Sarah1974

Fabulous cocktails!

Beautiful Skjolden - our first port 

I am so impressed with those who blog daily whilst on a cruise and I love reading reviews.  I’ve been home for over two weeks and just got round to writing a brief review!

Before we sailed I had read several reviews of Arcadia and heard about declining standards and issues with the ship.

I have cruised twice before with P&O - Oriana in 2016 and Britannia in 2019.  I’ve also cruised several times with Royal Caribbean.

We were a group of 3 ladies in a deluxe balcony cabin. 
 

Our allocated boarding time was 2.15pm.  We arrived at the Mayflower terminal in Southampton at 2.00pm and joined the short queue for check-in.  Photos were taken and we went through security.  Onto the ship and straight to our muster point.  Then up to our cabin and our luggage was already on our floor by the lifts.  Very speedy.

The cabin was a reasonable size and had lots of storage.  My friend who had the sofa bed said it was very comfortable.  Although the cabin is only serviced once a day (in the morning) the steward would come into the cabin each evening to set up the sofa bed.  The cabin was kept very clean.  
 

Food - always a personal opinion! One of my travelling friends is gluten free, the other gluten and soya free.  There was a letter waiting in the cabin inviting them to a meeting the next day to discuss their dietary needs.  At dinner each evening they were given the lunch and dinner menus for the next day and made their choices.  Some days had a very limited selection of options they could eat but alternatives were offered.  We had breakfast and lunch in the buffet and were impressed with the labelling of all items, the only issue we had on occasion was finding a table for three.  We had freedom dining in the evening.  Some evenings we were given a pager and never waited longer than an hour (we always opted not to share), a couple of evenings we went straight in.  A few times we requested a window table when we got our pager and were granted those requests.  Food was  always hot and presented nicely although some portion sizes were a bit small.  
 

Entertainment - we are 49, 60 and 69 in age and have reasonably similar tastes.  We loved Pulse, playing most nights in The Globe and tried to make at least one of their sets per night.  Each night the music had a different theme - 60s, 70s, 80s, rock, country etc.  On the formal / celebration nights there seemed to be a lack of entertainment that interested us - ballroom dancing in the Globe was not our thing and other venues those nights didn’t have much on.  We went to the theatre shows some evenings and particularly liked the Whitney Houston tribute and the Astonishing illusion show.  We loved the silent disco!  The furniture and carpets in the bar venues all looked very new - I’d seen a comment before travelling that it was worn.  
 

Lectures - we attended the lectures on photography, Norway and Iceland which were all very informative.   
 

Maintenance - as usual work is going on around the ship to keep things updated.  When our cabin was due for balcony clean / Wi-Fi installation / light on life jacket change we were given written notice of these works.  
 

The ports we visited were Skjolden, Alesund, Reykjavik Isafjordur, Akureyri, Edinburgh and Newcastle.  For the Norway and Iceland excursions we booked through P&O.  All were very well organised, although it may have been possible to do them with other providers for less money.  
 

Fitness pass - I pre-paid for 3 fitness classes with the aim of using the pass for the tour de cycle classes.  I was a bit disappointed that a couple of these sessions were scheduled for port days eg 9am the day we were in Edinburgh and wanted to be off exploring.  
 

Disembarkation - we had to vacate the cabin by 8am with a departure time of 8.45 - 9am.  A very smooth process, luggage located quickly and on our way home.
 

Overall this was a fabulous cruise and I wouldn’t hesitate to sail with P&O again.  

29 minutes ago, indiana123 said:

As an aside... I think that is more than 3 of us came home with  C*%$% very recently.   That's just us.   I wonder what the numbers  really are after cruises at the moment.  I suspect quite high.

I’m very grateful that neither me nor my two cabin friends got it, although I have heard reports of others since we got home.

Hello all.  I got back from my cruise on Arcadia about 10 days ago but have been busy catching up with work since my return.

I've tried to read all the posts on this thread and think I'm up to date now!  I do love the friendly community feel on here.

I'll try to do a separate thread soon on my thoughts on my cruise in case anyone might be interested to read that.  I'm so impressed with those who are able to blog daily whilst away.

@Selbourne thank you for your very informative daily review of your cruise

I know I'm an infrequent poster on here but I do like to read everyone's daily posts.

I'm off on Arcadia on Tuesday - slightly apprehensive after hearing about the ship - but going with a positive vibe.  It's my first cruise since 2019, that was on Britannia, and will be my third P&O cruise, having started on Oriana.  We will sail to Norway, Iceland, Edinburgh and Newcastle - an interesting mix.

I won't have the internet package but hope to catch up with posts on this page when I can

@SarahHben thank you for a great cruise blog

@DamianG thanks for another great, balanced cruise blog

4 hours ago, lincslady said:

That is fine if you have a smart phone etc.  I am pretty annoyed with my surgery at present - to get your repeat prescriptions you have to use the app. or go to the surgery; not allowed to phone for them!  How many people, mainly older and maybe more or less housebound, do not have a smart phone, and find it difficult or impossible to make a trip  to the surgery?  I don't think they have thought this through - it is not a lot of fun phoning and holding on, but a lot easier than traipsing to the surgery (in my case by car) just to get your repeat prescriptions.  I need to get in touch with their manager, as my family agree with me that this is unacceptable.

Would your pharmacy put the prescription request through for you?  My Mum gets her medication in Boots and when she collects it she asks them to put it through the following month for her and that seems to work - it saves her a trip to the surgery (she doesn't have a smart phone or computer to order online)

@Sleeptastic - thank you for your views on Arcaida.  I'm due to sail on her for the first time at the end of this month and you have set my mind at rest 😀

Norris, so pleased you're home from hospital and were able to finish off your fabulous blog; I hope you have a speedy recovery.  Thank you for such a great review and I look forward to reading about your next cruise adventure with Carol

Thanks for the update Carol.  Hope Norris is better soon

@AndyMichelle - just found and read your blog.  Belated Happy Birthday to Michelle.

Thank you for sharing the good and the not so good; I've enjoyed reading your balanced review

Condolences to you and your family

Norris - thanks for your fabulous review - I discovered it today and have just finished devouring all 18 pages so far... and can't wait to read more.  How great to meet up with family whilst you're away.

I'm on a cruise next month which includes Iceland and the three places you docked.  What sort of temperatures did you have?  I'm thinking I need layers and my trusty walking boots

17 hours ago, Peanut006 said:

Lytham Festival starts next Wednesday for five day, quite a good line up including Sting, Blondie, Kaiser Chiefs, Gabrille, Lionel Ritchie, George Ezra, Def Leppard. 
 

Michelle

That's a good line up Michelle.

I saw some of those acts last weekend at the Isle of Wight Festival

@TigerB thanks for your very informative blog 😊

@jjsparkles thank you for your great review.  I need to get myself booked on Anthem!

I've booked the Iceland cruise which departs on 29th August.  This will be my third P&O Cruise, first time on Arcadia.  I have heard some of the negatives but hoping to go with a positive attitude and have a great time.  It was a great price when we booked and I've not cruised since 2019.  Can't wait 😊

@jjsparkles thanks for your Stavanger pics - lovely place

44 minutes ago, SarahHben said:

Maybe it’s only me that calls it the cruise personaliser. It’s where you log in on the P&O website with your booking reference number, name & date of birth. Then the Travel Extras tab and it mentions the tour with the other welcome on board gifts like flowers etc. it says there’s limited places and you have to ask at reception once on board.

 

Great - thanks for that - have now found it.  Sounds very interesting

Loving your review.  It's a few years since I've cruised but my friend and I are looking at the Anthem for this year if we can find dates that work for both of us.

a behind the scenes tour sounds fab.  Is it available on all P&O ships?  Where do I find the cruise personaliser to see if it's available on my cruise?  I've had a quick look at my account and can't see anything

@Presto2 thank you for your review.  I've cruised on Britannia once, and that was in 2019.  A lovely cruise and ship.  I would certainly sail on her again