Reviews

after our excursions we found the distance to the gangway to get back on board far too long. i have a walking disability an had a problem getting access but there was a nearer gangway which for some reason we could not use, even though i saw a staff member gaining acess this way.

On arrival in San Francisco a smooth hassle free transfer ensured our holiday got off to a great start. Special praise for the P&O staff waiting at our hotel (Hilton Union Sq) with our room key, already checked in so no waiting around. Brilliant! straight to our room to relax after a long flight. We had booked an extra couple of nights before we started our cruise, which we thoroughly enjoyed and would do again. This was our second cruise on board Arcadia. As previously, we were not disappointed. Excellent service, and lots to do on sea days. Particularly enjoyed the table tennis, where we met lots of great people from the UK and Australia. The transit of the panama canal very interesting; well done to entertainment crew for commentary. We enjoyed radio Arcadia when getting ready in our cabin every evening, before going down for dinner, enjoying great company on table 60, lower level Meridian restaurant. We have loads of lovely memories of ports of call and relaxing sea days. We hope to sail again with P&O, which we would thoroughly recommend. The holiday represented excellent value for money. Well done P&O, Arcadia and all her fabulous crew!

Overall the cruise aboard Arcadia was an enjoyable lifetime experience. Passenger staff were excellent, food and service, shore excursions and on board entertainment very good. There were a few problems with the Bridge Crew's management of certain events such as the safety drills which were generally poorly managed - indeed a shambles! The ship itself is now very tatty since our last cruise aboard, 96 days in 2010. She is well overdue the refit later this year. Deck planking lifting, carpets stained and exercise equipment rusty. There were 5 exercise bikes broken out of a total of only 8 and spar pools not working. The main negative, was that we missed a total of 5 ports (6 shore days). This was compensated by an extra day in Montevideo and an additional port in Brazil (Salvador), but the net loss was 4 ports. P&O had legitimate reasons, but the fare we paid includes all port fees, pilotage, taxes, security etc. for these missed ports. So the question is does P&O pocket our money as a fortuitous saving are should we not have it refunded?

Prior to the cruise, within my 'Cruise Ordganiser', I purchased two 12 bottle wine packages (eg 24 bottles) plus an internet 250 package. The site suggested to me that I would be getting a discount for pre-ordering (and pre-paying). The payment was £417 in total. Once on board I discovered that not only were the packages to same price (ie no discount) but that my Portinus Club discount (7.5) had not been applied and would have been if I had made the purchses actually on the ship. I was advised by the Portinus Club rep on the ship that I should phone when back in the UK and I would recieve a refund for the discount (£31.34). However, when I called P&O I was advised that the discount would only be applied for on-board purchases, and that I had actually purchased a 'gift' (which the site clearly did not suggest to me, and why on earth would I purchase a gift to myself?) and that they would not refund my 7.5%. I am not at all happy, I feel, ripped-off', and would urge all passengers not to make any advance purchses prior to a cruise.

Second Xmas away and we really enjoyed ourselves. Mum and I would be out of our cabin at 8,30 am and not back until 6 as we had plenty to occupy ourselves with. I can't understand these people who criticise everything on offer - what would they be doing if they were in a resort???? Getting very fed up of the professional moaners who have seen it all and done everything and evidently live off caviar and lobster every night - getting harder to bite my tongue and not say anything.

My only critisism is the seating in the lounge areas, most seats are very low and not always easy to get up from, considering age.

Although involved with Shipping for over 40 years, this was my first Cruise, sailing from Southampton to Brisbane, via South America and Pacific Island. I was so impressed I booked another 50+ day cruise next January on same ship. So many things to do, and be entertained by, it was fantastic. Restaurant staff, Bar staff and the Entertainment staff did everything possible to make it a wonderful holiday. The profesionalism of the crew was to be admired and perhaps the only downside of the whole cruise were comments from a minority who seemed to believe that having completed a number of cruises they were experienced seamen, able to operate a ship the size of Arcadia far better than the Captain, Officers and Crew. Well done Arcadia, well done P&O

for first cruise cabin was clean & food was good would go on this ship again

This was Christmas [2012] and New Year [2013] around the Med. Day 1 - the Captain announced as we left that Barcelona on New Years Eve would not be having a firework display so we would be leaving port at 7:00pm instead of early on 1st Jan. P & O had tried to get in touch with all passengers [he said] to tell them, but clearly not us! Still waiting. Even if we had heard before, would we be allowed to cancel? Doubt it. Should have plumped for Madeira again. Excellent cabin steward, but what happened to the free-to-use fluffy dressing gown and slippers? Absent without trace. As was the captain himself. On every previous P & O cruise, the Captain has been out and about every day chatting to all he met. This time, we never saw him once in 18 days. Also, the New Years Eve party on board was dire. On the pool deck with the roof closed - music far too loud, entertainment staff and crew clustered together [some acting the fool and getting drunk] but none [NONE] actually mingling with the passengers to engender a party spirit. On the subject of Entertainment, how many times can passengers be asked to see the same Headliners shows? Same thing again, New York ditto, Queen, Blues Brothers. And whoever thought that having 2 high-pitched [and very loud] sopranos in the cast with no balancing harmony between them seriously needs to reconsider. The 3 solo artists were quite good. This cruise was a 45th wedding anniversary present from me to my wife but she was bored from day 5. No instruction classes to interest her during the sea days, such as writing, crafts, etc. And who amongst you has a wife who would sit through seven 45-minute talks on Concorde? Definitely not mine, and I don't blame her. The talks were good, but only for tecchie geeks like me. She had her Line Dancing on sea days, but not much else. P & O must realise that not everyone loves deck quoits, shuffleboard, [endless] quizzes and bingo. Goods on sale in the on-board shops were, as before, over-priced, even on Sale days. Now for the food. My wife likes to experiment in her cooking - me, I'm a plain food chap [eat to live not admire how it's laid out on the plate!]. On too many occasions, the evening menu in the dining room had nothing of interest to us: lamb, pork, seafood, etc. More choices than previously but all very fancy. Missing from the menu were the steak and chicken for those who didn't like the options given - these were available [if one asked] but how many times can you have grilled chicken for dinner. 2 dinner companions ordered Welsh Rarebit for their meal [I know, for dinner?] but when it arrived it was unrecognisable. One of them is Welsh and we even had the Head Waiter try to tell the sous chef that he didn't know what he was doing. As he was very busy [or didn’t want to be told], that was hopeless! Much missed was the excellent previous Entertainment Director, who had retired to Italy where he and his partner run a donkey sanctuary. Whatever his replacement is doing is just not working. Several days in, I lost a sheet of pills that I needed to take: two daily. I went to the Medical Centre and was told that, to get replacement pills, I would have to see the doctor first - £50, please! – and that the replacement pills would be collectable from our next port, as they were not in stock aboard. Needless to say, I didn’t. I went ashore at Valencia and bought a 40-pack from a pharmacy for €3.30, no questions asked. I leave you to imagine how I felt about that episode. Finally, we received 2 bath sheets from P & O for Christmas presents - just a bit odd, we thought! Did they buy too many and not know what to do with them. I know that most people book cruises because of where the ship is going, as we have done, but we are seriously re-considering our options and our choice of Arcadia for any next venture.

Another excellent cruise on Arcadia although we have had better weather to and from the caribbean we enjoyed the excellent servive by all the staff and food was as always firstclass. We are looking forward to cruise J302 in April 13 and wish you to pass on our thanks to all concerned.