Happy afloat

We've had everything except a suite, but tend to do insides as the savings allow us to cruise twice a year. Also, as one of our cruises is always November or December, there's not much use to be had of a balcony on a Southampton round trip.

Exactly. Last time we flew, Birmingham to Faro, Portugal, it was 11 and a half hours from leaving home to putting our bags down in the hotel. We can be in Southampton in 2 and a half hours.

Hope you're having a great time. In your second picture, You'd think that elf would lend that boy his walking stick...?

I can recommend brasso 😉

Anything cheaper available? We're on a budget....

So sorry to hear you've had a bad experience. We were on Iona for the first time in November and can honestly say we never had a bad meal, though I'd agree about the low levels of staffing and over-long waits for drinks etc. I wonder if they've poached staff to help man Arvia?

Nothing yet for Aurora in April. 16 weeks away, final payment due by the 9th January

Hi, Not a review, just an opinion. I agree, by the way, regarding the Epicurian being overpriced and that everyone should try for themselves, which is why we were eating there.

Hi, I wouldn't worry to much about going to the beach house if I were you. We were on Iona last month and had very good to excellent food everywhere we ate, from all four mdr's, the Quays and the brilliant Sindhu. The Beach House was the very notable exception. Overpriced canteen food. Basically, limited surf'n'turf or Mexican snack food. Not worth the cover charge. IMHO.

Hi, What ship are you on?

Or boiled sweeties!

As it is on Ventura, but it is a more defined area than on Iona.

That IS an excellent deal!

Hi 9265359, thanks for your comprehensive reply. I'm aware of the staffing problems throughout the industry, that's the point I was making. If they made the job more appealing they might attract more, thus making the job easier for their incredibly hard working staff and leading to greater customer satisfaction. Is it possible that all members in a party could book separately for each event, thus filling the schedule? Our experience at the 710 club (enjoyed this very much) was as I stated, I appreciate yours may have been different. We didn't pay under £40 a night but would love to! Genuine congratulations to anyone who did. We've got a great deal for next November, with a good amount of obc. Still more than 45 quid, which we're very pleased with.

Looks like our lack of IT skills may have let us down.....

That may well have been the case, but we couldn't. It also "unloaded" itself for some people.

Returned from our first cruise on Iona on Saturday and thought we'd share some of our observations with you. Firstly, the ship itself. Big, bright and roomy, exceptionally clean and easy to find your way around. But for us, it doesn't flow in the way others in the fleet do and lacks warmth. Who thought it would be a good idea to put the Glasshouse and Keel and Cow where they are? No privacy at all for the diners as people sit next to them playing cards/games and having a drink. Basically, you are dining in a corridor. The main dining rooms are very nice, particularly the smaller two, as are Andersons, the club house, 710 club and the Crows nest, although, at times, a lot of the ship felt physically cold. The atrium is a big space, possibly too big? No central feature other than the stairs. Beautifully dressed for Christmas but we couldn't help thinking how bare it would look without the decorations. Cabins are smaller than those on other ships and lack storage space. Who has a bedroom at home? Bet you've got drawers in it.... Secondly, staffing. All the staff we met were superb, no complaints about any of them. Extremely hard working as usual and very pleasant. But you could sense they were under pressure due to insufficient numbers, and it was obvious they were being pulled to other areas of the ship that proved busier, obviously to the detriment of the area they were leaving. Long waits for food on occasions and quite often for drinks. Come on P&O, hire some staff before the quality ones you have vote with their feet because they're fed up. Lastly, the app that isn't an app. Okay, I'm on record elsewhere that I don't want to live by the clock whilst on holiday. By removing set dining for those on saver fares, it increases competition for places, meaning we could rarely book dining or entertainment venues after the first 24 hours. It seems apparent, from other guests and staff, that people were block booking multiple choices in advance and then deciding which to attend. The problem here is that entertainment venues can't be cancelled via the app, so would show as fully booked when in fact they weren't. The 710 club, for instance, could only be booked for the 12.15 a.m. slot. Yet we got in three times at 10p.m. by turning up just as the performance was due to start. One evening, they were actively patrolling the atrium looking for people, although the app showed fully booked. Now the good stuff. Staff were brilliant, as I said. Food, excellent, almost without exception, and the entertainers we saw were very good (especially Gary!).We had a great time despite our findings, and the novice cruisers with us booked again whilst on board. Nothing is bad, per se, its just not as good as it could, or should be.

What,no cabaret?!! We had a pianist last time we flew. Baby grand piano was at the front when we took off, at the rear when we landed😉

No, Southampton round trip.

Just back from two weeks on the Iona. Both the formal nights were very well attended and the dress code followed by the vast majority on board, including the younger generations. Children included. Ships officers notable for their absence.

Absolutely agree. Not a Gary Barlow or Take That fan, but we were thoroughly entertained for 45 minutes for a tenner each in aid of two very worthy charities.

Amazing! Thank you for this and your continued efforts. Very much appreciated.

A particularly advanced example. This one has two eyes. All the better to look down upon his ill-dressed counterparts.

Glad to hear this is sorted for you, enjoy your holiday. BTW, do insurers reimburse the doctors fee for filling in the form/ providing a letter? Our GP charged £95 to fill in a form for my daughter.

Hi, as I said, if you don't mind then that's fine, I'm not sitting in judgement and it's not up to me to decry how anyone wants to do their holiday. It's just not for us. Have a great holiday