First time cruise on Arcadia

[redsquirrel55]

We are thinking of booking a cruise to Norway on the Arcadia but we would like some honest opinions as to whether we should choose a different ship. We are a party of 4 (young !! ) 50 year olds.This will be our first cruise and it was my suggestion so I don't want to make a mistake. I know the Arcadia is child free but does this mean there is not as much going on . I would be grateful for any help or suggestions . Thanks.

[The Monocled Mutineer]

The combination of those 3 features will attract a narrower age range focussed on 60s, 70s, 80s and beyond.

 

Derek “The Monocled Mutineer” Kane

 

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[LibraLass41]

I am 45 and hubbie is 56, we went on Arcadia in May 06 (see photos on: www.sveale.photosite.com)

 

We are due back on her again in 6 weeks time. I would say at least 40% of the pax were in their 50's (left the teenage kids at home gang -like us)

You will love the ship, she is modern, contemporary and new (2yrs old).

You must try the Arcadian Rhodes restaurant (extra £15pp) and The Orchid if you like Thai food (£10pp extra). You need to book on embarkation day to secure a table on the night of your choice.

 

Another good photosite is www.ltorrance.photosite.com with over 90 internal and external photos of Arcadia for you to look at.

 

You will have a brilliant time,

 

Sue:)

[pretenda]

:) We did Fjords for a week in June last year - the average age was about late 60's I'd say. It is very quiet at night - not many in the bars/club etc. Casino almost deserted (not a vey good Casino on this ship IMO). But a lovely itinerary and we had a great time.

Ship is nicely decorated - but has no wow factor. We have sailed on her 3 times. Caribbean - good atmosphere as attracted younger age group, Norway - as above, and last September around the med for 16 nights.

The aft cabins/suites are her biggest plus point.

[darchorse]

I sailed on Arcadia last year (Voyage to Venice) and after just being on Oceana have booked Arcadia again for next year.

 

Yes, she doesn't have much of an atrium. Yes, she does have a bit of a Cunard look about her. Yes, you'll get a lot more out of it if you use the New Horizons programme. But for the most part I don't understand the complaints about Arcadia. I loved the ship. The Asian and Rhodes restaurants are excellent, the hydro-pool fun and the shows (esp the Circus one) are the best I've seen on P&O. Not sure if the exec chef is still Trevor Connolly, but his food was excellent.

 

I've got a review of her in the review section if you're interested.

 

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=19691

[Barbarella]

Hi Redsquirrel,

 

We are also in our early 50's (me 52, hubs just 50) and are back on Arcadia in 9 weeks time doing the 14 night Med cruise. We went with P & O and Arcadia for the first time last year on the Canaries itinerary which in itself was not that exciting.............

 

but....... the actual cruise experience on Arcadia was BRILL.:p We met more people and had more fun than we ever had on Carnival (x 3 cruises) and RCL (x 2 cruises) which are called the fun ships and for mixed ages.

 

A group of 4 couples with an age mix from 30 to 51 (with us being the eldest) had a great time and we actually all met on the ship in the Rising Sun Pub (the officers were always in there too - good recommendation)

 

We had so much fun we honestly NEVER even saw one show as there was just so much else going on - cocktail parties on the balcony (Yes we had an aft balcony and have a great one booked again this time), get togethers with other people we also met on the cruise, great social dinners etc., etc which moved on to another lounge, bar, balcony etc.

 

Yes about 30% of the pax. were elderly but that left 70% child free and out to have a great time which they did.

 

We love Arcadia and are worried we have been spoilt. As I said, this will be our 7th cruise so have had other experiences so are able to make fair comparisons

 

Go and enjoy. For the ladies it can be a glam occassion with 4 formal nights and people really do make the effort which is so nice to see these days and jut being al glammed up makes you feel so much more positive and happy.

 

Remember, you are as young as you feel and we had a far superior time on Arcadia with the 'old fogie zimmerframe' reputation than we ever had on the big, glitzy american ships. Yes, it maybe us, hubs is an ex-professional DJ and we party a great deal which keeps us both young. The kids are all in their twenties, flown the nest and we are having a great time which you deserve too. Just because you are over 40 doesn't mean you have to stop enjoying yourself.

 

Also there are always pluses. Because a percentage of the pax. are elderly they don't use the sunbeds (not that that would ever be a problem as we have a huge aft balcony) and the pool areas are sophisticated without loads of screaming kids jumping in and out, splashig everybody and beign annoying when you are trying to chill/read/chat etc. (those with kids have all been there:eek: when you had no choice.

 

Also elderly people can be extremely interesting and enlightening to talk to over a quiet drink if you just want to chill. Their life experiences can be very moving and enchanting. Just because they are old, doesn't mean they haven't lived or are boring. We'll all be there on day:mad:

 

The food, service, ambience is great - you don't feel your being 'nickle and dimed' as the say in the states, i.e being taken in for every last dollar they can get out of you which does happen on the US lines. With P & O you are not taxed on your alcoholic beverages for a start which you are by 15% on the US lines. Also the prices are very reasonable on P & O and you can get a decent beer/wine too.

 

As I said, cannot comment on the shows, we are not really show people and like to make our own entertainment but I understand from fellow cruisers that those on Arcadia are well recommended.

 

Also some good friends of ours aged 41 and 43 respectively have just come back from their third trip on Arcadia and said it was perfect and cannot wait to get back again.

 

You will have a great time and stop worrying.

 

Regards,

Barbarella.

[cruiseluvva]

We are in our early 50's ...well I am, my husband is mid 50's ......and we have been on Arcadia 3 times already with another booked in a couple of months. We LOVE Arcadia, she is our all time favourite ship and we have cruised with Carnival, 5 P&O ships, QE2 and Regent Seven Seas.

 

I agree the aft suites are the best cabins to have and we have been lucky enough to have 3 to date, but even the more basic cabins are really quite well appointed and spacious compared to many we have travelled in.

 

There are activities and entertainment for everyone, and the crew onboard are excellent. This year we found the food to be much improved as well. The Arcadian Rhodes and the Orchid which is an Asian Fusian restaurant, are well worth the cover charge so do try them.

 

Go and have a wonderful time.

[daiB]

Hi Redsquirrel,

 

We are also in our early 50's (me 52, hubs just 50) and are back on Arcadia in 9 weeks time doing the 14 night Med cruise. We went with P & O and Arcadia for the first time last year on the Canaries itinerary which in itself was not that exciting.............

 

but....... the actual cruise experience on Arcadia was BRILL. We met more people and had more fun than we ever had on Carnival (x 3 cruises) and RCL (x 2 cruises) which are called the fun ships and for mixed ages.

 

A group of 4 couples with an age mix from 30 to 51 (with us being the eldest) had a great time and we actually all met on the ship in the Rising Sun Pub (the officers were always in there too - good recommendation)

 

We had so much fun we honestly NEVER even saw one show as there was just so much else going on - cocktail parties on the balcony (Yes we had an aft balcony and have a great one booked again this time), get togethers with other people we also met on the cruise, great social dinners etc., etc which moved on to another lounge, bar, balcony etc.

 

Yes about 30% of the pax. were elderly but that left 70% child free and out to have a great time which they did.

 

We love Arcadia and are worried we have been spoilt. As I said, this will be our 7th cruise so have had other experiences so are able to make fair comparisons

 

Go and enjoy. For the ladies it can be a glam occassion with 4 formal nights and people really do make the effort which is so nice to see these days and jut being al glammed up makes you feel so much more positive and happy.

 

Remember, you are as young as you feel and we had a far superior time on Arcadia with the 'old fogie zimmerframe' reputation than we ever had on the big, glitzy american ships. Yes, it maybe us, hubs is an ex-professional DJ and we party a great deal which keeps us both young. The kids are all in their twenties, flown the nest and we are having a great time which you deserve too. Just because you are over 40 doesn't mean you have to stop enjoying yourself.

 

Also there are always pluses. Because a percentage of the pax. are elderly they don't use the sunbeds (not that that would ever be a problem as we have a huge aft balcony) and the pool areas are sophisticated without loads of screaming kids jumping in and out, splashig everybody and beign annoying when you are trying to chill/read/chat etc. (those with kids have all been there when you had no choice.

 

Also elderly people can be extremely interesting and enlightening to talk to over a quiet drink if you just want to chill. Their life experiences can be very moving and enchanting. Just because they are old, doesn't mean they haven't lived or are boring. We'll all be there on day

 

The food, service, ambience is great - you don't feel your being 'nickle and dimed' as the say in the states, i.e being taken in for every last dollar they can get out of you which does happen on the US lines. With P & O you are not taxed on your alcoholic beverages for a start which you are by 15% on the US lines. Also the prices are very reasonable on P & O and you can get a decent beer/wine too.

 

As I said, cannot comment on the shows, we are not really show people and like to make our own entertainment but I understand from fellow cruisers that those on Arcadia are well recommended.

 

Also some good friends of ours aged 41 and 43 respectively have just come back from their third trip on Arcadia and said it was perfect and cannot wait to get back again.

 

You will have a great time and stop worrying.

 

Regards,

Barbarella.

 

 

So all in all you would not recommend Arcadia:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

 

 

We would recommend it as well as we had a great time:)

 

 

Go for it!!!

 

 

 

Happy Cruising

 

 

:cool:

Dai

[WeLoveCruiseShips]

Hi Red Squirrel,

 

We are in our mid 30's and have been on the ship twice now and love her from bow to stern. Check out my website for a video tour of the ship and photo gallery and make up your own mind.

Who says she ain't got the wow factor!!!

[Bollinger_Babe]

My husband and I have been on "Arcadia" twice and she is one of my favourite ships. First time was October 2005, transatlantic from Southampton to the Caribbean via the Azores.

 

Second time was 29 December 2006 from Acapulco. Saw in the New Year 2007 from the "Rising Sun" pub and had a whale of a time.

 

The ship is modern, clean, well-maintained and has LOADS of things to do both day and night. Food and entertainment are brilliant. Each time we have been there has been a wide range of age groups (and no screaming kids - GREAT!)

 

Go and enjoy it.... you'll want to go on the Arcadia again :D

[LibraLass41]

Since my last post on this thread, I have now returned from my 2nd 14n cruise on Arcadia in 14 months. The age range was even lower than last time, some say this is now because Arcadia has weddings onboard. There were 4 weddings at least while we were on her, so lots of younger pax on her, plus all the 45-55 yr olds who have left the teenagers behind to have fun. Dereks quote about Arcadia is rather old hat now and he admits he hasn't sailed on her, so please do not worry , she's fine with a good broad age range from 20 -90, but sorry none of the little darlings on this ship!! No noddy, no nursery and no children running around the pool side.

 

Sue

 

p.s. loved her so much, have booked a 16n cruise on her again to venice in 9 months time.

[The Monocled Mutineer]

Dear Libralass,

 

I stand by my view in my original reply, that the COMBINATION of adults-only, cool-water cruising and ex.Southampton will tend to attract the older crowd.

 

Arcadia is no different from any other shp from the P&O fleet in that respect other than (along with Artemis) of being adults only.

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

Derek Kane

[LibraLass41]

Well, did you book Arcaida? Have you sailed on her yet? As this thread was started a while back now..... if so tell us about it please :)

 

 

 

 

Sue