123

[pete14]

 

The weather forecast for the B of B is 'fronts and things:rolleyes:)' so it might be a bit lively!

 

All adds to the fun! Also on that cruise leaving Thursday and looking forward to sailing on Adonia once again. I can only echo the positive comments already made and add that there are no children!

[jeanlyon]

Ooo, I can't wait for April now. We are going up the river to Seville and right into the heart of Bordeaux.

[ivygirl]

An interesting thread! We are on Adonia for the first time in December for her Christmas cruise. Mind you she will have to be very special to beat my favourite Aurora!

[gadabout60]

An interesting thread! We are on Adonia for the first time in December for her Christmas cruise. Mind you she will have to be very special to beat my favourite Aurora!

 

We are on at Christmas too - my first ever cruise was at Christmas on Adonia and I am looking forward to my second cruise on her

[silver surfer 2010]

Attached are 3 photos from Adonia

1. the stair case

2. Our cabin C066

3. Show Lounge

Edited November 4, 2014 by silver surfer 2010

[gadabout60]

We are on at Christmas too - my first ever cruise was at Christmas on Adonia and I am looking forward to my second cruise on her

 

Oops - just reread what I typed - am looking forward to my second Christmas cruise on her

 

This will be my 4th cruise on her

[PCMRSM60]

silver surfer 2010,

 

Thanks for the photos!

[tring]

We sailed on her in the first summer she was used by P&O and my advice on Adonia would be to forget it.

 

Freedom dining is not offered and the self service is only open occasionally in the evening. We used the italian and found the food to be not particularly substantial with extrememly slow service, even when almost empty. I do not like steak so did not try the other restaurant. We spent quite a bit of the time just wandering round the ship looking for somewhere quiet to sit with our drinks, which we had bought when there was just music playing in a bar - then the quiz or other 'entertainment' was brought on so we could not just sit and have a quiet drink. I have been on small ships from other cruiselines and the 'entertainments' were restricted to one bar and a show lounge, leaving another bar where it was possible to sit with a drink and have a conversation with just music playing. P&O have slots of music (or musicians and singers) for about 45 mins intertwined with other things like quizzes, competitions etc., (just how I would imagine Butlins to be).

 

Even during sea days they held talks etc. in the observation lounge, so it was not possible to just sit and look out at the views as the PA was broadcast over the whole bar, rather than just in the area where a few people were listening to a talk by the ship's jeweller or similar. Parts of the observation lounge was also reserved for craft classes, carpet bowls or similar on sea days.

 

If you like set sittings for dinner and non stop entertainments with no option to sit and have a drink and a conversation, you will love her - each to their own.

 

Incidentally our first cruise was in 2006 on the same ship but in the guise of Swan Hellenic's 'Minerva II' and it was by far the best cruise we have ever had. The accademic speakers, good musicians, open dining, no photographers and general ambience of the ship was a world apart from the way she is run by P&O. Excellent from our point of view.

 

Just my opinion, but it just highlights the need to find out about a ship before booking and choose one that is to your personal choice. We find the medium size P&O ships are better for us as there is a variety of venues that can be used according to individual requirements, but other cruise lines with smaller ships are also to our liking.

Edited November 5, 2014 by tring

[jeanlyon]

Not worried about Freedom dining - we like Club dining, but do like a piano bar or similar, not quizzes.

[gadabout60]

We sailed on her in the first summer she was used by P&O and my advice on Adonia would be to forget it.

 

Freedom dining is not offered and the self service is only open occasionally in the evening. We used the italian and found the food to be not particularly substantial with extrememly slow service, even when almost empty. I do not like steak so did not try the other restaurant. We spent quite a bit of the time just wandering round the ship looking for somewhere quiet to sit with our drinks, which we had bought when there was just music playing in a bar - then the quiz or other 'entertainment' was brought on so we could not just sit and have a quiet drink. I have been on small ships from other cruiselines and the 'entertainments' were restricted to one bar and a show lounge, leaving another bar where it was possible to sit with a drink and have a conversation with just music playing. P&O have slots of music (or musicians and singers) for about 45 mins intertwined with other things like quizzes, competitions etc., (just how I would imagine Butlins to be).

 

Even during sea days they held talks etc. in the observation lounge, so it was not possible to just sit and look out at the views as the PA was broadcast over the whole bar, rather than just in the area where a few people were listening to a talk by the ship's jeweller or similar. Parts of the observation lounge was also reserved for craft classes, carpet bowls or similar on sea days.

 

If you like set sittings for dinner and non stop entertainments with no option to sit and have a drink and a conversation, you will love her - each to their own.

 

Incidentally our first cruise was in 2006 on the same ship but in the guise of Swan Hellenic's 'Minerva II' and it was by far the best cruise we have ever had. The accademic speakers, good musicians, open dining, no photographers and general ambience of the ship was a world apart from the way she is run by P&O. Excellent from our point of view.

 

Just my opinion, but it just highlights the need to find out about a ship before booking and choose one that is to your personal choice. We find the medium size P&O ships are better for us as there is a variety of venues that can be used according to individual requirements, but other cruise lines with smaller ships are also to our liking.

 

I have to say your experience is very dissimilar to mine. I do like fixed dining and I know the buffet is only open occasionally. However I have never left the Italian restaurant hungry. The grill does so much more than steak.

I have never found any problem finding a quiet place to drink and chat. In fact I generally avoid entertainment and quizzes and have had no problem at all finding an alternative venue.

However each to their own- and the more people who avoid Adonia the better as I'll then have a better chance of a deal!

[tring]

We sailed on her early September and she had just transferred to P&O the spring of the same year. When we were onboard there was no more than about 45 mins on a stretch in any one bar before a member of the entertainment staff came along and completly spoiled a nice peaceful bar, or perhaps some good musicians, and replaced it with what they thought people should be doing - not that they had many takers for their activities at any stage! I also have a very interesting couple of photos of entertainment staff running around mad in what they called 'a sail away party', and very noisy it was too as they had the PA turned up really high. There were about 5 staff and 2 or 3 passengers who were joining in, yet the staff carried on regardless. The clientelle onboard were just not interested in these 'Butlins style' activities and the entertainment staff were carrying on like the typical image of holiday camp staff you would see on a TV skit type of programme. That could have had some amusement value, but it was a lovely evening and there were quite a number of other people on deck who obviously, (like us), just wanted to enjoy the views as we sailed out of port, so had migrated as far away from the noise as possible, which is not easy on a small ship with a central pool area.

 

Perhaps the Italian restaurant has improved - they were using trainee waiters at that time and the food was basically just salads and just a bit of pasta or pizza and a small dainty sweet - no chicken, no vegetables or other mains you would expect in an Italian restaurant ashore, so by the time we had sat there for about 2.5 hours we were ready for another meal, yet we are not particularly big eaters. They only had a few people in there each night as well, which was understandable, but it meant there was no atmosphere either. We were largely looking for an alternative to a self service when we went there, which according to the brochure at that time, should have been available in the evenings. The other pay restaurant was just steak and perhaps one or two other grilled meats - I do not think there was any fish, vegetarian food or anything a bit different which would have enticed me.

 

The entertainment team did put on a very good play which is more to our taste than the normal 'shows', but it was put on one warm sunny afternoon in the Med rather than in the evening. It was longer than the normal show slots, but they could have done it over a couple of nights.

 

P&O gave us a substantial onboard credit for a future cruise because of our experience so I give them their due, they did aknowledge the cruise was not as it had been marketed. It is possible that they have changed the style of the ship experience in response to the many people who were complaining, (and presumably filling in their questionaires). The decision on the self service restaurant though, was to change what was said in the brochure and still just open it on a few occasions, (it was only open about 3 or 4 nights on our 17 night cruise).

 

Sorry for the rant, but it was definately the worst cruise we have ever experienced and we would not risk sailing on her again whilst she is owned by P&O.

[SkystheLimit]

Anyone with recent experience on the Adonia could you please supply information about the evening buffet.

 

While we love dinner in the main dining room, we are sometimes too tired from a day onshore to want to have nothing more than a quick bite at the buffet.

 

Is it true that buffet is not open nightly?

[gadabout60]

I think on average buffet only open in the evenings about half the time. There are the usual themed nights eg Indian.

I think it has changed a lot since tring was on board. Sorrento always open when buffet closed and cost I think was £5. Fairly decent choice of chicken, fish etc as well as usual pastas and pizza and some optional extras like lobster and lava steak.

The Ocean Grill does do steak well but also a lot of fish and other mains.

Only other option if buffet closed would be room service but that closes at 11pm on Adonia

On the whole I never found dining an issue but on our overnight in St Petersburg we went to the ballet and came back on at 11 looking for something to eat and there was nothing except the late buffet which was some awful looking salads. Went to bed hungry but I don't think it did me any harm in the scheme of things.

 

I have been on board 4 times and have never felt it was Butlins at sea so I do think perhaps in the early months they were trying to find their feet.

I usually book 2nd sitting and spend an hour or so in Andersons before dinner having a quiet drink. I have never been interrupted there by a quiz.

What tring describes sounds ghastly

[annieuk]

It pays to do research before a cruise. We knew the buffet was only open on certain themed evenings - eg Indian. We knew there was only Club Dining - there is only one dining room. However, since we never eat in the buffet in the evening and love Club Dining it wasn't a problem for us. We were on board in September.

 

We ate in Sorrento and for £5 we thought the choice was great - neither of us had steak. I had a lovely Chicken breasts cooked in Madeira with a small pastry tartlet with mushrooms cooked in Madeira - very tasty, came with vegetables and potatoes. I had a fantastic Tiramisu - gorgeous. For a starter I had calamari with a chilli dip. Again the in Ocean Grill - a much more refined dining restaurant there was plenty of choice apart from steak.

 

On the afternoon the ship arrived in St. Petersburg there was a proper hot buffet served at 5pm for those going on evening trips - we went to the ballet. The tables in the buffet were properly laid out with napkins and cutlery on the tables.

 

I must admit when we got back to the ship around 11.40 - all we wanted was bed - it had been a hectic day.

 

As far as quizzes etc. yes there were quizzes - we went to one in the buffet - the synicate quiz. We also sat in the Curzon Lounge after dinner with a pianist playing and it was very peaceful - no quiz or anything going on there. As I said in my previous comment if someone wants all singing, all dancing, freedom dining, proper theatre, don't go on Adonia. We loved her.

[tring]

Anyone with recent experience on the Adonia could you please supply information about the evening buffet.

 

While we love dinner in the main dining room, we are sometimes too tired from a day onshore to want to have nothing more than a quick bite at the buffet.

 

Is it true that buffet is not open nightly?

 

 

The P&O brochure/website is somewhat coy about the opening hours of the buffet and the only referrence I can find is on page 226 of the brochure, (Jan 15 to Mar 16 version), which says,

 

''Our buffets offerdining from early morning to late evening (with the exception of Adonia where opening hours vary)''.

 

If it is only open for theme nights, (which is what happened when we were onboard), then you may find that would be nearer 4 nights in 17 as we experienced, rather than half of the evenings.

 

I suggest you ask P&O about the evening opening hours of the buffet on a specific cruise if you are thinking of booking a cruise on Adonia and you want to use a buffet in the evenings. If you ask by email you would then have an answer in writing which is always useful. I doubt someone answering a phone would have full details of how often it is actually open

 

The menu's mentioned since my last post sound totally different to what was offered when we were onboard, if that is now offered on all cruises then it is a step forward. We only used the Italian when we wanted the buffet which was not open, as we were thinking there was no other alternative to our chosen sitting in the main restaurant. Must admit we did not think of room service, which we have only used for breakfasts on P&O ships, but we would not really have wanted to have been in our cabin for an evening meal and I am not sure how suitable the menu would have been anyway.

 

Adonia may well have changed to some extent, but we would choose another cruise line such as Swan Hellenic for a small ship cruise, rather than even consider returning to Adonia as their cruise product is far superior to P&O. We would still use P&O on the mid sized ships if we wanted a cheap cruise with commonly visited ports. As I have said before and has been agreed by others - each to their own and choice is an individual thing.