majortom10

Yes they are if you cruise on Cunard in Britannia restaurant they are not high end prices. In fact they are in the ball park for many cruises as on Aurora and Arcadia for a balcony cabin. Arcadia was initially going to be QV so a very similar design and size. There are many cruiser's out there who still want dinner in MDR or speciality restaurants and not eat food on the go or burger, hot dog or pizza while sitting by swimming pool on Arvia/Iona. Which is fine for a snack during the day, but not for me, as a main meal in the evening. I enjoyed Iona on the whole even though food in MDR was disappointing but ate also in Olive Grove, Epicurean and Sindhu and Keel & Cow for our main meal in the evening. Not once did we use buffet, 360 or the Quays for main meal at night even though fish and chips in Quays was excellent for lunch.

A million housewives ever day pick up a tin of beans and say......Oceana.

With regards to virtual queuing we didn't have to wait at all on Iona we joined the virtual queue as we were leaving our cabin. By the time we had waited for the lift and headed for the restaurant our phone buzzed to say our table was ready. So no wait or hanging around at all hope it will be the same on Arvia in September.

I suggest you try Iona not during school holidays and you might find the whole experience totally different. I will be honest P&O are not our favourite cruise line and thought Iona would be too big and crowded. I was surprised that we had no trouble getting in any evening for the 1030 show in the theatre, we never struggled to get a sunbed on deck and a seat anywhere on the ship at anytime of the day. The choice of restaurants and facilities were excellent and my only disappointment was portion size of MDR as there was no issue with quality.

They were retained because they couldn't be made into baked bean cans 🤣

Of course there is because many cabins will take an occupancy of 4 during school holidays but most of the year sail with only 2.

They cannot increase staff capacity just for short term events like school holidays they are all employed on long term contracts and staff numbers will stay fairly constant all year round. They would find it difficult to employ staff on short term contracts and then send them back home.

They will soon forget we had the same issue regarding pricing when under Carol Marlow there was big announcement about prices guaranteed not being undercut but many failed to read the small print and got fingers burned. They said they would never cruise again with P&O again but returned. Similar during COVID when many said they would never cruise again after struggling and having to wait a long time some involving court action to get there money back. P&O cruiser's love to moan but they will still come running back and P&O know they will that is why they treat them like they do.

I suggest that was down to being because the cruise was during school holidays. We saw 3 films without having to go 30+ mins before start and never encountered queues at the buffet.

Being out of school holiday time there did not seem to be many children onboard but as cabins occupied 2 instead of 4 were still classified as full. Question is why did you go at half term and what did you expect.

Funny we came off Iona on 18th March and never encountered queues anywhere on the ship and she was sailing full. What I don't understand is you say you hate Freedom dining so why did you book it knowing that was the only choice. Doesn't matter how cheap a cruise is whatever the ship or cruise line if you hate it why did you book it because I certainly wouldn't.

It didn't change on Iona in March on a 14 nt cruise.

Perhaps so but you will go with a better cruise experience and food.

No 6pm far too early for us

For me the title of thread should be Why cruise with P&O. We are more and more moving towards Cunard as a far better cruise experience than with P&O. Especially don't understand those that book balcony prices on Aurora/Arcadia and use the excuse of wanting a small shop experience for similar price they could cruise with Cunard and have a far better overall cruise experience.

Think P&O are putting a positive spin on their age demographic for Iona/Arvia seems more like the Benidorm crowd but darent admit that.

Yes and he also said 99-9% had a great cruise on Arvia over Christmas and New Year. Just shows he doesn't know what he is talking about. The pictures in the press and all over the internet of the queues encountered on the cruise consisted of more than 0.1% or 5 -6 people. Just shows how incompetent he is and made himself look a complete and utter fool at the speech he did after.

God help P&O and their future they used to be such a good cruise line. But when you have lunatics running the asylum then what do you expect.

Varies that is why we like freedom dining and after all that is the purpose of freedom. Cannot speak for 6th Street as there isn't one on Iona and Olive Grove is not completely free there are a lot of courses where you have to pay a supplement.

Have just returned from Iona out of school holidays, so very few children. We had no problems whatsoever getting a table for 2 on every night we wanted and majority with no wait. Join virtual queue and table was ready by the time you arrive at restaurant. The issue is Iona has 4 MDRs where Arvia as 2 and not everyone wants or eats plant based meals. You say there are plenty of options of food but where are they if you don't want to or should have to pay extra to dine in evening. Unless missed something the only options available with no cost is buffet, the Quays or 360. Sorry but that is not lots of options and although Quays is a fantastic venue for occasional lunch wouldn't certainly want to go there every day, don't do buffets and certainly don't want to eat pizza, burger or hot dog in the evening sitting at a table next to the swimming pool. The main cause of problems is that Arvia has only 2 MDRs a plant based which is not for everyone and that there lies the problem with Arvia and cannot see it changing soon whatever time of year. So I fail to see as you say lots of options unless you pay extra and why should you have to that.

But kids will not be on Arvia and Iona all year round only during school holidays. It seems to me that P&O and your good self fail to see that and don't realise that for the rest of the year P&O will be relying on older cruiser's, especially those that don't work to fill these ships. Also those that cruise out of school holiday time might not want instant food and want to eat in MDR. I certainly don't want to cruise and eat burgers, pizzas and fast food all the time and I should imagine neither will majority of people who will be needed by P&O to cruise when kids are at school and parents at work.

We have just returned from Iona and can honestly say that the demographic in ages was no different than any other P&O cruise we have done and many in the 55+ age. Also think that your thoughts of restaurants being popular with 15-35 age group is misguided because for majority of the year when children are at school and will not attract that sort of age group and P&O will be relying on elder clientele on the other months to fill the ship.

It doesn't give me belief we have cruises booked on Arvia in September this year and April next year. If we encounter the current problems on Arvia in September we will be cancelling our cruise on Arvia next year.

There is of course the cynical in me saying that P&O are perfectly happy with the situation on Arvia and people might reluctantly book speciality restaurants at a cost to get a meal guaranteed in the evening. Therefore it increases revenue and P&O making more profit.

Covers might be the same but presently it seems the majority still want to eat in MDR and there lies the problem. 2 MDRs and too many people trying to get in, not everyone wants to eat in Olive Grove or Mizuhana. Therefore the only option it leaves is buffet and a lot of unhappy cruiser's. I have done over 50 cruises including over 30 with P&O since 1997 and can honestly say I have never eaten in the evening in the buffet restaurant. I think P&O are making a big mistake if they carry on with this policy.