Iona to the Fjords just got home

[Windsurfboy]

28 minutes ago, Interestedcruisefan said:

 

Absolutely nothing wrong with those choices but that type of cruising would be something to appeal to Warner holiday demographics or escorted coach holiday demographics (again great holidays for those demographics)

 

It's clear Iona and Arvia are going after younger demographics who may in the past have been staying in all inclusive resorts with 9 restaurants etc and lots to do in resort or holiday villages abroad or center parcs kind of demographics

 

Hence Nicole Scherzinger and Olly Murs helping launch arvia (Nicole 45 years old and Olly 40 years old)

 

Demographics from that agegroup

 

 

 

 

Just to be pedantic "Warner holiday" or "escorted coach trip" is a much more limited demographic than older people, it's describes a grouping defined by mixture ot age and socio economics and perhaps education. 

 

Many traditional  cruisers if not most  traditional  cruisers will not fit into this grouping. Many younger people like the traditions of dressing up , perhaps more on cunard. Those traditional  cruisers on seabourne at over £1000 a night are certainly not the Warner holidays crowd.

 

However perhaps P&O marketing have this view of traditional cruisers, if so they will alienate a wider demographic, with the greatest disposable income of any demographic.

[Interestedcruisefan]

9 minutes ago, Windsurfboy said:

 

Just to be pedantic "Warner holiday" or "escorted coach trip" is a much more limited demographic than older people, it's describes a grouping defined by mixture ot age and socio economics and perhaps education. 

 

Many traditional  cruisers if not most  traditional  cruisers will not fit into this grouping. Many younger people like the traditions of dressing up , perhaps more on cunard. Those traditional  cruisers on seabourne at over £1000 a night are certainly not the Warner holidays crowd.

 

However perhaps P&O marketing have this view of traditional cruisers, if so they will alienate a wider demographic, with the greatest disposable income of any demographic.

What kind of holiday can you compare sharing tables with others and eating at the same time at fixed times every night in the same place to?

 

Where does this happen nowadays in the modern world apart from  on the more old fashioned cruise ships?

 

It does happen on escorted coach trips. And it does happen on Warner holidays I believe? (Not sure on the sharing tables bit)

 

But where else would you get this?

 

As for dinner jacket dining maybe once a year at a New Year's Eve event? Or maybe a summer ball?

 

Dresscodes have become more relaxed pretty much everywhere in the modern world?

 

 

 

 

Edited May 26 by Interestedcruisefan

[Interestedcruisefan]

12 minutes ago, Windsurfboy said:

 

Just to be pedantic "Warner holiday" or "escorted coach trip" is a much more limited demographic than older people, it's describes a grouping defined by mixture ot age and socio economics and perhaps education. 

 

Many traditional  cruisers if not most  traditional  cruisers will not fit into this grouping. Many younger people like the traditions of dressing up , perhaps more on cunard. Those traditional  cruisers on seabourne at over £1000 a night are certainly not the Warner holidays crowd.

 

However perhaps P&O marketing have this view of traditional cruisers, if so they will alienate a wider demographic, with the greatest disposable income of any demographic.

Warner holidays aren't as cheap as they used to be either!!

[Interestedcruisefan]

18 minutes ago, Windsurfboy said:

However perhaps P&O marketing have this view of traditional cruisers, if so they will alienate a wider demographic, with the greatest disposable income of any demographic.

For the big ships they need new younger demographics to have a viable future and are getting them

 

In the meantime the older ships still offer what traditional cruisers still want to see

 

But every year there will be less of these

 

My daughter wanted to dress up on Princess in Alaska. But her boyfriend didnt have a dinner jacket. So she thought they would need to dine in buffet.

 

Very wrongly as just wearing trousers, shirt and shoes (no jacket, no tie) qualified for formal on that cruise

 

Problem was the queues for MDR which we couldn't pre-book meant we had to go to buffet regardless or we would miss the theatre show

 

I'm a member of a Rotary Club. One of the youngest member (age 55) average age nearer to 75 now

 

When I joined 20 years ago everybody wore a suit and tie to every meeting

 

Now no more than 2 members out of 30 wear a suit. Maybe 4 members wear a tie. Some wear jeans.

 

The world has changed a lot in 20 years

 

Edited May 26 by Interestedcruisefan

[Red Leicester]

Go back 100 years and people wore suits, stiff collars and that all day.  I don't see even the traditional cruiser doing that at 11:00 on a sea day.  Shocking behaviour!

 

Just for me, starting on Oriana, then Arcadia then Iona it got more relaxed and less formal.  I'm glad.  The typical cruise passenger in 40 years time, unlikely to be me unless I make my mid-80s, will look different again.  In my 24 years working ties have gone and the it would appear the inability to make a phone call to someone is also going.  "I've emailed / messaged / texted / Teams-ed them".

Bringing it back to the original ask... try one, see what you think.  Not every ship or line is suited to every person.  It can take a bit of trial and error.  Don't worry what others think, go for yourself and find what does it for you. 

Interestingly Mrs RL and me were looking at MSC and their Yacht Club, whilst the retreat stuff appeals things like the fine dining and butlers are not for us so weighing up the value.  P&O don't yet really have a ship within a ship thankfully.  Well, not that I have noticed.

Edited May 26 by Red Leicester

[Interestedcruisefan]

13 minutes ago, Red Leicester said:

Go back 100 years and people wore suits, stiff collars and that all day.  I don't see even the traditional cruiser doing that at 11:00 on a sea day.  Shocking behaviour!

 

Just for me, starting on Oriana, then Arcadia then Iona it got more relaxed and less formal.  I'm glad.  The typical cruise passenger in 40 years time, unlikely to be me unless I make my mid-80s, will look different again.  In my 24 years working ties have gone and the it would appear the inability to make a phone call to someone is also going.  "I've emailed / messaged / texted / Teams-ed them".

Bringing it back to the original ask... try one, see what you think.  Not every ship or line is suited to every person.  It can take a bit of trial and error.  Don't worry what others think, go for yourself and find what does it for you. 

Interestingly Mrs RL and me were looking at MSC and their Yacht Club, whilst the retreat stuff appeals things like the fine dining and butlers are not for us so weighing up the value.  P&O don't yet really have a ship within a ship thankfully.  Well, not that I have noticed.

Cunard worried me when I considered a cruise with them by having different restaurants for different levels of customer spend

 

I like entry level cabins then spending money to elevate my experience to the best food and drinks on the ship

 

Which I know I can do on P and O?

 

Albeit I was re-assured on the above a bit

[zap99]

4 hours ago, Interestedcruisefan said:

There aren't enough school holidays  for the big ships just to aim for families though

 

I think they are going after anybody who wants a fun and good value holiday with lots of choices

 

Going after people who may in the past have been booking all inclusive holidays abroad  etc where they stay in same hotel with hotel entertainment for a week or two

 

And they couldn't impress them with the old style cruising with the old MDR approach in those cruise ships and the lack of choices for dining and bars and entertainment

 

Absolutely nothing wrong with those choices but that type of cruising would be something to appeal to Warner holiday demographics or escorted coach holiday demographics (again great holidays for those demographics)

 

It's clear Iona and Arvia are going after younger demographics who may in the past have been staying in all inclusive resorts with 9 restaurants etc and lots to do in resort or holiday villages abroad or center parcs kind of demographics

 

Hence Nicole Scherzinger and Olly Murs helping launch arvia (Nicole 45 years old and Olly 40 years old)

 

Demographics from that agegroup

 

And it's clear they are hitting the spot with what they are doing as well

 

Most of the complaints last year (there will always be some) had moved on to Maleth airlines rather than on to the actual ships 

 

 

Crickey, never thought of us as demographics. We cruise on P&O,Rc,X and NCL, take short breaks at warners. Eat at harvester, Toby carvery, Spoons and Gordon Ramsey, drive a hot hatch and took an escorted tour to Provence. We must be a nightmare for you clever pigeon hole fillers.🤣

[Red Leicester]

We all fit into several.  Sadly I didn't quite fit into the male, 30-39 and from Rochdale bracket last week, though bonus points to the surveyor who stopped me who thought I was under 39.

 

Different ships for different people.  Just wish people would fathom that out and stop criticising the newer ships and new cruisers.  There's a lot passive aggressive comments.

 

[Megabear2]

1 minute ago, Red Leicester said:

We all fit into several.  Sadly I didn't quite fit into the male, 30-39 and from Rochdale bracket last week, though bonus points to the surveyor who stopped me who thought I was under 39.

 

Different ships for different people.  Just wish people would fathom that out and stop criticising the newer ships and new cruisers.  There's a lot passive aggressive comments.

 

Unfortunately it works both ways as some like to attack those who prefer the older ships.  As you say different ships for different people.

 

Personally I find it all very tiring, we all want or like different things so why not be harmonious.

[Red Leicester]

Everyone needs to accept change happens.  As I keep saying some change is good.

[Megabear2]

6 minutes ago, Red Leicester said:

Everyone needs to accept change happens.  As I keep saying some change is good.

Unfortunately change is not always best for some people.  I'm currently sitting on a brand new ship which is so far removed from her sisters you'd think it was a different line.  Personally I think that's great, others don't. It's all opinions of individuals.  I don't care if a ship is old or new, small or large but it must offer decent service to the majority of its guests and not involve disappointment in lack of basic things.  Basically if you don't like it, don't go back again to check.  That way lies disappointment.

 

Change for changes sake is not always a good idea.  I remember the slogan Tesco ran "Changing the way you shop".  It referred to removing high street stores and putting them in large retail park areas.  Five years later they had to invent high street metro stores because the public quite clearly didn't want the way they shopped to change or be dictated to.

 

[Red Leicester]

You will never please all the people all the time.  80/20 rule.

 

In 30 years it'll all be different and I won't want it to change but it'll have to so it can serve the new demands and markets.

[Megabear2]

39 minutes ago, Red Leicester said:

You will never please all the people all the time.  80/20 rule.

 

In 30 years it'll all be different and I won't want it to change but it'll have to so it can serve the new demands and markets.

Since 1837 or so P&O have existed and they've gone through many changes but the basic premise remains the same.. yes change has come and gone but the idea of leisure travel on ships is the same.  

 

In 30 years time, which is a blink of the eye in P&O's history, that main thing will remain: a ship, the ocean and people enjoying the thrill of an ocean going vessel. No technology, innovations or invention will change that.

[Red Leicester]

Okay.

[Interestedcruisefan]

With modern world progress I'm confident there's far far more changes for the good than the bad though

 

Would anyone seriously like to return to doing muster drills the old way for example?

 

Even in airports using the passport control machines is starting to become better !!!

 

Lol

 

(Overall) certainly helped with queues on our most recent holidays as people embrace the change and the tech has improved

 

Then compare it to places where we still had to queue and wait for a limited amount of customs staff to check our passports

 

In general we use technology to improve most things

 

And in general there's few things I would like to change back

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 27 by Interestedcruisefan

[alpha whiskey]

Which ever ship you decide to cruise on, just enjoy it.

Things will change. Of course they will, and not only onboard.

Already some ports are restricting  or not allowing ships to dock.

Make the most of it while you can, as above all else this is what will impact on our cruising enjoyment the most. 

[zap99]

8 hours ago, Red Leicester said:

We all fit into several.  Sadly I didn't quite fit into the male, 30-39 and from Rochdale bracket last week, though bonus points to the surveyor who stopped me who thought I was under 39.

 

Different ships for different people.  Just wish people would fathom that out and stop criticising the newer ships and new cruisers.  There's a lot passive aggressive comments.

 

Seems like there are folk who are expert on our demographics,  know what we think, eat, drink and can tell us where we deserve to take our holidays. I'm impressed they know my opinions and likes.......before I do.🤣

[Interestedcruisefan]

18 minutes ago, zap99 said:

Seems like there are folk who are expert on our demographics,  know what we think, eat, drink and can tell us where we deserve to take our holidays. I'm impressed they know my opinions and likes.......before I do.🤣

Time you started doing as you were told zap!!

[zap99]

Just now, Interestedcruisefan said:

Time you started doing as you were told zap!!

That is unlikely to happen. We booked a cruise on Friday. I had to phone Southampton as the high tech website didn't know Britannia was cruising that year. A real person took the booking. I was prepared to join a queue but a real Lady answered the phone promptly. Sometimes the old ways are the best...speaking demographically. 🤣

 

[terrierjohn]

13 hours ago, Interestedcruisefan said:

What kind of holiday can you compare sharing tables with others and eating at the same time at fixed times every night in the same place to?

 

Where does this happen nowadays in the modern world apart from  on the more old fashioned cruise ships?

 

It does happen on escorted coach trips. And it does happen on Warner holidays I believe? (Not sure on the sharing tables bit)

 

But where else would you get this?

 

As for dinner jacket dining maybe once a year at a New Year's Eve event? Or maybe a summer ball?

 

Dresscodes have become more relaxed pretty much everywhere in the modern world?

 

 

 

 

Whilst agreeing that times and tastes have changed, I do think there is, and probably will be, a place for the traditional aspects of cruising on most lines for years to come.

We just sailed on Sky Princess and on formal nights the majority in the MDRs did seem to follow the dress code, and I although I have not sailed on RC, Celebrity  recently, I imagine that they also have a high proportion of traditionalists in the MDRs on formal nights.

I agree that dinner jackets are not regularly worn in public, but I think this is probably why they have remained popular on cruises, and probably will stay popular for years.

 

[DamianG]

16 hours ago, ManofTravels said:

Hi, I'm considering doing the same route next year with my son but on the Arcadia. Do you know if that ship is comparable to the Iona? Do you recommend any packages? Thanks.

 

Arcadia: Entered service 2005, has had a few refits since then but by all accounts looking a bit dated now, especially in some of the cabins. Capacity circa 2000 passengers, very spacious in terms of pax versus the size of ship, especially on the outside decks. Very traditional as you would expect for an older ship. Fewer dining options than the modern ships. The best thing is that it is naturally a more friendly or sociable ship, i.e., you may have a conversation with a fellow passenger then see them again regularly and catch up, something that rarely happens with the larger ships.

 

Iona: Entered service 2021, capacity circa 5200 but I believe can go up to nearer 6000 if all berths are filled. Has a very modern design which splits opinion, with a focus on the bright and airy atrium which some love for the natural light but others compare to an airport lounge. Lots of dining options including four MDRs and the excellent Quays which are a fantastic altenative to the buffet. Naturally it can get busy in terms of embarkation and disembarkation, including when visiting ports.

 

I'd happily sail on either again. Choosing between one or the other really depends on which parts of the cruise are more important to you. If you want a more "old school" traditional cruise with a more intimate feel then Arcadia would fit the bill. If you want a big modern ship with lots of dining and entertainment choices then Iona would be the way to go. There are compromises to be made with either choice so bear that in mind and decide accordingly.

 

Doubtless others may have different opinions and I look forward to comparisons.

 

Edited May 27 by DamianG

[zap99]

13 hours ago, Interestedcruisefan said:

Warner holidays aren't as cheap as they used to be either!!

Nor as expensive as they will be.

[zap99]

13 hours ago, Windsurfboy said:

 

Just to be pedantic "Warner holiday" or "escorted coach trip" is a much more limited demographic than older people, it's describes a grouping defined by mixture ot age and socio economics and perhaps education. 

 

Many traditional  cruisers if not most  traditional  cruisers will not fit into this grouping. Many younger people like the traditions of dressing up , perhaps more on cunard. Those traditional  cruisers on seabourne at over £1000 a night are certainly not the Warner holidays crowd.

 

However perhaps P&O marketing have this view of traditional cruisers, if so they will alienate a wider demographic, with the greatest disposable income of any demographic.

As part of the ' Warners holiday crowd'. We chat to some of the other folk. It may surprise you to learn that many can speak properly and many are regular cruisers. Not many dinner jackets though.....A bit like Celebrity, RC and NCL.

[purplesea]

33 minutes ago, DamianG said:

 

Arcadia: Entered service 2005, has had a few refits since then but by all accounts looking a bit dated now, especially in some of the cabins. Capacity circa 2000 passengers, very spacious in terms of pax versus the size of ship, especially on the outside decks. Very traditional as you would expect for an older ship. Fewer dining options than the modern ships. The best thing is that it is naturally a more friendly or sociable ship, i.e., you may have a conversation with a fellow passenger then see them again regularly and catch up, something that rarely happens with the larger ships.

 

Iona: Entered service 2021, capacity circa 5200 but I believe can go up to nearer 6000 if all berths are filled. Has a very modern design which splits opinion, with a focus on the bright and airy atrium which some love for the natural light but others compare to an airport lounge. Lots of dining options including four MDRs and the excellent Quays which are a fantastic altenative to the buffet. Naturally it can get busy in terms of embarkation and disembarkation, including when visiting ports.

 

I'd happily sail on either again. Choosing between one or the other really depends on which parts of the cruise are more important to you. If you want a more "old school" traditional cruise with a more intimate feel then Arcadia would fit the bill. If you want a big modern ship with lots of dining and entertainment choices then Iona would be the way to go. There are compromises to be made with either choice so bear that in mind and decide accordingly.

 

Doubtless others may have different opinions and I look forward to comparisons.

 

Thank you for the summing up of Arcadia.

I have sail on all the ships in the fleet with the exception of Arcadia and Aurora. I have booked a cruise on her for later on in the year, and was wondering what it would be like in comparison with the others. 

[DamianG]

6 minutes ago, purplesea said:

Thank you for the summing up of Arcadia.

I have sail on all the ships in the fleet with the exception of Arcadia and Aurora. I have booked a cruise on her for later on in the year, and was wondering what it would be like in comparison with the others. 

We’ve been on all the current P&O ships with our one cruise on Arcadia being a long time ago in winter. As fans of sitting out aft the space there (on Arcadia) is something we always thought we would enjoy on a warmer weather cruise and hopefully we’ll get to try it some day once we are no longer restricted to child friendly ships. 

Edited May 27 by DamianG