Here is a report from "YummyMummy" off of WeLoveCruising Group about the Arcadia based ona viewing she ahd as part of the GOLD P&O members. She is the lady who did our booking for our July trip!
"I wanted to do the tour my own way but the P&O people seemed dead set in pointing you in the correct direction.
Orchid Restaurant
I liked it in here. Very nice airy restaurant overlooking the deck. Small intimate area's and tables nicely laid out. Will definitely try this £8 cover charge.
Orchid Bar
Again a really nice bar, overlooking sun deck area. Contempory wicker furniture.
Diversions
The room dedicated to a new training method involving gliding cables – good for the fitness folk.
The Retreat
Bit of an empty sort of room used for relaxation and lectures.
Viceroy
Another one of those relaxing rooms!
Crows Nest
Couldn't go in as it was being used for a function – it looked good to me despite others comments. Perhaps not as grand as Aurora or Oriana's but I think it would still have a good atmosphere when full of people.
Oasis Spa & Gym
Avoided due to l ack of time.
Hydro Pool
A lot of asked so here is the answer – yes you do pay to use the hydro pool. Its £10 per person for 20 minutes and you must book as they limit the amount of people using it at any one time. I'd say that's a bit expensive - 10 people every 20 minutes = £300 per hour
revenue!!!
Neptune Pool and Skydome
The skydome was open which made a very nice open deck area. Good sized pool and Jacuzzis.
The Belvedere
Equivalent of Orangery/Conservatory but loads better. A lot less
canteen like. Different serving areas, including – Deli, Bistro, Oriental, and Indian buffet. Some people seemed confused how this can work with so much variety but I have seen it on a lot of other ships and it works very well. Mind you, as they often send out a `navigate you way around the Orangery' flyer on Aurora, I dare say some will need the same guidance!
Aquarius Pool and Bar
Probably be my sunbathing spot. I liked it out here – a bit like Alice Springs on Canberra only nicer.
Horizons
Closed due to function
Café Vivo
Stupid stools that even I would struggle to get my ass on! Could have been done a lot nicer as somewhere to stop by and have a coffee in comfy chairs and sofas – why choose high shopping mall stools?
Piccadilly
Good variety of shops selling the usual stuff – didn't have time to stand and peruse all its wears!
Piano Bar
Maybe I missed something here as on the map it shows as an actual room either side of atrium – but all I saw was a woman playing the piano at the top of the stairs?
Photo Gallery
This seemed to go on forever. Usual set up of display stands. They were making a killing today selling photos of Dame Kelly and the ship etc.
Spinnakers Bar
Probably the one bar I was not so keen on. Situated just outside main restaurant, but a bit too open plan for me.
Intermezzo
The bar for the Arcadian Rose restaurant. Again, reminded me of a bar in the corridor. – described as an exclusive cocktail bar.
Arcadia Rhodes
£12 cover charge per person. Sumptuous surroundings? Mmm I thought it a bit plain and tables to near. I would want it to feel more intimate and exclusive.
Electra
Heard lots of negative things about the nightclub. It has a separate bar to the dance floor. But, unlike Oosterdam it was constructed so that the bar and bar stools were at an angle to the room with the dance floor so I reckon if you were sat at the bar you could still see what was going on on the dance floor. I could be wrong and I will soon get to check it out, but it didn't feel too much like two separate rooms to me.
Monte Carlo Casino
Mum will be in her element here. Larger than other P&O casino and it was situated just out side the pub, so nice and handy for us to keep an eye on mum.
Orchid Restaurant
I liked it in here. Very nice airy restaurant overlooking the deck. Small intimate area's and tables nicely laid out. Will definitely try this £8 cover charge.
Orchid Bar
Again a really nice bar, overlooking sun deck area. Contempory wicker furniture.
Diversions
The room dedicated to a new training method involving gliding cables – good for the fitness folk.
The Retreat
Bit of an empty sort of room used for relaxation and lectures.
Viceroy
Another one of those relaxing rooms!
Crows Nest
Couldn't go in as it was being used for a function – it looked good to me despite others comments. Perhaps not as grand as Aurora or Oriana's but I think it would still have a good atmosphere when full of people.
Oasis Spa & Gym
Avoided due to l ack of time.
Hydro Pool
A lot of asked so here is the answer – yes you do pay to use the hydro pool. Its £10 per person for 20 minutes and you must book as they limit the amount of people using it at any one time. I'd say that's a bit expensive - 10 people every 20 minutes = £300 per hour
revenue!!!
Neptune Pool and Skydome
The skydome was open which made a very nice open deck area. Good sized pool and Jacuzzis.
The Belvedere
Equivalent of Orangery/Conservatory but loads better. A lot less
canteen like. Different serving areas, including – Deli, Bistro, Oriental, and Indian buffet. Some people seemed confused how this can work with so much variety but I have seen it on a lot of other ships and it works very well. Mind you, as they often send out a `navigate you way around the Orangery' flyer on Aurora, I dare say some will need the same guidance!
Aquarius Pool and Bar
Probably be my sunbathing spot. I liked it out here – a bit like Alice Springs on Canberra only nicer.
Horizons
Closed due to function
Café Vivo
Stupid stools that even I would struggle to get my ass on! Could have been done a lot nicer as somewhere to stop by and have a coffee in comfy chairs and sofas – why choose high shopping mall stools?
Piccadilly
Good variety of shops selling the usual stuff – didn't have time to stand and peruse all its wears!
Piano Bar
Maybe I missed something here as on the map it shows as an actual room either side of atrium – but all I saw was a woman playing the piano at the top of the stairs?
Photo Gallery
This seemed to go on forever. Usual set up of display stands. They were making a killing today selling photos of Dame Kelly and the ship etc.
Spinnakers Bar
Probably the one bar I was not so keen on. Situated just outside main restaurant, but a bit too open plan for me.
Intermezzo
The bar for the Arcadian Rose restaurant. Again, reminded me of a bar in the corridor. – described as an exclusive cocktail bar.
Arcadia Rhodes
£12 cover charge per person. Sumptuous surroundings? Mmm I thought it a bit plain and tables to near. I would want it to feel more intimate and exclusive.
Electra
Heard lots of negative things about the nightclub. It has a separate bar to the dance floor. But, unlike Oosterdam it was constructed so that the bar and bar stools were at an angle to the room with the dance floor so I reckon if you were sat at the bar you could still see what was going on on the dance floor. I could be wrong and I will soon get to check it out, but it didn't feel too much like two separate rooms to me.
Monte Carlo Casino
Mum will be in her element here. Larger than other P&O casino and it was situated just out side the pub, so nice and handy for us to keep an eye on mum.
Rising Sun
Very long bar. All looked a bit bare as bar wasn't set up. Lots of sofas, comfy chairs at one end and plenty of standing room and barstools at the bar. Will be interesting to see if it is more like the `Rose & Crown' on the High Street or `Andersons' when it is in use. I'm guessing it will be open all day and become the hub of the ship.
The Globe
Again, I had heard negative comments about this being too small for an entertainment lounge. But I thought it was an ok size. As much as I love Carmens on Aurora – it is too big and can lack atmosphere later at night. I think the Globe could end up being the next Neptunes.
Palladium Theatre
Great sight lines and you seemed nearer to the stage than other theatres. Le Cirque Arcadia are brilliant and a long awaited improvement for P&O entertainment. Let's hope the other
entertainers are equally as good.
Meridian Restaurant
A two t ier restaurant with central spiral staircase and bandstand. Not too big like I have seen on other ships, which become noisy. I don't think you could get a bad table in this restaurant as all seemed to be in good view of the windows. Central area was slightly raised, so again would still have a nice view. Tables for 4 seemed a little small, but I will test one soon – seemed strange to be a small oval shape.
Suite
Due to lack of time I only viewed the Venice suite and one of the midship ones.
Venice suite – overlooked the stern and I wasn't impressed really.
I was surprised that it was actually a `suite' it seemed crampted and not much bigger than the stateroom. No separate dining area.
The balcony was large – probably too large for 2. As the cabin is on the corner it has the balcony wrapping around the corner. Ok so you got table and chairs plus 2 sunloungers, but its very bare and stark. You g et passengers above looking onto the balcony, and the
bit around the side was just as covered as any other balcony. Could have done with a few palms or plants to liven it up abit. It had the benefit of full size Jacuzzi bath, DVD, Hi Fi and lots of other bits, but to me, not worth the extra, and not a patch on Aurora's suites. Not that it matters to me, as I'll never be able to afford one!
If I were to have a suite I would go for one of the more midship ones as they had more room in the cabin and the balcony was more than adequate.
Mini Suite
Again probably not as big as Aurora's mini suites (I know I shouldn't compare but Im trying to paint a picture) but in my opinion, better value than a suite.
Staterooms
Yes they are smaller than Auroras staterooms but they are bigger than the Aurora outside will balcony. I thought these were a good size. Lovely furnishings (as in all the cabins) and a decent size balcony with chairs. I did note that the partitions can be opened by the steward, so we should be able to have an open balcony with Mum and Jack on our cruise. Mmmm ….. is that a good thing?
Standard inside and outside plus larger insides
Just didn't have time to see these which I was bit miffed about so I would like to know if they are the same as Auroras please?
Other points
As I said earlier, we managed to obtain the use of a wheelchair to get Mum around the ship and ensure she got to see as much as possible. Wheelchair access is excellent just about everywhere. Lots of automatic doors and ramps etc. Lifts were smaller though,
which meant one wheelchair and it was full.
The Atrium area – this seemed really dark, mainly due to sheer drapes in deep violet colour hung top to bottom. Shame because it has a really nice seating area at the bottom by reception etc.
Sunloungers were cool. Lots of steamer chairs with lovel y rich navy and lemon striped cushions. Also had logos on the headrests which I could quite make out. Another job for Miss Marples when Im next onboard!
Public loos – They had those swanky wash hand basins that are shaped like a stone bowls and sensor taps which confused the hell out of the two old dears in the loos at the same time as me. They watched in dismay as I successfully washed my hands in the magically
produced water but try as they might they could get water to appear. Also the flush button was different behind the loo, which obviously equally confused same old dear as she could flush either `I haven't flushed dear, there doesn't appear to be a handle!'
Gifts – We received a nice carrier bag containing a nice hardback book `Arcadia A World of New Sensation' and on disembarkation were given two trendy paperweights with a blue swirl in engraved `Pearl of Arcadia 2005'
Souveniers
At disembarkation they were trying to s ell the biggest load of logo tat I have ever seen! Really naff fridge magnets, tea towels and pens. Looked to me like they had been knocked out quickly and I hope they have better available on the cruise.
Cabins by outside lifts
Be warned – anybody on one of the cabin balconies adjoining the lifts will get no privacy at all with the lift constantly passing by your balcony!
I hope this doesn't seem like Im being very negative re the cabins etc. Im not, Im just trying to point out the differences. I really liked the ship. I had said I hoped it didn't remind me too much of Oosterdam and it didn't. Only the odd one or two things were the same. There are some rooms and areas I think might not work so well, but once its filled with passengers it will be a totally different story and places will come alive. I'm really, really looking forward to our cruise in a couple of weeks and getting to explore her properly. Remembe r I had less than an hour to gather an opinion on her before I went into lunch so its probably not a fair
assessment.
She seems to have such alot of new and well thought out features but I do have reservations about her attracting the right passenger profile for what she is aimed at. I just don't think there are enough 40 - 50 year olds with a disposable income to cruise on her all the time. I do think she will fill up with the older passenger who may not use the facilities to their full potential. (Older people Im not having a pop at any of you. My mums old and Shes great, plus of course I'll be old too soon! Its just a general statement) Maybe she will lack a bit of something too with not having any smiley little kids about the place? We shall see"
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