davecttr

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 😁

8 minutes ago, GOQ said:

I don't care, I do my own cooking so it's an improvement ☺️,I am in my 70s and I quite liked this ship.

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.

On 7/11/2023 at 9:09 AM, Cathygh said:

Dave can I be nosey and ask how much you bid please?

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

36 minutes ago, RaspberryCremeBrulee said:

Alesund tourist information office may be able to answer for you.

Email : Info@visitalesund.com

 

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.

1 hour ago, Selbourne said:

I’ve noticed how tall the glass screens are on much of the promenade deck. Screens of that height are usually reserved for the much higher open decks on the other ships. I assume that because the promenade decks on Iona and Arvia protrude out they are more susceptible to wind than on the older ships where there is a degree of cover? 

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

2 minutes ago, Selbourne said:

Yes, from the deck walk around videos I’ve seen there is a narrow section of promenade deck that looks as though it might be suspended above the water, but it’s too narrow for seats etc

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

2 hours ago, yorkshirephil said:

Bit dull here again, about time it warmed up a bit, we don't seem to be getting our share of global warming. Looks better for tomorrow then rain and cooler Sat onward, boo.

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 🙂

Marine traffic shows Aurora tendering at Andalsnes today. I remember berthing there several years ago and there are images online of large cruise ships berthing there.

My  house insurance renewal notice just arrived, a hefty increase but still good value so I will renew.

Also had an email yesterday from Premier Inn for my stay in Southampton West Quay next week. there is no air conditioning and no reason why. 😠 A lengthy search online revealed the problem is building work which has been delayed for months. The discussion suggested Southampton Airport as an alternative which apparently has working A/C. I booked the airport hotel and will cancel the West Quay one without charge. Also change my August booking as well.

The port transfer firm will be happy that they don't have to drive into Southampton.

I have had more OBC than the original value of the shares as well. I bought at £21 per share years ago. Maybe we will soon get the quarterly dividend back soon which would be welcome

We missed stavanger because the final approach to the berth is too narrow for safety in cross winds for a ship of iona's size. She is not suited for Norway itineraries but they had to use her somewhere

1 hour ago, Britboys said:

I'm sure you make a good point there but on the Ambassador Ambience, which could be described as "cheap", the buffet is set out 'food court' style with the vast majority of food being dispensed by staff behind the counters. Not sure if their second ship is of the same style.

I just noticed that Marella's latest ship Voyager has a buffet set out as a food court with the food behind glass and served plated. This should be encouraged and maybe it would be possible to configure buffets during refits.