Selbourne

I’m sure you’ll be fine. We were on Iona in peak summer school holidays with 5,750 people on board. Those with wheelchairs and scooters who have cruised on Iona during off peak periods have reported none of the issues we had.

That’s great to hear. We are currently on Ventura and are finding exactly the same. Such a relief after our poor experiences with a wheelchair on a packed Iona.

DAY 1 (Continued) - After departure After departure we just chilled in the cabin until dinner. Having had a few glasses of wine with lunch we didn’t feel like a pre-dinner drink. It was also surprisingly bumpy, even by the time that we were passing the Isle of Wight. As is often the case, we have a few maintenance issues with our cabin. I’m always at a loss as to why people don’t report these, as I have always found the ship’s maintenance teams to be absolutely brilliant. The basin isn’t draining well and there’s a slight smell. Also, even with both air con controls switched to the coldest setting the cabin still isn’t cool. Lady S usually complains when I start to move the control down much beyond half way, but even she admitted it could do with being cooler. I phoned reception and said that neither of the issues were urgent and they could wait until tomorrow, but just as we were leaving for dinner a plumber arrived. The sink’s still not draining too well but the smell has gone. Dinner in the Bay Tree MDR was very enjoyable, if a little bumpy. Our waiters (Alois and Khan) seem to be excellent. Very friendly and nothing is too much trouble. They even said that if we didn’t fancy anything on the menu they could get us other things. No idea what, as we were both happy with the menu. The supplementary (extra cost) menu was not offered. I’ll ask about that the first night that I don’t fancy anything. Also, they are not holding unfinished bottles of wine, even in Club dining. Odd how this varies by ship. I was a bit disappointed with my starter, simply because it was one of those dishes where what you end up with is completely different to what you expect. I had ordered Asparagus with devilled egg. I expected warm whole asparagus spears with a warm egg. What turned up was tiny slices of cold asparagus with a cold hard boiled egg. I had to laugh that one end of the egg had been sliced off so that it could be stood on the plate and wouldn’t roll off 😂 We both had a roast for main - my wife had the pork and I had lamb. Both very good. My lamb was cooked more than I’d like, but I don’t expect it cooked to order in a mass dining MDR. Alois very kindly cut my wife’s pork up before serving it to her. For dessert my wife had cheese (well, 3 wafer thin pieces - which was fine for her) and I had the dark chocolate with olive oil marquise with orange sorbet. I don’t like dark chocolate or olive oil, so it it just goes to show that it’s always worth trying things as I really enjoyed it! I washed it all down with a couple of glasses of wine, which I didn’t really need but enjoyed none the less. I think we may struggle to spend our OBC on this cruise if we don’t indulge 😂 The section of the MDR that we were in has 28 covers and only 13 were dining, so it was nice and quiet. One lady suddenly seemed to be a little unwell and an attentive restaurant manager appeared with a sick bag. At the risk of sounding completely unsympathetic, I was willing her to leave the restaurant if she was going to be sick, as I couldn’t stomach that whilst eating in a restaurant with rough seas. Lady S, who can read my thoughts, gave me one of her looks 😂 Thankfully the lady recovered without recourse to the sick bag. All in all a very successful and enjoyable first night in the MDR. Having not used Club dining for over 10 years we were reminded about the positive aspects of it. Neither of us particularly fancied the show (3 male singers) and my wife was tired having got up so early, so I took her back to the cabin and then I did a late night walk with a few laps of the promenade deck and a circuit of the (deserted) top deck. So, all in all, a very enjoyable and successful first day. Note - I have just purchased 24 hours basic WiFi (for the first time ever), primarily as a trial for our 65 night cruise on Aurora - hence this being my first update since departure. I’ve already written day 2 but will post later once I’ve had chance to catch up on emails and messaging home etc.

Four over 2 weeks

We are getting buffeted around quite a bit already and we’ve only just passed Portsmouth 😂 Bad news - just realised the packet of Stugeron that we brought with us only has one strip of tablets in it 🫣 May have to have a few extra drinks to counter the effects (does that work? 😂) 🤮

In all honesty, there’s 3 or 4 things I’d be happy with - well, on paper anyway 😂

5750 when we were on her 😱

Have to laugh. Two tiny TVs. No binoculars to see them. They can’t hold a signal for longer than 10 seconds and we are still in Southampton water 😂 In all seriousness, they really do need to pull their finger out and upgrade to the excellent TVs on Iona and Britannia (and no doubt Arvia). Whilst the reception is still patchy at least you can put an on demand programme on!

I love a roast Jean, especially when I don’t have to cook it. I’ll think of you each time I have one 😉 😂

Here’s tonight’s Jean. I’m having the roast lamb, which I know you’d hate 😂

Many thanks. You too. If it’s your first time on Iona do try the Olive Grove. We loved it.

Day 1 (Embarkation to departure) We had a good run down to Southampton in glorious sunshine, until we got to Hampshire when the heavens opened! We arrived at Mayflower Cruise Terminal at midday and wondered where everyone was! There were dozens of CPS staff waiting and we were checked in immediately. As before, they kindly offered to call a porter for us and one appeared quickly. There was a short queue of early arrivers being held outside, but as priority boarders we were waived straight through. We checked in at the assisted boarding desk and were through security and on the ship bang on our 1215 slot. Very impressive. They didn’t offer us assistance, which was a bit naughty, but we coped fine. First impressions as we embarked were ten times better than when we boarded Iona. Rather than look like an airport, this looks and feels like a proper ship. Also, as we walked around it looks like a quality environment and not like a conference hotel, as Iona does (to us anyway). Doubtless we shall miss the excellent dining options on Iona, but I have to say that we feel instantly at home. After checking in at our muster station we went to the MDR for the loyalty lunch. We asked for a table for 2 but this was impossible apparently 🤔 Anyhow we ended up on a table for four and actually got on really well with the other couple. Wine service was painfully slow compared to Iona and Britannia but both myself and Ray (the other chap) were equally assertive in ensuring that our glasses were kept topped up 😂 Lunch was very pleasant and was a waiter served meal (menu below). After lunch we went to our cabin (accessible Superior Deluxe balcony cabin and our cases were already there. The cabin is huge, almost like a mini suite, with separate lounge and bedroom areas. Being wheelchair accessible there is plenty of floor space in all areas. The wardrobe and cupboard space is vast. We had two very large cases and have not even used half of the wardrobes, cupboards and drawers. Never had that luxury before. I was all unpacked after an hour or so and after looking through all the literature (sail away vouchers, dining confirmation, Horizon etc) we decided to go and check out our dinner table. We are second sitting club (as confirmed) but the table for 2 is always ‘requested but not confirmed’. There was nobody at the Bay Tree restaurant so we just wandered in and found our allocated table. We are very happy. It’s a nice stand alone table for 2 (not the banquette type) very near the window. The menu for tonight suits us both, which is good as the first night menu can be weak. Any menu with lamb suits me just fine 😂 We then headed to Tazine for a coffee. Again, unlike Iona (where it’s just part of the atrium) it’s a nice dedicated space - like a proper coffee shop. Service was immediate as well, even though it was almost full (Iona was a struggle as there was one poor chap on his own half the time and people ended up queuing up at the counter rather than waiting). Also, on Iona you got a free wafer thin slice of banana loaf, but on here it was a big choice of pastries and cakes. We both had full size apple and cinnamon muffins - complimentary. 👍 We are back in the cabin now and the horn has sounded and the thrusters are on. We shall wave to @TigerB as we pass Iona on our way out. The captain has just said that we are expecting 5 to 6 metre waves tomorrow as we head to the Bay of Biscay 🤮 That should be fun 😂 So far so good and the most noticeable difference so far is that the ship feels so quiet compared to Iona (which felt rammed). Next stop Madeira on Wednesday. Wish us luck 😂

The weather forecast for our departure looks interesting. Heavy rain followed by lightening. Thankfully the wind looks light, which would be the main concern, although I understand that recent crossings have been a little bumpy 🤮 Stugeron at the ready 😂

Hi. Yes, I use the A335 from the first Eastleigh turn off, through Eastleigh, past Southampton Airport, under the M27 and then in to Southampton, forking left after Swaythling Station and then skirting around the edge of the city centre down to the waterfront. If the traffic is OK it’s probably quicker (and much easier) to just to stick to the M3, M27, M271 route, or M3 and A33 through Southampton, especially if your Sat Nav is like mine and gives very accurate live traffic info and re-calculates your route around or away from congestion. I know Southampton well, so tend to just instinctively use a route that I know is never affected by cruise, football or boat show traffic. Whilst I read regular horror stories on this forum about traffic getting to Southampton, I can honestly say that in all our cruises, plus as many (or more) trips to the Isle of Wight, I can only recall one or two journeys where I’ve had delays of 30 mins or more and that was well before Southampton. Hopefully that’s not tempting fate 😂

Thanks. If you book parking with a company like CPS or Parking4Cruises then you don’t need to know the terminal and you are covered wherever the ship goes from.

Ventura is normally Mayflower Cruise Terminal Sarah, but it can change. Your boarding pass will confirm.

Presumably an accident or the aftermath of one? We join the M3 from the A34 at Winchester and on our last 3 or 4 trips down there over the past few months we’ve had no problems at all, especially as the long term roadworks at the bottom of the M3 are pretty much finished now. That being said, in order to avoid cruise, football and (when on) Boat Show traffic, I leave the M3 quite quickly and cut through Eastleigh to Southampton Airport and then down through Swaythling to the docks. Touch wood, never had any problems going that way.

Thanks. As far as I recall, Saffron & Cinnamon MDRs are Freedom and Bay Tree is Club. Whilst tomorrows cruise was a Select booking, we have also booked a late saver on Aurora’s 65 night Caribbean cruise in January and are hoping for either Freedom or 2nd sitting. We really don’t want 1st sitting, but I believe that’s always the most popular choice, so hopefully we won’t get that being at the bottom of the pile, choice wise! I’ve also booked the basic WiFi for our Caribbean cruise in order to get the introductory 15% discount (on top of whole cruise, longer cruise and loyalty discounts). We are a bit concerned about being away for so long, and as well as being able to be in contact throughout the cruise (and not having to waste time ashore using free WiFi), I’m hoping that it will help to pass the time on sea days. At £6.89 a day after all the discounts it will hopefully be worthwhile, but I’m keen to try it out next week. I’m not entirely sure whether Ventura and Aurora are fully fitted out with Starlink yet though! We’ve pre-booked as the offer ends next week, but if it’s really rubbish we can cancel and get a refund up to 3 days before departure.

Thanks. It’s a 14 nighter so we do Madeira, Tenerife, La Palma, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Cadiz & Lisbon. I struggle a bit with sea days, and very much rely on good guest speakers as little else appeals, so I’m also keen to find out what the sea days hold!

Thanks and enjoy your cruise too. If you do feel inclined, please do consider a ‘Live From’. I have enjoyed your previous ones immensely and I know that I won’t be alone. If not, I shall equally look forward to your post cruise review. Bon voyage!

Re the two different berths, in the first photo the ship closest is in the berth by the Opera House (where we’ve berthed on Aurora and Oriana). If you look in the distance behind it you will see the other berth where we berthed on Britannia (it’s Britannia in the photo). The first 3 photos are taken from the viewing floor in the new Munch museum. The pedestrianised area with the bunting is en-route from where Britannia is berthed to the city centre. Another view of the sculpture park and finally a depiction of someone trying to decide which cruise to book 😉 😂

Yes you do.

Understood. You don’t have to have a Butler with a suite. You can decline them. All it means is that you lose the ability for in-suite (or balcony) dining. You get to have breakfast in Epicurean, which is nice. Avoid G deck aft though as it’s right above the Live Lounge. We had a corner aft suite on F deck and it was still deafening! Choices, choices 😂

Well our next cruise has come around already and tomorrow (Saturday) we board Ventura for a 14 night cruise to the Canaries. We have a 1215 priority boarding embarkation slot and having had no issues whatsoever with CPS or embarkation on Britannia or Iona this summer we shall just turn up at around midday. We always travel down on the day, as it’s only a few hours drive for us, but we are all packed apart from last minute things. I was very surprised to discover that this will only be our third cruise on Ventura and the last time was in 2017. It’s very true that time goes quicker as you get older 😂 We are booked in an accessible Superior Deluxe balcony cabin. I’ve seen a YouTube video of it and it looks huge. Unfortunately the balconies with these cabins are completely uncovered, which I don’t like, so hopefully the weather will be kind for us. The big difference on this cruise will be that we have reverted to Club (Fixed) dining (2nd sitting), for the first time since Freedom dining was introduced. We took the decision after some frustrations with the app not being used properly in the MDRs on Britannia. We have requested a table for 2 and are hoping that, if we are successful, it will be a proper table for 2 and not one that’s 6 inches from another ‘table for 2’. Wish us luck 😂 We have booked two dinners in Epicurean and one each in Sindhu and the Beach House. If the MDR disappoints then we may book more, but if it’s as good as it was on Britannia and Iona then we will be very happy. I fully intend to try the extra cost MDR dishes if the trial is still running 😋 I shall endeavour to post updates as and when I can, but will struggle on sea days. I have never paid for the ships WiFi before, but am going to try it for the first time over 24 hours to see if it’s any good, as a trial for our 65 nighter on Aurora in January. If anyone has any specific question about Ventura, or would like me to find out anything for you whilst we are on board, please don’t hesitate to ask.

Yes, put that way, a Deluxe on a Saver may be better than a Standard on Select. Just to put the cat well and truly amongst the pigeons, as you are quite flexible about cabins and don’t need an accessible cabin, is it worth considering booking late? The cheapest fare above, even after deducting OBC, is over £300 a night and presumably more again for a deluxe cabin, even on a Saver. That’s a lot by P&O standards these days. I know that Aurora carries a premium over the bigger ships but, as you know, we have secured a late saver on Aurora for less than half that per night and, much as we love Aurora, I’m not sure I’d pay those prices any more as that puts it in Cunard price territory. However, if it’s a special occasion and you don’t want the anxiety of relying on late availability then that’s understandable.