Somerset Cruiser

We are going the following week, haven't applied for a visa yet, have you had a problem?

I tried Azura - didn't like her at all. Far too big for us. I have been to a GB Sailaway party, that was enough!!

The bigger the ship the further away you can be from the sail away party :D

Yes Sun cruises (air tours) were good for their time and handy with direct regional flights. Again they were older ships but still provided a good holiday. I still have a sun cruises fridge magnet on the fridge. They were cruising before Tui / Marella got into the market and did not last too long after that direct competition.

 

You wonder where all these older ships eventually went and how the cruise market exploded to the point that P&O are now ditching their small ships and commissioning the huge behemoths.

Well Airtours Sun Dream is with Tui/Marella !!

Hi....from your comments on this board I think you may be best to advise me. Which is the best deck to be on the Aurora? We are considering March 2020 so at that time of year it will be an inside cabin. On D deck is there noise from the theatre or the " white area" that the cabins back on to? When on Azura /Ventura we like to be down on P deck....so handy for atrium/MDR/theatre.

 

Thank you

We have just been on Aurora and we were on C deck at the rear. Handy for the rear decks, restaurants and deck 7. The Theatre and Crows Nest were a bit of a trek though.

I think you will find fly cruises to India are already on sale as part of Oceana's fly cruises from Dubai in winter 2019/20.

I see there are a couple late 2019, but I got the impression that he was talking about something else.

Fly cruises to India, according to Captain Turnbull last week.

Too late. That one started within 20 seconds of the Adonia announcement!

I hadn't heard that one, lets hope it isn't perpetuated.

2+2=6

Rumors about potential ship sales are never helpful, but as and when P&O UK next gets around to selling another ship (which I doubt will be before 2020 when the next new ship arrives) it will most likely be Oriana, as she is the oldest ship and has too few balcony cabins.

I agree with you about rumours, I hope no-one starts an Oriana one.

Sorry, cannot understand how you have arrived at this conclusion.

 

It is not usually for contractors to be replaced at the end of a contract.

I didn't, the lady I quoted did. She believed there was no contract to tender for.

Mount Teidi is well worth a visit, amazing scenery.

If you go to La Gomera it is worth taking a trip to the island interior, again the scenery and totally different to larger islands.

We did the NY cruise to Hamburg and Bruges, first time on Aurora and really impressed with the ship, in particular the food. Spoke to a lady at lunch on the first day who works for a company that does maintenance work for P&O, she said the Aurora contract was up for but P&O didn't renew, a clear indication that she is to be disposed of. Sad if true.

In short, yes. A beautiful city, stunning architecture, easy to walk around.

The Thomson dreamliner is just about doable for long haul economy. We've done it numerous times to Mexico and Mauritius, decent leg room etc.

 

I've no idea who P&O use to the Caribbean but obviously it wont be them. That aside the end result is usually worth the pain but premier economy prices are ridiculous across the board. The flight home is pretty grim on most airlines.

P&O do use the Dreamliner, amongst others.

Love Britain in spring and summer but come winter thoughts of the Caribbean get stronger every year. I get seriously itchy bored let me off on short haul, even a 2 hour flight door to door takes all day and leaves me dreading the whole thing. Yet the pull of the land of the coconut grows stronger. How on earth do you cope sat on a plane all day? I can only sleep in a bed. Thought of landing back in uk early morning after sleepless night is horrible, then driving home. I struggle coping with red traffic lights so any delay would finish me off.

Is long haul as bad as I imagine? House door to cabin door, 15hrs?

Would have to be Britannia, only for dancing in the under used Cyrstal room:cool:

We have been doing 2 week fly cruises to the Caribbean for 20 years so as you might expect I think the journey is worth the reward, 2 weeks of great weather in February.

I can only say how I cope with the flight, a variety of things to do. Reading, quizzes, watch a film and a sleep if you can. The other thing I try to do is ignore time, don't look at your watch, don't check the flight map, just ignore time and it will pass. If you get an earlier flight you can be unpacked and having dinner by early evening.

Homeward bound is a bit more difficult, easier said that done but some sleep is ideal. On the last 3 trips we have been home around 9.00am and that is with a 3 hour drive.

That sounds like the service we normally get. Thanks for the replies, not got a clue where she got that idea from bless her. Oh well will know in just over a couple of weeks when we go on the Oriana upto Iceland.

 

Thanks

 

Keith (Southend)

Another popular cruise forum has a thread on the demise of the P&O kettle.

On the other hand of course I am entirely happy with 2 Formal Nights a week. On a practical basis, who wants to pack a Dinner Suit to only wear it once or twice during a cruise?

I don't disagree, other than the Caribbean where 4 nights seem too many.

. Only wish they would change their policy towards formal nights, one a week is sufficient and would become more of a highlight.

 

I have thought similar for some time. Perhaps 3, a welcome, a farewell and perhaps a black and white night in the middle.

It is not Boyzone in concert in Bridgewater this Friday but Boyzlife which is Keith Duffy and Brian Mc Fadden the same concert available on Britannia.

All the same to me ;) it did think it was the 'P&O' though.

See you there Tom !

Yes, I would certainly pay to see someone well known that I liked. How much, I wonder, would it cost to see them at such close quarters, on land?! Quite a lot more than £50 I suspect!

 

Sent from my Sony Z1 Compact.

You can see Boyzone for £25 in Bridgwater this coming Friday.

Sorry folks but can't resist. Left hotel at 10:20, arrived at ship in Civitavecchia at 10:35, cleared security scanner, then checked in by 10:45, boarded the ship immediately afterwards. Glass of "champagne" offered, buffet opened for lunch at 11:30, all cabins available at 12:30.

 

That's how Celebrity do it.

Sorry Pete but can't resist, drove through the port gates at Southampton 12:05, CPS took the car, checked in, glass of "champagne" (first of many) and Lunch before 12:45. Cabin available be fore we finished lunch.

That's how P&O Ventura did it about 4 weeks ago

In the Caribbean there is certainly no advantage in booking an expensive ship excursion. There are some excellent local operators who get good reviews on here, or you can easily get a trip or taxi at the dock.

 

Have a look on the Port's of Call threads for where you are stopping and Tripadvisor.

On the other hand some trips such as the St Kitts train can only be booked via a ship excursion. Not a hard and fast rule but generally I wouldn't book a water based trip via a local operator, the condition of the vessel for one reason and getting marooned away from the ship for another.

As for Island trips and beach excursions then I agree plenty available at the port.

We flew to Manaus and sailed down the Amazon a few years ago, I don't recall it being a problem. Be aware you need a Yellow Fever vaccination which is not suitable for everyone if you have certain medical conditions.

Azura 633 we had as mentioned above, also Jimmy James and Mark Walker were both excellent, some other singers but not tribute act, two Welsh brothers originally The Johnson's from Britain's got Talent. Lulu/ Dusty Springfield Tribute act. There were other tribute acts but we don't usually bother with them. The Headliners put on some varied shows the only problem was they couldn't sing.

I think the most popular entertainment was in Brodie's each evening.

 

 

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What was the entertainment in Brodies?

When we did an Amsterdam New Year on Oceana we 'docked' in the North Sea.

If there are high winds it is difficult for a cruise ship to navigate the canal to Amsterdam, therefore the itinerary is at some risk of change for any Amsterdam sailing.

Like all the other bull that comes on here. Nobody knows how auto tips are distributed, but still they make assumptions. The poor overworked, under nourished, under paid staff have an option, so do I. Some people have a problem accepting other people's opinion. You leave tips on fine, I choose to tip how I want

 

 

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Is your irony deliberate?