silkworms

I think I must have received a different email to you! Mine, just received says vaccine and testing no longer required on any cruise except the world cruise J301. We are on K306A Arvia, which before today was one of the cruises not exempt.

Am loving your everyday musings, we join Arvia on 4 March and you are really increasing our expectations. Please keep them coming.

Hi interestedcruisefan, we will be flying out to Arvia on the day you return, also from Birmingham, so look forward to your reports and thoughts on the journey and the cruise. We are also about 40 mins from the airport so will be interested in any tips at the airport, I think the plane is supposed to leave at 10.15. Hope you really enjoy your cruise.

And yet we had a fab cruise to the Greek islands in October 2022. No problems whatsoever and never saw any sign of leakages etc. Terri

We flew via Singapore to Phuket and stayed in Khao Lak. Very beautiful but very humid.

Thank you so much for recipe, sounds brilliant for this time of year. Terri

I don’t understand your sarcasm, if you don’t wish to read items just ignore. I have just come back from a three week holiday in Thailand and Singapore and have really enjoyed their different curries and love their way of cooking sticky rice. So an addition to the recipes is interesting for me even if it offends you. Terri

I would love that recipe for black bean and sweet potato Thai curry. Could you please let us know the basics. Terri

I can only tell you how it was on Greek Isles cruise in Oct 22. Club dining had been moved to top deck of restaurant (it used to be lower deck). We had booked club dining after several previous cruises on Arcadia had anytime dining queues. It was amazing how many freedom dining guests were re allocated to club dining because of the length of wait for freedom. Terri

There were definite plans for a glass house on Arcadia pre pandemic but it went by the board. Loads of outside room by the buffet area. Whatever you do don’t go freedom dining. The queues are horrendous on Arcadia. Club dining is much better organised and you meet lovely people.

Hi GemC We are on that cruise also. Why don’t you join the roll call for Arvia cruise 305A/306A, go on to P and O roll calls and you will see the cruise listed. We join the ship on the 4th but stay on to sail home which is why the roll call covers both cruises. Terri

It is definitely only when you sail from Southampton and always has been. It would be impossible to provide such perks when dealing with flight times etc both in Barbados and Malta and Canaries. Terri

Is anyone else having problems getting into their cruise info? I have been trying to look at excursions for over two days now and all it says is apologies but website under maintenance ! Surely not for two whole days.

Yes I know the coach drops you at the airport you departed from but I was wondering whereabouts in the airport grounds the coach drops you off. Need to know for further onward travel.

Our flight out of Birmingham on the Saturday to Barbados is 10.15. Do you know where the return coach from Southampton after a t/a delivers you at Birmingham? Terri

Extra luggage is always available at a price. We go with Tui each year for P and O and always do a B2B. All I do is ring Tui and pay extra for the months extra baggage I need!!! .Even though we fly PE, I still need extra!! Sad case that I am. Terri

Yes, Thursday 16 March, beachside naming ceremony with lots of well known entertainment. And if you are on the ship (it’s a sea day) you can watch on screen on board!! Don’t understand! Terri

Bob, your experience of Xmas on Aurora sounds great. Exact opposite of our Xmas on Azura last year. It was pretty dreadful. Never want to be on a ship again on Xmas day. We should have realised how chaotic it would be because it was changeover day. Learnt our lesson. Terri

Hi Sandra yes, it was a great cruise and lovely meeting you. Sorry for your disappointment at Ocean Grill, we went twice, had cotè du beouf the first time and lamb the second time. Both were good. Have to say it does not compare with Epicurean. on the day of disembarkation I woke up with a dreadful sore throat. Now I am home and just tested positive. So I suppose it was good timing, it never interfered with the cruise. We were really careful, good quality masks worn on all coach excursions and also where there was a crowd. On the last day, we went to have a look at the pictures which were displayed by the art class. A man sneezed near me and I gave him a filthy look, he said to me ‘don’t worry I covered it’ well he didn’t. So I think that’s when it got me. We heard many complaints from people on freedom. I would never, never go freedom on Arcadia, they just cannot cope with it. And really we learned our lesson many years ago. Although we love freedom on other ships! Terri

On the way back from a Greek Island cruise on Arcadia. Somewhere in the Med at the moment below the Balearics. This cruise has been delightful and Arcadia is in good condition. I know there were problems earlier in the year but they have been addressed and the maintenance is excellent, both inside and out. The food has not been exceptional but very acceptable. Always something on the menu to suit most people. The usual salmon, chicken and steak now incorporated within the main menu but an additional chef’s selection is on the other page of the menu. Breakfast in the MDR has been very slow service so we have actually used the buffet much more than normal. Everything is hot and tasty. Do not normally use the buffet at all but the menu seems to have been really improved. Entertainment hit and miss, really good comedian/impressionist, think Mike Yarwood, the Headliners pretty good, did not see the harpist or singer from ELO but good reports from both. Visited Ocean Grill twice, excellent, Sindhu not yet open. Loads and loads of sun loungers, no problems on deck whatsoever. So anyone sailing on Arcadia shortly, you will love it. It has taken three attempts to forward this thread so, as usual, the wifi is completely unreliable! Have taken several P and O excursions and only one was disappointing (Palermo) the others were very good indeed. Terri

Bought shares last week at 5.28, today they are under £5!

Thanks for that, we are also on 20.30 club dining on the next cruise. Gone are the days when the maitre’d used to come over your cabin speaker to let you know that second sitting dining was now ready for you! It was really lovely. Glad you are enjoying, what kind of entertainment is on in the Globe? Thanks for taking the time to post. Terri

I think you will find that Arcadia was launched in 2004 which makes her 18 not 22!

So Ocean Grill is open for business? Thats good news! How are the arrangements for ordinary dining, any queues?

It’s really easy, you don’t even have to switch present device off, it comes up with a question on the second device, ‘Do you want to disconnect previous user?’ We always share like that. Terri