Host Sharon

Ok, this thread is now going nowhere useful.

No, that is not an exaggeration by Saga. IMO they are easily equal to Oceania with the added benefit of being priced in £ not $, AI and all balconies where Oceania ships still have inside and ocean view.

Our Future Health sounds very much like Biobank, which I joined back in 2009. You had a day of medical screening and mental tests and periodic online questionaires. They then followed you up via your GP records.

That is a lovely itinerary. I am booked on it with a friend.

Since the yellow fever jab has to be paid for privately, I don't think there are any restrictions on having it beyond medical advice.

I suspect the main difference you would notice is the food. On all the US ships I have sailed on, the dinners have had large portions of meat and a very few vegetables hidden underneath. In the UK we like our veggies and the meat portions will be smaller. Entertainment may not be so glitzy either, but other than that, I am sure you would find them very similar.

Please don't turn this into yet another dress code thread. The OP wasn't even asking about dress code.

There is a role of what is effectively 'Office Captain'. They are there to advise the various shore teams on things seagoing and operational. I believe they rotate but I'm not sure how long the stints are.

While this makes complete sense on paper, I still feel it is a risky shift in focus at this particular time with the economy as it is. On the whole it is the 65+ who are least affected by the cost of living crisis, with fully-paid-up mortgages and the time to travel, whereas the core demographic are having to cut back drastically. Time will tell.

I think you are being somewhat unfair about Arvia's captain. Having had a private coffee with him on a number of cruises, I have always found him a very genuine and friendly person.

I believe he is currently based in Carnival House.

Hi and welcome to Cruise Critic. Azura normally has 2 formal nights per week. It should list them in the My Cruise/Itinerary section online if you log in. Enjoy your cruise.

You don't say which ship you are sailing on, but your query belongs on the Roll Calls page so I will lock this thread.

I am another of the dying breed. My first cruise was on Vistaford (26,000grt) and then I progressed to Oriana and Aurora. My favourite P&O ship was Artemis with 1200 pax. Two show lounges and one restaurant plus a couple of bars. She was perfect with so much deck space. It was easy to meet people and befriend them. I choose cruises by itinerary but ship comes a close second. I have tried the big ships on the basis I couldn't say I hated them unless I tried them, but 2 days was enough. They don't feel like ships, just shopping malls and hotels - floating resorts. If I want a resort then that is what I would book. I want to feel I am at sea. But it isn't only the cruise lines fault. Society has changed and there is the rise of the 'me' generation as in ' I've paid for my holiday, I'll do what I like'. I am fortunate to be able to afford some Saga cruises, by cutting down the number of times I cruise and by booking as early as possible. I can't answer for Fred Olsen as it is a long time since I cruised with them, but Saga is pretty close to how cruising used to be and I love them. With P&O I will only consider Aurora and possibly Arcadia. When they go, my time with P&O ends. I may try Ambassador but Tilbury is a complete pain to get to, and am waiting for them to start cruises from Bristol.

Yes - Saga and Fred Olsen.

Welcome to Cruise Critic Gem. Regarding Sagaris' comment about DIY ashore, if you are sailing on your own I would suggest you book tours in the Caribbean unless you buddy up with other solo passengers or pre-book private tours before you sail.

Can anyone on the Iona Xmas cruise confirm that some passengers turned up to Christmas dinner in the MDR in pyjamas, albeit Christmas ones? It is what I am hearing. More to the point, they were allowed in.

But that wasn't because they were selling her. Mechanical/safety issues are different.

I believe you can just turn up, but may have to wait, or ask reception to book. Even on Aurora, we had to use the app to book entertainment, but it only applies to freedom dining, not fixed sittings. Given the target demographic for Iona and Arvia, I would imagine they all have smart phones.

Sorry you had a poor cruise. I suspect this was the first cruise that Iona has sailed at full capacity, hence those cruising earlier in the year didn't have any problems. They do appear to have major staffing issues, particularly on the two biggest ships. As others have said, I always take my copy of Horizon ashore, which has several useful phone numbers in it, and always pack any bottles in hand luggage, although I only take them home off the ship, not on board at the start. The Netherlands celebrate Christmas at the beginning of December (Black Peter brings gifts on 5th) so any Xmas markets there will be over by later December. From experience, the main Xmas market in Hamburg, opposite the Rathaus, is huge, amazing and always jam-packed with people - hardly P&O's fault.

It may be included in your fare (rather than free) but to me the American Diner looks like a works canteen and certainly not somewhere I would wish to eat Christmas dinner.

Passengers’ Christmas Day ‘ruined’ on P&O cruise | News | The Times

I know we only tend to hear about poor experiences as happy passengers don't post so often but this does not reflect well for P&O. Passengers’ Christmas Day ‘ruined’ on P&O cruise | News | The Times

Ace2542 says no US ships have entered Russian waters - well of course not since they are not permitted to due to sanctions. However, it hasn't stopped many US and other cruise ships sailing the Baltic in 2022 - on my 3 week cruise there in August I saw Sirena, Sea Cloud Spirit, Marina, Clio, Poesia, Norwegian Dawn, Grandiosa and Arcadia along with us on Spirit of Discovery.

I really wouldn't bother packing a DJ if you are going to wear it with jeans or chinos. Smart casual nights don't require a jacket to be worn and a suit would be fine for formal nights.