Amelia Noylam

Happy anniversary Avril and Frank, and pleased to read Frank is on the mend. Have a lovely day.

On the Azura in October this year they had ballroom lessons, line dancing and keep fit.

2

On 9/8/2023 at 4:02 PM, purplesea said:

We are on the cruise before you and have Tom Lister, whom I haven't heard of!

We saw Tom Lister last November on the Iona, he was excellent. Well worth the extra money.

The Ivory Suite is the cruise liners chapel for weddings etc, then its just a walk through to cabins.

On 1/13/2023 at 8:29 PM, grapau27 said:

I hope you have an amazing cruise Amelia.

Graham.

Thank you Graham, I have my fingers crossed. Just hoping it's as good as the Iona.

Hope Sarah is feeling better.

18 hours ago, Eglesbrech said:

Absolutely go with an open mind. Your cruise is your cruise and what might really annoy others might not bother you and vice versa.

 

Most people don’t “want” to complain (I certainly don’t, I much prefer having fun) what they want is for the cruise company to get it right first time. £150 OBC is nothing if your Christmas is spoiled.

 

To put this into perspective we took my mum away for Neerday for her last New Year. It was a disaster. Any other year we would have shrugged it off and put it down to experience but not that year as we can never ever get it back. Wine on the table did not make that better (which happened) so yes I did complain, moan, whinge and make my feelings be known (it was not P&O for clarity).

 

I’m sure your cruise will be better by virtue of the fact that it’s not Christmas and New Year so will probably be quieter. If something does go wrong then you are not a “moaner”, you are a customer who has not received what was promised in the shiny brochures. Let’s hope that is not your experience.

 

Bon voyage and have a great cruise.

 

 

Thank you, and when you put it like that I totally agree with you.

2 hours ago, Eglesbrech said:

Moaners or people with who have had a bad experience?

 

There seems to be a spectrum of feelings about this sailing from the shiny happy, all is perfect through the good and bad bits, to dreadful. All these opinions are represented across various parts of social media.

 

A bit unfair to call people moaners surely when their experience is their experience?

I can understand people been upset on Christmas day, but after that it seems everyone had a good cruise and the Captain apologised.

Everyone got £150.00 OBS, which some people will say it went back into P&O pockets which I suppose it does,  but was still a nice gestor.

New Year apparently was very good and wine on all tables, but people still want to complain.

I go on this ship in seven days, and I am really hoping it's not has bad as people are saying. But will be going with an open mind. 

58 minutes ago, Megabear2 said:

I believe you will be on Arvia very shortly so you can judge for yourself.i hope you have a great cruise.

Thank you, I am just hoping it's as good as the Iona and Arvia hopefully not as bad as what people are saying.

Hi Graham

Sorry to hear about Sarah, hope all goes well. take care.

17 hours ago, dillie said:

Hello due to sail in 2 days can’t wait. Was wondering what Main dining rooms people might recommend or which people prefer. Also will be my dads 70th while we’re away any recommendations of where to book. Thanks Dillie

We was on the Iona in November and loved her, we enjoyed the Coral more than the other three service was excellent, we did try all the other three but Coral was best for us.

If there is a good act on in the Limelight club might be nice for your Dad, we enjoyed our night in there, or people are saying the Epicurean for a special night.

I can't say because we never went in only for afternoon tea which was a disaster, for us and a couple of other people.

Have a lovely cruise and a Happy Birthday to your Dad

2 hours ago, Angel57 said:

Totally agree Harry. I am returning to cruising on Aurora in the early summer (first since Dec 2019) and am really looking forward to it. However I am going with my expectations being fairly low and it not being the same as pre C.
But, I will just love being back at sea, not having to cook, laughing with friends and doing exactly what I want, when I want. Can’t wait!

Enjoy your Cruise, it's what we make it.

On 1/12/2023 at 3:06 PM, Waju said:

I think it'll be OK as I haven't mentioned where its from!

 

It feels like forever since I last emailed you!

I haven’t been in touch because I spent Christmas and New year on the maiden voyage of P&O Cruises’ new ship Arvia.

 

You may have seen this cruise in the news…

The headlines were along the lines of

“Furious P&O passengers claim cruise was so bad it totally ruined their Christmas”

 

So, was this cruise as bad as was claimed?

 

Well, truth is that the papers do quite enjoy to use the ‘ruined Christmas’ headline to get people to click!

 

Some examples from this Christmas include:

• Mrs Brown's Boys viewers fume amid claims festive special has ‘ruined Christmas again’

• I was gifted a cheap turntable – and it ruined Christmas

• Leeds mum says that 'Christmas is ruined' after claiming Timpson staff broke watch she bought for her daughter

• Man says Christmas is ruined after he twisted his ankle on Amazon parcel

 

Sometimes, it doesn't take a whole lot to ruin someone's Christmas.

 

So, when a couple of angry passengers onboard Arvia decided to contact the press, of course they jumped on the story.

 

What a great headline that the UK's newest and biggest cruise ship as ruined Christmas - 

That's exactly the thing that the 'cruise haters who have never cruised' would love to read!

 

But honestly... 

Yes, there were some organisation issues that meant that we had to queue for our Christmas dinner.

Yes, there were some IT issues which meant that the wifi didn’t work.

But those are my only complaints.

Everything else was wonderful!

 

These are common pitfalls that you get with a maiden voyage - and one reason why I would never usually book a maiden voyage myself!

This cruise wasn’t actually meant to be a maiden voyage,

It became one when the original maiden was cancelled due to the supply chain issues that are affecting the world right now.

P&O Cruises wouldn’t have planned a maiden voyage for Christmas.

The mix of maiden voyage teething problems and high expectations for Christmas made for the perfect storm!

 

To counter any disappointment, P&O Cruises gave us £150 per person of onboard credit.

This massive gesture must have set them back over £750,000 at a time when they’re not exactly rolling in cash.

They also threw the best New Year’s Eve party I’ve EVER been to,

So yes, I’m a very happy customer!

(And no, I don't get paid to say that!)

This is the only site with the same moaners, so thank you for an excellent review

7 To Caribbean and 251 To Med

39 days 🚢

8 hours ago, york survey said:

Thanks for everyone's comments. I used one of the above proformas and got the credit applied in 2 days

 

Thanks again

Same for me thank you

4 hours ago, Peanut006 said:

I just want to say thank you for all your kind comments about my daughter. Fingers crossed all is ok from now on 🤞

 

Michelle

So pleased your daughters feeling better and everything is ok, hope you are feeling better too.

Sorry, everyone I have just read Solentsam and Karlos email, going to give this a try. Thanks.

Same here I tried when we came back off the Iona three weeks ago and been trying off and on since, and still having the same problems.

I have changed the browser from Edge to Google and still the same, changed back to Edge.

Hope they haven't got a virus, or someone is trying to hack them, you never know these days.

Same for us in October, everything on the app could be cancelled for an earlier time or later if you wanted it.

Happy Afloat: Definitely agree with you about the Glasshouse and the Keel and Cow.

13 hours ago, Miks said:

We’re on this cruise as well so following with interest, not been on a Christmas cruise before but from what I’ve read it sounds lovely, fingers crossed for an appearance from Santa 😄

🎅Hope you get to see him

On 11/12/2022 at 5:22 PM, Vampiress88 said:

Currently sat in the Crows nest getting drinks. 
Still missing suitcases so can’t get ready for dinner and not sure where to go yet. Ship and the room is beautiful 

 

 

Thank you for the lovely pictures, we only got of her yesterday and can't wait until we are back on her. Definitely a beautiful ship, and all dressed up for Christmas.

1 hour ago, Victairinternational said:

Currently on Canaries Iona itinerary. We chose P&O due to some of its unique selling points. Now on board it turns out that they have removed a free afternoon tea option. None of the main dining rooms offer afternoon tea (previously was Aqua). There is only a pay for option in one of the specialty dining rooms. I checked the P&O website which states that afternoon tea is included on their cruises. So has it only been removed from Iona?

Hope you have had a good day yesterday and today; we got off the Iona yesterday after an excellent cruise.

We paid for the afternoon tea £35 for the two of us, and it was the worst Afternoon Tea I have ever experienced, plus before you have your tea, they spray you with African Vielots apparently it will give you a better experience, it made a couple of people sick.

You are much better going to the buffet and having a much better cream tea or put an afternoon tea together yourself.

I agree it such a shame there is no longer the option for a free tea.

Olive Grove and the Beach House are well worth a visit, also the Keel and Cow.

Enjoy your time in the Canaries and been on the Iona.

Congratulations Kalos, enjoy your new Granddaughter.

2 hours ago, CRUISENSNOOZE said:

Thank you!!...I can breath again.

Thank you for asking this question, I was starting to panic to.

Not long now until we are on Iona.

Amelia