Arcadia - Strange Design
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Topic author - First Officer
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Arcadia - Strange Design
Just come off a two night cruise on Arcadia.
Can't make my mind up whether I like the ship or not.
2 nights is not really long enough to form a judgement.
Quite liked : the theatre, Meridien restaurant, cabin.
Not sure about : glass lifts in the ship sides, fact you don't seem top be able to get from one end of the ship to the other on deck C (A and B ?)
buffet layout.
Can't make my mind up whether I like the ship or not.
2 nights is not really long enough to form a judgement.
Quite liked : the theatre, Meridien restaurant, cabin.
Not sure about : glass lifts in the ship sides, fact you don't seem top be able to get from one end of the ship to the other on deck C (A and B ?)
buffet layout.
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- Site Admin
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Re: Arcadia - Strange Design
Having spent something like 60 nights on Arcadia I think that I have become used to some of her quirks in layout - but having said that, most ships have some quirks.
For many the layout of Arcadia is a "Marmite" moment and there are those who do not like her, but may who do and certainly two nights is no long enough to get the "feel" of any ship.
For many the layout of Arcadia is a "Marmite" moment and there are those who do not like her, but may who do and certainly two nights is no long enough to get the "feel" of any ship.
Personally I quite like them - especially when the sea is a bit on the "choppy" side!
The same thing applies on most ships in that there is at least one deck where you cannot get from one end to the other without going up/down.
I would say better than Azura/Ventura
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- Ex Team Member
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Re: Arcadia - Strange Design
The first time we went on Arcadia we didn't like her. Maybe it was the more contemporary feel but we have come to really like her, probably because we have got used to her and find she has everything we like in a ship. Although small the cinema is great with some of the best seating in the fleet. I couldn't understand why there was no dedicated cinema/lecture room on the bigger ships Azura and Ventura (can't comment on Britannia as I haven't been on her).
Arcadia and Aurora are now top of my list.
Arcadia and Aurora are now top of my list.
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- Senior Second Officer
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Re: Arcadia - Strange Design
Kitchens. Can’t have restaurants without them bit of an inconvenience really.allatc wrote: ↑19 May 2019, 20:32Just come off a two night cruise on Arcadia.
Can't make my mind up whether I like the ship or not.
2 nights is not really long enough to form a judgement.
Quite liked : the theatre, Meridien restaurant, cabin.
Not sure about : glass lifts in the ship sides, fact you don't seem top be able to get from one end of the ship to the other on deck C (A and B ?)
buffet layout.
Aurora, Oriana, Azura, Ventura and Britannia are the Sam along with most of the Princess fleet.
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- Senior First Officer
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- Deputy Captain
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Re: Arcadia - Strange Design
I like Arcadia allatc.
Understated elegance I call it.
I will say that like most ships, it does have an unfathomable layout in places.
Luckily, when on holiday, I'm rarely in a rush.
Understated elegance I call it.
I will say that like most ships, it does have an unfathomable layout in places.
Luckily, when on holiday, I'm rarely in a rush.
Empty vessels .. and all that
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- Deputy Captain
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Re: Arcadia - Strange Design
We have only sailed on Arcadia once when we were both able bodied, but I do remember it took almost half the 14 days to get to grips with the dead end areas and the nondescript atrium, however having just sailed on Aurora she also has lots of dead end walkways as well.
Unfortunately I understand that most accessible cabins on Arcadia are much smaller than those on the bigger ships and even Aurora, so it's unlikely we will be trying her out again in the future.
Unfortunately I understand that most accessible cabins on Arcadia are much smaller than those on the bigger ships and even Aurora, so it's unlikely we will be trying her out again in the future.
John
Trainee Pensioner since 2000
Trainee Pensioner since 2000
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Re: Arcadia - Strange Design
I have a fond recollection of embarking Arcadia and watching a VERY cross gentleman, going round in circles around the reception area, and ranting about 'who designed this bl**dy nightmare' with his poor wife in tow.
Mrs. B and I just chuckled
I manage to get well and truly lost on every ship I've been on.
This was the same cruise where, when chatting at the muster with a chap, he told me he'd ' had it up to here already ' (we hadn't left Southampton) because he'd been upgraded from Outside to Balcony (free) and his luggage had gone to his original cabin.
When I suggested that it might be quicker if he just went down and got it himself, he said very loudly that 'it wasn't his bl**dy job'
As they say north of Watford -- nowt as queer as folk
Mrs. B and I just chuckled
I manage to get well and truly lost on every ship I've been on.
This was the same cruise where, when chatting at the muster with a chap, he told me he'd ' had it up to here already ' (we hadn't left Southampton) because he'd been upgraded from Outside to Balcony (free) and his luggage had gone to his original cabin.
When I suggested that it might be quicker if he just went down and got it himself, he said very loudly that 'it wasn't his bl**dy job'
As they say north of Watford -- nowt as queer as folk
Empty vessels .. and all that
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Re: Arcadia - Strange Design
I think if anything Aurora is worse in that respect.
One thing that I noticed on Aurora that I have not noticed on other ships is that the accessible cabins had the door key access on the wall at an accessible height.
Did you not suggest that if he had put the correct luggage labels on then they would have gone to the correct cabin?
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Re: Arcadia - Strange Design
barney wrote: ↑21 May 2019, 10:13I have a fond recollection of embarking Arcadia and watching a VERY cross gentleman, going round in circles around the reception area, and ranting about 'who designed this bl**dy nightmare' with his poor wife in tow.
Mrs. B and I just chuckled
I manage to get well and truly lost on every ship I've been on.
This was the same cruise where, when chatting at the muster with a chap, he told me he'd ' had it up to here already ' (we hadn't left Southampton) because he'd been upgraded from Outside to Balcony (free) and his luggage had gone to his original cabin.
When I suggested that it might be quicker if he just went down and got it himself, he said very loudly that 'it wasn't his bl**dy job'
As they say north of Watford -- nowt as queer as folk
I still always manage to get the wrong corridor to our cabin when either exiting the lift or stairs
Going back to Arcadia, that is one ship we haven't sailed on. We did do a ship visit on her two or three years ago and she didn't impress at all with her interior beige look among other things. Perhaps another visit might be in order since her refit.
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Re: Arcadia - Strange Design
Still beige!
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- Senior First Officer
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Re: Arcadia - Strange Design
We like Arcadia. I wasn't too impressed when she was new but when compared now to the later monstrosities she has a lot of good features. A proper wrap-araound promenade deck with wooden lounger chairs (last time we were there). There is some considerable vibration in the after corners of the restaurant which they tend not to use nowadays. It would get so bad that the cutlery would dance across the table and on to the floor.
The Azipod system of propulsion is quite effective too and makes docking manouevres a doddle.
The Azipod system of propulsion is quite effective too and makes docking manouevres a doddle.
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Re: Arcadia - Strange Design
Not any more - the "standard issue" aluminium and fabric that you see on all the ships these days.
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- Senior First Officer
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Re: Arcadia - Strange Design
I have to say that contrary to many, Arcadia would be our favourite and first choice, were we to choose a P&O cruise.
Gill
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Topic author - First Officer
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Re: Arcadia - Strange Design
She needs a good dollop of paint on some of the exterior and and even bigger dollop of varnish on the deck rails (after a good sanding down)
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Re: Arcadia - Strange Design
Don't talk to me about varnishing the handrails. We were on Arcadia's Christmas/New Year cruise a few years ago and it was immediately prior to the Worldie. We could not move, even on the balcony, for them varnishing, and when they were doing the deck above you could not go on the balcony.
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Re: Arcadia - Strange Design
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Re: Arcadia - Strange Design
I would hazard a guess that they were not only getting past their sell by date but that they were becoming difficult and/or expensive to maintain with continual re-varnishing.Quizzical Bob wrote: ↑22 May 2019, 13:01Has anybody ever found out the reason why they replaced them all?
There is another option that "elf and safety" said that they were too heavy/dangerous for the crew to handle.