J818 PEARLS OF THE ARTHRITIC sorry Joan couldn't resist it.

COMMOD'E BURGOINE AND HIS WONKY SHIP ARCADIA

Let me begin, my first impression of the "ARCADIA" was a floating nursing home but not wanting to offend many of the good people I met onboard I will be generous and say that the average age must have been in the late 70's with their associated problems which meant that moving about the ship was a slow process! P&O would like us all to believe that this ship is floating Gleneagles but it isn't! The food is of a reasonable standard but nothing special and you don't get bingo and silly games at Gleneagles. The overworked and underpaid waiting and cabin staff (recruited in Mumbai and Goa), do a pretty good job which is more than can be said of the rest of the ships officers. The plastic cabins creaked and cracked all night long in the slightest swell ruining any chance of a good sleep. The daily newspaper tells us to wash our hands and make use of the hand gels available. These gels were only available in the self service restaurant and nowhere else! I know that gels are ineffective against some infections but they should be available everywhere as people handle rails throughout the ship. When I complained about this a "superior fatboy in a white suit" told me they were not necessary anywhere else other than the self service restaurant. Read more