Our fantastic Arvia cruise June 9th- June 23rd

[S1971]

1 hour ago, Waju said:

All that makes good sense but what a sad place we live in to have to do all that just because we're going away for a holiday!  Remember when we just used to give the neighbour a key to feed the goldfish and water the plants? 

 

Not forgetting the no milk note for two weeks in the milk bottle on the doorstep 😳

 

Can you imagine doing that today?

 

Just goes to show how society has changed.

[terrierjohn]

2 minutes ago, S1971 said:

 

Not forgetting the no milk note for two weeks in the milk bottle on the doorstep 😳

 

Can you imagine doing that today?

 

Just goes to show how society has changed.

But then most folk had precious little worth stealing, so it would have been slim pickings for any burglars.

[S1971]

2 minutes ago, terrierjohn said:

But then most folk had precious little worth stealing, so it would have been slim pickings for any burglars.

 

Different times, different crimes I guess.

 

I'm with @grapau27 on this, never disclose your whereabouts online, it's an insurance companies dream.

[Slugsta]

We have a house/cat sitter when we are away, so the place is probably empty less than when we are at home!

[terrierjohn]

1 hour ago, S1971 said:

 

Different times, different crimes I guess.

 

I'm with @grapau27 on this, never disclose your whereabouts online, it's an insurance companies dream.

I wonder how insurance companies reconcile this holiday advertising with the fact that many folk work and their houses are empty every weekday?

[S1971]

2 minutes ago, terrierjohn said:

I wonder how insurance companies reconcile this holiday advertising with the fact that many folk work and their houses are empty every weekday?

 

I think that's clear and obvious, the difference is advertising online that you're on holiday for eg; two weeks clearly gives the impression that your property could be vacant during that period.

 

Given, I don't feel the need to tell people online that I'm going to work for the day probably answers that.

 

All insurance is based on risk, telling people you're away increases the risk of crime significantly. 

[kalos]

3 hours ago, Waju said:

All that makes good sense but what a sad place we live in to have to do all that just because we're going away for a holiday!  Remember when we just used to give the neighbour a key to feed the goldfish and water the plants? 

Or you get a text off your neighbour telling you "Your hamsters are both dead "

 

You text back .."Did you feed them ? ""

 

reply ..YES

 

You text back .."Did you give them plenty of water? "

 

reply.... " Yes I filled their tank right to the top with water "🙃

[TigerB]

Thank you Graham for the report and great photos. I do like a bit of food porn, me!😋

 

We've only been to La Coruna once, and it hoyed it down, so didn't spend long off the ship. Hopefully, on our next visit we will be able to explore more.

 

We are on Arvia in ####### (I won't say when, in case any of you on here are burgling scrotes!🤭)

Seriously though, even though I'm not a social media freak (my online presence is limited to only occasional reviews on TA, and posting on here and two other travel forums, with different usernames), what you and other contributors say about insurance is very valid. I will resolve to only do post-cruise reviews in future. Even though it would probably difficult to work out our address, the insurance companies would only be interested in finding an excuse not to pay out.

 

One more thing, have the speciality restaurant cover charges gone up yet?

[Sussexboy]

When we visited La Coruna back in May, the first thing our guide said was “welcome to the only city in Europe with over 400 days of rain per year” ! It took a second or so to sink in….it was early.

[Sarah1974]

Thanks for your report and pictures Graham

[zap99]

6 hours ago, S1971 said:

 

Not forgetting the no milk note for two weeks in the milk bottle on the doorstep 😳

 

Can you imagine doing that today?

 

Just goes to show how society has changed.

Milk bottle on the doorstep?. Those were the days😂

[Fraann]

£11.50 in the beach house last week. It may be cheaper to pre book at home. 

[grapau27]

4 hours ago, TigerB said:

Thank you Graham for the report and great photos. I do like a bit of food porn, me!😋

 

We've only been to La Coruna once, and it hoyed it down, so didn't spend long off the ship. Hopefully, on our next visit we will be able to explore more.

 

We are on Arvia in ####### (I won't say when, in case any of you on here are burgling scrotes!🤭)

Seriously though, even though I'm not a social media freak (my online presence is limited to only occasional reviews on TA, and posting on here and two other travel forums, with different usernames), what you and other contributors say about insurance is very valid. I will resolve to only do post-cruise reviews in future. Even though it would probably difficult to work out our address, the insurance companies would only be interested in finding an excuse not to pay out.

 

One more thing, have the speciality restaurant cover charges gone up yet?

Sindhu is £20 deposit for 2 online less your loyalty discount.

On board in Sindhu everything is individually priced then your £20 deposit is deducted plus an additional 20%.

Beach house is a cover charge on line less your loyalty discount.

Most of the food is included but some items like the Lava block steak has a charge I think it was £7.50.

Epicurean is a fixed charge for all of your meal.

I have deleted my confirmation but I think it was £50 for 2 less 20% online discount less loyalty discount.

One thing to remember is if you are docked in Spain or in Spanish waters there is a 10% Spanish sales tax on all food and drink purchased on board while there.

Edited Thursday at 03:22 PM by grapau27

[grapau27]

58 minutes ago, Sarah1974 said:

Thanks for your report and pictures Graham

Thank you Sarah.

I'm pleased you liked them.

[grapau27]

56 minutes ago, Fraann said:

£11.50 in the beach house last week. It may be cheaper to pre book at home. 

I believe it was £9.50pp online.

I deleted my email with the on line confirmation of all our speciality restaurant dining on so just going by memory but it was 20% cheaper booking on line.

Sindhu took the £20 deposit plus an additional 20% off our total bill after our meal.

[grapau27]

1 hour ago, zap99 said:

Milk bottle on the doorstep?. Those were the days😂

Someone in our close still get the milkman dropping their milk off on their back step about 1am.

[mrsgoggins]

15 minutes ago, grapau27 said:

I believe it was £9.50pp online.

I deleted my email with the on line confirmation of all our speciality restaurant dining on so just going by memory but it was 20% cheaper booking on line.

Sindhu took the £20 deposit plus an additional 20% off our total bill after our meal.

 

The prices on Iona next week (guessing Arvia would be the same) are Beach House £9.20 pp online, Epicurean £28 pp, Norwegian Taster menu £32 pp, Limelight Club £33.60 pp and Sindhu £10 pp less, of course, whatever discount you qualify for. 

 

I noticed that Sindhu, when you check the Menu, has a box at the top saying 'For the ultimate Sindhu experience, choose 3 courses for just 21.00'  I've never seen this before.  Is it new or am I just unobservant?     

[grapau27]

14 minutes ago, mrsgoggins said:

 

The prices on Iona next week (guessing Arvia would be the same) are Beach House £9.20 pp online, Epicurean £28 pp, Norwegian Taster menu £32 pp, Limelight Club £33.60 pp and Sindhu £10 pp less, of course, whatever discount you qualify for. 

 

I noticed that Sindhu, when you check the Menu, has a box at the top saying 'For the ultimate Sindhu experience, choose 3 courses for just 21.00'  I've never seen this before.  Is it new or am I just unobservant?     

I never saw it and no one mentioned it in Sindhu.

TBH I wasn't keen on the Sindhu starters so we had a main and a desert every visit.

Although Sindhu food is delicious there is only 1 menu unlike Epicurean where there are 2 menu's which change on a Saturday on a 14 night cruise.

By memory those prices sound the same as Arvia.

I had deleted the confirmation email with the individual prices we paid was on.

I hope you have an amazing cruise next week and a wonderful anniversary on board.

 

Edited Thursday at 04:43 PM by grapau27

[TigerB]

2 hours ago, grapau27 said:

Sindhu is £20 deposit for 2 online less your loyalty discount.

On board in Sindhu everything is individually priced then your £20 deposit is deducted plus an additional 20%.

Beach house is a cover charge on line less your loyalty discount.

Most of the food is included but some items like the Lava block steak has a charge I think it was £7.50.

Epicurean is a fixed charge for all of your meal.

I have deleted my confirmation but I think it was £50 for 2 less 20% online discount less loyalty discount.

One thing to remember is if you are docked in Spain or in Spanish waters there is a 10% Spanish sales tax on all food and drink purchased on board while there.

 

1 hour ago, mrsgoggins said:

 

The prices on Iona next week (guessing Arvia would be the same) are Beach House £9.20 pp online, Epicurean £28 pp, Norwegian Taster menu £32 pp, Limelight Club £33.60 pp and Sindhu £10 pp less, of course, whatever discount you qualify for. 

 

I noticed that Sindhu, when you check the Menu, has a box at the top saying 'For the ultimate Sindhu experience, choose 3 courses for just 21.00'  I've never seen this before.  Is it new or am I just unobservant?     

 

Thank you to you both for that information.

 

It looks like the recent price increases on food are above inflation, and are inconsistent...

 

Beach House:

In February it was £9.50 onboard and £7.60 pre-booked.

Now it is £11.50 and £9.20, so an increase of a gnat's hair over 21%

 

Epicurean:

In February it was £30 onboard and £24 pre-booked.

Now it is £35 and £28, so an increase of a gnat's hair under 16.67%

 

It's interesting that the Norwegian Taster menu has gone up by a higher percentage (over 33%); it was previously the same price as the regular menu. If I was a sceptical Tiger, I might think that Carnival are cashing in on the popularity of this menu.🙄

 

 

@mrsgoggins, I would be interested to know, from when you are on your cruise, what the percentage increases are on the menu items in Sindhu, if you go in.

By way of example, these are the prices of the dishes we chose during a February visit...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yes, the £21 'special menu' is a new thing. I would also be interested to know what dishes feature on it.  Me: "Yes, I would like that main course right there, and that main course right there; and for my third choice, I'll have that main course right there". #Yorkshire🤭

 

 

 

Graham, regarding the Spanish tax; being from Yorkshire, that is why we eat in the MDR or pre-book for those nights!😉

 

 

[mrsgoggins]

20 minutes ago, TigerB said:

 

@mrsgoggins, I would be interested to know, from when you are on your cruise, what the percentage increases are on the menu items in Sindhu, if you go in.

By way of example, these are the prices of the dishes we chose during a February visit...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yes, the £21 'special menu' is a new thing. I would also be interested to know what dishes feature on it.  Me: "Yes, I would like that main course right there, and that main course right there; and for my third choice, I'll have that main course right there". #Yorkshire🤭

 

 

 

Graham, regarding the Spanish tax; being from Yorkshire, that is why we eat in the MDR or pre-book for those nights!😉

 

I’ll do my best to oblige with Sindhu info, as I owe you 😉

[Windsurfboy]

Epicurean is £35 on board (then plus Vat if in spainish waters), £28 after all discounts bought beforehand .

 

[grapau27]

2 hours ago, TigerB said:

 

 

Thank you to you both for that information.

 

It looks like the recent price increases on food are above inflation, and are inconsistent...

 

Beach House:

In February it was £9.50 onboard and £7.60 pre-booked.

Now it is £11.50 and £9.20, so an increase of a gnat's hair over 21%

 

Epicurean:

In February it was £30 onboard and £24 pre-booked.

Now it is £35 and £28, so an increase of a gnat's hair under 16.67%

 

It's interesting that the Norwegian Taster menu has gone up by a higher percentage (over 33%); it was previously the same price as the regular menu. If I was a sceptical Tiger, I might think that Carnival are cashing in on the popularity of this menu.🙄

 

 

@mrsgoggins, I would be interested to know, from when you are on your cruise, what the percentage increases are on the menu items in Sindhu, if you go in.

By way of example, these are the prices of the dishes we chose during a February visit...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yes, the £21 'special menu' is a new thing. I would also be interested to know what dishes feature on it.  Me: "Yes, I would like that main course right there, and that main course right there; and for my third choice, I'll have that main course right there". #Yorkshire🤭

 

 

 

Graham, regarding the Spanish tax; being from Yorkshire, that is why we eat in the MDR or pre-book for those nights!😉

 

 

In April there was an email that briefly let us book dining.

I managed to book the first 3 nights then the pre-booking closed until 2 weeks before our cruise.

I had booked 

Epicurean.

Beach house.

Sindhu.

I found a screenshot 

Total cost was £94.50 less my loyalty discount.

[TigerB]

26 minutes ago, grapau27 said:

In April there was an email that briefly let us book dining.

I managed to book the first 3 nights then the pre-booking closed until 2 weeks before our cruise.

I had booked 

Epicurean.

Beach house.

Sindhu.

I found a screenshot 

Total cost was £94.50 less my loyalty discount.

 

Yes, our was telling our lass earlier about someone in IT at P&O Towers pressing the wrong button.  All to the benefit of some lucky cruisers.👍🏻

[P&O SUE]

On 6/27/2024 at 7:04 AM, Snow Hill said:

If you have your social media set to public, then of course those who wish to cause harm maybe able to see it, however if you take precautions and use the privacy tools provided you can prevent your posts being seen by those said individuals. I also don’t display my exact location, address or full date of birth, never post pictures of my property. 

 

My FB profile is locked down/private within the profile I have friends groups and should I decide to post anything whilst away I only share with my siblings and children. I have location tracking turned off and if using a public network the vpn switches on and hides my location.

 

My friends list is not public, plus I have 2FA switched on to prevent unauthorised access and I don’t use the same password on other accounts ever.

 

Any insurance loss adjust looking at my profile would see nothing of what I have posted currently or in the past. 
 

That said any communication back home with friends and siblings is normally done via secure messaging services, in which we have family groups set up for this purpose.

 

That said we also have security cameras, alarms and other devices which give the impression we are at home, we have excellent neighbours who keep an eye on the property whilst we are away as we do with theirs when they are away.

That’s what I was going to say- only my friends can see my posts and photos so someone on cruise critic wouldn’t be able to see them - or know my exact address.

[grapau27]

On 6/25/2024 at 9:04 PM, zap99 said:

Is it a coincidence that Pauline's outfit matches the mug .We quite liked 6th St Diner. In fact we enjoyed all the restaurants. I'm still getting over your Joules polo. Has your sponsorship by Ralph Lauren come to an end?🤣

Thank you John.

A final look at our wonderful cruise ship Arvia.