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Madeira isn’t an issue, but poncha on the other hand…

Ah, that comes from too much celebration last night! How could I mistake the floating tower block that is Iona.

Well it’s Monday so Iona is back again, and after the final Sunday events of the Christmas and New Year celebrations all the decorations the Christmas market are being dissembled here in Funchal.

A few (bad) photos that don’t do justice to tonight’s show.

Aurora arrived about 23.15.

It had, just sat here in the last of the evening sun watching it leave.

Assuming Arvia is the same as Iona being the same design, the steam rooms are part of the spa complex which is chargeable.

On the positive side it is a slightly expanded menu to the MDRs on those nights and it is a fixed timed booking so no queueing for a table. On the downside it is in the cafeteria, although they do try to dress it up with tablecloths, etc. Some people like it and some people hate it - flip a coin.

Busy in port today - three on berth and sat with a cold drink watching two tendering. And several more turning up later for the fireworks.

Yes, Funchal came out here at the start of December and then heading off to Lanzarote for another couple of months in the middle of January - winter in the UK doesn’t agree with me! Far sooner be sunning myself and pondering which of the many bars I will be visiting for lunch. The town is certainly preparing for the big night, with stages being set up on the sea front and in the park overlooking the harbour. The dredger ships are moored outside the harbour being set up for the fireworks. All the bars are getting their outside beer pumps ready.

Another peaceful day sat in the sun as the second in a row with no cruise ships at all in port - but then tomorrow it will be chaos a SEVEN including Aurora are apparently due in - good luck those passengers getting a seat in a bar or restaurant.

It was quite cool and occasionally damp yesterday here for the passengers off Azura, although with their late departure I assume that some got to see the Christmas lights (and to make up for most of the town being closed as it was a public holiday). But today for Arvia it is a glorious 24c sunny day - but good grief do things get busy around town when all those people disembark.

Tui unlike P&O were not trying to save money as Mein Schiff 4 overnighted here, so their passengers got to see the fabulous decorations. Anyway exceedingly quiet here today as the 10,600 passengers from Ion and Mein Schiff 4 have left and there are no ships in port at all.

Out enjoying the fabulous Christmas decorations last night. For the passengers on Iona which sailed in the afternoon yesterday, this is a small selection of what they missed - a small selection because every street no matter how small is decorated with lights.

Another beautiful day in Funchal for the people who arrived on Iona today, but a bit too warm to sit out in the sun.

Perhaps the guest could have changed the subject slightly and asked Lady H what her experience was of being married to someone from an immigrant family that had gained their wealth from violence. Anyway, glorious day here sat in the 23c sunshine with a glass of something refreshing. Iona’s passengers arriving tomorrow are looking forward to a better day than the overcast day that Acura had yesterday.

A pleasant 22c here today, with a stroll out and sit in the sun for lunch. Looks to be damp tomorrow though for those arriving on Azura for the day, and then back to sunshine for the rest of the week after they have left.

Sounds utterly dire, although I expect they charged the usual ‘arm and a leg’ for it.

Yes still using it. I started back in 1995 when Microsoft gave away a free copy on the free disks one of the computer magazines to promote Windows 95. Now I am running the free ‘sunset’ edition they gave away before closing it down. It still works well with Windows 11. There are several online applications that use the Open Banking protocol, but they are nowhere near as good. Moneydance is the closest PC software to Microsoft Money, but it is American so not perfectly compatible with the UK. Because they didn’t make any money selling them! They had to do regional versions to cope with differences for the various localities they were sold (e.g. ISAs for the UK) and also with the constant changes to rules and regulations, and the tiny number of people buying, then it wasn’t worth it.

I would suggest that cruise company’s health policies, not particularly COVID, are driven by two key issues. 1. Does the policy encourage or deter customers. 2. Do we need to do this to minimise the risk of us being sued. With the COVID policy it was clear that back in darker times that customers positively wanted stringent measures, and that perception of security encouraged bookings. However now for the majority of potential customers has now flipped and stringent measures are deterring bookings. The issue that the companies will now be running up against is the second point, which is if they had a policy of ‘whatever, do as you want’ then are they risking legal consequences. As many tour operators running all-inclusive holidays have found to their cost with the ‘food poisoning’ scam claims, there are a lot of ‘no-win, no fee’ ambulance chasing lawyers who would be salivating at the thought of the potential claims if the cruise companies become too lax.

Absolutely! Just finishing breakfast sat in the sun. Saw the day trippers from a couple of cruise ships arrive yesterday, and then disappear for their ‘4pm all on-board’ and missing the fabulous Christmas lights that put the UK to shame. I am sure there are logistical reasons, but it seems such a pity that at this time of year they don’t change the schedule for an early evening departure.

You are not losing out, but in fact gaining. Most national retailers simply abandon the tricksy marketing ‘up there’ and simply sell at the lower price without the fake discounts or the multi-buy requirement. For example a national wine warehouse that offers a discount if you buy six bottles simply charges an equivalent lower price on individual bottles ‘up there’. The only thing is the minimum price still needs to be met, but that is rarely any issue for most. So two lots of shopping on the conveyor belt; one with alcohol and one without. If they want to play silly games…

Irish ancestry is pretty handy.

Only three weeks, that’s a pity. Currently spending three months in Madeira and various islands in the Canaries avoiding the UK winter.

Even cheaper at the end of January - £741 for 14 nights on Iona for single occupancy of balcony saver or £617 for inside. £44 a night for room, meals, entertainment, travel, etc. - virtually giving it away.