Megabear2

Brilliant if the actual app isn't down ship wide as it was here. The problem hasn't been joining a queue and losing it. The problem was literally no app anywhere ship wide for anyone, crew or passengers. The lost reservations and bookings were of select restaurants and entertainment too. Literally gone and according to help desk gone forever unless you could recall what they all were and reception could recover them. A slightly different problem I hope you might agree. We had to resort to paper chits being signed and printed bills for 1 1/2 days. I returned a purchase to the shop on one of those days. The poor manager took 8 days to get it put back on because the computer kept giving me more than I was owed - my P&O discount. He finally gave up and said keep the 8 1/2%, I'm sick of it.

We stayed in Sirmione last September for 3 nights before catching the train across country to Marostica to see Andrea Bocelli. Magnificent holiday finished by 2 days in Venice before flying home from there. I love the Lakes, often catch the train down from Worgl (in Austrian Tyrol) and spend a few days there after a walking holiday.

As one of those on-board Arvia who has had a lot of personal issues I totally agree with this. It has not been a horrendous holiday apart from my issues with the cabin and once rectified this has been fine. Yes, there have been major outages on the app from day 2 and here we are day 13 still with some issues but thankfully not major. The app problems are now minor for those who have persevered with trying to use it. We still have the knock on of it having lost several thousand reservations and bookings which could not be recovered and this voyage and I emphasise THIS NOT ALL voyages has been difficult as a result. My experience in not atypical and I most certainly would not expect it to be one repeated by any other people taking an Arvia holiday. Arvia is a nice ship, very modern (maybe slightly too modern relying on technology which is sometimes suspect) and I'm certain anyone can have a great holiday on here as long as they've done their homework on bookings and making a daily itinerary. The entertainment on-board has been some of the best I've ever experienced anywhere, you cannot fault anything. This has been quite an experience for me and I wouldn't fail to say the ship won't let you down if you pick a cabin suited to you, caveat on that being if you take a saver fare don't expect to be able to.change cabins because they just won't have the capacity to do it. We are 5,346 on-board at present, next sailing has over 1,000.children on-board. I would suggest bearing that sort of thing in mind. P&O are on to a winner with this ship for families if they sort out the unreliability of the app and technology associated with it. Although it's not a ship for me personally I urge anyone to try it and not be dissuaded by reviews and reports. I most certainly had no intention of suggesting people should not book.or cancel their holidays based on my one off experience. It's a mistake to read these reviews and think you'll have the exact same experience, you won't. I booked my cruise based enormously on ICF's very positive and in depth review of Arvia, as you can see from that we're poles apart on our opinion of the app etc.but my personal cabin issues aside we are very much on the same page about the ship and it's facilities.

I've not ventured out yet as was up at 5.30 and decided to catch up on work rather than doze and go to the gym when it opened. I can confirm there's a bit of movement and banging up here at the front so the tales of front winds of 40 plus seem to be true. Being super organised for once I've also done most of my packing, seemed silly to waste good time later today and tomorrow so now I can relax. The man was great. He went in to my account- didn't realise but he can see my Cunard record as well. I was a bit surprised when he asked me how the Coronation cruise went and I thought he'd gone into the wrong Mrs Megabear until he said lovely ship the Queen Mary 2! He said why no Iona and I explained I was worried because of my experience on here which elicited the reply I fully understand this ship isn't for everyone. I laughed and he said this has been a very busy voyage for rearrangements and new bookings. He was actually really good, looked at rebooking a cruise I have later in the year on Britannia because he could see there had been a huge price drop and better OBC. He explained he thinks much better to treat existing customers fairly even if it means losing the deposit and rebooking. He saved us nearly £900 on that one which was great. As Azura is now all fly cruise looks like I'll be sticking to Britannia and Aurora for the foreseeable because if I'm going to fly it will be Cunard and Celebrity with even dare I say it Princess having the itineraries I like the best. I thought this future cruise man was the best and most helpful I've had in years. Incidentally there was a huge queue and nearly everyone chatting wanted to book the Canaries for 2024 end 2025. Looks like the go to spot for a while. There were comments about too many repetitive cruises to cities in the Med and Norway. Anyway I'm very happy as I have my Britannia Caribbeans sorted plus Scandinavia and a Med cruise on her.

Glorious weather today and the Sky Dome roof opened. The whole atmosphere in that area changed from a noisy hub to a pleasant environment to enjoy for everyone. A totally different experience where it was a pleasure to stop and have a drink or an icecream. With the roof closed all cruise it's been hot and humid and the noise levels remind me of a school holiday float session at the local baths, not in any way relaxing. Arvia certainly felt calmer. Tomorrow however is a different story apparently. Going to have more of those wonderful showers and a head wind of quite substantial force which may include forward decks being closed. Doubt we will see the roof opened again but it was a pleasant experience. I visited future sales today. The magic P held and a nice man moved all my future bookings around without losing my money - I had expected to so that was a nice surprise. Going back to Britannia rather than Iona and Arcadia this year and made a nice new booking for Caribbean on Britannia in January. Very happy with that one as I've managed to book my favourite deck 14 deluxe balcony and premium economy flights for the two of us with £620 OBC. We rarely get anything substantial in OBC so that will be very nice.

Yes, has been like it since day 2 when it collapsed and lost a lot of people's bookings. For some (me for instance) it came back okay for others not so. That's why I'm talking about queues. I agree a thread on apps and queues is needed.

For the last time of saying it that incredible price didn't apply to 75% of the people on here. I'm banging my head against a wall here on that one. Can you not accept that a lot here booked a long time ago? The couple I dined with last night in Epicurean were covid victims on Britannia last year - sounds like Yorkypete's cruise actually. They were quarantined for 10 days and this is their replacement cruise using their £6,000 FCC travelling on a once in a lifetime posh cabin they booked for their 60th wedding anniversary last year. He was celebrating his 83rd birthday last night as well. The only meal they have managed in a dining room was last night's because it came in a gift package their granddaughter booked for them and although fully booked the restaurant manager got them in. Again they have the app, it falls over and doesn't stick. I had exactly the same problem in December on Britannia, lots of others here have told you it crashed on their cruises. It is a problemfor many. Please accept it's not people not knowing how to use it. I book breakfast on it every day, it's quick and works for me is agree if it works for an individual great.

DB is an upgrade from DD. Starts at F for lowest. Your agent should have clicked do not upgrade. Find out if that was done first.

Not only in there but with snorkel and masks and a P&O staff member keeping guard!

Fair enough. I'm in Olive Grove tonight and the menu I looked at this morning is the same as the one day 2. It may be an example. I have no problem either way, I liked the menu and the food so whatever comes it will I'm sure be good.

ICF I have lots of comments on the app but am not going into them now. I will say however I.note you've been able to change bookings, that's not been possible on here because absolutely everything is shown as fully booked every day. This includes Altitude and the escape room. If you've got a booking you work round it by taking dining or whatever accordingly. I note you have a set agenda every day to some extent which is good because if you were here you'd need it. It seems that because I actually have great sympathy and care about my fellow guests who aren't having the best time I'm looking at things the wrong way. I have reinstalled the app.four times for one couple it just doesn't stay there. Of course I offer help, it's what anyone will do. My point is just because I'm okay and you're okay we can't judge why it's not okay for all because it certainly should be.

With the greatest of respect, I've spent more time in guest services on this cruise than most do in a lifetime! I was given varying appointment times ranging from 9.00am to.11.00pm, there was always a queue. I queued with everyone else even though I had an appointment because I believe I owe others a courtesy if they're in a queue. I can assure you after app fiasco shuttle fiascos etc there's nearly always a queue as other CC members who are on this cruise have remarked elsewhere.

It's not so much they can't get to grips with it as once they have it all.the "experienced" cruisers have snapped everything up! I'm as guilty as the next man on entertainment but I'm a solo traveller who doesn't frequent cocktail bars and the places like Andersons and the Crows Nest because these venues are very much for couples and groups. I therefore use places like the Atrium because it's more sociable and I'm more likely to be able to join a conversation. Evenings for me are a set pattern therefore early dinner, theatre or 710 Club at 8.30 or 8.45, a drink somewhere like the Clubhouse and bed soon after. We all have different requirements and patterns of entertainment. Because I eat early the 7.00pm 710 club and 6.45 theatre are out. You are forced to make a decision which is okay for some not others. If you aren't too fussed about where you go or what you do there are other venues where you can walk.in of, of course, you can get a seat. When I go to the Clubhouse around 9.30 i can find a still as I'm just one, anyone needing seats for 2 or more will have some problems though. It is what it is. However I do not accept that for all.it works they way it is for me by following tips on here. If everyone tried to do as I was recommended there simply wouldn't be enough room and there would be carnage at the other end

I get the impression lots are giving up on MDR. I never normally go anywhere near the buffet but took a wander the night before last and it was extremely busy at 6.30pm. I assume with a large number of children people are using it early for them. I think the general rules of thumb has been if you aren't in the queue early or have a prebooked slot you're going to struggle. Of course you'll get in to eat eventually but with an average 2 hour dinner you run the risk won't get to any shows you may have booked. Most of my reservation for dinner are 6.15 with the occasional 6.30. I rarely get out of MDR until 8.10 only once by 8.00 and that was by my choice leaving my dinner companions there. Whilst Olive Grove and the Diner are good the menus appear limited and don't change so one or two visits is enough. This Tandoori option will presumably supplement well and I'm guessing they hope to move as many as possible across to the Quays. It will be interesting to see how it works, hopefully it won't impact the regular Quays diners of which there appear to be many.

I meant booking in advance from home!

If they can get near guest services, every day big queues of people even with only 3 days to go! A lot go there to book their dining because of the unreliability of the app. Restaurant manager at Meridian in particular seems to be fighting fires every night, there's been someone irate every.night poor chap.

Plan B needs to be Plan A for pretty much every night if you want to guarantee you get into your reserved entertainment slots. Spoken to quite a few who've missed their theatre or whatever as dinner was too late after using the app. The two ships sound like chalk and cheese to be honest. Considering how many on here are on their 2nd cruise after Iona it must be totally.confusing for them as it all works a very different way by the sound of it. Assumedly ICF now you've enjoyed the MDR you can understand better why people actually look forward to and want to use those restaurants.

Yes, tomorrow is formal and I'm pretty sure you are correct.

ICF I've just read this tirade and for someone who I normally find having very valid points I'm quite disappointed. Obviously every cruise is different, every piece of IT may work a different way accordingly. Regarding THIS voyage no other (I've not been on them so can't comment) due to a major IT outage on day 2 a very large.number of people lost in their entirety every reservation and booking they had made be it at home or on-board. As a result queues are occurring at venues because people have to try to sort out the situation. This has resulted in people arriving to be told they haven't got bookings when they know they had - quite a few carrying print outs around with them but often to no avail. Entering something with booking required as a result can be a lengthy and time consuming process as there are generally two people, one port one starboard, checking everyone's credentials before allowing them in. The queues at 8.00pm are not to choose a seat but to ensure you get in and to facilitate the staff being able to.hold people to one side if their reservation doesn't appear on their screen. As I said I arrived 8 minutes before the show last night and as walk one were then being admitted struggled to get a seat, any seat not a favourite seat. I've no idea whether the other people on other voyages had the same IT issues but of they say they had queues and problems I wouldn't dream of stating it's because Brits like queuing. Unfortunately these issues have/are occurring for people. I too have had absolutely no problems with the app or my reservations that doesn't mean I'm thinking those I speak to who are upset don't count as having a genuine reason for being upset. As for the weather, well as you say we can't change it. Even the Captain is getting nervous about announcing it! It's unfortunate but This cruise is full of people who booked a warm weather cruise on an advertised "sunshine" trip. Not the ship or P&O's fault but the difficulty with seating etc on.miserable seadays is something future travellers may appreciate to know of so they are prepared. For instance as an inside cabin chooser if you are on a 14 night cruise with only 6 ports like this one has, you.might want to think twice about how you would deal with 8 days at sea in a fairly confined space if getting somewhere to sit during the day is going to be a challenge. It's not something everyone can do. Shuttles well.least said really! Even Captain Camby turned his daily 6.00pm into a joke about none required in Cadiz as he can drive the ship straight into town.

ICF you're getting more cheese than we do too ... They must know you're a superstar!

Interesting as walk ups at 6.15 on here are queuing. Some stay in the queue so assumedly go in fairly quick. I leave somewhere between 7.45 and 8 most evenings and there aren't many there - the exception is Celebration Night when there appeared to be a lot when I went in and out. We have our second one tomorrow so will be interesting to compare with the last one. Certainly see quite a few dining pagers in Andersons. As I'm prebooked and early I haven't experienced any problems but speaking to others they are having problems still particularly if they haven't got or can't use (It's still falling over a lot) the app.

We have a new dining option in the Quays this evening, I can't recall one of these anywhere else recently.

Entertainment first, then dining.

When you click into dining options or entertainment options a banner was appearing stating for safety reasons you would be able to book from such and such date. I have seen this message for every post covid cruise I've taken,/booked and it appears every time as a banner in.bold. For this Arvia cruise they were 24 hours apart, 14 and 13 days before departure. The entertainment opened at midnight, the dining sometime before 8.00am. I clicked in at just after.midnight and they immediately showed the book.now button.

6.45, 8.30 and 10.30. For some reason we had a 7.00pm just once and understand the Take That show on Friday which was the early offering has.moved to Saturday with all those booked being notified on their app. I envisage some difficulties for those who booked via reception unless they think to give them a message by telephone or in Horizon. Not sure what to make of cancellation reliability. Originally tonight I had the 8.45pm at 710 club booked but changed it around to see the theatre at 8.30pm. However a message appeared for me in the app this afternoon advising of a change of artist in 710 Club for my booking. That seemed to.inficate my cancellation wasn't showing somewhere it should. Might be causing some of the problems with no shows ICF mentioned at his Iona show.