Ardennais

I remember my husband and I standing on the our balcony as Ventura was leaving Southampton in January 2020. It was a Friday and I said something like “we’ll be back here in six Fridays”. It was a wonderful cruise and the 35 nights flew by - we had done a few 18 nighters before then. I would happily cruise to the Caribbean and back on Ventura again.

Easter holidays in Wales begin on Friday 22 March - end of Spring term, not half term. Iona is a family friendly ship and rightly caters for children. I love seeing children around, but what I find annoying is the reduced service when at full capacity. Even worse, the passengers on these school holiday cruises have paid more.

Same here!

Great photos! Sounds like a very enjoyable day.

I am referring to the ice cream afternoon tea of course!!

I was tempted by that last year. How would you rate it?

@Interestedcruisefan is your best source of info. I think he did this cruise last year and he flew out to Barbados yesterday for the same cruise again. Hopefully he’ll post something soon!

No, Iona was a 7 nighter, Northern Europe.

February half-term 2025: All of Wales: Mon 24 Feb - Fri 28 Feb Essex: Mon 17 Feb - Fri 21 Feb Durham: Mon 24 Feb - Fri 28 Feb I’ve checked Essex and Durham as being representative of South/North as I know from experience that Northern England tends to have the same Feb half term as Wales. Scotland is another different story, as you probably know! I presume your cruise is a 14 nighter, and in theory, children in state schools shouldn’t really be off school for a fortnight. The reality is however very different (and a bl…y nuisance for secondary school teachers as I well remember), and I imagine that a lot will take their children out of school for 14 days of educational experiences (sun) in February! Do you want to avoid children or just avoid a busy cruise? Iona Feb term last year was heaving!

Can I ask, do the main cabin doors of accessible cabins open automatically? As I said, my mother found the door extremely heavy this time around (standard balcony), so I was wondering how some of you cope with when using mobility aids.

My mother found the cabin doors extremely heavy - something that she hadn’t noticed before.

For our Cunard cruise last month, my mother filled the questionnaire. She stated that she was talking a walking stick and foldable walker (in case of tiredness) but that she didn’t need assistance in an emergency. She was next door to us.

I think you mentioned that the baritone is Jeremy Huw Williams. I’ve seen him perform several times and quite like him! He was once married to Manon Jenkins, Ffion Hague’s sister, and so was William Hague’s brother in law!

Still free school milk for all Foundation Phase pupils in Wales (4-7 year olds) and the Tory opposition are actually pressing for it to be provided for older primary pupils too. Local primary schools have milk fridges to keep it cold.

Welsh cakes are sweet. We make them on a griddle and eat them with butter or butter and jam. I don’t know anything about oatcakes but they appear savoury to me.

Not Norway, but Hamburg last month - we had a toilet stop and it only took cash. The guide had to give some guests a few Euros.

This happened to my daughter a few years ago. Luckily, she was able to find another NHS dentist, but I don’t think that would be possible now as it seems that the few NHS dentists around here are full.

So pleased to hear that you had a most enjoyable cruise. The first of many wonderful ‘retirement’ cruises hopefully!

I have enjoyed reading each and every entry. Many thanks.

Me too! The second plate looks like someone just opened a pack and shook the contents onto the plate!

Thanks from me too. All the current blogs are fascinating.

You’re missing the point. I HAVE been in that situation, in fact earlier this month. Still doesn’t give us the right to arrive earlier than the stated time.

Selbourne - I’m sorry that you’ve experienced so many disappointments and really hope that things improve. Don’t think of the sea days as wasted days! Still better than being at home.

We were there four years ago this month on an excursion from Colon. We had to have a Yellow Fever vaccination for that cruise, as we also visited Puerto Limon, Costa Rica and Cartagena, Columbia in addition to the Caribbean islands.

We lost power just after 9 last night, and it was restored around 6 this morning. Then my husband went down the track and a tree had fallen, blocking the road. So back home, collect JCB and he managed to clear the road. Well things happen in threes so ….. just before lunch, I heard a hissing noise coming from the utility and lo behold, a water leak. Rushed to turn off the water supply, facetimed my husband (luckily within signal today) to show the offending pipe, and now he’s gone to the nearest supplier (20 miles away) to get some replacement pipes. He’s a builder so can do the work when he gets home.