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Some but not many

I was happy to find the buffet on Aurora had 4 hand washing stations with plenty of paper towels which apart from hand drying I used to handle the serving utensils. Does Arcadia's Belvedere buffet have hand washing stations?

That Iona G406 cruise in January is costing me £2254 at £161 per night for a select cabin deck 10 forward cabin allocated so that's £555 for single occupancy. I have no idea how I am going to spend the £350 OBC plus £150 shareholder benefit

That's interesting, they have been saying you have to claim the benefit no more than 3 months from the cruise date.

Has Norway agreed to accept the GHIC card? Last i heard was the negotiations are continuing, however they will accept your passport instead? edit - just checked and no mention of passport except for UK nationals resident in Norway no GHIC card cover in Iceland or Liechtenstein either.

Hot Chocolate and Horlicks available late night in the buffet on Aurora I did not try a Chocolicks or Horlate though 😉

Why cruise with P&O? Solo cruiser I don't fly any more I now cruise for scenery and sea days (whale watching) Favourite destinations are Norway, Iceland, Madeira and the Canaries Not a gourmet, don't use the MDR's anymore I like a game of blackjack in the evening, the table minimum on Aurora recently was only £3 Reasonable prices, a 21 nighter on Arcadia next month cost me £1799 for a forward balcony cabin. £85.6666 per night!. Cheaper than Premier Inn. Happy cruising 😁

I do my own cooking as well and not being a gourmet am happy with the food aboard. I have not been in a main dining room for years as well.

Having just returned from Aurora it will be interesting to see how Arcadia compares next month, especially as Arcadia is 5 years younger so should be in just as good condition as Aurora, 18 years is not old for a ship which if looked after can last up to 30 years. Arcadia seems to lack an Epicurian, Glass House and Beach House. It does have Sindhu and Ocean Grill with an ersatz Glass House in the Spinnaker bar at lunchtime. Where could you put a real Glass House, I suggest the Retreat which used to be the kids club. How much revenue does that generate? Sindhu one deck above has a galley and you don't need a large galley for the Glass House. Will P&O invest the money?

The only cruise line that i know of that does cruise and stay packages is Marella. The formats are usually 7 nights hotel then 7 nights cruise 7 nights cruise then 7 nights hotel 14 nights cruise - two different itineraries 7 night cruises I think a wide choice of hotels is available they no longer cruise from the UK

To divert to tendering I notice Arvia and Iona don't have tenders just survival craft. Imagine tendering 5000 plus passengers.

No bid, I just received an email upgrading me.

Just received a upgrade notification for my August 21 night Arcadia cruise. I had a guarantee solo occupancy EF grade balcony for a bargain £1799 and the only slight worry was that I would end up in the 4 forward cabins which have smaller balconies. Now I have an EE grade forward on D deck one deck above 🙂 Must finish the packing for Aurora tomorrow

Thanks, that is what I will do. It is only half a mile from the cruise berth.

Aurora calls at Alesund next Friday and I intend to visit the Atlantic Sea Park Aquarium. Already have the aquarium ticket and intend to use the local bus. Three questions. > Has anyone used the bus recently and what is the procedure for paying aboard. I understand it is contactless or via PIN? > Is the ticket one way or return and how is it validated on the return journey? > It appears the No1 bus towards the aquarium does not leave from the bus station but from across the road but does call at the bus station on the return journey

I have a 12.30 priority boarding time at Mayflower next week. I aim to get there at 12.15 and expect to be waved into the terminal bypassing the queue. However there are so many passengers Caribbean tier or higher nowadays that things might change

Report in the Financial Times this morning that some fire resistant panels used in cruise ships have failed safety tests, up to 45 ships may be affected. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-the-papers-66140306 scroll down to the FT Weekend

What shocking news, you and your family have my deepest condolences

Surprisingly next weeks Aurora 14 night cruise only lists 3 formal nights. The missing 4th one would need to be on leaving Cobn but my cruises has it as an evening casual night.

Yes, there are several wind breaks placed along the prom deck which give some relief.

That is one of the few places on the prom deck where you can see the sea without glass in the way, useful for taking photos

I had a hot Gazpacho episode. This is Gazpacho is hot I said, He looked puzzled. eventually the head waiter arrived and I explained the Gazpacho soup on the menu was HOT. No explanation forthcoming so I reckon someone in the galley thought you had to heat the Gazpacho soup because their boss did not tell them not to, anyway the tomato soup tasted fine.

I have not experienced a mini suite but this is what they look like from the prom deck. On the right is an infinity whirlpool.

P&O offer two cable car excursions at Andalsnes. A £99 one with an hours walk at the top and a £125 one with a light lunch in the restaurant at the top. With a return ticket costing £45 I will go if the weather is good and have a light lunch at the top. The £80 saving should cover that.

Thanks, I just checked marine traffic and Rotterdam is berthed with Aurora deploying 3 tenders. For next week my P&O cruises has the Andalsnes day marked as a cruise in Romsdalsfjord with no mention of the port. I checked the port schedule and Aurora is the only ship listed for the 15th so we should be OK. There is a dedicated tender landing jetty which is less than 300 yards from the cable car which suits me 🙂