majortom10

You are not surprising me and you seem to have made your decision and whatever anyone else says you don't agree with. I don't know when you last sailed on Iona but the buffet at lunch in March was nothing like you describe on Arvia. Don't know whether you are just biassed and don't listen to other opinions as yours is always right or when you went to the buffet you were wearing your rose tinted glasses.

Nothing like on Iona what you describe on Arvia on our cruise in March. We will find out when we cruise on Arvia, if we go as thinking of cancelling, in September.

Well for virtually the same ships Iona was nothing like has been described by ICF on Arvia in March.

I agree never use buffet for dinner never have and never will. Don't know if Arvia with it being a maiden season but our recent cruise on Iona the choice for lunch was nothing like ICF states on Iona and the downloaded info by davecttr is nothing like was available on Iona. On more than one occasion the choice was that poor or food that looked poor quality we walked out and went to The Quays where everything is freshly made. The one thing that puts me off is the fight to get a table and then wife has to get her meal while I wait and then I go when she returns and by the time I get back she has nearly finished. Also the pushing and shoving by people to grab as much as they can and to break the world record for amount on plate. Sorry not my idea of a relaxing lunch.

We travelled down to Southampton via A34, M3, M27 and M271 all through the roadworks on M3 in March with no holdups or problems just occasional slow traffic.

No they all eat in same dining room the only difference what I am aware is like you said , deck location.

I hope views of my recent cruise on Iona are seen as balanced. Think there are some on here, which every cruise line has, will not ever say a bad word and IMO look through those tinted glasses. My views like everyone are my own opinion and many might disagree. Never felt the ship was crowded or held 5000+, certainly didn't feel like it, always able at anytime of day could find somewhere to sit either indoors or outdoors. Facilities and choices were excellent especially 4 screen cinema an excellent addition. Speciality restaurants Epicurean, Sindhu, Olive Grove and Keel & Cow were first class but not so much Beach House for some reason service was poor and very disappointed with the meal. The Quays was excellent but busy area at lunch with fish and chips a definite plus but my overall disappointment of cruise was food in MDR. We had no problem getting a table at any time and no wait of great length using virtual queue system. The food was the let down as no great problem with quality but very repetitive menu, poor choice and poor portions size and made the evening meal nothing special. Would I cruise on Iona again yes if it was right time of year, not during school holidays, and the price was right.

I have and not had a reply.

I am the same with regards to my roundtrip TA on 18th May.

It takes 15 minutes to get through security and get undressed and dressed again 🤣

I agree thought it was very well designed shopping area. Was just replying to daiB who seems to think they are not there and for those that enjoy browsing them which seemed to be popular whenever we passed.

The only port I really don't like returning to multiple which we have done many times is Southampton😁

We have cruise cover on our Flexplus current account which covers for worldwide travel and costs £13 per month. We paid an annual extra of £40 for cruise cover which covers for missed ports, cabin confinement etc. On our recent cruise on Iona G306 we missed a port of call at Alicante due to weather conditions. We were given a letter by P&O for insurance purposes if we needed to claim. I phoned Nationwide on returning home she took my details and said she would forward the claim and as there already been a number of claims for same cruise might not need to see letter of proof. Within 3 days £150 pp a total of £300 was deposited in our bank account. Excellent service and excellent value for money at £196 for annual worldwide travel insurance with cruise cover. One cannot say eye watering payments with regards to what we have paid and excellent service and payment received.

Jumble sales or "tat" tables that used to be around the atrium on other ships are there on Iona, or they were on G306, but strategically placed on tables in sale area across the width from port to starboard on the level were shops were.

Small cost for what costs of cruises on Aurora are currently. Furniture is moveable so could be used on other ships and if a buyer comes along P&O will have no worry about selling her like they did with Oriana. Personally think it's a small price for P&O to pay to keep clientele happy and paying high prices. Personally even though they are pushing summer 2025 think Aurora and Arcadia will be gone if not by then but soon after. By 2025 Aurora will be 25yrs old.

I have looked for Olive Grove menu on Arvia but can't find them

If they were thinking of increasing the holding of number of shares to qualify for shareholder OBC I think they would have done it recently and not leave it until next year.

I havent used Beach House since Ventura maiden cruise whe it was excellent. Having not done any cruises with P&O for over 4 years was keen to try Beach House on Iona after all good reports I had heard. Obviously only our own opinion but we were both thoroughly disappointed, on the other hand Olive was excellent we ate there 3 times.

We couldn't on our cruise in March, if it was bookable I would have booked it. We had to wait until we got onboard and did so as soon as we could on embarkation because heard such good reports. As it was IMO was very disappointed and a waste of £9-50pp and thought it was very poor.

Obviously P&O have different policies for booking pre cruise for Iona and Arvia. Olive Grove and Beach House are not pre bookable on Iona so naturally assumed Arvia would be the same. But obviously P&O don't do things for simplicity.

You cannot book MDR or some speciality restaurants in advance on Arvia unless you are prepared to dine early. You either just turn up and hope table a available if not given a pager or you join virtual queue on app and then wander around the ship or go for drink. It buzzes to let you know your table is ready and you have 15 mins to get there or it is released.

The advisor is wrong unless it has changed since 18th March. More than likely P&O advisor is wrong because most haven't got a clue about cruising or the ships they sell cruises on. On many issues they are wrong and that is main reason why I would never book a cruise direct with them. You don't get discount on Beach House because you cannot book pre cruise. Only Epicurean, Sindhu and Limelight you book on advance and get 20% discount.

We booked Sindhu 2 weeks before boarding and paid £10pp deposit and got 20% discount on the day. This was on Iona in March.

Wouldn't dream of flying on the same day of cruise far too risky. Fly day before and stay in hotel overnight.

You won't know until 2 weeks prior to your cruise then it will be bookable on your Cruise Personalised on P&O website.