janny444

Wonderful blog...been a real treat reading about your " adventures" good...bad...and indifferent. Thank you for helping us pass the long Winter days. Hope you post your next cruising blog with Cunard so that once again we can sail along with you 😀 

3 hours ago, terrierjohn said:

If people are concerned that they are likely to fall ill on a cruise, or be disturbed by people coughing, then they have the option not to cruise.

Quite so....but I do think that people who maybe have compromised immune systems aren't fully aware of the potential " risks" of cruising and especially if they are new to cruising don't always realise the close crowded proximity they  are to other people

Deck 5 cabins on Ventura are unobstructed....the lifeboats are higher up....deck 7 I think. The only point that may concern you is that the cabins towards the front are fixed bed so only twin formation. TBH can't remember if P221 are fixed bed as we always prefer twin beds....seems to give more room. As I said one of the reasons I love deck 5 is for the convenience and the convenience of not having to use lifts....I hate being in crowed lifts

I love deck 5 outside cabins. I have had C deck balcony cabins but still like Deck 5 and would be a toss up which I would choose.....probably deck 5.

Why.....so convenient for the main restaurants....not having to use the lifts. Handy for the promenade deck to relax on and choose the side which has the better views & sun or shade

When returning back to the ship no rush for the lifts with the throng...just up a flight of stairs and back to your cabin

In the evening when in the atrium if you need to call back to your cabin....I have a tendency to forget things so just a quick nip back along the corridor.

With being such a low deck less movement is felt.

We never use the buffet or sit on top deck....much prefer lounging on the promenade deck which is so much more relaxing

We have had P221 & P245....no noise from theatre or atrium

@Selbourne.....really enjoy your live reports and so looking forward to reading your live report on your 65 night cruise....it will certainly help pass the long  Winter days 

With the unreliability of trains....strikes....last minute cancellations....late arrivals I wouldn't consider going by train on the same day....National Express going the day before .....could that be an option ?

3 hours ago, Josy1953 said:

I am usually one of the insomniacs but a few weeks ago I was told that using phones, kindles laptops etc in the hour before going to bed has been found to cause insomnia because device screens  produce "blue light" which makes it difficult to turn off the production of melatonin making it difficult to switch off the brain and fall asleep.

I don't use any device before bedtime...I usually read a hard copy book or listen to a play on the radio....I also have camomile tea as my bedtime drink but still after a couple of hours or so sleep I wake up and then wide awake for a good few hours tossing and turning....when I have been awake for a couple of hours or so  I then  catch up with this forum on my phone....and my husband sleeps through it all!! 😠

2 hours ago, Adawn47 said:

This age thing must only affect women. Frank is 2 years older and sleeps like a baby, which is really annoying when I'm wide awake😬

I'm usually in bed for about 11pm too.  Then trot off to the toilet around 2 to 3 o'clock, toss and turn for another half and hour then finally get up. 

I think I might try to have another hour🤞

Avril

Maybe we should start a night bird club for all the peeps who are active during the twilight hours 🦉

6 minutes ago, Adawn47 said:

Good morning.

I've been up since since 2.45am, so managed to sleep a little longer. I only used to have these nights occasionally, but they're now becoming 

Think it is an age thing...most nights asleep at 11 awake about 1 then back to sleep about 5 up & doing about 7...oh the joys of gettin owder 🙃

54 minutes ago, Adawn47 said:

Is anyone awake?

Avril

Yes I am...have been for about 3 hours 🙄

4 hours ago, Ardennais said:

Good news! One thing, isn’t there a cooling off period when you take out insurance? £100 cancellation fee seems steep and more than covers the 24 hr insurance period. I might be completely wrong though! 

I too thought there  is  a cooling off period with insurance....14 days?....the £100 cancellation charge should kick in after the cooling off period

5 hours ago, Cathygh said:

I am right in thinking you are from Canada? Just be aware that the railways are on strike and the dates for September have not been announced yet. You might want to consider a National Express Coach from Victoria to Southampton and then an uber to the port. 

I will second that....rail travel at the moment is so unreliable that even when it isn't an official strike day it is still beset with problems....cancelled trains at a moment's notice....lack of staff.....not working overtime....can be utter rammed in cattleclass....at least with National Express you are guaranteed  a seat unlike rail travel where you could be struggling to even find a space on the floor to sit !

Aw thank you for taking the time & trouble to post....yep....think I can live with the view especially if " peeps in uniform" are manning the boats 🙂

3 hours ago, daiB said:

Hi Andy

Look out for us I am on a gray scooter and have a bright red cap on. Limelight tonight. But gererally in glasshouse between 7 and 8.30.

Or in the Casino 22.30 till late. 🙂

 

Gan canny

Dai

@AndyMichelle....will you be wearing your hazmat suit so that daiB will recognize you....that photo that you posted many moons ago....well it seems like that....really brought a smile to my face in those dark days of C

18 hours ago, Mad4WDW said:

That centre section of the tea caddy thingy looks like it would be the perfect size to empty a pack of Aldi Chocolate Oaties into. I’m going to see if I can source a tape measure

 

Have you checked under the cups for the elusive bikkys ?

Is the use of the iron & board free in the self service launderette or is there a charge ?

Does the Princess Plus include standard spirits...G & Ts etc. 

37 minutes ago, Sea Hag said:

Sky Princess Obstructed Stateroom View (cruisedeckplans.com)

 

Many thanks Sea Hag & Pink-Belle....had a look and even though the photos are of Royal Princess111 I take it that Sky Princess will have the same obstructions

Has anyone stayed in either of these cabins...E502 or E 526 on Sky Princess...we have just booked E526 with possibly a chance of E502....wondering how bad the obstructions are 🤔

The Meindl trainers that I mentioned 4 years ago are still going strong...one of the best footwear that I have had so no way would I be tempted with the insoles that are offered on cruise ships

9 minutes ago, Astrajet said:

One other point to bear in mind if booking deck D forward is that it is directly above the theatre. Not a problem if you, like us, go to the late show or are not early to bed people. We always book a cabin in this area of D deck as it is so handy for early morning Costa coffee from Raffels Bar!  

Thankyou for that....I was hoping that cabin D147 would  not be quite as affected with it being further back....will take another look 

12 minutes ago, tring said:

 

If you go to the P&O deck plans, which are available on their website, or in the bigger brochures, there are symbols on each cabin, including ones which show if there is a bath, or just shower only.  The shower only ones are walk in showers, so just a shower tray at ground level.

 

If there is a bath there is always a shower as well, but it is over the bath, so you would still need to be able to step over the side of the bath to use it.  I think all the baths are short versions, so you could only sit in them, not the  longer ones which you would have at home and are long enough to allow you to lie in the water.

 

Thank you for the information. I don't have a problem stepping over a bath it is the getting out of them from a seated position especially if there are no bath handles....showers over baths work fine for me.

From the symbols on the deck plans it looks to me that my chosen cabin numbers have a bath 🙂

I sometimes struggle getting in and out of baths.... do the outside cabins that have  a bath on Aurora also have a shower over the bath ?  Considering D deck 145/147 area. Would like to try a cabin with a bath but need to know that a shower is available if need be 

TIA

Yes I would definitely risk it and I would choose Iona. Not sure if you have cruised on Iona but you have already cruised on Britannia so it would be a very cheap way of " testing" Iona to see if it ticks your boxes.

As you say if the weather is inclement there will be more indoor options on Iona. 

If you choose Britannia you may have to be very lucky with availability on the Flam railway at this late stage

Stavanger has the petroleum museum which you may find very interesting

1 hour ago, Merry25 said:

Was that this morning?  We started our booking online this morning (direct with P &  O) and then had to ring to check something during the process.  Only waited a few minutes and the young girl couldn't have been more helpful.  We decided to book direct as it's our very first cruise and it seemed the safer option.  I'm now very excited to have a P &O account!! 😂

Oh your first cruise....probably won't be your last !....enjoy....just being curious....which ship have you chosen ?