Host Sharon

and Balmoral

Merry Christmas to you all and here's to a Happy & Healthy New Year full of cruises.

P&O are not the only line cancelling Baltic cruises as Saga have too, but in both cases it is only around half the cruises that have been cancelled so I am sure it down to over capacity. If it wasn't safe they would have cancelled all Baltic cruises. I sailed there last August, choosing the itinerary because it never did have St Petersburg on it. Have been there, I wanted to explore other ports and there are so many other wonderful ports in the Baltic to visit - Visby, Bornholm, Copenhagen, Skagen, Saaremaa, Tallinn, Riga, Helsinki, Kemi, Gothenborg, Stockholm, Gdansk and, I am sure, more. It is a beautiful part of the world.

Arvia is exactly the same size as Iona, so not sure why people are saying she looks so huge - except that she is 🙂

Since I should have been on her right now in the warmth of the Canaries, I will not be watching from under my blanket, with hot water bottle and coffee 🙂

Actually Quicken still exists in the US, but it's a monthly fee version which I hate. One reason I won't upgrade to MS365. https://www.quicken.com/

I'm still using Quicken. I love it and would be lost without it. No idea why these programmes aren't still available.

You cannot post that cruise lines are lying without clear evidence. It is potentially libellous.

Last time there we docked at Rosyth and caught the train from Inverkeithing.

I've really enjoyed two or three round Britain cruises but that itinerary - no way! Wonder why they are tendering at Endinburgh too? I suppose the berths are already booked.

She will probably stay there for more fitting out and storing before final trials and hand-over.

The HoHo bus is good. It will get you to both cathedrals, the Cavern Club and China Town.

Hotel General Manager is a relatively recent title. They used to be Executive Pursers.

The poster works for P&O.

We were indeed on the same cruise and, like you, booked for the unusual itinerary.

Me too.

That is why I love Saga so much. As a rollator user, the ships are easy access with automatic deck doors but Artemis in size. Haven’t yet found a suitable itinerary on QA to try her.

If you don't wish to fly the options are limited. Fred Olsen and Saga are the only choices really. I love Saga but they are more expensive as all inclusive. Fine if you use the extras (like transport and wifi) and usually book a balcony cabin but not so much if you don't. It's been a while since I sailed with FO but I have a long one booked on Bolette next year so it will be intersting to compare.

Well I have 3 future cruises booked on her so I sincerely hope she stays a while longer.

It has been announced Arvia willl named in a beachside ceremony in Barbados on 16 March 2023.

Not sure. My friend mentioned it yesterday and said that there would be a 16 night Northern Lights cruise added instead.

Which leads to another question - why has Aurora’s dry docking been cancelled?

Why is it not safe? Has there been a single incident this year involving tourists or cruise ships? Other lines are still sailing there, including the ultra-cautious Saga.

Having spent 3 weeks in the Baltic and Gulf of Bothnia last August, I felt totally safe. There are lots of other interesting ports in lieu of St Pete's - Riga, Tallinn, Skagen, Goteborg, Kemi, Ronne, Visby etc. and the weather was perfect. Would happily go back next year. Perhaps there are just too many Baltic cruises to fill them all. What would cause me not to book however, is the probablity the cruise would be cancelled and thus it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

I'm locking this thread as it hs nothing to do with P&O UK. I'll leave the responses visible however.