bobstheboy

Best wishes to everyone with health issues and worrying about loved ones. I won't rub it in but weather on our cruise is still stunning,. 25c in La Palma at 1000 hrs and forecast to stay similar around the Canaries for a few days. Cruise still very good, entertainment has been exceptional.

Hope everyone is staying warm. Phoned family in Essex and snowing. Here in Madeira a mixed day of sunshine and showers and 22c, not complaining. Enjoying Azura, more traditional than Iona and Arvia, we like it. Love having breakfast in the Epicurian, slightly better than the buffet !. Sea day tomorrow, then La Palma.

Olympic Lagoon, used to Amathus Beach. Haven't stayed there before, gets very good reviews, 5* AI with speciality restaurants included. Settled in Radisson, 0300 call, yuks, dinner booked and Spurs on tv !

Thanks Avril. I sincerely hope Frank is on the mend. I will be keeping an eye on this thread for news. Best wishes Bob. n eye on

Good morning. Best wishes to those of you not in the best of health. Cold but not icy so my drive to Manchester Airport should be okay. Staying at the Radisson overnight then a 0600 flight to Tenerife to join the Azura for a couple of weeks. Looking forward to some warm weather, it seems a long time since our summer ended. Always disliked our winters but count ourselves fortunate we can escape, we have a trip to Paphos booked in April to also look forward to.

Avril. Sounding more positive and good to know Frank has settled and eating well. I wil be keeping as uptodate as I can during my cruise. Best wishes to you both. Bob.

Not the news you both wanted. He is in the best place and I am sure they will do their best for Frank. My very best wishes to you both. Bob.

Looking forward to Selbourne's travel experiences. We are cruising ourselves on Saturday on Azura, no internet package but data when alongside via our mobiles. He will still have another 7 weeks when we return !

A very Happy New Year to you all. 2024 is starting well for us, 14 nights on Azura on Saturday in a suite no less ! First time and looking forward to the experience and some winter sunshine.

Avril. We are all supporting you and Frank. An awful way to end the year and we all hope 2024 is so much better for you both. Bob

Not true. My TA gives me a discount, adds my military OBC, she has my Defence Discount Services membership number and nearer the cruise date, Hargreaves and Lansdown sort out my OBC for shares held. Very straightforward.

My very best wishes to you and Frank. As others have said, you have been a rock to many on here so the little support we give to you is the least we can do, Bob.

Thanks. I don't intend to bother him/her very much, certainly not to unpack ! I understand to get free Room Service you have to book through the butler.

David . We are in a suite on Azura, first time. Can the butler get a reservation in the Epicurean or because we can breakfast in there, will that help ?

Just two cruises for us. Jan 14 nights on Iona to Canaries. Not a resounding success. We knew the first 3 days down and last 3 days back wouldn't be warm but hoped for the rest to be winter sunshine, wrong. Poor weather for the Canaries and Cadiz and Lisbon were also below par. Have done this cruise previously and enjoyed fine weather for at least a week but not this time. Never again, we are flying to Tenerife on 6th Jan for 14 nights on Azura, everything's crossed. September 14 nights on Arvia to the Med. No real highlights, been before many times but a lovely cruise, good weather and loved the ship.

No healthy diet for me. I'm off on a cruise in 10 days.q

Merry Christmas and a healthy and prosperous New Year.

Many congratulations to you both. The best decision I ever made 27 years ago.

Thanks for review. Travelling from Manchester on 6th Jan, can't come soon enough !

My first cruise was onboard HMS Vidal in 1964, first port of call La Coruna. Okay not a cruise but I was hooked and still love sea days. First real cruise was Airtours Seawing and had over 40 since then.

No comparison with an airport or port. If you use the M3, M25 and M1, I would sooner leave at 0800 than 0930.

We don't all have 1 hour journeys.

We do steer clear of school holidays, price is the main reason but the thought of hundreds of kids, many unsupervised, is another. As others have said, adults of all ages can be both pleasant and rude. Some cruises we have been lucky, others not so, with so many people, it is a lottery.

I'm taking time out otherwise I'll say something I'll regret.

I did time in barracks, a chance to be home after 18 months at sea. You might get 12 months in my day, then another sea draft for up to two years. We weren't conscripted, all volunteers but it's still service for your country. I'll say no more, not worth the effort.