Lovely ports of call, with minor problems
Arcadia Cruise Review to Scandinavia
Contributor Level:
Second Mate
Cruises: 7+ cruises
Reviews: 9
Helpful Votes: 175
Norwegian Fjords
Sail date: August 03, 2019
Ship: Arcadia
Cabin type: Balcony
Traveled as: Couple
Reviewed: 5 years ago
Review summary
Excellent ports of call, great food and a relaxing holiday.Embarkation
We planned to get there around 1230 as it was a saturday with a couple of ships in and the local football was on. Surprisingly, the traffic was very quiet, so we actually go into the terminal around 1150. We had to wait a really long ten mins before we were called forward and on for our first drink - brilliant.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
The food generally was very good, we went to Sindhu twice this trip, i had booked before we went as it was our 40th wedding anniversary, but that night the price was cheaper, so they moved our original booking so we could pay less for the first one - really nice meals, and the the staff excellent. The main dining room food was always good, however my wife did say if you are not keen on fish, sometimes the choice was limited - i didn't mine, i love seafood. The portion size is not large, however saying that, if you include the soup course there is enough, the only comment from me, is not enough veg, i always order extra. We did have to complain about the service, it seems they again are making the waiters serve more tables with less staff, which in turn made the service slow and on one occasion, my pudding did not turn up - i left rather angry, and various courses being given to the wrong person - late etc, however after my 'talk' with the manager, it worked fine. Buffets - again the food always good, with a good variety but busy and found a couple of times that the tables not easy to find.
Onboard Activities
Those that we took part in were very good, but as we had a balcony, we did spent a good bit of time there.
Entertainment
The ships staff were great, they did five different shows with only the first one we thought the harmonies did not quite work, however we did find out the team had only just been updated and the later shows were very good. The entertainers that visited did not really appeal to us (seem to be for the more mature (in age) guests...) the on-board groups/musicians were excellent, and always tried to perform what you wanted. We did a few quizzes which we enjoyed.
Service and Staff
Giving my previous comments for the main dining room - the other waiters, very good, only saw our room steward once - seemed he hid from us and every time we left our cabin it was sorted out for us, the bar staff good and as we were on for a longer cruse, get to know you and what you drink etc.
Ship Quality
The design is for the long range traveller, however when eating in the dining room over the propellers you can feel it and hear it. The layout is not as nice as other ships, but some prefer it that way. It is showing signs of age, some of the carpets are looking a little thread bare at the edges, rusty bits that really need looking at. The common area are keep clean.
Cabin / Stateroom
The size is very nice, as it is build for the longer cruise, lots of space to put your gear, with space under the beds for the empty cases. The wardrobes seem not quite deep enough, as i kept my suit carrier in (for my DJ) which could not fit in sideways completely which took up space. Always cleaned by our steward which seemed to hide from us and get in and 'make up' as soon as we left. Nice flat screen tv.
Ports of call
A nice small and quiet place to visit, not far to walk in with a few shops and photo opportunities. Easily done in a couple of hours, not cheap.
Thumbs Up
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Almost the same as Skagen, a bit larger and easy to walk around - we did find a very nice local bakers for our Danish... also found an Army exhibition of radio equipment which was free and very good and a toilet to use.
First time for this ship and for us, nice and cheap, Amber shops (yes we did spent some money) and a nice chocolate shop (they didn't last very long). We used the shuttle to get in, (it was raining) and found the tourist information (just by the drop off point) and the roads and pavements cobbled, which when wet, are not easy to navigate. A good selection of shops with a local market in the square which if you wanted any cheap amber, you could get, however never really sure if it is the real thing. We had a band and some cannons on our way out.
We have been before, again took the shuttle but if you feel brave you can walk. Not cheap, but lots and lots of shops.
St. Petersburg, Russian Federation
Again we have been before, so only did a couple of tours which we missed the last time. Just make sure you give enough time to get through passport control, when a few trips go at the same time, there is a rather large line, and the same happened on the return - that was due to the x-ray machine, yep just the one.
Gdansk, Poland
We did a trip that took in the local Amber factory then into Gdansk which we really enjoyed - Gdansk is now on our hit list for a return. Gdynia looked nice, but we didn't get the time to walk around and look - our choice, but worth a visit. Gdansk if a fair way from the port so worth doing a ships visit just incase things don't quite go to plan, but really worth a visit.
Easy to walk in to the main town, a bit disappointed that the local tourist information was not at the port waiting for us and the ones on the map, not easy to find. However lots of shops (not cheap) and not too far away - however if wet (like it was for us) not too many places to get under cover.
I like this port, we have been before, and they are building the port up. The exchange rate offered by the 'land train' was not the best - 100 Kroner (for us that worked out to 10 pounds sterling which i purchased before the trip) or 15 pounds sterling, 15 euros or 15 us dollars, to take you to a place that takes only 10 mins to walk. A nice street of shops etc but again not cheap.
Disembarkation
Out of the cabin before 0800, and waiting in the theatre until 0930 for us to be called, but we did find all of our luggage very quickly and off to the car and out.
Traveler Photos
