Host Sharon

I'm not sure that is true about those who cruised on the old Saga ships pushing up the average age. The one moan I continually hear from that cohort on forums etc is that the new ships are too big and too expensive now all cabins are balcony ones.

I was on same cruise. If people are worried about everyone being aged and immobile, Saga will soon carry a fleet of electric bicycles for you to borrow.

A good compromise would be a deluxe cabin. Slightly larger cabin, bigger balcony and walk-in wardrobe. Probably equal to a P&O mini-suite.

Works for me. Maybe your phone.

Please keep this thread to food & dining etc. Dress code has its own thread. Thanks.

Ships are not allowed to burn heavy fuel oil in Antarctica. When I went there with HAL, Zaandam had dual fuel tanks and had to switch to a lighter oil for the five or so days we were in Antarctic waters. There is also a limit on pax numbers.

I was just about to ask where you read that about restaurants. Thought I was going mad!!

It took some time but I found at least three companies. You have to phone, don't try online. Then you pruchase 'extensions' of cover. Staysure & Insure&Go were two I can remember.

There is no free ship's internet so no, you cannot phone each other but you can share internet so could use Messenger, but it will cost. All still water is free. Fill up a water bottle in your cabin, or around the ship. Ship's water tastes better chilled, so I fill a bottle in the evening and leave it in the cabin fridge overnight.

I had 4001 on one cruise and it was horrendous on one night. The corridor past these cabins lead to a crew area and there was a party into the very small hours. I don't mind the party per se but the constant letting the door slam and the noise through it when opened drove me mad. Otherwise, the cabin was great.

I know the Bay has this reputation but seriously, in nearly 50 crossings I have had maybe 3-4 that were rough, and even then I have had it worse in the Med. You truly cannot compare a 30 ft yacht with Arvia. If you are concerned book a cabin central in the ship and low down.

You would do bettr to post this in the P&O UK forum I think. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/22-po-cruises-uk/

When I was looking for cover for a 3 month world cruise, I found quotes for the same cover and declared medical conditions varied by up to £1000.

Since luggage is unrestricted - one solution might be to take your own folding lounger 🙂

It was a perfectly legitimate question. I live near Bristol and always now get a taxi to Southampton. There is no way I could cope with cruise luggage on my own on the train, especially since assistance is unreliable, and can no longer drive longer distances. Had it been a different date I would have accepted. I would suggest Longstrider posts this on the roll call for the cruise however.

From the P&O website - Children are of course welcome in all of our restaurants, but we also offer a special children’s tea every night featuring all the food that children will enjoy (for babies we offer a selection of baby food on request). We offer a range of healthy options, including fresh fruit and vegetarian dishes. These are all served in our informal buffet restaurants so children can be casually dressed whenever they eat there. If children are going to be with you in the evening in the more formal restaurants and theatre, then our Evening Casual dress code applies, although denim isn’t allowed on our Black Tie evenings. We do ensure some of the bars and public rooms on board are exclusive to adults.

If anyone wishes to refresh themselves on the guidelines they signed up to when joining Cruise Critic they can be read here https://boards.cruisecritic.com/guidelines/

Afternoon tea is back in the MDR.

Indeed they do, and had my friend been on her own in Riga recently they would have lost business as she doesn't have a reader app. Luckily we were together at that point so I had to tell her what was on offer. It's all very well appealing to Generation X and or whatever it is, as long as you realise you may lose others at the other end of the demographic.

In 2011, on Oceana, I did a 28 night cruise which included 2 days in Haifa. I managed to see Jerusalem, Galilee, Capernum, Nazareth, Bethlehem and Yardenit on the R. Jordan, all in those two days. We also had lunch in a kibbutz. The cruise included Kusadasi but didn't get up to Istanbul.

Spirit of Adventure. It seems quite a long dockside, although not sure of depth. I would think Aurora or Arcadia could berth. Photo is view from ship.

But would that cover helicopter evacuation if required? Surely there must be some US insurance companies that provide travel insurance that meets the P&O requirements. Most, if not all, UK ones do.

You have never needed to book any lunchtime eating venue.

Sounds like the old Mr & Mrs on TV. https://travelweekly.co.uk/news/tourism/interactive-gameshow-to-launch-on-new-po-cruises-ship

When I travelled on Harmony and Anthem they had, what they called, dynamic dining. It was an absolute nightmare and I lost the will to live trying to book dining venues at home. Two main problems - I was travelling with a friend who lives 100 miles away but only one passenger could log in at a time. The second issue was trying to line up times for dining with times for entertainment so they didn't clash. In the end we had to change all our pre-booked dining times if we wanted to see the big shows. It was soon abandoned.