Mad4WDW

17 minutes ago, Chrish2 said:

Going on Arvia this Friday.

• Breakfast or Lunch in 6th Street Diner is appealing and we *might* also try it one evening.
• Limelight Club Club is booked for one evening just to try it.
• We probably will give Epicurean a miss this time (no special event in the family).
• My impression (without seeing it first hand) is Keel and Cow is a glorified wetherspoons so the up charging don't appeal to me.
• Green & Co we might try for lunch one day.
• Sindhu tends to be when on promotion but I don't think they do that on the a la carte mode on Iona/Arvia
• Beach House with the increased costs is no longer good value so probably a miss
• Olive Grove is the only alternative to the MDR we may consider for 3 or so nights but not for formal nights
• Unless something unexpected happens we don't plan to go to horizons or quays for evening meal

 

So over 15 nights we are probably looking at 5 nights outside the MDR and 10 nights in. This feels rather typical to the proposition offered. Currently the number of non MDR nights is up compared to prior propositions (e.g. Azura). The key caveat on this is formal night changes the dynamic with 0 nights expected outside the MDR. The only alternative on these nights would be Epicurean. I do wonder if this factors into why there is only 1 formal night a week (instead of 2).

 

If MDR quality deteriorates and there is any feeling we are been "pushed" to other venues then we probably will reconsider if P&O is right for us. After all on Virgin Voyages we effectively had a rotation (you can pre book each one once for evening meal) of high quality, high concept restaurants included in the fare.

Hi 

I think your impression of The Keel and Cow is a bit off, it's nothing like a Weatherspoons IMHO. You should maybe try it before writing it off 🙂 

Is it also fair to make a comparison with Virgin Voyages? Thats a more expensive product isn't it?

2 hours ago, buddy 27 said:

Thanks for your realistic reply Greg, we've done a cruise through Xmas before but on a fixed sitting. I'm aware that Arvia is all freedom dining so yes, most people will want to eat around the 7.pm to 8pm time when I would expect queues. Never used the on board app before so that should be 'interesting' lol.  Thanks again and let's hope its a great cruise, problems sorted or not. 

Regards Graham. 

Hi

Even with the freedom dining it reverts to fixed sittings for Christmas Day and New Years Eve for the ships with all freedom dining and also the ships that have fixed and freedom. I'd guess the problem here is that its all staff freshly working together combined with some bad planning, guests turning up early or entirely different times than they were allocated and some bad luck with the usual ropey IT. The app is ok, you can get a pager from the restaurants if you prefer anyway so you'll have no problems. 

You can check in online this morning if you hadn't noticed. 

See you onboard

Greg

On 12/29/2022 at 9:25 PM, buddy 27 said:

OK people, so we are due to sail on Arvia on 21st January from Barbados for 2 weeks around the Caribbean. I know she has only just been launched and commenced her first cruise to the Mes before going Trans Atlantic on 6th Jan 2023. I have seen some reviews from those on board at present, which isn't good reading ( long queues for basically everything, food cold, can't book for shows or speciality meals etc and the on board app doesn't work. So my question is, to reassure all of us who have booked going forward, if you are currently on her, just how bad is it or is it just teething problems which hopefully will be sorted by my cruise. Please be honest. I don't expect perfection at all and can go with the flow most of the time. Regards Graham F. 

Hi Graham,

We're booked on Arvia on 21st as well and we're really looking forward to it despite reading the same stuff you've probably read. 

We've done 6 Christmas cruises previously that all had queues at the main dining rooms on Christmas Day. Most of the problem is because people go to the restaurant and wait outside before the time they were allocated. We've always had a letter in our cabin days before telling us our dining time and table number. People turn up 30 minutes early and a huge line forms. Theres no doubt a few teething problems as well but honestly I wouldn't worry. 

Regarding booking shows etc We haven't had a problem getting into any of the shows on any of our recent cruises with P& O. Jan 21st will be our 15th since the restart. We've booked some before getting on the ship, some onboard and others we just turned up when we fancied going. Most of the problems you read about will be greatly exaggerated and/or people not being very tech savvy. If you can't get the app working it's normally easy to sort out. And you can go to reception to book anything anyway.

Hope that helps answer your question 🙂

Regards

Greg

1 hour ago, wowzz said:

2-3-2 in PE !

Oh really, I didn't know that, thats better if you're travelling as a couple and want to sit on a row to yourself.  

1 hour ago, wowzz said:

Thanks  - we are in PE and will want to book one if the "pairs" of seats if possible (yet more money!) 

*Sigh* Yep more money and the dumb 3-3-3 layout doesn't help

5 hours ago, wowzz said:

Thank you very much. Very useful.

Can I ask what date you could reserve seats ?

Sorry can't remember when they went on sale. We didn't reserve ours on either holiday but still sat together on all 4 flights

On 12/15/2022 at 12:59 PM, wowzz said:

Out of interest has any one flown to Barbados on the P&O charter flight in November or December. If so, what was the departure time ?

Thanks.

Here's the one from our November one. Its Saturday for this one, the one this month was Friday and a different time

Flight Timings.pdf

On 12/15/2022 at 12:59 PM, wowzz said:

Out of interest has any one flown to Barbados on the P&O charter flight in November or December. If so, what was the departure time ?

Thanks.

December details attached

(20412426)FLIGHT32250260.pdf

8 minutes ago, crimson moon said:

It's Gareth Oliver and he continually reminds you that he was on the same show as Susan Boyle

and that he looks like aquaman lol He was pretty funny when we saw him tbf

6 minutes ago, TigerB said:

One of the posts makes reference to sacking off the P&O link and doing it direct with the Barbados tourism site

Yeah, Ive already completed one for my parents but can't do our own, a right PITA, its like trying to get through to the doctors.. 

13 minutes ago, TigerB said:

There is a previous thread here with advice:

https://boards.cruisecritic.co.uk/topic/2894655-barbados-immigration-form/#comment-64326219

 

 

Thanks, no information in that thread at all that adresses problems with submitting the form though 

Hi All,

Anyone else going to a few days having trouble with this online immigration form?

Filled in our form and its stuck on the submitting popup thats just spinning.While waiting  Ive filled in my mom and dads for them, submitted and got the email receipt back almost straight away. Same computer same web browser! So frustrating 😞

My view is that formal nights are far more enjoyable for men in particular if they wear a shirt with the correct collar size 😂

5 hours ago, Megabear2 said:

Yes, I've had that before. Tends to be because the two browsers aren't talking. Have you cleared your cache etc? That did help but was extremely annoying.

I finally managed to get the email back after 4 attempts, I think the site is just overloaded at times!

2 hours ago, wowzz said:

Thanks for the update.

Only fly PE, so wasn't sure what happened behind the curtain !

I think it changed before covid wowzz, our Christmas 2019 flights had free drinks throughout the flight where we'd only had them in premium before. Makes the regular seats easier as I have a few gins and im spark out after ive eaten lol

1 hour ago, wowzz said:

I think the drinks "flow" if you book PE.

In February the drinks were free in the regular seats as well

On 11/1/2022 at 10:38 AM, Megabear2 said:

I've had problems with this previously.  It's not keen on any browser other than Chrome. Normally works with that - I've just checked my own link and it's working in Chrome.

Im trying to submit our form, gone through it all, filled it all in clicked the submit button and its just spinning with a message that says "submitting application" "Please wait while we review your application"

been like it for 20 mins now, so frustrating

This is the first time in years we haven't pre registered. I lost count of the cruises Ive transferred/rebooked over the past 6 months. Literally thousands cheaper than the prices I got for booking on release day. I don't think they've looked after their most loyal customers, in fact we've been treated pretty shoddily I think. I'm not booking anything until after fully paid date in future and if the prices are higher than now I simply won't book. We're fortunate that we can wait like this, total sympathy for anyone like terrierjohn who needs a specific cabin type etc. 

Just now, Richpatto said:

Hi All,

we fly out to pick up the ship in Barbados on Friday 04/11/22, I notice there is a Barbados immigration form on the entry requirements, is this to be filled in prior to boarding the flight or is it done on the plane as is sometimes the case?

many thanks

Our last one had to be done before the flight, they check that you’ve done it at the airport before you check in from what I remember 

2 minutes ago, Gettingwarmer said:

Can anyone confirm as to whether Ventura has new wide screen televisions in the cabins. Thank you. 

No they don’t, the cabin TVs are like something from the 90’s lol

On 8/9/2022 at 2:42 AM, molecrochip said:

Neil Oliver is the lead Entertainment Manager on Arvia. I believe he has recently left Britannia for shore-leave before taking up the position to launch the ship.

 

 

Hi,

Does this mean that Paul Brown will also be on Arvia with Neil?

1 minute ago, Megabear2 said:

There's apparently no clear liability with anyone.  We are pursing the insurance company through the Ombudsman.  Unfortunately there is no direct financial loss attributable to either the t/a or cruise line so apart from the medical bill cost being taken from me and then returned and the cruise line having now threatened us with legal action we cannot seek any financial redress.  The complaint is about failure in duty of care.  I have a lawyer who is looking at compensation and this is why arbitration is considered at this stage a better solution.

 

I'm pretty sure these posts will disappear rather quickly but thanks for everyone's concern.

😕 I hope you can reach a satisfactory outcome. I successfully sued a tour company some years ago so know how frustrating it can be at times, your perseverance will pay off I'm sure. Good Luck 

3 hours ago, Megabear2 said:

No.  They are saying the TA is not liable as it was a cruise line issue. The cruise line is refusing to speak to them or us - they are apparently under no obligation to do so.  I'm now told next step would be arbitration which of course costs but no idea who we arbitrate with. It's not clear cut due to the exceptional circumstances which I cannot discuss on this forum.

Why don't you just pursue you claim through the small claims court and bypass arbitration?

6 hours ago, Harry Peterson said:

Having spent maybe all of a couple of hours on a sun lounger in my entire life - and that in the garden - the etiquette around them fascinates me.

 

Leaving towels on them has been controversial (often even racially charged) for as long as I can remember, but what exactly is there to prevent anyone simply removing the towel from an otherwise empty lounger at any point? And how is that 30 minutes judged?  Do we need little timers of some kind, or maybe the Blue Badge time displays?

On our last princess cruise someone had made their own "gone to breakfast" laminated signs complete with "gone to lunch" on the reverse. We noticed the one guy would come to the deck first put 4 towels out with the "gone to breakfast" sign on each lounger. Nobody came to the loungers for over 3 hours with people wondering past in this time with nowhere to situate themselves. On the second day he did it after about 2 ½ hours a frail looking lady and her husband came past looking for somewhere to sit. They noticed the empty loungers and were about to move on after seeing the signs so I called over what looked like a deck attendant, told him no-one had used the loungers for nearly 3 hours. The attendant got a paper bag and removed everything. I had a little chuckle into my Prosecco when they came back and started scratching their heads looking for their beds haha

On 10/27/2022 at 11:17 AM, wowzz said:

Using the sanitizer is OK, but washing your hands on entry to the buffet should be strictly enforced.  

Seems to be enforced even less than it was BC