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  • TravelerSpain and France on the Arvia
    Day 2

    First Day at Sea

    April 1, North Atlantic Ocean ⋅ 🌬 12 °C

    We sailed out of the channel and across the Bay of Biscay today. Having crossed it a few times on a cruise ship, we've never really encountered the weather for which it is legend. However, the crossing was more choppy than we've had before, with 5 metre swells which meant we could feel it even on a ship this large.

    We went to listen to the guest speaker talk about the James Web telescope. He was okay...not as charismatic or interesting as others we've heard. Not aided by the fact he mentioned no less than seven times that he went to the University of Cambridge, or that he failed to mention that he was a school teacher, instead repeating that he 'runs an observatory' (true...but for Harrow School...).

    A few bookings for this evening - the Olive Grove for dinner and the 710 club for entertainment. The Olive Grove queue was massive but did decrease very quickly for those with bookings, and the food was great. In the 710 Club, a jazz quartet put their spin on a number of songs from the Great American songbook. We even went to the Club House afterwards and watched a comedian and game show. The comedian was quite good, although hampered by a mid-set ship-wide announcement from the Entertainment Manager which cut off his microphone!    Read more

  • TravelerSpain and France on the Arvia
    Day 1

    Southampton

    March 31 in England ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    We headed to Southampton once again, this time to pick up the Arvia. The Arvia is the sister ship to the Iona, so another big ship and an almost identical layout. However, the dates and ports fit Easter holidays...so here we are. We stopped for a now obligatory pint at the Dancing Man Brewery, where I alone enjoyed the dour beer! We thought our arrival window at port was 12.30-16.30...turns out our arrival time was supposed to be 12.30, so when we turned up closer to 15.30, we were ushered through rather quickly...which was fantastic!

    Unlike the Iona, we have a window rather than a balcony cabin. That aside, our cabin is identical, which is lovely. The window is great too - on Deck 4 so we are very close to the water and not overlooked like all the balconies are.

    There are some differences to the Iona but not lots. So we unpacked, mustered, and then began the holiday in style...with a free glass of champagne and a game of crib in Andersons! The virtual queuing for dinner is very welcome as the corridor that leads to the restaurant also has two other restaurants, a bar and the cinema off of it, so it is absolutely frenetic at around 6pm!    Read more

  • TravelerCruising in Northern Europe
    Day 8

    Farewell Iona

    February 17 in England ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C

    So...would we go on Iona again?

    Plus points
    - Anderson's bar was a nice place to spend time and to play crib
    - Probably the nicest cabin (with on demand video) and definitely the nicest bathroom
    - Nice adults only area, necessary on a huge ship full of children
    - Aerial show in the Skydome was fab
    - Olive Garden restaurant was a winner (with no extra cost)
    - Virtual queuing (a winner, and missing from Ventura and Aurora)
    - Cinemas on board were great and had a good selection of films
    - Probably the nicest Atrium we've seen on a P&O ship (although still a thoroughfare)
    - The captain was perhaps one of the most relentlessly cheery chaps we've ever come across.

    Downsides
    - Size. Sheer size. It didn't feel like a ship and it was rarely evident you were at sea (which is kinda the point of cruising!)
    - Guest speakers/at sea programme not great
    - Every bar felt like a public thoroughfare, and therefore felt frenetic...and made it difficult to get served (except Anderson's)
    - Food was OK, but not as nice as other ships. Same problem as always with the evening menus, but also limited variation at breakfast
    - Balcony, whilst nice, overlooked the promenade (albeit three decks down). This somewhat changed the view, but also meant that it wasn't quiet on the balcony - the sound carried from all around you (a much worse problem I imagine on a warm-destination cruise when the promenade could be packed)
    - Smoking area not enforced - there seemed to be a belief that anywhere outdoors was fair game for smoking/vaping
    - A small point, but we saw very few staff out and about on deck, doing maintenance/deck hand/etc jobs. It felt like the crew were hidden away at all costs, very different to other P&O ships
    - Least nice Crow's Nest of the ships we've been on - small and absolutely packed.
    - Bars serving drinks in plastic glasses, even indoors on a formal evening
    - Disembarkation was a bit chaotic. Told to leave 7.30-8.15, but when we got to the gangway it said 6.30-7.30, and unusually there was a huge queue through the terminal.

    As always, the crew were superb and helpful, and deserve a huge amount of credit for what they do.

    So...we wouldn't *not* go on Iona again but of the four P&O ships we've sailed on, it would be our least favourite. It'd have to be a killer itinerary for us to return.    Read more

  • TravelerCruising in Northern Europe
    Day 7

    Bruges

    February 16 in Belgium ⋅ 🌧 11 °C

    A bit of faff this morning as we tried to work out where in Zeebrugge we were, and how to get out of port. This included a mandatory shuttle bus rather than being allowed to walk to the port gates. By the time we got there, we had 30 minutes to do a 22-minute walk, buy train tickets and get on board for the 9.34 to Bruges...or wait a full hour for the next train! A yomp later, we made it on good time for the short hop to Bruges. The rain on arrival made for a dull start to the day, as we walked along the beautiful Minnewater Lake and fabulous architecture to the main square. The Beer Museum here had a lovely tasting paddle in a bar overlooking the square and out of the rain. Moving into Burhlg square, we enjoyed the local fare (aka I had a waffle) before we headed to the De Halve brewery. The rain finally stopped so we explored the west of Bruges which we'd not seen before, before heading back to the station.

    Departing this evening to Southampton for the final stretch...sigh.    Read more

  • TravelerCruising in Northern Europe
    Day 6

    Leidan

    February 15 in the Netherlands ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    Three museums looked interesting in Leidan, but alas, time was against us. We walked through the town, past the windmills and the Morspoort to the main drag, which was far more city-like than the calmness of Delft. As it was nearby, we popped into the Rijksmuseum Boerhaave. This science museum had fabulous astronomical and medicinal displays, although some of the latter makes you really grateful for modern medicine. Walking on to the Burcht van Leidan gave beautiful views over the city, before meandering back along the canals to the station to go back to Rotterdam.

    Sailaway from Rotterdam was fascinating as we traversed the narrow river through the massive industrial port. Having a balcony definitely allowed interesting views as we passed by into the North Sea.    Read more

  • TravelerCruising in Northern Europe
    Day 6

    Delft

    February 15 in the Netherlands ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    We headed out into the early morning rain in Rotterdam, and decided on a tram to the station over being soaked! A relatively short hop saw us unto Delft, a quintessially beautiful Dutch town, more reminiscent of Ypres with canals than the urban sprawl of Rotterdam. We meandered canalside to the leaning church and the windmill, before heading to the Royal Delft museum via the market square and Oostpoort. The museum was well worth a visit, exploring the history of Delft blue pottery and some beautiful items. The Picasso exhibit wasn't terribly exciting but that's likely more personal preference than anything else. We rounded off Delft in the Delft Brouwhuis for a flight of local beers, before hopping on a train to Leidan.

    Oh...and everyone goes everywhere on bicycles in the Netherlands!!    Read more

  • TravelerCruising in Northern Europe
    Day 6

    An evening in board in Rotterdam

    February 15 in the Netherlands ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    We planned for a lazy evening after coming back from Delft. In the afternoon, we happened upon performers practising for an evening show on aerial silks and hoops, a cyr wheel, and a trapeze. So before our late dinner in the Olive Garden, we visited the Skydome to watch Tribos, which we rarely do on board. The performers were superb. Also, I took what I think is my favourite picture of the holiday - as we came out of the Skydome for dinner, the second show was about to start, and we came across one of the across performers lay in the lift lobby awaiting his troupe...!Read more

  • TravelerCruising in Northern Europe
    Day 5

    Rotterdam

    February 14 in the Netherlands ⋅ 🌧 12 °C

    Back in Rotterdam and in the rain, we wandered to the Markthal and the cube houses. We visited these when we were here two years ago, so it wasn't particularly new. The street art and sculptures in Rotterdam are beautiful though. So we headed back to the ship to change into dry clothes and warm up! We're in Rotterdam overnight and the forecast tomorrow is grey but without rain, so we plan to visit Delft and may Leiden.Read more

  • TravelerCruising in Northern Europe
    Day 5

    Hague in the Rain

    February 14 in the Netherlands ⋅ 🌧 11 °C

    Rotterdam cruise terminal is quite far inland, so it was fascinating at various points in the middle of the night to see what we were sailing by in a fairly narrow channel. The last two miles of the route we actually had to do backwards as there isn't enough space for Iona to turn in Rotterdam. After breakfast, we headed across the Erasmus bridge and towards the train station. It was however a horrible, rainy, grey day so we got wind-blasted as we crossed the bridge and were very damp by the time we got to Rotterdam Centraal.

    A quick train and tram dropped us at the gates of the International Criminal Court in the Hague. We had thought there was a case being heard today but it seems to have been changed so we couldn't actually visit which was disappointing. We walked back through the Hague and to the Binnenhof, the home of the Dutch parliament. Extensive renovation means the Tweede Kamer ('second house', the Dutch House of Representatives) are currently housed in the former Ministry of Foreign Affairs...which we didn't realise until we arrived at Binnenhof and a lovely English chap directed us.

    Once at Tweede Kamer, we were told that the chamber was sadly full so we couldn't see it in action, but we were able to wander the exhibits on the ground floor, and visit the gift shop! We considered heading on to Amsterdam but as we'd seen it before and the weather was so horrible we decided to head back instead.    Read more

  • TravelerCruising in Northern Europe
    Day 4

    At sea ish

    February 13, North Sea ⋅ 🌬 7 °C

    We departed Breverhamen in the morning, and headed towards Rotterdam. The ship had to turn in the river with the aid of tugs before we could leave which was interesting to watch. Much of the day was spent relaxing in the cabin - cross-stitching/wording and watching Top Chef. The at sea programme isn't super exciting, but we're fairly self-sufficient. The night was black tie night, so we dressed up and headed to Anderson's!Read more

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