JeanieC,Aston

Standards was very poor on Iona.

Same on our Iona cruise last year,,problem was those who now show you to the table are commandeered from the cabin steward team even when they had a map they was getting lost. They don’t even dress them like restaurant staff,they are the ones in the scruffy grey polo shirts.

Hi Did Fred twice from Liverpool,,really enjoyed the cruise and I agree with others the food was far superior to P&O,,,they even show you to your table in the buffet that’s laid out with cutlery and table clothes,,,then the person who showed you to your table gets you your tea or coffee,,,,little things that makes a difference. Where I disagree is re the Drink Package,,,,it’s woefull,,,,one beer,NB,one lager.cheap spirits,,,the choice of one white,red,rose house wine….if you want say a Guinness or John Smiths maybe a Jameson’s or a choice of wine you pay 50% of the bar price. We are looking at an 8 night Round Ireland cruise from Liverpool on Bolette with added DP,,,,,,,in a fully obscured Outside cabin on Prom Deck====£4400 for 2. who are they kidding. I would sail Fred from Liverpool every time if it was at P&O prices.

Wow that’s late,I never thought P&O would want people still on the ship at that time.

I don’t know what time priority are given but on my last P&O cruise disembarkation times for coaches was at or near the top of the list. Of course walk off’s were the first off.

They started giving coaches first debark times… Eavesway say the coaches will be parked up from 08:00 and can travellers try to be on coach by 08:30,,,,,alas you always get ones who linger over a long breakfast and stroll up at 09:30 or even later.

You can always book one of these if you want a faux balcony cabin on Fred. They are called Lanai cabins,,not much privacy though with doors open but you do get your own steamer chairs.

It does seem late,with lunch stop it’s 5 hrs plus. Eavesway have always left Burtonwood at 07:45 and usually pulls into the terminal around 13:30.

Flam is a lovely village,,good shopping and a brew pub to try the local brew. It is easy to book the train online,,,,there is a little Noddy train for a short trip up and down the valley. Here is a photo,,,the train is just ahead of the electric ferry in the photo. one of the ferries seen is battery powered and does trips up the fiord.

Correct,,,never thought of that.

He must have been going downhill,,,,for 40 years now coaches are by law req to fit speed limiters at 62mph.

I only ever use the coach from the North West,,,,P&O coach (Intercruises) or Eavesway from Burtonwood Services,,,,,Eavesway picks up at 07:45,Intercruises have been as late as 09:00,usually on a Ellisons coach. Both companies have comfy coaches with most importantly toilets on board. one thing I look for is the difference in price between Select and Saver. With Eavesway being £110 each I look at the difference in price if I take the included coach on Select. Usually it works out it better for me to book Saver (Don’t mind dining time and can book location with Saver) although not always beneficial My next cruise was a difference of £200 with £70 OBC.so it was a Benefit to go the Select route. I preference Eavesway as I know what I’m getting,,,,love Ellisons coaches but never sure we get them on the return.have had some old clunkers. From Warrington it’s usually 5.5hrs with three or four pick ups with a 40min drivers stop for late breakfast usually at Warwick Services,,,drivers get advance notice from other drivers which services are less busy,,,,,,on return it’s Norton Cains services for lunch. Dont know if Celebrity docks earlier than P&O but we are always on the road at least 1 hour before coaches from P&O. I load 5 Rolling Stones albums on my iPad just finishes listening to them as we arrive in Southampton,,,,always better than murdering my arthritic hip driving.

Thanks.

If they took your bags from outside your cabin then straight to airport then you didn’t see them until your home airport. How do they know which aircraft the bags are to go on without bag tags,,,how do they stick the little tag onto your passport? OK if all bags are going to the same UK airport,,,but they don’t!!! Serious question.

Jet2 are brilliant at Manchester,,,,self check in easy,,,,,put bags on scale,show barcode on your boarding card to the machine and out comes your bag tag,,,,take case to belt. Jet2 staff everywhere to help. The security check in T2 is now massive. Earing places everywhere,,,the only problem that has been mentioned is it can be a long walk depending on gate number. A tip,,,,there is a water fountain after security in the corridor to Duty Free,,,,fill your water bottles up to save paying the extortionate price in the shops for bottles. ps,Jet2 starts flights from Liverpool next month,,,,great!!

Don’t wonder Noro spreads on Iona,,,you spend half the cruise standing in queues!.😏

A glass of Prosecco on P&O is £6.75,,,,one glass before dinner,one glass at dinner and three glasses the rest of the evening (tiny 175ml glasses) a coffee and can of Pepsi and you have paid for your drink package…..Easy.

More and more our supermarket shelves are becoming full of bottles of dark beers from small brewers,,the likes of Bitters,Stouts or Porters,,,some of the Porters are really good. There was a newspaper article today reporting on Diageo that Guinness is now the most popular beer brand in the UK,,,with the biggest increase being women drinking it.

Hi Ive sailed a few times on RCL and Celebrity and both lines always stocked John Smiths and Boddingtons Bitters. Now on Celebrity both have gone leaving no Brit bitters. Then last May they put Guinness into the PP,,that was the last straw,,,now I stick too P&O and Marella cruises. on one Silhouette cruise last year when they ran out of Guinnes a staff member told me to drink Newkie Brown saying it’s the same as Guinness,,,,he was the Bar Manager!! What is it with Americans love of Coke Cola and American beer,,,is it the gas?😏

Out of interest how many drinks per day?,,,soft drinks,water,fruit juice (J2O),beer,a drop of whiskey maybe or a wine with dinner. I find lots of people overestimate the number. I’ll help you,,,,todays cost for DP is £36 per day,a glass of Prosecco (125ml) is nearly £7.

I remember a horrendous crossing from La Palma to Madeira many many years ago…the Captain reported it was due to x2 continental shelves meeting in that area of the ocean. Wow! That was 1999 on Thomson Topaz,,,,an Airtours ship supposed to sail in the opposite direction was still in Madeira when we arrived,,never risked it,,,,the Topaz,,ex Empress of Britain never missed a sailing due to weather the Captain said..unlike today Leviathans.

Here is the view from the highest point on Madeira you mentioned. I thought Neil Lockwood was excellent,he took over from Jeff Lynn after he left. I know some think ELO was Jeff Lynn but they were still good with the addition of Neil Lockwood.

Boddingtons Bitter taken off the beer menu list altogether and Guinness now on the Premium,,,,,ridiculous.

Thanks for that…