My Cruise Ship Experiences: March 2014

Arcadia - February 2014 - Post 3

Tendering ashore at Benoa, Bali 10/3.

This photo, misleadingly, makes him look asleep at the wheel but he's a highly skilled coxswain.

Typical of the many small coastal freighters still seen around SE Asian ports.

At Kuala Lumpur airport 13/3. KL like Singapore was blanketed in smoke from bush fires in Indonesia.

People and places around the ship.

Friendly, efficient and obliging bar staff.

The Restaurant Manager.

I had four different cabins during my time aboard - this cabin with a large balcony was the best of those.

Upstairs Downstairs

The British style pub. On sea days, light hearted team quizzes and such were conducted here.

The Crows Nest Bar - a great place for evening drinks.

Bespoke light fittings in the dining room.

Arcadia - February 2014 - Post 2

Arriving at Adelaide, early morning 2/3.

Arcadia's funnel in early morning light. Unfortunately P&O will soon be moving away from their traditional buff coloured funnels to some blue and white concoction.

A good friend of mine, Tim Ryan was aboard with his wife for the Melbourne to Adelaide leg.

Yours truly, now an armchair expert, watching the docking to see it's "done properly like it was in my day".

Arcadia's builder's plate.

Arriving Fremantle 6/3.

Queen Mary 2 alongside during her Australian Circumnavigation cruise. Friends of mine, Judy and John Bone were aboard her at the time.

Port of Fremantle line boats.

Competing Sail Away parties. Both ships sailed at 6.30 pm, Arcadia for Benoa, Bali and QM2 for Adelaide.

Arcadia - February 2014 - Post 1

On 20th February I flew to Auckland to join Arcadia the next day for a nine night voyage to Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide. This being my first cruise with P&O (UK) I wasn't sure how much I'd like it but in the event I enjoyed my time there so much that I extended my voyage twice, from Adelaide to Fremantle then from Fremantle to Singapore. While the ship is almost identical to Holland America's Oosterdam that I sailed in last year, Arcadia is fitted out much better and I found the atmosphere, service and food to be superior as well. My fellow passengers were mostly late middle aged Brits, aboard for either the whole world voyage or half of it and I found them to be mostly friendly, polite, considerate and good humoured company. Though many of us were drinking and having a good time, I didn't see any boorishness. It was all very sedate and relaxing. After disembarking in Singapore on 13th March, I flew flew back to Melbourne overnight, via Kuala Lumpur with Malaysian Airlines.

The Emirates A380 I flew to Auckland on, arriving at Melbourne 20/2.

One of the things I like about Emirates' A380 layout is that, unlike Qantas, the side aisle and window seats are offset from each other to increase privacy.

The bar towards the rear of the upper deck.

Arcadia at Auckland 21/2/14.

The ship was in Sydney overnight 25/2 to 26/2.

The Cunard shape funnel in P&O buff. Arcadia was originally planned to be a Holland America ship but when building got underway she was designated to be Cunard's Queen Victoria then P&O's Arcadia (all Carnival Cruise Corporation brands).

Looking forward from the top midships lounge.

Arriving in Melbourne on 28/2. Arcadia was piloted in by one of my shipmates from the 1970s and 80s and a very good friend of mine, Captain Brian Liley.