TigerB

I believe it is just the GF version; well, it was certainly that on Britannia last autumn, as our eldest daughter drank it.

Your Epicurean is obviously matching ours week for week with the menu. I had the scallops, black cod, and crêpes the other night; the latter sadly still not prepared at the table. I am certainly not a fan of marmite, but surprisingly I do not mind the marmite butter. After having it in January, our lass remembered she really likes marmite, and now always has it on toast, much to my disgust. They must waste loads of it on these ships; she always makes it clear to the breakfast waiters that she just wants a small amount, and often shows them a teaspoon, to indicate just how much. Nine times out of ten they bring back a dish or ramekin with at least two tablespoons in. So, almost all of that would end up in the bin.

...and talking of the Wheeltappers and Shunters Club 😂

The exact same menu as we had on Tuesday; very uninspiring, for me anyway. I'm a pescatarian, but not a great admirer of fried cod. I would have had the aubergine and mozzarella doodah, but I'm not keen on polenta. I went for the calamari, the cod, and the bread and butter pudding.

I think the next time we go back to Switzerland, we will fly but it will be a one way trip🫢

The smoothies on Iona and Arvia are definitely watery, and probably straight from a carton; I've stopped having them. Unlike the lift problems you encountered in June, I have to say we haven't experienced the same. I thought we would given that we have seen more wheelchair and scooter users on this cruise than we have on any other. Our cabin is in the forward section of deck 15, and the only time there were problems was on our second sea day when four of the eight lifts near us were out of service. That is the only time I have had to ask someone, who charged into the lift we were heading for, to be aware that a wheelchair user was waiting before him to use it. He got off sheepishly.

I'm still only half way through this thread, but will come back to it later, seeing that we are staying in port tonight and I'll get my money's worth out of my £2 Sky passport. Just a quick one before I go and prepare the pre-dinner cocktails... I'm sat in the adult only section on the starboard side of deck 18, near to the entrance to the retreat. Two fellas came up, and were having a right nosey. "What's this? Shall we have a look"? One tries the handle, then gets his cruise card out to try the sensor. "Not working", he says to his mate, who is still staring through the bars. "Maybe they don't want us in there"? Do you think?🤔

The only guest speaker on Iona this first week is also a 'Whaler'. They must be expecting her to be popular though, as she is in the theatre. At breakfast we have been at a couple of two-seaters in a bank of three or more; we're mixing it up between Pearl, Coral, and Aqua. The other morning there was a particularly loud woman on her own, wanting to have a conversation with everyone that would listen; luckily the couple between us acted as a buffer!🤭 On the other side to us though was a chap who was dining without his wife, and we had a really interesting conversation about travel in the US, and prisons over there. Apart from the two nights we dined in Epicurean and Sindhu, we have eaten our evening meal in Opal, and have fallen lucky with the tables; on one night we were on a proper two-seater, albeit in the crèche (I'll explain more when I do my post-cruise report), and on the other two nights the lovely host asked if we would mind sitting on a table for four, exclusive to us. Of course not, was the obvious answer.🙂

Yes, indeed! On our first week we have a Spanish comedian who, I read, was brought up in Wales. I'll give his adult only show a go tonight.

If that the pastry chef awarding you with a crown? They must have heard about your live-from blog😉

Unlike your first night, which had the same menu as ours, our first formal night menu was totally different. There was no split menu, the whole thing was a Marco says your choices are this affair

My mistake, I had it in my head that you were on Ventura in January. Yes, I've read in your subsequent post about the problems with no direct line of sight. That's a shame but, as you say, you won't have the same problem in January.

That would have been funny to see, the Les Dawson tribute act!😂 Eric Morecambe comes to mind too. What was it he said to André Previn, "I'm playing all the right notes sunshine, but not necessarily in the right order"? The comedian you saw later, with the predictable punchlines; straight off Wheeltappers and Shunters, was he?😉

It feels like it too! When I went to reception on the first day, the lad said (his words) the ship is rammed, sir.😂 One of our waiters said there were 1500 kids on the last cruise.

That is exactly the same menu we had for the first night here on Iona. Our lass really enjoyed the pork loin, even though it looked like a school dinner. Knowing what the portion sizes are like, I had to have two pieces of the stone bass fillet.😉

What a great cabin!👍 So, that'll be the same cabin type you'll have in January, for which you paid next to nowt?😉

As it happens, contrary to popular belief, as the Deputy Captain announced, we didn't enter the Bay of Biscay; we sailed to the west of it. It was still a wee bit rough though.

We're currently on deck 18 and can feel that juddering. We were going to have another bimble this afternoon, but looking at the dark clouds, we'll give it a miss. The accessible shuttles are a farce anyway, so just as well.

As others have written, to get the additional OBC you have to book direct with P&O, and it has to be a select fare. You do not necessarily have to use the dedicated phone line, but you need to be clear to the advisor that you wish to use it. The extra OBC can only be applied to the cabin in which the cardholder is staying. We have had it added retrospectively, but only once; I suppose it depends on who you get at the other end of the phone. The official line though is that it cannot be added retrospectively. If you book onboard, it cannot be used for additional OBC; I was told that is because you get other incentives by booking onboard, such as extra OBC. You DO still get the shareholder benefit if you are using it for OBC only. Occasionally, there may be an offer of a special price for the cruise by using your BLC; in that circumstance, you will not get your shareholder benefit. There was a period recently where P&O was not listed on the BLC website. However, during that period we were twice successful in getting the additional OBC when I called to book.

Out of curiosity, I wonder what happens when we stay overnight in port unexpectedly, as far as port staffing is concerned. The gangways will remain open until 04:00 for us, and likely the same for the other ships in port; so, there will be extra port security required later tonight and overnight. I guess that the cruise operators will pick up the overtime bill. There will be some port staff rubbing their hands with glee at the prospect of short notice ovvies, unlike the ship's security for whom there will be no monetary compensation.

As @Red Leicester writes, Alicante cancelled for us as the storm is expected to reach the Mediterranean tomorrow. There's been repeated tannoy announcements as for the reason, and to inform of port cancellation letters being delivered to cabins. I've overheard several folk chuntering about the missed port. What do they expect, the captain to put them and everyone onboard at risk?🙄

Oh, yes! Stugeron is my friend!😉

From Andover my sat-nav shows two routes, with three minutes between them. With the first we enter Southampton by the M271. The second takes us in by the M3. @Selbourne, the turn off from the M3 you refer to, is that at J12, then along the A335, and right past the airport? Or would we be best sticking with the first route, and staying well away from St Mary's?

Well, they did once against the Tigers.🙄

And they tend to draw a bigger crowd than The Iron.😉