Wiz201

I'll be staying in a balcony cabin on Ventura in just over two weeks. I think a balcony is nice if you want your own space.

you can bring your own drinks on board and have them in the cabin which for those alcoholics is great, especially if you have your own balcony to sit on.

I never totally unpack ;)

yep except I'm using a different case this time so will probably have some spare socks from the other one to transfer over

I've got special prescription sun glasses that are polarising ones so I can walk about indoors with them on and still see, so I'd better remember those. Been wearing them today whilst out and about in the car.

just encouraging folk to dance although participation will be voluntary.

Ventura is doing Netherlands & Guernsey 20th to 24th, then Belgium & Guernsey 24th to 28th, then a Med Strictly come dancing cruise from 28th til 11th June

Not packing as such, but I just tossed in some new clothes into my suitcase that I'm keeping for the cruise. Which one are you going on, Purplemoonlight? Ventura N510?

Cruise starts April 25th so I'll have the Friday off day before to pack. My new cruise clothes bought from M&S are in my mother's spare bedroom (she lives five mins away from me) so I'll be mostly packing there. I got a new case from matalan on Friday that's a 4 wheeler and has more space than my large holdall.

Got my euros, passport located and health insurance card found. Just need to print my E tickets off but leaving that til last minute.

give them a call, worth a try

I guess there will probably be two.

yep two on my 7 day cruise (in three weeks :D)

I've just been clothes shopping for my cruise on ventura in three weeks time. I've got smart tunic type tops for formal/casual nights, black trousers for formal nights and black leggings/coloured demin trousers for casual nights.

I hardly think you can do that these days. I didn't even think booking the day before was possible :confused:

We did this tour on Ventura and it was well worth it. You don't see the actual engines, but the high tec control room. One highlight was unhurried access to the bridge. Several very senior staff were waiting for us in key areas to demonstrate or explain such things as anchoring, costume storage (quite surprising), store rooms etc. The medical centre was interesting and they tell you all sorts of things that we found fascinating. The food or drink is a token gesture, so don't book on account of that but, if like us, you have been on quite a few cruises and find the 'how it all works' aspects interesting and can suffer the cost, then I thoroughly recommend it. We would do it again and intend to on Britannia later this year, if it is offered.

thanks may consider it since I'll have some on board credit to spend. I'm on Ventura 3 weeks today!

has anyone been on one of these? Just trying to justify the £75 :eek:

I work in an enclosed unit within the office; illness passes around us with a click of a finger!

puts my mind at ease if we ever have similar problems on our cruise in three weeks time, although hopefully nothing like that will happen.

I suppose if you can avoid the dancing areas and still enjoy the ships amenities then I'd say there will be no problem.

Comparison websites like comparethemarket.com is useful. I'm a youngster at 30 so travel insurance is not expensive for me but I went with insureandgo for my 7 night cruise with silver cover to get the cruise cover and it was £19

my mum has been on Azura, she enjoyed her Caribbean cruise. Can't comment on smoking areas as she doesn't smoke but everything else was excellent.

I suggest youtube videos and there are reviews of the ships on the website.

We'll be on Ventura in a month's time. I don't have kids myself but looked at the stuff they provide for kids and I think from the reviews, I don't think you'll see a lot of your 10 year old! They do seem to provide entertainment for them in the way of kids clubs; three or four separate ones according to appropriate ages so I'm sure he'll be able to make friends with his own age peers in no time.

Seems to be a common problem with internet explorer

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/ie/forum/ie10-windows_8/cannot-find-formvalidationsummary/83d2e46e-6ee5-4349-a9c6-f8819d5ab630

I'd download google chrome and use that as a secondary web browser. I use that for P&O cruise personaliser and its been working fine.

maybe another option is to go on Ventura and your Mother in Law has a single inside cabin? Okay you won't be together all the time but you'll only be separate whilst sleeping really. No reason why she couldn't spend all evening with you whilst dining and socialising.

Once on Ventura I was starting an al-fresco lunch outside the buffet. A couple approached and the gentleman deposited a spectacle case and hat on an adjacent empty cable. 'would you mind watching these for as while we go and get some food' he asked. OK, I said. Anyway, having finished my meal and 2 mugs of tea nearly 30 mins had passed. hold on, i thought, it does not take 30 mins to collect food from the buffet. Having other things to do I popped down to reception and handed them over. did i do the right thing?

yes. For all you know they could have taken ill and have had to go to the medical bay

To save any potential disputes or altercations, book the Retreat/Sanctuary then your personal reserved sunbed remains in an area of calm, for you to come and go as required.

I'm not paying extra for that, I'd rather get up early for a swim

I hope I don't have this problem on Ventura end of April. I'm not a sun worshipper but its nice to have a swim and then a lie down in the sun to dry out before going in to change. Means I'm not walking through the ship with a wet swimming costume on.

And one thing you learn early on in cruising is to split each person's clothes between the 2 suitcases. It wouldn't be the first time the baggage handlers had dropped one in the water.

Nobody else's clothes would fit me if my suitcase was dropped in the water:eek: