Great holiday despite P&O
Arvia Cruise Review
Contributor Level:
Purser
Cruises: 4-6 cruises
Review: 1
Helpful Votes: 27
Review summary
Can only describe it as Butlins at sea, Very much a family ship.Embarkation
Fantastic 20 mins tops,
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
MDR most of the time OK, horizon was a free for all most of the time, again food OK but not a lot of choice. Keel and Cow was excellent, Glass House, nothing special, if I'm paying extra I want to be in a restaurant not in the atrium with everybody wandering past the table and kids running about. Enjoyed the Quays, 6th Street diner, went once and that as enough, burgers very good poolside though. Because it was half term didn't have one peaceful meal there was always a child kicking up somewhere. Before I get crucified for saying that, yes it was our mistake we didn't realise it was half term.
Onboard Activities
We usually like joining in activities such as talks, quizzes, deck games, these were very limited not surprising as entertainment staff who host them let slip there were only 6 people on the team. There were of course plenty of talks from staff of the shops. Very disappointed given the amount of sea days. Couldn't get into the pools because they were all full of children. There were children everywhere. Our mistake we didn't realise it was half term.
Entertainment
Good, but if you are at the back of the ship very noisy until late because of the clubhouse, we were 3 floors above and nearer the front of the aft portion of the ship.
Service and Staff
They work very hard under difficult circumstances, because of staffing shortages. People were getting a bit fed up of lack of organisation, queues for everything (dining room was always at least an hour) slow service so the poor staff got the brunt of it. There were a lot of rude people on-board
Ship Quality
Cabin always clean as were communal areas, never saw anyone cleaning the toilets though, quite a few times hand towel bins were full, had to put back a few pieces of cutlery because they weren't washed properly. Needed more adult only areas. Don't like the promenade deck which had sunbeds and chairs all around it running under the cabins, found that you couldn't get any peace sitting on the balcony was like sitting on the sun deck and we were on deck 11, got woken up early every morning with the loungers being up out. Nowhere near enough seating in public areas always struggled finding somewhere to sit. Feel like I'm having a real moan but this ship isn't for me it's way too big, great for families although some were saying they couldn't get their kids into the activities.
Cabin / Stateroom
Cabin was clean and new, like the addition of a sofa but the wardrobes aren't tall enough for dresses. Our cabin had the bed near the balcony door so loved lying in bed with a coffee looking out to see but at night the bed is so close to the curtains every time you get in or out you opened the curtains.
Ship tip
You have to be very patient, couldn't get in any virtual queues because they were all full. Don't go in school holidays, I'm not having a go at children,they are just doing wgat children do, but when you've got them in cabins above and at the side of you it did spoil the holiday with the constant banging and running around and apparently they aren't taught how to use a door handle any more so slammed the door every time. Won't put me off but going to try one of the adult ships next time
Thumbs up
0
Ports of call
This port was cancelled we went to Cartagena instead, threw it down, took a good half hour to get back on the ship no shelter just stood in heavy rain whilst they let about 6 people on at a time!
The shuttle dropped off at an arena about a 45 min walk from the old town, not sure why because there was nothing to do there,
Went on a lovely trip to Lugo, great day out, got to walk o the roman Wall, well worth a visit
Disembarkation
Felt chaotic but to be fair with that amount of passengers it was never going to be easy for them, but was only about 30 mins from being called to getting off and through customs,