AuroraCruiser08

19 hours ago, Selbourne said:

Yes it was before the canopies. Others will need to advise whether they have completely cured the soot problems, which were only apparent in certain weather conditions. However, once present, the soot could never be completely removed. One major problem was unique to the suite and if you go higher up the ship you shouldn’t be blighted with the noise from the Live Lounge. It’s possible that the vibration may lessen the higher up you go, but I can’t vouch for that. It wasn’t so much the vibration that bothered us, but the countless rattles that it caused! I should think deck 10 and above are far less problematic. 

Can confirm soot issue solved. Nit an issue for us bar one day when the wind was quite cyclonic, steward was straight on it though to clean up. 

15 minutes ago, Megabear2 said:

For reasons best known to itself the quotation with nothing appears!

 

Thank you, I have found your post on the problems.  I believe this cruise was before the canopy was put on to stop the soot, but I'm not sure.

 

Aurora Cruisers E741 is available - deck 10.  Looking at the rave review I'm learning towards that.   Just looking at the itineraries now. Bit concerned one of them includes an overnight in Majorca reading the thread about Arvia being cancelled from there.

We had no issues with E741. Balcony is a good size and the view is fantastic. Very limited vibration as well when underway! If it's available I would definitely recommend. 

22 minutes ago, Megabear2 said:

Despite Britannia being my favourite P&O ship I've never stayed at the aft.  I'm now looking at her 4th and 18th August Mediterranean cruises with my friend.  Last year we stayed in an aft wake view cabin on Celebrity Edge and my friend is keen to have a similar position this year if possible.

 

I know the cabins on deck 15 have the canopy which makes them totally shaded.  Are the lower decks also completely in shade as well?

 

4th August available decks are 8, 10, 11 and 15

18 August available decks are 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12

 

Any thoughts on these much appreciated.  Obviously they are school holiday cruises so we anticipate using the balcony a lot and my friend is a sun baby!

 

Thank you.

Britannias aft cabins are amazing. We had E741. Brilliant sized balcony no soot either since the canopies have been installed. Only downside is a bit of vibration when the stern thrusters run in heavy wind on port days but no major issue. Definitely recommend over standard side balconies 

2 hours ago, Harry Peterson said:

Exactly that. It was essentially a reference to a shortsighted policy (forced on it by external cashflow problems) of maintenance cuts which ended up costing it its number one position in the market.

Will agree with that. Definitely new policy for your reasons above definitely play the lead role. 

Just to clarify, I'm by no means saying the service the OP received on Arcadia was anywhere near acceptable. The exact opposite not what is to be expected from any place you for a holiday. 

I do think comparing P&O to a Travelodge is a bit extreme. Yes there have been cut backs we've noticed it in the three cruises we've done since Covid however it's definitely not the worse cruise company in the mainstream market. The new ships maybe big but do offer may new facilities that offers a very good standard of holiday. The Arvia situation over Christmas was teething problems, like any new ship. Who remembers Aurora's maiden.... Not exactly brilliant... Did it even leave the English Channel. Britannia's maiden had issues onboard too. Friends currently on Arvia say everything is currently going smoothly in terms of the issues reported on the Christmas cruise. 

 The OPs cruise on the other hand does sound like it's got issues and P&O do need to up there game in terms of onboard as people will start to move more to the like of princess. Arcadia does seem to be the issue ship at the moment and I'm sorry to hear of the issues. We experienced none of these on Britannia or Iona in 2022 always had good sized portions, after dinner mints or chocolate or shortbread, quite like the range. Can't blame the entertainment team for not being able to move events inside, venues could have been booked for other things and anyway, who has heard of indoor shuffleboard. Doesn't quite have the same appeal. I think this cruise in particular is the poisoned chalice of P&O itineraries. When we did the same trip on Aurora in 2017 we had to miss Amsterdam all together with an overnight in Zeebrugge (joys🙄). Think it could be time this itinerary is dropped in favor of a Xmas northern lights or something (like Aurora is doing next year). 

That's just my 5 pence thrown into the mix. Definitely dont compare P&O to a Travelodge, premier inn maybe but not Travelodge. Being fair, if it's that much of an issue there is always Cunard, Saga and Fred but I won't go down that rabbit hole as it's not the point of the OPs post. 

Hopefully the situation is sorting on Arcadia. Friends joining the worldie in Sydney. 

Happy Cruising! 

15 minutes ago, tring said:

 

There was originally a dry dock scheduled for this year, but some of the work scheduled for that was indeed done during her lay up prior to Christmas.  I assume dry dock is needed for some other work though, according to requirements for all ships to be monitored and maintained.

 

Fred's announcement about Bolette's lay up at the end of last year, did say it would reduce the amount of work to be done at the scheduled dry dock, though I am not sure that necessarily meant there would be a reduced amount of time in the dry dock as the work may have been scheduled to be done simultaneously.  I have not been looking at the itineraries, so am not aware if the timing has changed.

 

 

That's interesting thank you. There is an exact 2 week gap from when she discharges in Southampton and embarks in Newcastle 

Have noticed a gap in Bollete's schedule in a months time. Anyone know why, seems a bit of an odd gap considering the ships already had a period of lay up at the latter part of 2022

On 8/9/2022 at 1:18 PM, Danamis said:

Yes he's one of the best. We like John Bartram but not heard of him since lockdown. 

He's definitely still around, had him on Iona last Christmas, very good! One of our favorites 

17 hours ago, Yorkypete said:

How? I cannot book excursions  due to not knowing any times.

If you're booking a ship one it doesn't matter as they will only run during time alongside 

5 hours ago, zap99 said:

The 3133x£1500 may sweeten the pill a bit.

Indeed £4,699,500 plus definitely sweetens the pill! 

When we were on her in May, our timings were arrive 0900 all aboard 1530

19 hours ago, PompeySailor said:

I think your supposition is incorrect w.r.t Iceland 🇮🇸 

 

Original itinerary 11th Reykjavik 06:15

 

The current position of ARCADIA is at North East Atlantic Ocean (coordinates 60.16387 N / 5.13105 W) reported 17 hours ago by AIS. The vessel is en route to the port of Reykjavik, Iceland, sailing at a speed of 13.3 knots and expected to arrive there on Jul 11, 06:15.

 

So still in Reykjavik on Monday 11th as sold

 

Happy Days!

Incorrect, it was scheduled for the 13th. 

https://www.cruisetimetables.com/cruisesonarcadia-05jul2022.html

So it is an adjustment to the itinerary. 

3 hours ago, jeanlyon said:

Show doesn't start until 10.30, so must be some still up.  I know we would be.

 

Same here

11 hours ago, Yorkypete said:

I hope they don't change our itinery on Britannia in September. We are due an o/n in Stockholm which is not too bad. I am glad they have kept my fav. on which is Tallinn. I also hope that there are free shuttles in Helsinki, Stockholm and Copenhagen.

 

Can confirm there are free shuttles in all those ports for Select fare guests. Was there in May on Britannia. 

When on at both Christmas and May no theme nights just black tie. On all ships apart from Iona currently two per week.. 

1 hour ago, david63 said:

Currently there are no theme nights - allegedly due to Covid protocols!

How COVID affects a theme baffles me! 

9 hours ago, Yorkypete said:

Hi. Thanks very much. We have been to the Baltic twice (inc St Petes)  and both times we had shuttles to the town centers free of charge (except Tallinn where there is only a hundred yards walk).  It seems to be that P&O charge to get to the centers for 'free time'. Was this the case with you.

 

No, if you are on the select fare then all shuttles are included. But if you are on the early saver you do have to pay.. onboard they will announce a price. If you are select fare ignore it as they will be free. Shuttles in all ports. The walk into Helsinki is quite a way, we did it in about 20-25 mins. Shuttles are available though. 

Hi,

We were on the same trip in May on. Britannia. 

Copenhagen - dock a way away but shuttles are provided to run you into town/hop on hop off picks up right by the terminal

Tallinn - as you said about a 15 min walk to old town. Shuttle again, straight to old town entrance

Helsinki - a bit of both iqq1ta about a 20-30 minute walk to the centre however it is a nice one through nice parkland, etc. Shuttle and hop on hop off at terminal

Stockholm - an easy walk about 15mins (it looks closer) however when we went lots of roadworks so shuttle was easier. HOHO at terminal. 

Hope that helps 

On 6/21/2022 at 7:27 AM, jon01 said:

Near gale force winds and rain for the Hellesylt area, but better weather further south forecast for the Flåm area on Wed 22nd June

 

ms Rotterdam is due in Geiranger on 22 June, it will be interesting to see what happens to her

 Rotterdam in Geiranger today.

Venice is an odd one. Having looked here https://www.cruisetimetables.com/venice-italy-cruise-ship-schedule.html lots of ships probably larger than Aurora and Arcadia are still going to Venice but using the much closer Port Marghera which is just a bridge away from Venice. So why do P&O use Trieste for ' operational reasons' when there is a port closer for it's passengers? It's almost like P&O don't want their passengers to see anything! 

1 hour ago, terrierjohn said:

I did not think you needed a reason to change under the covid protocols, P&O advertise that you can move your booking as often as you want.

Until payment is taken.... 

3 hours ago, gsmt47471015 said:

Which begs the question that with the obvious prior knowledge P and O have, and have had could Alesund have been allocated into these cruises as a replacement? 

Indeed. It's a pure example of P&Os current itinerary method of copy and paste from previous years. 

She's still booked to call next summer too, wonder if that will get changed last minute as well. Looking at her cruises for next year, it seems she will be alternating port calls at Hellesylt one week with Alesund the other. 

21 hours ago, david63 said:

Currently on Britannia and formal is probably followed by the majority but that may be dependant on where you happen to be.

 

Formal is required in all MDRs, Crows Nest and Epicurean.

 

It currently is in use

I can second that. Well followed in all nights

23 hours ago, Fionboard said:

No booking for MDR as it is fixed dining. Only Freedom dining can be booked (or just turn up if not busy).

I can say you are wrong. Live from Britannia at the moment. The three MDRs are split between one as set and two as freedom. The two for freedom need to be booked on the app as part of the virtual queue, which is very quick I must add. This cruise is only about 50% full so you can just turn up. But on the voyage the author is asking about will probably be full so booking for freedom MDRs will be needed.