newbie cruissy

Ventura looks to have spent some time hiding in Torbay overnight

7 minutes ago, kermchem said:

Weather out there seems to be rough. Marine traffic shows Iona appears to be heading for the well known Norwegian town of Margate. 

Just noticed that, medical emergency perhaps?

29 minutes ago, tring said:

To do that you would have to be booked on Freedom dining, if your booking shows second sitting on club dining that is what you have, only other non payable option is the buffet. 

So if it's been booked as club, they can only use Bay Tree? And not the other 2 MDRs?

38 minutes ago, david63 said:

. If you look at the booking confirmation it should say which option they have

Would this be on the personaliser? I don't have their booking confirmation

Looking at the P&O site for Ventura, it seems that of the 3 MDRs, one is club dining, and the other 2 are freedom. So if they can't get club in Bay Tree, they could always just arrive at one of the other 2 and get a pager?

Hello,

We went on an Iona cruise last year, and very much enjoyed. My in laws have taken the plunge and are off on Ventura Spain and Portugal in a few weeks, and as we've been on one P&O cruise in the past they are looking to me for advice. I know Iona and Ventura are very different, and wanted to check some things. They've booked select, picked a quiet cabin (accom above and below), booked CPS for parking and so far so good.

Dining on Ventura looks to be a mix of freedom and set. They'd like set dining on the early sitting. Can this be booked in advance? I can't see an option on the personaliser?  There look to be 3 MDRs on board, do they all have the same menu? Also is there the need for the mad rush to book speciality dining 2 weeks ahead, or is it a bit less of a frenzy than Iona?

Ports of call. I believe that most but not all are walkable from the ship.  Itinerary is Santander, Vigo, Lisbon, Porto and St Peter Port. As select fare they'd get transfers FOC if needed, just want to check where this would apply. I know Guernsey is a tender port.

The "app". Is this on all ships, or just Iona and Arvia? And on Ventura is it needed for booking, or as a smaller ship can they just turn up (more for speciality as they'll hopefully be early set dining for MDR)

Thanks in advance 👍

13 hours ago, Harry Peterson said:

Do I sense the use of irony……….😉

Only in the laundry....

3 hours ago, Gettingwarmer said:

 

Found a photo

That's what I'm talking about. Is this Iona?

10 minutes ago, wowzz said:

I'm thinking that the standard balconies are far too narrow for such an item.

Hmm, maybe. The bed is across the cabin, with space at the end to get past to access the balcony. So they must be 8 feet across minimum, maybe 10 feet on the diagonal. 

Thanks, but do they have hooks, or anything else I could hang one on? I could take a camping hammock myself if it could be rigged up.

Hello, we are back off to Norway again this summer. Last year was our first cruise and we opted for an inside cabin. Needless to say we loved it, and had a little snoop around a couple of already vacated balconies as we disembarked. Booked a balcony for this year as a result, but photos and reviews I've seen look like the balcony will have 2 small hard chairs, and a little table. Does anyone know if there are hooks for a camping style hammock to lounge in as we go through the Fjords?

Thanks 👍

I recently booked via an agent, and had the P&O website open in front of me while doing it. They had the exact same cabin availability at the agents that I could see online.

Found this online:

Norwegian Taster Menu

Amuse Crispy Chicken Skin, White Fish Caviar*, Watercress Mayonnaise Cabbage Shoots, Marigold Petals and Vinaigrette (gf)

Starter Pickled Beets, Goat’s Cheese Cream and Apple Crisp Rye (v) These beets are from Brims, an island outside Stavanger, and are prepared using a traditional Norwegian cooking method of pickling. Gluten-free option available

Fish Fillet of Lightly Smoked Mountain Trout* Horseradish Cream, Pickled Cucumber and Puffed Rye This brown trout is reared in Røldalsfjellet and weighs approximately 500-600grams. In this dish, the trout is lightly smoked, served together with a fresh cucumber salad and a rich horseradish cream – a classic Norwegian combination. Gluten-free option available

Main Course Fillet of Jaeren Costal Lamb* Potato Cream Mayonnaise, White Onions, Baby Carrots, Hispi Cabbage Chive Oil, Jus Gras and Butter Emulsion (gf) The lamb gets its unique taste from the ‘salty’ soil and is crispened and accompanied with a powerful potato cream mayonnaise and a shredded lamb garnish.

Pre-Dessert Cream Cheese Ice Cream, Buerre Noisette and a Sweet Crumb The ice cream is made from a delicate local cheese.

Dessert White Chocolate Espuma and Cloudberry Sorbet Meringue, Caramelised White Chocolate, Cloudberries (gf) This is a modified variant of the classic Norwegian dessert cloudberry and cream. Cloudberries are very juicy with a similar taste to a raspberry or a redcurrant. They can be fairly tart when eaten raw but with a hint of floral sweetness.

Coffee and Petit Fours Caramel and Forest Mushroom Fudge (gf) This Finnish fudge has a light aroma of cep mushrooms.

---------------------------------------------------------------

Norwegian Vegetarian Taster

Menu Amuse Crispy Green Cabbage, Watercress Mayonnaise Cabbage Shoots, Marigold Petals and Vinaigrette (gf)

Starter Pickled Beets, Goat’s Cheese Cream and Apple Crisp Rye These beets are from Brims, an island outside Stavanger, and are prepared using a traditional Norwegian cooking method of pickling. Gluten-free option available

Salad Cucumber Salad Horseradish Cream and Puffed Rye Gluten-free option available

Main Course Salad of Roasted Celeriac, Creamed Potatoes, White Onions, Baby Carrots, Hispi Cabbage Cabbage Chive Oil, Butter Emulsion (gf)

Pre-Dessert Cream Cheese Ice Cream, Buerre Noisette and a Sweet Crumb The ice cream is made from a delicate local cheese.

Dessert White Chocolate Espuma and Cloudberry Sorbet Meringue, Caramelised White Chocolate, Cloudberries (gf) This is a modified variant of the classic Norwegian dessert cloudberry and cream. Cloudberries are very juicy with a similar taste to a raspberry or a redcurrant. They can be fairly tart when eaten raw but with a hint of floral sweetness.

Coffee and Petit Fours Caramel and Forest Mushroom Fudge (gf) This Finnish fudge has a light aroma of cep mushrooms.

When we were on Iona last July I had looked into this and was excited to book. Sadly Epicurean was closed during that cruise, but I do remember that there was a vegetarian tasting menu alongside the meat / fish one. I remember this as my wife doesn't like lamb, so we were hoping to swap out the lamb course for the veggie one instead.

2 weeks ago it was find a trolley (there were plenty) and take luggage over yourself. Not far though, and then it went onto the conveyor and away. 

4 hours ago, Vampiress88 said:

These are all the ports we will be visiting. 
 

Nordfjordeid -

Hellesylt- 

Molde -

Stavanger-

Hamburg Germany -

Cherbourg France -

Rotterdam Netherlands-

Zeebruge Belgium -

La Harve France -

Madeira -

Tenerife-

Gran Canaria -

Lanzarote-

Cadiz -

Lisbon -

Olden -

Alesund -

Haugesund -

That's one hell of a cruise!! 

9 hours ago, davecttr said:

I bought an expensive Swiss watch a few years ago and soon found that I never wear it so it languishes in a drawer at home and I sport a cheap Casio watch that does not tell you the time on alpha centauri etc etc. The use of OBC compensation is meant to mislead as the cost to the company is less than the headline amount.

Looking forward the that episode of Antiques Roadshow 

5 hours ago, Fionboard said:

Might not see seven though, as some are pretty faint in Summer!

Don't think you can blame P&O for that, although some on here might 😉

We have Celena Cherry this coming Sat and Sun, followed by LA Voix the rest of the week. 

1 minute ago, chrisg1uk said:

Its this sentence that concerns me most:   In this instance, please speak to the teams on board who will advise on the most up to date availability".  

So basically "Enquire on board" then 😂

8 minutes ago, chrisg1uk said:

Have just checked my personaliser.  I have no idea if this is new or always been the case but at the top you will probably see:  "However, if below your options read ‘Available to book on board’, this means that bookings for speciality restaurants for your cruise are not bookable before your holiday. In this instance, please speak to the teams on board who will advise on the most up to date availability".  

Given how "careful"  P&O are with words, no I don't think you can make any such assumption. As Moley said earlier, they could be closed, open or fully booked. I for one have had enough and will be moving my very expensive (for me) 1 off cruise to much later.  Hopefully by then they will be providing whats in the brochure or at least telling us upfront what they won't be delivering .  

Hadn't noticed that, and yes it is new. The wording changed from "Enquire on board" to "Available to book on board" in the last day or so. Odd wording though given the new explanation. The "Enquire..." message would be more appropriate if there's that uncertainty. The "Available...." message implies that once on board you can definately book. 

48 minutes ago, molecrochip said:

They could be closed, fully booked or available to book on board.

So when listed as "Available to book on board" can one assume that they will be open? This is the new message on my online booking. 

5 hours ago, molecrochip said:

Cruise personaliser had been listing 'enquire on board'. That doesn't say open, it says ask.

Interestingly, my Cruise Personaliser has changed in the last day or so, and now, instead of "Enquire on board", says "Available to book on board" 

Small change of wording, but reason for optimism perhaps?? 

Agreed. We are due on board Iona in 3 weeks time. Marco Pierre White is kind enough to be joining us. Tad embarrassing if the flagship restaurant is closed. 

28 minutes ago, Selbourne said:

Although keep in mind that Hellesylt was itself a substitution for Geiranger.

Yes, but the question was itinerary vs what they expected as they embarked on 18 June.