sweep2907

How busy was Arvia for this February cruise outside of school holidays? Sounds fantastic ship and great review.

The way P&O is heading also saddens me. It is noticeable how standards have deteriorated as well as the prices. Some of their cuts are savage and it isn't uncommon to find a cruise at £50pppn. It then angers me to hear people complain about food or service and I question what people really expect when they paying such low prices? They are clearly leaning towards filling ships at whatever the cost and thereby making minimal profit on passengers. I've heard from the inside that post covid where they just needed cash flow, they will return to higher prices. I've already started crusing with Celebrity since covid and prefer to pay more for a better product. On the loyalty side, they have it right where you earn more points per night depending on your cabin class. Inside would earn the least per night upto the suites. That quite rightly rewards spend as opposed to sheer no of nights you can fit in. Iona now £479 for 7 nights to Fjords. We had cruise to Fjords booked on Iona before covid cancellation at over x3 that price! I really don't want to see P&O involved in a race to the bottom as to who is the cheapest cruise line.

Christmas time I precooked the bus at port of Zeebrugge around £20 return takes you into Bruges then 10 min walk into Bruges. Free shuttle from ship takes you to port entrance then cross road into waiting area for bus. Can pay on day also. Booked on Viator.

I mentioned the pricing of Apex ex UK to celebrity cruise consultant in UK and they replied saying cruises are selling extremely well! I'm surprised to be fair as heard many put off by the costs. I'm flying to Rome to do Beyond again and it's still much cheaper than Apex with no flights from UK.

Saw your ship on 2nd November, must have been St Lucia as we were moored opposite on Britannia. Was it a quiet cruise as we didn't see many up on deck at all as you sailed away?

For those interested when boarding day 1 reception said Sindhu was closed all cruise. That afternoon you could book 4 dates on their app only and these went quickly. Then another date appeared on app which again was snapped up and again a 6th evening which was given to those on waiting list. They hope Sindhu will be open more regularly very soon but food excellent. Our epicurean meal was a big disappointment considering the cover charge. Always been one of our favorites but food was sent back. To their credit they rectified situation with different meal and glass of wine so fair play to manager. Beach House was excellent as usual. All in all its been a good cruise other than the ever increasing number of unsavoury incidents on board. It is sad to see P&O becoming more like Wetherspoons by the day. Woman punched a man over camera incidents, tea thrown over Passenger over sunbeds, stabbing with plastic fork and someone attacked with broken champagne flute. I've cruised many times with P&O and never seen so many towels reserving sun beds from so early. It's just embarrassing for anyone who thinks getting up before 7am and reserving all beds is acceptable.

Britannia TA October 2024 is more than £500 pp more than we paid for this 2022 version same cabin which we also booked on opening day. I think prices have risen considerably and for me we are in a world currently of waiting for last minute price drops.

What is the date Iona sails on the 35 nighter?

Booking early was always advisable in pre covid world. However now the world is different now with cost of living crisis and recessions and now if you have flexibility the last minute deals are superb. Can't blame cruise companies for heavily discounting empty cabins as they are a business who need money in the bank. Its give and take as my TA next week is a lot more expensive booking today then when I booked when it went on sale. Good luck to people booking bargains last minute and I have no grumble if I'm on a cruise I paid more for than someone booking last minute. If you are able to take advantage than why not?

We are B225a fly back from BGI 5th November and flight seats went live this morning for Baltic Tier and above which only 6 weeks before we depart. That hopefully gives a guide.

No drinks in theatre Beyond last week, easy to pick one up en route even on near capacity ship.

Yes I have heard that mentioned, did you ever try brekkie on balcony?

Thanks David we have booked F730 and very excited as been waiting since 2019 having had the 2020 cruise cancelled. Will have a look at youtube as you suggest.

Has anyone had a corner aft suite and tell me the bed configuration? I am thinking of adding a 3rd person and wondered if pull out sofa is in same room or separated? TIA

Like one or two others we booked early and had barely any OBS for deluxe balcony. I'm little miffed if we had booked now we would receive £800 for cabin. No incentive for booking earlier it seems and for loyal customers. The extra OBS email nice but leaves us well below others in the new offer. Anyone tried appealing to P&O before to see if they'd increase our OBS to at least come near to current offer.

I went to check my FCC amount tonight and since I last checked a few weeks ago it has been reduced almost £400 and appears P&O have reduced my two largest amounts by 25%. Has anyone else had this occur as expiry dates to use are 30 September 2022. Hoping it is some computer glitch but glad I took screenshot from before they reduced my amounts.