Live from Iona Norwegian Fjords 20th May 7 Nights

[Interestedcruisefan]

2 minutes ago, Megabear2 said:

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.

We were offered coffee at the end of every MDR on Iona without fail.

 

I assumed it was the final part of serving us?

 

Never had it but always offered  it

 

My wife had to ask for coffee refills for breakfast

 

I had to ask for extra butter as I have lots on my toast

 

I had hot chocolate each served breakfast

 

 

[ParisHilton]

2 minutes ago, Interestedcruisefan said:

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

 

Maybe your marathon practise will help with that though?

 

It's a battle I'm already gearing up to.  I've been IF for a few weeks now and it'll be 3 months of working on my weight\blood sugars and getting fit when we sail. So while everyone else tucks in , I'll be super conscious of what I eat.  Alcohol (cocktails) could well be my downfall. With that in mind, to avoid peer pressure, I may hide in the Casino.

Speaking of which, does anyone know which rules they use, and therefore the optimal strategy?

[Interestedcruisefan]

22 minutes ago, Megabear2 said:

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!

Not on Iona from the part I sat in. And went in and out of for the football  Which backed into Headliners.

 

Must be the other half of Brodies then. That explains it. 

 

 

[Interestedcruisefan]

8 minutes ago, Megabear2 said:

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.

It didn't surprise me as such

 

More like I expected a slight hesitation or look etc  when we asked

 

But clearly they are used  to it so much that they don't even bat an eyelid

 

The way the menu is set out wouldn't encourage people to ask for it of course

 

You have to take that leap of faith so to speak!!

 

Lol

[Interestedcruisefan]

5 minutes ago, ParisHilton said:

 

It's a battle I'm already gearing up to.  I've been IF for a few weeks now and it'll be 3 months of working on my weight\blood sugars and getting fit when we sail. So while everyone else tucks in , I'll be super conscious of what I eat.  Alcohol (cocktails) could well be my downfall. With that in mind, to avoid peer pressure, I may hide in the Casino.

Speaking of which, does anyone know which rules they use, and therefore the optimal strategy?

Lots of non alcoholic options of cocktails now on the ships

 

No longer just aimed at kids either

 

One think I expect to change heavily next few years everywhere is non alcoholic drinks that really have the taste and kick of alcohol but without the alcohol or after effects!

 

Rather than just token cocktails aimed at kids

 

The non alcoholic gins they already do everywhere  now are really good

 

We stuck with the real thing on the cruise though! 

[Fionboard]

1 hour 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……

 

 

 

 

How refreshing to see a balancing post showing how experiences differ.

[Interestedcruisefan]

6 minutes ago, Fionboard said:

How refreshing to see a balancing post showing how experiences differ.

If I stop posting for a while again (I have to due to work) do you not think the  balance will go too much to people just complaining about stuff ?

 

And new  posters becoming too  worried about their upcoming cruises? When they might appreciate some positive stuff?

 

Be honest?

 

It seems like the Alamo on here to me sometimes responding to all the negative stuff with positives when I can?

 

And I genuinely get concerned when I see people on here that I believe  are actually getting  scared or anxious  about their future cruises ?

 

When they actually should be excited and looking forward to them?

 

I honestly think if I'm not posting the balance will fall away?

Edited May 30, 2023 by Interestedcruisefan

[davecttr]

24 minutes ago, ParisHilton said:

 

It's a battle I'm already gearing up to.  I've been IF for a few weeks now and it'll be 3 months of working on my weight\blood sugars and getting fit when we sail. So while everyone else tucks in , I'll be super conscious of what I eat.  Alcohol (cocktails) could well be my downfall. With that in mind, to avoid peer pressure, I may hide in the Casino.

Speaking of which, does anyone know which rules they use, and therefore the optimal strategy?

Roulette has 0 & 00, the chips are £1 and the minimum per spin is £5

Blackjack is 8 decks hand shuffle with £5 minimum bet and a 3:2 blackjack payout. European style so the dealer does not check for blackjack. Also a lucky pairs side bet

3 card poker is not my game but it was popular but the amount bet per hand was outside my limits.

Lots of modern machines and the cruise before mine someone won over £10,000. Don't know how much they put in though!

[Interestedcruisefan]

9 minutes ago, davecttr said:

Roulette has 0 & 00, the chips are £1 and the minimum per spin is £5

Blackjack is 8 decks hand shuffle with £5 minimum bet and a 3:2 blackjack payout. European style so the dealer does not check for blackjack. Also a lucky pairs side bet

3 card poker is not my game but it was popular but the amount bet per hand was outside my limits.

Lots of modern machines and the cruise before mine someone won over £10,000. Don't know how much they put in though!

Not good for roulette then

[ParisHilton]

2 minutes ago, Interestedcruisefan said:

Not good for roulette then

I've heard some wheels in Vegas now have "000" !!!

Btw have you tried duelling pianos? Sounds right up your street.

Did you try the onboard gin distillery.

Shame work is going to get in the way of your posting.

I love a good moan, some of the funniest things I've ever read are well thought through rants.

It is good to see the balance. There do seem to be some very unhappy posters. Perhaps they just want the ships to themselves 🙂

[Fionboard]

21 minutes ago, Interestedcruisefan said:

If I stop posting for a while again (I have to due to work) do you not think the  balance will go too much to people just complaining about stuff ?

 

And new  posters becoming too  worried about their upcoming cruises? When they might appreciate some positive stuff?

 

Be honest?

 

It seems like the Alamo on here to me sometimes responding to all the negative stuff with positives when I can?

 

And I genuinely get concerned when I see people on here that I believe  are actually getting  scared or anxious  about their future cruises ?

 

When they actually should be excited and looking forward to them?

 

I honestly think if I'm not posting the balance will fall away?

You seem to be relatively new to this forum. I have always found it to be fairly positive, informative and balanced with posts about all the different types of ship. A bit confrontational at times, but on the whole friendly and useful. Don't stop posting just because some of us have different opinions. That's what forums are about. 

[CarlaMarie]

25 minutes ago, Interestedcruisefan said:

If I stop posting for a while again (I have to due to work) do you not think the  balance will go too much to people just complaining about stuff ?

 

And new  posters becoming too  worried about their upcoming cruises? When they might appreciate some positive stuff?

 

Be honest?

 

It seems like the Alamo on here to me sometimes responding to all the negative stuff with positives when I can?

 

And I genuinely get concerned when I see people on here that I believe  are actually getting  scared or anxious  about their future cruises ?

 

When they actually should be excited and looking forward to them?

 

I honestly think if I'm not posting the balance will fall away?

 

 

Not one person has to try and force it to be balanced, it happens naturally. These boards have always been balanced, informative, provided great support and advice.

 

On any cruise, a cruiser is entitled to expect that certain situations shouldn't arise and are hence allowed to discuss those which do. If someone has had a negative experience then they do not deserve to be confronted with questions in an attempt to disprove their experiences. 

 

It is not up to any one person to decide they feel other people are scaremongering or making others anxious, or being misleading as it didn't happen to them. Sadly, it will actually deter posters from even posting. 

 

Those people who feel that particular comments have worried them can discuss this with the OPs for clarification or advice. 

 

The majority on here, especially regular posters, will know you approach each cruise open minded and make your own decisions and form your own opinions that influence your future cruises. 

 

[Interestedcruisefan]

7 minutes ago, ParisHilton said:

I've heard some wheels in Vegas now have "000" !!!

Btw have you tried duelling pianos? Sounds right up your street.

Did you try the onboard gin distillery.

Shame work is going to get in the way of your posting.

I love a good moan, some of the funniest things I've ever read are well thought through rants.

It is good to see the balance. There do seem to be some very unhappy posters. Perhaps they just want the ships to themselves 🙂

Duelling pianos I certainly want to try

 

The onboard gin distillery experience they offered seemed steep in price I thought plus my wife doesnt like gin

 

But think there might have been a FOC  talk on gins we missed? Not sure

 

I sometimes honestly  get the  impression some posters pick a favourite ship or ships and then just find fault on any other ships 

 

I've enjoyed all of my cruises on all the ships I've been on. So I don't need to pick fault with any ships I've been on

 

I'm sure I would enjoy cruises on all the smaller ships even now and even without apps and having  to share tables. We would just adapt and enjoy. Make the absolute most of what's available to us on board. 

 

We just happen to think the newer bigger ships are better than the older smaller ships for what we want.

 

And back up why we think so. 

 

I often feel outnumbered and overwhelmed on here doing so though. 

 

I'm not anti smaller ship cruising I'm just pro bigger ship cruising 

 

I think there's a few on here decidedly anti bigger ship cruising 

 

Possibly because they fear bigger ships will replace the smaller ships in  time?

 

I think that's a long way off and I hope everyone who prefers the smaller ships and smaller ship benefits can enjoy them as long as they want

 

I just feel I want to defend the bigger ships from the constant complaints on| here

 

Even when MB lists lots of things she's enjoyed on the bigger ship the conversation seems to focus on the things  that weren't positive

 

I actually get moaned at for being  so positive. But it's how my cruises make me feel

 

 

 

 

[Dermotsgirl]

34 minutes ago, Interestedcruisefan said:

If I stop posting for a while again (I have to due to work) do you not think the  balance will go too much to people just complaining about stuff ?

 

And new  posters becoming too  worried about their upcoming cruises? When they might appreciate some positive stuff?

 

Be honest?

 

It seems like the Alamo on here to me sometimes responding to all the negative stuff with positives when I can?

 

And I genuinely get concerned when I see people on here that I believe  are actually getting  scared or anxious  about their future cruises ?

 

When they actually should be excited and looking forward to them?

 

I honestly think if I'm not posting the balance will fall away?

I’m not sure why you feel you have to ‘keep responding with positives’. 
 

It’s not the Alamo - people have their experiences and they are telling us about them. People who have had different experiences to you aren’t attacking you - they are just doing what you are doing  - they are just telling us about their holidays.

 

Its your choice if you want to set yourself up as a ‘positive champion’, but there’s no need to do it if it’s making you feel pressurised.

 

I’m all for balance, and I value all comments.

 

My takeaway from this discussion here and elsewhere is that people have had significant problems on Arvia and Iona, with the app, queues and crowds. But it is possible to have a good holiday these ships, particularly if you are organised and have a strategy.

 

I speak as a born planner - I’m not entirely sure I want to strategise to a high level on holiday, when I normally kick back from the planning.

 

I keep toying with the idea of a week on Iona, so that I can see for myself. But,  at this point, I feel no impetus to actually book it. 

[ParisHilton]

Say what you like about Norway, but the flag's a big plus.

 

 

I think I deserve a spot on stage.

[Cathygh]

1 hour ago, Interestedcruisefan said:

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

 

 

Apologies for jumping in. Another cut is petit fours are on gala night only. And no snacks in the Crows Nest.

 

However some of our party ordered extra steak and chips with no problem.

 

[ParisHilton]

4 minutes ago, Interestedcruisefan said:

 

I actually get moaned at for being  so positive. But it's how my cruises make me feel

 

 

I think you are like me, rather than waste effort when there something you don't like, go and find something you do.

I don't really want to mix with people on my holidays, so having a huge ship with thousands of people to hide amongst is perfect.

Edited May 30, 2023 by ParisHilton

[Interestedcruisefan]

22 minutes ago, Fionboard said:

You seem to be relatively new to this forum. I have always found it to be fairly positive, informative and balanced with posts about all the different types of ship. A bit confrontational at times, but on the whole friendly and useful. Don't stop posting just because some of us have different opinions. That's what forums are about. 

That's a nice answer

 

I won't stop posting due to difference of opinion

 

It's more that when I'm not cruising I need to work more and not get distracted on here. Today is a prime example 

 

And I honestly genuinely worry right now that when I stop the balance won't be good for new posters asking about their bigger ship cruises as there's a lot of negativity and worry about them.

 

Some justified,  some a concern but unlikely to happen. Some you can avoid, Some entirely unwarranted IMO

 

People do get worried from what they read on here at times. 

 

That's been very noticeable the last couple of weeks 

 

 

[Gettingwarmer]

1 hour ago, Interestedcruisefan said:

It didn't surprise me as such

 

More like I expected a slight hesitation or look etc  when we asked

 

But clearly they are used  to it so much that they don't even bat an eyelid

 

The way the menu is set out wouldn't encourage people to ask for it of course

 

You have to take that leap of faith so to speak!!

 

Lol

It’s because us old timers remember when cruise menus were all set out as individual courses and not combined into fewer as of now. The one thing I’m glad is gone is the silver service of vegetables. They were always a mismatch for the food. Much better plated up and we always ask for extra veggies. 

[TigerB]

ICF, I haven't been able to find a post about it, but did you manage to get the tax rebate? If so, what was the process like?

[Interestedcruisefan]

18 minutes ago, Dermotsgirl said:

I’m not sure why you feel you have to ‘keep responding with positives’. 
 

It’s not the Alamo - people have their experiences and they are telling us about them. People who have had different experiences to you aren’t attacking you - they are just doing what you are doing  - they are just telling us about their holidays.

 

Its your choice if you want to set yourself up as a ‘positive champion’, but there’s no need to do it if it’s making you feel pressurised.

 

I’m all for balance, and I value all comments.

 

My takeaway from this discussion here and elsewhere is that people have had significant problems on Arvia and Iona, with the app, queues and crowds. But it is possible to have a good holiday these ships, particularly if you are organised and have a strategy.

 

I speak as a born planner - I’m not entirely sure I want to strategise to a high level on holiday, when I normally kick back from the planning.

 

I keep toying with the idea of a week on Iona, so that I can see for myself. But,  at this point, I feel no impetus to actually book it. 

You are right I dont need to keep responding

 

I honestly dont think it's balanced enough on here and it is too negative but I do think I'm also worrying too much like you say

 

So I'm going to have a break at least until I book my next cruise 

 

And get some work done without distraction to pay for it!

 

Lol

 

Speak soon guys!!

 

Ps - Honestly Iona outside of school holidays for sure you would be fine. You don't need to be a born planner. You are an experienced cruiser. It would be easy for you. You would enjoy far more than you dislike on her I'm sure. And at the very least have a good holiday if not a great one

 

 

Edited May 30, 2023 by Interestedcruisefan

[Peanut006]

I like the bigger ships, always something to see and do for everyone. We cruise with our grandchildren sometimes so a bigger ship is perfect. We are toying with the idea of booking Iona for next year to the Fjords for a completely different type of holiday for them. We have only done Royal Caribbean with them before, a bit worried they might think there is not enough to keep them entertained. Can anyone comment on this? 
 

Michelle

[Interestedcruisefan]

1 minute ago, TigerB said:

ICF, I haven't been able to find a post about it, but did you manage to get the tax rebate? If so, what was the process like?

We were told in the shops in Norway we needed to do it at our last port which we thought meant Southampton but actually meant last Norwegian Port.

 

So when my wife tried on the last morning (that time she was at guest services in the picture I posted) we learnt we had missed the chance. But she's been given somewhere to write to instead.

 

We've only got 20 pounds approx at stake I think so not sure If she will or not. 

[CarlaMarie]

Tax rebate is done on the ship in the final port of a Norwegian cruise. It tells you in the Horizon paper what time it will happen, and somebody comes onboard especially to oversee it. You are given a form to fill in (when you go down with your form, make sure you take your passport with you). My dad had his rebate within 7 days. 

[jaydee6969]

14 minutes ago, Interestedcruisefan said:

You are right I dont need to keep responding

 

I honestly dont think it's balanced enough on here and it is too negative but I do think I'm also worrying too much like you say

 

So I'm going to have a break at least until I book my next cruise 

 

And get some work done without distraction to pay for it!

 

Lol

 

Speak soon guys!!

 

Ps - Honestly Iona outside of school holidays for sure you would be fine. You don't need to be a born planner. You are an experienced cruiser. It would be easy for you. You would enjoy far more than you dislike on her I'm sure. And at the very least have a good holiday if not a great one

 

 

 

@Interestedcruisefan, your posts have been a breathe of fresh air across this forum, and much needed.  

 

Enjoy a break away, as most of us do when it grinds us down, and look forward to your posts in the future.

 

Ps - it is too negative on here at times, with some determined to cast a negative shade on all to do with P&O cruises.