lancashire_cruisers

I do like the look of QA and the bits and pieces I’ve seen of her interior are quite appealing. Even though we haven’t sailed with Cunard (yet!) she’s on our list for potential world cruises when we retire in 3 years time.

First choice of cabin on Arvia secured and paid for by 9am! 😀

We’ve pre-registered for Arvia in the Med as we haven’t been to Rome and Florence for a few years.

29 minutes ago, Uovisa said:

Is Azura still doing the same 3 itineraries around the Med from Valletta in August 2026? 

I don’t do fly cruises so not sure about itinerary but Azura is still based out of Valletta.

3 minutes ago, david63 said:

I bet there won't be many booking that on opening day.

😂 I’ve actually got it on my shortlist!

Just now, tring said:

 

Arcadia and Aurora have been alternating on the Canada/US cruise each year and the one which is not doing that has been doing a Canada only cruise up the St Lawrence.  So Arcadia would be due to do the Canada/US in Autumn 2026, with Aurora doing the St Lawrence one.  

 

19-26 nighters sound interesting, made me curious now.

 

There isn’t a Canada only one in 2026. Aurora is doing a 24 night cruise to Eastern Med including Cyprus and Egypt.

16 hours ago, Eglesbrech said:

With all due respect to those who prefer to be meat free (vegetarian) or meat and dairy, honey etc free (vegan) turn that statement around. 
 

Guys… you know that you are allowed to eat a carnivore menu even if you aren’t a carnivore, right?

 

It works both ways. 

 

Sadly not true in my case as I have a severe allergy which means I can’t eat meat! To be honest I’m getting a bit tired of the veggie bashing that seems to be popping up with boring regularity, are veggies the new kids on board or dress code target of vilification?

I’ve absolutely loved following your adventures and it didn’t feel like you’d been away for so long! Welcome home Lord and Lady S.

@grapau27 condolences on your sad loss and hugs to your lovely Sarah ❤️❤️

I hope the person who laughed (and we can see who it is!) feels suitably ashamed of themselves!

I’m actually shocked that St Paul’s asked for £25 admission! The Anglican Cathedral in Liverpool is free entry although donations are appreciated. I would recommend a visit if you’re ever in Liverpool, the 5th largest cathedral in the world and of course we’ve also got Paddy’s Wigwam aka the ‘spare’ (as in the lyrics of In My Liverpool Home) at the other end of Hope Street.

3 hours ago, Selbourne said:

If it makes you feel any better, I felt it was one of the least interesting ports. As it’s so affluent it looks more like Florida than the Caribbean and lacks all the colour. 

It does a bit but I’d booked an independent tour to swim with the stingrays which was the bit I was disappointed about.

Well the Cayman Islands are a tax haven so I wouldn’t expect anything to be cheap. Really jealous that you made it to GC as it was one of the ports we missed on our 35 nighter and it was one I was really looking forward to.

54 minutes ago, Josy1953 said:

The thought of searching for hotels etc with EV charging is one of the reasons that we went for a Toyota hybrid rather than an EV car and why we are currently considering going back to a petrol car.  We both hate the Toyota and are agreed that we will never buy another Toyota which is why we are ready looking even though the Toyota is only just coming up to 6 months old.

We didn’t look at Toyota only BMW, Audi and Mercedes. All of which were a lovely drive and very comfortable.

29 minutes ago, brian1 said:

Agree,I don't think the technology and infrastructure is quite there yet.Our daughter has a Tesla and when they go to her inlaws in Southport they have to charge up once on the way,it's only a few hundred mile journey.I am making the 1500 mile trip to Calabria in March and would dread having a EV.The deeper South you get in Italy the fewer the charging points.

Going to Southampton is about the furthest I drive but no way would I have considered an EV if I was driving to Calabria 😂

Has anyone ever used the Elizabeth Hotel pre-cruise? We’ve just ordered a new car and it’s electric so I’ve been looking for a hotel with EV charging.

1 hour ago, Peanut006 said:

Mum update - she is waiting for a bed at another hospital for intermediate care (respite), they have four wards at this hospital offering this so hopefully she won’t have to wait long. She is still not eating much, they are giving her protein drinks now. Hopefully they can help her with her mobility too. She has changed overnight from been totally independent to needing full time care. It is so sad to see

 

Michelle

Great news Michelle hopefully she won’t be waiting too long. Your Mum has had a bit of a rough time and like the rest of us as we get older we don’t bounce back as quickly as we used to but with a bit of input from the intermediate care team she’ll soon get her spark back.

Just now, Peanut006 said:

Thank you for the heads up on that, I appreciate it

 

Michelle

No problem Michelle, hopefully you won’t need to be ‘assertive’.

6 minutes ago, Peanut006 said:

Good morning everyone on this very wet and miserable morning. Our dogsdidn’t enjoy going out this morning one little bit especially the Cavalier as she thinks she is a bit of a Princess.

 

My mum is still in hospital, they want to send her home with carers three times a day but she can’t get to the bathroom by herself which in only about 10 feet across the ward. I think she needs to go into Rehab for a couple of weeks until she becomes more mobile and a bit stronger. She isn’t eating hardly anything yet either and refusing the ensure drinks they want her to have. I have requested the rehab ward, just waiting to hear now.

 

I am getting a new car on Monday so have to take my mobility scooter to the company fitting the hoist in the new car today.

 

Have a nice day everyone 

 

Michelle

Hopefully there won’t be any push back and your Mum can go into rehab (or intermediate care as it’s mostly called these days). What they absolutely can’t do is discharge her as this would be classed as an unsafe discharge, although sometimes you do have to press the point with the care team. I had to do that with my Mum when she was dying and I’ve worked for the NHS for over 20 years!

1 hour ago, Eddie99 said:

He’s not a very obliging chap at all, so they say

Shame isn’t it, when obviously talented people can’t be bothered to be nice people?

We saw him years ago at Liverpool Summer Pops and it’s the only concert I’ve ever walked out of. Zero charisma and seemed to have a proper cob on, as we say here.

2 hours ago, Eglesbrech said:

On the contrary, you are extremely well cared for and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.

 

It’s not extending vegetarian / vegan choice that is an issue. It is the diminution of other choices to such a noticeable extent and replacing many standard pudding with vegan non dairy.

 

I am not vegetarian but don’t eat much meat or fish. I can assure you there are no pitchforks allowed onboard 😀. There is no victimisation, just a discussion.

When it goes across more than one thread to the extent it has it does feel more than just ‘discussion’ and I will leave it there!

As a veggie for nearly 45 years due to a serious allergy I’m starting to feel a bit victimised over all this furore about the inclusion of vegetarian meals on the MDR menu. I actually preferred it when we had our own separate menu to be honest.

I hope there won’t be pitchforks and flaming torches on my next cruise if I dare to order veggie 😳😉

Just booked Wi-Fi for my December cruise! Thanks for the heads up.

1 hour ago, grapau27 said:

This is fantastic news.

We were also on Iona November 11-25th and if you had been on this cruise we would have loved to meet you.

 

Yes that’s the one we were booked on. We would have loved to meet you and the ever glamorous Pauline, maybe one day.

5 minutes ago, grapau27 said:

Thank you.

I'm happy to post photos for lovely people like you to enjoy.

I'm sorry you had to cancel your Iona cruise last year and hope your op was successful and you can cruise again soon.

Yes it was successful but the November cruise was just a bit too soon. We’ve since booked a Christmas markets cruise on MSC, another Iona cruise later this year, and Britannia next year in a suite so we’re well and truly back in the swing of things 😂

Lovely photos Graham we had an aft deluxe balcony on Iona that we had to cancel after my op last year so seeing your photos makes me smile.