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3 Nights on P&O Arcadia - is a short cruise WORTH it?

Travel Blog Jamie
Travel Blog Jamie
πŸ₯ˆExpert
πŸ‘οΈ 51K viewsπŸ“… 2 years ago⏱️ 1:00:12

Key Moments

Editorial Summary

The creator documents a three night cruise aboard the P&O Arcadia, traveling from Southampton to Belgium. The video covers the embarkation process, including luggage drop off and security, and provides a tour of a standard ocean view cabin. The creator evaluates various onboard amenities such as the Neptune pool with its retractable roof, the thermal suite, and the Crow's Nest. Dining experiences are a significant focus, featuring reviews of the buffet, the Ocean Grill specialty restaurant, and the Cindu Asian dining venue. The creator also details a shore excursion in Belgium, where they navigate public transport from Blankenberge to Brugge to visit local landmarks and a torture museum. While praising the spacious cabins and certain specialty dining options, the creator concludes by noting several service issues. These include long wait times for food and drinks, crowded breakfast buffets, and inconsistent shuttle information at the port. The creator suggests that while short cruises offer good value and a quick escape, the onboard service levels should better match the company's promises.

Written by TripBacon from this video's transcript.

How This Review Compares

This review's score for Arcadia
Barely Crispy
All-time creator consensus for Arcadia
Barely Crispy

This review is more critical than the all-time creator consensus.

What This Creator Said
Creator Had Mixed FeelingsFull Ship ReviewπŸ₯ˆExpert Creator
❀️ Best for CoupleNorthern_europe · Summer · 3 nightsFrom SouthamptonVeteran Cruiser

Source: Our analysis of the creator's lived experience, based on what they said in this video.

Creator's Key Takeaways

Arcadia's usual operating capacity is 294 guests there are a plethora of cabins to choose from

Arcadia is an adults only midsize ship with 11 passenger decks

I think Arcadia looks better by night just comes to life of all of these lights and colors

Arcadia definitely needs a nip and tuck in places especially some of the cabins

Creator's Tips & Advice

βœ“Book specialty dining in advance to avoid long waits
βœ“Use the free shuttle to Blankenburg and train to Bruges to save money
βœ“Arrive early for breakfast to avoid long lines at the buffet

πŸ†•New to Cruising? This Creator Addresses:

Long wait times for service β€” Be patient and plan for potential delays
Choosing between buffet and main dining for breakfast β€” Consider arriving early or using room service

Questions This Creator Answers

QIs a short cruise worth it?
QHow to save money on getting to Bruges from Zeebrugge port?

Topics Covered

Dining Specialty2 Happy BaconDining Buffet1Β½ Sad BaconLoyalty Program3 Happy BaconService Crew2 Sad BaconValue Pricing1 Sad BaconExcursions1Β½ Sad BaconShip Condition1 Sad BaconPool Deck3 Happy Bacon

Port Highlights

Blankenburg2 Happy Bacon
Bruges3 Happy Bacon
Top: Canal tour (€15 per person)
Southampton1 Happy Bacon
How to read the Trip Bacon Score
Happy Bacon β€” creators loved this aspect
Sad Bacon β€” creators took issue with this
Meh β€” no strong opinion either way

Scale: 0–5 strips in half-step increments. 0 = β€œmeh”, 5 = β€œbacon bliss”. Aggregated from creator-review sentiment, weighted by channel expertise.

About our Bacon Score methodology

Video content sourced from the creator's original upload. Watch on YouTube