ham-n-dee

Thanks for all your replies

Hi All

Bit of an add on question regarding drinks packages,

If we book this once we are on board on day 1 are you charged the full length of the cruise or can you cancel it after a few days if your not drinking enough to make it worthwhile ?

Hi all

We did our very first cruise in August this year on Azura. We have booked for next year on RCI. I found this wonderful forum which gave me some fantastic advice on stuff but I can't find one for RCI that is not all about American cruises. Am I looking in the wrong place or will that site turn more European once the ships come back for next summer.

Thank for any pointers

Hi all thanks for the many replies

We spent a good portion of today sat in with a very knowledgeable independent TA who found us several cruises not only to the canaries but also around the med. The upshot was he couldn't beat the advertised on line prices and advised us to book direct. We have just booked a 13 night cruise with RCI ( can I say that here) for a trip around the western med.

I think we have defiantly fought the cruise bug :)

Hi all

We returned yesterday from our 1st cruise on Azura and loved it so much we have spent today looking for next years cruise and have found one on Aurora for 13 nights around the canaries.

Question is, is it better to book direct or use a travel agent?

We booked a saver fare direct for our 1st one

Any advice appreciated as I'm being dragged off to town tomorrow which may well end up being a day at the travel agents :)

It was our first cruise but it will certainly not be our last. Loved everything about the ship and the staff. The food was good although we did avoid the buffet

Off to check out next years cruise :)

Just back from Azura today, they have only 1 table so looks like she got bumped by P&O as well

Thanks for all the replies

The steamer in no larger than a small travel kettle and holds around a cup full of water. I think I'll take it and ask the cabin stewards if it's ok to use

No, not related to the all-inclusive drinks thread :)

Can I take a small travel steamer on board? I’m sure I have read somewhere that you cannot take a travel iron but I was wondering about a steamer for taking the fold creases out of t shirts etc.

I know about using the shower steam for de creasing dress shirts and tux but t shirts won’t be hung up on hangers just left folded up in a draw /suitcase.

Latest pictures from Azura MDR ... it looks like Grumpy Snide has got her way

:)

It is exciting. Where are you going?

The booklet is a good guide but there is a lot to find out. Part of the fun.

We are on Azura A521 going to Spain,Portugal and Guernsey on 22nd August.

Does anyone know if there's a table tennis table on Azura :D:D:D

We got ours in the post this morning, as we have never cruised before it a a very nice surprise to find the front is personalised with our names and cruise date. A very nice momento of what I hope will be a fantastic holiday.

I thought about taking a bottle of whisky and a bottle of Vodka on our cruise for an early evening tipple and a night cap drink sat on the balcony. When checking on the rules I found you can buy a 1lt bottle of spirit from room service for the same price as UK supermarkets so is it worth the hassle for spirits. I will be stocking up on mixers insted which seem expensive onboard.

Thank you everyone for the replies and links posted. We have booked insurance now with Cover for you, which seems to cover everything from full scale evacuation to a minor bump on the bonce.

We are going with the suit carriers in a case idea and will just get them out when we get to the hotel Friday and repack them Saturday morning.

I followed the cruise critic link and bought a 4way extension lead with 2 USB ports.

Roll on August :)

I think the first cruise we went on we took suit carriers, it was also the last! It's far too much agro carrying them around. I put my husbands jackets in last and they come out ok.

This is a useful webpage, tells you about the shuttle bus:

https://ask.pocruises.com/resources/carnivaluk/on-shore/PO_Shuttle_Information

thanks for the link Florry

@ the English lady

Thank you for the reply

We are also on this cruise and in the past everything goes into the suitcase, never had a problem with this method. We are also travelling from Manchester but setting out early Saturday morning, so our clothes will only be in case a matter of hours. We have cruised before, but our first time with P&O and cannot wait for the 22nd August.

Didn't fancy risking the traffic on the Saturday, we go to Bournemouth several times a year so know how bad the drive can be. Have a safe journey down, see you in the bar for a beer:)

Hi tartanexile

As newbies we looked at Lisbon and we were unsure of what was easily accesable so decided to book on an official tour. (I didn't know we docked so close) :o

Mine too. Also check air ambulance repatriation; a little expensive if you need your own 'plane plus medical team!

thanks AnnieC

http://ships.cruisett.com/schedule/PO_Cruises/Azura/August_2015/

 

This site will give you your precise port times - at least those P&O have booked for berthing purposes in port.

 

Very irritating since the information is out there that they choose not to share it with customers. Of course I suppose they are subject to change but did match with our tiimings on our last cruise.

thanks for the link

Port is usually 8am -5pm give or take.

 

I put the dinner suit in the suitcase and it's never been an issue. Depends how tightly packed though I guess.

Thank you PurpleMoonlight, 8am -5pm gives us plenty of time to get round the local towns on our cruise, dont want to venture to far on our fist cruise and miss the boat :)

Insurance

 

Medical evacuation and cancellation of cruise are my big two.

Good advice, thank you

Hi all

Another newbie here with a few questions.

We are 1st time cruisers and have booked on Azura doing the Iberia cruse on 22nd Aug. Using this excellent site and also the P&O site I have managed to work out most of my immediate questions but I’m looking for a bit of a heads up on the following.

Time in port

The itinerary list the ports as morning arrival/ afternoon depart. Any ideas how long we could spend in each town as apart from Lisbon we plan to go it alone and make our own way around town.

Suit/ dress carriers

I’ve splashed out on a Tux and I’m more than sure my partner has got a few cocktail dresses she wishes to take on board. Could anybody recommend a good suit / dress carrier, if we put them in our cases they will probably end up creased to buggery as we are traveling down to Southampton on Friday morning and stopping in a local hotel.

Travel Insurance

Any recommendations of what is worth including /excluding. I.e. missed port, confinement to room etc.

Thank you all for any help you can give