Arcadia Cabins

Arcadia has a high proportion of balconies -- 685 of the ship's 984 staterooms feature verandahs.

There are 67 suites and mini-suites, 10 grades of outside staterooms and seven of inside accommodation, ranging in size from 170-square-ft. standard cabins to 254-square-ft. balconied accommodations, 384-square-ft. mini-suites and 516-square-ft. suites (including verandah space).

All outside cabins come equipped with small baths and/or showers (insides are shower-only). Twin or double bed configurations, personal safes, direct-dial telephones, hairdryers, minibars and flat-screen TV's are standard in all levels of accommodation. Tea and coffee making kits are also provided in every cabin; P&O Cruises charges 1 GBP a head if passengers prefer their morning tea delivered by a cabin steward (unless, of course, if they are in the butler-serviced AC- or AG-grade top suites). Suites and mini-suites also have Jacuzzi baths, separate shower cubicles and DVD players.

In mini-suites and staterooms without butlers, there are plans to charge 2 GBP for a Continental breakfast (suspended on my cruise as details had not been included in the year's brochure).

A fairly substantial room service menu is available from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and prices range from 1 GBP for soup, salad or pate, to 1.75 GBP for salmon gravlax. Main course options cost 2 GBP per portion and include farfalle chicken pasta, salad nicoise, burgers and sandwiches; puddings cost 1 GBP and cheese or fruit platters 1.25 GBP. A smaller range of dishes, such as omelettes at 1.50 GBP or croque monsieurs at 2 GBP, are available from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. Minibar prices are the same as in bars; 2.05 GBP for a Becks beer, 2.55 GBP for a 25 cl bottle of wine and .75 GBP for a small can of soft drink. Crisps (potato ships for our U.S. audience) and nuts are also supplied at .80 GBP and .90 GBP, respectively.

I stayed in mini-suite B085 on Bermuda Deck. It was a roomy, elegant accommodation decorated in shades of cream, blue and gold, with beech-effect laminate furnishings, a large twin-to-queen bed with duvet, and a substantial balcony large enough for two wooden steamer chairs, two sit-ups and a teak table.

A large umbrella, binoculars, cozy cotton dressing gowns and slippers were supplied along with a flat-screen TV and DVD/CD player. There was plenty of storage (three double wardrobes, plus 14 drawers including bedside cabinets). An iron, board and trouser press were also provided, together with the standard hairdryer (U.K. plug) and tea/coffee maker.

Nice touches were a small window above the desk in the main cabin, a well-stocked magazine rack and, in the bathroom, full sized his 'n' hers Molton Brown toiletry sets -- a real treat.

The rather boring beige bathroom didn't really match the quality of the smellies (bath products), but it did have a very relaxing whirlpool bath and a separate shower (though this would looked smarter with a glass door rather than a white shower curtain).

Overall, though, the mini-suites are cozy and very comfortable.

Next: Arcadia Dining

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