jeanlyon

It makes no different what is scheduled. We lost our cruise on Adonia 3 months before they sold her and Oriana much the same.

My goodness Megabear, this doesn't sound good. It sounds as bad on Arvia from what I am reading on FB

I am trying to work out what somebody would consume to spend £100 per day each? If you don't drink alcohol, it cannot possibly be worth it. I know we are all different, but I have the occasional proper coffee. We both have a drink in the bar before dinner and we have a bottle of wine with the meal. Our bill at the end of 19 nights is about £700 roughly So can you work it out using what you consume? Doesn't sound likely that the package would be worthwhile. also, what about if you have a day or two, either not well, or being off the ship.

Same here.

we left Southampton on Balmoral in a Force 12. After 3 days at sea, which wasn't that uncomfortable, we were still south of Plymouth! We missed Cadiz and went on to another port.

But you know what,, the maidens shouldn't be hit with these problems. Forget the fight, but queueing for hours for dinner and then eating at 11.15 pm is just not on.

There was also apparently a fight in the MDR, but didn't hear any more about it.

Lasagne, curry etc? Well that makes a change? In the MDR? I have seen the odd curry on, but not the others. I am not a lover of roast dinners and that is what you seem to get. Lamb shank makes me feel sick!! Ha ha.

Yes, one was £100 per night and the other was £85. We also took the dog!

We do. Quite like an inside. Would rather not spend more than sleeping time in our cabin and also sleep really well, as it's dark! Also prefer to spend my money on other things than cabins.

No, you're OBC is just that - "on board". Yes you have to pay upfront if you book things before departure.

very interesting reading all this. We have just been away for our 30th anniversary, staying in a couple of lovely pubs/inns in Cornwall. Dinner for two most evenings was about £50 including a bottle wine. Now I should add that one course is enough for us. With starters and dessert it would have been about £72. The food was tasty and well presented. I find the MDR menus are very boring. meat and two veg! Duck, Beef or Chicken and the fish is often sea bass which I dislike. I do like different things, like a tasty curry, lasagne, prawn provencale. None of those ever seem to be available on P&O

Totally agree with all you said. We don't mind a couple of sea days, but then really enjoy DIYing the ports. We don't do excursions at all. I do a lot of googling of the area before we go, have enjoyed great train rides and then another place to see. Entertainment, quite enjoy the Headliners mostly, but some of the single acts, singers, comedians usually leave us cold.

Actually Aurora's prices for april and October 2024 are still reasonable, so not a case of paying a premium.

Well you could be right but there is also a cheap August one. Mind you how many kids want to go to the Fjords? Anyway, surely they need to fill these monsters all year round to make a profit?

Those prices are ludicrous. I've never seen prices that low on P&O. We paid £1700 pp for our 19 nighter, now it's £2600pp They are quite obviously not selling the big ships.

October 2023 - 14 nights for £799? December 2023 7 nights for £499? Iona, Arvia and Azura. They must be getting desperate. Meanwhile my 19 nights on Aurora is almost sold out.

Agree. We normally do the 18-19 nighters on Aurora and still have some great ports to look forward to in October. 3 in Greece and some others. After that, cruising is not high on my wish list, although we might try a last minute Fred when his prices tend to drop.

I noticed that Fred has got rid of the Braemar which was a lovely ship. They now have Borealis and Bolette.

My October 2023 cruise on Aurora is sold out and has been for a while now. Not sure that means anything though, as someone else said, it's a 19 night cruise to Greece and the Med and there aren't many of those. The big ones can't get into most of the ports.

Your itinerary should say Arrive Early Morning or Late Morning and Depart Early Afternoon, Late Afternoon or Early evening. So Arrive 0700 to 0900, depart 1600 to 1900. If you type into Google. Cruise ship schedule and then the port, you could see the exact timings.

We buy the Irish Cream from Lidl. Very like baileys and £4.50 a bottle!!

Had a couple of good cruises on Braemar and also on Balmoral, but a few years ago. Looking to try Bolette.

Oh couldn't agree more. They are my worst nightmare. If Aurora goes, we will be back to Fred.

Aurora actually looks like a ship! These monsters don't. But good thing we are all different.