Ardennais

Good point regarding distances. My point if that the time taken and the long working day is going to be the same everywhere. Moley states that Iona is very capable of tendering. So my question is this - despite being capable, will Iona ever visit tender ports? I don’t know whether there are any tender ports on the current Iona cruises in sale for the next 24 months. But if there are, why not tender in Gerianger rather than remove this popular port from all itineraries this year? If there aren’t any tender ports, then it’s possible that Iona never intends to visit the smaller ports. So there will be less choice in future if they continue to build the mega mega ships!

I honestly don’t know but I imagine that tendering over 5000 passengers wouldn’t be easy. Regardless of that, if Iona is very much capable of tendering (as stated by our P&O insider),, then surely it doesn’t matter where the tendering occurs. You have the same amount of passengers in Norway and the Canaries or elsewhere.

That’s what I would like to know too!

I watched it on my desktop. He did mention that feedback regarding Iona was very positive, but no mention of the multiple problems with the Norwegian itineraries! Good that he referred to staffing issues but I didn’t catch anything about the provision for children/clubs etc.

You might be right, but Moley did say that Iona is ‘very much capable of tendering’!

Is there a reason then why Iona couldn‘t tender passengers ashore in Geiranger this year, given that there are problems with the Seawalk or whatever it’s called? It’s a real shame and disappointment that Geiranger has been dropped completely, even more so when you state that Iona is capable of tendering.

Sounds like a very wise move to me.

To be fair Wozz, you can say that about many places (Berlin 1945, during the airlift, post wall etc), but folk can only experience places in their own lifetime. I mean, when my eldest said that she was going to Belfast for a short break a few years ago, my Dad nearly had a heart attack! Thank goodness things have changed.

For us, I think the difference with turndown is that we rarely stay at a hotel for longer than 2 nights so it’s not such a problem. Tend not to lay about in a hotel room during the day either so the bed is exactly as we leave it in the morning. Very different on a cruise as we would shower again in the evening and sometimes have a snooze during the day. I’m not bothered about seeing the steward or the chocolates, but I did appreciate the fact that he did the usual things in the evening on our recent Princess cruise, so I’m heartened to hear you mention that turndown will return on P&O.

It doesn’t bother me really, as long as people have changed from their swimwear! On Princess, even the formal nights weren’t really that formal (as in traditionally formal) but I thought that many men looked sharper and smarter in modern suits, sometimes without ties.

So doesn’t that show then that jackets are required (even if it’s not yours!)?

Now I’m confused because I thought that jackets and ties were required in the MDR on formal night.

Someone mentioned a few weeks ago that there’s a walk-in place in Southampton - Dann? Anyway, we were walking along Shirley High Street the evening before our recent cruise and spotted the place. Good to know that it’s easy to find should the need arise!

Do you mean wrong as in ‘incorrect’ or wrong as in ‘I don’t agree with that’?!

I understand that a firm date is difficult, but is that it then?! Not even a rough timescale? Just pay your balance and hope that what you’ve paid for (and what is advertised) will be available? It’s obvious that the money making operations will return such as speciality restaurants, but what about the other missing little bits and pieces? Will they ever return? Nobody seems to want to give an answer.

It will be worth it! I think it’s worse if you work from home or retired - more opportunity to faff around. I remember leaving here after school on a Friday afternoon for an October half term cruise - we did those for about 5 years. It took us 5 hrs to get to Southampton and the children were of course with us then. I don’t remember feeling stressed at all - the packing was done on the Wednesday and Thursday nights and off we went, great fun. it was the supervised testing on Zoom and setting up the profile, and also the Medallion App thingy which caused the stress this time around - trying to achieve Ocean Ready status! Also first cruise since Feb 2020. I won’t stress next time!

There was a problem with recruitment well before Covid which meant that locums were filling in. The NHS in Wales is in a sorry state. Things will only get worse. The initial census information shows an increase the percentage of over 65s in many rural areas.

I don’t like the press attacks (we had it all the time as teachers), but it’s really difficult to see a doctor around here. Physio services are almost non-existent and waiting lists are horrendous. And it’s affecting all age groups. It’s distressing for older folk and the same for young parents who just can’t seem to access appointments for their children without being made to feel that they’re making a fuss. The receptionists are like a barricade! So unfortunately, I do recognise the complaints and sympathise.

Yes, but it was 2 days before for us and 5 hours in the car! Once the supervised test was done, I was able to relax and start packing, and it was really great to be back onboard.

But there’s another real question too! A lot us here are ready to cruise, regardless of the economy/covid. So how quickly will P&O provide their full offer once again? All speciality restaurants open, full provision for children, and all the other missing bits and pieces which we’ve been led to believe are Covid related and temporary in nature? A bit of reassurance would surely help convince many that P&O can again provide a great cruise experience!

Oh dear, that doesn’t sound good. We deliberately decided to book 7 nighters this year to try and avoid any quarantine situations - hence the 7 nighter just gone on Enchanted and a 7 nighter on Iona later in the year. I’m not sure whether I want the testing requirement dropped on Iona - anything that lessens the possibility of C is surely a good thing.

Yes, the road train to the top of the hill is very pleasant. I just remember that most sentences in the commentary began with the words, ‘Before the fire….’! I think there’s one building standing from ‘before the fire’.

Was it chicken and potatoes in St P? That’s what I remember of one lunch there, but we did have a band entertaining us!

I wonder whether you went to the same hotel as we did in Ephesus following an excursion - a lovely terrace overlooking the sea, and it was a great lunch.

That’s great to hear - and reflects the post-cruise feedback I’ve just provided to Princess in response to their questions. Due to the Princess Fare, Our total onboard spend was ……. £22.58!