Waju

But are they leather? 😀

Makes me glad we book saver fares and don't have this problem to worry about 🙂

I wouldn't waste your time replying bobstheboy, looks like someone's got the hump today.....😒

I tend to agree that the onboard shops would be far better off selling more affordable items so that more people would be inclined to go in and browse. The stuff they try and sell is so overpriced I never go anywhere near them anymore. My friend who is new to cruising very nearly got tempted to a handbag - it was £350 and not even leather - just ridiculous in my opinion! I don't remember which ship but recently one of the shops was trying to sell two bags of M&M's for £15

I think it has to be a FlexPlus account.

No, not blaming you at all - who doesn't love a bargain? They are great value and a lovely way to see an area out of season when things are nice and quiet.

I feel your pain @ohnonotmeagain, way back in February @indiana123 kindly told us about some very good prices on Parkdean caravan holidays - we booked 4 at bargain prices. The first one was a midweek in Whitley Bay and we had a great week, the next was cancelled because my husband had to do a training course at work, the next he had a bad back and was confined to bed for almost three weeks and then 4 weeks ago, 5 days before we were supposed to travel, I fell down just one step and completely smashed up my foot 😒 after an operation I am now in plaster until the end of November! I really love a caravan holiday but will be scared stiff to book another 🙂

Are there any vacancies in your office please? 🙂

Another thing you could do is just sit and spend hours looking for dolphins and think of all us plebs sitting here in the cold winter months 😀

I've just remembered Arora does a 'Trek the Deck' walk for their cancer charity on longer cruises.

I try and do 10 laps of the prom deck a day which as you know is around 3 miles - its got to help. My day would go something like this - nice leisurely breakfast followed by a couple of laps of the deck by which time it will be time for mid morning coffee (and cake) - another few laps and it'll be almost lunchtime. Long lunch, perhaps you'll find someone interesting to chat to, a couple more laps because it'll soon be time for afternoon tea and more cake 🙂 - off you go again round the deck and 'oh my word' its almost time to go and get ready for dinner!!!! I am only kidding, I can usually find things to do - the odd exercise class, a trip to the cinema, I don't know if you're sporty but they usually do walking football and indoor cricket on longer cruises. I've also seen ukulele lessons, I always start off with good, healthy eating plans which go out of the window immediately but after 10 days or so I do settle into it and start eating a little bit more 'normally' My top tip is beware of the damp in the wardrobes that has a tendency to shrink clothes and have a start of the holiday side and an end of the holiday side so you always have something comfortable to wear 🙃

Isn't it weird??? I just couldn't get into it 😒

I remember going to watch La La Land in the Aurora cinema - it was a full house and then one by one people started to walk out! I think I hung on for about 45 minutes by which time there were just half a dozen people still watching 😒 It was dire.

On a sea day when on Aurora there’s nothing better than picking up a Costa coffee and going to watch a good film in the little cinema 😊

One of our waiters used to call the little after dinner shortbread biscuits ‘doggy biscuits’ 🤣

How rude are you pair 😳

That was an amazing review and really interesting to read. Thank you

We were in that area in September 2020 and a hurricane was approaching, the captain kept us updated and took us quite a way back out to sea while it went through. The next port (sorry can’t remember which it was) was badly affected by the hurricane 😞

@daiB I think the noisy cocktail machine the OP referred to is the ice being crushed in a food processor unit. They are really noisy - love the end result though!

I do love Aurora, my absolute favourite ship. I always feel ‘at home’ as soon as I board!

Sorry just seen this - we are lucky enough to be able to choose last minute deals and love a bargain, our last cruise was 11 nights and cost £569 adding £66 is an extra 11 or 12% (I'm rubbish at maths so may be way off). I've seen last minute P&O deals for the same sort of prices this year and tipping is included - that's all I was trying to get across. £6pp a day isn't a lot I agree but I still think tipping is outdated and staff should be paid a fair price for the job they do, at sea or on land.

kalos, just wanted to tell you - the time 11.11 has 'haunted' me for years - I see it everywhere, when I look at my phone, my watch, turn the tv over etc etc its so weird! It happens to others as well with other double numbers. My son used to work on the airlines and he has the same thing with 7.37 (737) Wonder what it all means?

I don't think you will, my only problem with Ambassador is the price of the service charge (which has also been increased from 1st September) when you add it to the bargain prices you can sometimes find with Ambassador they're no better prices than a cruise line that has them included! I don't want to start another tipping thread but I find them really 'old fashioned' in this day and age - pay the staff properly and don't expect customers not to notice that your good lead in price isn't really the bargain it might first appear to be!

The thing is we're supposed to be on holiday and not faffing about trying to find somewhere to eat. I may as well be in a B&B in Margate (other seaside towns are available 😀) and wandering around looking for the nearest 'spoons!

I'm loving reading this too DamianG, you write really well. I do have some concerns though - we've been on Iona a couple of times when she sailed far from full and I was really surprised how much I enjoyed the larger ship. I thought we might try Arvia one day - maybe out of school holidays - but the talk of queueing to get into dining rooms, booking (or trying to book on the app) and using pagers worries me! I'm supposed to be on holiday and probably just an old f*rt but I want to leave my phone in the safe until I get to a port. I'm just better suited to MDR's that offer club dining so I know what time I'm eating and where my table will be 🙂