Selbourne

It’s very true that things have changed considerably over the years when it comes to appropriate dress, especially for men. My grandfathers generation wore ties at work (even in manual jobs) and persisted in wearing them every day through their retirement. My great Uncle lived to 99 years of age and I don’t ever recall seeing him without a tie. Fast forward two generations and although I wore a suit at work and had a senior role, for the last 15 years of my career I didn’t wear a tie. I remember taking my mother-in-law to Manoir Quatre Saison’s for her birthday and she was absolutely horrified to see guests in t-shirts, torn jeans and trainers. I was quite surprised too, but was more horrified by the bill 😂 I’ve been fortunate enough to dine in many other Michelin star restaurants and I can’t remember any insisting on ties, let alone suits or DJ’s. None the less, they were all first class dining experiences and I enjoyed them all the more by feeling relaxed and comfortable.

As a ‘traditional cruiser’ I comply with the dress code, including DJ for formal nights. We find that the MDR menus are generally much better on formal nights, so we tend to use the MDR on these nights. However, having worn a suit for my entire working life, I now only wear them for weddings, funerals and a voluntary role where it is the appropriate dress. For me, wearing a suit or DJ is like being at work, rather than on holiday, so I don’t enjoy wearing them, but I know that friends and relatives who don’t wear suits to work quite like the ability to ‘dress up’ in one. Personally, I’d be quite happy if P&O relaxed the dress code, as long as they retain the better menus for certain nights! We are booked on a 7 night cruise on Iona next summer. Is there just one formal night? Seems a faff to have to take a DJ for just one night.

I’m sure that’s correct, but I bet you still won’t be any where near 6,264 passengers. Selfishly, I hope that I’m wrong, as you might then be able to give me some reassurance for our August 2023 Iona cruise, given that I suspect that we will be much closer to that number 😉

Yes, February half term is only one week, even for private schools (who sometimes have two weeks for half term in October). However, you will find that there will still be quite a lot of children as some parents may take their children out of school for the week before or after half term. There won’t be as many children on board as there would be in July or August though, when they are all off school.

I would very much doubt that she will be sailing at anything like full capacity at this time of year, even at half term. TerrierJohn reports a lot of children on board (Scotland & private schools half terms?) and yet current numbers on his cruise are still only 75% of the maximum number according to your figures. As I say, I think it’s going to be July / August next year before she breaks through 6,000 passengers.

I hope you are right, although that’s still probably around 1,000 more than she has carried so far? Aside from the buffet issues this morning, how have you found the MDR (food & choice) versus pre Covid? Also, as a fellow wheelchair pusher, how is Iona from an accessibility perspective? I should think very good? I’ve seen a video of an accessible cabin and was very impressed.

As previously stated, 5,200 is not the maximum capacity. It’s the normal operating capacity based primarily on lower berths. I am told that in school summer holidays, with most additional (Pullman etc) berths occupied, it could be closer to 7,000. Iona has yet to be tested with those numbers. I doubt that she has sailed with much more than 5,000 so far, what with restrictions and slightly suppressed demand. We are on her next August (😱) so will report back then on what it’s like when she is REALLY busy 😂

There are some situations where adjoining balconies cannot be opened up due to unmovable stanchions, but when it is physically possible (as it is in most cases) cabin stewards will always oblige.

Ive booked 3 adjacent balcony cabins so may well do that. It might remind us of the corner wrap around rear suites we’ve had in the past 😂

Whilst a World Cruise doesn’t remotely appeal to us, if we were to ever consider one we wouldn’t entertain doing it on a ship that we weren’t familiar with. Too much of a risk, regardless of which cruise line it is. For example, we have cruised on all the P&O ships, most multiple times, and we liked all the ships bar one, which just happened to be Arcadia. The suite was fine (if a bit dated) but there were several things that we really disliked about the rest of the ship. We wouldn’t have wanted to discover this having committed to the huge financial outlay of a World Cruise. Personally, if considering a very long cruise on any ship that I wasn’t familiar with, I would try a short cruise on it before taking the plunge.

It very much sounds that way. We have previously been told that all of this is temporary and down to reduced staffing levels, but I can’t help but wonder if the bean counters at P&O might come to the conclusion that if they can get away with all of this and the customers still keep booking, it may become the ‘new normal’ (to use a phrase that I hate)! Having worked with countless Finance Directors, there is no doubting that someone will be asking “if we can get away with operating at these low staffing levels, why can’t we do so permanently”.

That’s good. It’s almost always possible to change from Freedom to Club but not always possible to swap the other way, especially on busy cruises. Freedom dining is by far the most popular choice nowadays and on our past few cruises (pre Covid) there were notices outside the MDR’s stating that Freedom dining was full and no changes could be made. As previously stated though (as some people don’t realise this), whilst it is usually possible to confirm 1st or 2nd sitting, table size is only ever an expressed preference with Club dining and is never guaranteed (unless things have changed) . Hopefully, most people get what they ask for, but if passengers want an absolute guarantee of a table for 2, their only option is Freedom dining and either be prepared to wait, or dine later when tables for 2 are usually freely available.

That’s good to hear John, although all the family ships seem relatively quiet out of season with hardly any kids on board. The OP’s concern (as is mine) is what it will be like with possibly 30-40% more passengers on board than you have at present, with many of the 3rd and 4th berths occupied. The comparison with Britannia in June is interesting though, so maybe it won’t be as bad as I fear. Enjoy your cruise. What’s the MDR food like?

It’s worth remembering that the often quoted 5,200 passengers is the ‘normal’ operating capacity, not allowing for additional cabin beds so, without any passenger restrictions, this number could be considerably more in school holidays. We are booked on Iona next August (not my choice, but one of our party is a school teacher) and I fear that the passenger numbers, including all the school kids, could be closer to 7,000 😱. Thankfully, we have a large balcony cabin, so if it feels too overcrowded we shall retire to our own private space!

I’ve certainly read elsewhere on this forum that afternoon tea was only available in the buffet or Epicurean (at extra cost), but I wasn’t clear if that was a ‘one-off’ specific to just one cruise or ship. As with many things, only time will tell whether the reductions in service are temporary, due to the present staff shortages, or permanent. Whilst it would be a shame if it goes, I have to say that we have always found afternoon tea in the MDR to be distinctly underwhelming!

It’s usually possible to be able to guarantee first or second sitting with Club dining (especially now that Freedom dining is so much more popular these days), but table size is never guaranteed with Club Dining. You can only express a preference. You might be lucky, you might not. The only way to ever be 100% certain of a table for 2 for dinner in the MDR is to select Freedom Dining and be prepared to wait for a table, although pre Covid we always found that we were seated immediately if we dined later, often on a table of 4 for just the 2 of us.

We did a November cruise to Amsterdam on Ventura and very much enjoyed it. Weather pretty much identical to the U.K. as it’s about the same latitude as Birmingham. As it’s below sea level you pass through a sea lock en-route which is very interesting. Assuming that P&O now dock in the city centre again (rather than the berth that’s an hour outside) it’s a level 15 min walk from the cruise terminal to the main sights. Departing in the dark is also fascinating as you pass loads of offices and apartments and see hundreds of people working, having dinner etc as they don’t close the curtains due to their views. Think the Hitchcock film ‘Rear Window’. As Harry has said there’s loads to see and do, but if you want to visit Anne Franks house, pre book your visit online well before you go, as it sells out and lots of people turn up on the day and are disappointed. P.S. The one negative is that there are literally hundreds of thieves and pick pockets operating in the city centre, so do have your wits about you and keep purses / wallets very secure as they have all sorts of distraction techniques to part you from them.

We absolutely love the Fjords at any time of the year. We have been twice in the winter (Northern Lights cruises) and twice in July. With both summer cruises it was very hot (over 25 degrees) but, as TheJuggler says, it can vary enormously. We are going again next August on Iona (Covid protocols permitting) so I hope that we will get the hat trick and have a third cruise in glorious weather. As for the ship, my wife and daughters often find the air conditioning a bit too cold in places, so layers are the key when it comes to clothing.

We did the cable car and toboggan DIY. Very easy (and pleasant) walk to the cable car and back from the toboggan. It cost us a fraction of the P&O excursion cost. This was in 2007 when, from memory, the streets were still cobbled and the toboggan took you almost all the way back down. I would describe the toboggan as a ‘near death experience’ especially flying across the various unmarked crossroads and, as such, it was thoroughly enjoyable! My wife wasn’t quite so convinced 😂

I wasn’t on the last cruise I’m afraid, so cannot answer your question. I know people on the current Ventura cruise (which left yesterday) who were aware of the issues on the preceding one, but 6 hours after boarding were able to confirm that there was no mask wearing requirement whatsoever and furthermore they hadn’t seen a single passenger wearing one. As with all one week cruises, most people who pick up the virus probably won’t be symptomatic until they get home.

The requirement to wear masks on Ventura appears to have been unique to the last cruise. Ventura has just left Southampton on her next cruise. Those on board have NOT been asked to wear them. No mention at check in, no on board announcements and no notices. Suspect some may voluntarily choose to wear them, but according to those on board, nobody has been seen wearing one yet!