Rosie R, Apr 2025
P&O Arcadia Cruise ship - 3 nights Cruise Southampton to Guernsey
3 night mini cruise from Southampton to Guernsey...This was our 1st cruise, so it is a perfect great way to see if cruising is for you or not.We absolutely loved it.Arcadia is an adult only ship, we had an outside cabin on deck 1.We were at the rear of the ship and felt no movement or motion at all.Our cabin was clean and comfortable, a little bit dated, but it had all we needed.In the cabin was a safe, fridge, kettle with coffee and teas. TV and The White Company toiletries.The all inclusive option does not include drinks except water, tea and coffee. (Provided at the buffet restaurant.)You cannot buy a drinks package on a mini cruise with P&O , so you put any purchases on you cruise card and then pay at the end of your cruise. The cruise card will be outside your cabin when you arrive. Your luggage is taken to your cabin and left outside the door, and collected from your cabin before you disembark. (Normally the evening before).There is a shopping mall with a small amount of shops and Costa Coffee shop on board.The Horizon magazine with daily information is left outside your cabin every evening for the next day activities, shows and information.The buffet restaurant is massive. It's ok, we only ate there once for breakfast, it's free for all however we found it a bit too busy, unable to find a table and when we did I had to sit while my husband went to get his breakfast and then I went, by the time I had queued and returned to the table my husband had finished his. This is not for us.The Meridian restaurant was fabulous, beautiful food and the table service was second to none. You do not book a table, you just turn up. They give you a buzzer and when your table is ready it lights up and you return for your table.The Ocean Grill is nice and worth a visit, (booking and extra cost required) we ate there once.Sindhi Indian restaurant (extra cost and booking required) was one of my favourite evenings. The service and food was delicious. We went to the spa (booking and extra cost required) it was fantastic, a very relaxing morning, beautiful setting the stone beds overlook the ocean... Definitely a must if you like to be truly relaxed.The entertainment was great, we went to the later last showing of the evening, it gave us more time to enjoy our meal and have drinks.The theatre is huge (over 3 decks) with comfortable seating and great views wherever you sit.The verandah is on Deck 3 this is where you can sit and enjoy the ocean setting, sunsets and sunrise or go for a walk, 3 laps is 1 mile I believe.There a 2 swimming pools one on the top with a sun terrace and bar and grill (grill included in the all inclusive)and another one which is indoors with a retractable roof. There is plenty of sun deck space to catch a few rays if required with loads of sunbeds.The Monte Carlo Casino is great place to spend some time, either playing roulette, blackjack or the slots, we had a few winnings Really enjoyed it.The cinema screen room is small but a fab place to watch an afternoon or evening movie, we went in the afternoon, you have to book in the atrium as spaces are limited.The Rising Sun pub - great for a beer and a game of bingo...The piano bar is a lovely place to relax after dinner, listening to the pianist and having some gin and tonic. When getting to Guernsey the ship docks and drops it's anchors in the ocean/sea as close as it can get to the port. If you want to go into St Peters Port the ships tenders transport passengers there and back to the ship. You need to book for this as they transport in sessions, taking people that have booked excursions first.The are several other places we did not visit or spend time in, on the ship on our mini cruise so cannot review those.But all in all we had a lovely time, enjoyed cruising and Arcadia very much.