Waju

I've just remembered Arora does a 'Trek the Deck' walk for their cancer charity on longer cruises.

I try and do 10 laps of the prom deck a day which as you know is around 3 miles - its got to help. My day would go something like this - nice leisurely breakfast followed by a couple of laps of the deck by which time it will be time for mid morning coffee (and cake) - another few laps and it'll be almost lunchtime. Long lunch, perhaps you'll find someone interesting to chat to, a couple more laps because it'll soon be time for afternoon tea and more cake 🙂 - off you go again round the deck and 'oh my word' its almost time to go and get ready for dinner!!!! I am only kidding, I can usually find things to do - the odd exercise class, a trip to the cinema, I don't know if you're sporty but they usually do walking football and indoor cricket on longer cruises. I've also seen ukulele lessons, I always start off with good, healthy eating plans which go out of the window immediately but after 10 days or so I do settle into it and start eating a little bit more 'normally' My top tip is beware of the damp in the wardrobes that has a tendency to shrink clothes and have a start of the holiday side and an end of the holiday side so you always have something comfortable to wear 🙃

Isn't it weird??? I just couldn't get into it 😒

I remember going to watch La La Land in the Aurora cinema - it was a full house and then one by one people started to walk out! I think I hung on for about 45 minutes by which time there were just half a dozen people still watching 😒 It was dire.

On a sea day when on Aurora there’s nothing better than picking up a Costa coffee and going to watch a good film in the little cinema 😊

One of our waiters used to call the little after dinner shortbread biscuits ‘doggy biscuits’ 🤣

How rude are you pair 😳

That was an amazing review and really interesting to read. Thank you

We were in that area in September 2020 and a hurricane was approaching, the captain kept us updated and took us quite a way back out to sea while it went through. The next port (sorry can’t remember which it was) was badly affected by the hurricane 😞

@daiB I think the noisy cocktail machine the OP referred to is the ice being crushed in a food processor unit. They are really noisy - love the end result though!

I do love Aurora, my absolute favourite ship. I always feel ‘at home’ as soon as I board!

Sorry just seen this - we are lucky enough to be able to choose last minute deals and love a bargain, our last cruise was 11 nights and cost £569 adding £66 is an extra 11 or 12% (I'm rubbish at maths so may be way off). I've seen last minute P&O deals for the same sort of prices this year and tipping is included - that's all I was trying to get across. £6pp a day isn't a lot I agree but I still think tipping is outdated and staff should be paid a fair price for the job they do, at sea or on land.

kalos, just wanted to tell you - the time 11.11 has 'haunted' me for years - I see it everywhere, when I look at my phone, my watch, turn the tv over etc etc its so weird! It happens to others as well with other double numbers. My son used to work on the airlines and he has the same thing with 7.37 (737) Wonder what it all means?

I don't think you will, my only problem with Ambassador is the price of the service charge (which has also been increased from 1st September) when you add it to the bargain prices you can sometimes find with Ambassador they're no better prices than a cruise line that has them included! I don't want to start another tipping thread but I find them really 'old fashioned' in this day and age - pay the staff properly and don't expect customers not to notice that your good lead in price isn't really the bargain it might first appear to be!

The thing is we're supposed to be on holiday and not faffing about trying to find somewhere to eat. I may as well be in a B&B in Margate (other seaside towns are available 😀) and wandering around looking for the nearest 'spoons!

I'm loving reading this too DamianG, you write really well. I do have some concerns though - we've been on Iona a couple of times when she sailed far from full and I was really surprised how much I enjoyed the larger ship. I thought we might try Arvia one day - maybe out of school holidays - but the talk of queueing to get into dining rooms, booking (or trying to book on the app) and using pagers worries me! I'm supposed to be on holiday and probably just an old f*rt but I want to leave my phone in the safe until I get to a port. I'm just better suited to MDR's that offer club dining so I know what time I'm eating and where my table will be 🙂

I think they're missing a trick - it would be a good money earner for some of the bigger hotels with large rooms doing nothing all day!

Just wanted to 'chip in' and say what a great idea this is - I've just looked on the hotel website and can't find any mention of it though - but for a local hotel to offer lounge facilities similar to the paid for airport lounges is a great idea. It would be perfect for those who arrive early in Southampton due to train/flight times or having to leave hotels at 10am and not being able to board till later in the afternoon. To pay a few pounds to be able to sit and have coffee/snacks in comfort sounds perfect to me.

There were a few people that I know of on the previous Iceland cruise that had 'sicky bugs' too. Shame really as it probably mainly due to people not hand washing, we sat close to the buffet entrance and probably only 2 out of 10 used the sanitizer.

Yes there is a small one, sorry can’t remember which deck - maybe 9?

Us too when we were on Aurora (just before covid)

Faroe Islands, Iceland and today we’re in Belfast!

There have been none on the current cruise.

Such a shocking post to see, the loss of a child, no matter what age, is heart breaking. My sincere condolences to you and those close to you.

Just had a text from Ambassador - due to bad weather today in Belfast, our embarkation in Liverpool tomorrow is delayed by 4 hours ☹️ it's going to be a late night! Safe travels to those leaving Belfast this evening x