majortom10

There were library books available on our cruise last week although not a great choice. Book swap area seemed to be a well used part and a good place to exchange books read. Unfortunately and that is why there is no need for a library many people were reading using Kindle or other electronic devices.

In the evenings water and tea or coffee are the only drinks offered with dinner.

Perhaps non genuine cables but should imagine the actual genuine Garmin cable be more. Just thought if it was albeit a very small chance of finding owner on here a cost of a stamp and envelope it would be nice to return it especially as it looks new and possibly from something purchased onboard.

There is a library on Arvia albeit a very small one in Anderson's Bar.

Having just returned from Arvia and also cruised on Iona in March there is no way you could describe meals in MDR as school dinners level. Of course unless you went to a very expensive private school and paid for the privilege.

Trouble is the steak is a very measly 5ozs.

This comment was incorrect on my part and when noticed was too late to change it. It should have read "Was told that pre booking doesn't mean you don't have to queue it just means that when you get to the front you are guaranteed a table and will NOT be turned away with a pager". Sorry my mistake.

One major difference we have noticed is where in the past at breakfast they did a dish of the day in MDR which changed daily sadly it is no more. Or at least it wasn't on Arvia last week, wife was very disappointed because she used to enjoy corned beef hash with a poached egg.

Like I said previously we prebooked for 1830 for those nights that we had not booked in speciality restaurants. We requested not to share a table in Zenith but every night they asked if you would like to share and even tried to bribe you in saying if you are happy to share a table you can have one by a window. On the first evening even though we had prebooked there was a massive queue and I asked politely what was the benefit of booking a set time pre cruise. Was told that pre booking doesn't mean you don't have to queue it just means that when you get to the front you are guaranteed a table and will be turned away with pager. Food in MDR was very good and in Epicurean, Sindhu and Beach House was excellent. Olive Grove was disappointing compared to Iona as was never open for lunch and menu was far inferior with poorer choice compared to Iona. 6th Street dinner was very disappointing with very poor service and not great food. We booked a table for 2 on My Holiday and when we arrived woman on entrance desk asked for cabin number as they always do and then said rather rudely "if you don't share a table you will have to have a pager and return later". I refused to share a table and then suddenly we were placed on a table for 5 and 2 table settings were taken away.

Staffing issues the staff seemed miserable all around the ship even the entertainment team didn't seem happy. Even though there was not a lot of children there seemed a lot more younger couples and groups of young. Without appearing snobbish dress code in the evening in all areas of the ship even on formal nights was poor with many wearing shorts and training shoes. There are still minor issues with eating in MDR even though we booked for 1830pm every night 24 days before cruise which we never had issues with Iona when we used virtual queue for varying times with no waits. They are also encouraging you to eat away from MDR with special one night menus in The Quays.The main issue for me more than Iona is it is obviously being pushed as main family ship but majority of year children will be at school and do fewer onboard but everything is run with them in mind.

P&O don't release all availability for booking speciality restaurants 24 days in advance. Those times "greyed out" are not totally fully booked just a specified amount they release. The rest of the availability will be released for when you get onboard to give those that haven't got the availability to book in advance. This is certainly what happened on Arvia these last 2 weeks.

The cruise we have booked on Arvia in April I would change to Iona in a heartbeat but unfortunately Iona is only doing 7mt cruises to Norway for rest of summer and other times we already have other cruises booked.

I know this is a long shot but has anyone on here returned from a cruise on Arvia on 3rd September and was in cabin 14701. On our embarkation we found a Garmin cable under the bed when we stored our suitcases. Plainly obvious that the steward had not cleaned underneath bed between occupants. Went to reception and they would not give me details of last occupier because of data protection and said if I handed it in they would just stick it in a box of items of no great value and would be eventually disposed of. Just a long shot and thought they might be on here and I could send it to them.

Obviously children's films that an adult wouldn't go on their own without children or grandchildren Minions etc.

Because if nobody queued until 10pm and then they opened the door and everyone had to be checked in by member of staff to make sure you had pre booked they wouldn't get in before show starts at 1030pm.

They had no offers on Iona in March or Arvia which we got off today. The main advantage is 20% discount if booking in advance which you don't get onboard when booking.

Returned from Arvia today and on the whole was not impressed with the ship or the service. Great ports and weather, food was good had no complaints but didn't enjoy the ship anywhere near as much as Iona. Never seen staff so miserable and cannot understand the logic of booking theatre shows in advance and then have to queue for the doors to be opened 40 mins before start. Also there were 4 screen cinema and majority of films were children's films and was disappointing with so few children onboard. Was that disappointed we have a cruise booked on Arvia in April but we are going to cancel it.

If you book Epicurean in advance you get 20% and also Peninsular Club discount do £30pp ended up being £21-60pp. In Sindhu you pay £10pp then once onboard you order whatever you want differing prices for items then at the end they take £10 off your bill and also deduct 20% for booking in advance and then Peninsular Club discount. Both excellent and great value for money on Arvia last week.

Nothing to do with differing markets. FCDs were available to purchase by everyone onboard but suddenly since the pandemic they stopped selling them to UK cruiser's. It is a case of Cunard treating US cruisers better than UK cruiser's. It is the same as free drinks packages and gratuities in grills which we also don't get in UK. Main reason why we are doing less cruising with Cunard and not booking any new cruises in grills.

Cheapest isn't always the best.

That is where they are returned to Ocean Terminal and not where they are stored for duration of your cruise. They are stored elsewhere during cruise and returned there for your disembarkation.

Well I have used them many times over the years when not getting a deal with CPS. I rang them once and asked where they parked the cars and was told east of Ocean Terminal and in a private secure compound on an industrial estate. They gave me their address to check on Street View which I did. Definitely an area they either own or rent where they have a secure compound on industrial estate with many other businesses. They even tell you it is no more than 3 miles which might be from Mayflower from Ocean Terminal it is about 1.5 miles and the address is Millbank St Southampton. Check on Street View it is industrial estate with loads of different businesses. The other side of Millbank Street is blocks of private flats.

P4C have always parked there cars out of the port area on an industrial estate.

We are due on Arvia tomorrow and after experiencing Iona in March for the first time in over 50 cruises in 26 yrs of cruising I am not taking my dinner suit just a dark suit.

If they tried to sell cans/bottles of beer for $8 about £6 approx in many pubs in the UK they wouldn't sell and would soon close down. That is why many Brits think the drinks prices on Cunard are high obviously not as high in America/Canada.