Clodia

I had one too, only 117 weeks!

I nearly booked a forward suite on Arvia next April but a friend warned me about the wind. Then an aft suite came free so I grabbed that. It's deck 15 so there will be midday shade but don't mind that. Deck 9 conservatory mini suites are great. Have had one twice on Iona

As I bought a bottle last week I'm taking it on. As they haven't emailed any policy change I shall plead innocence. In future it's buy room service or my faithful rum runner. They used to be undetectable but scanners are getting more sophisticated. If stopped I will be suitable surprised and then outraged at their appalling communication. The worst they can do is confiscate then lose it, which is why they stopped taking onshore purchases as it caused so much trouble.

And I am boarding Britannia tomorrow and still would not know about this policy change because P and O haven't told me. I often disbelieve what I read on social media, so....

I always pack 2 formal dresses and one cocktail dress, with appropriate shoes/bags. That works for most cruises and then I just wait and see what transpires.

Actually no. I've tried the 6 star lines where everything including decent champagne is constantly on offer, but the prices since the pandemic are eye watering for solos though I am looking at one such line for 2025. In the end, P and O is good value if you get a good cabin (I sometimes do a suite), use the speciality restaurants most nights, and get the deluxe drinks package because I drink quality rather than quantity. I'd never get to 15 alcoholic drinks but I like the more expensive ones. I do the sums, and will continue to cruise with P and O. Just not every time, whereas before the pandemic I was very much a P and O girl!

Goading again. Well, for a start, Southern Comfort, Liqueurs like Grand Marnier, a wider range of vodkas and cognacs because unfortunately the discerning palate CAN taste the difference. As I have said more than once, I have no objection to buying from P and O, or I would go back to the truly all inclusive lines at their prices, but I expect a good choice. At least the fact that I can buy a fairly decent cognac onboard means I can take a decent bottle of champagne on with me instead.

Thank you to those who posted the list of room service drinks. I am perfectly happy with Courvoisier VSOP cognac as opposed to what they used to sell, so will buy a bottle from Room Service for balcony nightcaps. They DO need to widen the range though; gin and whisky drinkers are adequately catered for but not the rest. I shall be writing to P and O on this point.

I prefer small ships, Aurora being my P and O favourite, but was surprised at how much I liked Iona. The smallest ship I've been on is Silversea Silver Whisper, at 295 pax. Gorgeous ship, but you do not want to be on her in a storm, and I'm a good sailor.

Ambassador are still charging passenger 1 with the second going free. I've never tried them. Attracted by traditional smaller ships and a great range of UK ports from which to sail. (strongly coloured by journey to Southampton being affected by train strike this week) But are they any good. I had a bad P and O cruise in 2017, the only bad one I've ever had since 1999, and went to the other extreme trying Silversea. They were wonderful until the pandemic, but the prices! Since 2021 their quality especially in food has deteriorated but prices have jumped even further. Their main restaurant fare used to be exquisite but actually the Epicurean is as good or better.

Email them . Maybe I've just been lucky but the staff dealing with emails seem to be pretty good. I got 2 with a can do attitude and my problem was sorted in 48 hours. If not resolved then you have 90 days to initiate a charge back with your credit card company on the grounds of an unrecognised transaction. Doing so will incur a fee for P and O too. It would be easier for them just to sort it out.

Wow! That glacier has really receded since my daughter and I walked to it about 16 years ago; we had a photo taken standing on it!

Each ingredient added.At the Sunset bar.

Yes, that would make a LOT of sense and I've been with more than one line who does it that way.

Im' always pleased if I know it's going to be Robert Camby, Neil Turnbull , Paul Brown or Wesley Dunlop as I find them all personable and able to create a good atmosphere and a happy crew. There is also one with whom I will avoid sailing after he ruined one cruise for me. Not saying whom.