MTElkwhistle

I realise you no longer need this info but I can confirm that we walked from Ocean Terminal to the train station 2 weeks ago today. (seems much longer ago)

We went via M&S to get sandwiches for our flight and we were there in half an hour easily - I use crutches and walk slowly.

We did however only have carry on luggage and yes it was raining.

Pop into Linlithgow and visit the palace - Birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots, on your way from Edinburgh or S Queensferry to Falkirk/Stirling.

The Kelpies are interesting as well. http://www.thehelix.co.uk/things-to-do/the-kelpies/

Wouldn't be trying to replicate last Friday night would we?!

 

Sorry, the three women in my life tried some of the cocktails and mocktails, but not that one.

Last Friday now let me think, No definitely didn't have a raspberry creme brulee.

Sat listening to Glen Macnamara in Malabar with a White Russian.

Great way to end a great week.

and Yes please to the recipe, although I found it a bit too sickly when I last had one in October on Oceana, different bar tender of course.

we have heard the funicular trip is exact change Nor. kroner. This would be the machine that issues tickets and the ticket window? I don't mind getting some local cash but exact change when it is not an even amount takes a little work. We will be in Bergen on Aug 28 on the Eurodam. Thanks.

We paid at the window in Nor. Kr. and got change as I didn't have the exact money.

We left the ship just after 8 and walked leisurely to the station, one train left as we arrived and we got on the next, hardly any wait. By the time we came down the queue was enormous.

Last week on Azura there were 18-30 age group meetings posted in the daily timetable but they were at 9:30 and we were on late dinner so DS did not go.

He did however find plenty of new friends just by chatting to people around the ship and seeing some of his photos from the last night had a great time.

We were on Azura last week ... and were assured by the Manageress(?) that access to the (adult only) Oasis 'pool was free for all (ie. you did not have to pay the fee for access to the Spa to use the 'pool).

Ditto, I was also told that even though it was 18 and over only in the pool, my 17yo could come into the area around the pool if he needed to contact me.

There are pool attendants on supervising the pool areas as well. A team of 4 on Azura last week. From speaking to one of them this is a new thing they are trialling this year, don't know if that is correct as I have never cruised P&O during the summer holidays before.

They were also clearing towels from unattended loungers.

Did you leave on Saturday?

We got off Azura then and thought I saw Eclipse.

Loved Eclipse when we sailed her a few years ago.

You don't have to go through the spa, although it is no problem doing so, you can get to it from the deck above. There are loungers up there as well.

It's pretty shaded though due to the cover over the retreat.

Last week there were 2.

As above there are other things going on as well.

Also the midgies will be worse at Inverary than at Stirling.

The drive to Inverary is lovely, we are over that way regularly as DS scuba dives in Loch Long. The town itself is pretty touristy, mind you so are many towns in the central belt, including the one where I live. If you went to Stirling you could combine the castle with the Wallace Monument, even the Kelpies and Falkirk Wheel.

Stirling

A few years ago we were having real cabin issues - 4 of us and the put-you-up settee was broken. We were told there were no other cabins as the ship was sailing full, then on day 6 of the 17 night trip we were given a second cabin for our sons to go in.

We always reckoned that the previous inhabitant must have died.

No cheap lager in London:)

 

Not even Wetherspoons?

Ibiza is gorgeous, way more to it than partying, although that is there if you want it.

We would stay in the north/east of the island and well away from the bars frequented by the numpties.

Nothing worse than going on holiday to be confronted by British bars selling all day breakfasts and cheap lager.

You could always download an RFID reader app onto your phone and try it to see if the case blocks the information transfer.

But even in the north of Scotland there's no snow in July.

Usually :D

Usually not, I'll give you that, however my friend was skiing in the Cairngorms on midsummers day a couple of years ago.

It was unusual enough to make the news.:D

 

But it won't be cold. A little chilly if you're unlucky.

Might be cold up here. Depends on your definition of cold. I live in Central Scotland and have needed fleece and padded rain jacket and hat in July before and there is a lot of Scotland between us and Shetland/Orkney.

My friend who lives in Winchester reckons it can be easily 10 deg cooler here than on the south coast in the summer.

However on a good day nothing beats it.;)

My teens prefer the Celebrity ships to any others that they have been on. My 16yo is really looking forward to Equinox in October, he loved Eclipse a few years ago.

When we were on Eclipse we made friends with a family of 4, they had a teenage girl and a 10yo boy and had been put in a cabin for 3.

They maintained there were no cabins for 4 left and they would just have to deal with it.

They stood firm and were put in a family suite.

It would be worth checking with Celebrity.

We have done P&O - variety of ships although not Ventura and Celebrity Eclipse x2 all out of Southampton.

We really like both for various reasons.

We feel the food on P&O is more British, I love the Celebrity food as there is loads of seafood which DH hates. Azura buffet and Eclipse at lunchtime are comparable but at night Azura wins hands down. Sushi during the afternoon is good. Drinks are way cheaper on P&O 1/3 less for a cocktail then X has the tip on top.

X feels classier, cabins are bigger, has that American customer service that you just don't get here. X has a mix of passengers, P&O 99% or more UK based.

X excursions are extortionate, P&O are just expensive, we do our own thing.

My teenage sons say the best cruise they have done was X, the facilities and staff in the club on Eclipse were brilliant.

We enjoyed the entertainment on P&O more that X but that is so subjective. Although the Cirque du Soleil type show was fantastic.

But the biggest thing for me - P&O has a self service laundry.

We are booked on Equinox out of Barcelona in October (DH choice) and I'll miss my laundry room, having a teen with me!

We had a balcony cabin with a double bed and the sofa/daybed and upper bunk. My boys were 16 and 14 and we got on fine. Just have to be organised getting ready for dinner but we decided what order we would get ready and managed no problem.

We have the same booked this year although the eldest will not be with us this time.

They swapped half way so they both got a shot on the top bunk. - Yes they were really that childish.

We were in Ferrol in October , sadly it poured all the time we were there. The locals put on shuttle buses to get us into the town but we did not linger as it was so wet. There is a castle at the entrance to the harbour which might have been interesting to explore.

I did see a beach as we were sailing out, on the south side of the harbour/bay. There were probably more out on the coast, out of the harbour area but we were inside getting ready for dinner and did not see any more.

There is a lovely chocolate shop on the main street though.

Actually just looked at google earth and there appears to be big beaches just to the north of the inlet the takes you into the harbour.

When in June do you sail?

The Scottish schools break up at the end of the month so there is a possibility of more children then. The English schools have exams in early June so any families with older children will not be able to travel then.

Don't know about upgrading the card but one day a girl next to me got a banana split and it was £2.50 I think. It looked great and was huge.

Sometimes a deck steward came round on deck with tubs of ice cream like you used to get at the theatre, I didn't see anyone signing for them and don't know how much they were or if people were using the cards.

I was always full from meals and didn't get ice cream except at dinner.

I suppose at least you knew he was singing live!!!!

That's true, and the sound man was trying his best to drown him out with the band, who incidentally were great and good fun to chat to.

Heaven 17 were far better than I expected, I liked them way back when but wasn't mad over them, Howard Jones was, well Howard Jones with sparkly jeans and a very impressive synthesiser:eek:, very talented.

What got me though was that people got up from dinner and went to the theatre without reading what was on, many left after the first song as it was "too loud", but the same people did this every night. You would have thought they would read the daily notices.