Mixed bag
Arvia Cruise Review
Contributor Level:
Third Mate
Cruises: 4-6 cruises
Reviews: 2
Helpful Votes: 35
Review summary
Beautiful ship, but some staff are trying to ruin it. Arvia doesn't really know if it's a family ship or not. It's aiming for everyone and missing the basics.Embarkation
Really quick and easy, no complaints at all.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
Have only travelled Cunard before and wouldn't be able to choose between them and Arvia; food was perfect. There's always chicken or steak in MDR if nothing else that night takes you. The Quays was the most civilised venue outside MDR for breakfast and we got into that routine every morning with our same table on the prom.
Onboard Activities
A lot were fully booked before we booked, there was one lady on board talking about whales but no choice outside that for speakers. We didn't find much we wanted to do.
Entertainment
Stunning entertainment, particularly from Headliners (Sky's the Limit was brilliant). The shows are particularly well choreographed. The ship seemed to be raving about Ben Moss and a magician, but their shows seemed about 30 years older than the ship. I wasn't sure how you do close up magic successfully in a theatre before going, and I'm still waiting to learn. 5 stars, nevertheless, for the evening with Matt Cardle.
Particularly enjoyed the vocalist in Crows Nest too.
Service and Staff
A lot of the staff on this ship have a serious attitude problem. In Sindhu we asked for a recommendation as it was all sounding so good we couldn't decide. The waiter said "if you want chicken, order chicken. If you want lamb, order lamb." My partner's order was totally wrong in the Diner, the waiter argued before taking it away, bringing it back without even looking at us, let alone any apology. I jokingly said to the next table in Olive Grove that I was determined to get the waiter smiling before we go and they said I wouldn't. Reader, I didn't!
There are some wonderful staff and when you find them it helps you work out your plan for the day, because elsewhere, I just felt anxious ordering anything.
Ship Quality
Toothpaste rings on top shelf in bathroom, makeup pads behind bedside table. What you could see was clean, usually. Crows nest people had written in the dust on the window ledges, lots of carpet stains everywhere by the end of 2 weeks.
The design was odd in places. Deck 5 you can't walk aft one side, the promenade round balconies just feels intrusive.
Cabin / Stateroom
Bed was comfy enough. Bathroom beautiful, but not entirely clean on embarkation. It's all rather narrow and when dressing for dinner you probably have to prearrange the order you're going to go the wardrobe, it's 1 at a time walking around the bed.
Ship was very creaky and loud when sea was rolling it. Something outside our balcony was groaning with every wave, though I slept better than some others
Ship tip
If you want something to eat before bed, get a dessert from the Quays mid-afternoon and put in your cabin fridge. 11pm buffet is basically feeding time at the zoo.
Thumbs up
0
Ports of call
Disembarkation
Absolutely bewildering. Out of cabins by 8am then not to disembarkation venue til 9, so you had to wait somewhere, to wait to get to your disembarkation lounge, to wait to go to gangway. I still can't work out why. Groups were being told individually when to leave the ship but once someone heard, everybody else got off anyway. It was 45 minutes from getting on to the gangway to baggage hall. 2 weeks on Arvia had conditioned me into thinking queuing was a standard holiday activity, luckily.
Traveler Photos
