carlight

The P&O 2 day taster cruise (J710) to Zebrugge was just awful!

We queued for over an hour just to get inside the terminal building, then seemed to queue for just about everything from that point.

Food was like school dinners, Drinks were expensive. Entertainment dismal.
OK I guess if you were one of the drunks on one of the many hen parties that were on board.

Ally

Hi Carlight and welcome to our cruise mad family

I am sorry that Arcadia didn't live up to expectations. The mini cruises often attract hen/stag parties as they are a cheap way to escape for a weekend. Hopefully future longer cruises that you take will be a better experience...including Arcadia as you won't have the hen/stag groups onboard.

Waiting is often a problem on the larger ships, and when on the ship for a short time, it usually does feel a whole lot worse.

Again, sorry that things didn't go well for you and I hope that you will try a longer cruise next time and be alot more satisfied

__________________
Ally - CruisingTalk Administrator

1965 - Cunard Queen Mary
1967 - Cunard Queen Elizabeth
1970 - Cunard Queen Elizabeth 2
1971 - P&O Oriana
1972 - SS France
1975 - SS Leopard
1977 - P&O Canberra
2005 - NCL Norwegian Jewel - Shakedown Cruise - Jersey
2005/6 - NCL Norwegian Crown - Chile, Cape Horn, Falkland Islands, Uruguay & Argentina - Christmas/New Year cruise
2006 - Fred Olsen Braemar Mini Cruise - Amsterdam & Zeebrugge
2007 - Fred Olsen Braemar Transatlantic - Jamaica, Cuba, Bahamas, Bermuda & Azores
2007 - Fred Olsen Braemar Mini Cruise - Guernsey & Amsterdam
2007 - NCL Norwegian Gem - Shakedown Cruise - Amsterdam
2008 - Costa Allegra - Hong Kong, Philippines, Borneo, Brunei, Singapore, Saigon, Da-Nang & Sanya

Coming up next.....

10/10/2009 - Costa Classica - Grand Oriental Cruise - Shanghai, Nagasaki, Tokyo, Kobe, Naha, Keelung and Hong Kong - 16 Nights Cruising in: 274 day(s), 20 hour(s), 2 minute(s)

Liane

Hi Carlight, sorry you didnt enjoy your short cruse on Arcadia. Myself and my 23 year old daughter were on the same cruise (just for a girly weekend) It was my daughters first P & O cruise she has cruised before (4 times) but not with P & O.
We also had to queue to board but in reality we were only waiting probably 30mins at the most, which is not as bad as an airport queue. Normally everyone boards at different times but obviously everyone had the same boarding time to enjoy facilities on board as soon as possible with it being a 2 night cruise.
We then boarded the ship and went straight for lunch and enjoy the amenities before our cabin was ready, and by 2pm we were sat in the jacuzzi enjoying the sunshine.
When we heard that the evening show the first evening was Darren Day both myself and the rest of our table groaned but we relented and entered the theatre and to be fair it was a little groanable and old fashioned but it was okay (bit end of the pier stuff) and then went to the pub where it was karaoke later (really not mine or my daughters cup of tea) however it was quite funny for a while and we sat and had a few drinks enjoying the "party atmosphere" that was on board. The second night was the cirque de arcadia and that was a good show of acrobatic skills and theatrical settings, but I imagine not to everyones cup of tea.
Myself and my daughter enjoyed our break, but I must admit we were a little weary of the hen nights (shrieky girls and over 40's girls) who did spoil a little the 2 night experience. However the cruise was advertised as a "party cruise" so I suppose the warning was in the title. My daughter was impressed with the Arcadia and found the cabin and amenities top notch as I did as always with P & O. Take a longer cruise next time with P & O and I doubt very much you will be disappointed. Happy Cruising!!