Just off the Iona had a great time,the issue I could see with these cabins was not so much the people walking by more the ones the loungers directly outside they need to exclude this area or put an access door for the cabin use only.l
Just a point in case nobody has said it.. Iona does have balcony cabins where you can look down directly at the sea... they're on deck 5 and they're fab. We saw so many dolphins!
I was looking forward to my cruise on Iona until p&o gave us a cabin on deck 8 I'm dreading it now I'd rather stay in a lifeboat but we'll see what happens 🤔🥺
How much fun would it be to stay in a lifeboat 😅 We really enjoyed our cruise, the cabin was lovely and fun to people watch. Hope you enjoy your cruise, just remember to get dressed before you open the curtains 😊
We had a conservatory suite on deck 9. on top of the Olive Grove restaurant and it was fine. We just found that the minor things that wound us up were the limited access to the wardrobes (ours were the other way around and instead of the bed being in the way we had a convertible sofa bed), the lack of drawers and the coffee machine taking up space on the dressing table! We put it on the floor, under the dressing table, couldn't be bothered to use it. Apart from those minor irritants it was fine.
Maybe it would have be a good idea to put a gate/door to the promenade from the cabin instead of going back into the ship and out through the doors to get onto the promenade
We’re booked on the Iona in June, off to the Fjords and can’t wait, she looks a beauty. I imagine there’s a lot of sociable people out there who’d love to people watch and have a natter with passers by. It’s only like having a ground floor apartment in a hotel complex but it’s a no from me. I like my privacy and I’m far too moody in the morning to have a chat 😂
We were booked for Norwegian Fjords for 2020 and 2021 in one of these cabins but both cruises were cancelled. When we booked the ship was being built and we were assured that these cabins were above head height and private. We are so glad after seeing the video that our trips were cancelled as we would have been so disappointed as the cabin looks so cramped and bad layout.
Sorry to hear your cruises were cancelled. Hopefully you can get away soon. We loved Iona overall, in particular the aft outside deck and restaurants. The Conservatory mini suite was an experience! Wouldn't book one again but overall not disappointed. If we booked Iona again we would go for deck 10 or above. On Britannia in January as long as covid lets us!!
I can imagine for some people this is heaven on earth. Just lean over your balcony and have a chat with a new friend every half an hour. For everyone else, it's an absolutel nightmare. Just continue chatter noises all day
The biggest negative for me is the balconies don't directly overlook the sea. A very strange concept but I suppose at the right price I might be tempted.
We were thinking of booking a conservatory mini suite on Iona as the idea of the conservatory looks great, but not now. But what on earth were the designers thinking about? I wonder if you are in a regular balcony and say you would like an upgrade if they become available that you would get one of these? What a shock that would be. I don't like the position at all, and the loungers just outside are plain bad mannered! Even the deck above which have clear glass are a bit open to the walkers.
The more I see of Iona the more I’m regretting booking a cruise in March. It seems to me they have just tried to squeeze as many cabins as they could into the available space.
We loved the ship overall. Not perfect for us (deck 8!) but then everyone has different expectations. The aft pools were our favourite location along with great restaurants.
hi there hope your cabin didnt put you off,but are those the same price as the upper decks with just a balcony?...or did you know you was gonna be in that type....bet your next cruise wont be far off due...that cabin not for us...just abit higher deck at least no spectators required..lol..keep your vids rolling..thnx...KAZ & NIGE.
It was a lovely cabin but a bit weird with the public deck outside. The mini suites are on deck 8 and 9. We were advised on booking about the walkway but were not able to choose a deck. It was just the luck of the draw. The standard balconies deck 10 and above would be cheaper but smaller. We have a Caribbean cruise booked in January on Britannia, too early to start packing?
And of course, as a conservatory grade cabin, this would have cost a lot more than a ‘regular’ balcony. We had a reg balcony on the maiden - originally deck 8 (had no choice as all cabins were ‘guarantee’. Asked to move after one night as the noise from the whirlpool right outside was really annoying. It ran a cleaning cycle all night. P&O moved us to deck 9 without hassle. The deck 8 cabins are (were?) no cheaper than any other balcony. Far too overlooked for my liking. Big mistake P&O. Will Arvia be the same? Surely they’re regretting the design now!
Yes it was more expensive than a balcony. The cabin itself was lovely but will avoid the location next time. Arvia is the same design so will have this issue as well. When you book your Travel Agent should advise you about the walkway on deck 8.
It was a very nice cabin but we get it that not everyone will like it. People directly next to us complained and were moved. Hope you had a great cruise!
That is such a poor design, I would defo stand there in my pants on a daily basis, people would soon learn to look away, especially after their breakfast! I would be doing hand stands and stretching, the works!
@@kazandnige I am sure I would appear on many cruise vlogs! The mad pants man on deck 8. Just watched your other video, it’s amazing the shipmaster designed this way….
I would definitely not pick one of those cabins. What an idiot whoever thought of this. Even if they were the same price as an inside one I would never pick it, like my privacy 💯
What sheer horror, did this really get through planning meeting with the ships designers, corporate discussions of P&O's top KNOBS and finally get approved and signed off? Why didn't they put resturants and bars here instead like anyone with a brain cell would do?
Such a strange layout. Perhaps some will like the people watching opportunities. Unfortunately though P&O did not design it. The ship is one of 4 already sailing including Mardi Gras and AIDAnova.
When the ship was being built we were looking at the deck plans and I thought, no that can't be right what I am seeing, it can't be true so we picked deck 12. I am a bit uncertain about going on the ship now.
We liked the cabin and conservatory area but understand the location might put people off. Would like to have seen an inside cabin, might be a good idea?
This has just helped me open the folding doors, thank you so much 😂
lol! That’s great, made us chuckle. 😅
Just back off Iona had conservatory suite 8303 on promenade deck. I loved it.
We loved the ship and the mini suite. Yes it's an odd location but not a deal breaker for us.
Just off the Iona had a great time,the issue I could see with these cabins was not so much the people walking by more the ones the loungers directly outside they need to exclude this area or put an access door for the cabin use only.l
We did think a door in the balcony allowing access onto deck 8 would be a great feature.
I've booked one of these for our cruise and honestly, I'm not bothered by it at all. I like the extra space in the conservatory 😁
We are on Iona now heading for Norway. In a Conservatory again but this time on deck 9.
Just a point in case nobody has said it.. Iona does have balcony cabins where you can look down directly at the sea... they're on deck 5 and they're fab. We saw so many dolphins!
We saw them as we got off, didn't realise it before but looked like a great location.
I was looking forward to my cruise on Iona until p&o gave us a cabin on deck 8 I'm dreading it now I'd rather stay in a lifeboat but we'll see what happens 🤔🥺
How much fun would it be to stay in a lifeboat 😅
We really enjoyed our cruise, the cabin was lovely and fun to people watch. Hope you enjoy your cruise, just remember to get dressed before you open the curtains 😊
We had a conservatory suite on deck 9. on top of the Olive Grove restaurant and it was fine. We just found that the minor things that wound us up were the limited access to the wardrobes (ours were the other way around and instead of the bed being in the way we had a convertible sofa bed), the lack of drawers and the coffee machine taking up space on the dressing table! We put it on the floor, under the dressing table, couldn't be bothered to use it.
Apart from those minor irritants it was fine.
We loved the cabin and Iona but wouldn't pick deck 8 again. Yes we also noticed a lack of draws.
Maybe it would have be a good idea to put a gate/door to the promenade from the cabin instead of going back into the ship and out through the doors to get onto the promenade
We did think that. It would have been a bonus feature in the cabin that might offset the disadvantage of people walking past?
Totally agree
Oh god I would hate that, thank you for advising x
Thank you, we think lots of people will feel the same.
We’re booked on the Iona in June, off to the Fjords and can’t wait, she looks a beauty. I imagine there’s a lot of sociable people out there who’d love to people watch and have a natter with passers by. It’s only like having a ground floor apartment in a hotel complex but it’s a no from me. I like my privacy and I’m far too moody in the morning to have a chat 😂
Same with us, lovely ship and loved the cabin, maybe not the location. Have a fantastic cruise.
We are on Britannia now in Barbados.
We were booked for Norwegian Fjords for 2020 and 2021 in one of these cabins but both cruises were cancelled. When we booked the ship was being built and we were assured that these cabins were above head height and private. We are so glad after seeing the video that our trips were cancelled as we would have been so disappointed as the cabin looks so cramped and bad layout.
Sorry to hear your cruises were cancelled. Hopefully you can get away soon. We loved Iona overall, in particular the aft outside deck and restaurants.
The Conservatory mini suite was an experience! Wouldn't book one again but overall not disappointed. If we booked Iona again we would go for deck 10 or above.
On Britannia in January as long as covid lets us!!
I can imagine for some people this is heaven on earth. Just lean over your balcony and have a chat with a new friend every half an hour.
For everyone else, it's an absolutel nightmare. Just continue chatter noises all day
It's like leaning over the garden fence. 😄
The biggest negative for me is the balconies don't directly overlook the sea. A very strange concept but I suppose at the right price I might be tempted.
Same for us. We enjoy a private balcony with a direct sea view. Generally on other ships we would say Iona cabins on deck 8 are all obstructed views.
We were thinking of booking a conservatory mini suite on Iona as the idea of the conservatory looks great, but not now. But what on earth were the designers thinking about? I wonder if you are in a regular balcony and say you would like an upgrade if they become available that you would get one of these? What a shock that would be. I don't like the position at all, and the loungers just outside are plain bad mannered! Even the deck above which have clear glass are a bit open to the walkers.
The cabin was lovely as was the ship. Just very strange having people sat at the end of your balcony.
I just can't imagine what P&O were thinking with these cabins 😦
Strange design, not unique to P&O, 4 other ships (or more) in the same class
What’s even odder is the chairs on the prom deck by your balcony….who would want people sitting there all day !
That was very strange. We spoke about that and thought P&O should at least remove them from under the balcony.
The more I see of Iona the more I’m regretting booking a cruise in March. It seems to me they have just tried to squeeze as many cabins as they could into the available space.
We loved the ship overall. Not perfect for us (deck 8!) but then everyone has different expectations. The aft pools were our favourite location along with great restaurants.
hi there hope your cabin didnt put you off,but are those the same price as the upper decks with just a balcony?...or did you know you was gonna be in that type....bet your next cruise wont be far off due...that cabin not for us...just abit higher deck at least no spectators required..lol..keep your vids rolling..thnx...KAZ & NIGE.
It was a lovely cabin but a bit weird with the public deck outside. The mini suites are on deck 8 and 9. We were advised on booking about the walkway but were not able to choose a deck. It was just the luck of the draw.
The standard balconies deck 10 and above would be cheaper but smaller.
We have a Caribbean cruise booked in January on Britannia, too early to start packing?
Oh yes deck 8 people walking by can see into your cabin.
It wasn't as bad as it sounds, we just had to be careful what we were wearing.
And of course, as a conservatory grade cabin, this would have cost a lot more than a ‘regular’ balcony. We had a reg balcony on the maiden - originally deck 8 (had no choice as all cabins were ‘guarantee’. Asked to move after one night as the noise from the whirlpool right outside was really annoying. It ran a cleaning cycle all night. P&O moved us to deck 9 without hassle. The deck 8 cabins are (were?) no cheaper than any other balcony. Far too overlooked for my liking. Big mistake P&O. Will Arvia be the same? Surely they’re regretting the design now!
Yes it was more expensive than a balcony. The cabin itself was lovely but will avoid the location next time. Arvia is the same design so will have this issue as well.
When you book your Travel Agent should advise you about the walkway on deck 8.
Whoever thought that having such a cabin on a promenade deck in full view of all passengers was a good idea.
It's a very strange idea!
we were in 8 306 on the same cruise I saw you with your camera and I know what you mean about the mini suite
It was a very nice cabin but we get it that not everyone will like it. People directly next to us complained and were moved.
Hope you had a great cruise!
Oh no awful cabins on promenade , we went higher up thank goodness 😅
Loved the cabin but not the location. If we book again would choose deck 10 and above.
@@kazandnige we did same Itinary as you in august on deck 11
That is such a poor design, I would defo stand there in my pants on a daily basis, people would soon learn to look away, especially after their breakfast! I would be doing hand stands and stretching, the works!
It might attract too much attention 😀
@@kazandnige I am sure I would appear on many cruise vlogs! The mad pants man on deck 8. Just watched your other video, it’s amazing the shipmaster designed this way….
I would definitely not pick one of those cabins. What an idiot whoever thought of this. Even if they were the same price as an inside one I would never pick it, like my privacy 💯
Not for us either. Some people must like to show off? 🙄
Not a good deck to have a suite too many curious people😜
You certainly have to keep your clothes on 😉
What sheer horror, did this really get through planning meeting with the ships designers, corporate discussions of P&O's top KNOBS and finally get approved and signed off? Why didn't they put resturants and bars here instead like anyone with a brain cell would do?
Such a strange layout. Perhaps some will like the people watching opportunities.
Unfortunately though P&O did not design it. The ship is one of 4 already sailing including Mardi Gras and AIDAnova.
When the ship was being built we were looking at the deck plans and I thought, no that can't be right what I am seeing, it can't be true so we picked deck 12. I am a bit uncertain about going on the ship now.
Awfull on deck 8 ridiculous it's a no no from me
Certainly not for everyone, many won't like it. We just hope P&O will make sure guests are aware when booking.
I think I would go an inside.This layout is ridiculous.
We liked the cabin and conservatory area but understand the location might put people off. Would like to have seen an inside cabin, might be a good idea?