blueboo

On 5/18/2020 at 12:59 PM, 4774Papa said:

One thing that cruise lines could do as well would be to have pre-prepared sandwiches.   They would be wrapped in something and an attendant could provide them in a speedy manner.  

they do this on P and O grab and go ..it is a great idea, prewrapped sandwiches, rolls, salads and dessert pots, we used a lot for quick lunch

On 5/17/2020 at 6:13 PM, NonnaTLC said:

HUGE transference on phones, TV remotes, bathroom faucets, flushers, and plane tables and armrests, and doorknobs.  They have done these experiments.   However, we are mostly aware of those, wash our hands before exiting a bathroom, hand sanitize, I carry sani wipes with me at all times and in a plane/hotel room, etc, wipe down those surfaces.  My DH always thought me a bit wacko (I am a nurse, so pretty aware of germs), but now is a true convert.  If anything, this pandemic has made us rethink and change habits to prevent diseases.  

Agree completely...I always carry wipes on a plane and wipe the arm rests and tray table...also wipe the phone and remote in hotel / cabin rooms and any other surfaces  I can think of 🙂

On 5/27/2020 at 3:43 AM, SunsetPoint said:

This may seem weird, but the escargot.  Love 'em, and they're just not offered in many restaurants that I visit on land and so I indulge many nights when on board.

That is what my husband ate EVERY night we were on our last cruise with Celebrity 🙂 yuck

Absolutely loved reading this trip report, your humour and enthusiam shines through and it is a pleasure to read

Strangest thing I take is my husband...but this October we are also bringing my Mum and she is very strange LOL

really enjoyed your review...humorous, well written and informative :)

On 4/15/2019 at 6:53 PM, Britboys said:

Thanks for posting the photos.

 

I guess they have tried to make the Raffles area more of a relaxed coffee bar feel than the atrium bar that it was originally.

 

Not sure about some of those carpets.  Not keen on the corridor one and the Crows Nest one looks a bit depressing.  Seldom use Champions so not that bothered about that one.  The one in the Atrium looks very much like the one on Arcadia - perhaps they had some left over after her refit 😁

I agree about the carpets..the Atrium one is hideous and the rest of them are not that great either...look like leftovers from the P and O ferries

The deck plan for the Aurora is still the old one and they even have info about children,s pack in the accommodation section !

On 3/23/2019 at 7:57 PM, Selbourne said:

We disembarked Aurora this morning (12 nights Northern Lights Cruise - although they were well hidden!). She left Southampton at 1220 today for Brest in France for her refit. 

 

The first lot of workmen boarded in Stavanger on Thursday and had started work in the kids area which is becoming new cabins. 1,000 workmen boarded today in Southampton and when the refit is in full flight there will be 1,800 workmen aboard. The crew are remaining on board to assist and to cater for the workmen. 

 

Other than the well publicised conversion to Adult only (removal of kids club and addition of new cabins) we couldn’t find out too much, but did establish that there will be new carpets in many areas, new chairs and, best news of all, new TV’s in the cabins to replace the dire excuses for TV’s that they have at present. Suspect they will be the small LCD ones that they have on Arcadia rather than the fantastic large on demand TV’s that Britannia has). 

 

If anyone has any more info info on the changes, perhaps they can post here?

Yay new TV@s best news thanks x

21 hours ago, terrierjohn said:

P&Os partner, cruise connect shows Norwich as one of the many pick up points, Google them and check it out.

I found it thank you....£232 return for 2 people eeeekkkkk...no thanks

I live in Norwich and I have never found anything direct from here by coach...if anyone can find it I would love to be linked in as well please...hate that drive down and the train is just mental with prices and changes.

Surely cleaning and turn down are 2 different things.  I would welcome my cabin being thoroughly cleaned once a day in the morning but a quick sweep in the evening to pick up towels and and hand out Horizon would be great to retain. (also the ice bucket in the PM is a MUST LOL ), don't care about the manky chocolates either.

You will probably want to do the Hermitage in St Petes but can I suggest if you like gardens you make a point of going to the Peterhof...MIND BLOWING gardens and fountains and house ( and you can take the hydrofoil back to the ship )  St Catherines palace is a MUST do imho as well 🙂  just enjoy it so much it is a wonderful fairytale city 🙂  

If you do anything in Athens please do the Parthenon...amazing if you like history.  Also you can get dropped in central Athens for shopping and yummy souvlaki and it is a nice place to wander around.

They would probably like the glasshouse or the beach house.  Glass house is a bit more upmarket but still good prices (lovely steaks and nice tapas style dishes as well)  Beach house also great for sizzling lava rock steaks and ribs..more American diner style.

I always spray the air vent with a bit of dettol spray every night...seems to work ( I also wipe the remote control with anti bac wipes as that is the dirtiest thing in the room and I wipe the telephone and the door handles )

I do enjoy when Captain comes on the tannoy and updates us about weather etc and gives a little joke or fun fact.  I like when an officer is polite and says good morning / good evening whatever, if you bump into them in public areas.  Apart form that I do not need anymore interaction than that.  I bet Carnival are soon going to start charging for a an 'experience' meal with an officer LOL

We have had some similar experiences as you, we sailed with Costa a few years back...hated it, although the Pacifica was a beautiful ship the whole thing felt too frantic, too crowded , too many languages ( the quizzes in 6 languages a real challenge ), front desk and officers too snooty and just not our cup of tea.  We have also done some river cruising and loved it ( Nile, Rhine and Danube ) but it is so pricey in comparison to sea cruises. We have also sailed on Thomson years ago and Ventura 2016 Caribbean (fabulous IMHO ) We did Baltic on Celebrity 2014  and on Aurora last year...although Celebrity is a bit more swanky we preferred P and O for the Main dining room breakfast (really relaxing and just yummy every day )although the evening meal on Celebrity was very very good , the waiters on P and O are superb, can't do enough for you. The cabins are fine, not done inside though but did peek in passing by in the corridor as you do and they looked good . The entertainment is far superior on P and O in our opinion apart from in St Petersburg where celebrity brought on a Russian folklore group who were fantastic.  The bonus of tea and coffee and biccies in the cabin cannot be underestimated on P and O LOL.  The FREE laundry facilities !  Being allowed a bottle of wine or spirits each,  other lines do not allow this at all.  Aurora is not glitzy (well she might be after refit ) but she feels safe and comfy and like a lovely home after time ashore.  I agree with other posters, try the yummy beach house and glasshouse.  I think you will enjoy it immensely.  The Baltic itinerary is spectacular.

Got full refund !  Must give P and O credit where it is due..refund in full no fuss !

1 hour ago, BrianI said:

You could sail to New York on QM2 and then travel by rail across America. Or you could do the reverse and sail from Southampton to the west coast, usually in January. You would need to look at timetables to see what is possible. 

Brian

Nice idea but doubtful our budget could manage that 🙂

15 minutes ago, BrianI said:

One option for a full canal transit is    to do a world cruise sector. We have done it twice, once from Los Angeles and one from San Francisco back to Southampton. 

Brian

only problem is that we do  not fly  thanks though...going to ask for full refund as was very handily pointed out above and then book with another cruise line for that area if possible

4 hours ago, Threeleggedtoad said:

As a matter of interest the 2020 Jan 3rd cruise on Ventura is still showing on their website, that the ports you will visit include on  the 19 January the Panama Canal Half Transit. Once again P&O show incompetence with their communication.  

I know...totally misleading and probably contravening trading standards

Has anyone else received the news that the 2020 Jan 3rd sailing on Ventura will no longer feature the half transit of the Panama Canal ?  Heard today that apparently the ship will not fit so they are now offering a free shore excursion instead !  What a disappointment.  Hubby is furious as we only booked that cruise to do the canal, we have done Caribbean before so not too worried about that but Panama Canal was the highlight for us.  Guess what...P and O are also not making it easy to cancel...they want us to book another cruise for same value or lose our deposit ( of over £2000 )...Just putting it out there how unfair they are being.  I am not letting them walk all over us and I will pursue this further.

We are on a 28 night cruise next year and are considering using a hotel park and cruise package. Which Southampton hotels offer the package for a long cruise like this?

we used the Holiday Inn near the Docks for our 28 night cruise...you have to pay a little bit more for the longer parking but not extortionately so.

Plug sockets are UK

Jacuzzis are usually nice and warm...the pool will be covered but can't say how warm it will be...it varies in temperature

There will probably be a formal night on the middle night on a 3 day trip.

No you can't view entertainment on the cruise personaliser