JeanieC,Aston

So who is right?

Of course some want good seats,,,the stage in the Limelight Club is in the wrong place. Its set off centre and those down the bottom end can hardly see the act and some are just sat eating the meal outside of the ‘vibe’,,,,,no atmosphere at all. I’ll give a tip….. I found the Limelight Club at its best,no need to book a mediocre meal to see the usual second rate ‘artists’,although the Morecambe & Wise act is very good. Go at 23:00 when they let the public in,,,have a nightcap or two and maybe a dance to the resident band. Ps,,maybe the ease being reported to book the MDR’s is due to lots of people trying the MDR’s not being satisfied and going to the Buffet/Quays or maybe the Olive Grove. Some people even preferred hot dog and chips in 360 than put up with the offering in the restaurants.

Hi I thought Neil Lockwood was the best ‘turn’ on our Iona cruise in Feb.

My mistake,it wasn’t March,I was on that same cruise as you in Feb. It didn’t matter if you where a computer wiz kid or not,,if like me you arrived by coach at 13:30-14:00 by the time you got on the ship those who arrived earlier bagged all the bookable events. Dont know if it’s still the way but you were not allowed to go to the bar and order a drink. A waiter would take your order on a iPad even if you were 2’ from the bar. What happened was they would walk the room taking many orders then stand at the bar talking to their mates whilst the bar person made up the orders,,,,but instead of delivering them as they where made up they waited until all the order was on the bar. Some at the front row in the Club hardly got their drinks before the end of the 40 min spot by the act. Wheres the ballroom dancing as on other P&O ships?,,there is none. The atrium is a good space for this with a dance floor but nothing.it’s like an airport departure hall. Try sitting in the Atrium when the ship overnights in Hamburg in February and they use the two gangways from that deck,,,,,,you have to sit with duffle coats on. The ship relies on food outlets to dissipate people because there is not enough live music venues or seats in the venues that are there. The indoor pool area was awful,,I felt sorry for the singing act in there the acoustics was terrible. Like I said…shambles.

I don’t recognise this Iona from the Iona I went on in March. Queues everywhere. Stupid drink ordering system. Buskers in the 710 club. MDR food awful (subjective I know) Service in MDR poor due to understaffing. I complained to the MDR manager one night,the service was awful,3 hours for dinner even before the desert,,,,,many people walking out before end of meal. It was noticeable it became easier to get a table in the MDR as the cruise went on ,,,people just went to the buffet. Dont get me started on the late night buffet,,,,queues of 30m waiting to get a snack as they would only open one food station. What did that (unhelpful) manager say……..give me the servers names. So I gave him the name on his badge,,,that’s me he said. Exactly I said ‘The buck stops with you fella’ I’m not a wet behind the ears new cruiser,,,I have over 70 cruises under my belt,,,,,but the inability of P&O to manage this big ship is not good enough,it was a shambles.

We always pre-book a taxi transfer to the airport,,,,book the time the driver will be outside the terminal doors with your name on a board. I have used these in the past…. https://www.googleadservices.com/pagead/aclk?sa=L&ai=DChcSEwjL0Ibl6I7_AhWBme0KHdiSB6EYABABGgJkZw&ae=2&ohost=www.google.co.uk&cid=CAESbOD2Puggmteoq3AM4_wJdlOFdJpLyJD2d2RRaOWozkA9tWNvd48VBAVRgHOQIfK3E-mjgeuVqADpFJvlEifWpzcQE2FKo2Zetmsi7SkGXVXcMu-WdpvfJORTnyClrUYDqgQSeCDGgtqfcG6dfw&sig=AOD64_3QNV9YOqy5kfLDanZKw8H3J2PpRQ&q&adurl&ved=2ahUKEwj9_f7k6I7_AhWlmFwKHVVoDtIQ0Qx6BAgFEAM A set price for up to 4 passengers in a car = €37

I gave up with Cruise Connect. I board the coach at Burtonwood Services,,,,,CC pick up at 09:15,,,,Eavesway picks up at 07:45……Eavesway always pulls up at terminal for ~13:30. So if I book Select I choose OBC and book Eavesway. CC use Ellisons coaches which are great but sometimes CC will put on an old banger of a coach.

Interesting,,,last week on Silhouette Martini’s we’re $20. Not available on Classic (I asked) if on Premium you got a small one,if you wanted a large one you paid the upgrade. Enjoyed your blog,,,it’s a pity you couldn’t do the little train from Palme to Soller.

The oil and gas rigs in Cromarty Firth are not working flat forms,,,most are mothballed or in for repair/refurbishment,,,,the nearby Nigg Bay oil fabrication facility was built for this purpose. As for destroying the local area,I believe Nigg Bay and its surroundings are a Nature Reserve. I sailed into Invergordon last year and I agree all those platforms are a sight to see.

Hi I have done the Black Cab Troubles tour in Belfast,,,absolutely brilliant. If you have time the Titanic Belfast experience is a must see. And the Guinness is just as good as in Dublin….lol!

City last year….the redish pink bus. Came in at the same time as some tour buses,,,the next one was better.

And a Prosecco has risen from £6.25 to £6.45. A package is becoming a no brainier.

And even more if you can pronounce it,,,,,,,Dun Leery?

Returned last week from Silhouette out of Southampton. The cabin has a kettle and a good selection of tea and coffee,,,,I get milk (Lactose free or Soya from Oceanview and keep in fridge.those little pyramid cartons of milk are useless. Cabin selection,,,,of course you can replenish from buffet…

I remember seeing the band on I think Eclipse a few years ago. They did the show in the theatre,then because they weren’t leaving the ship for a couple of days Sue Denning convinced them to play another late night gig in the Sky Lounge. The ship was bouncing,,,standing room only. I came off Silhouette last week and people where complaining they don’t have act like those or Tenors of Rock on ships anymore….I agreed,,,,comedians and magician’s have had their day.

Blimey you two,or four, certainly got around Btw the RC Cathedral is called locally ‘Paddy’s Wigwam’

If you do don’t go in the summer,the heat is unbearable. Indeed there was a heatwave over Southern Spain last week and it hit 42 deg in Seville.

The best port of call in the world (I am biased),too much to see in one day. The last photo shows the ‘Three Graces’….The Liver Building with the famous Liver Birds atop,,,,The Cunard Building where passengers checked in for their emigration to the ‘New World’ on White Star or Cunard liners,,,,the third is the Liverpool Port Authority building. Let’s see you photographed with the Fab Four on the Pier Head.The white building further along is the Museum of Liverpool a real gem. Further along is the Albert Dock with its many shops and restaurants. Enjoy our great Northern city.

Hi I was in Porto last week on Silhouette,,just to let you know the shuttle Ito Porto now drops yo off across the other side of the river than the usual place. This is due to construction work ongoing in the centre down to the river. From the drop off point (by the Port distilleries) you can walk over the high level bridge or as a few did get a taxi into the city,,,it’s about a 2km walk. The Porto HoHo bus also has stops in Masachino,,the beach area outside the port. Its 20 min to Porto on shuttle bus.

Hi I was in Porto last week on Silhouette,,just to let you know the shuttle Ito Porto now drops yo off across the other side of the river than the usual place. This is due to construction work ongoing in the centre down to the river. From the drop off point (by the Port distilleries) you can walk over the high level bridge or as a few did get a taxi into the city,,,it’s about a 2km walk.

There is nothing of interest near the port,you have to get a shuttle bus into the city centre,,paid for from Celebrity or walk to port gates and get free one,,,or walk the 7km alongside a busy motorway. The harbour or Veux Port is surrounded by restaurants selling Bouillabaisse. If you want to see a little bit of Marseilles the petit train is the best way especially if you want to go to the Basilica up on the hill to get the best view of the city. Beware going to far of the beaten track Marseilles can be a dangerous place.

Hi We called at Shetland last year on a Fred Olsen cruise,,it was cold!! Here in the UK there was a crime drama called ‘Shetland’,the lead characters name was Jimmy Perez,,,the highlight for some on board was to visit the house used in the filming. The House is alongside the small beach….and the house itself in 2nd photo.

Love the Rob Roy,,,last time in there a couple of years ago. There is a guy who does a walking tour of Cobh and he takes his group for a taste of an Irish pub. He walked into the Rob Roy and said “15 Irish coffees please” those waiting behind hearts sank. The landlords wife said “I’ll do them” and stood at the end of the bar making them,,I think she gets this request every time a cruise ship comes in and the guide has customers. Hope you brought some Guinness onto the ship,,I get on as you get off on the 3rd.

Thanks for this information we are on Silhouette next week and stop overnight in Porto. Same cruise last year the shuttle dropped us in a car park by the river a short walk to the riverside restaurants etc….across the river from the Port Lodges.

P&O and Cunard I believe,same parent company. I did a P&O cruise in March,,,they never asked to see my proof of insurance at terminal,,just asked. And I had to enter name of insurance company and contact emergency number during on- line check- in. From P&O website… Suitable travel insurance cover is mandatory to travel with us We’re delighted that you’ve chosen to set sail with us and we cannot wait to welcome you on board. Before we get there, it is mandatory for all UK guests to have suitable travel insurance cover in order to cruise with us. To help you understand the insurance requirements needed for a P&O Cruises holiday, read on…