P&O Arcadia Fjords Cruise Keith & Marion

ARCADIA CRUISE J613 11th JUNE 2006
PORTS

- EIDFJORD- NORWAY 13TH
- CRUISE IN AURLANDS FJORD 14TH
- FLAAM (RAIL JOURNEY)
- CRUISE IN SOGNEFJORD
- OLDEN 15TH
- BERGEN 16TH

Flight to Southampton from Manchester was very smooth 55mins.Arrived hotel a little early for check in but fortunately there was a room ready. A quick wash and brush up and into town for the England match, it was a GOOD afternoon and evening.
On waking in the morning a quick view out of the window and there she was our home for the next week - Arcadia looming over Mayflower Terminal.
Got to the terminal around 11.30 am and were first in the Gold Portunus members queue.
.Arcadia must be special to be able to “turn round” so fast as we were boarding at 12.45 hrs and we were having our first “freebie” in The Crows Nest at 13.00 hrs.
On first viewing Crows Nest was not as sumptuous as her counterparts on Oriana and Aurora but different in her own way.
After unpacking and a change of clothes it was time for pre dinner drinks in The Rising Sun, which ended up being our main bar, staffed by faces that we knew.
Down to or should I say along to The Meridian Restaurant split over two decks with a central staircase.
It was very busy and we thought that the tables were a little close together and it was a bit on the noisy side.
Food and service was excellent as usual but this was to be our last night in here as we dine using the alternative restaurants (Gary Rhodes-The Orchid and the Belvedere).
Following dinner it was “out on the town”The Rising Sun and then onto the Disco “Electra”.
This is an awful room with one side of the bar being very low down(bar staff backsides were in the faces of the punters).The bar area being separate from the dance floor with a wall in-between containing a large LCD screen showing the dance floor.
The following day was a sea day so it was exploring time to sort out our routes.
Everywhere is easy to get to with most things being over two decks 2 & 3(promenade which was unusual as on other P&O ships deck 7 is Prom deck)
One thing that hit me was that there was plenty of seating available with all the rooms seamlessly changing from one to another with subtle difference between them.
This evening was Captains Cocktails so we were dressed up to the “nines”.
Tonight was our first evening in Gary Rhodes Restaurant. We were welcomed and escorted to out table by the window with great views.
We were served during the evening by at least three different waiters doing separate jobs. Our meals and wine were ordered and after a short time the first course arrived-soup in a cup!!
Main courses were excellent I had lamb and Marion steak and kidney pie with a difference. Two pieces of Fillet steak and kidney in gravy with a swirl of mashed potato on top.
The sweets were just as good and a great evening was had by both of us. (There is a cover charge of £15 pp in this restaurant)
After dinner it was a walk around till we found ourselves in the Orchid Bar, a nice quiet place with outstanding views over the ship (this is the highest deck).
The following morning it was beautiful outside here in Eidfjord, most wonderful scenery with sunshine and snow atop the mountains. We had already decided that this cruise was one in which to relax so we stayed on board to get the maximum peace and quiet.
Come time to leave the wind had got up to quite a strength and Captain Burgoine informed us that we may have trouble pushing off.Well to say he wasn’t lying we sure did struggle so much that we were blown back onto the pier resulting in damage to the hull (one of the fenders had been pushed into the side of the ship by a couple of feet!).An inspection took place in our next port of call Flam.
This was one trip that we were looking forward to the train ride from Voss to Flam.
We embarked our coaches for the ride to Voss up through the mountains, what a view.
On arrival in Voss a meal was waiting for us at a top hotel, self service and a bun fight followed but it was very nice fayre.
We boarded our train to Myrdal which then took us up along winding and tunnel tracks to pick up our next train(with 16 sets of brakes)which took us down to Flam, this was no ordinary train ride, to say it was steep would be an understatement. The train halted part way out of a tunnel for us to get photos of a waterfall. What they forgot to say was that you would get a soaking taking photos.
There was supposed to be two ladies in local dress singing at the bottom but I did not see them-I could hear them.
This evening we dined in The Orchid restaurant which is Thai food (obvious I know).We were escorted to our table once again by the window with even better views. The Asian girls serving us looked very smart in their evening dress. Now a slight problem stainless steel chopsticks I cant even handle wooden ones! Not to worry cutlery was at hand phew.
The menu was excellent I could have done the full lot in one sitting but that would be greedy lol.
Once again we were destined to eat in here again.
Next port Olden again stayed on board but those lovely views were there for all to see.
Next morning Bergen (Eriks Land) and it was surprising to see all the industry and things going on we were used to being on our own.
This morning Mv Funchal arrived and docked just across from us and next to us was Vistamar an old ferry from the Canaries.
Plenty to watch going on from the decks today with the sea planes coming and going(this was the first time we had seen an aircraft since we left home.
Another calm day at sea followed by a nice quiet meal in Belvedere .This was the self service where you are served during the day and at night becomes a café with service type venue.Tonights meal was Fish and Chips; I think the best I have had.
A leisurely stroll round saying our farewells to friends until next time and an early night, well early for us.
We were off at 08.45 and on our way to the airport to deposit our luggage then back on the train to Soton for a few hours.

In general really enjoyed the ship very smooth running and excellent service as usual. Is our favourite ---No that still goes to Aurora followed by Oriana but very close.
Would recommend her to anyone though.

If I think of anything else…………

Oh photos are now uploaded to photo account www.bayofbiscay.org