Live from Iona Norwegian Fjords 20th May 7 Nights

[TigerB]

14 hours ago, ParisHilton said:

Can you confirm 1 litre of drink bought on board per adult at the start of the cruise. Presumably you can't top up onshore, and I doubt there's much saving?

 

Yes, you can take on 1 litre of alcohol each at the start, plus unlimited soft drinks.

You can by more booze when in port. You are supposed to declare it when you get back on board, and security have the option to take it from you and keep it safe until the end of the cruise, but that has never happened to us.

[Cloudyrain]

20 minutes ago, Interestedcruisefan said:

My parents and wife favour different itineraries but my wife now expects very 7 night cruise to be less than 700 pounds each!

 

So she actually raised her eyebrows when  I mentioned a Greek  cruise costing over 1200 each in comparison (from Southampton). It may have been 10 nights? Not sure on that?

 

We only paid 1200 each  for 2 weeks  in Caribbean on Arvia

 

500 each for 7 nights on Iona

 

So shes expecting deals closer to that all the time now

 

Especially if we want to cruise often

 

Canaries is where the good price Southampton cruises often are, especially November. We have paid under £1000 in a balcony for 2 on a Canaries cruise a few years ago, booking a few weeks before (including flights). 
 

although take me back 10 years when we got a 10 night canaries from Barcelona for £199 each 🥲

[Cathygh]

2 hours ago, Megabear2 said:

I'm sorry to hear this Cathy.  Not much consolation to you but I did notice that midway through my cruise the pressures for dinner at least eased, I think more people probably had speciality restaurants booked mid to late on in the cruise.  Hopefully that may help you with availability going forward.

I think that is true on a 2 week cruise but not a 1 week. Speciality dining is fully booked all cruise. 

 

 

[JeanieC,Aston]

I’ve read all your comments ICF and as I said tight at the beginning your cruise bares no resemblance to mine in Feb half term.

Everything was queues,,,I saw them,I experienced them.

As for full dining rooms,,,not on my cruise,after waiting an hour to get in I wondered why a 1/3 of the tables where empty,not even made up,,,,,yes a waiter told me shortages of staff.

The mismanagement comes in and it happened last year on a Celebrity cruise,,,they are filling the ships knowing they don’t have the staff to service those numbers.

 

Let’s look at other faults,,,those I don’t think you actually encountered as you remarked you are back to bed at 22:00 and you only have x2 drinks a night.

 

Did you ever use the Club?did you ever see the queues to get in or the scramble to find seats.

Did you ever try and get a drink in the pub when it was full,,,,the order by iPad was a shambles,,,,did you ever stand with me and listen to the never ending complaints?
 

Did you never notice people aimlessly walking around the ship looking for seats.

Have you never read the endless complaints on other social media about these two ships.

As others have said they are a novelty at the moment,,will they keep enticing people back time and time again like other favourites in the fleet? I don’t think so.

 

I don’t know how long you have sailed with P&O but the quality of ‘turns’ on Iona was poor,,the busker in Brodie’s was just that and he did a spot in 710,,,and you say show me a artist on other ships better than in 710,,,,,,,,come on!.

Never seen Tenors of Rock or the Beatles Celebration on Celebrity or Rock the Boat on RCL.

 

I applaud your absolute commitment to the P&O product but you must take the rose tinted specs off and you will see the faults.

 

ps,there was a great turn on my Iona cruise,,,a ventriloquist called Gareth Oliver he played the theatre one night (fully booked up) and did a spot in the Club on the last night…..I reckon 4000 people never had a dogs chance of seeing him……

 

 

 

 

[Britboys]

50 minutes ago, cruising.mark.uk said:

Is this necessarily the case?  Unless my memory is playing tricks, I'm sure I recall Moley saying on here a while back that Iona and Arvia will break-even if a cruise is at 30 to 40% capacity.  If that is true, however cheap they are selling the remaining cabins, they are making an awful lot of money per sailing if they can keep filling or nearly filling these ships.  And, unless they take all that as profit to pay off the huge debts incurred over recent years, there should not be any real need to reduce quality any further.  

Yes but that will obviously be linked to a particular price point. Also, they don't want to break even, they want to make a profit...

[TigerB]

10 minutes ago, Cathygh said:

The MDR had the beef with mushroom crust. I've had that 3 or 4 times and there was no crust.

I heard that the MDR is on a 2 week menu Rota so 1 week there is beef Wellington and not the next. Chef's Table does not change. 

 

I'm not an aficionado of the dish, but this is the one she had in the Chef's Table:

 

I can't find a photo of the one she had in January.

Yes, the MDR does have a two week menu, I recall. I wasn't aware the Chef's Table menu didn't change.

[Britboys]

50 minutes ago, Interestedcruisefan said:

You haven't experienced the new ships though have you?

 

I realise you like the smaller ships

 

We've done both

 

710 club,  Headliners theatre shows and The Quays are  all significant improvements on the previous P and O ships we sailed on

 

You are comparing like with like on your cruises

 

We are benefiting from new additions the smaller ships don't have

 

I accept we want different things  though

 

But in our case we feel what we are getting is better quality

 

I guess you are seeing the same ships get older. No doubt there are some cutbacks. But in real terms maybe you are paying less now in comparison?

 

Meanwhile new ships we like as they have seriously fresshened up the offerings

 

Cabins seem larger. En suites larger and quality of showers and toilets better than ever. 

 

IMO

 

 

But the basics such as food are still important too. If included food quality is pared to the bone, more will probably not book again. Whilst there is much more choice on the larger ships, the majority of pax are still eating in mdr's, buffet etc.

[Interestedcruisefan]

16 minutes ago, JeanieC,Aston said:

I’ve read all your comments ICF and as I said tight at the beginning your cruise bares no resemblance to mine in Feb half term.

Everything was queues,,,I saw them,I experienced them.

As for full dining rooms,,,not on my cruise,after waiting an hour to get in I wondered why a 1/3 of the tables where empty,not even made up,,,,,yes a waiter told me shortages of staff.

The mismanagement comes in and it happened last year on a Celebrity cruise,,,they are filling the ships knowing they don’t have the staff to service those numbers.

 

Let’s look at other faults,,,those I don’t think you actually encountered as you remarked you are back to bed at 22:00 and you only have x2 drinks a night.

 

Did you ever use the Club?did you ever see the queues to get in or the scramble to find seats.

Did you ever try and get a drink in the pub when it was full,,,,the order by iPad was a shambles,,,,did you ever stand with me and listen to the never ending complaints?
 

Did you never notice people aimlessly walking around the ship looking for seats.

Have you never read the endless complaints on other social media about these two ships.

As others have said they are a novelty at the moment,,will they keep enticing people back time and time again like other favourites in the fleet? I don’t think so.

 

I don’t know how long you have sailed with P&O but the quality of ‘turns’ on Iona was poor,,the busker in Brodie’s was just that and he did a spot in 710,,,and you say show me a artist on other ships better than in 710,,,,,,,,come on!.

Never seen Tenors of Rock or the Beatles Celebration on Celebrity or Rock the Boat on RCL.

 

I applaud your absolute commitment to the P&O product but you must take the rose tinted specs off and you will see the faults.

 

ps,there was a great turn on my Iona cruise,,,a ventriloquist called Gareth Oliver he played the theatre one night (fully booked up) and did a spot in the Club on the last night…..I reckon 4000 people never had a dogs chance of seeing him……

 

 

 

 

I've only used Brodies once to watch a  football match on Iona. I prefer the other bars to pub style of Brodies

 

I've used Clubhouse once to watch Ukebox play a second time after first seeing them in headliners. We arrived just before the start and were lucky I guess to get a 2 seats at the bar

 

We prefer to drink cocktails in the other bars like Crows Nest and Andersons Bar and to  watch entertainment  in the theatre or 710 club.

 

My enjoyment of 710  club is the atmosphere of watching 4 quality musicians play, sing and enjoy themselves with an intimate crowd 

 

And when I saw a show with a female guitarist I also really enjoyed it

 

It's the whole feel of 710 club  I liked. And I know others love as well. Never experienced it on another cruise ship. 

 

Closest thing would be the fun Piano Bars on RCL where you tip the pianist to play songs and the audience is small and involved etc   

 

So mainly we go to different places on the ship. And have different  experiences I guess.

 

I guess it works for me that so many others head for Brodies and the Club House rather than the smaller and quieter bars

 

I've also used Club House for watching the talks

 

I avoid the busy places myself. I also don't like sitting in the Atrium like others do as I feel it's too busy there as well. Although a beautiful place. Sat at the Emerald Bar itself watching the cocktail barmen on Iona was fun though one night

 

Do you really want me to spoil my own cruise experience by going and  seeing faults in places?

 

Maybe ive just  found the formula that works for us that doesn't work for others. 

 

I'm not imposing it on others above  either. As I sometimes get accused of.

 

I'm just answering your specific questions. Which basically is I don't use those places where you've faced issues enough or at all to face those issues. 

 

I did think drinks service in Brodies was slow for what it's worth that day  I watched the football match. 

 

But I never went  in there again. Something else  I mentioned to my wife when we got back. If there is any casino on Iona which I assume there is?

 

Not once did we even walk through it this last holiday. It can't even have been on the way to anywhere we wanted to go to

 

We normally walk through  it a lot. Maybe it was our cabin position in the past

Edited May 30, 2023 by Interestedcruisefan

[FamilyCruiserUK]

We had lots of queues on brilliance last aug, lack of tables being cleaned quickly in the DRs. This was down to royals policy of quarantining their staff any time any of them felt ill. Covid related or not. My mums room steward was away for thee days of the trip. The rest of the staff had to make up this short fall. 

It also didnt help that most people seemed to go for food at the same time. Hence facilities were stretched. 

 

Its not always the case of lack of employed staff there could be other reasons as well. 

 

whilst i have read many complaints on forums myself and i am not a P&O regular cruiser its nice to hear balanced reviews. 6000+ peiple on a ship yet we will never know how many post reviews negative or positive. People can only go on their own experience.

[Interestedcruisefan]

6 minutes ago, Britboys said:

But the basics such as food are still important too. If included food quality is pared to the bone, more will probably not book again. Whilst there is much more choice on the larger ships, the majority of pax are still eating in mdr's, buffet etc.

I honestly like the buffet and quays quality on Arvia and Iona.  The choice is huge and there's always more things in there every day I would eat but cant possibly even try

 

MDRs I mistakenly under valued previously and after a good experience on Iona halfway through the cruise we went back every night and again I couldn't fault the quality. Otherwise we wouldn't have gone back 

 

We started having breakfast in MDRs as well after that and loved them as well. We were disappointed you couldn't do that on dlsembrakation day as well!!

 

Conf duck was the  only questionable course I had. The rest were great. And the confit duck perfectly ok. Just not as nice as I hoped it would be

 

Honestly our meals in MDR we really enjoyed more than we had expected

 

And we eat out loads in the normal world 

 

Epicurean a level above of course. But MDR way better than we imagined it was going to be having read comments on here and not  tried since pre covid cruising days

[Interestedcruisefan]

14 minutes ago, Britboys said:

But the basics such as food are still important too. If included food quality is pared to the bone, more will probably not book again. Whilst there is much more choice on the larger ships, the majority of pax are still eating in mdr's, buffet etc.

What are you seeing in terms or reduction in MDR food quality Britboys?

 

 

[Cloudyrain]

14 minutes ago, Britboys said:

But the basics such as food are still important too. If included food quality is pared to the bone, more will probably not book again. Whilst there is much more choice on the larger ships, the majority of pax are still eating in mdr's, buffet etc.

We went 10 years ago with P&O and said we would never go back because the food and general everything was poor quality and lacking. Pre-Covid we gave them another try and were impressed with the improvements. Post-Covid I think the quality of food is still good (better than 10 years ago) but the slight difference is the reduced number of items to choose on the MDR, the menus do seem smaller and less varied and a little more ‘samey’ but we still thought it was very good.

[Interestedcruisefan]

19 minutes ago, TigerB said:

 

I'm not an aficionado of the dish, but this is the one she had in the Chef's Table:

 

I can't find a photo of the one she had in January.

Yes, the MDR does have a two week menu, I recall. I wasn't aware the Chef's Table menu didn't change.

Looks good to me

 

Providing its hot?

 

 (We've not experienced cold food being  served ourselves)

[ParisHilton]

How would you rate MDR? 

Pizza hut , Pizza express, local italian?

Have to factor in who little you've paid for it for a fair comparison obviously.

[Guest ccpm]

1 hour ago, Selbourne said:

I am keeping everything crossed that our experience on Iona mirrors yours, and not that of some others 🤞

Selbourne I hope so for you. I have done 10 weeks so far on Iona 22/23 and I think you may know why I use speciality only as I have explained a number of times here. I think it has settled down now on Iona but I know that you are travelling in the school holidays where it may get manic again. Lunchtime do not accept the app showing numbers in Glass House and Keel and Cow queue. Put yourself in the queue and just go to the restaurant asap, and speak to the podium person. In my experience you will get seated very quickly. Believe me families travelling are not building in a £20+ph bill for lunch. 

[Megabear2]

32 minutes ago, Interestedcruisefan said:

I've only used Brodies once to watch a  football match on Iona. I prefer the other bars to pub style of Brodies

 

I've used Clubhouse once to watch Ukebox play a second time after first seeing them in headliners. We arrived just before the start and were lucky I guess to get a 2 seats at the bar

 

We prefer to drink cocktails in the other bars like Crows Nest and Andersons Bar and to  watch entertainment  in the theatre or 710 club.

 

My enjoyment of 710  club is the atmosphere of watching 4 quality musicians play, sing and enjoy themselves with an intimate crowd 

 

And when I saw a show with a female guitarist I also really enjoyed it

 

It's the whole feel of 710 club  I liked. And I know others love as well. Never experienced it on another cruise ship. 

 

Closest thing would be the fun Piano Bars on RCL where you tip the pianist to play songs and the audience is small and involved etc   

 

So mainly we go to different places on the ship. And have different  experiences I guess.

 

I guess it works for me that so many others head for Brodies and the Club House rather than the smaller and quieter bars

 

I've also used Club House for watching the talks

 

I avoid the busy places myself. I also don't like sitting in the Atrium like others do as I feel it's too busy there as well. Although a beautiful place. Sat at the Emerald Bar itself watching the cocktail barmen on Iona was fun though one night

 

Do you really want me to spoil my own cruise experience by going and  seeing faults in places?

 

Maybe ive just  found the formula that works for us that doesn't work for others. 

 

I'm not imposing it on others above  either. As I sometimes get accused of.

 

I'm just answering your specific questions. Which basically is I don't use those places where you've faced issues enough or at all to face those issues. 

 

I did think drinks service in Brodies was slow for what it's worth that day  I watched the football match. 

 

But I never went  in there again. Something else  I mentioned to my wife when we got back. If there is any casino on Iona which I assume there is?

 

Not once did we even walk through it this last holiday. It can't even have been on the way to anywhere we wanted to go to

 

We normally walk through  it a lot. Maybe it was our cabin position in the past

The casino spills into Brodies!  Their bar is one and the same.  One of the early complaints including a man who has bingo problems was that the Brodies people interfered with casino playing.

 

The queue for Headliners on deck 7 ran into the casino.

 

To go into Brodies you virtually have to go into the casino, you can't miss it!

Edited May 30, 2023 by Megabear2

[Interestedcruisefan]

Just now, Cloudyrain said:

We went 10 years ago with P&O and said we would never go back because the food and general everything was poor quality and lacking. Pre-Covid we gave them another try and were impressed with the improvements. Post-Covid I think the quality of food is still good (better than 10 years ago) but the slight difference is the reduced number of items to choose on the MDR, the menus do seem smaller and less varied and a little more ‘samey’ but we still thought it was very good.

Yes maybe less choice

 

But normally at least one or two things to try on each course

 

We also liked the fact they let us have starter followed by soup each night and then add cheese and biscuits after desserts when we wanted to

 

Also when my wife ordered avocado with poached eggs the waiter without us asking brought her a side plate with smoked salmon on it in case she wanted to add it

 

Which was a nice touch by him

 

Reminded me of our first RCL cruises  when tipping was a big thing. Our waiters would practically encourage us to try one of everything on the menu if we wanted

 

They wanted to be your very best friends all cruise. And they were!

 

 

[Interestedcruisefan]

11 minutes ago, ParisHilton said:

How would you rate MDR? 

Pizza hut , Pizza express, local italian?

Have to factor in who little you've paid for it for a fair comparison obviously.

Good quality 4 star hotel set menu type meal for a dinner

 

Ask for soup and starter if you like and cheese and biscuits at the end and you've actually got a 5 course meal rather than the 3 course

 

On Iona allow upto 90 minutes for the meal

 

In current climate you would pay 35 pounds to 40 pounds a head for

 

Nicely served on white tablecloths by friendly and efficient  waiters

 

It's different to all those you've described tbf as it's more formal than all of them 

 

But food quality was good. Maybe needs a bit more veg. But you can ask for extra.

 

We've never asked for anything the waiters have said no to yet. TBH. On any cruise we've been on. The waiters like to please you on cruise ships from our experience. 

 

But your kids may actually prefer Quays or the Buffet on Iona as there will be other  things they want to be doing on the ship

 

Olive Grove is more like the restaurants you describe. And IMO not quite as good as a proper Italian. Maybe most like Pizza Express but without all the pizza choices 

 

Hope that makes sense!

 

Lol

Edited May 30, 2023 by Interestedcruisefan

[Megabear2]

18 minutes ago, FamilyCruiserUK said:

We had lots of queues on brilliance last aug, lack of tables being cleaned quickly in the DRs. This was down to royals policy of quarantining their staff any time any of them felt ill. Covid related or not. My mums room steward was away for thee days of the trip. The rest of the staff had to make up this short fall. 

It also didnt help that most people seemed to go for food at the same time. Hence facilities were stretched. 

 

Its not always the case of lack of employed staff there could be other reasons as well. 

 

whilst i have read many complaints on forums myself and i am not a P&O regular cruiser its nice to hear balanced reviews. 6000+ peiple on a ship yet we will never know how many post reviews negative or positive. People can only go on their own experience.

Very reasonable opinion.  I am aware that the staff quarantine cabins on Arvia apparently haven't thankfully been used for a while.  I was given one to sleep in on night two and reception were at great pains to tell me know one had been in there for a very long time.  The notice left in the cabin was addressed to Dear Colleague so I had no reason to doubt what I was told.

 

Re cabin stewards, mine was very busy and proactive until 13.00 hours. I saw her again assisting with ushering people to MDR seats at 6.00pm when I used them, we would have a joke about the "zoo" of towel animals she was leaving me and how the ship would be short.  However on the day I was finally moved cabins I was informed the assistance from my deck 5 stewards would not occur until 11.00pm as they were on alternative duties. This was at 9.25pm.

 

Compared with Cunard the week before with turndown etc fully operational it was a million miles apart as was Celebrity and Princess last year.

 

Not a criticism  but an observation, all the staff on all four lines were working extremely hard and doing absolutely everything to make the cruise run smoothly.  Patience of saints was in no way an exaggeration!

[Megabear2]

16 minutes ago, Interestedcruisefan said:

We started having breakfast in MDRs as well after that and loved them as well. We were disappointed you couldn't do that on dlsembrakation day as well!!

Whyever not, I assume a personal decision as MDRs opened at 6.30am on Arvia?

[Interestedcruisefan]

This Iona cruise we saw way more of our cabin steward than previous 2 P and O cruises where we barely saw them at all

 

It was like the old days and we tipped Grace at the end (not to the extent we used to be obliged to tip) as she was lovely and always around

 

But clearly now Covid has passed  the cabin stewards don't have to keep their distance and you  imagine they also realise people will still tip them despite it not being  compulsory if they do a great job. 

 

As Grace did for us. Simply by starting each morning with a happy greeting and friendly smile

[ParisHilton]

5 minutes ago, Interestedcruisefan said:

Good quality 4 star hotel set menu type meal for a dinner

 

Ask for soup and starter if you like and cheese and biscuits at the end and you've actually got a 5 course meal rather than the 3 course

 

On Iona allow upto 90 minutes for the meal

 

In current climate you would pay 35 pounds to 40 pounds a head for

 

Nicely served on white tablecloths by friendly and efficient  waiters

 

It's different to all those you've described tbf as it's more formal than all of them 

 

But food quality was good. Maybe needs a bit more veg. But you can ask for extra.

 

We've never asked for anything the waiters have said no to yet. TBH. On any cruise we've been on. The waiters like to please you on cruise ships from our experience. 

 

But your kids may actually prefer Quays or the Buffet on Iona as there will be other  things they want to be doing on the ship

 

Olive Grove is more like the restaurants you describe. And IMO not quite as good as a proper Italian. Maybe most like Pizza Express but without all the pizza choices 

 

Hope that makes sense!

 

Lol

Thanks once again. 

Great summary.

Plenty have said to book the olive grove as it goes super fast. Which we will do, but probably just the once. As you say , we have to cater to all tastes so the Quays\Buffet may be more appropriate.

It definitely seems to be horses for courses, and there is plenty of choice to please most demands.

 

 

[Megabear2]

11 minutes ago, Interestedcruisefan said:

Yes maybe less choice

 

But normally at least one or two things to try on each course

 

We also liked the fact they let us have starter followed by soup each night and then add cheese and biscuits after desserts when we wanted to

 

Also when my wife ordered avocado with poached eggs the waiter without us asking brought her a side plate with smoked salmon on it in case she wanted to add it

 

Which was a nice touch by him

 

Reminded me of our first RCL cruises  when tipping was a big thing. Our waiters would practically encourage us to try one of everything on the menu if we wanted

 

They wanted to be your very best friends all cruise. And they were!

 

 

While clearly something that surprised you I can say with certainty this has always been the case on all P&O ships.  Lots on my tables enjoyed 5 courses, no comment or refusal. Very difficult to get coffee or tea after dinner though.

[Interestedcruisefan]

3 minutes ago, Megabear2 said:

Whyever not, I assume a personal decision as MDRs opened at 6.30am on Arvia?

Well maybe they were open but not using online booking ?

 

As when I looked all the queues  for MDRs werent due to open til 5.15pm

 

This was early as well 6.45am when I looked

 

I just assumed they didn't open on the last day so we went to Quays instead

 

Won't make that mistake again!!

[Interestedcruisefan]

1 minute ago, ParisHilton said:

Thanks once again. 

Great summary.

Plenty have said to book the olive grove as it goes super fast. Which we will do, but probably just the once. As you say , we have to cater to all tastes so the Quays\Buffet may be more appropriate.

It definitely seems to be horses for courses, and there is plenty of choice to please most demands.

 

 

You shouldn't ever go hungry and expect to put some weight on!

 

Maybe your marathon practise will help with that though?