Arcadia Northern Europe and Scandinavia Cruise June 2025

[Ray B]

Carole, good time had by all, that's good. A nice relaxing cruise. Did enjoy reading your posts, making me excited for our next cruise in a few weeks time..
Take care.

[CaroleF]

Sorry, the first part of my account suddenly printed without me touching any key - honest! So an overall impression of both Arcadia and the whole cruise. I can't help comparing it to my previous cruises with P&O and how things have changed, developed over those twenty years. It is at least 15 years since I was on Arcadia. I looked back at my diary for that cruise to see what my thoughts were then. That was a time when our favourite cruise ship was Oceana. At that time I hadn't been on Aurora, indeed I don't think we went on Aurora until around 2015. I found that I had written that there was something about Arcadia that I didn't like but I couldn't think what it was. I seem to remember there was some sort of curtain hanging around the atrium and indeed it still doesn't seem as if there's an atrium like the other ships. My sister-in-law at one point saw something written about the atrium in Horizon and asked me where the atrium was because she wasn't aware of it. This time of course I was using a scooter so I saw the ship from a different point of view. As far as that is concerned the only place I felt uncomfortable was the Ocean Grill where I was made to feel a nuisance. In all other venues it was never a problem. I liked the theatre and usually went to Deck 2 where at the back there's a separate section for wheelchair/scooter users and I could easily park my scooter. In the MDR, we were on the upper section of the Meridian, there was a space just inside the doors where I could leave the scooter. In all those venues I was welcomed and helped if necessary by crew members.
We only visited the Buffet, the Belvedere, on one occasion, both for lunch and tea. I have never liked buffets on any ship. We went up for a late lunch as Michelle was late back from an excursion so it was probably 1.45 when we went up there. The salad selection was poor, there used to be a good choice of both cold meat and fish. This time I didn't see any fish, maybe it was just because we were late arriving. The puddings, apart from one hot pudding, to which I succumbed, Eve's Pudding and Custard, were all creamy, cake like desserts. We went up the same day for a light tea and I encountered one of the helpers, they have an apron on which says, 'Can I help?' on the front and it turned out to be one of the waitresses (can I still use that word?) from Sindhu who served us at breakfast. She came round with me and carried everything back to a table. She guided us to one one end of the Belvedere where there's a section designated for people with wheelchairs etc, very useful. To be continued.

[CaroleF]

We did enjoy the scones, warm and tasty. That was the only time we went to the buffet. As far as food in the MDR I think it was the best I've ever had on a P&O cruise and the new menus are certainly much improved - in my opinion. Michelle said yesterday that she thought the food was excellent. I realise we were spoilt in that we had breakfast in Sindhu. Had we not had a suite we would have gone to the MDR for breakfast. We felt that the starters in particular were excellent and much effort had gone into the presentation of them. The always available were Steak or Chicken, no Salmon as there used to be. I had the Steak two or three times and it was always cooked exactly as I asked with some lovely sauces. In fact one of those occasions I had a steak with Bernaise sauce as did the steak I had in Ocean Grill. The one I had in the MDR was far superior to the Ocean Grill one, indeed the Bernaise Sauce I had in the Ocean Grill was like a runny butter sauce with no sign of tarragon or any herb. We had the Parade of the Chefs at the end and they received lots of applause and cheers.
In the past both on Arcadia, Oceana, Azura and Ventura John and I had suites, not every time by any means, so this wasn't the first time I had a butler. The steward we had was fantastic. Every time we went down to breakfast, by the time we returned the cabin had been 'done'. In a suite you still get the evening turn down, towels replaced, curtains drawn. The butler was very disappointing, in fact of all the ones I've had this one was the worst. I can only go by my previous experience. A couple of times I asked about particular things and was told no that wasn't possible. It seemed that when he came in, both in the morning and occasionally in the evening he rushed in and rushed out.

[Portsmouth]

Thanks for the review CaroleF, interesting to hear about the library...and sorry to hear the butler was disappointing. Enjoyed reading what your thoughts about the food were as well

[CaroleF]

Well this has printed again before I'd finished. Maybe I touch something that makes it print I don't know. Anyway overall the Butler just didn't seem interested, whether he had a personal problem I don't know but as the cruise went on we hardly saw him unless we rang. We did order lunch via the Butler from the Room Service Menu as if you're in a suite you then don't get charged. When we did this he would rush in with our order, usually baguettes, and dump it on the coffee table and rush out again. Previously the Butler would take the covers off and lay out the food on the table, see we had pepper and salt etc. This may sound like me being fussy but I'm only going by my previous experience. I spoke to another couple who had a different experience and were more than happy with their Butler.
Tips: I know tips are included in the cost of the cruise but on the final evening I saw several envelopes being handed over to the waiters at our last supper. Our two waiters were excellent and offered extra vegetables, ice cream etc. So I was happy to tip them. I also tipped our Cabin Steward and the waiter in Sindhu who served us at breakfast - he was the sort of person who would make an excellent Butler, a great people person. I was undecided as to what to do about the Butler. Usually I would certainly give a tip and they did all sorts of things that enhanced our cruise. However, I didn't see him on the Penultimate day at all and he wasn't around on the final morning so there was no chance of tipping him anyway.
We often had conversations about where people saw P&O going in the future. Some people seemed to have gone on Britannia and mostly enjoyed it but some said it was too large and had too many families with children so they wouldn't book in school holidays. People spoke about what P&O would do concerning World Cruises and long cruises as they couldn't see any of the other current ships, apart from Arcadia and Aurora doing those.
So how do I feel about Arcadia now? I would rather be on Aurora if there was a choice. The suites and mini suites on Aurora are larger than those on Arcadia, particularly the suites. Things certainly seem more compact on Aurora, I know Arcadia is larger but not by that much. I just prefer the layout of Aurora. I know things have to change so it's unreasonable to expect them to stay the same but cost cutting really has made a difference to those of us who have cruised with P&O for many years. The crew in general are as helpful and cheerful as ever. Will I cruise with them again? I don't know. Having to use a scooter means I really do need someone with me. Maybe I would go with one of my daughters but they both have families so it would only be for a short cruise. If the grandchildren come then I'll have to look at the larger ships. I can walk but only short distances. What I liked about Aurora was that I could walk from the cabin to Raffles to have a cup of coffee. On Arcadia I couldn't do that. Oh coffee, don't get me started about coffee. Why, oh why can't P&O serve decent coffee? Cafe Vivo was shut for most of the cruise, I don't know why. So for the future I don't know. I think maybe Saga would be a better fit but obviously no children. So I'll see. I thoroughly enjoyed this cruise. To end, the disembarkation was effortless. Priority so we went down to The Globe where an officer was waiting who guided us out of one of the exits where two officers then filtered us onto the gangway and we were off. Down to the Baggage Hall, collected a Porter who found our cases, mine had to be dropped off at the Baggage Handling Company van just outside and my brother-in-law was waiting with his car to collect us right outside. Living near Southampton means we were home by 9.30 Fantastic!

[AileenB]

I was also on this cruise ... the first on my own since my husband passed away 18 months ago. Carole F's onboard experience was pretty much like my own .... (apart from the suite! )
I just want to mention Riga (Latvia) ....I did not know what to expect and found it to be a beautiful city with fabulous Art Noveau architecture and some lovely gardens dotted about the city. Also .... no litter.