SarahHben

I've not been on Azura but was on Ventura last summer holidays. The main pool areas were very busy but we had a C deck balcony cabin which gave us a big balcony to use and we paid for The Retreat for the 2 weeks and it was the best decision we made, brilliant, peaceful, restful and you could forgot how busy the other areas were. 

In the evenings we didn't think the ship felt too busy.

1 hour ago, DamianG said:

Our favourite of all the ports we’ve been to!

I think for us it would be a close call between Cadiz and Geiranger for our favourite all of the ports we've been to. Mind you we've only done 2 cruises so far, have 3 more booked though 😁

3 minutes ago, brian1 said:

We're going there with Celebrity over Christmas.On the itinerary it says Cadiz for Seville,but it's 2 hrs from Seville.Our daughter says Seville is lovely but I think we will stick local.

We're back there next summer on a cruise with family and they're keen to go to Seville so we may well join them, but would happily just wander around Cadiz.

In Cadiz we walked from the cathedral square to the promenade and kept walking along the sea front, out onto the little peninsula that goes to a fort, then further along sea front to some gardens and then lots of little streets back to the cruise ship, a perfect day exploring.

4 minutes ago, Ilovemygarden said:

Last port today on lovely Cadiz.  From some of your posts it looks you’ve had nice weather at home too (maybe it in Scotland).  Enjoying Arvia much more than I anticipated. Eglesbrech you know a lot about whisky - have you tried Bunahaven from Deanston distillery near Doune? My son’s partner works there. 

I love Cadiz, my favourite port from our cruise last summer

14 hours ago, P&O SUE said:

Thanks all, I’m really surprised how long it’s lasted, it’s knocked me for six! I fell asleep about 3 times yesterday!

I hope you feel better soon Sue

On 5/6/2024 at 7:03 AM, kalos said:

Morning a busy day doing little yesterday apart from awaiting text messages 

from the granddaughter who had took our 8 month old to the hozzi on the 

advice of NHS-111.

She had been stressed two days and yesterday refused drinks and came out

a rash.

Even on a bank holiday they had to wait 3 hours to be seen by doctors,

Who after ruling out the rash as nothing nasty put the baby on 

antibiotics for a Strep throat , which can be common they said when babys 

are teething .

Anyway The granddaughter rang us to say ,babys now settled, sleeping and

eating and seems to be happy.

That news made us feel happy as well.

Hope you all have a lovely day -Take care 🙂

That's good new Kalos, very worrying when babies are poorly.

On 5/4/2024 at 2:07 PM, grapau27 said:

You look beautiful Jane.

Lovely to see your face so I will recognise you if we ever met on a ship.

This is Pauline and me at Wynyard Hall gardens cafe last Sunday.

I will not tell Pauline I have posted her photo 🤫

Pauline always looks beautiful and so elegant.

On 5/4/2024 at 8:27 AM, Peanut006 said:

Hi Sarah, apologise for the late reply. I stayed in hospital three nights and I had to prove I could go up and down stairs before they let me home. I wasn’t in any pain after the operation though. After my MRI on 30/12 and diagnosis I had to wait 6 days for my op, I know now I should have been operated on within 24 hours and as a result I have permanent nerve damage, drop foot and no reflex in my left lower leg. But a colleague had the same op and is fine!! I had six weeks off work and physio.

 

I hope your mum does well 

 

Michelle

Sorry, I've only just seen your reply. I'm sorry for you that you are left with issues because they didn't do the op quick enough 

Sounds a very similar experience to mum. We had to get her back to the hospital yesterday as the wound had started bleeding again. We said to the nurses that she feels much worse then she expected she would a week after the op but when they looked at her notes they told her that there had been extensive damage, it was basically 'a mess in there' so it's to be expected that recovery will take a while, it's a shame they didn't tell her that before discharging her. Traffic was horrendous so we spent almost 4 hours in the car which didn't help her pain, but it was worthwhile going, if only to get assurance about recovery speed.

13 hours ago, AndyMichelle said:

We didn't try the Beach House this time, but have previously and I am probably the only person ever who didn't rate the lava steak... 

Perhaps it's something to do with having to cook my own dinner😂

We had a fantastic late lunch in the Glasshouse, the day the Privateers were playing in the Atrium, that was a very pleasant afternoon. 

Andy 

We really enjoyed the Privateers on Ventura last summer. We saw them in the theatre the first night of the cruise and then they were in Havana Club a few nights later. Both great shows but the atmosphere when they played in Havana was excellent. We chatted to them briefly in La Palma when we were ashore, really nice guys. ☺️

6 hours ago, indiana123 said:

 

Firstly, I hope your mum is ok.  About 28 years ago I had three weeks traction  on my back and it was like a miracle but they don't do that anymore   It must have saved the NHS thousands as I needed no more back treatment until recently.

 

Have you tried threading for your eyebrows.  It's much less painful than waxing, but takes longer.  There is also less redness. I used to go to the booth at Hempstead.

Thanks Indiana. Mum's in more pain than she expected. She had it done on the NHS but they sent her to a private hospital in Crowborough to have it done, so not cheap.

I get my eyebrows done at the stall at Hempstead Valley too. I used to have them threaded but it hurt so much I nearly swore at the lady. I find with the waxing it's less pain for less time 😂

3 minutes ago, Peanut006 said:

I hope your mum is ok Sarah. I had a similar operation 20 years ago, I had nerve root compression and had a disc removed, I had cauda equina, it was quit scary at the time. I hope she makes a good recovery 

 

Michelle

Thanks Michelle. Yes, I think that's what she's had done, very similar anyway. She was only supposed to be in hospital for one night but her blood pressure was very low after the op so the kept her in. She's in a lot of pain but it's early days. It my niece's hen do tomorrow so mum will miss that, hopefully she'll make it to the wedding next weekend! Did it take you long to recover from the op?

I'm envious of those of you with sparse brows, I'm constantly trying to tame mine. I have mine waxed but my skin is sensitive and I have red lines above and below my brows for 24 hours after each waxing 😏

My mum was in hospital this week having a spine decompression and disc removal op and dad stayed near the hospital which was over an hour away so I stayed at theirs and looked after their pampered cats. Having nothing to do for 3 days was very strange but I actually managed to  finish compiling a photo book of our Canaries Cruise last summer, just in time with only 4 weeks until our Norway cruise later this month ☺️

I'm glad you enjoyed your cruise Andy. Four weeks until I try Britannia for the first time 😊

Thanks all.

When we do eventually get to Rotterdam, it's the art gallery in the Hague that I particularly want to go to, I want to see the Vermeer paintings, especially The Girl With the Pearl Earring. A bit extreme to take a cruise especially for that but it's a good excuse for another cruise 😂

We've booked to go to Spain and France on Ventura in 2026 as well.

We were on Ventura last summer to the Canaries and had a great time. The adult only pool just outside the Retreat was a good spot and we booked the Retreat for the fortnight. With the 2026 cruise being May half term I think we will book the Retreat again.

Hi Andy, I hope you have a wonderful cruise! It’s such a shame for the person in your party who’s unwell.

We’ve got 5 weeks until our Britannia cruise so would be very interested to know if the theatre has to be booked on ‘my holiday’ or do you just turn up? The same question for MDR breakfasts and dinners? Also keen to find out if the muster drill is video in cabin or muster stations with/without life jackets?

Have a great time.

41 minutes ago, P&O SUE said:

That’s a shame, I’ve noticed they’re doing this itinerary more now, eg in Feb 2 weeks running so only one would be half term for you. They’re also doing it in early November!

Thank you for that, I hadn't spotted the Feb half term one. Our daughter's October half term falls between the 2 October Rotterdam cruises but the Feb one would work. OH has said he wants to do May half Term '26 on Ventura which goes to La Rochelle, Santander, Gijon & La Coruna, but I might be able to persuade him to do both 😁

Thank you all, that’s really helpful info.

Although the cruise says it’s in the school holidays, and it is for Medway where we live, it appears it probably won’t be school holidays for the rest of Kent & my daughter will still be at work so I will have the 2 grandchildren 🥴

We will definitely do a Rotterdam cruise & visit The Hauge at some point but not just yet.

Back to choosing another itinerary…

5 hours ago, Harryjacobs said:

I think there was one when we went in Febuary.  However it is so easy to do yourself thats what we done.  

Thank you. Did you take the train?

Do any of you know if P&O run excursions to The Hague from Rotterdam? I know that we could to the trip independently but I wondered if the was an organised excursion too? 

We're considering booking an Iona cruise to Rotterdam, Hamburg and Zeebrugge and if we do I would like to visit The Mauritshuis Museum in The Hague. 

Thanks

24 minutes ago, kevboy said:

Hello. My cruise personaliser is saying that the Epicurean can be booked 120 days before the cruise. Is this correct? I was always under the impression that 3 weeks prior was the case

many thanks, kev

I booked this morning for our end of May/June cruise and had the confirmation email. My dining bookings are showing on My Cruise itinerary page too.

I found this page on the P&O website. It doesn't give Ray Quinn dates and I don't think it covers all cruises but it's a start.

https://www.pocruises.com/onboard-activities/dining/the-limelight-club

Looks like Tom Lister will be on our cruise. I've not heard of him so I'm not sure if we'll book or not.

2 hours ago, P&O SUE said:

Ours is the one after, they’re identical itineraries though! I want to do Norway again but John wanted warmth!

i don't blame him at all! I'm hoping we at least have dry weather in Norway

36 minutes ago, kalos said:

Nice to see you posting hope you and the family are ok Sarah.

Thanks Kalos 

I thought I’d have more time for browsing once my daughter was on maternity leave but it hasn’t worked that way.

New baby is gorgeous, the 4 year old goes and sits on the stairs with his hand over his ears when baby cries 😂

Mum hasn’t had a date for her back operation yet. Our cruise is 8 weeks today so I hope the op isn’t while we’re away 🥴 

i hope you and everyone else is keeping well.

27 minutes ago, P&O SUE said:

Thank you Sarah, just a week to Northern Spain and Cherbourg. Two ports are new to us and La Coruna we have been to before but went to Santiago so that’s like a new port too!

Sounds lovely, I think that’s one I looked at before booking our Norway one. You might be getting on Britannia as we’re getting off? We disembark on Friday 7th June.