Arvia 28th April- 12th May.
Very nice ship, didn’t feel like over 5,000 people on board, plenty of space even on sea days.
We found the staff very friendly & helpful think they a bit understaffed worked really hard.
We did have hot meals in all the different areas we had food.
When at destinations plenty of shuttle buses ( yes you had to queue for a bit) but was well organised & free if you were on Select Fare.
I’m have Coeliac Disease so g/f diet required.
No problem! Menus in all the restaurants had symbols g/f & in buffet etc.
Ate in Zenith every evening & they gave me the next days menu so could choose items so they could be adjusted, mind , did notice several options for vegan / vegetarian but often only one on item sometimes two for g/f in Zenith ! Often had breakfast in The Olive grove we both enjoyed with waiter service.
Did find when we had breakfast in the buffet had to ask a member of staff for g/f toast as no separate station, so had to wait a while but the staff were very helpful.
Quay’s made me lovely g/f fish & chips so nice went several times for lunch.
Can pre-book early dining slots ( do before you sail about 1 week before & also for shows).
If not you turn up 1st come 1st served or on the virtual queue app! Personally we don’t like the app although some do, much prefer when one used to have early or late sitting, no messing about so could relax.
Do not like how one is being asked to pay more & more for restaurants to dine in, why should one? We have already paid to eat when we booked? One never used too! Find there is now less on the main menus in the free dining areas to try & force people to pay extra to increase P & O profits!
Show’s found ok, have seen better on other cruises, sometimes so loud had to walk out as it was making my ears hurt, other people were saying the same.
Was worst on the last evening of the cruise especially in the Sky Dome when showing live the Eurovision Song Contest.
The sound was so unbearable loud that we walked straight out spoils the entertainment.
Plus in other venues that night putting on past songs so not much choice of entertainment that night.
Found the same entertainment often repeated like in the Atrium, Spanish sounds, click ,click, clicking while a class on how to learn the castanets? Why aren’t these type of classes put in a room so not to disturb all the other people on the different levels in the Atrium.
Only interesting for those who want to learn it.
Not entertaining like when line dancing, keep fit class & other things on.
Was a pity the Acrobatics act couldn’t have been shown as a main act in the Theatre’s as they were very talented .
Best acts on while we on ship was Rachael Haunt ( Cher ) & Jo Little Brilliant!
Sadly the last nights show ( The Sky’s the limit) found was the worst show of the holiday & extremely loud & irritating every 2-3 mins announcements before it even began again because of the noise level we had to leave early! Usually the last nights the best!
Found a lot of acts repeated throughout the cruise ( understand having to show twice because of the number of people on board) mean other acts Spanish sounds etc so one gets fed up hearing the same thing, cheap entertainment, play different music each night instead.
We had a cabin on deck 4 midship which we chose as I get sea sick, cabin was lovely with a seat under the window.
Sadly we had 5 different nights with a very load grating noise, cruised many times never had this noise.
Reported it told to ring customer services up when it happened again whatever time of day or night , which we did! Told ships do have noises etc we said yes we know have sailed before but never had anything like this before, given ear plugs? Could still hear the noise as it was so loud but who wants to sleep with these all the time?
The surprising thing was that every time we reported it about 1/2 hour later it stopped, so did mention was the Stabilisers on? ?? Was a shame because otherwise the cabin was great!
I also found that for a new ship I had to take sea sick pills for the full 2 weeks which normally after a day or so I don’t have too, so I now wonder if the stabilisers weren’t being used as much as they should? Other people had said the same about having to take sea sick pills some had never taken them before.
My sister had been on Arvia last year & she had recommended it to us & she was fine last year only took sea sick pills the 1st day at sea, she went again the 2 weeks before us this year & told me afterwards that she found she had the same problem as me ( had to take sea sick pills all the time) & couldn’t understand why as had no problems last year! So would like to know what’s changed? Is it what I’ve said? The Stabilisers not being used ? Maybe this ship needs to use them all the time?
So the ship itself is lovely but because I had to take sea sick pills all the time it’s put me of going on this ship again.