ssawjo Posted January 10, 2023 #1 Share Posted January 10, 2023 Greetings, Two couples from Arizona are thinking of cruising in late Oct. 2023 on the Arvia from Bridgetown. I was just wondering if Americans would be ok being with all of the Brits onboard. I am sure we will be welcomed but stand out a bit. We have been to England on a few occasions. The accent sometimes is difficult but I am sure an American accent is the same to the English. We have sailed in Australia, and we had no problems and loved the people. Also, we are active cruisers, but would like to try a different cruise line. Any tips/hints you can pass along would be greatly appreciated. For example, is it the same/similar to Princess? Cheers, Bill and Kathi Carefree, Arizona Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorkshirephil Posted January 10, 2023 #2 Share Posted January 10, 2023 4 minutes ago, ssawjo said: Greetings, Two couples from Arizona are thinking of cruising in late Oct. 2023 on the Arvia from Bridgetown. I was just wondering if Americans would be ok being with all of the Brits onboard. I am sure we will be welcomed but stand out a bit. We have been to England on a few occasions. The accent sometimes is difficult but I am sure an American accent is the same to the English. We have sailed in Australia, and we had no problems and loved the people. Also, we are active cruisers, but would like to try a different cruise line. Any tips/hints you can pass along would be greatly appreciated. For example, is it the same/similar to Princess? Cheers, Bill and Kathi Carefree, Arizona You will fit in fine, we had a couple on our dinner table on one Caribbean cruise and they loved it, albeit P&O is typically British we have many nationalities in Britain. Not sure how you would go about booking, you may need to go to a specialist travel agent at home? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ssawjo Posted January 10, 2023 Author #3 Share Posted January 10, 2023 32 minutes ago, yorkshirephil said: You will fit in fine, we had a couple on our dinner table on one Caribbean cruise and they loved it, albeit P&O is typically British we have many nationalities in Britain. Not sure how you would go about booking, you may need to go to a specialist travel agent at home? Thank you. I will be contacting my usual TA, if we decide on this particular cruise, and see what she can do. Or there is a way to contact P & O directly to book on the website. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gettingwarmer Posted January 10, 2023 #4 Share Posted January 10, 2023 3 minutes ago, ssawjo said: Thank you. I will be contacting my usual TA, if we decide on this particular cruise, and see what she can do. Or there is a way to contact P & O directly to book on the website. This thread may be of use. https://boards.cruisecritic.co.uk/topic/2905020-canadians-on-po/#comment-64589963 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorkshirephil Posted January 10, 2023 #5 Share Posted January 10, 2023 2 minutes ago, ssawjo said: Thank you. I will be contacting my usual TA, if we decide on this particular cruise, and see what she can do. Or there is a way to contact P & O directly to book on the website. I am not sure that you can book via the website, it may be a currency thing, probably worth having a chat with your TA and see what they say. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandancer Posted January 10, 2023 #6 Share Posted January 10, 2023 I’m sure you will be very welcome. There was a recent post (can’t remember the thread) where it was suggested that if P&O had a more International demographic it would make for a more interesting cruise. The one thing you would need to take into account is that all onboard spend is in £ sterling so you would have to factor in currency fluctuations. As we stand right now you would be at an advantage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FamilyCruiserUK Posted January 10, 2023 #7 Share Posted January 10, 2023 You will be fine and will enjoy yourself. The main difference i have found from my P&O and Royal carribean cruises is: The formal night dress code. We brits do enjoy dressing up a little bit. The rest is relyativtly the same tbh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cathygh Posted January 10, 2023 #8 Share Posted January 10, 2023 You will be very welcome but please be aware that the dress code in the MDR is more formal.than Princess especially on.formal night. I only say This as I am on my first Princess cruise out of the US and I am surprised by the casualness of the way some people dress..I don't mean to sound snobby it's just different to what I'm used to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ace2542 Posted January 11, 2023 #9 Share Posted January 11, 2023 15 hours ago, ssawjo said: Greetings, Two couples from Arizona are thinking of cruising in late Oct. 2023 on the Arvia from Bridgetown. I was just wondering if Americans would be ok being with all of the Brits onboard. I am sure we will be welcomed but stand out a bit. We have been to England on a few occasions. The accent sometimes is difficult but I am sure an American accent is the same to the English. We have sailed in Australia, and we had no problems and loved the people. Also, we are active cruisers, but would like to try a different cruise line. Any tips/hints you can pass along would be greatly appreciated. For example, is it the same/similar to Princess? Cheers, Bill and Kathi Carefree, Arizona Bingo would be a different experience for you and something I think you would enjoy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wowzz Posted January 11, 2023 #10 Share Posted January 11, 2023 Just now, ace2542 said: Bingo would be a different experience for you and something I think you would enjoy. Why ? Bingo is played all over the US and on US cruise ships. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ace2542 Posted January 11, 2023 #11 Share Posted January 11, 2023 4 minutes ago, wowzz said: Why ? Bingo is played all over the US and on US cruise ships. On P&O it is english bingo line and full house like at the Mecca not corners and how the americans play it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wowzz Posted January 11, 2023 #12 Share Posted January 11, 2023 13 minutes ago, ace2542 said: On P&O it is english bingo line and full house like at the Mecca not corners and how the americans play it? You obviously have spent more time playing Bingo than me ! The last time I played was on the pier at Walton on the Naze in 1961. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ace2542 Posted January 11, 2023 #13 Share Posted January 11, 2023 8 minutes ago, wowzz said: You obviously have spent more time playing Bingo than me ! The last time I played was on the pier at Walton on the Naze in 1961. On P&O they will also do the call signs won't they you know kellys eye number 1 that sort thing which again they might enjoy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wowzz Posted January 11, 2023 #14 Share Posted January 11, 2023 4 minutes ago, ace2542 said: On P&O they will also do the call signs won't they you know kellys eye number 1 that sort thing which again they might enjoy You certainly know a lot about Bingo ! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Megabear2 Posted January 11, 2023 #15 Share Posted January 11, 2023 2 hours ago, ace2542 said: On P&O they will also do the call signs won't they you know kellys eye number 1 that sort thing which again they might enjoy Good job they weren't sailing in 2022 as they'd have been very confused by the call sign for 10! 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Britboys Posted January 11, 2023 #16 Share Posted January 11, 2023 For many years, it seemed that P&O and Princess were very similar. It is however worth bearing in mind that P&O are very much in a process of change at the moment with the two new very large ships (as you probably already know, Arvia holds over 5000 passengers). My last Princess cruise was to Alaska in Summer 2019 and at that time I felt Princess were significantly better in terms of food quality, service and entertainment. Arvia is a brand new ship so there are very few reviews at present and until fairly recently, her sister ship, Iona had been sailing at reduced capacity, post-Covid. The British passengers will of course welcome you. You may however find that food and entertainment (both daytime and evenings) are very much geared to British tastes and expectations. Many of the staff on P&O are from India and whilst they speak very good English, some have very strong accents which can be hard to understand at times. Service on P&O is generally much less forward/smiley/"out there" than on many of the American Lines. If you are regular Princess cruisers, you might also want to consider P&O's Britannia, which is a Royal Class ship and so has a similar layout to many of the Princess ships, albeit with very different decor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ssawjo Posted January 11, 2023 Author #17 Share Posted January 11, 2023 2 hours ago, Britboys said: For many years, it seemed that P&O and Princess were very similar. It is however worth bearing in mind that P&O are very much in a process of change at the moment with the two new very large ships (as you probably already know, Arvia holds over 5000 passengers). My last Princess cruise was to Alaska in Summer 2019 and at that time I felt Princess were significantly better in terms of food quality, service and entertainment. Arvia is a brand new ship so there are very few reviews at present and until fairly recently, her sister ship, Iona had been sailing at reduced capacity, post-Covid. The British passengers will of course welcome you. You may however find that food and entertainment (both daytime and evenings) are very much geared to British tastes and expectations. Many of the staff on P&O are from India and whilst they speak very good English, some have very strong accents which can be hard to understand at times. Service on P&O is generally much less forward/smiley/"out there" than on many of the American Lines. If you are regular Princess cruisers, you might also want to consider P&O's Britannia, which is a Royal Class ship and so has a similar layout to many of the Princess ships, albeit with very different decor. Thank you for your comments. I don't play bingo, BTW. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GemC Posted January 11, 2023 #18 Share Posted January 11, 2023 You might also find it's also a little different on the tips/gratuities side of things, it is not the same as USA, in fact on P&O website it states.. Great service comes as standard Tipping isn't needed on our ships so you can relax knowing good service and good times are all part and parcel of your P&O Cruises holiday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ssawjo Posted January 12, 2023 Author #19 Share Posted January 12, 2023 21 hours ago, GemC said: You might also find it's also a little different on the tips/gratuities side of things, it is not the same as USA, in fact on P&O website it states.. Great service comes as standard Tipping isn't needed on our ships so you can relax knowing good service and good times are all part and parcel of your P&O Cruises holiday. I do like that kind of service. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Host Sharon Posted January 12, 2023 #20 Share Posted January 12, 2023 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crossingfan Posted January 13, 2023 #21 Share Posted January 13, 2023 I’ve been reading some reports that P&O are no longer providing wash cloths (face flannels) in the cabins? I find this odd on a ship. Sailing on Azura in April. Anyone back recently that can answer this question? Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gettingwarmer Posted January 13, 2023 #22 Share Posted January 13, 2023 5 hours ago, crossingfan said: I’ve been reading some reports that P&O are no longer providing wash cloths (face flannels) in the cabins? I find this odd on a ship. Sailing on Azura in April. Anyone back recently that can answer this question? Thanks! Not supplied on my last cruise but if you ask they will provide and change every day. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Britboys Posted January 13, 2023 #23 Share Posted January 13, 2023 13 hours ago, crossingfan said: I’ve been reading some reports that P&O are no longer providing wash cloths (face flannels) in the cabins? I find this odd on a ship. Sailing on Azura in April. Anyone back recently that can answer this question? Thanks! Iirc, Molecrochip posted that it is P&O's policy now not to replace stocks of facecloths and that they will only be available until the current stocks run out. You might want to pack one just in case... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crossingfan Posted January 14, 2023 #24 Share Posted January 14, 2023 Thank you for the reply’s . We will be gone for 17 days total land and cruise. In my opinion no reason that P&O, nor any cruise line should not provide that. I know in some hotels it’s the norm, but it comes off as cheap Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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