Lovely Aurora!

[jeanlyon]

Hello all.  Just back from my first cruise on Aurora and I must say we just loved the ship, even more than Oriana.  Cruise was super. 

 

Had a mad day in Civitavecchia.  As we were not going to Rome and the weather was a bit rainy, we decided to have a look at Civitavecchia itself.  Got to the gangway at 1015 and were stopped as the wind had suddenly become very strong indeed.  Well, it was Force 11, 70 knots.  Both gangways dropped off the quay and we were held on to our berth for 4 hours or more by 3 tugs!!  Huge waves crashed to onto the wall throwing rocks and stones towards us.  400 people were held in the terminal and could not get back on board!

 

We had a great time.  First night was spoilt by our Table for 8, unbelievable people on there, so we asked to move and then had a really nice table.  However we have decided to try Freedom Dining next.  The ports were lovely, Alicante, Ajaccio, Sorrento, Lisbon etc.

 

Only downsides for us was yet again the volume in one of the Headliners productions.  It wasn't just loud, it was absolutely deafening and we had to leave, as after half an hour with your fingers in your ears, it's just a no no.  Their show Applause was absolutely super and the volume was perfect.  ~There was a group called Runaway Kids doing Rock and Roll  - again, almost impossible to sit there without your fingers in your ears.

 

The Captain - and I know I'm going to get shot down - was out and about on the ship, but oh dear his announcements were not only absolutely childish, they were so repetitive.  "today in Messina, we will do a pirouette and then a hand brake turn, those in Super Saver will have to row harder!!"  It was every day, the same garbage.  Once he interrupted the classical concert and came on the PA to apologise and then said, but hey "its my ship, I will do what I want".  We and others found him extremely tedious.  The Ent Manager couldn't string 2 words together but worked very hard.

 

However, those are small items and didn't spoil anything.  Staff as always were fantastic.

 

 

[Tommart]

Interesting report!  Sounds eventful.  And I know what you mean about the Headliners.

 

Just out of curiosity, what was the problem with the first table of 8?

[jeanlyon]

Err yes that was the Captain.  Sorry, but I just found him boring and pathetic.  I enjoyed the daily announcements by Captain Box for instance, always interesting, always something new.

 

We went to our table for 8 on the first night and 2 people were already there.  We are 3.  Before I even had my bottom on the chair, the female said her name, so I responded with mine and my husband's which is somewhat unusual.  Then another 2 arrived and immediately began talking to the other 2 who they obviously knew.  One of them asked my friend where she lived and she replied Richmond on Thames.  "Is that near Sutton?"  Well fair#s fair, he may not have known it.  Then the first man told us his name was "Sir David".  LOL

 

Anyway, as they continued to talk to each other, so did we.  Then during the main course, the woman said "I don't know why you ask for a Table for 8 if you only want to talk to each other!"

 

So we moved.  Need that like a hole in the head!  Actually, all things considered, we think Freedom might suit us better.  We can eat around 7.30 to 8pm or go to the buffet if we want without having to consider anybody else.  We will be quite happy to share tables.

[philred]

hi jean glad you enjoyed aurora as that ship was our first ever cruise with p&o when we went to the fjords been on a few since but the aurora still stands out for us  for all the reasons you outlined 

[joro44]

Also just back from the 19 nighter on Aurora, her second cruise following a multimillion refit. A substantial part of that was for behind the scenes upgrades including a new 'exhaust system'. We were held on shore for some five and a half hours in weather as described by Jean. Returning quickly from a shore visit after my wife was blown onto a parked car!

l have complained often about the sound levels of the production shows being too high, the response from the 'techs' is that the audio is pre-recorded and the level is set by the HQ production management. To get it reduced to a comfortable level PLEASE CONTACT HQ PO SOTON. Given that this is a common complaint by many of us of a certain age, with associated hearing loss, I worry about the harmful effect it is having on the hearing of the youngsters on the family friendly ships.

The Excecutive Vice-President, Paul Ludlow, spent a couple of days on board, but failed to put in a public appearance in spite of the fact that the ship was crammed with frequent PO Shareholding cruisers. What do you think of this?

[jeanlyon]

Oh dear, hope your wife was OK?  The volume thing is just ridiculous.  Our friend is an ex professional singer and she just thinks that excuse about the volume being part of the package just can't be true.

 

Didn't know the Exec VP was on board!  What was your opinion of the Captains announcement?  Did you feel the same?  He referred on one occasion to the statue of Christ in Lisbon as the "Madonna with the Big Boobies".  I don't have a religious bone in my body, but I'm sure some would have found that totally inappropriate.

 

Again re the volume, the show Applause was absolutely super and the sound was fine.  Astonish was just deafening.

Edited May 13, 2019 by jeanlyon

[aliandy]

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!!!

[terrierjohn]

Jean, sorry but I disagree on both the Captain and the theatre sound settings, we were both quite amused by most of the Captains comments, although I accept some of them were in poor taste. As regards the sound level we were happy that the singers could be clearly heard and there was no hint of screechy voices, neither did the sound level seem too high, but I do know that my hearing is waning a little so maybe that helped.

[P-L-B]

Jean, very pleased to hear you enjoyed your cruise on-board Aurora.

We also like Aurora and have spent many happy times in Carmens which has one of best dance floors in the fleet and that includes Britannia’s crystal room.

Next month we are looking forward to our Greece Cruise on-board Oceana which is another ship we like but unfortunately they use the floor in the atrium for dancing.

BTW, we also enjoyed the headliners production of Applause.

[jeanlyon]

Thought you might like to see a pic of the weather conditions in Civitavecchia, although this picture doesn't make it look as bad as it actually was.

[jeanlyon]

11 hours ago, terrierjohn said:

Jean, sorry but I disagree on both the Captain and the theatre sound settings, we were both quite amused by most of the Captains comments, although I accept some of them were in poor taste. As regards the sound level we were happy that the singers could be clearly heard and there was no hint of screechy voices, neither did the sound level seem too high, but I do know that my hearing is waning a little so maybe that helped.

TJ, I think if your hearing isn't good, then you wouldn't understand.  Seriously, it was almost damaging.  All three of us have good hearing and just had to either put our fingers in our ears or leave.  As I said before the show Applause was perfect, no problem at all.  Also one or two others and even one of the shows that they did in Carmens was fine.  Just two of them were excruciatig.

 

By the way, we also joined the Aurora Vocalists Choir and the choir master Paul Hodgetts was absolutely brilliant.  So enjoyable.

[ann141]

We have just returned from the same cruise too and had a wonderful time.We were among those unable to re board Aurora in Citivechia for several hours but I feel the situation was handled quite well. Mixed feelings about the Captain.I found his remarks humerous(not the one about Madonna!)and it was good that he engaged with guests.However some of his comments were repetitive and he went on a bit.He told us one evening we would not be able to tender into Propiano but then spent over 5 minutes explaining why before eventually telling us we would be docking at Ajjecio instead.If he had told us straight away we were visiting Ajjecio instead of Propiano his waffle might have seemed more interesting.

I spotted Paul Ludlow at the Peninsular party but he was just standing to one side.I think it would have been better if the captain had introduced him.My husband also joined the choir and can agree with Jean that the choirmaster was brilliant.I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the choir in concert.

[jeanlyon]

23 minutes ago, ann141 said:

We have just returned from the same cruise too and had a wonderful time.We were among those unable to re board Aurora in Citivechia for several hours but I feel the situation was handled quite well. Mixed feelings about the Captain.I found his remarks humerous(not the one about Madonna!)and it was good that he engaged with guests.However some of his comments were repetitive and he went on a bit.He told us one evening we would not be able to tender into Propiano but then spent over 5 minutes explaining why before eventually telling us we would be docking at Ajjecio instead.If he had told us straight away we were visiting Ajjecio instead of Propiano his waffle might have seemed more interesting.

I spotted Paul Ludlow at the Peninsular party but he was just standing to one side.I think it would have been better if the captain had introduced him.My husband also joined the choir and can agree with Jean that the choirmaster was brilliant.I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the choir in concert.

 

ann, recognise your husband from the choir!  Totally agree about the announcement about Ajaccio.  On and on and on!

[jeanlyon]

Just found another pic on Facebook taken by somebody else, even better than mine.  There is a car under that water!!

[tartanexile81]

I know lots of people love Aurora but I have to say she's the least favourite of the ships we've cruised on - which is all of them except Arcadia. It's just as well we all like different things  

[AndyMichelle]

13 minutes ago, tartanexile81 said:

I know lots of people love Aurora but I have to say she's the least favourite of the ships we've cruised on - which is all of them except Arcadia. It's just as well we all like different things  

Funny that, it took us a while to get used to Aurora, we didn't like her at all at first but, in time she grew on us and is now one of our favourites.

Andy

[tartanexile81]

6 minutes ago, AndyMichelle said:

Funny that, it took us a while to get used to Aurora, we didn't like her at all at first but, in time she grew on us and is now one of our favourites.

Andy

We've only been on her once Andy and that was last year - 24 days Canada and USA. Just found it too  dark but also sleepy and dull for so many sea days. Loved Oriana so was surprised  that we didn't  like Aurora but maybe we're too used to the bigger ships and we love Britannia now - and I'll duck for cover  blaspheming on an Aurora thread 

Edited May 14, 2019 by tartanexile81

[daiB]

10 hours ago, jeanlyon said:

TJ, I think if your hearing isn't good, then you wouldn't understand.  Seriously, it was almost damaging.  All three of us have good hearing and just had to either put our fingers in our ears or leave.  As I said before the show Applause was perfect, no problem at all.  Also one or two others and even one of the shows that they did in Carmens was fine.  Just two of them were excruciatig.

 

By the way, we also joined the Aurora Vocalists Choir and the choir master Paul Hodgetts was absolutely brilliant.  So enjoyable.

I have to say Jean I have never found the shows loud and I do have good hearing. In fact I can hardly hear them from where I sit in the casino.

[terrierjohn]

1 minute ago, daiB said:

I have to say Jean I have never found the shows loud and I do have good hearing. In fact I can hardly hear them from where I sit in the casino.

Your old jokes don't get any better with repetition Dai.

[ann141]

18 minutes ago, tartanexile81 said:

We've only been on her once Andy and that was last year - 24 days Canada and USA. Just found it too  dark but also sleepy and dull for so many sea days. Loved Oriana so was surprised  that we didn't  like Aurora but maybe we're too used to the bigger ships and we love Britannia now - and I'll duck for cover  blaspheming on an Aurora thread 

We really like Aurora but our favourite ship is Britannia!!!

[AndyMichelle]

25 minutes ago, tartanexile81 said:

We've only been on her once Andy and that was last year - 24 days Canada and USA. Just found it too  dark but also sleepy and dull for so many sea days. Loved Oriana so was surprised  that we didn't  like Aurora but maybe we're too used to the bigger ships and we love Britannia now - and I'll duck for cover  blaspheming on an Aurora thread 

We too are big Britannia fans, but now treat Aurora as a completely different holiday.

We find her more peaceful and relaxed as we never seem to queue for anything and can find plenty of quiet areas for a cheeky Hendricks and Fever Tree.

The crew never seem as rushed and have time for a chat, it's interesting to hear their stories.

Now I just sound really old, I'm 53 ya know...

Andy

[tartanexile81]

1 minute ago, AndyMichelle said:

We too are big Britannia fans, but now treat Aurora as a completely different holiday.

We find her more peaceful and relaxed as we never seem to queue for anything and can find plenty of quiet areas for a cheeky Hendricks and Fever Tree.

The crew never seem as rushed and have time for a chat, it's interesting to hear their stories.

Now I just sound really old, I'm 53 ya know...

Andy

Just a boy then!

12 minutes ago, ann141 said:

We really like Aurora but our favourite ship is Britannia!!!

Nice to see you Ann. Anything booked on Iona? We weren't going to but then we thought how much we loved Britannia so decided to give it a go!

[ann141]

24 minutes ago, tartanexile81 said:

Just a boy then!

Nice to see you Ann. Anything booked on Iona? We weren't going to but then we thought how much we loved Britannia so decided to give it a go!

I would have liked to book the maiden voyage on Iona but Mark wasn t keen on going to the fjords so soon again.Hoping for a real bargain on her next year that Mark won t be able to refuse!! There are a lot of cabins to fill!

[daiB]

8 minutes ago, ann141 said:

I would have liked to book the maiden voyage on Iona but Mark wasn t keen on going to the fjords so soon again.Hoping for a real bargain on her next year that Mark won t be able to refuse!! There are a lot of cabins to fill!

Ann have you looked at the prices at the moment. Either they are keeping them high or selling very well. 

 

Insides at £120.00 pppn

mini suites, (small) over £250pppn.

 

i don’t pay that much for a full suite. And on the couple of cruises I looked at all suites sold.

[Britboys]

1 hour ago, daiB said:

Ann have you looked at the prices at the moment. Either they are keeping them high or selling very well. 

 

Insides at £120.00 pppn

mini suites, (small) over £250pppn.

 

i don’t pay that much for a full suite. And on the couple of cruises I looked at all suites sold.

 

I had an e-mail from a well-known & reputable cruise agent this morning offering prices from £685 based on 18/7, 29/8 & 12/9 departures Dai.