Newbie, which cabin on Arcadia?

[trafman]

I would appreciate advice on which cabin to try to book on Arcadia. Looking for my wife and I to go on Norwegian Fjords 7 day cruise end July 2009. I know we want to be mid ship, middle deck area with a balcony. We are both in our forties but fit and active,it's just as this is our first cruise so dont want to get it wrong and be right next to or above /below a bar area or service elevator etc.

If anyone can advise on a particular cabin and deck to go for or the general area then being Newbie's to cruise holidays we would really appreciate your advice. The more folk offer their advice the better as it will help to make an informed decision based on actual unbiased experience.

 

Many thanks

 

trafman :)

[LibraLass41]

We have sailed on Arcadia 3 times in past 2 years all in balcony cabins - I highly recommend C132/ C139 area... they are to the back of midships, BUT still midships, and not too far to the Belvedere for Breakfast and Meridian for breakfast/dinner just a few steps along and up or down in lift...

 

I have also had B52 (EASILY REMEMBERED !) and that was towards front of midships. B and C deck are the nicest. A deck is under the pool, but ok.

 

I have a few albums of my Arcadia cruises with lots of ships footage, plus one album 'ALL ABOUT ARCADIA' here is the link for that one (view from the balcony on some of them)

 

http://picasaweb.google.com/AuroraPartyCruiseSueV/AllAboutArcadia

 

press SLIDESHOW for bigger photos,

 

and back to Sus public gallery' for cruise photos.

 

any questions, fire away;)

[trafman]

Libralass

 

Thanks for the info, I still welcome further feedback on particular cabins and decks but am just about to check out the links you kindly sent us.

regards:)

 

trafman

E Yorks

[trafman]

Just viewed the link to Arcadia pics, superb pics and info and sure when my wife Mary sees them that it will inspire her for our first cruise. Guess it is not bad being virgins in our 40s.

Thanks again and will see if anyone adds any further thoughts or suggestions.

 

regards

 

trafman

 

Cruise so far

 

Boat 12 Newcastle boating lake 1970

M V Rangatira Falklands 1982

[Janey]

Don't know how important it is to you, but I would get a copy of next year's brochure and have a good look at the deck plans as different decks/position on the ship have different sized balconies. Balconies are important to us so we always go for the biggest ones we can get. There really is no difference in the motion of the ship whether you are mid ship or aft, maybe the pointy bit is a bit rougher. Personally I would avoid A deck due to the noise from the Lido deck above and it is VERY high if you don't like heights. Staterooms are the same size wherever. My own personal fav is D deck, nice and quiet and the aft balconies are HUGE.

[LibraLass41]

I agree with janey about A deck, as previously mentioned in above post.

 

B & C were very quiet too, the only trouble with D deck is you are above the lifeboats , so we prefer B & C.

[Janey]

..but there aren't any lifeboats at the aft of the ship Sue so the aft staterooms on D have wonderful views!

[LibraLass41]

Oooops sorry, D midships not aft,

[trafman]

Thanks ladies

 

Your thoughts and experience of Arcadia have really helped and my wife loved the slideshow. Just got to see what cabins are available B,C or D aft .

 

Many thanks

 

Martin alias trafman:)

[Barbarella]

HI can certainly vouch for D184 which is in the middle of the aft section and is just one of 4 of the aft balcony cabins which is actually about 3feet longer than the two either side cabins before you get to the Suite corner cabins as these two end ones lose some space due to the corner suites (hope this makes sense):confused:, so you gain an additional seating area between the bedside unit and the dressing table area. You do not gain this additional area on any of the port or starboard balconies so big gain.

 

Also the balcony on D184 is huge about 3 times as deep as the port/starboard balconies so again a huge gain.

 

Definately recommended if they stay the same after the refit. Also not too overlooked as one third of the balcony is under cover but you will still get plenty of sunning area too.

 

Regards,

Babs

[Norfolk Brit]

HI can certainly vouch for D184 which is in the middle of the aft section and is just one of 4 of the aft balcony cabins which is actually about 3feet longer than the two either side cabins before you get to the Suite corner cabins as these two end ones lose some space due to the corner suites (hope this makes sense):confused:, so you gain an additional seating area between the bedside unit and the dressing table area. You do not gain this additional area on any of the port or starboard balconies so big gain.

 

Also the balcony on D184 is huge about 3 times as deep as the port/starboard balconies so again a huge gain.

 

Definately recommended if they stay the same after the refit. Also not too overlooked as one third of the balcony is under cover but you will still get plenty of sunning area too.

 

Regards,

Babs

 

We can vouch for B159; like Babs's cabin, about one third of this balcony is not overlooked (and shaded), the rest can be overlooked by those on A deck, and those standing at the pool railings, but that is a small price to pay for room for table, two chairs, and two sunloungers. Avoid A deck aft unless you like total shade, plus I would guess the cabins get dark.

 

However, I thought these cabins were going in the refit?

 

Mary

[upwarduk]

When we enquired about balcony cabins, we were advised that some are glass, some are metal, so do not get so much sun .

In the end we did not book one, as we thought the extra money excessive. We had also read that since the smoking ban, passengers are allowed to smoke on their balcony, so non smokers could be surrounded by smokers. I am not paying an extra £600p.p for that 'prilivage.'

[LibraLass41]

http://picasaweb.google.com/AuroraPartyCruiseSueV/1stCruiseCanariesOnArcadiaMay06#5113823492670620194

 

Well, theres some sun on these balconies, the aft ones are lovely...see link above.

 

We have had balconies on all 3 cruises in past 2 years and you do get the sun at certain times of the day, nothing beats your own personal space to read a book and drink a glass of wine in the late afternoon after a hectic day at sea, or at a port... I totally agree about the smoking aspect though and am worried what it will be like surrounded by these extra smokers who now can't smoke in the inside cabins..it is a lot of extra money - £500pp EXTRA for a balcony compared to a inside cabin on a 2 week cruise., but so far we have enjoyed the balcony and have them again on our next 3 cruises...

[LibraLass41]

http://picasaweb.google.com/AuroraPartyCruiseSueV/Aurora3nAmsterdamAndBrugesCruise#5106787569787255954

 

Aurora balcony cabin above

 

http://picasaweb.google.com/AuroraPartyCruiseSueV/ArcadiaMedCruiseJune07#5241920382633012050

 

Arcadias balcony cabin, larger with glass front, yes and sun!:)

[trafman]

Sue

 

Again many thanks for the links to your pics. The chance to view a few pics as it really is has been very helpful and i think Friday will see us making a booking. This will be our first cruise normally love the sun, Scuba diving and touring around caribbean islands so am a little apprehensive about a cruies especially as my wife want to make our first cruise the Norwegian Fjords so not a sun bathing holiday. I guess it will be a total change and as its only a seven night cruise we have the intent to enjoy a week somewhere hot even if we just stick to the Med. I will update thsi thread once the cabin is booked

 

regards

Martin alias trafman:)

[LibraLass41]

MARTIN/Tafman

 

Thats what we plan to do as well.

 

Have a short cruise to the sun in late May 09 and a Norway Fjords in late Aug 09, that way we get to 'do' the Fjords but also have a 'sun' holiday too...so 2 x shorties for us in 2009 instead of the one 16n cruise this year, oh and a weekender next week on Ventura!

[trafman]

Finally got booked for Arcadia Norwegian Fjords late July 09 cabin D175. Learnt alot about the cruise set up from this enquiry so thanks to all who assited and no doubt has helped others who looked at the thread.

 

It was fine learning about the more popular cabins etc but certainly now realise just how early many of them can get booked up. If all goes well July 09 sure we will then plan and book well ahead and realise why so many show the cruises that are booked a year in advance. I thought 10 months ahead was plenty but as a newbie have already learnt an important lesson.

 

many thanks

 

martin alias trafman

[trafman]

Hopefully I will have managed to get a countdown clock added to my signature on here to record the booking of our first cruise. Must start planning a short break for later this year as its a long time until next July.

 

cheers

trafman:)

[LibraLass41]

Martin

Well done, your first won't be your last!!

 

 

Sue

[trafman]

Sue

 

just wondered about the ships visits and weekenders that you have listed. Where do you find out about these and whats the format?

 

cheers

Martin

[LibraLass41]

Well the weekenders are booked from the brochure, the Ventura one I'm doing on Friday was booked the day bookings opened for Ventura in April 2007 and were fully booked within a week or so, as at that time it was the only weekender for Ventura this year (they later squeezed in another weekender before the maiden voyage which didn't go down very well!)

 

The ships visits; well the Independence one was arranged by my Cruise travel Agent, you need to inform your bookings agent that you are interested in a ships visit. they get occasional invites and if they know you are interested you may get one. I am a good customer mind, having booked 8 cruises since 2006 and also recommending my friends to him!

Here is my blog and photo site for the visit, incase you haven't seen it!

 

Saturday 26th July, 2008

 

We arrived at the City terminal at 10am. I was surprised to see so many people there already unloading their cars and making their way to the check-in area, but was told boarding does start earlier than P&O at around 11am, and infact, I did see people boarding at around that time. I queued for my day pass along with 140 invited people from all over the Country who were going on this ships visit. We were given a ‘comfort bag’ by the RCI team, which was nice. It contained a bottle of water, disposable camera, notebook, pen and other promotional bits and bobs.

Independence of the Seas is a new ‘Freedom class’ ship, a massive 158,000 tonnes and has only been sailing for 8 weeks or so. She was looking very good when we boarded, and I was impressed with the furnishings and décor. Today will be a big test, the first cruise of the school summer holidays with lots of children due onboard a sell-out cruise.

We started at the Casino, wow! There must have been 200 or more fruit machines in rows in there, it’s a well known fact that the Americans like to gamble, and prefer to be in there spending their money than on deck like us Brits on a sunny sea day, but I’m not sure us Brits would be using it as much.

As you walk through, you are aware she is big… and when you look up you can see many decks above. We made our way to the ‘Royal Promenade ‘ a 4 storey mall lined with bars and shops… plenty of eateries and a pub here including a Ben & Jerry’s ice cream parlour. You can see the ‘PR grade’ promenade inside cabins above the shops, which are available to book if you fancy looking down on the mall instead of looking at the sea, I have taken a photo for you, and its on the photo site.

We got in the lift and went to deck 11, the sun was shining and it was easy to imagine we were on a cruise. The pools looked lovely. Plenty of sun loungers were lined around the tiered areas, and we made our way to H20 Zone, the children’s pools, this is a colourful water park with ground geysers, waterfalls, pools with currents and fountains. I am sure many of the children will stay in this area for their water fun…. If you want to avoid this family area then there is an ‘Adult only’ pool area which was very impressive. There were two lovely whirlpools on the sides of the ship with glass lookouts to sea, it is clearly posted ‘adult area’ and I was told this was policed well…. The adult only pool area (photos on site) also had good padded sun beds, and even swing benches. That’s where I would head if I was onboard for hopefully a relaxing time.

Alongside the H2 Zone are the children’s clubs, linked to a children’s arcade. The kids can have their own charge cards and can play the machines (Ooooh dear! Could get expensive?) but if you do no want to give your child unlimited funds, a daily charge of $20-30 for example can be added to their cards by their parents. Here in this area are the separate clubs for different age groups. The younger ones have art and craft tables, TV’s and toys, the older ones internet computers, a non-alcoholic bar, disco, and even their own Jacuzzis where their can sip their mocktail cocktails! Near here too is Johnny rockets, an American burger bar designed in a 1950 rectro style.

Food? Well I was impressed with the eateries onboard and the quality of the food.

Firstly, the Windjammer’ self service restaurant, here the food displayed looked very appetizing, a few photos taken for you, the sweets looked good I must say, but we had to move on (and with a promise of lunch in the restaurant later I was happy too)

The furnishings here looked lovely, much better than Aurora or Arcadia and great views as well. Off to the side were ‘Portofino’ a $25 supplement Italian restaurant serving such delights as ‘Skewer of Maine Lobster, scallops and salmon served with sun-dried tomato beurre blanc and Ligurian potatoes, or perhaps Grilled Fillet of Atlantic halibut over a citrus, crab and shrimp risotto, finished with salad verde and lemon butter sauce…the desserts included Pistachio panna cotta with strawberry-champagne ragout, and Tiramisu.

Also, the ‘Chops Grille’ was here, where you can have T Bone steaks, Veal chops and other meaty dishes cooked the American way.

On deck 12 there is a running tack if you fancy some exercise to burn off some of the calories!

Outside again on deck 13 I saw the ‘FlowRider’ which was empty when I photographed it for you, but looked great fun - this wave simulator allows you to surf or body-board. Alongside that is a 9 hole small-scale golf course, sports court and the rock-climbing wall. Plenty of things to do for the children here.

The games room was well stocked with board games and plenty of games tables for bad-weather sea days.

I was very impressed with the touch-screen maps around the ships to help you navigate this 15 deck ship, what a good idea!! You just key in a place, say the H20 Zone and it shows you the location and deck, much better that the maps onboard other ships which always seem so small and confusing to read.

I saw the Ice-skating rink, which was slightly smaller than I expected, but had lots of seating, I am told you need to queue up for the ice skating shows and get your tickets before going, and also in the day, it is used as a normal skating rink for everyone.

The theatre was big with plenty of seating – it needs to be – but nothing stood out here for me to comment on.

Surprisingly there is NO dedicated cinema on this family ship !!

Okay now the cabins…..

I loved all the cabins on this ship. The décor was modern and quality of linen and furniture the same as P&O. I saw many types of cabin and have photographed them for you. The Royal suite had a grand piano, and balcony with full size Jacuzzi and lovely bathrooms, and one suite I saw, I think it was the Presidential suite would accommodate 14 people ! Ideal for a large well-to-do family, it was magnificent, with a massive balcony, again with Jacuzzi and wooden thickly padded lounges and chairs and a long wooden table for al fresco dining. There was a sauna room with a gold sink and a full size shower, a lovely bath with whirlpool, very large screen TVs that swivel between bed and lounge, amazing.

The food, all food I saw looked wonderful. We dined at lunch in the magnificent 3 tier main dining room. A dramatic staircase connects all 3 levels with huge fat support pillars. All three restaurants have the same menus and food. And the tables seat 2,4,6,8,10 or 12.

I had a lovely lunch of duck terrine and smoked duck slices, a massive sirloin steak cooked as requested with jus and a potato quiche accompanied by 2 carrots and 3 asparagus spears cooked to perfection. I knew and expected a lot of meat and a small quantity of vegetables, and that’s what I got. Although I expect you can request more vegetables if you would like them. Funnily, one Gentleman on our table asked for ‘English Mustard’ to go on his steak, the waiter returned and said he only had French !!! and offered us that. A bit strange for a Ship based in the UK? !!!

The sweet was a light pastry Apple pie and ice cream..

And that’s it… I won’t go on anymore, or I will write a book.

Our thoughts:

A large brand new ship, ideal for families with young children or teenagers, with plenty to occupy them. I am sure couples without children would enjoy this ship too, there are ‘adult only’ areas and plenty of bars and eateries onboard.

I loved all the cabins, the food looked good, the theatre seemed very big, and of course you could go to an ice show as well for a change one night.

I would cruise on her tomorrow, husband not so keen. He said it was ‘too big’ a floating resort at sea not a cruise ship which attracted him for his main holiday.

As with any ship, I think we all need to try it once and make up our own mind. Next cruise for me, a mini 2nighter on Ventura. (A couple on the tour with us who have already been on Ventura said IOTS beats Ventura by miles). Then in 2009 I am trying Oriana and Oceana, I also have a ships visit booked on Artemis at the end of Sept 08, interestingly the IOTS visit was free, and the P&O one costs £15pp, but there you go…

For anyone booked on this big baby – have a great time! Wish I was coming with you!

Over 75 photos of Independence taken on the visit can be viewed on this website:

http://picasaweb.google.com/AuroraPartyCruiseSueV/IndependenceShipVisitJuly08

To see them at their best, when loaded, press SLIDESHOW for bigger photos.

--------------------

 

The P&O ships visit was arranged direct with P&O they sent me a leaflet on all the visits they had this year -one or two for each ship (although Artemis only had one) you had to pay £15pp for the privilege - but that includes a 3 course lunch in the restaurant, so not too bad. Although the above Independence visit was free... and ofcourse that was a big ship to see and RCI looked after us very well.

 

Some people have asked me for p&o 's contact details and i gave them to the people who asked me, but they were unlucky as the invite is only for the person who received the leaflet and not transferrable I'm afraid.

[trafman]

Sue

 

A true mine of information and I can see why the cruise lines may be keen to send you invites. Many thanks for the info and blog.

 

Enjoy the cruising

 

Martin alias trafman