besberry

I've had two cruises on Saga and a lot more on P&O.  I liked both Discovery and Adventure.  The food, service, cabin, evening turndown, included drinks, crew, included transfers were all great.  BUT, I found the sea days quite tedious.  I don't mind classical music, but preferably not every day, although I accept that the Britannia Lounge was busy each time.  I had two good(ish) cruises, but I'm not sure I'll do another one on Saga.

1 hour ago, Britboys said:

Thank you. I don't have any knowledge of that show and the only one I can find on searching is from 2011...

It's old show.  I got bored with it eventually.  I think I saw it on Netfix.

1 hour ago, Britboys said:

British cruise lines in general have been slow to offer/advertise LGBT+ meetings. P&O has only been doing it consistently in recent years and there seem to be fewer of them on the smaller ships that attract a more 'mature' passenger. I can't speak about Friends of Bill W but would guess that the take up at an LGBT+ meeting on Fred Olsen would be pretty low.

Some of us more 'mature passengers' are also LGBT+!  On the Arvia maiden, the four defiinite LGBT+ people who were at the meeting were over 50 and three of us 70 or over.  The venue was quite full at the time of the first meeting, so I'm sure sure if some of the younger folk sat near us were of the same ilk, or not!

If you go to a shore excursion site such as https://www.shoreexcursionsgroup.com/ then you should be able to find all the times.  They've never been wrong for me yet!

11 minutes ago, jeanlyon said:

So are you a very high tier in Peninsular and your companion lower?  We are Caribbean, but usually get 1330.

Yes I’m Baltic, it’s his first P&O cruise.

I've got a 12:00 boarding on Saturday next week.  My cabin companion has 13:45.  Go figure.  I'll fight my case on embarkation, if I have to.

On the Arvia maiden there was an LGBTQ session every evening.  Unhosted.  First day 4 of us met up.  There were other people there but not sure if they part of the meeting or not.  It sort of dwindled on the vine after that, though I did end up with a drinking buddy. 

When I was on a P&O cruise a few years back, we were told we couldn't call it a 'Friends of Dorothy' get together as it was considered derogatory.  Not that they asked us!  Same goes for Battle of the Sexes, I dunno what it's called now, but you get a kicking if you call it by the old name.

I think there's a cocktail party on cruises of 8+ nights, so I'll miss out in May, but be OK in September

15 hours ago, davecttr said:

Is the correct terminology for Arvia and Iona Celebration Night 😉

 

One a week

It is!  I was the Arvia maiden and online we had two 'Celebration nights'.  Once on board, they stuck in another one close to the end of the cruise.  Quite a few disgruntled guests!

5 minutes ago, Yorkypete said:

I always go to the Cruise port tracker for them but they do not include P&O. One way is going to the port itself as it will give a guide as to which sips are in at what time.

But the excursion sites do them by itinerary, so all in one place. Less hassle that way!

8 minutes ago, Yorkypete said:

It still does not answer the question . If you are correct why do virtually every other cruise line publish the times and why do the ports publish the times for them all except P&O? I believe you stated at some point in the past that itineries are often booked a couple of years (at least) in advance. Ports know which ships are due in and at what times. From post no.31 it would appear that P&O DO know the times but just do not publish them.

They do know them!  Go to a shore excursions company and they know.  That's how I find out.

When I boarded Arvia last year, they didn't ask to see either proof of insurance nor proof of vaccinations.  I had them!

Book onboard.  I have to say that I wasn't impressed with the new menu on the maiden.  I probably won't be making a return anytime soon!

I was given slippers on the Arvia Christmas cruise.  I just left them in the cupboard.

Go to an external excursions site.  They publish them all.  That's where I always get my data from,  I've not been let down yet.

5 hours ago, Windsurfboy said:

 

Good news if pre booking before you board is open

They opened two weeks prior for restaurants and a week for entertainment on my next cruise

12 minutes ago, Selbourne said:

Thanks for the info. It’s a shame that it’s still a buffet, but as The Glasshouse has been struggling to provide meals this year, we might give it a go next summer.

 

Were all of the specialty (extra cost) dining venues open throughout your cruise? We tend to use them regularly (especially Epicurean) and were concerned to read reports a few months ago of them being casualties of the staff shortages. 

I'm on Arvia on Friday.  I'm expecting a Peninsular Club lunch on arrival (well after checking in to my muster station) and I'm also expecting the speciality restaurants to be open too.  I've pre-booked Epicurean and Sindhu.  I guess I'll find out in a couple of days.

I watched her sail in.  She dwarfed Spirit of Discovery (which I was on last July).  Can't wait for Friday, got some shows booked 😄

Thanks for this.  Can't wait to board her in a few days time.

5 hours ago, arbhorseal said:

Have just discovered our cabin for our Christmas cruise on Iona. Its 10737. Or to put it another way about as far back on the ship as it is possible to go.

 

So really looking forward to being bounced around and being subjected to plenty of manoeuvring noise.

 

Certainly, disappointing but hey. Still on the ship!

 

I then discover if I booked today. I could get a better cabin for £650 less than I have already paid!

 

So I rang P&O. Explained the situation. Told them we were on our second P&O cruise in 7 months and our total spend with them in this period was likely to be close to £10,000. Explained we were on our seventh carnival cruise.

 

P&O’s answer to this was to suggest I pay for a cabin upgrade (when they are still selling these cabins for £650 less than I have already paid!).

 

Other than that it was just a case of P&O saying….............…unlucky.

 

Last ever P&O cruise for us………………….

I stayed in 10737 and it was fine,  It's a smaller balcony cabin to the rest but as I was solo it wasn't a problem.   I felt no movement at all.  Furthermore I was on Select Fare and chose it!.

3 hours ago, molecrochip said:

No, because when the ship transits the Ems, there is a bridge which the ship won't fit under if the funnel is already installed. The funnel gets installed once the ship arrives at Bremerhaven.

 

The Ems transfer is scheduled for 4/5th November.

 

This was the second of the two dates that I had been told. Its weather dependent however forecast is looking acceptable.

Phew, maybe I'll be cruising at Christmas after all!

Still no funnel, then!

On 10/25/2022 at 4:15 PM, Angel57 said:

I’ll keep my fingers crossed your cruise happens Mick.

Gill 

Thanks Gill.  BTW, it's almost our 10 year anniversary!!

I'm on the Christmas cruise, now the maiden, but I've never truly believed it'll happen!

I had my haircut on board halfway through a world cruise.  I only had it on board as it was a lot cheaper than any barbers I found ashore in Sydney!