(Not quite live) from Iona - G318 - Fjords - 10th June

[Selbourne]

11 minutes ago, TigerB said:

And now, tonight's grub....

 

It was the turn of Opal tonight (where Olive Grove is on Arvia) and I have to say, it is the best of the bunch so far.

The lighting was subdued but not too dark, we could hear each other, and the music, the service from our waiters was the best so far, and best of all, we were sat at a proper table for two, a little round one that wasn't three inches from the next one.

 

Selbourne, this would be ideal for your scenario of getting a six seater for all the nights you are in the MDR. There were two near us, and right next to the windows on the starboard side.

 

We mostly ate...

 

Me...

 

The missus...

 

Me...

 

The missus...

 

Me...

...plus the obligatory ice-cream, rum and raisin tonight

 

The missus...

A departure from her usual cheese and biscuits.  I would have had that also, probably on addition to the other two I had, but it wasn't vegetarian.

 

Although the service and ambience was spot on, the menu didn't set my taste buds on fire.

Tonight is the first time we have ever sent anything back on a cruise. Our lass asked for her steak medium, she always does. When it arrived, it still had a pulse. The replacement wasn't much better, but she said it was passable; she didn't want to make any fuss.

 

Tomorrow night .....

..... Epicurean and the Norwegian tasting menu. I don't know if I've mentioned it before(🙄), but we are really looking forward to that.  I really do hope it's not one of those 'never meet your idol' deals.

 

We're back now in the cabin. I'm on the balcony taking photos, but it's a bit chilly for her. 

We're expected to hit the open sea in less than an hour, so I will bob along to the 710 Club for the 22:30 set.

Great info again. I think I’m going to ask for larger portions up front, or at least extra veg. Some of the MDR portion sizes are laughable. Minuscule starters, 6 tiny chips with the steak and one diddy head of broccoli. We avoid the buffet like the plague, but I’d be heading there to fill up afterwards 🤣 

 

They must do the Norwegian tasting menu on different nights on different cruises, as it was the Olden night on a previous cruise. Looking forward to hearing how you find that and also if they have a fixed price for all the paired wines shown against each course.

[elmsliebev]

1 hour ago, TigerB said:

Late on Saturday night we were heading away from the lifts to our nearby cabin. There was a bloke in a wheelchair and his missus. He asked me if I was game for a laugh. He had his phone in his hand and, pointing in the general direction of our cabin, he said that he had put an upsidedown pineapple on his mum's cabin door, and asked if I would knock on it while he filmed it. I asked him if she did indeed swing; after all, I risked being dragged into the cabin of a potentially rampant middle-aged woman. He said she didn't, but she would see the funny side.

well, they do say every day's a school day! Over the Pennines it used to be pampas grass in the front garden (allegedly!), never heard of the pineapple.

[purplesea]

5 hours ago, Peanut006 said:

Interesting about the accessible excursions. Next year on Arvia TA I wanted to book the Ariel Tram ride in St Lucia. According to their own website wheelchair users can be accommodated but no mention of this on the P & O website. Not sure whether to book one/two tickets with P & O or book direct…. I can see I am going to have to ring P & O and clarify

 

Michelle

I did not know this fact. My mother uses a wheelchair, she can manage to get up into a coach but cannot walk far and so we have always just booked excursions that she can manage.

[Selbourne]

4 minutes ago, purplesea said:

I did not know this fact. My mother uses a wheelchair, she can manage to get up into a coach but cannot walk far and so we have always just booked excursions that she can manage.

For as long as your mother is able to get up into a coach, you are far better off sticking with the standard excursions. The coaches can all accommodate wheelchairs where luggage would go. 
 

Aside from being expensive, the accessible excursions are usually in wheelchair accessible minibus style vehicles. Whilst useful for those (such as my wife) who are unable to get into a coach, the seats for companions aren’t as comfortable as a coach and the views out aren’t as good, which can be a major factor on scenic excursions. 

[TigerB]

Good morning from Sunnylvsfjorden, where we have blue skies and a temperature at 12°C.  It has the makings of a nice day.

We are well into our navigation and it won't be long before we reach Hellesylt.

I've only been up half an hour so missed the navigation of Storfjorden and most of Sunnylvsfjorden.🙁  I woke up just before 02:00 and we were just entering from the sea. I went back to bed and set the alarm for 03:00. I blooming well knocked it off when it went off, didn't I?🙄

 

 

 

This is the mouth of Geirangerfjord...

 

 

 

 

 

[TigerB]

We're stopped just ahead of our final approach to the berth at Hellesylt. It is so peaceful and serene. There are hardly any folk out on their balconies near us, or on deck 8. Unlike yesterday.

 

[DamianG]

11 hours ago, TigerB said:

And now, tonight's grub....

 

It was the turn of Opal tonight (where Olive Grove is on Arvia) and I have to say, it is the best of the bunch so far.

The lighting was subdued but not too dark, we could hear each other, and the music, the service from our waiters was the best so far, and best of all, we were sat at a proper table for two, a little round one that wasn't three inches from the next one.

 

Selbourne, this would be ideal for your scenario of getting a six seater for all the nights you are in the MDR. There were two near us, and right next to the windows on the starboard side.

 

We mostly ate...

 

Me...

 

The missus...

 

Me...

 

The missus...

 

Me...

...plus the obligatory ice-cream, rum and raisin tonight

 

The missus...

A departure from her usual cheese and biscuits.  I would have had that also, probably on addition to the other two I had, but it wasn't vegetarian.

 

Although the service and ambience was spot on, the menu didn't set my taste buds on fire.

Tonight is the first time we have ever sent anything back on a cruise. Our lass asked for her steak medium, she always does. When it arrived, it still had a pulse. The replacement wasn't much better, but she said it was passable; she didn't want to make any fuss.

 

Tomorrow night .....

..... Epicurean and the Norwegian tasting menu. I don't know if I've mentioned it before(🙄), but we are really looking forward to that.  I really do hope it's not one of those 'never meet your idol' deals.

 

We're back now in the cabin. I'm on the balcony taking photos, but it's a bit chilly for her. 

We're expected to hit the open sea in less than an hour, so I will bob along to the 710 Club for the 22:30 set.

Opal was by far our favourite MDR on our Iona cruise last year for exactly the same reasons you’ve stated.

[TigerB]

1 hour ago, DamianG said:

Opal was by far our favourite MDR on our Iona cruise last year for exactly the same reasons you’ve stated.

When we are onboard again in February, we'll try and have all our MDR evening meals in there.

The jury is still out on the preferred MDR for breakfast.

[TigerB]

Breakfast this morning was in Pearl; we had a good location, a proper table for two near the aft windows with nobody right on top of us.

So far, it is our lass's favourite location for breakfast. However, the service was a bit hit and miss; missed items, late arriving items, and slow with coffee refills. Mind you, the assistant waiter only looked about fifteen; I think he must have been on his week's work experience from school.😂

 

No firm plans for today. I've just done some ironing and about to start my ablutions. In about an hour we'll go off for a bimble, photo opportunities, and the obligatory magnet.

[jaydee6969]

Nice blog @TigerB, brings back memories of our Iona Fjord cruise last year and also a teaser for next year on our Britannia Fjord cruise.

 

Nice informative posts, good work, looking forward to learning more phrases.🤣

 

We had an 8 seater table for the 6 of us in Aqua on our Canaries cruise last year for most nights.  Looked after us well in there.

[purplesea]

4 hours ago, DamianG said:

Opal was by far our favourite MDR on our Iona cruise last year for exactly the same reasons you’ve stated.

We too prefered the Opal when we were on Iona last year.

[terrierjohn]

23 minutes ago, purplesea said:

We too prefered the Opal when we were on Iona last year.

Strange but our 2 visits to Opal on our 2 Iona cruises was our least favourite MDR experience.

[purplesea]

10 minutes ago, terrierjohn said:

Strange but our 2 visits to Opal on our 2 Iona cruises was our least favourite MDR experience.

Just proves we are all different!

[zap99]

39 minutes ago, purplesea said:

We too prefered the Opal when we were on Iona last year.

We have only been on Iona once. That was a seven night " chase the sun " staycation cruise down to Spain.  We ate in a selection of restaurants.  I know we ate in both MDR's and a few specialities.  Can't remember really. Everything was brilliant. We were on a ship and eating meals in restaurants. Brilliant. We were on a proper cruise ship, again.🤣

[TigerB]

It is a beautiful day here in Hellesylt; the sun has been in the sky all day despite the DC's tannoy announcement that it may rain this afternoon.

We were less than three hours ashore, if that. We looked at the waterfall from the left side, and from the lower bridge, before heading up the hill to the bridge that goes over it.

******WARNING to wheelchair users.

The path going up on the right side of the waterfall is really steep. Although it is smooth, our lass's power chair struggled somewhat. She was dreading coming down it, as sometimes it doesn't behave itself and I sometimes kick the levers at the back that put it into neutral from drive.

Luckily, there was a very smooth road that led down to the village along the left side of the waterfall, with a much more shallow gradient.

 

After a few more stops for photos, and the purchase of a magnetic, we headed back to the ship, where we had a very nice lunch in Olive Grove.

 

 

 

This afternoon we are spending a quiet afternoon in the cabin and on the balcony, despite it being wholly in the shade. Our lass can't be doing with being around other folk, as she has been spontaneously bursting into tears since breakfast. No, not because she has to spend another three days on a cruise ship with me!  Her best friend's mum, who has been in her life for 47 years, died this morning. She was on end of life care, so we expected it sometime during the cruise, but it is still very sad.

[TigerB]

 

Typical! You find a premium campsite with a fantastic view of the fjord, then some inconsiderate t#@t parks a great big boat next to you!🙄

[TigerB]

Olive Grove...

 

I've mentioned previously that we had a poor experience in Olive Grove on Arvia in January. Many folk have said that the one on Iona is different altogether.

Yes, it is!

 

We were back on board just after midday, and with us having the Norwegian tasting menu tonight, which I don't expect to be too heavy, I suggested we go to Olive Grove for lunch. I know that our lass was keen to try the beef ragu lasagne, and I wanted to try the tuna dish; both of those were on the menu that we missed on Arvia in January, and again in April.

 

It was a walk-in and we were seated immediately; there were plenty of free tables. What struck me was how light and airy the restaurant seemed. To the best of my recollection, the one on Arvia has darker colour tones, with more subdued lighting. I could be wrong though; I've slept since then. 

The tables and chairs near to the windows were of a different design, tiled topped tables and what looked like wrought iron seat backs with cushions. That area had a courtyard feel, which I guess the designer was going for. Apart from the end two tables with seated four each, the two rows of tables in the middle of that area were all two-seaters.  It would have been nice to have sat there, but the ones that were easily accessible for a wheelchair were occupied.

 

Service was quick and our waiter was very customer focused. My preferred drink wasn't available on the drinks menu. I said to him that I'll pop to Sindhu and get my own as they don't have it.

"What is it, sir"?

"Punk IPA".

"Don't worry sir, I'll go and get it".

 

Back on Arvia, when in the 6th Street Diner I was told that they only serve what is on the drinks menu; so I popped to the nearby Anderson's bar for mine. 
Again on Arvia, when we were in Beach House, the drinks were supplied by the Crystal Bar. I knew they didn't serve Punk IPA in there, but they did in the Laguna bar, not fifty feet away. I said to my waiter that they don't sell my preferred drink in the Crystal Bar, but they do in the Laguna bar; he didn't take the hint!🙄

So, hats off to Calvin for going the extra mile. 👍

 

 

Anyway, the fudd...

 

We both shared this starter...

 

The missus...

She said that was the best lasagne she has ever had. I knew though that she wasn't including my tuna lasagne.

 

Me...

That was beautiful.

 

The missus...

 

Two Pud Tiger strikes again...

The tiramisu was really nice, but the crème brulée was absolutely fantastic. No doubt much better than the one ICF was disappointed with when he visited Rick Stein's place.

 

So, from both of us, a big 👍👍 for this version of Olive Grove.

[purplesea]

I didn't get to try The Olive Grove on Iona but did on Arvia.

My mains was the tuna and I also had tiramisu for desert, but your tiramusu looks a lot better than mine.

 

[zap99]

10 minutes ago, TigerB said:

Olive Grove...

 

I've mentioned previously that we had a poor experience in Olive Grove on Arvia in January. Many folk have said that the one on Iona is different altogether.

Yes, it is!

 

We were back on board just after midday, and with us having the Norwegian tasting menu tonight, which I don't expect to be too heavy, I suggested we go to Olive Grove for lunch. I know that our lass was keen to try the beef ragu lasagne, and I wanted to try the tuna dish; both of those were on the menu that we missed on Arvia in January, and again in April.

 

It was a walk-in and we were seated immediately; there were plenty of free tables. What struck me was how light and airy the restaurant seemed. To the best of my recollection, the one on Arvia has darker colour tones, with more subdued lighting. I could be wrong though; I've slept since then. 

The tables and chairs near to the windows were of a different design, tiled topped tables and what looked like wrought iron seat backs with cushions. That area had a courtyard feel, which I guess the designer was going for. Apart from the end two tables with seated four each, the two rows of tables in the middle of that area were all two-seaters.  It would have been nice to have sat there, but the ones that were easily accessible for a wheelchair were occupied.

 

Service was quick and our waiter was very customer focused. My preferred drink wasn't available on the drinks menu. I said to him that I'll pop to Sindhu and get my own as they don't have it.

"What is it, sir"?

"Punk IPA".

"Don't worry sir, I'll go and get it".

 

Back on Arvia, when in the 6th Street Diner I was told that they only serve what is on the drinks menu; so I popped to the nearby Anderson's bar for mine. 
Again on Arvia, when we were in Beach House, the drinks were supplied by the Crystal Bar. I knew they didn't serve Punk IPA in there, but they did in the Laguna bar, not fifty feet away. I said to my waiter that they don't sell my preferred drink in the Crystal Bar, but they do in the Laguna bar; he didn't take the hint!🙄

So, hats off to Calvin for going the extra mile. 👍

 

 

Anyway, the fudd...

 

We both shared this starter...

 

The missus...

She said that was the best lasagne she has ever had. I knew though that she wasn't including my tuna lasagne.

 

Me...

That was beautiful.

 

The missus...

 

Two Pud Tiger strikes again...

The tiramisu was really nice, but the crème brulée was absolutely fantastic. No doubt much better than the one ICF was disappointed with when he visited Rick Stein's place.

 

So, from both of us, a big 👍👍 for this version of Olive Grove.

I think we could get by on that ' light lunch ' I think I had a tagine. You would think that Olive Grove would be Italian, but I suppose Olives grow in lots of places. Yorkshire...perhaps ?.🤣

[Peanut006]

13 minutes ago, TigerB said:

Olive Grove...

 

I've mentioned previously that we had a poor experience in Olive Grove on Arvia in January. Many folk have said that the one on Iona is different altogether.

Yes, it is!

 

We were back on board just after midday, and with us having the Norwegian tasting menu tonight, which I don't expect to be too heavy, I suggested we go to Olive Grove for lunch. I know that our lass was keen to try the beef ragu lasagne, and I wanted to try the tuna dish; both of those were on the menu that we missed on Arvia in January, and again in April.

 

It was a walk-in and we were seated immediately; there were plenty of free tables. What struck me was how light and airy the restaurant seemed. To the best of my recollection, the one on Arvia has darker colour tones, with more subdued lighting. I could be wrong though; I've slept since then. 

The tables and chairs near to the windows were of a different design, tiled topped tables and what looked like wrought iron seat backs with cushions. That area had a courtyard feel, which I guess the designer was going for. Apart from the end two tables with seated four each, the two rows of tables in the middle of that area were all two-seaters.  It would have been nice to have sat there, but the ones that were easily accessible for a wheelchair were occupied.

 

Service was quick and our waiter was very customer focused. My preferred drink wasn't available on the drinks menu. I said to him that I'll pop to Sindhu and get my own as they don't have it.

"What is it, sir"?

"Punk IPA".

"Don't worry sir, I'll go and get it".

 

Back on Arvia, when in the 6th Street Diner I was told that they only serve what is on the drinks menu; so I popped to the nearby Anderson's bar for mine. 
Again on Arvia, when we were in Beach House, the drinks were supplied by the Crystal Bar. I knew they didn't serve Punk IPA in there, but they did in the Laguna bar, not fifty feet away. I said to my waiter that they don't sell my preferred drink in the Crystal Bar, but they do in the Laguna bar; he didn't take the hint!🙄

So, hats off to Calvin for going the extra mile. 👍

 

 

Anyway, the fudd...

 

We both shared this starter...

 

The missus...

She said that was the best lasagne she has ever had. I knew though that she wasn't including my tuna lasagne.

 

Me...

That was beautiful.

 

The missus...

 

Two Pud Tiger strikes again...

The tiramisu was really nice, but the crème brulée was absolutely fantastic. No doubt much better than the one ICF was disappointed with when he visited Rick Stein's place.

 

So, from both of us, a big 👍👍 for this version of Olive Grove.

The food looks fantastic!!! Sounds like you are having a great cruise. Enjoy your meal tonight and post pics

 

Michelle

[TigerB]

1 hour ago, Peanut006 said:

The food looks fantastic!!! Sounds like you are having a great cruise. Enjoy your meal tonight and post pics

 

Michelle

Oh, you know I will.😀

[jaydee6969]

One of our favourite places on Iona is the Olive Grove.  I was disappointed for what menus I have seen online for next years trip on Arvia.

 

I have had the lasagne a few times as well as the ravioli.  My favourite desert was the Baklava selection, well worth the £1 extra.

 

 

[Scorpio41]

All these pictures of food. All I’ve got is a ham salad for tea. ☹️ 😂

[Bazrat]

13 minutes ago, Scorpio41 said:

All these pictures of food. All I’ve got is a ham salad for tea. ☹️ 😂

When I was a lad you was lucky to get ham in your ham salad

[TigerB]

1 hour ago, jaydee6969 said:

One of our favourite places on Iona is the Olive Grove.  I was disappointed for what menus I have seen online for next years trip on Arvia.

 

I have had the lasagne a few times as well as the ravioli.  My favourite desert was the Baklava selection, well worth the £1 extra.

 

 

 

I'm pretty sure it is now £2.

#Carnivalsqueezingcustomers