Until now my wife and I had only
been on package holidays, but prompted by the fact that my mother
and sister in-law have been going on cruises for some time, and
repeatedly saying how much they enjoyed them, we thought we would
look into a family package.
P&O's
Arcadia
The
Author and his wife Nikki in the Century Bar onboard the Arcadia
We
chose P&O because that was the company my in-laws had nearly
always travelled with and recommended. We were also on a fairly
tight budget so that also dictated which cruise we could choose.
Some of their cruises had children go free as well, if you booked
early enough. In the end we chose a 14-night cruise aboard the
Arcadia, cruising to the Caribbean.
From
the moment we arrived in the cruise terminal at Southampton docks
we were taken care of. Our luggage was taken out of the car for
us and we were told that the next time we would see our cases
they would be in our cabin waiting for us. We then checked in
and when the ship was deemed ready, we were called to embark from
the waiting lounge in small groups of about 20 people, no mad
dash for the departure gate as you get at an airport.
Once
on board we were shown directly to our cabin and issued with our
cruise cards. These have a duel purpose: as a type of credit card
to charge your cruise account for everything you buy while on
the ship (you settle your onboard account the day before you leave),
and also used to check you on and off the ship when you visit
the islands.
We
left Southampton at about 5:10pm Saturday 27th October to the
sounds of a brass band and hundreds of streamers thrown from the
sides of the ship. Once away from the docks our course took us
into the Solent and from there into the English Channel heading
west. We now had time to explore.
The
ship has two main eating areas, the Pacific Restaurant and The
Conservatory. There are five bars, including The Oval, a country
style pub with a cricket theme; Splash Bar where you can sit partly
in a swimming pool sipping your drink; Shops; Cinema; Casino;
Card Room; Library; Theatre with an upper circle; Fitness Centre
/ Hair and Beauty Parlor; Night Club; Pizzeria and Peter Pans
for the kids.
Once
the ship had left the English Channel we then set out on a southwesterly
course through the Bay of Biscay to our first port of call, Ponta
Delgada on the island of San Miguel in the Azores, three days
away.
We
had wondered about sea sickness but our first night on board was
very comfortable with no noticeable dipping or swaying motion
of the ship. It was like this for the whole journey across the
Atlantic Ocean, for we had the smoothest crossing they'd had for
years. Our cabin was an inside (no window) 4 berth, including
the bunk beds that pulled down from ceiling, shower and toilet.
There is a television in every room; this has a channel showing
a view from the bridge over the bow of the ship, a documentary
channel and several film channels.
Bethany
and James enjoying their Red Indian theme day at Peter Pan's Youth
Club
Peter
Pan's Youth Club was fantastic for our two children, Bethany 6 and
James 4, as they would not have been at all happy sitting around
the swimming pool all day relaxing and getting a sun tan. Instead,
after breakfast they would go to the club where they were entertained
all day. Each day had a theme e.g. Space, Indians, The Sea and Halloween.
Every evening after the children's tea had been served in the Conservatory,
there would be a magic show or party of some kind to entertain them
whilst mums and dads could enjoy an evening meal, they even had
their own Glittery Cocktail Party. There was a nursery service for
children up to 5 years old where you could leave them to sleep till
late if you wanted to go to any of the shows. We found it better
to take them to the shows and carry them back to the cabin asleep
at the end.
The
evening meals for us were out of this world. The food was first
rate with full waiter service, as well as the different dress codes
for mealtimes, from casual and smart casual to informal and formal.
After your evening meal you had the choice of a show in the Palladium,
a film in the Cinema or music and dancing in the Horizon Lounge.
This room sits on top of the bridge on the top deck and so has a
very good all round view about the ship, nearly 360° in fact,
during the day this is also used for art auctions and bingo.
Ponta
Delgada
Carlisle
Bay, Antigua
Between
England and the Azores the sun did manage to shine for a couple
of days, and some brave souls did start their sunbathing, though
with a strong breeze, just to let them know we had not yet reached
the tropics! Most of us just got used to the atmosphere of the ship
and what was on offer in the shops and bars.
The
Arcadia arrived in the harbour at Ponta Delgada at 8:00am Wednesday
31st October, to overcast skies and slight misty rain for a half-day
visit. We hadn't booked any tours here so we just opted for a walk
around the town and then back to the ship. And as advised by the
tour manager, we did purchase a bottle of Pineapple Liquor, and
yes, it's lovely! Everyone back on board by 2:00pm, the Arcadia
slipped her moorings and set sail for the Caribbean.
The
next two days at sea were overcast with some showers and strong
winds but after that the weather was beautiful and we could get
down to some serious sunbathing.
Monday
5th November, about half a day behind schedule due to strong winds
and tides, we arrive at Antigua with flying fish jumping out of
the water in front of the Arcadia as we anchored in a quiet bay
just outside of Falmouth Harbour. You are taken ashore by tender;
these are the larger of the lifeboats that the ship carries, of
which the Arcadia has four. You board these via a small pontoon
that is lowered out of the side of the ship and you're then able
to just walk in. Each of these tenders will carry about one hundred
people to shore, although full capacity is said to be 129. Again
with no tour booked on this island, a beach called Carlisle Bay
had been recommended. It was about half an hour away and was said
to be a typical Caribbean beach, so that's where we went, and it
was beautiful.
Afterwards
we went on to Shirley Heights. This was the principal fortification
of the British troops stationed at English Harbour, from the 1780s.
With fantastic views over Nelson's Dockyard and Falmouth Bay in
the distance.
Brimstone
Hill Fortress, St Kitts
6:00pm
that evening we set sail for St Kitts. These islands are further
east from Antigua and like many of the Windward Islands they were
fought over by the French and English for many years. We arrived
at St Kitts 07:15am and had our breakfast overlooking Basseterre
where we had a tour booked to go and see the Brimstone Hill Fortress,
an old English fort captured by the French in 1782. A year later,
under the Articles of the Treaty of Versailles, the French returned
the island to the British and fortifications were continued until
1794. Now, with most of its cannons still in place and with a superb
view of the island, St Nevis it is a great place to visit.
From
there the tour took us to Romney Manor, one of the island's Batiks,
where 'Sea Island Cotton' is waxed and dyed.
Bethany
and James playing the steel drum at a rum distillery in St Lucia
Next
day was spent at St Lucia, but this time the Arcadia was able to
dock and disembarkation was much easier. We had a tour arranged
to see one of the Rum distilleries and to see Marigot Bay where
some of the original Dr Dolittle was filmed starring Rex Harrison.
We were also shown some of the sugar and banana plantations on the
island, these make up the main exports of St Lucia. This was followed
by a brief tour around Castries town where the Arcadia had docked.
Back on board, lunch was followed by a swim in the afternoon for
the kids to finish the day. At 6:00pm we left St Lucia to sail on
to Grenada, and again we were to sail through the night to arrive
first thing in the morning.
Grenada
is known as the Spice Islands, and when you arrive there you can
smell why, as there is a market set up where you arrive by tender.
With no tour planned here we took one of the water taxis to Grand
Anse Beach, and although the water was not as warm as Antigua's
it was still very pleasant to swim in. You are, however, pestered
quite a bit by locals touting for business e.g. crafts, drinks,
deckchairs and to do hair braiding, so we only stayed for a short
while before going back to the ship.
Our
last port of call was Bridgetown, Barbados. This is where the cruise
ended and from where we were to fly home later that day. With our
suitcases packed and ready to be collected and taken to the airport,
we decided to have a brief stroll around the shopping area by the
docks and then spend the rest off the day back onboard.
Immigration
Control came on to the ship and passports were checked and cleared
before going to the airport, to reduce the time sitting around in
a hot departure lounge. You are then called for, plane by plane
and in small groups, to be taken by coach straight to the airport
where your plane is already waiting. Once in the air complimentary
drinks are served and a meal, after which you settle yourself down
for the 8-hour flight home.
Some
other points about cruising with P&O. They print a daily events
newspaper called 'Arcadia Today'. This lists information about the
activities going on around the ship, such as line and ballroom dancing
lessons, what films were showing in the cinema and also what attire
was required for the evening meal. There were also art auctions
being held for the first week. As well as any professional photo
calls being made that day and many other things. They will also
provide you with a folder containing most of the evening menus as
a souvenir. A port guide is provided giving you information on all
the islands you stopped at. And a newssheet keeping you up to date
with the outside world.
You
are expected to tip you room steward and your restaurant waiter,
though this is not compulsory, but they do work very hard to give
you the best service possible. Rooms are kept tidy with clean towels
for the bathroom and beach. Beds are made in the morning and turned
down at night. Food is brought to your table hot and very well presented,
as you would expect in any top restaurant.
My
wife and I consider ourselves converted to cruising and I doubt
if we will bother with a package holiday again. Value for money,
care and attention to every detail, it cannot be beaten. For the
disabled getting around the ship is easy, there are lifts to every
floor and the staff are very helpful, even helping you in and out
of the tenders taking you to and from the islands.
All
in all, this was just a splendid holiday vacation!
Until now my wife and I had only
been on package holidays, but prompted by the fact that my mother
and sister in-law have been going on cruises for some time, and
repeatedly saying how much they enjoyed them, we thought we would
look into a family package.
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