Jennizor

26 degrees here already in Bolton. The really heavy downpour last night has left my numerous newly cleaned pots splashed and looking a mess. Strangely enough, the plants in them don’t look too damaged. No rain forecast for the next week so I will be back to the hose. Not complaining though as it’s great to look out onto a blue sky and see the garden blooming.

We saw Ray Quinn and Joel Harper Jackson on our Iona cruise Feb/March. They were both excellent. If either of them are on when we are back on Iona in July, we will be booking them. Over the years we have seen loads of Limelight Club shows and never had a bad one. Gareth Gates and Cheryl Baker were both brilliant too. 

11 minutes ago, daiB said:

Well I have met a large number of oldies who love Iona and read many comments from them. I see no reason why oldies would not like Arvia either. These two ships can not be only for the younger element as they are not availabloe 12 months of the year to cruise. That would be the older element like us. saying that we oldies cannot cope with technology is plainly offensive. Also very odd on an on line forum.

 

Iona is a fabulous ship and I have no reason to assume that Arvia is not equally as good. Unfortunatly I have to wait until next year to find out. 

Thoroughly agree with you Dai. Us oldies are on our 2nd Iona cruise in July and going on Arvia in March 24. Really looking forward to that too.

We started our cruising experience in 2001 on the Crown Princess around the Hawaiian Islands and we were instantly hooked. Since then we have been on mostly medium sized ships and recently on Iona. Yes, there have been lots of changes over the years and Iona did seem huge at first but I had booked some restaurants in the two weeks before the cruise. On the first night we went to the Glasshouse and were given a table straight away. We didn’t use the App at all on the cruise. On the nights we hadn’t pre-booked we just went to the Coral or Opal restaurants and usually were taken straight to a table (usually sharing as we enjoy those). We go on Iona again in July, I will pre-book some venues and we will do the same again for the rest of the cruise. We are in our 70s, my husband is not keen on using the App but I will use it I have to, no problem. Times change and we just have to do our best to keep up. We didn’t feel our cruise was compromised because we didn’t use the App.

1 hour ago, Winifred 22 said:

I would never share. If that really was the only option in MDR I would chose the buffet. 

Whenever we have the option to share, we always do. We have probably 90% good experiences over 15+ cruises. We were on Iona in Feb/Mar and when asked outside the MDR, we opted to share. Again, we had some lovely table companions. We are all different and for us, meeting new people is part of a lovely cruise. We did have a table for two at some of the speciality restaurants, and enjoyed those too. Everyone is different and it’s your holiday so your choice is right for you. I would never chose the buffet though

14 minutes ago, Josy1953 said:

It has been quite cold all day here.  I started the day in a summer skirt and top but after going outside to put the washing on the line I  came back in and changed to trousers and a sweater before we went shopping.  It is now sunny but still quite cool.  We need a bit of rain, I have been out to water to plants, when I checked our water butt's one of them is already only about a third full, the other is still quite high so we are ok for the moment.  I hate thinking about having to use the hose.

We have had a few really nice days here in Bolton. I have managed to get most of my bedding plants in the borders or pots and the forecast for tomorrow is good again so should get finished (well, unless I am tempted again at the local nursery. I find it difficult to drive past it). 

1 hour ago, RA10 said:

 

I have read mixed reviews on Chef's table.  I understand that it's part of the buffet restaurant which is sectioned off for Celebration night and is set up for table service with table cloth etc.  My interest is that we can book it in advance before we board.  Does anyone happen to know if it's the same menu as the MDR or something different?  

 

Our experience with the Chefs Table on Iona in March was very good. The tables were nicely laid and in an area sectioned off from the Buffet. The menu was very good, more like a good restaurant than the MDRs. The service was excellent too. Will definitely be booking it again for Iona cruise to the Fjords in July.

6 minutes ago, Peanut006 said:

Morning everyone, hope you are all ok today.

 

it is cloudy outside here today but forecast to better later so fingers crossed.

 

Hubby just taken dogs out for their first walk of the day. One of our dogs is 13 now, he is a golden retriever and sadly he has started to change recently, not always wanting to eat and prefers to be hand fed and not always wanting to go for a walk. Vets says apart from old age he is perfectly healthy, I can only imagine we will have some difficult decisions to make in the future.

 

Not a great week for me either, wounds following my operation are not healing as well as they should be so been back at wounds clinic this week then on same day had a skin lesion removed for possible skin cancer, got a large dent and scab on my arm now but thankful it has been sorted quickly.

 

Hope everyone else has had a good week and has a nice weekend planned.

 

Michelle

Michelle,sorry to hear about your dog, you love them so much and it breaks your heart when they start to suffer through old age. Sorry for you too. You seem to be getting very good treatment from your hospital. Have a good weekend, the weather forecast looks good for us.

Jennizor

X

5 minutes ago, Yorkypete said:

What site are you looking at? Our TA (the biggest around) shows Select balcony cabin at £1376 pp ie cost of £2752., and this is a price 'from' so could be higher for a decent grade. Obviously it may be cheaper having a saver inside cabin but our 'land' holiday has a very large sea view balcony and we can usually select.  Much cheaper...and it includes drinks which the cruise do not.

I am not sure why you are so obsessed with decisions other people have made regarding their cruises. We are all entitled to make our own decisions (as you are). We have been on lots of cruises (Princess and P & O). Some have been brilliant, some slightly less so but never had a bad one. At the end of the day you pay your money and take your choice. We have three more booked, two this year and one next. The next one is in 8 weeks and we are really looking forward to it. My glass is half full, not half empty.

9 minutes ago, mrsgoggins said:

Fabulous tulips but it was the lovely cat that caught my eye.  I really miss having cats (our last pair of litter sisters made it to 20) but it would be difficult now because of our travels and location. One day maybe!  

I have always had a cat in my life, sometimes more than one. I lost Cassie in December 21 while on a Caribbean cruise. I said I wouldn’t have any more as it was heartbreaking to lose her. My daughter in a Veterinary nurse and we always had rescue cats. Despite me saying I couldn’t cope with the heartbreak of losing another cat, she persuaded me to have this one. She was brought into the surgery to be put down after she had been hit by a motorcycle. They never put down a healthy cat, so they repaired her fractured pelvis and she came to me. She is called Evie and is a delight.

14 minutes ago, P&O SUE said:

Afternoon all, we did get out yesterday, went to Hole gardens near Rolvenden. The sun eventually came out but it wasn’t wall to wall sunshine as predicted. However we left home with grey skies and it was the same when we came home so we were glad we went.

 

 

Those tulips look like some new ones I plant this year. Gorgeous aren’t they.

1 hour ago, Peanut006 said:

We will meet up for definite. We have done Caribbean like you but flown both ways and done one Transatlantic but going the other way 

 

Michelle 

Looking forward to meeting you both already. We are on Iona in July, going to the Fjords, Azura for Christmas and New Year, never been away for Christmas before, lots of times for New Year. Not sure yet how Christmas away from our two families will be but we are going to see how it goes. 

48 minutes ago, Peanut006 said:

We are on the same Transatlantic as you but we fly out on 16th as I couldn’t get an accessible cabin to go on the 15th

 

Michelle

So pleased that we are on the same cruise. We have done the Caribbean several times but flown both ways, the last time in December 21. We have always said we should do the

transatlantic return, so very excited about it. We must try and meet up at some point. 

5 minutes ago, Peanut006 said:

I have a cruise booked for August but we are taking four of our grandchildren. I think I should book an adult only ship to relax a bit!!!

 

Only the two of us on Arvia next March though

 

Michelle

I don’t know if you have mentioned Arvia next March before, when are you going? We are also on her in March. We fly out on the 15th and sail back to Southampton arriving on the 31st.

Jennizor

32 minutes ago, Peanut006 said:

Hi everyone, hope you are all ok.

 

It has been a lovely day here today just a bit breezy. Just having a coffee then going to take dogs out before their tea.

 

I got a reply today about the medical photos I had last week. The spot/area on my arm looks “suspicious” so they are going to remove it, just got to wait for an appointment now.

 

We are taking out two youngest grandsons to London this weekend. Got my tickets for London Eye, they want to go to the Natural History Museum, Covent Garden and a bus tour as well so it looks like we will be busy.

 

Take care everyone 

 

Michelle

Hi Michelle, sorry to hear about the spot on your arm, hopefully they will be able to give you some good news quickly.

Have a great weekend in London with your grandsons. It will be a lot less busier than last weekend! You will probably need a cruise when you get back though.

12 hours ago, Presto2 said:

Has everyone been to a garden party? Am beginning to feel left out !

My lovely boss once asked me if I wanted to be nominated but I declined. I have no problem with the Royal Family but as a quite shy person, I wouldn’t have enjoyed it. My colleague who got the invite, a more confident lady, really enjoyed it. She even had a joke with then Prince Charles. 

1 hour ago, Snow Hill said:

Just got home from a 5 day break in Pembrokeshire, a relaxing few days, with visits to St David’s, Solva, Tenby and South Pembrokeshire coast. Drove back across country through to wonderful Welsh scenery and noticed quite a few villages with the bunting and flags (most Welsh Flags) in advance of the Coronation. 
 

No flags or bunting out in our street, but we did have a police raid on a house whilst we were away, apparently a rented property being used as a cannabis farm, the second in a month, the other was on a upmarket estate about a mile away. 
 

I will be on tea & refreshments duty tomorrow whilst OH is sat in front of TV. As weather is wet here tomorrow gardening is not an option, so may watch some of it.

Not good is it Snow Hill when you hear something like this so close to home?

We live on a lovely small estate, only 5 rows of houses. We were absolutely devastated when we heard about an overnight Police raid just across the road from my daughter’s house. The bedrooms were being used as a cannabis farm. The house owner had been left the house by her parents and was renting it. She sold it, once it had been completely cleaned out.

21 hours ago, Peanut006 said:

We posted our votes too about a week ago. 
 

You can’t go wrong with a nice meal from

M & S, that’s probably what we will do after watching the Coronation. Hope you have a nice time with Sarah and that her back is ok.

 

I had to see a medical photographer today. I noticed a change to a mark on my skin last week, went to the Dr who ref me to dermatologist for a possible squamous cell carcinoma. They took photos to be examined tomorrow by Dr who will then decide what to do. I know I have been a bit quiet this week on here. I had major surgery last Friday and have been recovering, totally unrelated to the skin thing.

 

Hope you all have a lovely Coronation weekend whatever you are doing

 

Michelle

Michelle, so sorry for all you are experiencing at the moment. I haven’t been around a lot this week so I am just catching up. I hope you recover quickly, enjoy your weekend, whatever you are doing.

Jennizor.

5 hours ago, Al_W said:

So the acts for 12/5 Baltic cruise on Britannia have been announced...

 

Ray Quinn (xfactor runner up & dancing on ice) is £28 pp and Kevin Simm (Popstars runner up, voice winner and now lead in Wet Wet Wet) is £20 pp. 

2 good acts for us to see... but I am sure not to many people's tastes... so please don't shoot the messenger.

I know everyone’s taste in entertainment is different but, as I said in my previous post, we thought Ray Quinn was amazing. His singing was excellent, he was very chatty and funny and the audience gave him a standing ovation at the end of the show. If he is on any of future cruises we will go and see him again.

41 minutes ago, mrsgoggins said:

Anyone else still doing Wordle, Quordle etc?  I enjoy doing them (the dailies accompany my morning cuppa) but I've been trying - and failing miserably - to attain the 500 practice successes in a row with Quordle.  I did make it as high as 330 towards the end of last year but haven't got anywhere near that since.  You get on online 'Achievement' trophy if you manage it 😂. I know, I know ..... think of all the good books I could be reading, or stuff I could/should be sorting and chucking!

 

Worse still, I've just bought a new iPad, and my AlphaBetty word game has reset when I had completed all 920 levels ..... so here I go again .... 😁

 

It's not as bad as it sounds in my defence. I do much of this, apart from the dailies, when the TV is on in the evening and if it's something I'm not especially interested in.

 

Am I alone in my affection for online word games?

We have become addicted to Wordscapes. We were second in this week’s competition but it’s becoming a bit boring so we need to look for something different.

I tend to agree with you Wowzz. In our early cruising years we did go to some of the entertainment but we stopped as we prefer to have a leisurely meal with no pressure to be somewhere else. On our Feb/March Iona cruise we found ourselves on the same ship as the sister of our friends. She is a solo cruiser and goes to the entertainment every night, she raved about some of it but she thought some of it was poor. The only entertainment we went to was in the Limelight Club. Both weeks were great and the meals were excellent. We prefer to find a nice bar and chat to other passengers but we are also quite happy just the to of us.

We have never used the Epicurean, only because we have looked at the menu (and seen photos on here) and there is far too much for me. My appetite is not great anymore so it would be wasteful for us. The photos look great however. We will therefore use the Limelight Club,Glasshouse, Sindhu, Chefs Table and the Olive Grove and MDR for the rest of our evenings. 

We were on Iona Feb/March and could book speciality dining two weeks before. I hope that’s not changed and will be the same for our Iona cruise in July.

11 hours ago, mrshorsy said:

we have previously only cruised with NCL who are very informal. We have just booked a last minute Jul cruise on Ventura and didnt find out about the formal celebration night till reading on here.

We will not be taking formal wear on a holiday. I will have dresses that could possibly pass but there is no way in the world my other half would be donning a suit. People don't even wear suits in offices anymore.

On the formal night we will be respectful of the places that insist on formal wear and will eat and drink elsewhere 

Don’t worry about it, you are entitled to make your own choices. We always do the formal nights but it’s a personal choice as is yours. Enjoy your cruise.

21 minutes ago, Confused.com said:

Just got off Arvia afyer our 1st ever cruise and can confirm that carpets in cabins are not being vacuumed at all.

 

We were there 2 wks and bits of hair and fluff we found on the 1st day on entering our cabin were still there when we left.

 

I was intending to leave a tip for our cabin steward but couldn't bring myself to in the end. Our shower cubicle wasn't cleaned for 2 wks either.

 

All he seemed to do was make the bed, change the towels and put clean glasses out. We expected a little more than that tbh.

I would have complained very early on in the cruise if I experienced these issues. In all the years we have cruised there has only been the odd thing not done, like cups not washed or the occasional towel missing. I wouldn’t have put up with carpets not being vacuumed or shower not cleaned. The cabin crew have always been very hard working and done a very good job in the very short time allotted to each cabin.