Back to Southampton

Days 11 and 12 At Sea 22C falling to 18C Sunny and windy

The Technical Bits – how we blog

IB writes the blog and chooses the pictures. Then IG reads through, corrects IB's poor grammer and spelling and uses her editorial veto as she sees fit.

Blogger is a pretty crude tool and the ship's internet is very slow and unpredictable. We can write the text in Word and paste that into blogger, but the pictures need to be loaded into the text whilst on line. To lessen the time on line IB uses a program called Irfan View (thanks to Alan D) which can reduce the 4KB pictures down to a more manageable 500MB. Normally a days blog with 6 pictures takes from 10 minutes up to 20 minutes to post. We mentioned earlier that the ships internet had stopped counting our usage: this lasted for 5 days so we had free usage of over two hours! It is now counting again but we still have over 2 hours of our original 4 1/2 . Yesterday in rough weather every time we tried to post pictures the internet went down during the post – normally this would be very frustrating but with all the 'free' time it did not concern us!

Update on 'Man overboard'

As expected the full story of the guy falling off the gangway has emerged. It appears that the man turned to talk to his wife as he was going ashore and leant on what he thought was the rail. It was in fact the rope that connects the gangway to the ship, and it gave way and he fell some 30 feet into the sea. At Lisbon there is a gap between the dockside and the ship created by large fenders. As he fell, he missed all the possible hazards and fell straight into the sea so he was actually very fortunate that he fell into the water. His wife shouted 'man overboard', but it seems that there was a crew exercise going on and some thought it was part of the exercise! It took some 5 minutes to get him out but after a hospital visit it is reported that he is fine.

Arcadia moored at Lisbon showing gap between ship and berth

At Sea 14^th and 15^th June days 11 and 12

From Cadiz to Southampton is some 1120 nautical miles and we need to steam at around 18.5 knots, well within the ships maximum cruising speed of 24 knots. Even so this is the fastest leg of the cruise. P & O must be crying at the cost of the fuel at this speed!

The sea has been pretty kind to us and despite winds of force 7 IG has not felt the need to pop any pills. The pool seems to have more of a swell than the sea!

We like to spend the morning by the pool, and IB spends about an hour swimming in two or three sessions whilst IG reads (IB cannot read!).

Our favourite loungers by the inside pool

Then we have lunch and tend to spend the afternoon either in the cabin blogging, siestering, or surfing or just walking around the ship. Then a late swim before dinner and the theatre.

The Verdict

It's been a good cruise, we like Arcadia but as with all things there are a few points that could be improved. We have always thought P & O's dinners are among the best and this cruise was no exception. However the lunch buffets are not to our taste: we only have had one joint (beef) and that was on the first day!

Typical lunch buffet menu

We like the central covered pool, which we think is essential if we cruise from Southampton. We had thought we might do another cruise to the Med. in October on Oceana but feel that without a covered pool Oceana is out and also one cruise a year is enough for us. There is nowhere at the front of the ship to easily see us enter ports, all the open areas have tinted glass. The one area that you can walk fron side to side to get a full view will go at Christmas when it is turned into a group of single cabins! More passengers with less space!

We liked all the ports, especially Cadiz, Valencia and Almeria and even Gibraltar seemed much more enjoyable than last time. The weather was great and our dinner table companions were fun.

Cadiz

Day 10 Cadiz Sunny 27C dry clear and hot!

The very first port on our very first cruise, some four years ago was Cadiz. That time we went to Seville, a one and a half hour coach journey. This was booked before we had seen Cadiz because it was the thing to do. Having seen some of Cadiz from the ship then we wondered if we would have had a more enjoyable time if we had stuck in Cadiz. This time the obvious thing to do was to explore Cadiz. Its our sort of place, just walk off the ship straight into the town. Up early as it is prdicted to be hot and sunny and walk around the walls.

Cadiz Walls

Cadiz is almost an island, standing at the top of a long peninsular on the Costa de la Luz. The walls have the sea to one side and wonderful parks inland, which are colourful and very well kept.

We walk all around the seafront to the main town beach.

Then explore the town area with its traffic free (apart from the odd mad scooterist!) narrow streets.

See the Cathedral which dominates the town and go inside and realise it is vast with a crypt under the Altar.

Back to the harbour which completes our full circular tour and after 3 hours in the heat return to an empty ship as everyone else is off on their explorations. Time for a cooling swim before lunch and yet another lazy afternoon.

Arcadia in Cadiz harbour – only ship in port today!

We are really enjoying our dinner companions, very easy to talk with and no embarrassing silences. The dinner food is also excellent unlike the lunch menus which we find disappointing. Only lasted a few minutes with the mind reader whose act was the same as last time we saw him!

Almeria

Day 8 Valencia continued:

We found the show, Reel ro Reel featuring music from British films the best yet: good choice of songs mainly well performed.

Day 9 Almeria sunny and 29C, but cooler in a nice light breeze in the afternoon – PERFECT!

A new port for IB and IG like Valencia yesterday. Billed as a pretty and largely modern city. Situated in the middle of the bay facing the Mediterranean Sea with sandy beaches and coves. Atop of the mountain, more of a hill, behind the city is the Alcazaba or Arab Fortress. Built in 995, it commands some magnificent views.

View of Almeria and Fort Alcazaba from ship

P & O seem to be curtailing the amount of port time (to save fuel as we don't need to steam so fast and port fees?) and we do not arrive in Almeria until 9 30am. So plenty of time for breakfast before going on deck to see us into harbour. There are 2,000 passengers on board and about 10 of them are on deck: we really enjoy this, especially in new ports.

IG's pre cruise research found that all to see in Almeria is within an easy walk from where we berth. However a shuttle bus to the city centre is provided so we take that. The P & O supplied map is pretty useless but we manage to find the modern two floor food market with its impressive stalls of fruit, fish and meat.

Central Food Market

We then wander down the main harbour front tree-lined Boulevard

Parque de Nicholas Salmeron – harbour front

On the ship the Fort looked a fair walk and climb so we did not intend to climb up in the predicted 32C heat.

Fort Alcazaba

However as we strolled the back streets we happened on the Fort entrance and decided to have a look. It was an easy climb up to the top where there were some super views of the city and harbour.

Arcadia in Almeria Harbiur

Well worth the effort and by now the temperature was dropping slightly. Back to the ship for a late, for us,lunch and lazing by the pool before watching the sail out at 4pm.

Playa Zapillo Beach, Almeria

Pass the impressive beaches as we set sail for our final port, Cadiz.

Valencia HOT HOT HOT

Day 8 Valencia very hot and sunny 32C

Up to see us sail into Valencia harbour on a warm and clear morning. Off on the first shuttle bus so we are in town before it warms up too much! Nice ride through the pleasant outskirts of Valencia along the banks of the now diverted river Turia which has been turned into a wonderful park, Jardines del Turis. This was created when the river was diverted to a new artifical course after the floods of 1957.

We are dropped off close to the Catedral de Valencia which dominates the Plaza de la Reina.

in the centre of the Old City. We then explore the city with its mix of old and new, but all nicely laid out with wide boulevards, many tree lined. Like Barcelona there is a food market which is much less busy but equally fragrant and wonderful displays by the many stallholders.

We see the Town Hall which is in a nice open square with gardens and a fountain.

Then we see a bull ring turned into a museum and the fine railway station. By now we were getting tired and hot so back to the ship for a quick swim before lunch and an afternoon lazing, again, by the pool.

The city is easy to explore on foot but between the centre and the ship we pass by the City of Arts and Sciences with its futuristic architecture.

Valencia also has fine beaches of Las Areneas and Malvarrosa which we did not visit but were close to where the ship berthed.

 

We watched our departure in brilliant sunshine before dinner and the third theatre company show.

Barcelona

Day 7 Barcelona Sunny 24C

As we have been to Barcelona before, but never been inside the Sagrada Familia due to huge queues, we booked tickets online before we left home.

Up early enough to see us entering Barcelona harbour on a clear and sunny morning. Watch the huge (4,000 passenger) MSC Splendida squeeze past us, Celebrity Equinox and Nautica to its berth. Then breakfast and off on the shuttle bus to Barcelona town. With maps at the ready we took the Metro at the bottom of Las Ramblas which is the main tourist 'drag'.

Metro Station on Las Ramblas

Easy to buy tickets (2 Euros a trip) and with one change we were at Gaudi's amazing church well before our booked slot. Time to have a good look around outside before going inside.

The outside is famously still work in progress but the inside is very much complete and very impressive: pleased we made the effort to see it.

Then back on the Metro to see the Boqueria (food) Market with its lovely smells and extravagant displays.

Fight our way back down Las Ramblas to the pick up the shuttle back to the ship in time, just, for a pre lunch swim in the now warm pool. Afternoon lazing by the pool which is nice and empty as everyone else is still doing Barcelona!

Decide to skip the violinist again in the theatre and just stroll around the ship before back to the cabin for blogging and surfing the net. We splashed out on 250 minutes plus another 'free' 30 minutes. However the last 3 logins have not been recorded so we still have 238 minutes left: we are sure they will however catch up with us!

Day at Sea

Day 6 At Sea Sunny 22C

A day to relax before four ports in a row! Morning by the pool which is nice and empty as it has been all cruise as it is pretty cool. I am in the pool when the Deputy Captain passes and I mention how cool the pool is: mistake. Soon after I feel warm water coming into the pool and this afternoon the pool is full of people. Warm enough for the pool roof to be opened mid morning.

Light lunch but IG gives in and has a couple of chocolate puds and regrets it almost at once! Back to cabin for siesta then walk around the ship. Do 5 laps of the prom. (3 laps to the mile) and time a fast lap at 5mins 7 seconds, that's IG's time as we raced each other in opposite directions, IB lost by 2 seconds!

 

IG on the nice wide and wooden decked promenade

We love to just watch the wake of the ship from aft on the prom deck

Black and White formal dinner tonight so a chance for IB to show off his 'new' white dinner jacket found in a Winchester charity shop for £10: does he look like a waiter, Steve?

Then second show for the Arcadia Headliners Theatre Company called 'Blame it on the Boogie'. Just before the show started the Captain interrupted our chattering to tell us we were diverting to just off Valencia for a boat transfer which we watched from our cabin as a passenger needed treatment urgently at hospital. Although not a nice reason it was nice to see Valencia at twilight. We have now heard that said passenger is recovering well.

Then just as the show was starting all the lights came back up in the theatre: this time a lighting problem which took a good few minutes to resolve while the cruise director tried to keep us amused! Sorry to report that show was a little underwhelming. Content was fine but the singers are just not as slick and professional as we have come to accept. They are a new company but we wonder if they will ever make it.

Gibraltar

Day 5 Gibraltar Sunny 22C

This was our second visit to Gibraltar and last time we went up on the cable car to the top of the rock to see the views and braved the mischievious monkeys. We were a little underwhelmed with the experience and found the town rather like an English town.

View of Gibraltar from our cabin ....sorry STATEROOM!

This time we decided just to walk off the ship and stroll around the town. We were more impressed this time: there has been a lot of new development and restoration of the older buildings.

In particular the 1930's battlements are being restored and sympathetically revitalised with cafes and shops in the old arches.

There are some old English style buildings like the Police station

Jack of Dock Green 'ev'ning all'

When leaving the ship we pulled forward off the berth and had a great view of the airport runway which is on reclaimed land between the English rock and the Spanish mainland.

 

IG on balcony with Airport in background

Still time for a swim in the warm sunshine before dinner.

Lisbon

Day 4 Lisbon Sunny with a few showers early and late 18C

Up early enough to see us enter the river Tejo on which Lisbon sits. We pass the Belem Tower,

The Monument of the Discoveries,

And under the '25^th April suspension bridge, with the statue of Christ the King on the south bank of the river. This bridge is for both cars on top with trains below. The cars run on a metal grid which makes a noise like a swarm of wasps!

We berth at the new cruise terminal which is much closer to the city centre. As we have already seen the city we decided to do a bus trip to the seaside resort of Estoril. We drive out though the northern outskirts of Lisbon and by motorway to Estoril.

Estoril is very upmarket with fine beaches

Casino at end of tree lined park

and a huge Casino. We really enjoyed walking along the promenade with its sandy beaches and many cafes. It is very much in the mould of Monte Carlo but nicer!

Estoril Centro de Congressos

We returned alond the sea and riverside corniche to Lisbon and enjoyed going through the old part of the city that we had not seen before.

A late lunch and time for a relaxing swim before dinner and a stroll around the ship. Talk at dinner is that it seems a passenger fell off the gangway into the sea this morning as they disembarked: sure full facts will emerge over the next few days although it's hard to understand what went wrong! Did not fancy seeing the violinist in the theatre and we were a little underwhelmed by the first production show last night. It is a new theatre company and it showed!

Early night as we lose an hour tonight as we are in Gibraltar which is on central european time.

First impressions

Arcadia at Ocean Terminal, Southampton with Shieldhall in foreground

 

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Palladium Theatre

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 1 Leaving Southampton sunny 22C sea calm

Easy journey to Southampton, Barry's taxi up the pier, WightRyder, First Great Western Train and taxi to Ocean Terminal. Boarded at 11 45: a record. We hardly had time to raid the free magazine racks before we were called to board! Nice buffet lunch then a hectic afternoon exploring ship - which we think like.

Captain seems a humourous fellow. Announcing our departure he said he had sent the Chief Engineer down to the engine room with the keys to start the engines

Wonderful sailaway in brilliant sunshine with clear views and Aurora followed us down Southampton Water and then took a path much closer to the Isle of Wight than us and overtook us as we passed Ryde Pier: never seen that before! We have 913 nautical miles to Lisbon over two days and three nights so only a gentle 15 or so knots is needed: maybe Aurora is in more of a hurry!

Time for dinner as we pass Seaview and we are relieved that our dinner companions seem very friendly and easy to talk. One couple were married on Saturday and the wife(57) is a talkative Canadian and the husband an older Yorkshireman. They seem to have hardly seen each other before getting married! It has taken 2 years for her to get a visa. Last Thursday their Beko washing up machine caught fire while they were out and their house and his wardrobe, including his wedding suit, were smoke damaged. The dry cleaners opened specially to dry clean his entire wardrobe. Luckily her dress was elsewhere! Coincidentally both the husbands of our dinner companions are leg amputees so lots of conversation about how they manage. The newly wed had lost both his legs below the knee due to complications caused by diabetes and the other lost all of one leg when his milk float was hit by a lorry.

Day 2 and 3 At Sea Mainly Sunny 18C day 2 and overcast 17C day 3 sea calm both days!

Our usual at sea routine, with swims, walking around and lazing! Trying not to eat too much and IG is very smug that she has not eaten any puds at lunch: IB is a little less good but has swum more to allow for this indulgence. Looking forward to Lisbon tomorrow when we have booked a transfer to Estoril.

We have now had plenty of time to explore Arcadia and compare it to its sister ships Queen Victoria and Elizabeth. Although the same basic structure they are very different inside. The decor on Arcadia is much more contemporary with bright colours rather then the classic wood finish of the Queens: on balance we prefer the more sombre Queens. Arcadia has a covered (sliding so it can open) main pool which isa great plus point and more lounging area around. The Palladium Theatre on Arcadia is as spacious as the Queens but we prefer Arcadia's layout without the boxes and glass screens which can interrupt the views.

The central atrium is much nicer and more open on the Queens as are the shops. So we like Arcadia but prefer the Queens.