Reviews
![2023-03-28 15:02:08]()
Super Caribbean cruise, all good but no staff to ensure guests either washed hands or used hand gel before entering buffet or other dining rooms. The buffet was self served whereas with numbers of guests it would have been more hygienic for staff to serve. Both myself and husband tested on our arrival home to find we had covid.
Reviews
![2023-03-24 00:53:14]()
Fabulous cruise apart from the Christmas Eve dining arrangements which we were compensated for in due course.
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![2023-03-24 00:07:02]()
We had a brilliant cruise. The ship is absolutely fantastic, brilliant and spectacular. People were having a few problems with the 'My Holiday app'. This is used for booking the theatre, 710 club, and altitude skywalk and mission control, etc. There was a good choice of films in the cinema and also on the TV in the cabin. Plenty of choice of venues to entertain, and even though there were a lot of fellow cruisers on board, there are so many dining options and entertainment places that it is not often that there were long queues. The headliners shows were mostly excellent and the guest artists were also excellent. We enjoyed the holiday so much that we have booked another cruise on this ship. We thoroughly recommend this ship.
Reviews
![2023-03-17 08:29:00]()
The first week of this cruise had many problems one including lack of staff and lifts breaking down and huge queues , this for better fitting the second week of our cruise. It was the maiden voyage so problems arriving through that. We did the back to back one to the Caribbean and that slowly got better except for the sunbeds getting full and we couldn't find one until later in the afternoon when people were leaving as it was getting cooler.The Atrium was a bit bland as mentioned by a few of the guests. Many things were repeated during our 4 week cruise.Ie, the entertainment.
Reviews
![2023-03-16 14:12:03]()
This is the fourth cruise I have been on (not all P&O) and the most enjoyable. Arvia is enormous and I must admit I did have my concerns regarding this beforehand, so many people, would we be queuing for food, entertainment, getting on and off the ship. My fears were unfounded, the app they now have works very well and it great to keep an eye on your on board spending, book any shore experiences you may like and of course book your mea!s and entertainment. The choices for food and entertainment are excellent. I must admit that I booked several excursions and restaurants (those which you pay an additional charge for) before the cruise, which I am glad I did. The excursions vary in value and interest. One of ours was cancelled the night before which was disappointing but the weather is out of everyone's control. Getting on and off the ship was very straight forward and very well organised. Getting around the ship is fun, we must have walked miles walking the corridors lost. The staff on Arvia are phenomenal, professional, helpful and always happy to engage with you, it really makes you feel special. The entertainment varied but we were, well..entertained, the Limelight Club with Mary Mac was a highlight. The Headliners team are great they must work so hard. The clubhouse is fun and the George Michael tribute was good.
We treated ourselves to a balcony which we used often. Would choose an alternative next time as we were close to the whirlpools on deck 8 promenade and it did become noisy. Gala evenings was when we realised how many people were on board but there are quiet places to go should you wish. My partner has not been on a cruise but both of us had a ball, he is converted. Would certainly book again on Arvia.
Reviews
![2023-03-09 03:39:04]()
Had an amazing time first time on a cruise being a solo traveler was great experience they really catered for us booking shared dining and solo traveler meetings so you can meet other solo travelers was great for me I have already booked a Caribbean cruise for next week going with p&0 again what a great cruise line the new Ariva looks amazing
Reviews
![2023-03-08 16:11:34]()
Main dinning room poor quality of food and service.
Reviews
![2023-03-08 14:15:33]()
Reviews
![2023-02-24 10:08:23]()
We have cruised with P&O twice now, along with Marella in the far east, Norwegian in the Mediterranean and MSC Christmas markets cruise.
We preferred P & O's Iona to Arvia, sister ship but a little different. A lot less hassle with dining on Iona.
The onboard app' to join virtual queues for dinner is rubbish & most people agreed, though just a few said they had no problem. You can't book ahead unless you are prepared to eat between 5pm & 5.45pm. Queues for restaurants were terrible, we had read this before going on the cruise. Food was generally reasonable if lacking in variations
in the main restaurants. One or two meals were very good. Excursions are by our standards expensive, obviously that will be relative to how well off you are. There were a lot of sea days that were not necessary given the short distances, though to be fair we knew that before booking. The flights with Tui to & from Barbados were good & on time, well slightly late on the return, half an hour. Our cabin was fine and virtually all crew were very good. As seems normal it's almost impossible to get a sunbed on sea days unless you put a towel on one at the crack of dawn. They did announce they would remove towels & belongings after 30 minutes without people occupying the beds, unfortunately unless it's policed it won't work. We don't like lying in the sun for much more than 30 minutes but were not even able to do that. We did four P & O excursions which were generally OK. Swimming pools were mostly too full to get in, there were a reasonable number of children taken out of school for the cruise, though to be fair the second week was half term. Finished our holiday with one of us (me) getting what we assumed was norovirus, the vomiting bug. Given that it takes 1 to 2 days before becoming ill, it could have been ship or plane, I think the plane.
Overall the holiday was generally enjoyable with mostly lovely warm weather & just a couple of rainy days, but not all day.
We agree we enjoyed it, but wouldn't go again
Reviews
![2023-02-21 09:27:04]()
If this is the future of P&O cruising I wouldn't book another cruise. The ship Arvia has too many passengers. It is not a resort ship, Royal Caribbean do that very well. it is made for the masses. Merely a block of social housing flats moving ports.
Its queues all the way. Lifts, when working, dining rooms, sun beds. I have never queued as much.
Thank goodness for Maya, one of the hotel managers for upgrading us. You are an asset to P&O, they need the likes of you. Our cabin steward William, old school, also an asset.
The food wasn't bad. At least they brought back nicer lunches by returning a main roast i.e chicken, pork, gammon with veg or salad.
For anyone doing their 1st cruise you probably thought that's the norm. No it isn't.
The entertainment was mediocre at best dire at worst. I dread to think what the passengers in the suites thought about it all.
Reviews
![2023-02-20 19:55:06]()
Fantastic new ship she sure is beautiful. A lovely cruise a couple of moans thou, the app is useless, everything fully booked BEFORE you even step foot on board and sun beds are a joke, people are up at 4/5am reserving them with their towels but DONT come near them until 11/12 (this is on BOTH sides so if there’s shade they swap sides.) Staff are lovely and Capt Paul is ace. P&O know how to give you the 5 star service.
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![2023-02-16 09:28:21]()
Fabulous ship and top class service from the wonderful staff. Great entertainment, good drink prices too.
Faultless from start to finish.
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![2023-02-15 20:45:17]()
Despite the hiccups and the comments in the papers regarding the maiden voyage I can thoroughly say we had an enjoyable cruise on a brand new ship
Christmas and new year celebrations incredibly
Reviews
![2023-02-15 20:34:29]()
And amazing experience which was better than we had imagined.
Value for money, great food and particularly excellent service from friendly and brilliant staff.
Reviews
![2023-02-08 21:01:07]()
I wouldn't recommend Arvia. There were too many negatives to mention.
P&O need to get their act together. As one senior crew member said. This ship is made for the masses.
And it shows.
For anyone used to cruising this isn't for you. If you enjoy entertainment [working mens club caliber] this might appeal.
If you love queueing you'll love this ship. 4.800 passengers and not capacity. But don't take my word for it. you can sail on a new ship for 2 weeks all food flights one way sail back to Southampton £799. Believe me when I say the price reflects the holiday.
