Iona live 12th August 2023

[ParisHilton]

Finally on our way for a Norwegian cruise . First cruise for a family of five plus various in-laws.

Have learnt so much from here I want to give something back!

 

On the coach now. Mild panic as it's scheduled to arrive as our boarding slot closes. We'll quiz the driver when he stops for what seems like a considerable break .  I'm guessing there's so few of us for the early spot they've put us on a later coach.  Marginally annoying as wanted the head start on booking stuff!

[Selbourne]

Have a fantastic cruise. We are on the cruise after yours with a party of 6, so I shall be extremely interested to hear how you get on - in particular the MDR on celebration night (Sunday) - assuming that you go. Like you, I’ve already amassed a number of hints and tips from others (the best aspect of Cruise Critic IMHO) but there’s nothing better than feedback from the cruise immediately preceding yours!

[CarlaMarie]

Have a lovely cruise! Looking forward to reading all about it. 

[purplesea]

Have a great time. 

[Megabear2]

Have a wonderful time. I hope you get a break in the weather, fingers crossed.

[Son of Anarchy]

Have a great cruise 

[ParisHilton]

1 hour ago, Selbourne said:

Have a fantastic cruise. We are on the cruise after yours with a party of 6, so I shall be extremely interested to hear how you get on - in particular the MDR on celebration night (Sunday) - assuming that you go. Like you, I’ve already amassed a number of hints and tips from others (the best aspect of Cruise Critic IMHO) but there’s nothing better than feedback from the cruise immediately preceding yours!

 

 

 

 

 

My eldest (12) is at an age wear she lives in sports gear and absolutely won't wear anything appropriate for the celebration night. The others are going, I think they are on captain's table though. Let me know if you have any specific questions and I'll try and get answers.  I kind of thought about coaxing her into a frock but I kind of agree with why should she wear something just to confirm.  I sort of like the idea of dressing up, but I'm not that bothered.  It's be like us having to wear fancy dress. I could see other people would enjoy it but I'd much rather not .... Actually I'd love fancy dress!

 

Edited August 12, 2023 by ParisHilton

[terrierjohn]

1 hour ago, ParisHilton said:

Finally on our way for a Norwegian cruise . First cruise for a family of five plus various in-laws.

Have learnt so much from here I want to give something back!

 

On the coach now. Mild panic as it's scheduled to arrive as our boarding slot closes. We'll quiz the driver when he stops for what seems like a considerable break .  I'm guessing there's so few of us for the early spot they've put us on a later coach.  Marginally annoying as wanted the head start on booking stuff!

Don't worry about your boarding time, the coach trumps all the times and you should go straight into the terminal once you are off the coach.

[Neecy1]

2 hours ago, ParisHilton said:

Finally on our way for a Norwegian cruise . First cruise for a family of five plus various in-laws.

Have learnt so much from here I want to give something back!

 

On the coach now. Mild panic as it's scheduled to arrive as our boarding slot closes. We'll quiz the driver when he stops for what seems like a considerable break .  I'm guessing there's so few of us for the early spot they've put us on a later coach.  Marginally annoying as wanted the head start on booking stuff!

I don't think there's anything quite as exciting as your first cruise. That moment when you first board to me was like Christmas morning as a kid. Have a wonderful time! 

[ParisHilton]

Thanks TJ. I figured we'd be ok , but a bit miffed we won't get on early and get a chance to book the kids clubs.  Hoping the barcode trick gives us chance to catch up 😂

[ParisHilton]

13 minutes ago, Neecy1 said:

I don't think there's anything quite as exciting as your first cruise. That moment when you first board to me was like Christmas morning as a kid. Have a wonderful time! 

 

Indeed was up at 4am.  Admittedly mostly to do a bit of work, but I'm sure adrenaline played it's part.

[ParisHilton]

Quite a sombre atmosphere on the coach. I think that might be because it started in Nottingham and Forest are losing ....

[dmaccas17]

18 hours ago, ParisHilton said:

Finally on our way for a Norwegian cruise . First cruise for a family of five plus various in-laws.

Have learnt so much from here I want to give something back!

 

On the coach now. Mild panic as it's scheduled to arrive as our boarding slot closes. We'll quiz the driver when he stops for what seems like a considerable break .  I'm guessing there's so few of us for the early spot they've put us on a later coach.  Marginally annoying as wanted the head start on booking stuff!

 

Have a great cruise. If you happen to be passing duty free when it is open, would be good to know of they have amber leaf tobacco and the cost please 

[ParisHilton]

Morning all!  Connected my WiFi this morning.  School boy error putting in details yesterday, coupled with a few too many cocktails....

 

First thoughts as a bit of a brain dump.  Embarcation was wonderfully smooth. Muster was quick and simple.

Staff really friendly.  Amazingly so given that as far as i can tell they work 7 days a week for months on end.

Ship seems surprisingly quiet. Not in a bad way, but as it's peak season I thought it would be rammed.  But it's pleasantly busy from what I've seen. 

We ate in the olive grove last night purely as we wandering deciding where to eat and it was empty so we could do a walk up . Food was nice. Portions could be called small but in reality were no less than we actually needed.  We had a table for four but when another of our party came in they wouldn't let him join our table but put him on an adjacent table.  

 

Leaving port was so smooth, but there didnt seem to be any announcement so some of my party missed it .

 

Due to a booking mess up by our family I didn't go to the show 'festival' but as it gave me a chance to sneak to the casino I was fine with that.  Only 45 mins long but they really liked it. I can't quite work out what it is but it seems to be a musical of 80s onwards hits.  But they seem reluctant to call it a musical so I can't tell you exactly what it was.

 

Joined in with a couple at Brodie's for the pub quiz, quite fun. Then went to the limelight club which had a decent singer but only two couples in there so felt sorry for her.

 

Went to the clubhouse after that which was busier but I'd say only a quarter full. A band doing chart hit type music there with a disco, think George Ezra, spice girls, shut up and dance.  We weren't convinced they weren't mining the music and the vocals, but nobody seemed to care.

 

Had a wander up to the sports deck and the hot tubs, again only a few people dotted about.  Couldn't find an ice cream at midnight though. Will go on an ice cream hunt later.

Cottage pie and little rolls available (and other things) in one of the restaurants.  So weird just to be able to get food when you want.

 

Film list today is guardians of the galaxy , the book club , mario brothers and quantumania.

 

Will check out duty free when it opens . 

 

Off to find ice cream now .... 

[Selbourne]

8 minutes ago, ParisHilton said:

Morning all!  Connected my WiFi this morning.  School boy error putting in details yesterday, coupled with a few too many cocktails....

 

First thoughts as a bit of a brain dump.  Embarcation was wonderfully smooth. Muster was quick and simple.

Staff really friendly.  Amazingly so given that as far as i can tell they work 7 days a week for months on end.

Ship seems surprisingly quiet. Not in a bad way, but as it's peak season I thought it would be rammed.  But it's pleasantly busy from what I've seen. 

We ate in the olive grove last night purely as we wandering deciding where to eat and it was empty so we could do a walk up . Food was nice. Portions could be called small but in reality were no less than we actually needed.  We had a table for four but when another of our party came in they wouldn't let him join our table but put him on an adjacent table.  

 

Leaving port was so smooth, but there didnt seem to be any announcement so some of my party missed it .

 

Due to a booking mess up by our family I didn't go to the show 'festival' but as it gave me a chance to sneak to the casino I was fine with that.  Only 45 mins long but they really liked it. I can't quite work out what it is but it seems to be a musical of 80s onwards hits.  But they seem reluctant to call it a musical so I can't tell you exactly what it was.

 

Joined in with a couple at Brodie's for the pub quiz, quite fun. Then went to the limelight club which had a decent singer but only two couples in there so felt sorry for her.

 

Went to the clubhouse after that which was busier but I'd say only a quarter full. A band doing chart hit type music there with a disco, think George Ezra, spice girls, shut up and dance.  We weren't convinced they weren't mining the music and the vocals, but nobody seemed to care.

 

Had a wander up to the sports deck and the hot tubs, again only a few people dotted about.  Couldn't find an ice cream at midnight though. Will go on an ice cream hunt later.

Cottage pie and little rolls available (and other things) in one of the restaurants.  So weird just to be able to get food when you want.

 

Film list today is guardians of the galaxy , the book club , mario brothers and quantumania.

 

Will check out duty free when it opens . 

 

Off to find ice cream now .... 

 

What a relief to find that it doesn’t feel overcrowded. I hope that remains the case today on your first sea day. It’s easy to miss the departure from Southampton these days. We have been cruising long enough to remember brass bands on the quayside and everyone out on the promenade deck throwing streamers with a glass of champagne in hand. It was quite an occasion. Now you only realise that you’ve left when you happen to notice the scenery moving when you pass a window 😂 

 

I noticed that Iona didn’t leave Southampton until after 8pm last night. I don’t know if that’s the norm, but I may need to rethink our pre-dinner drinks on our first night. As we will be dining in Epicurean I thought that the Crows Nest would be a good call. As well as being close to Epicurean, we would have had a nice view of our transit down Southampton Water and past the Isle of Wight and Portsmouth. Seems like we would be looking at a static view of Southampton Docks 😂 

 

I look forward to hearing how you get on with the Celebration Night dinner tonight, in terms of ease of getting a table and what the food is like, as that is the one night that we plan on using the main dining room. Have a great day exploring the ship. 

[ParisHilton]

Most of my party are booked into the captain's table for tonight and I'm not 'dressed' for celebration night. I will do a covert mission to the MDR though for you.  Do you mean opal or aqua or those kinds as MDR? Or is ther lenjust the one MDR?

 

Oh. And yes we though sailing was five or six pm. But definitely more like 8pm.

Though I'm pretty sure the casino was open at seven and they can't do that in port so I'm not 100 percent .

Edited August 13, 2023 by ParisHilton

[Selbourne]

46 minutes ago, ParisHilton said:

Most of my party are booked into the captain's table for tonight and I'm not 'dressed' for celebration night. I will do a covert mission to the MDR though for you.  Do you mean opal or aqua or those kinds as MDR? Or is ther lenjust the one MDR?

 

Oh. And yes we though sailing was five or six pm. But definitely more like 8pm.

Though I'm pretty sure the casino was open at seven and they can't do that in port so I'm not 100 percent .

That’s extremely kind of you to offer, but please just enjoy your holiday! Besides, my interest is more about the ease of getting a booking for a table in the MDR, rather than how busy the MDRs appear (I suspect that they will all be full). But if you are sitting having a drink at around 7.30 / 8pm and get chance to have a glance at the app to see if the virtual queues are still open (i.e. not showing “Queue Full”) and how many are in the queues then that would be fantastic. We will be a party of 6 and the MDR that several have recommended is Opal. Many thanks. 

[ParisHilton]

In not a smoker so I may have this wrong but 200 superkings amber leaf £52.  400 £65. 

[P&O SUE]

Thanks for doing this, I’m following with interest.

[ParisHilton]

Yes.  I'm told encanto was at the cinema yesterday, I can't believe they changed after first night.

 

Feels busier now. The pools and hot tubs are busy.  It's ok, with 21 degrees and able to use outdoor pools. But it will be a problem when less clement.

 

Horizon was very busy.

I gatecrashed aqua I think at 7.30 and that was ok. Possibly because plenty forgot the clocks changed.

 

I've managed to avoid line dancing today. But also, didn't get to go the art talk. 

 

I've finally realised why they don't let you message fellow travellers through the app.  It encourages you to buy WiFi. It is frustrating having to coordinate to meet people. Would be worth maybe £10 per cabin to be able to go that.

[ParisHilton]

Called in at the quays at peak lunch time. Also busy. Waited about five mins at the burger place and bought it back to our room. I think you could find a table bit you'd have to look for one .

[ParisHilton]

Showing 6.30 on my phone right now. So 7.30 local time. I don't know why phone hasn't updated. I guess flight mode.  Anyway opal 39. Aqua 33. Pearl 43 coral 36. I went to position 44 booking for 10 people with wheelchair space at pearl. Let me see if I can cancel it now!

[ParisHilton]

Ok. Was easy to leave queue . It's not under bookings though it's under dining . I suppose logically it's not a booking.

 

For minor gripes. When logging into the app it's the last 6 digits under the barcode but these aren't separated from the rest of the code so requires a couple of brain cells to process.  Also upcoming bookings don't seem to be at the top of the list. Real minor quibbles but so easily addressed.

[CarlaMarie]

11 hours ago, ParisHilton said:

Most of my party are booked into the captain's table for tonight and I'm not 'dressed' for celebration night. I will do a covert mission to the MDR though for you.  Do you mean opal or aqua or those kinds as MDR? Or is ther lenjust the one MDR?

 

Oh. And yes we though sailing was five or six pm. But definitely more like 8pm.

Though I'm pretty sure the casino was open at seven and they can't do that in port so I'm not 100 percent .

 

Looking forward to hearing how they find the Captain's table tonight. 

[alpha whiskey]

14 hours ago, dmaccas17 said:

 

Have a great cruise. If you happen to be passing duty free when it is open, would be good to know of they have amber leaf tobacco and the cost please 

On Britannia last month Amber Leaf was £58 for 10 X 50g 

Also available on Arvia and Iona, but can't remember the exact price