Overall Score

BERLITZ'S RATING
	Possible	Achieved
Ship	500	430
Accommodation	200	150
Food	400	258
Service	400	297
Entertainment	100	81
Cruise	400	295

How this score is created

P&O’s Arcadia was in­tended to be Cunard Line’s Queen Victoria for the British cruise market, but was transferred to the P&O Cruises brand (both are owned by the Carnival Corporation). Arcadia can also transit the Panama Canal.

Outdoors facilities include a wrap-around promenade deck (covered in the ship’s forward section), with plenty of sunloungers (and comfortable cushioned pads). A large Lido Deck pool has a moveable glass domed cover – useful in poor weather. Panoramic exterior glass-wall elevators grace the central foyer to port and starboard and travel between all 10 passenger decks. Pod propulsion is provided.

The layout provides a horizontal flow, with most public rooms, shops, bars and lounges set open-plan style on two principal decks, so finding your way around is relatively easy. The interior decor is geared towards those with youthful, contemporary – even trendy British – tastes, and can best be described as “traditionally modern.” It is, however, restrained and welcoming (if a bit bland), and has many warm, earthy pastel colors, assisted by 3,000 works of art (some outstanding) by contemporary British artists, at a cost of $4 million. Although Arcadia is one of the Carnival Corporation’s Vista-class ships, the decor is the most refined of them all, and the passenger flow is generally good, as is the signage.

Facilities include a forward-facing Crow’s Nest observation lounge high atop the ship (in a contemporary setting); a florist; a gift shop arcade; and a Monte Carlo casino, a library (with leather armchairs and a Waterstone’s section for paperback sales), an internet center (Cyb@space), and The Retreat (a good place to meet and chill out). Drinking places (there are 14 bars) include the Spinnaker Bar (good for ship buffs, with its superb display of ship models, a “traditional” English pub (The Rising Sun, with Boddington’s draught beer), plus a bar overlooking a very modest three decks-high atrium lobby. The lobby (there isn’t one, really) is small and disappointing, particularly when compared to Oceana.

Arcadia, strictly a child-free ship for grown-ups (no under-18s allowed), blends traditional British cruising with contemporary facilities for adults, although it really is a completely different type of ship to the more traditional Artemis, Aurora or Oriana. The ship is registered in Bermuda, so UK and US passport holders can be legally married by the ship’s captain (check with P&O Cruises for the latest requirements). You can also renew your vows in a special ceremony (£250 per couple).

An extensive adult lecture program called New Horizons provides an array of lectures on a range of subjects (introductory sessions at no charge; more in-depth subject matter study in smaller groups, at an additional cost, typically £5 or £10 per class).

Arcadia is the latest generation of trendy, contemporary cruise ships, based year-round in Southampton, England (so there’s no flying involved for UK passengers). The onboard currency is the UK pound. A 15% gratuity is added to all bar and wine accounts. Note that many extra onboard revenue centers have now appeared aboard P&O Cruises’ ships, including Arcadia (such as paying for lectures and thalassotherapy pool use). Some niggles: there is no separate cinema, or room for card games such as bridge; the ship’s dance floor space is pitiful; and the embarkation system keeps people waiting in a lounge after lines at the check-in desks and security until boarding card letters are called.

Other niggles include bartenders not using the correct glasses for drinks, and dining room waiters lacking in personality or finesse (robotic service); small public toilets (lacking in touches like flowers and hand towels); poolside gala reception lacking in atmosphere (and “nibbles”); robotic pre-dinner announcements; no towels at poolside.

Berlitz Guide © Apa Publishing 2008