smokey01

I have never used the gym but have used the nearby spa and I’m pretty sure there are no gym showers, the showers on the deck plan belong to the spa.

I read that info myself yesterday. I have filled in personal info and have a cabin assigned (select booking) but no where can I see where to download luggage labels. So presume I need to wait until I can check in. Not sure why they give the inaccurate details though!

Thanks Somerset Cruiser and Neecy1

We are on Iona 5th October and Gary Barlow is playing the night we overnight in Lisbon. I know from previous cruises it cost £10 each for the raffle and if successful both of us will get tickets, but that we cannot select which show i.e. 8pm or 10pm. But if successful how chaotic is the theatre: do people queue hours before? If once seated can you go out and get back in again? I do suffer from restless legs so if I have to sit for ages beforehand to get a decent seat it is a bit of an issue. Can I leave my mother seated while I have a walk around until nearer showtime? how long is the show?

Every P&O cruise we go on (ordinary balconies) we ask for flannels/face cloths, absolutely no problem, we get them changed daily without asking (after embarkation day). Not asked for body lotion though. Mostly cruised P&O since covid, so 3 times per year for face cloths with no problem so maybe it is the body lotion that is a problem (I always bring my own body lotion as I have sensitive skin). Next 2 P&O cruises will be in a suite (for the first time, yay) so I can’t test if things have changed! I have found though that if we ask for flannels there is a blank look so we make sure we Americanise it to face cloths.

I so look forward to your menu postings. I can always pick something (and I’m a fussy non fish eater) even though I know what you say that they don’t always live up to expectations, but since covid having sailed RCL, MSC and Princess I always preferred the MDR meals on Iona/Arvia over the other cruise lines. I look forward to Britannia in July where thankfully we are second sitting confirmed and not having to deal with the dine whenever they can fit us in as we had on Arvia on our last P&O cruise.

Oh let me know about the over 85s if you do find out. My mother is 85 but luckily our renewal is now so she is OK for this year. I wonder how much cruise cover per cruise will be. I tried a dummy booking on their normal travel insurance site but it didn’t give cruise cover as an optional extra.

She is going the long way around. Some cruises have been cancelled and the first UK cruise on 22nd April is now departing on the 23rd April. As far as I know she will now be travelling from Dubai to Southampton empty of passengers for 2 or 3 weeks. I am on the 23rd April cruise which was supposed to be 12 days but is now 11 days.

1. is Tea and coffee available free in the buffet? Yes 2. I have heard that supplies of milk, tea and coffee in the cabin can be somewhat frugal. Would I be able to bring a carton of milk and my own tea and coffee on board? We just get extra milk, tea and coffee from the buffet and take to the cabin, but yes you could also bring your own. 3. when I booked with P and O, I asked about gratuities, and was told that they aren’t required, which surprised me. It may be because I booked in Australia, where there are laws about compulsory gratuities. What do most people tip for cabin staff, drinks service, and waitstaff? Tips are also included with P&O in the UK but some do give a small extra tip at the end of the cruise to their cabin steward and waiters if on fixed dining.

And me, my impression was mrsgroggins was the better presentation

I presume the wristbands are good for unlocking the cabin door as you approach it and when ordering drinks?

Oh dear, we are on Iona in October in an aft suite, deck 12. What time of day and for how long is the DJ in situ?

I’m loving looking at the menu’s. Our last P&O cruise was April 2023 on Arvia where I found I just could not handle not knowing WHEN I could actually get into to the dining room that I subsequently cancelled multiple cruises. I’m now feeling like cruising again. MSC first in April but followed by Britannia July 5th. The menu selection you are showing is very appealing to me, and I feel a little stupid now as in April 2023 I thought the actual meals we ate in the MDR on Arvia were lovely but I just could not handle not knowing when I would dine. So I’m looking forward to Britannia in July with fixed late dining and hopefully these or similar menu choices. I’ve cruised since the early 90’s and know it is not quite the melt in the mouth dining I got then but since covid I have tended to enjoy P&O food over RCL and MSC and the price per cruise is lower so overall a good compromise.

A friend who used to cruise often told me it was not worth getting off in Arrefice, so I didn’t for years. Then one cruise I did and had a lovely walk through a marina to a castle like structure out to sea, and then I followed on a little way to a lovely sandy beach. I’m not a shopper or cafe drinker so that did me just fine. Lately p&o (and probably other lines) have stopped the shuttle buses dropping off in a non descript car park by the small marina so that meant the walk to my usual haunt was marginally further for me but still do able. Unfortunately it was a little too far for my mid 80’s mother. That said my next 2 cruises are to the Canaries and I look forward to my stops at Arrefice. I do agree that Las Canteras beach in Gran Canary is lovely and my all time favourite port stop after New York. I do agree Tenerife without an excursion is pretty boring, if anyone disagrees and says there is a nice place in walking distance of the ship then feel free to tell me. I don’t do shops or coffee shops though! I’ve done too many excursions there to want to do anymore so I just walk to that manmade pool area make some phone calls and then back to the ship.

I believe 12411 has the bed by the balcony. Personally I like the bed by the wardrobes although that configuration does make the space tight to get into the wardrobe. That said we like the settee to be next to the balcony so we can sit on it and gaze outside. Not sure what you mean by this, I think all balcony cabins have a sofa which can turn into a bed, so basically the only choice is whether you would prefer the bed to by the balcony or not.