Host Sharon

Another lazy sea day before Toulon. As it is only 400m to the old town we don’t get a shuttle. We picked up the pilot about 9am and slowly entered the large harbour. My friend set off soon after we berthed at 10am. Due to my walking problems I stayed on board. It was HOT! Much warmer than I was expecting. I found a table in the shade on the Liod deck and read until the grill there opened. The waiters were bringing round trays of cranberry juice and ginger ale. I opted for some scampi + hold the chips.

On 5/14/2024 at 7:18 PM, Denarius said:

But what does it taste like? Sadly, in my experience when things go gluten free they rarely taste as good as they did before.

I would never have known. Delicious as always. Our captain is Franko Papic, easily understood. our friend had to disembark at 2pm but enjoyed her visit and meal. I sat in the sun until sailaway at 3pm. Pre dinner drinks in the South Cape bar before dinner of delicious duck spring rolls with hoisin sauce and barramundi. Unfortunately the blueberry cheesecake (sugar free) was.tasteless so I left half and had a chunk of Brie to clear my palate. Just waiting for the show to start.

On 5/12/2024 at 1:50 PM, Lady Meer said:

I hope your trip runs smoothly after a tricky start. I shall be following your every move!

 

I did hear that the batter on the fish is now gluten-free for everyone. I wonder if you would be kind enough to check if that’s true.

Yes, beer battered cod is gluten free.

Days 3 & 4 followed a similar pattern. Lazy days interspersed with talks, craft lessons (complimentary materials) and meals. On Monday we had a solos lunch. This was carefully organised with name tags and every table ad a host - on mine was the chaplain. It was a slightly reduced version of the general lunch menu. Today, 14 May, we arrived in Gibraltar. The seas have been calm throughout so far and by 9am it was hot and sunny. My friend has gone on the included tour while I chill on board. We have a mutual friend who lives here and we have arranged for her to come o board for lunch. Till then, a cold beer and chair in the shade beckon.

On 5/12/2024 at 8:55 PM, Windsurfboy said:

Hope you have a  great time. Favourite ship. 

 

Last time I was on Spirit of  Discovery in November last year had a great cruise,  but it was still suffering from aftermath of previous disastrous cruise. One noticeable thing , very few steamer chairs on promenade deck , less than half versus on our previous Saga cruise. I think a lot got swept overboard even though tied down.  What's the situation now,  is there enough to fill both sides of ship on prom deck.

16 sunbeds and steamer chairs per side.

3 hours ago, Lady Meer said:

I hope your trip runs smoothly after a tricky start. I shall be following your every move!

 

I did hear that the batter on the fish is now gluten-free for everyone. I wonder if you would be kind enough to check if that’s true.

I’ll try and find out.

Day 2

Woke early after a good night’s sleep. Breakfasted in The Lido. There is not much use of hand gel on board as in all eating places you are first directed to a hand-washing station after which they take you to a numbered table. I don’t eat much for breakfast so asked for a small plate of fresh fruit and a croissant. Normally you choose your own like in any buffet but since I can’t carry it I got waiter service - in this instance a huge dish of melon, oranges, apricot, pear and peach! Toast is brought round all the tables with marmalade, honey etc. Butter is on the table. Since it was such a lovely day and feeling my normal first day lethargy, I then spent the morning sitting in the warm sun on an aft deck until noon. That was the time for the Solos meet and greet with Prosecco and ent. staff. Back in the cabin it had been rearranged for us and was great. Let’s just hope they let us keep it that way. Lunch was a small portion of beer-battered cod, chips and mushy peas before another doze in the sun. This is how I like the Bay of Biscay! Showered, changed and after my favourite cocktail, went into dinner and was seated at a table for 4. Chose vegetable tapas, poached salmon and the best sticky toffee pudding I have ever eaten. It was not too sweet, crispy on the outside and a perfect sponge in the middle. Went to cabin to watch what was left of the Eurovision Song Contest. 

I’m in heaven! It’s been a while and after a rough year in which I had a bad accident, I am finally back on board a cruise ship. The sea is calm, the sun is shining and I am dozing on our balcony. There is a big difference however in my current cruising and that is that I now have to use a rollator. So, first issue. Saga provide complimentary transport to the port but - I couldn’t get in the smart Mercedes people carrier. Not in the front passenger seat, not into the back. The step was just too high for me. My neighbour kindly provided a solution in the form of a shower step but …¦. The motorways were jammed but otherwise it was a slow but straightforward drive down, picking up a couple and another solo lady on the way. Next issue - this was my first time boarding at the new cruise terminal at Portsmouth and it is not disabled friendly. The luggage is dropped off first and then passengers are taken to the main entrance. I had booked assistance but this doesn’t start until after the shuttle ride so there is a long walk and lift ride to check-in, then a further short walk to the shuttle bus (which fortunately did have a ramp access) and then you await your assistance person with wheelchair to take you up the steep air bridge. I was taken right to the cabin though, unlike previous cruises where I was only taken on board and then had to follow the stewardess to the cabin. Now came another major issue I had not anticipated. My rollator would not fit past the end of the second bed. (I’m sharing a standard cabin with a friend) to the dressing table and balcony! A solution was eventually found by turning one bed 90 degree but for tonight we’ll have to manage. Dinner was an open sitting in the MDR. Good company and delicious food as usual, after which I retired to bed as exhausted. More tomorrow.

For future reference there is a dedicated forum here https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/499-cruisetravel-insurance/

42 minutes ago, Poole Boy said:

So far Cunards focus appears to be all about the naming ceremony, the maiden voyage appear to be an afterthought.

 

This seems to be the norm now for Carnival UK brands. I was booked on the Iona and Arvia maidens, both of which had date changes so I had to cancel but, given the naming cruises were the ones that had all the events, was not upset. Sun Princess is also having both a maiden and a naming cruise.

39 minutes ago, kalos said:

 

How are you keeping these days Sharon?

Hopefully pain free now  🙂

Not much pain thanks but the compression fracture of the  femur has left me with one leg shorter than the other and it’s giving me back ache. Still hoping to cruise in May even if I don’t get ashore much.

Please keep politics off the agenda.

That’s fine, as long as they are cruise-related and not agents.

Try asking this in the Ports of Call section. You may get more replies.  https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/116-northern-europe-baltic-sea/

1 hour ago, jeanlyon said:

It would be March/April, so I'm guessing very cold.  Hmmm.

I did a northern lights cruise to Norway in March. Thick snow north of Bergen and yes, very cold. May to September would be warmer and no snow.

I suggest you also post on the Azamara board.

I wish you all a happy, healthy and peaceful Christmas. After another month in hospital with pneumonia, Christmas and cruising are cancelled for the time being. Just appreciate everything one has and take nothing for granted.

Best to check out the Ports of Call thread on CC.

You also need to take into account, re accessability, that as the Saga ships are new, the whole ship is easily accessible, with automatic deck doors, unlike Aurora. There is also more space in the dining rooms to manoever a wheelchair or walker. 

Personally I prefer small ships for the larger choice of ports they can visit. I also like a more intimate and social atmosphere. I want to feel as if I am on a ship, not at a resort hotel on land.

This thread about booking in the MDR has been completely hijacked. This is contrary to CC Guidelines. If it continues I will lock the thread. 

Since this is not related to P&O I am locking it down.

15 hours ago, Interestedcruisefan said:

That's definitely wider choice and better quality

 

Was the Captain's welcome aboard dinner a special menu ?

First formal night

Once again this thread is going nowhere. 

Phew! Finally home and back on here, although I need some gentle breaking in. Thank goodness I didn’t know back on 29 May that I would still be in hospital 8 weeks later, 6 of them on complete bed rest. All followed by the NHS shipping me off to a nursing home for another month. Now home but hobbling very gingerly with zimmer frame. Still a ways to go I fear.