Waju

Hey duck, don’t you be picking on Derby folk 🤣🤣

Oh dear, hope everyone is feeling better soon. I’m in Scotland on holiday at the moment and the amount of people wearing masks is a bit disconcerting 😳

It’s duck for us in Derbyshire too Josy. We’re on holiday in Scotland at the minute and yesterday someone said to me “excuse me hen” Both terms are ‘fowl’ though 🤣🤣

I find the staff on the door at the restaurants are usually really helpful if you talk nicely to them!

My neighbours used to have sheepdog called Shep and he took to scratching at their sofa. After several months they had to get a new one and when the old was removed from the living room they discovered dozens and dozens of doggy chews under the seats - they gave him one each time they went out and he had been burying them!

@purplesea They look really lovely

Many congratulations Graham and Pauline on your special day 🥂

We did a med cruise earlier this year on Arvia and, from memory, at every port bags were scanned in the terminal and not when you got back on the ship. So unless you declared it to the ship staff they would have no idea what was in your bag! If, however, you are on Azura as familycruiseruk says things may be different. When you disembark at each port try and have a look if bags are x-rayed in the terminal - if they are you'll be ok!

Walking was my thing until I smashed my foot up just under a year ago! I do miss a good long walk but I managed about 10,000 steps yesterday so was really chuffed with that 😊

If you think 9st 3lb is overweight there's no hope for me🙂 Unless you only 3' tall 😁

I sometimes wonder if it is possible to 'simplify' cruises, well perhaps all holidays? So an inside cabin cost £x, an outside £xx, a balcony £xxx and a suite £xxxx - this would apply from launch to sailing. Cabins of your chosen type would be sold on a first come, first served basis so those booking early would get the best choice. You could then carry this through for boarding times eg the first 200 bookings get 11.30, the next 200 11.45 or whatever - you get what I mean. I can see it would save lots of problems but, who knows, maybe it would cause many more😊

My Aunty used to get us dozens of jars of Shipams paste when we were kids as she lived in Chichester - I used to like the beef one! I hadn't seen Heinz are bringing back toast toppers, I remember the tiny little tins it was in ........................

@sleepingcat consider looking at Co Op bank - it means opening another current account I know but they do cover you up to age 80 and longer trips as standard. I have not done this as I have only just paid Nationwide for a year but it may be worth reading up!

zapp99, I checked this the other day - you are covered for the maximum number of days allowed on the policy - then cover stops.

I think I would risk that one! It is possible to get one day insurance - I have done it in the past. I don't know how they would view being on a ship but in effect you are in the UK surely when you are in the Channel/Southampton water?

You can't beat a good ploughmans lunch and I have to say that one looks bloomin lovely 🙂

We have travel insurance insurance available to us through HSBC Premier banking and also Nationwide Flex Plus - both are underwritten by Aviva but have very different terms and conditions

Really? oh that's a shame - sorry for the mis-information!

This may have already been mentioned, but just in case it hasn't it might help someone. I saw yesterday that the Co Op bank 'paid for' current account offers travel insurance. I didn't take too much notice as I had paid for my upgrades on the Nationwide insurance minutes before - anyway, they insure up to your 80th birthday and the number of days without an extension was 40 something, 45 I think. I can't comment on the rest of the cover though! I

I have just spent (wasted) a few hours trying to sort the medical upgrade and trip extension with Aviva, All has to be done online and I found a couple of things confusing so had to ring or try and contact them online. The medical upgrade has cost £110, fair enough, although more expensive than UK Insurance charged last year. Then the trip extension (35 night cruise) cost another £58.28 which I paid but then thought £58.28 is a lot for an extra 4 nights as I am already covered for 31?? I've emailed to ask the question!

Wow, so they're wanting around £115 per day??? That's just crazy! . We have travel insurance with both Nationwide and HSBC, both underwritten by Aviva now, both with very different terms, but surely it can't be the bank setting the rules rather than Aviva? I know I looked at the Nationwide/Aviva website when it was all first announced but I've slept since then, can you get a trip extension price from the website or do you have to ring and ask a 'real person?'

You might be right then but I always thought mardy was a Midlands thing 😊

That is a fabulous review and I really enjoyed reading it with my coffee this morning! I think you must be fairly close to us as you mentioned being 'mardy' and Trowell services which is just up the road.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading your review - you are very good at telling your story! Aurora is my absolute favourite ship and we've had many a happy cruise on her.

Good evening all, does anyone know of a list of ports that require shuttle buses? I have searched online but the info I'm getting seems to be fairly old. Also, I know shuttles are included for those on select fares but didn't they used to be free for everyone if it was a 'working' port? Thank you