We were in the same cabin E89 on the Arcadia as we had been before. P&O laid on some special touches to welcome us back. To help us get going in the mornings when we were in port there could be enthusiastic banging outside as deckhands sought to repaint the Arcadia. One day we even had a painter outside to vary the view. They wash the promenade deck of the Arcadia down at 2am in the morning. One good thing about the promenade deck of the Arcadia is that you can walk all the way round the ship on it (3 times for a mile), unless sections are cordoned off for painting as they often were.

We had good table companions where we normally ate in the Meridian Restaurant, Angela and Colin and Jane and Chris, table 52 first sitting. Chris had neat glasses which held together using magnets but could split in half. Very neat. We bumped into our fellow diners around the ship, and when ashore which was pleasant. 6 is a good number to have on such a table for conversation. In respect of eating on board I particularly enjoyed our trip to the Ocean Grill, that was a great experience, the food was high class. A little luxury, you do pay a supplement to eat in the Ocean Grill or Sindhu, but it's very reasonable. Didn't enjoy the Sindhu so much this time. On a cruise I overindulge on syrup with my porridge in the mornings, fried bread then too, and two starters and perhaps cheese and biscuits with the evening meals. When it's crowded the Belvedere buffet on an upper deck is hard to find anywhere to sit and eat, eating in the Meridian you have more chance of talking to people. One breakfast we spoke to people who had been on the Columbus last year on a round Britain cruise, but one before the cruise we did. The Columbus had problems and they didn't get to 3 ports of call! And only £50 compensation per cabin.

The Arcadia has a decent theatre so you don't need to be at the front to see something. The Headliners company of singers and dancers were as impressive as ever, for the energy and smiles and ability they put into the shows. We saw four shows by them, including a mix of vaudeville magic and song and dance called "Astonishing". Something different, not quite astonishing for me. The Arcadia has a well equipped theatre with turntables etc. We also went to some talks by a historian who argued that the spice trade was responsible for the discovery of America, he may well have been right but I tend to distrust simple answers nowadays. He was entertaining and thoughtful to listen to.

For the first time we didn't need to take our life jackets to the muster drill, not that I'm complaining but it felt odd. We turned up at the appointed time but if you want to be able to sit getting there half an hour earlier is advised. For the theatre too getting there half an hour is advised. Our cases hadn't arrived by the time we went to the muster drill but Paulito our steward had put them inside our cabin on our return. Always a relief to see the cases again. The staff on board ships like the Arcadia work very hard, even though P&O say they've done away with tipping we still tipped.

One Sunday fell on a sea day so we did have a service then. Slightly mechanical and perfunctory, I've heard the story "The Dash" before and it's not Christian in thought really. It was a prayer book service which some hate as thoughtless routine, but non-prayer book services can be thoughtless routines too.

Only once at Isafjordur in Iceland did we need a tender to go ashore - a novelty to me was the Jaws mat which showed how much you had to be able to step across to get into the tender safely. Getting around was difficult for the passengers who relied on mobility scooters, one unhappy faced bald guy made me think of Davros. There were people who were seriously obese onboard. There were places to sit and read, I did read quite a few books on this cruise. Cruises are when I do most of my reading these days.

For the last formal night I wore my Winnie-the-Pooh tie the last night and one kind gent praised it as a seriously cool tie. That made my day! Formal nights on cruise ships are the only times I wear ties now.