32 days sailing away from a bleak and cold January

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32 days sailing away from a bleak and cold January
Reviewed By: Howe, Ferndown on 16th Jun 2009
Cruise Line: P&O Cruises	Times cruised before: 6-10
Cruise Ship: Arcadia	Sailed: January, 2009
Destination: World Cruise	Age: 65+

Life aboard the Arcadia was very pleasant and although we sailed a day late due to tecnical problems, we were compensated for the later departure. The Arcadia is quite an opulent ship, larger than any we have travelled on before, but very comfortable and our cabin was particularly pleasing as we were given a cabin for disabled, my husband travelling with a wheelchair. This made our trip very comfortable having a roomy cabin and very large bathroom. So good was it that it has no doubt spoilt us for all future cruises. All cabin stewards and staff on board were excellent, courteous and attentive. Some of the excursions we undertook were less satisfactory and very poor value but because of my husband's disability we are rather tied to the excursions provided and not able to travel freelance which I am sure would be better. Dinner every evening was good and varied. The buffet lunches also were fine but I so wish decent coffee was laid on. The machine offered coffee was so bad I had to resort to herbal teas!! The theatre on the Arcadia is beautiful and, although we do not usually bother with seeing the shows, on this cruise we did in fact go along to many of them and enjoyed them especially some of the singers that were who were excellent. Being bridge players, we went along to the afternoon bridge sessions which were very well supported. The director was brilliant taking beginners and more advanced classes on each morning at sea and then hosting duplicate bridge in the afternoon. I maintained he was the most hard working man on the ship. He had taken a three month sabattical from work and think he will have needed a holiday on his return! We choose cruises for destinations of interest only. Having been fortune in seeing much of the world, this cruise offered several places which we had not visited. Sadly one we would have liked to visit was omitted because of sailing a day late and the visit to Mumbai was much too short but then stops on cruises are really just tasters to decide if one wants to return. We enjoyed some good lectures on board and these were always well supported. I would have no problems in sailing with Arcadia again should they be calling in at ports we were interested in visiting. Our next cruise is on the Oriana so it will be interesting to compare both ships. From various reports received it seems Oriana is the favoured one but we will just have to see for ourselves and form our own opinion.
Quality of Food
Dinner was good. Buffet not bad. Coffee was very poor at the help yourself restaurants.
Entertainment
A male and female singer were excellent. Tom O'Connor was very good. We did not see shows put on my ship's own group.
Shore Excursions
It is six months since we cruised. I cannot remember excursions fully. Awful one to Palma to village. Nothing there to see. Pleased to visit Mumbai but too short and too much time being entertained instead of taking us out and about to see more of the city in such a short time available.
Staff
Our cabin steward was excellent.
Children's Facilities	n/a

Onboard Activities
Yes
Cabins
Better than expected.
Overall Rating