P&O Arvia Construction

[tring]

1 hour ago, ann141 said:

We sailed on QM2 to New York and then to the Caribbean and back this time last year and I realise we could visit other sights by train from New York (We are considering the Niagara Falls) .The main disadvantage is that for dinner men have to wear a jacket every day which means a lot of luggage to carry on several train journeys!(There doesn't seem to be any way of storing some luggage once in New York unless its very expensive)My hubby doesnt like eating in the buffet so we may try a short added journey e.g onto Washington and Philadelphia before being more adventurous!

 

He could wear the jacket when travelling and take a lighter outer coat, though a lightweight woollen jacket can weigh very little and easily packed flat at bottom of a case.

 

We have done this sort of thing going East, but not considered N.America, though we have 3 families of relatives in Newfoundland, Montreal and Salt Lake.  We had thought about flying and using internal flights which are apparently cheap and easy to use over there.

 

[zap99]

2 hours ago, wowzz said:

If you have the time (and money!) it is relatively easy to visit Alaska without flying, using Cunard to get to the US, and then trains within the US/ Canada.

Perfectly doable indeed. Probably about 10 days ship/train to Vancouver and a seven night cruise. I think the main problem for most people who don't want to fly, apart from the cost, is the return by train/ship. Coordinating all the dates may get a bit complicated. Lovely trip though. I wonder........🤔

[tring]

22 minutes ago, molecrochip said:

 

You tend to find that HAL, Cunard and even Princess to a large degree are very more international focused when travelling Far East or Alaska compared to how they are when doing a typical US voyage.

 

 

We were advised by our local agent some years ago that Princess was a good option because of their land hols which can be added.  Though that advice changed to HAL once we said we would want to visit Newfoundland and Montreal at the same time. 

 

Never did do Alaska, though, tbh put off by a US lady explaining how crowded the little ports get with cruise passengers.  We have done Spitsbergen and Greenland with Fred and they were totally amazing as so peaceful,  remote and unspoiled.

Edited December 14, 2020 by tring

[AnnieC]

33 minutes ago, tring said:

 

That is not what I would have expected, but I do suspect the OBS bill was a tad more on the QM2.  When we first cruised though we did not buy many drinks, yet enjoyed the cruise a lot.  I assume you would not be able to take any alcohol on Cunard, like with P&O, is that correct?

Our OBS on Cunard was always roughly double that on P&O (just bar bills, speciality dining and decent coffee - no excursions, which are roughly on a par, I think, and no internet charges as we get it free). 

 

Officially I think Cunard sets a limit on bottles to be brought on board. In practice, you can take as much as you want.

[Britboys]

40 minutes ago, tring said:

 

We were advised by our local agent some years ago that Princess was a good option because of their land hols which can be added.  Though that advice changed to HAL once we said we would want to visit Newfoundland and Montreal at the same time. 

 

Never did do Alaska, though, tbh put off by a US lady explaining how crowded the little ports get with cruise passengers.  We have done Spitsbergen and Greenland with Fred and they were totally amazing as so peaceful,  remote and unspoiled.

Having done Alaska last Summer with Princess, I would highly recommend it.  Yes, the ports were busy but not over-run (and we were never the only ship in port). There are a lot of excursions that take you away from the port, so that seems to spread the load.

[majortom10]

1 hour ago, tring said:

 

That is not what I would have expected, but I do suspect the OBS bill was a tad more on the QM2.  When we first cruised though we did not buy many drinks, yet enjoyed the cruise a lot.  I assume you would not be able to take any alcohol on Cunard, like with P&O, is that correct?

There are currently no restrictions of taking alcohol aboard on Cunard.

[Britboys]

22 hours ago, Son of Anarchy said:

An interesting read.  Thank you for posting.

 

Would be nice if Azura did do a worldie in 2023.  We could try for a aft balcony to to replace the one we had on Arcadia's 2021 worldie.

I agree this is an interesting thread.

 

Personally, as I am still thinking about a Worldie Sector for 2023, I am very much hoping it is not Azura doing it, as that would mean I definitely won't be...

[majortom10]

P&O did do an Alaska cruise from Southampton on Arcadia in 2011 but as you can imagine it was a very long cruise 72nts which rules out many cruisers and was cost prohibitive for many.

[brian1]

2 hours ago, ann141 said:

We sailed on QM2 to New York and then to the Caribbean and back this time last year and I realise we could visit other sights by train from New York (We are considering the Niagara Falls) .The main disadvantage is that for dinner men have to wear a jacket every day which means a lot of luggage to carry on several train journeys!(There doesn't seem to be any way of storing some luggage once in New York unless its very expensive)My hubby doesnt like eating in the buffet so we may try a short added journey e.g onto Washington and Philadelphia before being more adventurous!

Strangely enough a landtour/cruise TA that we use offer that itinerary.QM2 to NY,Niagara,Washington and Philly.Then QM2 back to SH.

[wowzz]

2 hours ago, tring said:

We had thought about flying and using internal flights which are apparently cheap and easy to use over there.

Jet Blue - everything a LoCo operator should be. Great airline.

[tring]

1 hour ago, Britboys said:

Having done Alaska last Summer with Princess, I would highly recommend it.  Yes, the ports were busy but not over-run (and we were never the only ship in port). There are a lot of excursions that take you away from the port, so that seems to spread the load.

Can I ask which month that was?  If we did do it we were thinking mid June which may give time for ice to melt so ship can get nearer to the coast, but hopefully not the busiest, but do not really know about that.  Did you find the excursions expensive and were they beneficial from what you know - I assume you researched a trip like that fairly well.

 

Also have you been to Spitsbergen or Greenland?  A comparison would be good.

[terrierjohn]

23 minutes ago, tring said:

Can I ask which month that was?  If we did do it we were thinking mid June which may give time for ice to melt so ship can get nearer to the coast, but hopefully not the busiest, but do not really know about that.  Did you find the excursions expensive and were they beneficial from what you know - I assume you researched a trip like that fairly well.

 

Also have you been to Spitsbergen or Greenland?  A comparison would be good.

We did our Alaska and pre cruise rockies and post cruise inland Alaska trip in mid June.

The Rockies was a bit unsettled but absolutely stunning and the highlight of the holiday.

The Vancouver to Whittier cruise was similarly mixed weather, very wet in Juneau for our whale watching trip, Glacier bay was misty and freezing, but College fjord was sunny and not too cold.

The weather then improved dramatically and it was mid 20s deg C and very sunny both in both the Delali and McKinley Princess lodges.

Incidentally I believe that the Alaska ports are ice free all winter.

Edited December 14, 2020 by terrierjohn

[zap99]

2 hours ago, Britboys said:

Having done Alaska last Summer with Princess, I would highly recommend it.  Yes, the ports were busy but not over-run (and we were never the only ship in port). There are a lot of excursions that take you away from the port, so that seems to spread the load.

We were there 2 years ago. This year was cancelled so the next visit is 2021. Can't remember it being particularly busy. A trip up to the Yukon next time.

[zap99]

30 minutes ago, tring said:

Can I ask which month that was?  If we did do it we were thinking mid June which may give time for ice to melt so ship can get nearer to the coast, but hopefully not the busiest, but do not really know about that.  Did you find the excursions expensive and were they beneficial from what you know - I assume you researched a trip like that fairly well.

 

Also have you been to Spitsbergen or Greenland?  A comparison would be good.

Our last was mid June as will our next. Nice long days.

[besberry]

18 hours ago, molecrochip said:

I honestly think that ship sales are done for now. That said, P&O have always seem to look for a disposal rather than have seven/eight ships in the fleet.

 

 

I was on a Grand Voyage when Britannia was named bringing the fleet up to 8 at the time.  One of the entertainment team told me that P&O only wanted 7 ships and one would be for the chop.  He was right.  Goodbye Adonia! 

[zap99]

2 hours ago, wowzz said:

Jet Blue - everything a LoCo operator should be. Great airline.

We few internally with air Canada. Perfectly ok, but I didn't check prices.

[tring]

5 hours ago, zap99 said:

We few internally with air Canada. Perfectly ok, but I didn't check prices.

 

They fly direct to St. John's Newfoundland, which is handy for my brother and his wife, but sadly not from Manchester.  We had considered using Paris as a hub, rather than brave Heathrow, but perhaps not now......  A Canada specialist company suggested flying from Glasgow (poss Air Canada), but not sure what will be going from were in the next couple of years as there will likely be less flights.  That tour operator did fly/drive holidays and said he could get preferential prices with Air Canada if they book an inclusive holiday, but we would only need to book a proportion of nights in their accomodations according to the Air Canada rules.  Well worth going Air Canada if they fly to/from the right airports, but need to check all options.

 

 

 

 

 

[zap99]

1 minute ago, tring said:

 

They fly direct to St. John's Newfoundland, which is handy for my brother and his wife, but sadly not from Manchester.  We had considered using Paris as a hub, rather than brave Heathrow, but perhaps not now......  A Canada specialist company suggested flying from Glasgow (poss Air Canada), but not sure what will be going from were in the next couple of years as there will likely be less flights.  That tour operator did fly/drive holidays and said he could get preferential prices with Air Canada if they book an inclusive holiday, but we would only need to book a proportion of nights in their accomodations according to the Air Canada rules.  Well worth going Air Canada if they fly to/from the right airports, but need to check all options.

 

 

 

 

 

Be a bit careful booking with them for St Johns and Halifax, Nova Scotia. The direct flights were in Boing 737max. When they were grounded the flights were indirect via Toronto. That plane has now been cleared , but I don't know if Air Canada are flying them direct to Nova Scotia or Newfoundland yet.

[joeecco]

6 hours ago, besberry said:

I was on a Grand Voyage when Britannia was named bringing the fleet up to 8 at the time.  One of the entertainment team told me that P&O only wanted 7 ships and one would be for the chop.  He was right.  Goodbye Adonia! 

Guess this good in terms of adding Gala2 then, means (hopefully) they won’t be looking to get rid of Aurora or Arcadia. 

[tring]

14 minutes ago, zap99 said:

Be a bit careful booking with them for St Johns and Halifax, Nova Scotia. The direct flights were in Boing 737max. When they were grounded the flights were indirect via Toronto. That plane has now been cleared , but I don't know if Air Canada are flying them direct to Nova Scotia or Newfoundland yet.

 

Thanks a lot for the heads up on that.  I do not fancy that plane at all, even after it was cleared, supposedly as safe.  Will let others test that for us, for at least a couple of years.

Edited December 14, 2020 by tring

[wowzz]

20 minutes ago, zap99 said:

That plane has now been cleared ,

No, it hasn't, not by the UK, Canada or EU.

[zap99]

5 minutes ago, tring said:

 

Thanks a lot for the heads up on that.  I do not fancy that plane at all, even after it was cleared, supposedly as safe.  Will let others test that for us, for at least a couple of years.

We flew from Heathrow on a 777 to/from Toronto with a small airbus transfer to Halifax. It meant that a 6 hour flight took 10 hours, but as we weren't doing anything pressing, not really a big deal. Next June, Heathrow to Vancouver and return from Calgary with BA. That gives us enough airmiles for a couple of short haul flights. An RCI med flycruise is beaconing.

[wowzz]

19 minutes ago, zap99 said:

We flew from Heathrow on a 777 to/from Toronto with a small airbus transfer to Halifax. It meant that a 6 hour flight took 10 hours, but as we weren't doing anything pressing, not really a big deal. Next June, Heathrow to Vancouver and return from Calgary with BA. That gives us enough airmiles for a couple of short haul flights. An RCI med flycruise is beaconing.

The dreaded 777 - awful aircraft. If you are getting that many airmiles you must be flying Club - enjoy.

[zap99]

Just now, wowzz said:

The dreaded 777 - awful aircraft. If you are getting that many airmiles you must be flying Club - enjoy.

It was our first and last time in a 777. It shook so much, me fillings nearly fell out. On BA Premium out, club home. Can't afford Club both ways. Were OAP's and only got £210 allowance/bonus this year 🤣

[wowzz]

19 minutes ago, zap99 said:

It was our first and last time in a 777. It shook so much, me fillings nearly fell out. On BA Premium out, club home. Can't afford Club both ways. Were OAP's and only got £210 allowance/bonus this year 🤣

Spent far too many hours suffering in assorted 777s!

Club coming home would have been nice.

I got upgraded to Club on one of my  business trips, flying back to LHR from Toronto. Unfortunately,  due to the prevailing winds the flight barely lasted more than 5 hours! I was mortified - as it was a night flight I couldn't avail myself of the full wine list!

 

Edited December 14, 2020 by wowzz