CarlaMarie

As others have said it would be great to read your live thread or review of your cruise. Have a wonderful cruise!

I wonder if they would be able to cancel the refresh package once onboard and get a refund? Then they will be able to keep their 10% pre booking discount on their non alcoholic packages they have bought. I know they shouldn't have to, the system should recognise only the adults in the cabin when buying a drinks package with the option to add a childs one on at an additional cost if they are not eligible for a free one.

Whether more things go wrong or not is not dependent on how big a ship is or the number of venues it has. Any cruise ship should be able to manage with what it aims to deliver and not adversely affect a passengers cruise experience with any failings. Whether you like big or smaller cruise ships is down to personal choice, and it rests on far more than dining options and venues to visit. For me personally, how a ship feels and looks is just of greater importance to everything else. Everyone's choice should be accepted. As others have said, I feel this thread will turn into the defence of Arvia and Iona.

If you were in separate cabins and your bookings not linked, then that is different and you would expect to board according to the different times allocated. In your case you are in the same cabin, so turn up for the earlier time like many of us have suggested. If you do get an email response, then please do share it with us because it will be interesting to see the reply. Enjoy your cruise!

It sounds as if you have been given the wrong information. Like @molecrochip has confirmed, if one of you in a cabin has a higher loyalty tier than the other and are given an earlier boarding time then you board together using the priority embarkation time. My parents have experienced this on several occasions whilst my Mum was a higher tier than my Dad, and hence she was given the early embarkation time as compared to him. They always boarded together according to the time that my Mum was given. I am wondering if there has been some crossed wires as they have used the word grade and not loyalty tier.

You are spot on. What actually is P&O's identity in the market? They have had both Iona and Arvia built fairly recently, yet the amenities onboard for families and children are fairly limited - yet they want to attract the young families.

Yes sorry my mistake! When you go through to the actual basket does anything get deducted? It is baffling, but unfortunately P&Os website and set up is renowned for its glitches and peculiarities!!

Will it not let you pay the total? Which is 2 x Alcohol free packages for 7 days.

Yes I understand that. If the adults in the cabin have the Classic or Deluxe package then the child gets a refresh package for free. However, as you want the non-alcoholic package, and I think you said you don't need the refresh package for your 6 month old, then you don't need to buy one and P&O are not forcing you to buy one. Hope that makes sense. You only need to buy a refresh package for your child if you particularly want that package for them and are not yourselves (adults in the cabin) having either the classic or deluxe package.

@amurray88 If you take a look at the FAQs on the P&O page under their drinks package section, it does state "Each adult assigned to the same cabin must purchase the same drinks package. Sharing is not permitted." So no you don't have to buy a drinks package for your child just because you are having one. The rule applies to adults only.

Thank you for sharing your review with us and the wonderful photos too. Arcadia is my favourite ship and I'm so pleased you enjoyed your time on her!

Yes you are right @Selbourne. Both Iona and Arvia have two formal on a 14 night cruise.

Completely agree. P&O must have seen this coming, and surely the travel agents/industry would have as well or at least a strong inkling?

This is the difference in handling something well, sensibly and with alot of consideration to the passengers. The passenger then appreciates the situation and the gestures/options from the company. P&O don't seem to get this right. It is a toss up between whether they don't want to and expect the passenger to accept any changes, or because they just don't know how to.

The Welcome Onboard lunch is usually in the MDR for priority/suite passengers. The buffet will be open to provide lunch for all the other passengers.

It does make sense that the higher loyalty tiers come first, but it is typical of P&Os IT not to recognise the other passenger(s) linked under the same booking reference/cabin.

This must be incredibly frustrating for you all, especially as you have grouped your bookings. I would have expected you to be all on the same flight!

We have booked early saver before and had our cabin allocated about a week before departure. You will be allocated your balcony cabin so try not to worry whilst you wait.

Someone may have more information on how it is actually done, but I know it isn't dependent on what type of cabin you have booked.

Even though you are an inside saver that shouldn't reflect on your arrival time. It is usually done in decks once the top loyalty tiers and suites are boarded.

Why would we want to put a stop to them, they are only a bit of harmless fun.

Yes, there is a discussion about the changes on the 'flight changes to Caribbean' thread which seems really helpful and informative.

Something else very noticeable as well as the descriptions is the actual presentation of the food. If you go back through some of the live blogs on the forum you will see what I mean. The food used to come out presented very well, it looked good on the plate - again enticing. Whereas now there seems to be huge inconsistencies and some of the photos shock me that the food has actually left the kitchen plated in that way. I understand that there is huge demand on the kitchens, but to me presentation is something that should never be compromised.

Happy Birthday Megabear! Hope you have a wonderful day.

The Captains welcome onboard dinner was the first formal night, which was the second night onboard. If you look at all the menus, you will see that there used to be more choice. Even the descriptions of the dishes seem more enticing. Yes they would add a British/traditional classic and a grill dish as an added addition to the menu, and you could always ask your waiter for the lighter/alternative options (this was before the always available were added to the menus, which now make up quite a few of the MDR options). I know on one night my sister asked if she could have a different starter, the waiter went through a list of things he would happily get her - melon, prawn cocktail etc...