mrsgoggins

I quite understand why you feel as you do about tender ports, even though I don't share your feeling despite being a poor sailor myself. In my experience a tender means you are likely to be taken to the centre of where you wish to visit, eg Mykonos (tendered x 2, berthed and 'bused in' x 2), Guernsey, Kotor and Grand Cayman, and we have never yet missed a port despite multiple visits. Just lucky I think. On our first visit to Grand Cayman years ago (on Disney Magic) we hired a car from Avis. We had to ring them and they collected us and took us to the airport where we collected our hire car. It worked well and we were able to see a lot of the island along with Hell, Seven Mile Beach and the highlight, Queen Elizabeth II Botanical gardens. We tend to be early starters and always back hours before departure, so have not experienced great waits, but on another visit to Grand Cayman I remember a lot of disgruntled passengers having to wait for a very long time, in full sun/heat, for a local tender. I believe this is a port where using local tenders is part of the agreement for calling there. Just as you @Selbourne have decided to avoid tender ports, and certainly your wife's disability makes that even more sensible for you, I have decided no more ship's excursions in the Caribbean. I now want to see the vehicle we are travelling in before embarking on any trip. No more being packed uncomfortably into one of those little minibuses - we're too big (tall and not skinny; will say no more 😉) and too old to be putting up with it. Another good and informative account of your day, so thank you again 💐.

Just found you 🎉💃🤗 and I'm so looking forward to following, live or not! Btw, going away for longer than 2 weeks, and no convenient neighbours, are the only reasons I am cat-less! I like the change in the booking system for 7/10 but think daily booking would have been preferable to allowing multiple bookings. If I ever do another blog (I'm on next year's January 35 nighter that includes the USA and Caribbean) I'll request lessons on how to embed food descriptions in the photos themselves 🤞 Great surprise that your son and his wife could make it. Happy birthday to your lass for 25th (also my son's birthday) 🎂

We've been to Grand Cayman 4 times on non-P&O cruise ships, and always used a tender. Unless it has changed in the last few years, I am not sure it is a port where large ships can berth.

Apart from enjoying the read, I found it useful to note that Roatan uses those dreadful minibuses. We are due there next year, so a note has been made. Thanks again, and I trust that your imbibing resulted in a good night’s sleep 🤭.

+ 1

I have every sympathy for your throat situation, as I still have my 'cruise cough' despite being home now for 10 days. It's not nearly as bad, but yesterday at my U3A singing group I did a good deal of miming rather than break into a croak! We did see Harrison Treble, just the once and would not bother again. Let's just say he's a very enthusiastic performer which suited neither of us. I was sorry to read that you have yet to experience a wheelchair accessible shuttle on your cruise. The only one I remember seeing - although I wasn't particularly looking - was at our favourite port, Praia da Vitoria, in the Azores. It would be good if they could get your air con sorted. Is everyone's cabin the same or is your part of the ship the most affected?

Your input was invaluable and I smile each time I see CoCo. I’m desperate to give a home to a cat (or two) but it is our long trips away that stops me; for now! I’ll be very interested in your Iona post when you return. Meanwhile I wish you and your lass, the very best trip without any lurgy encounters 🤞

We also did the full transit of the old canal on Celebrity Infinity - San Diego to Fort Lauderdale - and the guest speaker was a guy who had grown up around the canal as his father was an engineer on the project. A fascinating trip.

Thank you Selbourne; I loved your photos, especially the one of your wife with the monkey looking so comfortable! I'm now at home, coughing in comfort, with copious hot drinks and a big TV 😁. I will still tune in daily to see what new challenges or pleasures you have encountered. I now know the time it takes to keep up a blog such as yours - and I did not do a daily blog unlike you - but not only is it enjoyable for us followers, it will serve as a good account for you and your wife when you look back and reflect on it all. My best wishes to you and your wife.

My final post on the departure from our cruise, now that we are home and now both suffering from cough/throat lurgy! Like @Selbourne this is lingering, and wakes me up multiple times in the night. I need a holiday 😉 Many were heartily coughing on the coach back to the North West, and during the Captain's question and answer session in the theatre on Tuesday, a woman asked him when would something be done about the air conditioning to prevent all the coughs! The Captain's reply was that since Covid, the additional filtration systems in place mean that you would not get cleaner air anywhere. I don't know what to think. Packed lifts? Packed theatres? Just unlucky? I believe I mentioned earlier that I would report on the disembarkation process in relation to coming home on a coach - Eavesway in our case. The information sheet told us where to wait and we would expect to be off the ship by 8.30-9 am. We waited in the Red Bar, and in the event it was 9.15 am before we allowed to disembark and join the hunt for suitcases. This is new to us (with P&O), since we normally self-disembark as early as possible. Our record was last March after our Iona Canaries cruise when we drove off from CPS car park at 6.50 am and were on our drive, 250 miles away, just before 11 am. Eavesway had hoped to get us away by 9.30 am, but because of the delay with the luggage, it was 10.15 am before we set off. The journey was fine, other than lots of coughing, and the coach was only half full. We had a 45 minute stop at a Motorway Services, before starting the drop-offs. Our time at Burtonwood on the M62 was 3.30 pm and the Liverpool drop off was 4 pm. My brother-in-law met us and we were home half and hour later. As I suspected might happen, mrgoggins, who had been enthusiastic for the coach option, it being January/February, said during the lunch stop in the midlands, '..... we would have been home by now had we come by car ......'. So that's it, a Premier Inn room has now been booked for 2 January 2025 and we will be keeping our CPS parking option! A good cruise on a ship showing her age with some maintenance issues - lifts, lamps in bathrooms (they had no replacements on board) and in our case, the TV which needed replacing. I have now completed my post cruise questionnaire, which is largely very positive of course. However, as the said questionnaire mentions several times 'feeling special' as in: 'do you want to feel special?' (well, in my case this option was unselected, as no, I don't!) and 'were you made to feel special?'. I had to point out that the reserving of tables for 2 on freedom dining for favoured guests, whilst being told I would have to share or take a pager, did not make me feel special 😉. By the way, this was no longer an issue after I made a fuss - but it's not right; IMHO. Despite my initial misgivings about 5 weeks - and I would have been happy to have been home after 4 - I am quite pleased that we have signed up for both January 25 and January 26 on Ventura. Notes to myself include such nuggets as 'Do not take much chocolate; it was brought home untouched' and 'Do take a pot of French mustard to use with steak' 😁

I'm sure you will enjoy it. She's a nice ship with a few maintenance issues (more to come when I've unpacked). Despite my grumbles after noticing empty (reserved) tables for two in Freedom dining when we had been told 'only shared tables available right now', we have been on Ventura three times prior to this and never had any issues at all. The staff were fantastic in the main. I wish you smooth seas and good weather on her.

We ate in Epicurean 5 times this cruise, the last time being last night, our final night on board. The waiters were telling us that the restaurant is very heavily booked for the 4-night cruise Ventura is doing before she heads back across the Atlantic for her USA and Caribbean cruise. Obviously not by people wanting to book it with on board credit! They may be disappointed.

I have spoken with a lady on a mobility scooter who did go ashore yesterday. She confirmed that the shuttle was good and that dropped kerbs were there 'but you had to look for them'. If you enlarge my photo showing a zebra crossing (long blue building) you can see a dropped kerb. Hope that helps a bit.

There was an accessible shuttle of course, and whilst I didn’t go into Praia da Vitória myself, I’ll add a picture that DH took and if I get the chance, will ask around to see if I can meet any wheelchair users who made the trip, Looks promising, but I think you need more information. I’ll ask around.

Saturday, 3rd February - part 2 I thought I would add the coffee and remaining cake picture from Angra bar. We followed our excursion with another really good meal in Epicurean. I had celeriac soup, which as it’s cream coloured, I won’t post, but DH had the Jambón Pata Negra Ibérico de Bellota, with aged Manchego cheese, Spanish olives, country bread and almond oil, prepared tableside. We had the Miso glazed rack and slow cooked lamb belly, which DH enjoyed so much the last time, that I had to give it a go, but the star was the rack of lamb, which resembled 2 thick lamb chops. Didn’t bother with potatoes either as chips or new since I think that’s a weak link in their dining, or maybe I’ve just been unlucky. I ended with crepes Suzette yet again and DH with cheese. So long as the journey home doesn’t get too rough, we hope to dine here one last time 🤞. The evening came to a close in the theatre with a girl group from the Netherlands, Magnolia Road. I really enjoyed their performance but I felt that I was in the minority and comments leaving the theatre and in the lift confirmed I was correct. They didn’t have the best voices, but they were enthusiastic and did a decent job, and at last we had stuff that wasn’t 50-65 years old or from Phantom or Les Mis! Their set included Shut up and Dance, Hello (Adele hit), two Dolly Parton songs and two which were done by Lady Gaga in Star is Born. I was happy 😁. That concludes my review as we have only sea days left. Doing this has actually been a useful aid to memory, since it’s so easy for the days/Caribbean ports to blend together in my mind. I will answer questions though, and may post a few after thoughts when I get home. I’m already on my list of what I should have brought with me but didn’t and what I did, but could have done without. Thanks again for reading, and my two photo-insertion advisers @TigerB and fabulous cat, and of course @grapau27

Saturday, 3rd February - part 1 Praia da Vitória, Terceira island, in the Azores was our final port of call, and I expect to be in a small minority here when I say it was our favourite port of call. We go to the Caribbean in January primarily for the weather. This island is beautiful and suited us far more in so many ways; and the temperature reached a pleasant 20C, which was a bonus. I had the beginnings of a cough and sore throat developing overnight and so did not feel like making a move to take the shuttle bus into the town but I encouraged DH to do so. He came back really enthusiastic and said it was like turning the clock back 50 years. When we took our tour in the afternoon, I could see what he meant. The coaches were once again modern and comfortable. Our tour guide did not speak flawless English by her own admission, but could be understood, by me at least, DH not so much. Our tour, South Island sights, was a leisurely one, although could include a guided walk should you choose. It included 2 scenic viewpoint stops, before a 1-hour stop at charming Angra centre. The first 10 minute photo stop was at a patchwork of fields. Alas, just as we pulled up, the clouds rolled in at some speed, and so with apologies to @Selbourne, I quickly took a photo from my seat inside the bus before it disappeared altogether! We were more fortunate at our next stop. Given the island’s strategic position in mid Atlantic, it has an interesting history. The British were there during the Second World War, and after they left, the Americans moved in, along with their families and built a huge base on the island. There are still Americans at the base now, but my understanding was that it is vastly reduced. They had a great impact on the island, providing jobs for locals and having their own TV and radio stations. The locals could obtain an annual pass to visit parts of the base for €50, and our guide used to go to play bowling, eat American food etc. Our main stop was the town of Agra on the south coast. We first of all made our way down Straight Street where Vasco da Gama has his back to the sea. Apparently this street is the hub for local festivals. ‘Bull runs’ are a big event through the towns and villages all over the island and we did pass a large bullfighting arena, but I was happy to hear that in Portugal, it is illegal to kill the bulls. The shops had an old fashioned feel to them, as you can see from the window display in a hardware shop and also a pharmacy. The former was closed as it was a Saturday afternoon, as were most other shops. We enjoyed our visit to a bar, where we paid €5.20 total for 2 coffees and 2 cakes. DH followed this with a glass of red wine, which was €3.50. The final photo is the square where the coaches drop off and pick up. Property prices on the island have almost doubled since Covid, which is a concern as the average wage is €700-€800 per month. It’s a largely agricultural island with more cows than people. We would consider returning under our own steam but I expect any visit would mean going via Lisbon, so that’s a bit of a negative but I will investigate, otherwise, the next visit could be January 2026, when we repeat this cruise, with just a few changes of ports.

We did the same Ocean to Ocean tour in Barbados last week, but in reverse order - tropical garden first. However, I’ve got to say that you got the (much) better shots at Bathsheba beach - just stunning. Having been there, I also know you are likely to have timed it well to get a clear shot of the rock, with everyone else doing the same thing! Like you, I’ve now developed a chesty cough that’s worse at night, and our air conditioning works well but it’s still not aiding my sleeping, which is why I’m catching up with your posts in the middle of the night as we head back to Southampton, docking on Wednesday. I was relieved when the Caribbean band left the Ventura and the peace of the balcony was again restored. I hope you won’t be subjected to the ‘din’ for much longer. Wishing you and Lady S improved ship conditions as you continue with your adventure 🤞

On the liver and bacon theme, here's mine from last night's Ventura MDR menu. The taste was good but don't think I would have put gravy on the bacon 🤔. The potato part was allegedly colcanon but you needed magnifying glass to find any cabbage or anything other than potato!

I don't know much about the choir, pre-covid or now (although I did consider joining but the time of the sessions put me off). However, I was on a large table at lunch a few days ago with 2 women and the husband of 1 of them who did attend. I was interested and they all seemed quite enthusiastic about the choir. I was told about 100 attended with sopranos to the right and altos to the left. The man said that a few women were with the men. The ship's orchestra pianist was accompanying them and was obviously popular. They had had a change of members of the ship's singers leading them. I hope that helps.

I get the 'all's well with the world' feeling when I see your in-car posts Graham. Such a pity it isn't though 😞. Long may your coffee by the sea posts continue. Thanks 👍

Thursday, 1st February and @TigerB, yes far more jumpers and cardigans to be seen around the ship, although there are still plenty dressed as though we are still in the Caribbean! Not me though, I’ve possessed a good supply of cardies (and cosy slippers) most of my adult life. Alluring or what? 😂 This morning both guest speakers in the theatre were excellent yet again. The medical lawyer, Chris Martin, gave a fascinating insight into his world of litigation and he was followed by Robert Daws who is just so entertaining and funny, with tales from his busy acting career - and he can sing too. Alas today was his third and final talk, despite staying with the ship until Southampton. To more mundane matters. Yet again today three out of the six mid ship lifts were out of action at lunchtime and one of the forward lifts. One of the two lamps above our bathroom sink has failed after flickering for days (lamp man came, lamp man left - two days ago). On reporting it to reception I was given an immediate apology and ‘ … we don’t have any lamps to replace it with …..’. Needless to say (engineer) mrgoggins has had quite a bit to say about the maintenance issues 🫢. I know there’s at least one person interested in Horizon for a long cruise, so as previously promised, here’s todays:

That’s my dilemma too. No guarantee of a table for two even on fixed. Today at lunchtime, and unprompted by me, another couple at our table for eight were lamenting on the fact that you can never get a table for two …… well, some people can! I realise the option is there to take a pager, but we don’t want to dine late either, so go with the lesser of the two evils. There just are not many tables for two on Ventura and they fill up fast. Maybe not such an issue on other P&O ships. Certainly on Iona we had no trouble getting one at all. Good luck getting what you want on your upcoming cruises 🤞

The only Birdseye song I remember is 🎶 Birdseye peas, sweet as the moment, sweet as the moment when the pod went pop 🎶 - I suspect you won’t know that one being a relative young ‘un 😉, and if you do, you’re welcome 😄 The salmon came on a ‘plank’. I didn’t examine it closely but assume it to be wood. Here’s how it arrived at the table, wrapped in a paper parcel (I’ve done this myself in the past, meant to retain moisture). The red sauce was too spicy for my liking but DH enjoyed it with his chicken tenders. We did have the carrot cake this afternoon with coffee, and it was surprisingly good; a cream cheese type topping, which I like, rather than a heavy icing, which I don’t. One of our best meals at The Beach House, although as I’ve previously said, we like this venue and the attentive staff. An oasis of calm compared with the MDR.

The Captain has informed us that tomorrow the temperatures dip below 20C ‘reminding us we are on our way back home’. We have had gloomy skies and some drizzle today, so looking out onto our balcony is also a reminder. It looks like yesterday, Tuesday, was our final hot day. We are now only 2 hours behind the UK. This morning we attended 2 guest lectures, a fascinating one by Chris Martin on DNA forensics and the law - he qualified in medicine before training to be a lawyer and became a Medical Lawyer. I was impressed that after the talk he came to the front of the theatre and gave everyone who wanted to speak with him time, and from what I could tell, advice. We were sitting in the front row reading books on our phones, waiting for the next speaker, who I had mistakenly thought would be the excellent actor and raconteur, Robert Daws, but was instead the graphologist, David Bennett, who filled 45 minutes with examples of the handwriting of the famous and notorious and what their handwriting revealed. I have my doubts - he claimed a colleague on seeing Gordon Brown’s handwriting said ‘this person is a bully’ and he personally did not believe that Boris Johnson was a liar from his handwriting. We had lunch in the MDR (we were given a table for 4 to ourselves following my request of ‘a table for 2 if you have one please’) and we both gave the food 10/10 for taste. DH had soup and salad and I had a ‘bagel’ (which in P&O world is more like a bagel-shaped bread roll) with smoked salmon and cream cheese. The great British pudding was warm Bakewell tart and custard; which neither of us could resist, despite our initial plan of ‘fruit salad, if we have anything at all’ 🙄. Our TV has been giving intermittent trouble for days now and finally after 4 visits from the electrician, a new one was provided. I like to keep up with the news but the screen is so small and the audio quality not great, so DH still gets his news from The Times which we download. We both enjoy the occasional episode of Shaun the Sheep however 😄. This evening we ate again at The Beach House and despite the amount of food, (much of it left) we were satisfied what we did eat, although my salmon was overcooked. The carrot cake is in the fridge and may be eaten tomorrow. Tonight was formal night, which we decided we were ‘done with’ after 2 of them, hence our reason for choosing the Beach House, which is a relaxed venue that we like. I would say that about half of the people who dined were nevertheless formally dressed. Potato skins with incinerated bacon pieces Supercharged salad in a tortilla cup Hickory glazed cedar plank salmon Southern fried chicken tenders Warm apple and pecan pie Carrot cake The theatre went to 3 performances a night from 2 nights ago and thank goodness for that! On some nights it was virtually impossible to get a seat for the 8.30 pm performance after 8 pm. Now performances are 7.15, 8.45 and 10.30 pm. Last night we were treated to a very good soprano, Georgi Mottram and there were plenty of seats at the 8.45 pm show. Tonight was the Headliner’s show ‘Centre Stage’ and again, seats were still available at the start of the very lively performance . I imagine there would have been a lot of complaints about being unable to get seats prior to the changes. I will post Thursday’s Horizon in the morning. I stuck to my guns and had a very chilled day; no MDR seating stress ☺️.

A good account. So pleased it all worked out well for you despite your misgivings in advance. Welcome to the wonderful world of being able to take holidays outside of term time 😁