This was our first time on Arvia and our first cruise since 2019.
We have undertaken many cruises with P and O since starting and it has always felt a special holiday.
However on this occasion we were disappointed but made the best of it.
Before we even got on board we were advised to book our entertainment and dining and we had to print off a boarding pass, loading up a passport size photo of each passenger which took time.
The booking of meals was frustrating as the system would only let you pre book up to 6.30, so much for Freedom dining.
We decided to book the Meridian Dining Room each night and asked to share a table.
After three nights of sharing we were suddenly allocated a table for two for the rest of the holiday which isolated us from other passengers.
On reaching Southampton by car where we usually have had staff to take our luggage, we had to load it onto trolleys, struggle across the road and leave it by a designated deck area.
I have to say that the luggage arrived very quickly which was a plus.
this cruise left Southampton after most of the schools had returned so we were very surprised at the amount of children of school age that were on board.
The food was not as good as it used to be.
I ordered braised lamb which was totally red when it arrived .
However, the staff were very attentive.
We certainly would not go on Arvia again, our opinion is that it is Butlins on Steroids.
The sound levels for all the entertainment including that around the main pool were excessive and at times you could not hear what was being said or sung as it became distorted.
Most of the entertainment was good, but in the Atrium it was dull and uninteresting and we had to listen to a spanish guitarist and dancer or a singer who only sang soleful songs for most of the cruise.
There is a small adults only area on board which helped relieve the noise but reduced the facilities that could be used.
The three trips we did were very good
All the booking made the experience very controlled and therefore we lost the spontaneity associated with our idea of a holiday.