Boarding was well organised (unlike when boarding Iona last year when we were kept waiting 2 hours on the coach) and our Conservatory mini suite was roomy and clean .
The cabin steward and waiters were very good, helpful and friendly.
The standard of food in the main dining rooms has deteriorated; over cooked and dry chicken(twice), not much variety in vegetables, I never want to see a green bean again, and steak that was a bit gristly.
Wine waiters were quick to bring a bottle but they never returned to refill glasses.
You had to pay extra for some starters (£3.95) and main courses (£10.95) which I think is a bit much.
We had cheese several times instead of a dessert, this was 3 slices of different cheeses – always the same cheese- on a plate with a couple of crackers and a bit of tired looking celery or carrot and a couple of pieces of dried fruit.The Epicurean was good with good service.
We didn’t enjoy Sindhu as much as before, no depth of flavour in the food part from the Dahl.
Beach House seafood was very nice but we had a screaming child behind us throughout our meal.
We’ve suggested to P&O children aren’t allowed in there after 7pm.
The Quays was very convenient with decent food but the chairs need refurbishment, Fabric a bit worn from greasy fingers.
The cost of drinks has increased since last year as has room service.
Ports of call varied.
Trip to Montserrat from Barcelona was brilliant and well worth the money.
“Highlights of Marseilles” just confirmed there were no highlights, just walls covered in graffiti.
Having paid select price we expected shuttle buses to take us to a town centre but in Valencia the buses dropped us off at the edge of the city and you had to get a taxi or bus into the old town (40minutes walk).
Several hundred passengers were milling around ,unable to find a taxi, and we didn’t see any buses.
We just went into a shopping centre across the road (like Meadowhall) had a coffee and went back to the ship.
I learnt afterwards that the Spanish authorities didn’t want shuttle buses from big ships in the centre.
Although Horizon informed us the evening before about the buses P&O must have known beforehand and should have told us before sailing.
I noticed there was a trip “Transfer to the old town”, £29 each, which wasn’t there when I was looking at shore experiences a couple of months before sailing.
I was really annoyed about this but of course, no one at Reception wanted to know.
The entertainment was quite good.
Singer Peter Howarth was really good and the juggler/comic and the magician made us laugh.
As a Peninsular Club member we were supposed to get an invitation to a cocktail party but that never materialised.
We chose this cruise because it covered our 50th wedding anniversary but have realised it was the wrong ship for us.
Lots of families with small children and quite a lot of children of school age.
We will never go on Arvia againNearly everyone we spoke to who were of a similar age