On Arvia with 6000 passengers. Tips on how to deal with a ship this busy

[thornegirl]

29 minutes ago, Vampiress88 said:

is there anything you need to do to get the “dine my way” or is that included same as p&o s virtual queues are? I’m not paying the full amount until I really have to but it won’t let me book dining until I pay 

If you want to book speciality restaurants before you go you have to pay for them at the time of booking. 
Included dining you don’t pay for. 

[terrierjohn]

2 hours ago, JG&Lcruisingnewbies said:

 

I’m not sure I can say this tactfully so I’m going to say sorry now! 🫣 

I think the issue is that it’s old tech. They need to have a proper app and make it more intuitive. 

I honestly think making the tech better would make it easier for those unsure about it. Less frustrating

 

I’ll stop there. I can hear my father in laws voice in my head ‘we don’t all want to use smart phones you know’ 😳

 

 

 

I honestly don't think an App would improve the tech, there is nothing in an App that a website cannot provide equally as well.

However the website could certainly be improved, currently it shows restaurants and entertainment as being fully booked, when experience tells us that this is clearly untrue. 

I think that this Is definitely a website where AI could create a massive improvement.

Edited April 4 by terrierjohn

[terrierjohn]

1 hour ago, Vampiress88 said:

is there anything you need to do to get the “dine my way” or is that included same as p&o s virtual queues are? I’m not paying the full amount until I really have to but it won’t let me book dining until I pay 

If you are talking about a Princess cruise, then unless you are Elite in their loyalty scheme, then you can only book dining reservations once the final balance has been paid. However they also allow walk ups and this does not seem to lead to long delays.

[zap99]

30 minutes ago, terrierjohn said:

I honestly don't think an App would improve the tech, there is nothing in an App that a website cannot provide equally as well.

However the website could certainly be improved, currently it shows restaurants and entertainment as being fully booked, when experience tells us that this is clearly untrue. 

I think that this Is definitely a website where AI could create a massive improvement.

Strange world. In the past you phoned a chain restaurant to book a table to be told they are full, when they had plenty of space. Now you book online through a central booking app and normally get in OK. I wonder if this was the staff wanting an easy life.

[snaefell]

4 hours ago, JG&Lcruisingnewbies said:

 

I’m not sure I can say this tactfully so I’m going to say sorry now! 🫣 

I think the issue is that it’s old tech. They need to have a proper app and make it more intuitive. 

I honestly think making the tech better would make it easier for those unsure about it. Less frustrating

 

I’ll stop there. I can hear my father in laws voice in my head ‘we don’t all want to use smart phones you know’ 😳

 

 

 

Computers weren't around when I started work,but I became pretty heavily involved with them when they came along supposedly  ' to make our jobs easier',sadly there was never enough time & money put in to make the systems fit for purpose,IME that happens so often.

you could be right,done properly they may be useful but..........

[Bazrat]

We found that people book in advance for the restaurants then don’t turn up, we had a conversation with a waitress who told us they cannot release the tables because the people who have booked them might turn up, hence why there was lots of empty tables.

[terrierjohn]

48 minutes ago, Bazrat said:

We found that people book in advance for the restaurants then don’t turn up, we had a conversation with a waitress who told us they cannot release the tables because the people who have booked them might turn up, hence why there was lots of empty tables.

My Holiday says the table will be held for 15 minutes, whether it be a regular booking or the virtual queue, I have no idea whether the hosts follow this rigidly or not.

However IMO the main problem is that anyone having a regular booking before 7:00 causes that table to be left empty, because they cannot guarantee that an early diner will have vacated the table in time for it to be be reset. Similarly the same situation applies to passengers who have an 8:30pm reservation, if the table is not ready by 6:30, then it will have to remain out of use.

Again, only IMO, pre booking should be abandoned and emphasis put on the virtual queue, although walk ups for those who can't or won't use the My Holidat system are a much better option than pre booking.

[chris11256]

20 hours ago, terrierjohn said:

I honestly don't think an App would improve the tech, there is nothing in an App that a website cannot provide equally as well.

However the website could certainly be improved, currently it shows restaurants and entertainment as being fully booked, when experience tells us that this is clearly untrue. 

I think that this Is definitely a website where AI could create a massive improvement.

I wouldn't necessarily say that, one of the problems is that because it's a website it can't do proper notifications. To see if you've been called in the virtual queue you need to keep the website open, and check it regularly otherwise you'll miss it, If it was a proper app, whether a ported version of the Carnival/Princess app or something else, it'd be able to generate actual notifications on your device. For some reason P&O/Cunard are some of the only Carnival brands that don't have one.

[sweep2907]

On 4/3/2024 at 10:56 AM, zap99 said:

I don't normally see many hungry folk.

That made me chuckle, yes never seen someone die of starvation on a cruise before. The worst that happens is that people struggle to eat on the hour every hour.

[JG&Lcruisingnewbies]

Hi all,

 

today we are in Valencia.

 

Another thing I will now always do when cruising at a busy time is check each port to see what else is in port. You can guarantee other ships are going to be over double capacity.

 

I had a look at who else is in port in Marseille, our next port

MSC Fantasia 3274 to 3929 passengers

Costa Toscana 5322 to 6388

and arvia with staff confirming 6000 

 

knowing Helps me to decide what to do if I got off.

 

is getting off the ship and doing your own thing better? I can control times I get on and off & avoid peak mad stampedes when they first open the gangways up or last minutes rushes to cram in the last shuttle buses

 

is an organised trip going to be best?

 

what trip to do? is every single cruise line taking coach after coach to a small village or one attraction all at the same time going to be an issue for you personally

 

and also if I really want to visit a popular attraction with 15K cruise passengers in port I really should pre book that attraction (In the summer I always pre book an attraction anyway)

 

today in Valencia there is only us and a smaller Aida ship. Comparatively much smaller numbers of passengers

but The queues outside the Oceanografic for those who haven't pre booked was loooong and no tickets available anymore to Book online on the day

 

again not a complaint. But perhaps something to be aware of if you would prefer to travel at quieter times but can’t. 

 

 

 

[JG&Lcruisingnewbies]

inside the ship is REALLY nice and quiet now. even though all aboard is less than 1 hour away.

 

Everyone is outside enjoying the sunshine. Understandable in the 23C heat. But i needed a break. inside a ship on a sunny day for a bit of respite works great.

 

Same works in the reverse if it’s a bit chilly. Wrap up and go outside for a bit. Go play the mini golf when it’s cooler and you’ll not be tripping over others golf clubs or fighting over the last one 😂 

 

I’m probably reminding people why they avoid school holidays. don't blame you.  I would if I could!
 

There are a few people onboard who have said they didn’t know it was Easter holidays so the number of passengers, especially kids, has been a shock and impacted their enjoyment.

 

For anyone who doesn’t realise, and really wants to avoid the holidays, your local County Council website will have the school terms listed

 

[JG&Lcruisingnewbies]

Oh and I’m doing the high ropes tomorrow. They seem to stagger the release of times to book so I’ve just had to keep checking for a new slot to pop up for 2-3 days time.

 

wish me luck. I’m not sure I can go and ring that bell that hangs over the edge of the ship 🫣

But getting around the course with my daughter will be a challenge. Eek,

[Jennizor]

We came back last Sunday from our Caribbean cruise on Arvia. Before we sailed we booked  the Limelight Club for one night but nothing else. We did not use the app at all we just went to the Meridian around 8pm after a pre-dinner drink, and never had to queue for a table. We were happy to share or have a table for 2.

[JG&Lcruisingnewbies]

11 hours ago, Jennizor said:

We came back last Sunday from our Caribbean cruise on Arvia. Before we sailed we booked  the Limelight Club for one night but nothing else. We did not use the app at all we just went to the Meridian around 8pm after a pre-dinner drink, and never had to queue for a table. We were happy to share or have a table for 2.

That sounds lovely. 
 

I know I’m lucky I can travel at all, but I can’t wait until I can travel out of school holidays. I don’t mind kids being onboard at all, it’s the difference between 5000 and 6000 passengers, whatever demographic, that makes a big difference

 

 

[JG&Lcruisingnewbies]

Hi All, cancelled Altitude skywalk this morning and rebooked for 3 days time. It was very easy to do on the ‘app’

 

this morning I woke at 5.30am to the sound of the ships Foghorn. It’s still going now

 

so decided with it being damp and not even being able to see the midship ‘hump’ clearly from our Port aft cabin, another day would be better!

 

[JG&Lcruisingnewbies]

Hi, in Marseille and not getting off today

 

Note- It was so busy getting off that at 10am they were begging people that had no urgency to get off, please wait in one of the comfortable lounges until a further announcement was made!

 

11am we just walked into the 6th Street diner. Hardly anyone in. Got a bit busier but not full
 

this was the first time I’d not seen queues down the corridor!

 

much prefer their brunch menu. Lovely! 😋 

 

the ‘app’ says queue opens at 6.30. BUT Queue has opened for brunch/ lunch every day I’ve seen and on a sea day that will be very much needed.

 

pools very nice and quiet and although the golf was being used & each hole being used there were enough clubs to play and wasn’t much waiting.

 

kids clubs is open for afternoon and evening session on a port day. Not morning as well

 

also put washing on today. Other days have been near impossible (deck 10)

 

[Megabear2]

45 minutes ago, JG&Lcruisingnewbies said:

Hi, in Marseille and not getting off today

 

Note- It was so busy getting off that at 10am they were begging people that had no urgency to get off, please wait in one of the comfortable lounges until a further announcement was made!

 

11am we just walked into the 6th Street diner. Hardly anyone in. Got a bit busier but not full
 

this was the first time I’d not seen queues down the corridor!

 

much prefer their brunch menu. Lovely! 😋 

 

the ‘app’ says queue opens at 6.30. BUT Queue has opened for brunch/ lunch every day I’ve seen and on a sea day that will be very much needed.

 

pools very nice and quiet and although the golf was being used & each hole being used there were enough clubs to play and wasn’t much waiting.

 

kids clubs is open for afternoon and evening session on a port day. Not morning as well

 

also put washing on today. Other days have been near impossible (deck 10)

 

My one trip on Arvia Marseille had the same crowd problems.  Is the ship providing the boat service to supplement the buses? This was very good and certainly helped on the return journey.  The other option was the port bus which was a short walk away, this is used by MSC and Princess but P&O didn't tell their passengers of the existence of it.

[JG&Lcruisingnewbies]

1 hour ago, Megabear2 said:

My one trip on Arvia Marseille had the same crowd problems.  Is the ship providing the boat service to supplement the buses? This was very good and certainly helped on the return journey.  The other option was the port bus which was a short walk away, this is used by MSC and Princess but P&O didn't tell their passengers of the existence of it.

I haven’t seen mention of the port bus service

 

or a boat service provided by P&O
 

both sound like very good options. When did you travel? Maybe the port bus & boat service doesn’t run in April but I wouldn’t put it past P&O not to mention it too. Because They charge £5 each way per adult & £2.50 per child for the shuttle to town if you are on the saver fare. ‘Free’ for select fare

[Megabear2]

21 minutes ago, JG&Lcruisingnewbies said:

I haven’t seen mention of the port bus service

 

or a boat service provided by P&O
 

both sound like very good options. When did you travel? Maybe the port bus & boat service doesn’t run in April but I wouldn’t put it past P&O not to mention it too. Because They charge £5 each way per adult & £2.50 per child for the shuttle to town if you are on the saver fare. ‘Free’ for select fare

I travelled in June last year.  This link is to Marseille Tourism site - the shuttle details are half way down.  I used it last year to by pass the P&O queue as I knew it existed and followed the MSC and Costa guests to the bus stop.  It was about 6 minutes walk from our berth but could be more/less depending on where the ship is berthed.

 

The boats were hired by P&O and docked in the area of the university, about 10 minutes walk to the harbour and centre.  The queue for the return buses was horrendous that day and a number of white shirts were on hand at the bus stop to escort people to the boat which carried three times the number of passengers the bus could.

 

https://www.marseille-tourisme.com/en/organize-your-stay/practical-information/access-to-marseille-cruise-port/

Edited April 7 by Megabear2

[JG&Lcruisingnewbies]

1 hour ago, Megabear2 said:

I travelled in June last year.  This link is to Marseille Tourism site - the shuttle details are half way down.  I used it last year to by pass the P&O queue as I knew it existed and followed the MSC and Costa guests to the bus stop.  It was about 6 minutes walk from our berth but could be more/less depending on where the ship is berthed.

 

The boats were hired by P&O and docked in the area of the university, about 10 minutes walk to the harbour and centre.  The queue for the return buses was horrendous that day and a number of white shirts were on hand at the bus stop to escort people to the boat which carried three times the number of passengers the bus could.

Hi, thanks for the reply. I shall remember about the port bus if I come here again, thanks. 
 

definitely no boat service unless they put that on for the return. I dread to think what the return shuttles are like! The queue was bad enough getting on them to return to ship in Valencia. At 2.pm way before all aboard.

 

At that time they did have a constant stream of buses to be fair so you wouldn’t wait for long even if the front 2 or 3 are full

 

We have MSC Fantasia opposite us by Terminal A. Looking at marine traffic I thought we had Celebrity Constellation with us too, because she arrived this morning. but where she is- she’s in what looks to be in a dry dock for regular maintenance. not seen that before.
 

 

[JG&Lcruisingnewbies]

Washing onboard

 

I put my clothes in the machine port day morning

 

 

free to use- just remember to select the number of the machine you are using on the touchscreen opposite to ‘unlock’ it or it will ask you to pay

don’t me like me and not read the instructions and stand there looking at a machine for ages trying to work out why it said I had to pay when there is no way to pay 🤦‍♀️ 

 

6 washer and 6 dryers. Deck ten. Looks like most if not all decks with cabins have a laundry room. The morning was great with machines available. Port day afternoon was much busier and hard to get a machine. All worked pretty well though and a decent size 

 

[GSPG]

We were on Arvia on July 9th last year for two weeks in the Med. We expected kids, but thinking the schools wouldn’t have broken up then did not think there would be too many.

 

There were 800 as the schools had already broken up in Scotland, Ireland and Wales, and there were those who had left school early because of exams, college or Uni.

 

The truth was there was not enough to do for the kids. Towards the end of the first week we noticed they were forming groups of up to twenty, and hanging out in an area next to Sindhu, and in the buffet after midnight.

 

As time went on, lifts were being littered with food, drinks were being left in corridors, there were set two’s between parents and altercations around the pools as some families were ‘camped out’ around these and were intimidating other guests.

Families had parents who were drunk most of the time, and the kids were just allowed to get on and do what they wanted to do. There was no security, they had the run of the ship.

 

If things don’t look too good and anything like above, if your wallet of purse permits once you are onboard, my advice would be book the retreat if you can.

 

Instead of buffets, use waiter served dining.

 

Forget the pools. Too small for the amount of people.

 

 

[Bazrat]

45 minutes ago, GSPG said:

We were on Arvia on July 9th last year for two weeks in the Med. We expected kids, but thinking the schools wouldn’t have broken up then did not think there would be too many.

 

There were 800 as the schools had already broken up in Scotland, Ireland and Wales, and there were those who had left school early because of exams, college or Uni.

 

The truth was there was not enough to do for the kids. Towards the end of the first week we noticed they were forming groups of up to twenty, and hanging out in an area next to Sindhu, and in the buffet after midnight.

 

As time went on, lifts were being littered with food, drinks were being left in corridors, there were set two’s between parents and altercations around the pools as some families were ‘camped out’ around these and were intimidating other guests.

Families had parents who were drunk most of the time, and the kids were just allowed to get on and do what they wanted to do. There was no security, they had the run of the ship.

 

If things don’t look too good and anything like above, if your wallet of purse permits once you are onboard, my advice would be book the retreat if you can.

 

Instead of buffets, use waiter served dining.

 

Forget the pools. Too small for the amount of people.

 

 

It sounds horrendous I am surprised this board isn’t inundated with people who was on that cruise, complaining about all the problems what you posted about.

Edited April 13 by Bazrat

[GSPG]

2 hours ago, Bazrat said:

It sounds horrendous I am surprised this board isn’t inundated with people who was on that cruise, complaining about all the problems what you posted about.

I believe there was at the time.

 

On our last night before we docked back at Southampton, we bumped into a senior officer along our cabin corridor and we had quite a chat.

 

He was aware of the problems and said 1,000 kids were expected the following week.
I said there was just no security presence about, nothing to make those ‘playing up’ think about getting into trouble with their behaviour, and that they were being watched.

 

If it’s not an issue this summer that’s a great thing!

Edited April 13 by GSPG

[Bazrat]

On 4/13/2024 at 11:34 PM, GSPG said:

I believe there was at the time.

 

On our last night before we docked back at Southampton, we bumped into a senior officer along our cabin corridor and we had quite a chat.

 

He was aware of the problems and said 1,000 kids were expected the following week.
I said there was just no security presence about, nothing to make those ‘playing up’ think about getting into trouble with their behaviour, and that they were being watched.

 

If it’s not an issue this summer that’s a great thing!

I was on a TA last year and a pair of bloggers was on there, they complained about everything food décor atmosphere you name it they complained about it, strangely enough there must have been a dozen other bloggers on there who had a completely different view of the holiday, just put a search in for TA in October 2023 on Arvia.