Positives.
We decided to try Arvia as she was a new ship and had been built up as being amazing.
The ship itself was ok very stable and clean but with no atmosphere rather bland and far too modern for a cruise ship you could be in any modern hotel but she is very stable.
The staff what there was of them were exceptional very helpful and hard working.
The trouble was the ship is far too big and busy it had to berth away from the ain’t terminals, which meant that places of interest were some way away. Trying to disembark nearly 5000 people took far too long.
The queues for the gangway were up to 30 minutes long, as I have a slight mobility problem I was unable to get off the ship until Cadiz.
There also seems to have been many cutbacks cabins only serviced once a day food seemed to be below the usual standard no prawn cocktail on offer.
The 6th street diner and epicurian were the exception the food and menu were excellent.
The ridiculous pre-booking system was a failure shows and excursions were fully booked even before we got onboard.
This system also makes a mockery of freedom dining as you were supposed to go book a table in the dining room or given a pager, and even then the wait could be up to an hour.
We were able to use the walk in facility on occasions.
It would seem that pand o are catering for younger travellers and ignoring regular older travellers who can often only manage a cruise holiday because of age or mobility whatever happened to loyalty.
On the whole, it was the most disappointing of our 15 p ando cruises and if we hadn’t had good weather and sunny balcony it would have been a total disaster I cannot fault the staff and captain Camby and his crew were their usual efficient selves.
Big ships and a pre-booking system are not conducive to happy cruising but smaller ships and relaxed attitude are so lets hope P&O consider the people who have supported them in the past and will pass on their happy experiences to future cruisers.
We may have to find an alternative type of holiday not easy when you are an octogenarian.