pete14

13 hours ago, Winifred 22 said:

My daughter is lactose intolerant and never had a problem getting lactose free milk for tea and coffee. 

They have proper lactose free milk onboard but seem to be more focused on making use of oat, soya or other non dairy alternatives, possibly to also meet vegan demand. 

9 hours ago, Interestedcruisefan said:

Thats great fillet steak cooked rare available every night should I want it

 

Can't wait to take advantage!!

 

Not every night. But it beats the standard sirloin steaks they normally serve in there for sure

I had the fillet steak on Aurora a couple of months ago, and although more medium rare than the rare I asked for, it was well worth the supplement. I don’t think many ordered from this optional upgraded menu but in my opinion, it is a positive step forward in offering greater choice. 

8 minutes ago, Purdey16 said:

Thank you selbourne I’m enjoying your read , we weren’t impressed with Sindhu on Aurora especially the tiffin lunch and went up to the buffet for some more food, like you we just don’t get on with sindhu anymore since Atul Kocher left , I’m making a chicken tikka masala today for our dinner so I hope you’re next one in Sindhu improves , and it gets less bumpy for you now .

It just goes to show that we are all different. A couple of months ago, we enjoyed both the tiffin lunch and the evening meal in Aurora Sindhu. Attempts to book another evening were futile because they were fully booked every night.

2 hours ago, Selbourne said:

I was saying just that at lunchtime with my pork vindaloo (that was more korma) 😂 Still nice though

Thanks for reminding me about the Pork Vindaloo on Aurora. When I had it a couple of months ago, I suspected a ship wide shortage of hot spices. Obviously they still haven’t restocked. 

38 minutes ago, sweep2907 said:

Unheard of I'm afraid, drinks packages with any cruise line always cheaper before a cruise. Only saving is taking out day 1 when on the cruise and you are able to take it out from Day 2 so you'd save £40+ by not taking on first day.

You would only save by taking it out on Day 2 if you do not have drinks once you have boarded, wine with evening meal and a couple of ‘nightcaps’. Although drinks prices are reasonable, it is surprising how quickly the daily total creeps up.

28 minutes ago, JamboCruiser1874 said:

Hi All

 

Me and my wife go on Arvia in march, was hearing a few things from a family member, that drinks packages come down in price when on board.

Is this correct? just wondering if there is any value in the packages. Me and my wife will take 1 litre each on board anyway.

 

thanks

I am pretty sure your information is incorrect. The only price reductions for a drinks package that I have seen are a special offer for buying the package in advance. Whether even the advance discounted price is good value is debatable and dependent on how many drinks you intend to buy. Taking a litre of spirits with you is permissible but you are not allowed to drink it in any bars or restaurants onboard - just your cabin.

24 minutes ago, indiana123 said:

As we missed having our own turkey this year we managed to finally find a turkey crown a few days ago.  We missed the cold meat and pickles next day, then the turkey stew then the curry.

 

I am cooking it as a roast today, but have decided to do it all in the Ninja.  I am wishing myself good luck.

 

 

 

 

Sounds nice but I hope you checked the sell by date in case it was left unsold from Christmas. 

1 hour ago, pennib said:

It seems that late bookers and newbies are being put on Maleth planes at least this was I was told over Christmas by people who fitted that description . Hope P&O are working hard to ensure affected people will book another Caribbean cruise after their poor experience on Maleth!

I guess ‘late bookers and newbies’ are being put on Maleth planes but probably alongside early bookers, experienced cruisers and others in between. It is always possible that those late bookers are put onto Maleth flights because early bookers have already been allocated their flights on other operators (eg TUI?) before Maleth were even chartered, well before late bookers actually booked. They may even have chosen and paid for particular seats on their allocated flight. If that is the case, it seems fair enough to me.

44 minutes ago, emam said:

Someone on the other side has started a change.org petition. Demand P&O terminate Contact with Maleth Airlines for substandard services.

What a great idea. I am sure the thousands of people whose cruises may have to be cancelled will be overjoyed. The lack of availability of aircraft for charter on a regular basis has been given for the chartering from Maleth airlines. Terminating the contract will not rectify this so cancellations by P and O will be the inevitable consequence. Somehow, I cannot see the requisite number of signatures to trigger a parliamentary debate being reached. 

Have a great cruise. I look forward to reading your updates over the next couple of months. 

1 hour ago, Cash123 said:

he has loads of videoa on youtube, would imagine hes mid to late 40's, he has a few videos on Arvia.

It doesn’t necessarily make his opinions, comments or reports any more authoritative or valid than anybody else’s. How is his cruising lifestyle financed?

I cannot help you with your question, but am looking forward to seeing Brighton at Stoke on Saturday in the hope that the mighty Potters can reverse the defeat in the 4th round last season. 😊

30 minutes ago, Presto2 said:

I think I am being dense.

So P&O are offering cruise only offers now then?

I think I've lost the thread / plot

Help

I believe it has been an option for a while, just not a very good one because there is no difference in price.

1 hour ago, Presto2 said:

And it's set sail already and no one has told us ...

I believe it is Barbados next stop. 

1 hour ago, Presto2 said:

And it's set sail already and no one has told us ...

If it is any consolation, it is exactly the same in North Wales. Perhaps Noah’s friend Dai the Arkbuilder can pick us up but Charlie the dog will have to go in one by one. 

16 minutes ago, Presto2 said:

Wishing you all a peaceful, healthy and happy New Year 2024. Thinking particularly about Host Sharon and Avril and Frank. (And anyone else facing difficult situations at the start of a New Year).

 

We start a new chapter today as we have both officially retired. Hubby has worked since he was 16 in industry and then IT in education for 22 years and me 38 in education. Our first port of call is the Caribbean once we've put our lovely static caravan to bed for the Winter later this week. 🙂

 

Did a bit of partying last night in to the early hours so will be starting the New Year as we mean to go on ----- resting and sleeping 😉

At last, congratulations on your retirement. I am sure it is well deserved. 
 

Our static van will be tucked up in bed, hibernating for the winter on Wednesday. Today doesn’t seem like winter, bright blue sky, a bit of a coldish breeze but rain forecast for later, just for a change 🥴

1 hour ago, kalos said:

              

 

As this year draws to a close ,a time for reflection on our lives .

Some parts filled with goodbyes and others with happiness and hello's .

 

We wonder where the years go don't we ?  Once the carefree persons 

to the caring  people as seen above .

 

So to all my cyber friends I would like to say a big thank you for supporting 

each other and wish you all the very best for the coming year .

 

Wishing you all health and happiness for the New Year !

 

Best wishes to all - Take Care 

                              Mr &Mrs  Kalos 🙂🙂

Can I share the same sentiments and good wishes with you and Mrs Kalos, not forgetting everybody else who visits / contributes to this monster thread. Your humorous musings helped to keep us sane during the early years of this thread and I hope you are willing and able to keep us entertained and supported once again next year, no matter what 2024 throws at us all.
Happy New Year for tomorrow.

Pete.

12 hours ago, Adawn47 said:

  Ive just got back from the hospital' Frank was admitted yesterday morning at 5.20am and it's been hectic. After tests he has Pneumonia,and severe anemia.which needed 2 tranfusions.To top it off he probably has a heart murmer too, he's having a heart xray  to see what it is or could be. 

In his 78 years it's the first time he's been in hospital and everything's come at once. Almost 59 years married and the first time we've not not slept in the same bed, it's really strange and I'm not sleeping. Sorry for the late post, but I needed to chat.

I'll try and read though the posts tomorrow.

Avril

So sorry to hear your news Avril. I am sure Frank is in the best place for now and will soon fill his place beside you again.

32 minutes ago, Glitterati said:

According to the other social site….More Maleth flights delayed….

man-bgi delayed 12 hours (although I can’t actually see any Maleth flight out of Man today which is slightly more concerning) and the LGW-ANU delayed 4 hours.

 

It also appears that a group of passengers on Arvia grouped together to complain about flying back on Maleth. Not sure how far they got!  
 

 

Might the delays be caused by the weather? There are numerous weather warnings in force for strong winds. 

Looking at her current position, Iona seems to be on schedule to dock on time tomorrow morning. I think it is highly likely that passengers will board as usual tomorrow and stay on Iona in Southampton overnight until the oncoming storm abates. I am sure that the shoreside staff would not appreciate a late change to their work schedule that a 24 hour delay to boarding would bring and P&O would not have to compensate for a day lost on the cruise. Added to that, hotel bookings, train tickets etc would need to be changed. 

20 minutes ago, mrsgoggins said:

 

+ 1

I especially like the mint ones 😋 but my 'last meal' request (odd concept that!) would include a Lindt Les Grande hazelnut chocolate bar.  If it were to be a last meal, I'd go for the milk version because I wouldn't care how much I ate!  In real life, I usually buy the dark version as I find it easier to not overdose on that 😉

My last meal request would be the entire Lindt factory. Even doing my best, it would take an enormous amount of time and at the end of it, I wouldn’t care one way or the other. 

4 hours ago, david63 said:

I have always gone through the butler but if the butler is not available (apparently they have time off!) then I would just order it and if you are charged then either go to reception and they will cancel it or ask your butler next time you see him to cancel it.

There should be a card in the suite with a number to contact the butler by using the cabin phone. If he / she is not available, a colleague should be available to answer the call and take your order instead, without any charge being levied. The fact that many room service items are now chargeable for all except those in suites can make this a quite valuable extra. When we used the service on Aurora, it worked well and as it was delivered by the butler, the wait time was not long.

2 hours ago, Presto2 said:

We fly on the 13th ... ho ho ho. I'm.not a particularly good flier so the thoguht of 9 hrs on a plane doesn't fill me with joy. The latest incident with the turbulence hasn't filled me with much confidence either so will have to partake of many drinks to help me to cope 😉

My excuse and I'm sticking to it ....

Who needs an excuse?

4 hours ago, Josy1953 said:

Another grey day here.  I decided that trip to Tesco was required to top up on vegetables and a few other bits snd bobs that we needed.  It was quite busy which surprised me.  Now nothing to do unless it suddenly brightens up enough to go for a walk.

I heard on the local radio that over 1000 homes in the north of the city were hit with power cuts last night. I hope that @Presto2 and @Pete14 weren't affected.

Thanks for thinking of us Josy. As far as I know our power stayed on all last night and all is well. I have just driven back to Stoke from Nottingham in torrential rain for the first 20 miles. A bit scary especially on the M1 for about 10 miles. Variable speed limits had not been activated and there were a surprising number of idiots in the outside lane travelling much too fast in such conditions. Mind you, if the speed limit had been reduced, they would probably not have noticed or realised they would be much safer travelling more slowly.

5 hours ago, otbc said:

Quite an eventful night! We had Force 12 winds (captain said over 100 knots, so 110mph+) and the ship was getting thrown about left right and centre at times! I'm not usually scared by this sort of stuff but it was a scary experience!

Clearly it did deteriorate from earlier in the evening. I hope everyone is OK and grateful they were on Aurora because I suspect some other ships may have been even less comfortable (if that seems possible).