Striking in design and completed in April 2005, child-free Arcadia offers a contemporary cruise experience, where her modern flair and signature features set her apart. Choice is her watchword and everywhere you go you will find evidence of her unique style and innovation. Sociable, spontaneous and flexible, Arcadia enables you to make the most of every moment away.

In December 2006, Sales Consultant Rachel and her husband Neil flew out to New Orleans to embark P&O's Arcadia for a fortnight's cruise around the Calypso Isles.
'After the long flight to New Orleans we were delighted to find out that we didn't have to reclaim our baggage, and we were transferred straight to the ship where embarkation was very quick and efficient. Normal baggage/person security scanners were in operation at the airport but we were not held up unduly. It was a real pleasure not to have to carry our luggage around with us.' Says Rachel.

'I was amazed at how hard the staff worked to keep the ship looking flawless. They took real pride in keeping it spotless. We were delighted with our balcony cabin, which was very stylish with plenty of storage space. The rooms were adorned with an amazing art collection created by contemporary British artists. There was a handy fridge, hairdryer and full air conditioning, along with both UK and US style plug sockets. It was lovely to sit out on the balcony in the evening and watch the sunset whilst we set sail for our next port of call.'

'Information fact sheets for each port of call were provided in our cabin each day, detailing places of interest, beach and shopping guides and also a map. These were extremely helpful as we could carry them ashore. We booked several excursions through P&O Cruises, such as a rainforest tour in Puerto Rico, a tourist train ride in Key West, a beach transfer in St Thomas, a catamaran and snorkelling excursion in St Maarten, and a sunset and Champagne evening boat trip in Barbados. The staff really looked after us from our initial meeting on board right through the tours, all of which were amazing. Some of our travelling companions took local taxi tours, which they found to be safe, informative and great value for money too.' Says Rachel.

'The dining options on board were in abundance. We dined in the Orchid restaurant, which served tantalising oriental cuisine, and here we found both the food and service to be of exceptionally high standards and very good value for money at a supplement of £10 each. Whilst on board Arcadia we attended our friends' wedding (colleague Nicola and her partner Andrew), followed by a wedding breakfast in celebrity chef Gary Rhodes' restaurant, where again the food was truly amazing and the waiters were very attentive.
The choice of food in the main Meridien restaurant was also fantastic and everything was beautifully presented. If you didn't fancy anything on the menu, there were always set alternatives, such as steak, for example. The waiters took great pride in their service and enjoyed making a fuss of anyone with a special celebration.'

'For breakfast, we chose to eat in the Belvedere buffet restaurant so that we could eat when and with whom we wanted, and this was a bright, modern room with floor to ceiling windows offering panoramic views over the sea. Lunch times were often spent in the Neptune Grill, serving wraps, salads, jacket potatoes, burgers etc cooked to order from 10am to 6pm. Basically, you could eat anywhere, anytime!'

'My husband Neil was impressed with Arcadia, particularly the choice of evening venues. We danced in the Electra nightclub on a few occasions, and our whole party enjoyed the quizzes and theme nights in the Rising Sun pub - the entertainment staff were tireless and good fun. The show lounge boasted extremely talented performers, and I can highly recommend watching Cirque de Arcadia - it was fascinating! There was a steel band on board, which was great for the Caribbean atmosphere, especially on tropical night when we had a deck party in the warm sea air.
For passengers who enjoy sequence and ballroom dancing the Globe was the place to be - a lovely venue with a laid back atmosphere. The Piano bar was very relaxing and popular for pre dinner drinks too. The gentlemen in our party made full use of the Casino, so all in all there was something for everyone.'

Of colleague and close friend Nicola and Andrew's wedding, Rachel says 'The on board wedding we attended was superbly organised and a very special day. The captain was very personable; he often saw our party around the ship and always remembered us. We felt very privileged to be part of the wedding group and were treated almost like celebrities.' Click here to read more about Nicola and Andrew's wedding experience.

'Arcadia offers plenty of open deck space to enjoy the sunshine, and with her being a child-free vessel this made for a lovely serene atmosphere around the decks. Many passengers used the Aquarius pool as this was subject to light sea breezes, and the Neptune pool had a retractable roof in case of any rain showers. The on board gym was very well equipped, and several classes were held, such as Tai Chi and Pilates, along with wellbeing lectures, so there was always plenty to do during the day. It was a pleasure to board the ship after a day ashore and look forward to enjoying all the facilities. There is a place for everyone, active or quiet, and the design is not too ostentatiously modern - I think you can still tell she is a classic P&O liner.' Says Rachel.

Click on the ship name to read more staff cruise reviews:

P&O Cruises' Oriana
P&O Cruises' Oceana
Sea Princess
Ocean Village
Fred Olsen's Braemar
RCI's Voyager of the Seas
Hebridean Spirit
Family Cruising aboard Oceana

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