Dorset cruise fan

6 hours ago, RJHNorthyorks said:

We are on the Aurora Northern Lights cruise leaving the U.K. on 15 November 23 and yesterday received an email saying it is Christmas themed and to pack your Christmas jumpers! 
This is the first we have heard of this and the cruise isn’t being marketed as a Christmas cruise on their website. 
Do they really start Christmas this early? 

We have only had qn email about the dishwashers being replaced 

Have been trying to pay the final balance on a cruise for 3 days. Friday, site error, Saturday, got all the way through payment process including code from bank then site error. Today final day of payment tried phoning P&O to discover they are closed on Sundays, last try online and site error - gŕrrrrrrr

2 minutes ago, Snow Hill said:

We have tried to go to Amsterdam twice on a cruise, never made it on either cruise due to strong winds and bad weather, we have said we won’t bother with a cruise and are planning to go via Eurostar next year for a long weekend, that way we can virtually guarantee actually getting there. 
 

 

Been there on Eurostar too. Sat in Brussels station for 5 hours and eventually bussed to a hotel, then by coach to Amsterdam the next morning.

7 hours ago, molecrochip said:

I think for all the shouting, it’s the comment about wanting to build a bridge that’s key here.

 

To make it tall enough for cruise ships to pass under is very expensive. If no cruise ships, a much lower bridge is possible.

I agree, they have been trying to deter stag groups for a while and also seem to have been making Rotterdam the major port. Luckily for us we have twice cruised in to Amsterdam and loved the journey up the North Sea Canal. Good to have had those experiences. 

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jul/20/amsterdam-to-close-cruise-ship-terminal-amid-effort-to-restrict-tourism?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

Has anyone else seen this? Article says that the port is closing to deter stag parties and big groups of young men off the cruise ships. I should think that was highly unlikely from the ship in the picture!

Only been on Iona for a Seacation so not reflective of the current experience. But we did like all the food venues, especially the Quays, Olive Grove and Limelight. Thought we wouldn't like the size but didn't phase us as much as we thought. She was barely half full though.

Arcadia however, along with Aurora is one of our favourites. She is of course older but has really classy glass artwork throughout, lovely promenade deck, pretty atrium. Not so many dining options though. We have had some lovely cruises on Arcadia.

Thank you Ranchi, one of my concerns was the passenger mix and you are very reassuring. Just been you tubing the Metropolis barxand it looks like a substitute for a Crows Nest

1 minute ago, Bill Y said:

Yes. Although the view from the crows nest is popular you have to ask yourself how often you will need a forward facing view rather that a rear facing one or some people even prefer to use their balcony. The only time it’s probably desirably is a long scenic sailing such as the Panama or Suez canals. Grand class ships don’t sail there, they were too wide to go through the old locks on the Panama, not sure if they can use the new ones.  But only you can decide how important a crows nest is to you.

 

The cruise we are looking at is only 7 nights so only a couple of sea days. Are babies allowed in bars? Is the ship likely to be sailing full outside of school holidays?

I've just been looking at Ventura's deck plans as hadn't clocked that she didn't have a Crows Nest Bar which is always a favourite. Does the Metropolis Bar work in the same way as a Crows Nest ie with a view of the sea, albeit it the wake rather than forward?

We have a cruise booked on Aurora next September and we were thinking of inviting our children along to make it a family cruise (first time for them). However one child is now pregnant so if all goes well there will be a baby in tow which rules out Aurora. So I have been looking at alternatives and there are only 2 that I like the itineraries for, 1 on QM2 and 1 on Ventura. We really like QM2 but the Ventura itinerary is appealing and obviously cheaper.

I know that Ventura has a mixed reputation so would appreciate advice on whether we should try her.

Thank you, I've done that now and it works. Much preferred the old system where you can see all the prices together (you may want to be comparing the price difference between ocean view and balcony) but at least now I can see the prices that I'm interested in.

What I  don't like about the website us that it only shows the price for cheapest inside cabin and you have to go through a dummy booking to find prices for balconies etc. Cunard website still has the old system of being able to see a lead price for each level of accommodation. Am I missing something on the P&O site?

I did get to speak to a human after I shouted at it, "I want to speak to a person." To think I  would be getting nostalgic over Press 1 for new bookings, Press 2 for existing bookings tec

Has anyone tried phoning P&O recently? Instead of the usual press 1, press 2 etc I had to contend with a chatbot who sounded human but clearly wasn't as couldn't answer questions. Didn't know how to get through to a real person.

Durdle Door seems to have migrated to Scotland and Abbotsbury Monastery was founded in 1044, but thank you for the stunning pictures of our beautiful county.

Enjoy your cruise. Nice weather for the next few days.

I have only looked at the itineraries for Aurora and Arcadia and I liked some of the Baltic cruises with interesting ports and 16night cruises so chance to properly explore. The North Cape cruise looks great and a nice Iceland itinerary as well. Also 2 decent length British Isles cruises, we have some lovely places to visit here too.

Bring back the themed buffets. They were really good. We have enjoyed the evening buffets but as lincslady says "it depends " on what you have been doing during the day, time back on ship, views from ship. We like to try most of the eateries, included and extra cost.

On 4/4/2023 at 1:11 PM, halpincat said:

I asked my steward for body lotion and conditioner on Arcadia last October and again on Ventura in January, to be told on both occasions that they are no longer available.  Maybe it depends on the ship/steward.  However, I did get a facecloth which was changed most days, although some of them should have been consigned to the rag-bag long ago!

Same happened to me on Arcadia and Aurora. Told there was none on the ship.

I can't spell, apparently it should be carolean, or Caroline so I would still go for a Queen Caroline.

Does anyone else remember the little ditty : 

Queen, Queen Caroline

Washed her hair in turpentine 

Turpentine made it shine

Queen, Queen Caroline 

I believe the shuttle bus will take you into Weymouth from Portland. Weymouth is a very pretty, traditional seaside town with a beautiful beach and a very pretty harbour. If you just want to wander along the promenade and have an ice cream then it's ideal. You can also acess one end of Chesil beach and if you like walking then can enjoy a walk along the beach and see the fleet, great for bird watching. Portland itself is home to many quarries which provided stone for famous buildings in London and around the world. There is a quarry sculpture park whichbis nice to explore and I believe there is a bus which takes you up to Portland Bill where there is a Lighthouse, again a great spot for bird watching. The whole area is famed for its natural beauty and I would try to enjoy some of that if you can. A tour (ship or private) to either Abbotsbury to the west for the gardens, abbey and particularly the swannery is worthwhile, particularly if you are visiting in May when it is full of cygnets. Or a trip east down the coast to Lulworth and Durdle Door as part of the wonderful Jurassic coast. Sounds niche but isn't is a visit to the Tank Museum, fascinating displays and sometimes demonstrations and just up the road is Lawrence of Arabia's cottage, tiny and atmospheric (He was based at Bovington). And just down the road is Monkey World, suitable for all ages. Hope that helps with planning.  

We are now in the Carolinean era with Charles on the throne and there was a previous Queen Caroline, wife of one of the Georges so I think a Queen Caroline would be very appropriate.

57 minutes ago, Britboys said:

It wasn't a language thing was it? Did you try asking him for facecloths as well as flannels?

Yes

I am happy not to have the small bottles but I do mind not having what was in them. It felt lovely having the moisturiser and conditioner all with the same scent as the shampoo and shower gel. Now I have to make space in wash kit to bring extra bottles, nothing matches and it all just loses a bit of that special feel. Last steward had no idea what a flannel was either and was positive they didn't have any but managed to find some when I persuaded him to ask.