MrsTW

24 minutes ago, yorkshirephil said:

We were also on this cruise and had a wonderful time, we didn't have any issues but are easy going and glass half full types. We were aware that some had niggles, I have never been on the perfect ship but also never been on a ship I wouldn't go back on. Horses for courses.

Glad you did too! 
Niggles are that……just niggles. We had a light go in our bathroom which wasn’t fixed for hours…….I suppose I should have gone  to reception and stamped my feet as it wasn’t fixed within 10 minutes! 

I do the homework and look at the offers.
 

Next month’s cruise on Ventura Select worked out cheaper by about £100 taking into account OBC and parking. We have been given more OBC and had an upgrade. Definite good choice made. 

For Aurora in the summer, Select worked out not much more than Saver so chose that as cabin and dining chosen and there’s a few shuttles needed so they’re included. 
 

Iona in December was a big difference so Saver chosen. 
 

15 hours ago, Cheshire Blue said:

Thanks

understand that - but hopefully some people on here have been on her in the past 12 months or so and so can give me some insight ?  

We were on her for 40 nights in November/ December last year and had an amazing time! None of the negatives I’ve been reading happened to us! 
 

The only “ let down” is her lack of an atrium and the Vivo cafe in a dark gloomy corner of the ship! 
 

Love her beautiful wrap around prom deck and the large open deck at the back. No Retreat on Arcadia.
 

Other pluses include the wonderful Crows Nest, the Palladium theatre, a dedicated cinema, lovely library and the Piano bar. Dedicated pub too! Oh and a covered pool. Many cabins have baths. Of course she’s adult only so a higher age on board than family friendly ships but there were several under 40s enjoying all that Arcadia offers.
 

The dining room is two tier….set dining top, freedom bottom with a central stair case so is open and airy. Only 2 paid for eateries. Drinks package isn’t worth it for us.
 

Have sailed on her several times and would happily sail on her again. 
 

Hope this helps! 
 

42 minutes ago, wowzz said:

Not much in it currently. Cheapest balcony on Princess is £3800, £4178 on Aurora. Taking the 2 extra days on the Aurora cruise,  I guess that makes Aurora cheaper, but not significantly.

Aurora does become significantly more expensive when you go to higher grade cabins, I guess because there are fewer available.

 

We find Princess costs on board far more than P&O which have to be considered as well. Have sailed with Princess once from the U.K. but many times from the US. 
Hope you have a great time. Love the Baltics. Not been for a number of years so time to revisit! 

1 hour ago, jeanlyon said:

Just been reading elsewhere that there are no themed buffets any more on Aurora?  Used to love Indian night and also Italian.  Anyone confirm.  Sad if it's true.

I don’t think they are on any P&O ship. Who knows if they’ll come back. Like you we thoroughly enjoyed them. More emphasis now on the fee paying restaurants it seems.  

12 hours ago, wowzz said:

We have booked a Princess cruise to the Baltic this year (July). Both Copenhagen and Stockholm are included. Looks to be a far better itinerary than any offered by P&O.

The Baltics itinerary on Aurora this July is brilliant! Why we have chosen it. Princess was far more expensive. 

17 hours ago, jh1809 said:

If that cruise on Aurora to the Baltic is the one in 2024, then I've just booked on it too. I've been on one |Baltic cruise previously, but this one has quite a few ports that are new to me too. It's not calling at either Copenhagen or Stockholm *unless my memory is going), which slightly surprised me.

No this year. 
Not sure what your itinerary is but ours is super. Due to St Petersburg obviously being dropped, Riga and Skagen have been added. 

We’ve just booked a reasonably priced cruise on Aurora to the Baltics in the summer. Had been looking at this itinerary for a while. A few new ports for us which is always welcome. Just a lowly inside but these days, we’d rather do more cruises in an inside than less if we had a balcony.

We love sitting on the promenade decks which is why Britannia is my least favourite ship. Her adult only section is good though. 

Recently completed a cruise on Arcadia to the USA and Caribbean and next up is Ventura, ….…one of my favourite ships, then Aurora followed by Iona later this year. Iona is lovely. Totally changed my mind about large ships. Been on her twice already. 

I have been in L257. Great position and would happily stay in that area again. 

Enjoy! 

2 hours ago, bbtablet said:

When you booked your cruise you should have been asked what sitting you preferred - if not then I suggest you ask the question of your TA (or P&O direct).

Only if a Select booking. Also these early cruises have started with Freedom Dining only. Ventura just began the set dining times on her last cruise after 2 cruises with Freedom only. Things are not quite as they were yet and changes can happen at any time. 

3 hours ago, GOQ said:

Thank you both for your replies. 

 

So I am guessing that I will not be able to pre book any evening shows before I know which dinner sitting I have been allocated.

 

I assume I am not compelled to turn up at the restaurant at the allocated time (I won't be put on the naughty step) but could visit the buffet instead.

 

Sorry , as I mentioned, I have not had fixed dinning times before. (oh , yes I have on Holland America, but that was even further back 2007).

I would book the shows for the time you prefer. If dining clashes then they can be rebooked either by the MyHoliday planner or at one of the help desks. 

Yes you can eat in the buffet if you wish or one of the speciality restaurants. The Beach House is super. A £7.50 cover charge which covers most items on the menu. A little extra is added for a few items. 

2 restaurants still offer Freedom dining. The 3rd fixed dining. There will be a card in your cabin telling you which dining you have been given. They say you cannot change but always worth asking. 

Just off Ventura yesterday. Club dining is back. Bay Tree Restaurant 1st sitting at 6.30pm, 2nd at 8.30pm. 

As for theatre entertainment. There was no problem getting into the first show at 6.45pm without a booking as it was never busy. Cannot comment on the later shows but you can use the ship’s booking facility via the MyHoliday planner once on board. 

Hope this helps. 

Now worried, back on 22 April and had nothing. Is it slower in the UK?

Definitely slower in the UK. We returned on 15th April and are still waiting! :rolleyes: Not impressed at all.

We have a cruise booked later in the year with P&O and had an email.

However we also received an email from Princess and we returned from that cruise 5 weeks ago and have no more booked. How long are details therefore kept?

Thank you Bruin Steve for your reply and suggestions. :)

I'm from the UK and would appreciate some advice too! ;)

We have 2 nights pre cruise in LA. From what I've read Santa Monica would be a good place to stay? So what will be the best way from LAX there and then from the hotel to the cruise terminal at San Pedro?

On disembarkation we aim to take the Princess tour of Long Beach with airport drop off.

Any info appreciated. Thank you! :)

Just grabbed a late deal too. Having done some research it seems "suite" in this case doesn't mean a separate area but just means a larger cabin with 2 armchairs and coffee table. Bathroom has a bath with shower over and the balcony has 2 chairs and 1 lounger! Of course similar Junior suites could be slightly different but a friend who has had one of these cabins gave me the info about theirs. :)

I have done this on Oceana and had a fun time. Therefore I'm going this year on Ventura and next year on Arcadia. :)

Yes you can book a speciality restaurant. There are 2 fixed sittings in all the MDRs that night, so no Freedom option. Party hats and poppers were provided. :D

Plenty going on for all ages. Might be dancing but depends. Different venues will have different things going on and will see in the New Year independently. We were handed free canapés at the one we went to.

A great way to celebrate seeing in the New Year, plus ports to visit. :)

Recently on a 1 week cruise on Ruby we practised an hour at a time and only when we were at sea. Out of 6 days we practised on 5 of them. The time depended according to when we were at sea! :)

It depends where they berth, when we were last October we had a shuttle into the city.

 

Agree it is easy to do on your own once you are there.

Ah yes, I thought I'd been there with P&O but mistaken! The cruise terminal can't be used if a ship's draft is too deep.... then Leopolddok 228 is used. Here's a link to some photos of Oriana's visit last year.

http://cruiseshipsinantwerp.be/en---oriana.htm

Can you walk into the city from the port or do you require a shuttle bus?

Yes an easy walk. You dock next to the fortress and the old part of the city.

Just off Ruby. Had a C deck balcony and just 2 chairs. NO footstools. :mad:

VAT is added if you visit just EU countries. Most Med itineraries try to include places like Gibraltar or Guernsey so as to avoid the charge.

https://ask.pocruises.com/help/fleet/VAT_ob

Do you mean 30th May?

If so I am on this too. Braemar does not return from her fjords cruise until mid/late morning so embarkation times that day are later than usual.

Fred. Olsen does not usually start boarding until 2pm, unlike P&O where boarding starts at noon with lunch offered.

With a late arrival in Dover embarkation times are later. I have been given the same time as you! :D