aliandy

Thank you, Bazrat. The Crows Nest is a favourite!

Does anyone know if the library on Britannia is open? We sail on 29th May

Not a reply but an added comment. Under the heading Formal Nights

it said 0 so you can see the reason for the question!

What do Fred Olsen cruise line mean by ‘Theme Night x 1 (Formal)? No point in emailing company as they’re taking 8 weeks to reply!

I have always been a poor traveller on any mode of transport so understand how you feel about your first cruise. Stugeron has always worked for me and doesn’t make me sleepy as its predecessor in my medicine cabinet (Dramamine) did. I took one before our two hour drive to Southampton for our first cruise (10 years ago) then another four hours later. After that, I only took more if the forecast was windy. The important thing is to take them in advance. I work on the better safe than sorry basis!

I am a very long way from being  31 and admit to being slightly conservative where food is concerned but I do think there is an element of chefs trying to be too ‘chefy’ (if there’s such a word!).  We enjoy the Gala Dinners but I have occasionally been relieved that there is the ‘always available’ items still on the menu.

Thank you for your suggestions. So much choice but it looks like Epicurean is a nose ahead! We’ve a good amount of time to decide as we’re not cruising until the autumn.

Cruising on Britannia in 2020. Any recommendations for which venue to choose for a special celebration dinner? We generally use the main dining room when we cruise.

Plenty of irons as said before. Did use one where it appeared to be on a fixed automatic time setting which I didn't notice at first - did wonder why it kept cooling down!!

Very minor detail (if you both have supple joints) but good to know the safe is in a more accessible place! We had problems with the safe on Oriana last year as it refused to open necessitating two visits from an engineer including one on disembarkation morning. We had reported it the evening before so we could empty it but in spite of various phone calls no engineer was forthcoming until early morning. 

Very interesting to read all the comments about Aurora and counting down the days till we sail.

Thank you very much, ann141.  That makes it really clear.  It looks like a great way of covering two entirely different holidays without the hassle of driving to Southampton and back twice.  We are on Aurora in just over a week and counting!  

Very ignorant but can someone give me an example of a B2B cruise, please. I understand the concept but not how it works.

Really looking forward to our first Aurora cruise having had two previous cruises on Oriana which we very much enjoyed. I tried to find a menu for the Glasshouse but failed as it seems an excellent idea for embarkation day. Its lack of patrons may be because of a reluctance to incur extra cost the minute one steps on to the ship!

We are on Aurora in a couple of weeks and really delighted to hear you enjoyed her. We have been on Oriana twice so it is reassuring to know Aurora is even better.  

We we have always had Freedom Dining (apart from once) since our first cruise ten years ago as we were concerned then about being ‘stuck’ with people who might spoil our evening!  Our one experience of a fixed dining time and table was on a Fred Olsen ship but we were fortunate that our companions on that cruise were very pleasant. We are always happy to share a table but not on a permanent basis.

The Captain sounds interesting and I look forward to hearing his announcements!!!

Never taken Avomine but a similar tablet called Dramamine would render me unconscious very quickly!  Thankfully I was prescribed Stugeron (before you could buy it across the counter) which don't make me at all sleepy. The important thing is to take them as prescribed and not five minutes before travelling!

I’ve  never avoided alcohol if taking Stugeron but again it’s never made me drowsy so it may be an individual thing. 

I take mine at least an hour before any form of transport! On a cruise, however, have found if I take one before embarking that’s fine as it seems to acclimatise me to any movement and that’s it. On our first cruise the Captain always announced if choppiness was forecast so I took another then. I’m lucky they don’t make me drowsy as some used to.  I have been taking them for years before they even became available over the counter as they used to be on prescription. Prevention is definitely the road to go down! Stugeron are always in my handbag.

Photos would be great.  Thank you.  Will look forward to those and to your review. Have a super cruise. We may embark as you disembark!

Thank you to everyone who has posted a comment. We’re looking forward to our cruise on Aurora as we haven’t been on her before. The last two were on Oriana.

Thank you so much, Andy, your comments are reassuring.  Our cruise is in May so it was probably a bit late to be worrying!

We have always had an outside cabin on our previous cruises (mainly with P & O) but decided to try an inside one this year. Really hoping we won't feel claustrophobic because of no window rather than the amount of room.  Would be interested to have feedback or comments, please.

We have always used Park in my Drive which means you are parked at a private house and often for an extra (usually quite modest) extra payment the owner of the house will drive you to the Terminal and meet you there at the end of the cruise.  Now in our 4th year with the same place and have never had any problem.  Have used another one too but they moved house or we would have stayed with them.

Flam is straightforward to book on line by yourself. We did and were on the same train as the ship's tour. We are not brave 'do it yourselfers' but this was easy.  The railway is only a walk to the ship. We were on Britannia on her first Fjords cruise.

Interesting conversations! Our own beef about the AGs is that when you make a booking they are one price then are hiked up before the cruise. We were never informed that the £6.00 per person per day had increased to £7.00 per person per day though some people seem to have been advised. Seriously considering altering the AGs to reflect the amount in force at the time of booking.

Agree with all the other positive comments. Always done Freedom Dining and never had to wait long even when requesting a table for 2. The pager system works well.:)