Tips for a 'virgin' cruiser!

[libra-sue]

Hi

My hubbie and I go on our first ever cruise on Arcadia J611 next May 06.

Booked May 05, and managed to get 2nd sitting ok, by the way, and have requested' a table for 2. We celebrate our silver wedding anniv. while onboard and hope to go to Arcadian Rhodes on the actaul evening of the anniv. to make it that bit more special.

My questions are:

What % of the men onboard where a tux lounge suit on formal evening against a normal suit?

 

What was the age range on board? is it mostly over 65's? Or mid-40's-50's? I am 43....

 

What do you think of the food/entertainment on board?

 

Now she has been sailing for 6 months, I hope some of you cruisers who have already sailed on her can tell what you thought? AND ANY TIPS YOU THINK WOULD HELP A FIRST-TIMER like myself.

 

We have a stateroom with balcony on B DECK portside.

 

Thanks.:)

[rockie]

I would suggest going with an open mind. We have cruised twice and the first time I had heard it was sooooooooooooo fabulous I thought it couldn't be that good, so got onboard with an open mind and it was better than anything I imagined. Sitting at a large table is fun though, you meet all sorts of people with their different personalities. Enjoy and post here when you get back and let us know about your trip.

[maxx]

I'm also a virgin cruiser. Can't wait, although I don't think our cruise will be as "glam" as yours.

 

I'm agonising over the dinner seatings. I've changed my mind twice, now gone to the first seating because I want to see the shows and not miss them. I've read that people from the first seating often see the shows twice thus leaving little space for the second showgoers. Also don't want to be still eating at 9.30pm. My concerns include missing departures from ports, and the rush to get ready after a shore visit.

 

I'm still not settled with this issue so I will read with interest the replies. So far every one has a different opinion.

[Past it]

Maxx, I can feel your anxiety! Lets get you sorted out.I will give you my views on the matter. I had first sitting.you won't miss a sailaway,there is plenty of time to get a shower and get ready. They don't open the doors of the dinning room till exactly 5.30 sometimes a bit late.There is a queue of people to get in and settled so theres a bit more time.How long does it take you to get ready? My personal feelings of dinner was I was hurried along by the staff,you might not feel this.They want you out so they can set up for the next lot.There is time to get to the show,we always had about 20 mins spare waiting for the curtain to go up.Now the shows are ok but I couldn't see anyone wanting to see through the same show again! After the show,there is entertainment in the lounge area and in some of the smaller bars.Also the casino.I hope this will be a help to you,on my next trip in May I am going to try the later sitting to see if its any different. I am not to bothered about the shows again,if I catch them ok if not I'm easy. I will find lots to do.Feel free to ask anything else.Happy Cruising :)

[kaseyoz]

we also changed our minds on the dinner aspect of the cruise. we first booked late as we normally eat around 7-7.30 and also didnt want to rush getting ready after a lazy day at the beach. But after reading numerous threads on here (hope you have checked other threads not just p and o)i decided to change us to early. Mainly because we will have our children 15 and 13 with us and we would prefer for them to eat with us, so we wont have to worry about getting them to kids dinner at 5pm and then getting ready i can see that being very rushed.

 

if it is only you and hubby later may suit as you can have relaxed pre dinner drinks and there will be less children in the dining room which may be a big plus for you.

 

whatever you decide you will be ok.

have fun

karon

[Melxx]

Hi Libra-Sue,

 

I have justed poped on but have to go out so this is a quick reply.

 

Here is another great cruising site you may want too try. They have answers to all P & O cruise questions.

 

 

http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/welovecruising/

 

 

Will post another reply too you tomorrow.

 

Kind regards

 

Mel xx

[elaine61]

Hi

My hubbie and I go on our first ever cruise on Arcadia J611 next May 06.

Booked May 05, and managed to get 2nd sitting ok, by the way, and have requested' a table for 2. We celebrate our silver wedding anniv. while onboard and hope to go to Arcadian Rhodes on the actaul evening of the anniv. to make it that bit more special.

My questions are:

What % of the men onboard where a tux lounge suit on formal evening against a normal suit?

 

What was the age range on board? is it mostly over 65's? Or mid-40's-50's? I am 43....

 

What do you think of the food/entertainment on board?

 

Now she has been sailing for 6 months, I hope some of you cruisers who have already sailed on her can tell what you thought? AND ANY TIPS YOU THINK WOULD HELP A FIRST-TIMER like myself.

 

We have a stateroom with balcony on B DECK portside.

 

Thanks.:)

 

LibraSue

 

We cruise with P & O all the time. I love it!! Many newcomers come back and say it's the best holiday they've ever had. But of course we are all different and expect different things. We are booked on Arcadia next July. Booked it after we were lucky enough to visit the ship prior to it's launch. It is very modern inside. Lots of browns and creams in public areas. My husband and my son both wear a dinner suit on the formal evenings. Most other passengers do to. There is a lowish number wearing normal suits. You can get a decent enough dinner suit for approx £129 in somewhere like suits you. Look after christmas when the sales are on. You might be able to get a good deal. Age range I can't help with. Like you I am 44 and up until now we have only cruised in the main summer holidays when the age range is a lot lower. Bear in mind though some of the older folk can be good fun as much as us younger ones!! I am led to believe that the entertainment is one of the best in the P & O fleet. The food on the other ships has always been good in our opinion. I assume the food is the same on Arcadia. The cabins are more than adequate enough. We too have requested a table for 2 and a lot of other passengers will have to. Tables for 2 are very limited. You cannot book Arcadian Rhodes until you get on board. Make sure it is one of the first places you visit and book. I believe it is popular. Also if you like asian food I believe The Orchid restaurant is very good too. I liked the atmosphere in there when I was visiting.

 

You can e mail me at elaine61@fsmail.net if you want any further info.

 

Elaine

[maxx]

Maxx, I can feel your anxiety! Lets get you sorted out.I will give you my views on the matter. I had first sitting.you won't miss a sailaway,there is plenty of time to get a shower and get ready. They don't open the doors of the dinning room till exactly 5.30 sometimes a bit late.There is a queue of people to get in and settled so theres a bit more time.How long does it take you to get ready? My personal feelings of dinner was I was hurried along by the staff,you might not feel this.They want you out so they can set up for the next lot.There is time to get to the show,we always had about 20 mins spare waiting for the curtain to go up.Now the shows are ok but I couldn't see anyone wanting to see through the same show again! After the show,there is entertainment in the lounge area and in some of the smaller bars.Also the casino.I hope this will be a help to you,on my next trip in May I am going to try the later sitting to see if its any different. I am not to bothered about the shows again,if I catch them ok if not I'm easy. I will find lots to do.Feel free to ask anything else.Happy Cruising :)

Ok, here I go.......I appreciate everyone's input, it's interesting reading everyone's preferences and reasons.

I guess I'm too focused on the shows from what I have read there is often limited seating second time around.

I'm leaning now back to second. After all back from shore tours, watching the islands as we sail away, need time to get ready, etc.

I found a poll on a another forum on the site in which most people preferred second, particualrly if you don't have kids with you, which we don't.

I'll keep reading and researching, heaps of time yet. My hubby was not interested in any of the cruise plans but now I notice a small spark of enthusiasm, he's been checking out the P&O website!

[libra-sue]

thank you for your detailed reply, i met gary rhodes a couple of days ago at a book signing in Waterstones, Bath, he said he woas on Arcadia in Jan and Feb, but not booked on any further than that, asked him to come on my cruise!!!! SAID HE'D TRY!!!

I will book a table as soon as I enmbark for the anniv 4 days after embarkation.

 

sue

[libra-sue]

thanks elaine, you answered all my questions, i'll email you later

 

sue

[libra-sue]

Wow, like this site, my post was my first visit.

Usually on P and o cruise connections every night!:) thanks for replying everyone.

I hope this will be the 1st of many cruises.:cool:

[Melxx]

Hi

My hubbie and I go on our first ever cruise on Arcadia J611 next May 06.

Booked May 05, and managed to get 2nd sitting ok, by the way, and have requested' a table for 2. We celebrate our silver wedding anniv. while onboard and hope to go to Arcadian Rhodes on the actaul evening of the anniv. to make it that bit more special.

My questions are:

What % of the men onboard where a tux lounge suit on formal evening against a normal suit?

 

What was the age range on board? is it mostly over 65's? Or mid-40's-50's? I am 43....

 

What do you think of the food/entertainment on board?

 

Now she has been sailing for 6 months, I hope some of you cruisers who have already sailed on her can tell what you thought? AND ANY TIPS YOU THINK WOULD HELP A FIRST-TIMER like myself.

 

We have a stateroom with balcony on B DECK portside.

 

Thanks.:)

 

Hi Libra-Sue,

 

Can’t add much more than Elaine as she is far more travelled than I am. I think she knows P & O better than they do.

 

Just to add I am on Arcadia New Year so if you have anything you would like me to look at on the ship just ask.

 

Do you know what dates Gary Rhodes is on the ship in Jan? He may be there for our cruise.:D Must have been lovely to meet him.

 

Going back to age range I have only been on cruises over New year and the age range is mixed I am also 44 and have met people of all ages on previous cruises who I have keep in touch with bet you find the same will happen to you.

 

As Elaine said most men wear a Dinner Jacket on formal nights but a dark suit is fine.

 

The food is excellent and I love the Indian buffet. If you like your curries book early as last year we missed out last year. You can do this through the restaurant manager.

 

Hope I was of some help :)

 

Mel

 

PS Elaine Have a wonderful crossing can’t be long now. Hope you are packed and ready.:)

 

 

[terry99]

Hi Libra Sue,

 

We have just arrived home after 16 days on Arcadia around the Med (can't get more recent experience than that!)

 

Regarding your queries:

Almost all men wore dinner suits on formal nights. On our 16 night cruise, there were 5 formal nights.

Very wide age range. At a guess I'd say 65% over 65, 20% 50 to 65, and 15% under 50. I don't think you will find this to be an issue.

Food was excellent. We dined in Rhodes on one night, and although its difficult to beat the 'standard' Meridian restaurant fare, they did it! The atmosphere in the restaurant is also more personal and relaxed. As mentioned before, the resturant does get booked for popular times quite quickly, but they take 3 booking per quarter hour interval between 6.30 and 10.00.

Entertainment was 'good' to 'excellent'. Obviously there's a variety of acts/ shows, and not all may suit your taste, but the Palladium has state of the art sound and lighting, so all shows are enjoyable.

We took early sitting for dinner, and found this met all our needs. We were able to see all early shows (8.45 start), but you do have to go straight from your meal to the theatre if you want to get a good seat (i.e. sit and wait for at least 30 minutes before the show starts)

I was a bit disappointed with the nightclub (Electra). Most of the music played was 70's, 80's, 90's. Not much current dance music.

Let me know if there are any other specific questions you'd like an opinion on!!

Regards.

Terry

[goldie*]

Hi, My husband and I are going on our first cruise on the Oceana on 2nd October. We are really looking forward to it. Has any one been on the Oceana

[goldie*]

We have booked the second sitting. Decided to sit with table of eight. So that we can meet people.

[maxx]

We have booked the second sitting. Decided to sit with table of eight. So that we can meet people.

I've have read and reread as much as I can about dinner seatings.

I have booked second, first and now we are going back to second for a number of reasons...

* more time to relax after shore visits, I want to watch us sail away in the evenings.

* more time to get ready after the shore visits.

* I am now less focused on MUST seeing the shows, if we get in great, if not too bad, we'll find something else to do.

* hopefully less children at dinner.

* less of a rush to finish the meal, hopefully we will have interesting people at our table and sit and enjoy a long chat or too. we also have a table of 8.

* early dinner too close to lunch and aftenoon tea.

etc, etc.

Yes, being a newbie/virgin cruiser, this is my only real concern. After all it's the only decision we have to make, the rest just falls in to place.

[goldie*]

Thanks for the reply Maxx, Sorry about going on about dinner. I too am looking forward to sailing away. Very excited as this is our first trip ever abroad.

[DanFromSyd]

Both cruises I went on we had late sitting, one table of 10 and other table of 6 (wanted 8 or 10).

 

I find that the larger the table the easier it is to meet new people and have more fun.

 

The first cruise with 10 was excellent, instant friends. We had a ball and by the second night were probably the loudest table in the restaurant laughing and joking.

 

Besides if you have lunch at 1-2 then who can eat again at 6??? not to mention afternoon tea, ice cream and anything else you fit into an afternoon!

 

Besides late sitting gives you time for the pre-dinner drinks!

 

Cheers,

 

Dan

[mummsie]

We have only been on one cruise and had early sitting. We were travelling with friends who have done at least 10 cruises. They have tried both and prefer early sitting. We still saw all the sail aways and then went down to dinner. Then you have all the night to do what you want. We are ballroom dancers so we love to eat early and then go and dance the night away and get some exercise before we go to bed. We also saw all the shows - they usually do them twice a night so that everybody gets a chance to see them. As for shore excursions - we just did our own thing and so got back early enough to have a rest and get dressed early. - just my 2 cents worth - Gayle

[KarenR_UK]

Hi, My husband and I are going on our first cruise on the Oceana on 2nd October. We are really looking forward to it. Has any one been on the Oceana

 

Hi Goldie

 

I have been on Oceana & will be going again on Oct 16th - Any questions I will try to answer.

 

Have a good trip

 

Karen