Waju

Everyone probably already knows but just in case you don’t - I booked a cruise on Ambition this morning and used the code ESSEX5 - it gave me a 5% off which is a good few cocktails 🍹

We all like cheaper holidays (well we do 😉) but it would appear that with lower prices comes passengers that I don't want to share my holidays with. We have seen this behaviour on the bigger ships and it isn't nice. Our recent Aurora cruise was fine, everyone was very well behaved. It seems that if you want a peaceful holiday you have to pay a bit more for it sadly.

As 9265359 says you are each allowed 1 litre of spirits or wine when you board in Southampton - you can also take as much water or fizzy drinks as you can carry. The water and fizzy drinks can be replenished as you return to the ship on a port stop. This is all for consumption in your cabin. I would also say that P&O bar prices are really quite reasonable and IMO you wouldn't spend anywhere near what the drinks package would cost if you only drink what you mentioned above. Remember, for quite a few days of your cruise you will more than likely be ashore anyway. I can't comment on Arvia but we have sailed on other P&O ships and always have a great time - cruising is addictive!

A good while ago I spoke to a bank about their insurance with 'paid for' current accounts. I'm 99% sure it was Lloyds and they told me you must declare everything BUT you can choose not to have it covered.

Yes I think that would be best, although I don't think anyone will have a problem getting an insurance company NOT to cover you for something 😉

Bah humbug!

Perhaps we could start wearing masks again just so we can have the parade 😷🤣

Chocolate log? Not bothered about the paper version 🤣

Hope it's chocolate on the pillow next!

I think that's the best way - once booked stopped looking - still look myself sometimes though 🙂

We take the 'all in one' sachets - just because they're handy! As an aside, we noticed on our recent Aurora cruise that they were using 'filtered' milk as opposed to 'long life'. IMO filtered milk tastes like fresh milk but has a longer shelf life than fresh.

The Beach House seems to be the most popular but I still don't think you would have trouble getting in. Sindhu always seemed very quiet. From memory I think there is button to press for booking restaurants on the cabin phone or as Selbourne says each restaurant can make bookings for the others.

I've just been reminded, while reading another post, that I meant to ask a question when we got back from our Aurora cruise a couple of weeks ago. We used to meet our friends in Carmens to watch the 7.30pm show and have a pre-dinner drink. We were on late fixed dining, so just a trip downstairs to get to our table at 8.00pm but the show/band didn't finish until 8.15pm - which is the cut off time to get into the restaurant - this meant lots of people got up while the act was still on or had to rush to get to their table. After dinner we liked to then go to the other end of the ship to the theatre to watch the show/singer etc at 10.30pm but usually dinner was over by 9.30pm/9.45pm which meant hanging around waiting for it to start. Some nights we gave up and just went to bed. Wouldn't it be better if dining times were 6.30pm and 8.30pm or if the entertainment programme was slightly altered to make everything flow better? I'm sure it used to be like that.

😒 perhaps ask P&O the question

hahaha - its a great cruise, we did it on Aurora 😊

I can't help you with that Britboys, I'm actually not a solo traveller myself but have a friend who would like to travel with us. How anyone can justify the price they quote single passengers (not just P&O) is beyond me!

Would it be allowed to let us all know on here when there is a no supplement offer on?

Evening all, I've had an email today from P&O who have "so much to tell me" and one of the sections in that email states that there is no single supplement for solo travellers on some 2023 cruises. When I click on it to look it lists just three cruises, does anyone know if there is way to find out which other holidays might have this offer or is it just a case of clicking on all of them to find out?

Sorry for any confusion then, I've just described how it is when we go 🙂 ps - I see you are from Whitly Bay, we went there a few weeks ago - our first ever visit to the area - its a stunning part of the world!

We used P4C when we went a couple of weeks ago - much the same system except slightly further to walk and they take your car away to park it - we had just 6 miles on ours. Last time we used CPS there were porters but they've got too expensive now (CPS not the porters 😁) - usually just a walk across the road though to the hole in the wall.

Hi, when you arrive at the terminal follow the CPS parking signs and you will be directed into a lane - there will be porters and trollies so you just have to unload your luggage and hand it over - the next time you see it will be at your cabin door. Just make sure everything you hand over to them is labelled and don't forget to keep hold of your cruise paperwork/passports etc. Double check you've not left anything and relax into your holiday 🙂 They will then take your car and park it for you. At the end of your cruise you have a couple of options, if you have kids the first one probably won't be an option - you can simply leave your cabin in the morning (usually about 7am) but you have to be able to get ALL of your luggage off yourself in one go. The easier option is pack you cases the day before and leave them outside your cabin door, they then get collected and laid out in the arrivals hall in deck order, you find your cases, stack them on a trolley and once outside follow the signs for CPS, they will direct you to your car in the car park! It's all easier then my instructions might suggest! You can keep a smaller case/bag to put in last minute nightwear/toiletries etc and carry that off with you. Enjoy your cruise and remember it's addictive 😎

I'm not veggie or vegan but really did enjoy some of those meals!

Just goes to show that it's all a matter of taste (pun intended!) as we enjoyed all of our meals in the MDR on the same cruise. I think the apple crumble was the last or next to last night and we loved it.

While we're talking food, my friend and I had a little thing going and at either lunch or dinner chose something we would normally disregard - I have to say we were ALWAYS pleasantly surprised and enjoyed some foods that were new to us - I have discovered that I really like lentils 🙂

I have to say Andy the pieces of cheese aren't huge - you get three 'slithers', two crackers and a digestive, a carrot stick, a celery stick, two dates and a dried apricot - you can always ask for two plates though! I love the cheese plate.