Can not wait to go on her xx

Thankfully, I've been on arcadia before and realise these are your opinions only and not a true reflection of the ship!

Interesting. Our VERY recent cruise on her almost couldn’t be more opposite. All the speciality/extra venues (Ocean Grill, Sindhu and Neptunes Grill) were all open and managed to book tables whilst onboard - the app doesn’t really work for her. Staffing levels were acceptable - although could have been better but this is something plaguing most ships and lines at the moment, and almost all members seemed to happy, attentive and efficient - especially the ones on reception. Menus in the main restaurant were ok to good, some very good and good to see loads of choice at the late night buffet etc. Agree that organisation in the main restaurant seems chaotic at times, but we had no real problem getting a table for two for lunch or dinner. Ship was being kept clean and lovely to see her exterior being painted and being kept up after her dry dock before coming back into service along with hand rails being varnished regularly. Sadly leaks and their resulting buckets do plague her - after all she is getting on for 18 years old and is by far the most intrepid ship crossing the globe and takes a hammering but yes perhaps maintenance teams could be increased and stepped up. However none of it really affected our time on her. It’s was our 28th cruise (all mainly with P&O Cruises, Cunard & Princess) and we had a superb time. She’s a very understated ship, no fake ritz or glitz but has class. Wouldn’t hesitate to cruise on her again - in fact booked 30 days to America and Canada in 2024 whilst we were on her…

@sailawaymag

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching! Glad you had a more enjoyable time onboard than us.

@simonb7715

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for this review hopefully Arcadia is now getting the support of both staff & maintenance it seems to missed. We've previously cruise over Christmas on her and have booked for this year so 🤞all restaurant and venues will as good as we remember, Sindhu our favourite place to eat

Another fair and balanced video, as usual - thank you 😊

@sailawaymag

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching David, and your kind comment! Hope you are well :)

Oh no we are booked to go on a cruise very soon!

@StayBelfast

5 ай бұрын

hi now youve been on this ship what did you think overall, im thinking of booking for next year but after watching the video now uncertain. would be great to read your feedback. Sinead

What a beautiful ship!

@sailawaymag

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching! 😁

Great effort, well done. There are not many videos of this ship, but I don't know why, although I love its type of the same model in the ships. You are excellent. I salute you from Egypt.

@sailawaymag

Жыл бұрын

Hello Ahmed, thanks for watching! Good health to you :)

Wow this video has an amazing quality

@sailawaymag

11 ай бұрын

Thank you much! ☺️

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I want to do a world cruise, but ìm not sold on this ship. Not for 3 months 😢

I see Arcadia is having a massive refit in November 2024 and Aurora the following spring so it’s looking like P&O are committed to these vessels after all.

@sailawaymag

9 ай бұрын

We hope so! They need to give them some TLC if they want to keep up with everyone else! 😅

@gerardmackay8909

9 ай бұрын

@@sailawaymag well I’ve got a 4 day mini cruise booked to Amsterdam on Arcadia in November for £349 outside cabin (can’t resist a bargain) then waiting a day in Southampton before heading to the Canaries on The Queen Victoria so it will be interesting to compare and contrast (I already know the drinks, priced in dollars and with service charge added, will be double the price on Cunard).

@sailawaymag

9 ай бұрын

Exciting!! You’ll have an amazing time no matter what, being in a crusie is just the best, but drop us a message when your back and let us know how they go! You’ll be paying a kings ransom for drinks on Cunard! 😅

@sailawaymag

9 ай бұрын

@gerardmackay8909 Queen Victoria is one of our favourites! We’ve been on her 4 times, more than any other ship - and we’re sailing on her again at the start of November! She’s a stunning ship, we’ve done a ship tour and review of her 😊

@gerardmackay8909

9 ай бұрын

@@sailawaymag will definitely drop you a line and we can compare notes for sure. We are excited to be back on Cunard (we’ve done the QM2 twice to New York in the noughties) and back then it wasn’t particularly expensive on board. Of course in those days we were getting about $1.80 to the pound instead of $1.24 so yes we are bracing ourselves for an eye watering bar bill. One final fun fact is that Arcadia was actually commissioned to be the original Queen Victoria but Cunard received a lot of negative feedback from ‘would be customers’ who were disappointed at her lack of a ballroom and other omissions, so the decision was made to offload her to P&O, who at the time were looking to expand their fleet, and commission a brand new Queen Victoria which included all the popular Cunard features.

Thanks guys for your tour around Arcadia. The quote your video’s is at another level, congratulations. Friends went on her “betwixmas” cruise and like you, described her as “homely” but a little tired (they still enjoyed her though). With P&O moving towards bigger ships, you fear for the likes of Arcadia and Aurora. 🙏👍

@sailawaymag

Жыл бұрын

Hey, thanks for watching and your kind comment! We went on her in October 2017, and we had a great time - but was shocked to see that she is exactly the same as she was on our last trip, and what with all the venues being closed it was undoubtedly one of the worst cruises we have done! It’s very clear that P&O have given up all investment into her, and it seems though they are starting to wind her down before putting her up for sale! Arcadia and Aurora’s years are numbered :(

@christinesaunders1392

10 ай бұрын

P & O need to wake up to the fact not everyone likes these big ships we certainly don't and might have to change our loyalty to something else.

@gerardmackay8909

10 ай бұрын

@@christinesaunders1392 The thing is P&O don’t care about you moving on because with the mega ships they are attracting a whole different demographic (and bargain last minute sales mean they sail at near on full capacity). I’ve sailed both Iona and Arvia and certainly appreciated the vast choice which appears lacking on the smaller vessels so I will be interested to see what kind of a contrasting experience we will have on Arcadia in November ( to have the only two specialty restaurants both out of service is unfathomable). We are thinking about the Fjords for June and Fred Olsen’s Balmoral, out of Newcastle, looks to be a nice high quality alternative to the glitz and glitter and heaving crowds of ships 4 times her size.

Just watched your video and wondered what the the situation would be like for a disabled person relying on a mobility scooter would be like navigating the Arcadia? We have just enquired about a world cruise & feel perhaps the Arcadia is not the right vessel for us now. Would you mind commenting please Thank you in advance.. G

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I was on the Arcadias maiden that’s when I enjoyed P & O ….not now

@sailawaymag

Жыл бұрын

I’d imagine you had a much better experience than us! Do you still travel with P&O?

@AlVlogs1603

Жыл бұрын

@@sailawaymag hi and simple answer no.I have cruised since I was 8 I’m now 64 and I haven’t cruised for the last 7 years.The whole experience has been gradually diminishing for years,from service to entertainment,from overall standards to food.I have cruised on Cunard,Shaw Saville,Union Castle,Princess,RCL,NCL,Oceana but predominantly on P & O which as soon as Carnival took over are a shadow of their former selves.The apartment blocks at sea which are now getting built are far too impersonal and are catering for a mass market,which are sadly pandering to some unsavoury people,which on a cruise 8 years ago led to a massive brawl.I must say that I’m in no way a snob but friends who have cruised nearly as long as us think exactly on the same lines.Also the hygiene standards of passengers nowadays are a lot to be desired especially in these time with Norovirus and Covid about.

Why was so much closed on your cruise?

@sailawaymag

Жыл бұрын

It’s a question we put to P&O, an answer there came none!

definitely a 3* cruise ship

5:52 is there a charge to use sauna?

@sailawaymag

Жыл бұрын

Hey! There is a charge to use the Spa facility’s including the sauna, at the time of filming this was charged at £35pp for a two hour slot

@kennoch

9 күн бұрын

There is NO charge for the sauna located outside of Spa just by Table tennis. Separate one for Men and Ladies. It requires no booking. Only 1 shower small sauna for around 5 persons.

Nicely put together as always gents. It certainly doesn’t have a wow factor, actually it sticks out to me as not fitting with rest of fleet, but as say with some love looks like it could be more classy. Do reckon it only has few more years as p&o ship?

@sailawaymag

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching as usual! Yes, you are right! She does stick out, and doesn't look like she belongs to the P&O fleet when you see how glitzy and glamorous their ships have become. Arcadia's time with P&O is certainly numbered - it's clear that there is no investment going into this ship whatsoever!

Thanks for making this guys, looks a bit tired and underwhelming this ship when compeered to their newer ships in the fleet. However that's not to say P&O shouldn't and couldn't give her a refurbishment / TLC, but I bet they wont when given all the other cut backs P&O have made across the fleet.

@sailawaymag

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching! You're right - there is no reason why P&O can't keep this medium-sized ship as part of their fleet, so that they can continue to appeal to those loyal P&O cruisers who enjoy the smaller classes of ship. However, if the company continue to avoid investment into her - people are not going to want to book cruises aboard her, and they may as well retire her from the fleet. From our onboard experience, that is almost certainly going to happen!

We did a Christmas cruise on Arcadia last year and what a disappointment. The air condition in our cabin kept breaking down and the temperature in our cabin hovered around 24c most of the time. There were leaks everywhere and a particularly bad one outside the theatre, we found the food bland and uninspiring. We have cruised with P&O for many years but, after this and our disappointment with Iona, we will never cruise with P&O again.

@sailawaymag

11 ай бұрын

Hey Ian, so sorry for the delayed response some comments were hidden by YT! 🤦🏼‍♂️ Sorry to hear you had a bad time onboard, Have you got any other cruises planned you can look forward to?! ☺️

@ianleaver4967

11 ай бұрын

@@sailawaymag Just come back from a cruise to the Artic on Queen Victoria, beautiful ship and fabulous cruise.

@sailawaymag

11 ай бұрын

Oh wow I bet that was amazing!! Glad you had a great time onboard!! 😀

Oh please , Arcadia is a lovely old girl. Not for your age group.

@sailawaymag

Жыл бұрын

You’re wrong Ian! We’re on Eurodam at the moment, operated by Holland America; very much a cruise line targeted at the older ages and it’s been fantastic! Arcadia is clearly being wound down and her years with P&O is numbered. It is very clear to see if you have sailed on her recently. Closed venues and poor maintenance should not go unchallenged!

@SlowBloke123

Жыл бұрын

I’m 53…spent 8 years working on princess cruises in the 90s. Based on a 3 day cruise in the november 2022 this was a subpar experience at every turn. The buffet was absolutely terrible. Main dining below average. Crew clearly unhappy (understandable but doesn’t make for an enjoyable trip), entertainment nothing like the 90s princess quality, passengers mix…quite a few drunk brits abroad moments…felt like butlins, just gutted to see P&O Cruises (who owned princess when I worked there) so bad…. Ship tired needs investment and the product as a whole needs urgent attention. I would not have been proud as a member of her crew…

Wow. I was going to book arcadia in November for a 4 day cruise over to Amsterdam. Your video doesn't fill me full of confidence 😢😢

@sailawaymag

11 ай бұрын

Hey, thanks so much for watching! Did you have your eyes on any other cruises around that time?! ☺️

@guitarsandcheesecake1632

11 ай бұрын

@sailaway_with maybe Aurora..... I'll probably go and put it down to experience. Its only over to Amsterdam. So not a long cruise

@sailawaymag

11 ай бұрын

No matter what you’ll still have a great time! We love Amsterdam and there’s so much to do there! Let us know when your back how you get on?! ☺️

@guitarsandcheesecake1632

11 ай бұрын

@sailaway_with well I've booked to go on Arcadia November 19th. I'm looking forward to it. It'll be my third time in Amsterdam. Take care, and keep up the great work 👍

@gerardmackay8909

10 ай бұрын

@@guitarsandcheesecake1632 just booked the same break a couple of weeks ago (outside cabin for £349 each) though prices seem to fluctuate wildly. It may be ‘tired’ but where else could you get 4 days full board and entertainment, all in, for £87 per day? Cruises in my youth were for the seriously wealthy, this break is cheaper than 4 nights in a Blackpool B&B.

an incredibly beautiful ship, but inside the reconstruction could have been done better, I mean furniture and materials