TigerB

Those are fantastic!👍 Tell me, is the model building a hobby or linked to your vocation? Also, how did you solve the water spill issues with the infinity pool?😉

Have you checked to see if there is still availablity? It could be that the email is in response to all available reservations being taken. At least you got yours!👍

I've been able to log on previously from both inside and outside the terminal building; the signal strength for each was similar, not super strong but strong enough to make bookings.

Yup! No consistency; often not even on the same ship. @bronzevernis was able to book Beach House and afternoon tea, neither of which were available on our cruise planner in June, when we did the same cruise.

When it's been available to do so, we've also booked an early sitting in the MDRs when booking our speciality restaurants. I agree, you shouldn't have to do that, but I always breathe a sigh of relief afterwards and say, "Well, that's one job done". I then don't have to put up with the 'dining stress' once onboard. No, they don't have taster menus according to local areas on the other cruises. They do have local cuisine in Horizon and at Taste 360; occasionally in the MDRs too, I believe.

It's a servery, so just walk up and get what you want

I see that in your search for launderette nirvana you've been all over the ship.🤣 When we were on deck 15 mid-forward on Arvia in April, and on Iona in June, I would pop up the flight of stairs to use that one. It was easier to get to and had more machines and ironing boards than the one on deck 15. I just didn't understand why the one on deck 15 is so small, despite that deck having many more cabins than deck 16.

I'm probably preaching to the converted here, but you did know that the launderettes on 9 and 11 are in the same location, and with about the same number of machines?

Yes, getting the extra 20% when you dine is a bonus; it's just off the food though. It would be negligible in Beach House, as your £9.50 gets you three courses, but for those 'extra' items you would save a bob or two. Like you say, getting a good meal for £24, less if you get Peninsular discount, is fantastic value for money. And paying that for a tasting menu is unparalleled, when you think how much you would pay in a restaurant operated by or affiliated to a 'celebrity chef'. Sorry, but I've confused you with my comment about mixing and matching with the tasting menu; the regular menu is not available, it is only the tasting menu. To be clear, they have a meat based one and a vegetarian one; you can mix and match from either. That suited me as I am a pescatarian, so had a fish course from the meat based one, and everything else from the vegetarian menu. These are the two menus:

Well...........🤔 I'm embarrassed to admit that, in 2004, when the kids were 9 and 11, and we went to Orlando for the first time, that was me.🤭 Our lass and the kids still won't let me forget it!

I agree with you both, and after retiring from a job where structure and organisation was a necessity, I was looking forward to holidays with a lot more spontaneity. It is a given that there will always be an element of pre-planning for us, with my wife's poor mobility and medical needs, but I had hoped things like entertainment and dining could be more ad-hoc, like the old days. Unfortunately, that is not possible these days, certainly on the two behemoths. The IT that P&O are using, together with staff at the different MDRs not singing from the same hymn sheet, certainly don't help; and the problems have been exacerbated even more by the hysteria created on social media, including these forums. We are looking forward to a future cruise on Aurora, which we hope will be a totally different and much less stressful experience🤞

Good for you, staying up an getting what you wanted.👍 As others have said, it shouldn't be necessary, but it absolutely is, to get just what you want and to relieve the ever present 'dining stress' once onboard. The bonus of course being the discounted rates you paid for the 'paid in full' cover charges, and the additional menu discounts when eating in Sindhu and Beach House. I do hope you like the Norwegian Tasting Menu, I did; remember, you can mix and match from both menus on that one. Have a fantastic cruise; I look forward to reading about it.🙂

The crustacean one being a warning of course, rather than an invitation.🤭

I've just caught up, after a couple of days away; as alway, informative, interesting, and light hearted. Nearly two weeks already? Times flies, as they say. We too liked Cadiz, and look forward to returning. I hope you have a steady sailing back to Southampton. I'll be interested to hear about disembarkation, which was a nightmare when on Arvia in April, but a breeze when on Iona in in June, with bought having a similar amount of passengers onboard.

Thank you for another interesting read.🙂 I reckon, at the end of your cruise, everyone in your party will be filling in a crew appreciation card for the delightful Love Joy. Apologies for the following, I just couldn't resist........

Oh yes, you need to get the photo orientation right, young man! I recall @Interestedcruisefan getting chowed at with his photos; a few folk are still suffering with neck strain!🤭

I was amused by that when we sailed there for the first time.😄 I hope you had a good day in Marseille.

I would joke with our lass that she puts on the accent for the crowd, that she is really from Halifax.🤭

Excellent, I'm pleased for you. I reckon you've made the right call, no stress in trying to get into the MDR for dinner. You never know, you may be one of those that buck the trend and really like the Chef's Table. I'm not holding my breath though!🙄 @bronzevernis, sorry again to hi-jack your thread; I'll leave it alone now!🤭

Sorry to butt in and go slightly off-topic, but @Selbourne, did you get your advance dining reservations sorted, particularly the Norwegian tasting menu?

Another good read, thanks.👍 It was a hot day when we were in Valencia in April, and was a right trek from the arts and science complex to the town centre and back again. We were fair knackered and wanted to get back to the ship, but couldn't leave without going to that big Carrefour in the mall for a shed load of gluten free goodies for number one daughter. Then we had to contend with a long wait for an accessible bus; you fell lucky getting straight back on one. I could be wrong but, from your description, it sounds like there have been several item changes on the 6th Street Diner dinner menu since we ate there, with the desserts at least. Enjoy Marseille 🙂

And yet it's those deck 5 ones that you won't get the full benefit from if the weather and/or sea is rough.

So it appears to have gone up since we last booked, in April. At that time we booked a 14 day Mediterranean cruise on Arvia and 19 day Mediterranean cruise on Aurora, both for 2025. The deposit for each was £50. I think it, at the time we booked, it was only for cruises of 21 days and above that they were charging more for the deposit.

To be clear, although some replies mention the extra OBC, that is only for select fares. This year we have booked four future cruises whilst onboard. All were select fares, so we only paid a deposit of £50 each. Three of them benefitted from a huge amount of OBC, which hasn't been matched from current online prices. The fourth didn't have that much OBC, and I saw it advertised today with a few quid more OBC albeit the base price was more. The main benefit for us is the low deposit, which isn't a great loss if we have to cancel before the balance is due. In fact, we have recently cancelled one for September. You are also allowed one change of cruise without losing your deposit. It though has to be on a select fare of an equal or higher amount, and must be taken within a year of the original cruise. The downside of booking a select fare onboard is that you don't get the extra Blue Light Card OBC. You can though get the additional shareholder OBC at a later date. I may be wrong but, if you book a saver fare, I don't think the deposit is £50; it may be about 10%. I'm sure someone that has booked one will correct me if I'm wrong. Just like if you book from home, you can't change your cruise at a later date. Use it or lose it, your deposit that is.

Well done👍 Did you tell in full graphic detail about your laundry regime, until they threw in the towel?🤭