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55 minutes ago, purplesea said:

Morning one and all.

Hope everyone is fit and well, or getting better.

Don't know what to our weather is going to do, I think it's undecided. It was brilliantly sunny when I got up, but then clouded over and the sun is now coming out again. Temp wise it's 13c and expected to get to a tad warmer to 15c, it's also windy and I wish someone would put the wood in the hole!

Hope you have a good day.

 

I think your weather will be wall to wall sunshine soon. We come down next Monday. Speedos and factor 30 already packed.🤣

On 6/7/2024 at 10:48 PM, Josy1953 said:

We also prefer to have a table for 2, not because we are anti-social but because we found many cruises ago that we never eat more than 3 courses and it feels rude to get up and leave the table while other people are still eating.

We also invariably eat in the speciality restaurants several times a week just for the quieter experience.

We generally have tables for 2, but share sometimes. I know when I'm in the doghouse . DW asks for 2 tables for one.

7 hours ago, kruzgal said:

Not when you compare the 2 itineraries listed, the Apex one being very poor in my opinion. I would use the extra spend to visit all the speciality restaurants on Iona!

We are paying £2270 for 2 people in a large balcony on Brittania next June. Apex is £3850 including tips. Celebrity is good, but not that good. 2 years ago on Silhouette we paid £2740 Inc drinks,tips and wifi.

On 6/3/2024 at 1:19 AM, Lee Jones Jnr said:

Celebrity Apex for £100 per day more than P&O is an easy choice IMO

 

One person prices.

16 hours ago, Bloodaxe said:

 

I accept that I should not comment on P and O food, that was not my intention.

I was just saying that based on some of the reports of people who sail both

lines Saga seams to be superior in the main dining room.

It is noticeable that one regular poster mainly uses the speciality restaurant's.

I will stick with Saga, each to their own did not mean to offend anyone

 

As these folk have previously discussed, Saga can be 2, or 3 times the cost of P&O. Reviews of Saga aren't all as glowing as you suggest. We will be taking a Royal cruise in September and have booked a multi night speciality dining package. Not because we expect the MDR food to be poor, but for a bit if variety and because it's cheaper.  Tight folk us P&Oers.

Just now, kalos said:

 

I refuse to eat spotted dick pudding for similar reasons 🙃

I've just spilt my coffee. 🤣🤣🤣🤣

On 6/4/2024 at 7:10 PM, Megabear2 said:

You'll note I mentioned Corona not any of the others. As I said I will not go in a Wetherspoons unless it is absolutely necessary.  The only one I frequented was in Holborn when I worked there, last visited 14 years ago. Personally I find them characterless.  

 

This article (repeated in several other newspapers when they put their prices up)is what caused the stir in the local paper.

 

Our local Fullers pub just got painted and their new menu increased prices, the attsched is an old list I'd downloaded late last year. They're one of the cheaper pubs in the area though.

 

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/uks-most-expensive-wetherspoons-pint-32635995

Ox-Row-Inn-Drinks-List-Sept-2023.pdf 1 MB · 2 downloads

I haven't drunk corona since the virus. Not taking the chance, not me.🤣

On 6/4/2024 at 11:13 AM, S1971 said:

 

Yes I would agree, basically it ensures people pay the inflated bar prices or purchase a package.

 

For me the younger demographic tend to drink a lot more over a shorter period and will try anything such as cocktails and the like, elders (65+) tend to stick to what they like and limit their alcohol intake across the day.

 

But that's only my opinion.

My demographic don't drink much. They spill a lot. The younger demographic drink their milk from a bottle. Demographically speaking, I don't think age is that important.

9 hours ago, Bloodaxe said:

 

Fair comment just going on the experience of others, Its very unlikely that I will be trying it for myself.

May I respectfully ask why you post on a P&O thread If you have no intention of sailing with them ?

1 minute ago, Megabear2 said:

I have found some old posts about it now particularly regarding terminology of the t&Cs.  As a result I've clicked into the ones in the email and to be honest as they are under UK law they seem pretty bog standard, ie you must not post falsehoods etc. There are 7 paragraphs about how they use and protect data.

 

I note in the old Cunard posts there's a worry about financial risk but these UK ones do not mention anything other than privacy, ie you can't repeat anything you take part in due to business sensitivity.

 

I actually do surveys for other organisations and if this is real it isn't any different from what I can see.

I do surveys and get points which I use to keep my avios and Accor points topped up. I could use Tesco vouchers to pay some of my cruise bills, but then you posh folk would know I go to Tesco. Oops . Do Fortnum and Mason do points?.🤣

4 hours ago, alallallan said:

As anyone recently been on the Arvia, i am curious how many bottles of red i can take in my case & also when at a port are you allowed to bring some red wine back on board 

2 and no.

4 hours ago, Bloodaxe said:

 

Just back from our 2nd Saga cruise, fits the bill for us has we no longer wish to fly, at 78 and 74 we have another booked.

Never sailed P and O but reading some of the reviews Saga is much more to our taste especially the quality of the food.

When you consider what is included they are good value if you book early to get the best price

 

I'm sure you are right. When we are old we may try one. So you have never sailed with P&O ??.

12 hours ago, alallallan said:

Does anyone have any recent feedback or reviews for the Arvia, Looking to go around the Mediterranean this July

On board it's too expensive.  We had £560 OBC and had a bill for £6 at the end.😂. Enjoy the ship. It's brilliant.

20 hours ago, lincslady said:

Tell her from me that she does not have to be an old duffer, just accompanying one over 50, even if she is only 40.  And that is presumably your good self.  So there.

We feel we are too young for a SAGA holiday. We are 74/68.😂

23 hours ago, yorkshirephil said:

We went out for a ruby last night to celebrate Mrs YP's birthday, we didn't go to bed yesterday after travelling all night as we felt it would mess up our sleep cycle, but we were fine. We had a cracking meal and a few glasses of Cobra beer to swill it down.

I did stay in bed till 08:30 by which time Mrs YP had two loads of washing on the line and a bag of garden waste. It was sunny and bright when I got up but we have just had a rain shower so all hands to get the washing in as it was nearly dry, don't you just hate that?

 

 

 

" Out for a ruby Phil " sounds like you have been spending time with too many Cockneys. I bet we won't find Brian dropping " oop north " slang.🤣

2 hours ago, Josy1953 said:

Good morning.  It is a bit cool but sunny 

 

 

We watched the Starmer Sunak debate last night so were up late but I heard my phone ping with a message at 5:45 so got up incase it was an emergency.  It was the children's dad letting me know that he gave his son "some headache tablets" last night but he only had 2 so could I give him 2 before school this morning.  Have a good day everyone.

Unfortunately I missed it .I can get it on replay and watch it....when we're out.🤣

1 hour ago, Interestedcruisefan said:

The Christmas School holiday period would have been a great test. Did we hear any reports back from then?

 

I was in the Caribbean on Arvia for February half term and everything was good then

We try and avoid taking holidays when the kids are off,  but whenever you go there seems to be loads of them. Try getting into the Shaun the Sheep tea. Full of kids.  Don't  start me off on Wallace and Gromit. 🤣.

3 hours ago, Thedonkeycentrehalf said:

We went into the glass house on Britannia In February and really enjoyed the food.  The retro desserts were very good.
 

The only issue we had was that they seem to hold back reservations even though there were loads of empty tables.  Not sure if this was due to staff shortages or just trying to manage the flow of orders into the kitchen.

On Azura we went to see the man at the Glass House as we couldn't book. He said come at 6.00, we will take your order at about 6.30 and your food will be served at 7.00. That was perfect as we knew what to expect.

2 hours ago, Hollers said:

I was on that cruise and agree with many of your sentiments (I'm in the high 60s so no spring chicken myself!). It was very enjoyable. I don't know why Arvia gets so many bad reviews. Food, cleanliness, passage cabin, staff, Holiday App and a fair amount of the entertainment we're all good. Sorry your cabin attendant was not up to it. Very happy on Arvia again before long.

We thought Arvia was brilliant.  Everything except the beef bucco in Olive Grove. Very fatty, but the lamb shank terrine was  very good. Apart from that brilliant.

10 hours ago, 9265359 said:

The trouble with mean averages they can be a bit misleading. 
 

From looking around this cruise (which admittedly is a school holiday cruise) there seem to be some distinct peaks of age groups - lots of families in their 30s with children and lots of couples in their 60s - which together would make an average of 40ish, but actually not too many real 40ish people around. 
 

What does seem to be missing from cruises in the past is lots of the very elderly - there are a few but not many. 

Perhaps when you are 30, 60 is elderly. 10 year olds probably think 30 is elderly. I am vegan. I eat the veg before the meat, so for the first half of my meal I am strictly vegetarian . Second half, carnivoriferous. On our cruises there are no elderly people, but as I'm 74, not many 100 year olds. I dislike generalisations, but most folk do.🤣

1 minute ago, cruise saint said:

In November we will be on Aurora to Portugal and the Canary Islands. It will be our sixth P&O cruise but our first time on Aurora. (4x Britannia, 1x Azura).  We do not fancy trying to bigger ships (they appear far too crowded for us).  Aurora looks much more our cup of tea.

 

I have a few of questions:

Is it correct that there is no virtual queue for restaurants on Aurora?

Is it easier to get a sunbed?

How does embarkation compare to the bigger ships?

 

I would worry about a sunbed. We will be going to the Canaries in November and expect some warm weather when we arrive. We are going by air.

21 hours ago, Interestedcruisefan said:

Arvia will have youngest demographics of any P and O ship

 

Think I saw somehwere that the average age cruising on Arvia last year was 49 years old?

 

Can't remember where though

I do get confused. Am I a demographic, or a cohort ?. Which is best ? Am I allowed to be both, or indeed neither ?. So I need to sell my AMG and buy a Cardi ?

10 minutes ago, Waju said:

Thank you I will try, especially as we have 11.30am boarding - would you know if it can be done onboard anywhere other than the app?  We are travelling with friends who don't board until 3.45pm but all the other entertainments bookings only let you book those in your cabin.

I'm really not too impressed with this system, maybe I'll warm to it - yesterday I could book the Headliners shows but not the guest entertainers.  Today I can book one of the guest entertainers but not the other!  It just doesn't flow too well................

We booked through the app, but only for our cabin. I don't know if you can book onboard in advance.  The myholiday app and procedures worked well, but you did need to book things ASAP.

55 minutes ago, Windsurfboy said:

 

There is a fish and chip shop in quays.  Sorry NOT a fish restaurant. 

 

But I agree the number of veggie items on MDR menu is out of proportion to number of veggies in UK 14%, and less than that average in older cruising demographics 

Sorry, but in my demographic fish and chips is made of fish.....and chips.🤣

On 6/1/2024 at 8:40 AM, Waju said:

Well, I put my big girl pants on and had a go at booking the entertainment for my fast approaching Arvia cruise.  Can someone kindly confirm that I can only book Headliner shows at the moment and the guest entertainers need to be booked once on board?

Also, is the 710 club the same - only bookable after boarding?  and I'd be interested in approximate cost for this please?

 

Many thanks 

 

 

 

Book 710 as soon as you get onboard. Sometimes you can get myholiday in the terminal, but in April we wizzed straight through.