galeforce9

Definitely had a case completely emptied in Southampton on p&o. I was younger than the average at that time but had done nothing untoward. Still had me shaking like a leaf though! To be honest it was a real pain, and delayed our party of 8 on a long journey back

That’s what I thought. These weren’t the ts and cs when I booked in July and paid the full balance

When we visited on the p&o Aurora march 19 and March 20 (last full before/during covid) cruises we were in around 7 ish. Definitely before breakfast. However, remember it is a shuttle bus ride to the centre or a long walk. These would need to be running. Also there was an all day blizzard last time and conditions weren’t great but very exciting! We did our own thing. Went up the cable car the first time. Easy to catch a bus to the base. The small harbour is lovely in the snow.

Did they move you to a nice cabin or were you ok anyway and do you get any obc to ease the pain?

Sorry to chip in but St Helier is on the island of Jersey, in the Channel Islands. I hope you get to enjoy some shore time there, rather than distant views. Enjoying your blog and photos.

It worked though. Someone has just replied about Aurora. They have covid but looking promising re restaurants and they will report back 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

Thank you. Much appreciated and I hope you are free to roam soon.

And the second week?

Yuk

Is anyone currently on Aurora?!

There’s a separate post for that. Please can you post there. See further below. Should be on front page or thereabouts

Does look pretty good. It’s on the front screen after you’ve logged into your booking, below the route map.

That’s so good to know. I agree with you totally. Let’s hope they can replicate this across the ships. Hope they get lots of positive feedback as a result of this change which encourages them to do that.

No offence!! My first cruise was in 1997 - my honeymoon on Oriana 😁

Thank you. That’s really helpful

Nice easy non controversial one! Does any one know specifically what bath products/brand/size are left in cabins now and are they replenished. I’m talking standard non suite, Aurora but used to be the same across ships. Just for packing planning purposes. Is there still bar soap from the white company and Molton brown shower gel?

This is my issue. Thank you for explaining to the other posters.

I totally agree.

But at least it could help future passengers by explaining how this is disappointing to you, requesting this is further conveyed and asking about whether senior management shoreside have any comments etc?

Probably not unfounded to have concerns now given current evidence. Let’s hope they prove not to be of concern in October.

Let’s have a topic so we can log what speciality dining is open by ship now and try and keep it up to date. Thanks for your help. Many will find it useful. I posted about this subject on the Arcadia topic just now but it struck me that many people are wanting to know this, particularly freedom diners, and it is a rapidly changing situation. I have to add that this is really important to me and one of my main reasons to book on Aurora in October (having sailed with P&O over 30 times). I was planning to dine in the Glass House every night, as we have previously. Let’s hope this visibility keeps the pressure up on P&O to keep these dining places open and sacrifice other service areas (eg a number of tables in select dining) if they do suffer unexpected staff shortages. Freedom diners shouldn’t be the ones constantly penalised by these misguided operational decisions. It can’t be acceptable to run at below usual staff levels now we are in the recovery phase and have dining options permanently shut or shut for months when charging full service prices.

I will be really annoyed if speciality restaurants aren’t back open soon on the adults only smaller ships. It’s severely limiting for people that have opted for freedom dining for this purpose. I can’t see why they have to be sacrificed amongst all the service options that could be cut due to staff shortages. To my mind that is benefiting select dining passengers at the expense of freedom dining. If I am forced to eat at a buffet at any point I could mutiny!

I was in the posh club and I’m not that old! I started sailing in my 20s

Seems very good timing to me so you can enjoy the fantastic sail out before dinner through the many islands of the archipelago, and similarly enjoy the sail in at a not too early hour. We did the same many years ago on oriana.

The couple of times we’ve been (latterly in late 2018) they did. They drop you near the big dried up river bed (admittedly that is very long - we usually go for a walk down it to admire the architecture) near to an old town gate, from where it’s a short walk to the centre.