MarkCheshire

That's really helpful. Thank you so much.

Can't wait now !!

We had a group - and split into two:

1) Walk from port around the bay. Beautiful scenery, huge colourful flower beds, can walk to a small tower/turret which gives fabulous views over the bay (its about 150/200 steps to top). For a relaxing, free, scenic day - you can't beat just walking round the Muscat bay. On the way back - 5 minutes from the port is a wonderful souk (admittedly like many you will see in this part of the world).

2) Other group got a taxi at the port and asked the driver to show them round Muscat - simple as that. For about £20 gave a two hour tour to the Palace, the town, and also finished at the souk.

Grand Mosque a must-see. White marble, beautiful, peaceful (despite the massive crowds). Can hold up to 40,000 worshippers. Free to enter. Dress code for men and women (Men - long trousers, no shorts, shirt, no vest tops; Women, long trousers/dress; arms, legs and hair to be covered). Definitely worth the effort.

Nice to say I've been. Town centre, few shops. Nothing much to go there for. Only good thing was to be able to use the punchline:

"Manama, Do doo bee-do-doo"

Very little here - but memorable none the less. Quiet, stunning mountains give a backdrop to the port. In the port (tender access) is a small fort/museum, a military airport and... amazingly … a huge hypermarket (although there seems no-one around to use it!). Not much else.

We went on a cycle excursion from the port, up to little villages in the mountains, saw lakes, historic rock/cave painting and great views.

Whole place had a calm relaxing atmosphere. Great for a half day visit...not much there after that though.

One memorable thing about Muscat and Khasab, the two ports in Oman, was the incredibly friendly welcome of the locals. Not just traders or those trying to get business, but everyone. Muscat - walking down the beautiful prom - the locals would all smile and say hello. In Khasab - in little mountain villages, the locals would stop what they were doing and wave, smile, shout hello at us tourists.

Oman really felt a welcoming place to be. Fabulous.

Enjoy your trip.

Try:

http://www.cruisecal.com/portal/ItineraryPrint/tabid/2919/Default.aspx?sailID=CarnUK/X903

It's currently due to leave at 5.00pm

Select Aurora and click 'Find dates'. Click 'view' for your cruise departure date and a table gives you the arrival/departure times for each port. (dates in American format mm/dd/yyyy)

For Aurora on 10th October - this currently says leaving Southampton at 4.30pm

Thanks for the info re assistance - that's really helpful. Cheers

Really useful information in this thread - thanks to all the posters.

I am taking my mother on Ventura from Southampton in October. Although we have both cruised a number of times before we have not sailed from S'ton and this is the first time she will be in a wheelchair.

Any embarkation tips for wheelchair users? e.g. do they have to queue in same lines - or is there a 'assistance' desk like at airports?

We're not looking for special treatment - just want to make things practical, and the more we can be prepared the better.

Thanks in advance.

Thanks 'terrierjohn' for your reply - that's really useful information and very reassuring too. Much appreciated. Cheers

I am taking my mother on the Ventura, 8th October (Southampton to, Portugal & Spain – 12 nights). She is a wheelchair user – although not confined to the wheelchair (manual chair, not electric chair or scooter). Can walk short distances with a stick, if she takes her time. Doesn’t need chair in cabin (has her own double cabin/single use – foldable chair will fit incomfortably).

Last time I took her away we didn’t need to take the chair…but time moves on, and this is the first experience we have of taking a chair on board.

P&O have been excellent in providing details of the support they provide – but that’s no substitute for feedback from other customers.

So has anyone got any good or bad experience of wheelchair use on Ventura; any tips; anything we should watch out for?

She is really looking forward to the cruise (so am I !) and the more we can plan the better, so we’re ready for everything!

Thanks in advance

Cabin Number: 3042 Deck 3

Cruise Ship: Marella Discovery 2

Date of Cruise: December 2017

Bed Formation: Double (2 singles together, not a true double bed)

Bath/Shower?: Shower

Adjoining Cabin?: No

Balcony?: No

Comment on the Size of the Cabin: Lots of space

Comment on any Noise Issues: No noise issues at all.

Comment on Storage Space: Very large double wardrobe - with dozens of hangers. 3 double sized drawers. 3 single drawers. 2 drawers in each bedside cabinet. Lots of cupboard space built around mirror/dressing table

Comment on the Bathroom: Larger than some. Strong shower. Good condition.

Any Other Comments?: 2 European, 2 american sockets. USB charging points built into bedside lights and also wall light in cabin. Cabin has 2 seat sofa. Large window - although this was rather dirty (outside).

Safe in cupboard - but you need to activate (and open/close) with a credit card - when actually you need to be putting credit cards IN the safe! - poor design.

Would You Recommend this Cabin?: Yes

Link to any Images:

Score out of 10: 9

Thanks for your reply vitalsign.I am not trying to stir it and this may come as a surprise but i am booked on this cruise in february. I told the wife to book up for the carribean and left it to her, after doing some research i was all for cancelling it hence the posts with a little tongue in the cheek. I needed someone to reassure me and apart from a couple of oddball posts you have done that;)

Just back from Exotic Explorer cruise. Nothing to worry about. You'll love it.

Roatan (Honduras) port was place called Mahogany Bay. Gorgeous beach, and small centre for tourists with shops/bars (selling usual souvenir tat!). Certainly nothing to worry about - all very friendly and welcoming.

Due to a storm closing in we didn't do the second Honduras port - and went to Mexico instead (Costa Maya)

I prefer to select a seat rather than take a chance on being allocated a seat not to my preference.

What I can't understand is the difference in charge for selecting a seat on a short haul flight (under £10) to a long haul flight (£30-£40). Takes the same amount of admin time (and cost) for them to log me onto their system however long the flight (or for me to do it myself online at almost NO cost to the airline).

The difference in distance is reflected in the flight cost - not to the cost of allocating a seat.

Rip off.

I understand smart shorts are ok in the buffet, but what about in Liberties, Horizons, Broadway, etc. for the rest of the evening? Because its the Caribbean, I'm thinking long trousers could be too warm. We are 1st time cruisers, hence my confusion.

We sailed on Celebration in January (Dubai/Oman). As others have said the ship is well air conditioned - you won't be sweltering indoors. I'd suggest you wear what you would for a night out at home.

On gala/formal night, when I had tux on, we ended up in Liberties at end of night and temp was fine.

Dress code on ship is very relaxed, comfortable and friendly. During day - shorts/T shirt anywhere.

Evening - trousers and shirt/polo shirt. Gala night - dress up!

Enjoy your cruise.

Where do you even find out about the FOD meetings? I'll be going on the NCL Epic with my partner in December. There's bound to be lots of gays going on a ship that big.

Sailed on NCL Epic last October. FOD meetings every evening at 7am in Martini/piano bar. Great venue and timing.

Often met same guys again later in evening after dinner.

All very friendly and jnformal.

You'll have a great time

:D

Cabin Number: 0607

Cruise Ship: Thomson Celebration

Date of Cruise: 25/1/2017

Bed Formation: Double. Proper double bed - not two singles pushed together

Bath/Shower?: Shower

Adjoining Cabin?: No

Balcony?: No - inside cabin

Comment on the Size of the Cabin: Really good size room. This was sold as a 'double room for single occupancy'.

Comment on any Noise Issues: Quiet room - although loud neighbours could be heard through walls

Comment on Storage Space: Lots of wardrobe / cupboard / drawer space

Comment on the Bathroom: Good condition; powerful shower. Cosmetically - could do with some updating; a little tired

Any Other Comments?: Very pleasantly surprised by size of room. Excellent cabin service too. Desk/dressing table; Tea coffee and kettle

Would You Recommend this Cabin?: Yes. Would happily stay is a similar room again

Link to any Images:

Score out of 10: 9 (some updating/refurbishment would get a 10)

I agree with other posters that the only thing bad about the cruise is hearing people complaining or being rude to the wonderful staff.

Well said :)

One thing I didn't like was is sun lounger hogging. I saw a group of 3 women stay together using 8 sun loungers after a couple of hours they left but to use 8 when you only are a group of three and the rest are being used is a little selfish.

Agree - don't like 'sun-bed hogging' at all.

Can honestly say we did not see any of it on our cruise. In fact there were SO many sun beds that you could have your choice. Even on a sea day when everyone was aboard we have an excellent choice of sunbeds.

Thank you Mark for a very useful ,informative review. This being our first cruise it has put us at ease not as daunting now .

My pleasure. Hope you enjoy it as much as we did.

I am curious about the "Men of Motown" show you mentioned. Perhaps it isn't being done when Epic returns to sailing from Port Canaveral...but I haven't seen any other reference to it either.

Don't know if the show will still be playing. This is the write up from the Freestyle Daily:

"This sensational Soul and Motown Trio will take you back to those legendary days of the Temptations, Four Tops, O'Jays, Jackie Wilson, Luther Vandross, The Drifters and many more as they encompass the true magic of the sixties Soul/Motown era with outstanding vocals, and excellently choreographed movements.

This sly, slick, wicked vocal harmony group will ease their way through an impressive selection of music with faultless precision and their floor show is a great attraction and never fails to please the most discerning of music lovers."

shame there is not one family show for us to go together. Sounds like Pricilla is a date night show for sure!

There are other more family shows, for example:

- Men of Motown

- Cirque Dream (a charge for this - in Spiegel tent)

- Christian Miro (comedy and magic)

Plus game shows, wide variety of music, karaoke etc - lots that is suitable for families

Can anyone tell us the general times for shows (so we can make appropriate dinner reservations)??

From our cruise, first week October:

Main Epic Theatre shows

Burn the Floor - 7pm and 9.30pm

Priscilla - 7.15pm and 10pm

Men of Motown - 7pm and 9.30pm

Spiegel Tent

Cirque Dreams - some evenings 8.30pm. Couple of evenings was 9.30pm

Thanks to both of you!

When I'm vacation I hate schedules, that's my everyday life. Are these shows better than other ship or just to many people? My biggest ship too!

All a matter of taste.

Priscilla is as good a production as I have seen in theatres at home. Slightly abridged - and performed in one 90 minute Act. Brilliantly performed, directed and staged.

If it can compare favourably with a standard 'on land' production then that's a recommendation.

But it IS adult (content, language, theme) - that fact is well advertised - and if that's not your cup of tea then (even if it's well performed) you're better not going!

Are these the shows you make reservations for?

Yes, you can reserve a place for both of these - but that's not compulsory.

If you reserve a place you're guaranteed a seat - as long as turn up on time. Outside the Epic theatre there is a separate queue for 'standby tickets' - and anyone who hasn't pre-booked is then let in if there are any free seats left with about 10 minutes to go before the show starts.

If you wish to reserve a place you can do this on MyNCL before you sail; from your cabin phone; or there are large interactive touch-screens around the ship which can be used (you need to put your cabin key-card into slot under the screen).

The actual seats aren't allocated (i.e. you don't get a seat number) - when you get in the theatre it is 'free-seating' - you sit where you can find a place.

When we were on Epic a couple of weeks ago we went to the 7pm show for each production (there's another show around 10pm). Best guess: Priscilla was about 90% full; Burn the Floor about 70%.

You'd have definitely got seats for either in the standby queue.

Hope this helps

I have not heard this mentioned lately. Is it still on the Epic? I love this to cap off the nights. Thanks.

Definitely still there as at 10 days ago when we were on the Epic.

I have seen both shows in the last 2 weeks.

Priscilla is advertised as an adult show. It is not suitable for children.

For the adults it's then a matter of taste (I loved it!). Depending on the judgement of the parent, perhaps suitable for aged 16+

Burn the floor - the performances are excellent - it's very disappointing that the content isn't family friendly and suitable for all. There is no need to make it so adult - and, in my opinion, 'adult' in a distasteful and inappropriate way.

I wouldn't take children. Actually, I wouldn't take adults. The wonderful talents of the performers should be used in a show of better quality.

Hi Mark,

It was a good meet 'n'greet & as before (our meet 'n'greet last year) the Ships staff turn out in good numbers to meet CC'ers & make us feel welcome.:D:D I know some folks didn't manage, they missed a good cup of coffee & pastry.

Like yourself we bumped into a lot of folks over the week & it was nice to conversate with folks we had something in common with.:)

Kind Regards to you & Vera xxxxx

Evie

Hi Evie

Thanks again for organising the Meet and Greet - it was a great way to start the week on board.

Really had a great holiday....roll on the next cruise!

Mark and Vera.