Strawberry field

Why didn't I think of that! That would be easy for us as we live in Southampton! Thanks for your suggestion :)

I said earlier that I would post the link to my Aurora review on this thread. It's been submitted but may take a day or two to be posted it seems. When it's posted I will post up on the P&O board.

Sorry about going off topic

Thanks everyone, as I said I've already sailed on Britannia but I'm now looking to book a two nighter so my wife can see her. That way we can then make up our minds about our anniversary cruise. You have all been very helpful and put my mind at rest about doing a quick two night trip. :)

I will keep a look out for it.:)

 

See you in the Championship after next season then eh;):D

I honestly don't think so on our part but it would be nice to see both Pompey and Bournemouth in the premiership with us at the same time. :)

Review going up this afternoon :)

We have done a couple of 2 nighters, but not on one of the big ones. Yes you may tend to get groups on board..however the ones on ours all seemed well behaved and dressed up to the nines on formal night.High spirited rather than rowdy shall we say.

Service..well that is different ,mainly because they are soo busy busy busy....try and look beyond that, as you know it will be better on a longer cruise.

Thanks for that......yes I should have said high spirited rather than rowdy wrong choice of word there 😊 I never realised there was still a formal night on a two nighter. I guess it's the first night?

just a quick question about two night cruises......I have sailed on Britannia before but my wife hasn't so before booking for our 50th anniversary I would like her to see Britannia. That way we can decide which ship to book a holiday on.

Are two night cruises as bad as some say? Hen and stag parties and rowdy behaviour with service and crew not really caring? We are getting on in years but inside we are still in our thirties so enjoying ourselves is not a problem. I am wondering if doing a two nighter might put her off Britannia, is it as some say a 'booze cruise' I do realise the atmosphere on board would be different to a regular cruise but is it that different?

Thanks for any help :)

I look forward to your review as I am on her in Decembers xmas market cruise for 10 days, you sound like a very level headed person so it will be nice to get a balanced report.:D

I see you are from Southsea and I'm from Southampton so of course I'm level headed :') The review will be up today ;)

Please do and if you could provide a link to the review on this thread it would be helpful. We are on Aurora for the first time in a few weeks. We love Oriana (so figure we will like Aurora) but we have been spoiled by Britannia the last few cruises and Ventura recently felt like a slightly poor relation in comparison. The TV's and interactive system on Ventura was rubbish compared to the superb large screen, HD quality, comprehensive system on Britannia and I believe that the system on Aurora is even worse! Like others, I am a news junkie and couldn't be without Sky News for weeks on end. That said, we are quite looking forward to a few weeks break from the General Election!

I am putting it together now and will post it up in the next couple of days. So far it's a very fair and balanced review. There is nothing to dislike about Aurora just a few niggly little things which I found noticeable and will mention in my review.

A balanced review I would say! I wanted to try Aurora this year but holiday dates didn't work out at work (:rolleyes:) so I'm going on Britannia! Bit of a difference I know but I wanted to try her too while she was still relatively new! Too many ships, not enough holiday!;)

Ok I will do a very balanced review of Aurora in the next few days and will post it both on this p&o forum and in reviews. We are doing a short cruise on Britannia later this year or early next as my wife likes Aurora but didn't come with me on Britannia. We will then book for our 50th in 2019..........but which ship? Only time will tell :)

Good news...I am on her in December...not looking forward to the mini TV size...but will at least hear the UK News...did make a note to myself "try not to keep moaning about the pathetic TV sizes on some Ships"...but then I changed my mind....hopefully somebody at P&O is getting the message.:D:D

It was only my second cruise and after sailing on Britannia last year the size of the TV was a let down along with a few other things to be honest. Nothing massive but niggly little things which tended to mark the cruise down a little. I am wondering whether or not to do a review as it really was only tiny things and I don't want to seem to be moaning over nothing. I think I may leave it a few days to see how I feel then. Overall I would give Aurora 4/5 as she's a beautiful ship with style where Britannia was a big hotel with great service and I would give her 5/5

I would cruise on Aurora again like a shot but if another were available on the same itinerary and dates then I would look at them first before booking. Having said that she is lovely and we had a great holiday

Just returned on Aurora today and both BBC HD and Sky News were being shown. In fact Sky News was being shown on the screen in the lounge when we were waiting to disembark. Sky News was available all week as I made a point of watching it before turning in for the night.

Thanks to all for your replies, it's very much appreciated:)

Years ago they sold cigarettes from some bars, I'm not sure if they still do. They weren't obvious, I think they were under the counter.

 

 

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Thanks Florry, they didn't last year I know. In fact I struggled to get a packet of crisps and salted peanuts in Brodie's :)

Last cruise I went on you could only buy cigarettes when the shop was open, it does not open on some cruises (when ship ONLY goes to EEC countries for the whole cruise). Once you buy your 200 or 400 you pay with cruise card and have immediate possession. Not so for the alcoholic drinks which are only given to you last day. There is a wide selection of cigarettes and self rolling tobacco. Single packets are not available for purchase on board only from shops ashore at ports.

 

Regards John

Thanks John

That's answered my question perfectly. I can now see where I was thinking it was last day only. I was getting tobacco mixed up with alcohol 🙂

Thanks again

If you are just an ordinary person like myself and don't expect so called 'fine' dining then the food is just great in my opinion. I had no complaints whatsoever and in fact just the opposite.

The trouble with forums is one negative comment about anything registers a 10 with us while a good comment hardly registers at all. You will be fine

This is something I never noticed on my first cruise holiday. Does P&O sell individual packs of cigarettes on board or is it just 200 packs? Also something tells me they only sell packs of 200 on the last day of the cruise is that correct? We are going to Norway which isn't in the EU if that helps

Thanks for any help :)

Last year was chaos on the Britannia and some ladies were embarrassed as they turned up in skirts and the new type of life jackets have a between leg strap. It was funny though and most of the ladies took it well and just got on with it. The crew member stood by us had no idea how to put it on and had to be told by another :)

It's good that now it's done by cruise card and not a cabin check

I don't know why they told you this, but it's wrong.

 

We have been twice, both times booking in advance on line months before, and I'm afraid it makes no difference to where you sit.

 

The queues, as usual, start way before the doors open at 7pm - usually around 6:15/30pm, therefore, the people at the front get to choose where they sit first. Tables are not allocated (at least they weren't last year).

After the act has finished the room seems to lose its atmosphere and last year we had about three people come in. Yes it's a lovely room and in my opinion could be used a lot more than it is. Last year we queued for about twenty minutes and the tables were not reserved.

Ok. Thank you. I haven't booked yet. The menus are a concern for me in case I got one of the 2 I don't like.

 

 

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They were for us in fact we only liked two menus as well. It was the menu choice which decided which evening for us then we booked it at reception. We are sailing week after next on Aurora which I don't think has a Limelight club so this time we won't be tempted :)

By the way when you book it at reception they use your cruise card to reserve your place but they don't charge you then but on the evening itself.

I am seeking some advice. Does anyone know who has been to the limelight club know whether you can ask for something different if there wasn't anything you liked on the menu. I like 2 out of the 4 menu's. do you know which menu you would get on your visit, or wait till the night?

 

 

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That evenings menu is posted outside the Limelight door during the day. However we asked one of the waiters two days earlier and he told us which menu it would be. As for ordering something different to the set menu I believe the answer is no to that but willing to be corrected. We found the food in the Limelight to be small portions and we went away expecting more. In fact we were disappointed with the experience.

A little tip.....if you haven't already booked an evening look through the large window during the morning and you will see and hear that evenings act rehearsing.

Does anyone tip the person who delivers the room service items or is this covered by the auto gratuity?

What a good question. I wanted something from room service last year but didn't order as I didn't know about whether to tip or not. Also how do they charge your cruise card if you have chargeable items?

If we do tip......how much as I wouldn't like to offend anyone

Definitely, both mine and my partners cards go on my credit card (or debit card) she spends and I pay:mad::D:evilsmile:

My wife is better than me, I say why not? and she asks why? Without her I would be very poor ;)

She's also looking over my shoulder :'):')

No tips as such as I am new to cruising myself with only one under my belt and that was on Britannia. The only thing I can tell you is take no notice of bad reviews of Britannia as she's a lovely ship and you will have a great time. :)

Certainly can and do most of the time.

 

 

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That's great, thanks very much :)

Just a quick question........can two cruise cards go on the same credit card?

Thanks for any help