AlanCruise

Note that the ESTA is valid for multiple trips over 2 years (or until your passport expires if earlier) and you only give details for the first visit. P&O recommend that you take a printed version of the approved ESTA as confirmation. And finally make sure you apply via the official site at https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov It should cost you 21 US Dollar - there are other sites out there that try and charge more.

We had the Captain's package on Ariva earlier this year. We found a sample of the wines on the Al a Carte menu and in general we saved £2 or £3 per bottle. We had no problems with availability. You can buy the package on board from the waiters and will get a book of vouchers which you fill when you want to order one of the bottles. If you have status with P&O you will get your discount on the purchase.

You definitely need an ESTA if you enter any part of the USA.

About 3 years ago on one of the caribbean islands we definitely found ATMs that issued US Dollars instead of the local version. It was near the port so presumably aimed at cruise passengers.

If you look at the deck plans for Voyager there is a small circular indication for which cabins have portholes. On deck 4 this is only the front two cabins 4010 and 4011. On deck 5 it is the front 7 cabins on each side (5000 to 5023 - ignoring the internal cabins in this number range.) Deck 8 will not have portholes, it's a long way up!

We did similar cruise on Roald Amundsen, which has the same free Starlink WiFi. It was very good and reliable. There are various restrictions on Cloud storage and video streaming, but you can do calls using messenger for example. We managed a video call to parents on Christmas day from Antarctica and had regular email access.

I actually feel the plan should be to get to the check in desk for 2 hours before - allowing for reasonable delays on the way. Not aiming to be there at 2 hours if all goes well - so often end up more like 3 hours before. If on another flight before you should probably allow at least 4 hours and note that flight schedules can change.

Check in typically closes about 45 mins before flight departure - but may depend on the airline and airport. But you should aim to be there the 2 hours before to allow for delays and queues.

It has been suggested that if you really want to get more alcohol on board you put 1 litre in your suitcase and 1 litre in hand luggage. They will go through security in separate places and they are not going to connect the two bottles to the same person. (No guarantees given of this working!)

There are reviews on a FB Arvia page reporting significant noise issues for cabins below the Gym, with people using the treadmills late at night.

The official policy is as you stated, but Simon Calder (known Travel Expert) has recently stated the following in one of his emails! The travel journalist added: "Now loads of people say actually I've been to Cuba and I've even got proof in my passport and I've still got in and there's evidence that customs and border protection are actually turning a blind eye." He did warn: "You can not rely upon that," but quickly added, "all I can say is I've been to Cuba dozens of times but I've got a new passport and you wouldn't know that I'd ever been there. I'm not for a moment suggesting people don't tell the truth but it's difficult to see how any American official would know that I've ever been there."

Replies elsewhere have said that P&O online check in has a generic check for 6 months regardless of destination, but that the passport will be accepted when you board as it meets the requirements for the EU. (And Greece follows the same rules as the rest of the EU! )

Just come off arivia. You can book the MDR in advance (via Cruise personaliser) for times from 5.30pm to 6.30pm. After that you go and may get given a pager or join the virtual queue. Once onboard we found that times up to 5.45pm were still available to book and we did that as we are happy to eat early. On the formal nights they have an extra option "Chefs Table" which is actually part of the Buffet area with waiter service and that has fixed times of 6pm and 8pm. On a different issue for entertainment we found that the main theatre and some other free venues are often fully booked but in practice if you just turn up you will normally get in as there are a lot of no shows.

You can book the main dining room from about 2 weeks before departure, but only for the very early eating times i.e. between about 5.30pm or 6.30pm. For later times you have to join the virtual or real queues on board each night.

My interpretation of the Comprehensive part is that you are covered for medical costs on the ship and for evacuation costs (e.g. a helicopter at sea). I have the Nationwide bank account policy which covers this - but never been asked to show it. It became a particular issue during Covid with the UK cruises to nowhere or just around the UK ports as many insurance policies didn't give medical cover if there was no foreign travel.

All dining on Arvia in the Main Dining Roms is freedom dining. You can book early times in advance but for later times you can use the virtual queue on board when you are ready to eat or just go to the restaurant and join the real queue. You may be given a pager and can then go away until the table is ready. There are also a number of other restaurants that are included - look up the information from P&O or other sources for the different restuarants.

Some of the 3rd party excursion companies display what they believe are the timetables for various cruise lines. At least it gives an indication e.g https://www.shoreexcursionsgroup.com/

I think the reduced price for existing bookings is a North American thing. Not seen it for UK bookings.

I believe some UK networks will allow connection to the maritime networks, some block them and others require a specific opt in. For example EE require you to buy a data add-on to use the maritime data but can make and receive calls. The big issue is whether you use data on the maritime network which can be very expensive. I leave the phone on with data roaming disabled when at sea. You need to be aware that making and receiving call at sea is expensive (for EE £3.11 a minute) and that if someone leaves you a voice message that can count as answering the call for the length of the message! It is sometimes recommended to turn off voice mail before you leave home. Usefully it is always free to receive a text - which is good option for emergency contact.

And the other major difference from P&O is that on Marella the standard drinks package is included! Whether this makes a difference will depend on your drinking habits, but it does mean that for example you can get house wine and prosecco during meals (as much as you want)

As an update from previous post, we did the trip in May. Entrance is included and the guide was good. We had planned to do our own thing, but the guide said that the 'train' (a road train) back to the entrance sometimes got very busy and they would then move the coach back to a different entrance to pick us up - so had to stay with the group. Do be aware that the temperature at the park is significantly cooler than at the coast, several of our tour had to buy extra clothes at the park. P&O should mention this is the tour details. Also note that there is significant walking over uneven paths and boardwalks over the water.

We found on a return on Ventura last year that it can also be affected by the tide! Start of Disembarkation was delayed until the tide had come in a bit so that the ramps could be connected.

I have the Nationwide Bank account that gives insurance cover. You can get a confirmation letter from their online system. But we did a P&O trip a few months ago and we were not asked for any insurance paperwork.

The issue with Corfu airport is the number of TUI flights on the day when Explorer changes over. On our trip last month there were 17 TUI flights into and out of the airport on the Friday which is a lot for the fairly small airport. This just causes queue, particularly in our case on arrival from the UK. There was a significant queue, mostly outdoors, for the passport control and they mentioned that they were holding people on the plane until the queue reduced.

And re 4 - For pre booked excursions tickets will be delivered to your cabin (but may not be there on first arrival). You can cancel an excursion up to 24 hours before it departs. And one of the main difference between Marella and P&O is that a lot of drinks are included in the standard price. There is a drinks upgrade available which gives you a bit more choice but I have never found it worthwhile. You can always pay the extra on individual drinks if you want. On any of the drinks menus, drinks with no prices are included. Where there is a price you can pay that (or it is included if you have bought the upgrade).