Aurora and Arcadia to take children on some cruises

[CaroleF]

I've just been reading all about this on CC and it's all over FB as well. P&O have announced that Aurora and Arcadia will take children on some cruises from December, including the cruises over Christmas. I don't understand how they're going to do this as at the moment there are no children's facilities. There are many people complaining that they booked the ship because it was adults only and now, depending on when the cruise is, it may not be. As far as I'm concerned that means it's now definitely the end of my cruising time with P&O, over 20 years. I've only been looking at those two ships anyway and now that's going.

[cruisin_duo]

Carol,

From what we know this is coming into effect in December, 2026 and not this year.

[david63]

It looks as if other cruise lines are starting to affect P&O as Ambassador already have selected cruises as "family" cruises and Cunard always have had children on board.

Is this the beginning of the end of adult only ships for P&O? It is probably easier to have "adult only" cruises on a family ship in the future than it is the other way round and in all fairness during term time there are very few children, if any, on most cruises.

[oldbluefox]

I didn't mind children too much. It was obnoxious parents who let their kids do as they liked and go where they liked just as long as they weren't bothering them. After all they had a drinks package; they needed to get their money's worth and it was their holiday. And I was embarrassed when I saw some of the mess left behind in the buffet by some of these so called families which the stewards were left to clear up.
It's adult only for me.

[Onelife]

I would have thought those already booked for an Adults only cruise would have a claim for breach of contract should P&O decide to go ahead with this. I personally don’t have a problem seeing well behaved children on a cruise (which generally speaking has been my experience) I also think there is enough time for what is mostly retired cruiser taking cruises out of school holidays.

Besides… I’ve been known to make misbehaved urchins cry by just staring at them

[oldbluefox]

Horses seem to have the same effect

[Mervyn and Trish]

The worst behaviour I've ever seen on cruises has usually been adults.

[Ray B]

Booking a last minute cheap cruise, we still got C deck (10) on Ventura last year during August, the kids were running everywhere. They even did away with any dress code in the MDR, thus on what was a formal night football shirts ,shorts and trainers were in abundance.
Aurora and Arcadia are the last bastion for Adult only cruises with P&O.
If this actually goes ahead, say goodbye to time in the swimming pools and everything else that cruisers who usually book these ships look forward too.
If anyone comes back with , I have children and should be allowed to pick any ship to cruise with my kids, it won't wash with me.

[CaroleF]

It appears that P&O have said there will not be any special provision for children on Aurora or Arcadia, no nursery, no special children's activities. I wonder how many parents would take their children on a holiday where there's nothing specific provided for them. It seems an odd thing to do. I'd be interested to hear Sue and Garry's response as they are on Aurora at the moment.

[jacksparrow]

I had an email as I booked for 2027 on one of the named cruises. I don’t fancy the best part of four weeks on a cruise with children with no facilities to cater for them. I have been informed that I can change the cruise and the usual parameters have been dropped ie price same or higher or to be taken within a year or you can cancel with a refund of deposit.to be honest with the number of cruises affected there isn’t much choice left so I’m undecided as yet. This information came via phone call and not in writing so will have to see what happens. Impressed - definitely not….

[david63]

My gut feeling is that there will not be many children on these cruises, mainly due to the fact that there will not be any activities and the price will put a lot off.

I did read that one guy was suggesting that the price will drop on those ships when they are not adult only - cannot see the logic of that statement as the price is based on the cost of running the ship, with or without children.

[towny44]

I would have thought those already booked for an Adults only cruise would have a claim for breach of contract should P&O decide to go ahead with this. I personally don’t have a problem seeing well behaved children on a cruise (which generally speaking has been my experience) I also think there is enough time for what is mostly retired cruiser taking cruises out of school holidays.

Besides… I’ve been known to make misbehaved urchins cry by just staring at them

Been there many times before with enough T Shirts to stock a shop. P&Os t&c's include a proviso that itineraries are not guaranteed, and changes can be made to them.

[david63]

P&Os t&c's include a proviso that itineraries are not guaranteed, and changes can be made to them.

I read on CC that someone claims that all normal rules don't apply to these changes - you can swap to any cruise or have your deposit refunded. How true it is I cannot say.

[Meg 50]

It said somewhere that the special offer to repay deposit / swap only last til early December - after that they assume you are happy...

[oldbluefox]

Good news for teachers who have put up with the little blighters all term time. They will now be able to spend their holidays with them.
Ironically Ambassador are going in the opposite direction and cutting their multi generational cruises to go adult only. It will be interesting to see what happens.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Maybe we should await the detail. They say certain cruises in school holidays. Could be 2. Could be 10. But it still leaves a lot of child free cruises. Let's not chuck the teddies out yet!

[david63]

Maybe we should await the detail. They say certain cruises in school holidays. Could be 2. Could be 10. But it still leaves a lot of child free cruises. Let's not chuck the teddies out yet!

Taken from CC - so don't blame me if it is wrong

This is the list of cruises affected,

R621 Fri 11 Dec 26 Aurora Rotterdam, 4 Nights (R621)
R622 Tue 15 Dec 26 Aurora Northern Europe And Scandinavia, 14 Nights (R622)
R623 Tue 29 Dec 26 Aurora Belgium And Germany, 5 Nights (R623)
R704 Wed 21 Apr 27 Aurora Rotterdam, 4 Nights (R704)
R707 Wed 26 May 27 Aurora Northern Europe And Scandinavia, 7 Nights (R707)
R709 Mon 21 Jun 27 Aurora Rotterdam, 4 Nights (R709)
R711 Fri 09 Jul 27 Aurora Spain France And Portugal, 7 Nights (R711)
R712 Fri 16 Jul 27 Aurora Belgium And Germany, 5 Nights (R712)
R713 Wed 21 Jul 27 Aurora Northern Europe And Scandinavia, 16 Nights (R713)
R715 Wed 11 Aug 27 Aurora Western Mediterranean Discovery, 21 Nights (R715)
R717 Mon 13 Sep 27 Aurora Rotterdam, 4 Nights (R717)
J619 Mon 21 Dec 26 Arcadia Spain Portugal And Canary Islands, 16 Nights (J619)
J703 Mon 10 May 27 Arcadia Belgium, 3 Nights (J703)
J704 Thu 13 May 27 Arcadia Northern Europe And Scandinavia, 14 Nights (J704)
J705 Thu 27 May 27 Arcadia Spain, 7 Nights (J705)
J709 Tue 20 Jul 27 Arcadia Norway And Iceland, 14 Nights (J709)
J710 Tue 03 Aug 27 Arcadia Eastern Mediterranean Discovery, 24 Nights (J710)
J711 Fri 27 Aug 27 Arcadia Belgium And Netherlands, 5 Nights (J711)
J713 Mon 20 Sep 27 Arcadia Norwegian Fjords, 14 Nights (J713)

Looking at that list many of those cruises would appear to run into term time

[Mervyn and Trish]

Indeed, very flexible interpretation of school holidays.

On the plus side how many parents will be ready to pay the fines to take their little darlings out of school in term time? Add that to how many will book on a ship with no children's facilities or can afford to pay Aurora/Arcadia rates for 21 or 24 nights and I doubt some of those will be overrun. And still leaves plenty of child free time.

Plus, doesn't really bother me. We've pretty much given up on P&O for couples holidays because of the behaviour of adults! And we don't do anything shorter than 7 nights these days.

Okay teddies. Brace yourselves.

[Onelife]

I can’t think that any parent would take a small child on a cruise ship with no child facilities so it’s probably the case that P&O are looking to make it easier for parents to take older children rather than leaving them home alone. Not sure what age P O class as children but some kids can leave school at 16 so rather than leaving them at home, having parties etc (with damage caused) it’s probably cheaper to take them along for the ride.

[jacksparrow]

Well I’m throwing my sloths out of the pram and cancelling mine. I’m not paying over £5k and risking children on board. I did it once and never again. I’m also considering cancelling the one next year in case they change the goalposts again. With PandO you never know

[towny44]

P&Os t&c's include a proviso that itineraries are not guaranteed, and changes can be made to them.

I read on CC that someone claims that all normal rules don't apply to these changes - you can swap to any cruise or have your deposit refunded. How true it is I cannot say.

My comment was in response to Onelife's suggestion that passengers might be able to sue P&O for breach of contract, I recognise that P&O are allowing customers to cancel with full refunds.

[Onelife]

P&Os t&c's include a proviso that itineraries are not guaranteed, and changes can be made to them.

I read on CC that someone claims that all normal rules don't apply to these changes - you can swap to any cruise or have your deposit refunded. How true it is I cannot say.

My comment was in response to Onelife's suggestion that passengers might be able to sue P&O for breach of contract, I recognise that P&O are allowing customers to cancel with full refunds.

Yeah! Blame me!

I’m not so sure an Adult only Cruise booking would come under the same heading as an itinerary change?

[poole boy]

well we have a 16 nights cruise booked on Aurora around Britain July 2026 if p&o do more changes and allow children on board we will instantly cancel this cruise we have done 31 cruises so far not all on p&o but the behaviour we had on Oceania and the bad language we heard on Iona from 15 to 20 year olds was disgraceful so if p&o carry on with there plans our last cruise on p&o will be July 2026 after that we will book Ambassador or
fred olsen cruises certainly not p&o

[towny44]

well we have a 16 nights cruise booked on Aurora around Britain July 2026 if p&o do more changes and allow children on board we will instantly cancel this cruise we have done 31 cruises so far not all on p&o but the behaviour we had on Oceania and the bad language we heard on Iona from 15 to 20 year olds was disgraceful so if p&o carry on with there plans our last cruise on p&o will be July 2026 after that we will book Ambassador or
fred olsen cruises certainly not p&o

What has Oceania got to do with P&O?

[Ranchi]

Nothing but I would hope that the swear words have more syllables