joeholiday2

Just watched Sunday's Top Gear.

Maybe they will put on a hovercraft trip for the guys.... :D:D

I've been on CC too long now to know that that may be a wish rather than reality :D:D:)

 

If it is reality then Thomson really DO need just one newer ship to entice some of us. :)

We are a lot more civilised on here than a lot of the other boards (hope that's not a case of famous last words......)

Thomson and Fred will need to improve the offering in the next few years or people will be looking elsewhere, it's happening now as many of us diehard Thomson cruisers are defecting to other lines.

It will be interesting to see what virgin will bring to the market.

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It's a terrible airport. Maybe they could stagger the coach arrivals more to lessen the queues? Not sure even if that would work as it's so disorganised when you get there. They really need to get the airport to change the layout, it just doesn't work.

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Tallin is a great poc, 10 minutes walk from the dock.

We loved wardemunde, got the train to Rostock in the morning, you then have to get a tram into the town centre as it's a bit too far to walk. It's nice for a couple of hours. We were back in wardemunde for lunch and then had a walk along the canal and towards the beach. It really surprised us how nice it was.

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Linda. Just to the right of Richard, as we are looking at it.

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Her Madge should delegate. Naming a floating Butlins is beneath her. She should send Andrew.

LOL...

I like your style, however at the present moment that may give the wrong impression about the Ship. :o:o

I cannot see the ship staying 14 hours in Gib.

 

 

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That's what it says on the port authority schedule, however I suppose it's up the Captain if he wants to leave early.

He has a day at sea to get to Barcelona, so there is no need to leave any earlier.

It would have been a better cruise if they had fitted Cartagena in. But we aren't spending onboard then. :rolleyes:

We have had some early morning arrivals and then late night departures in the past, Koper to Venice is mostly spent doing circles in the middle of the night. :confused:

Yep, it is a long way to Belem, too far to walk.

Hi Linda.

As you know we are on the same cruise.

From trawling the port websites the bits I have found different from the Iglu data are:

Cadiz 9am-11pm

Gib 9am-11pm

Livorno 8am-7pm

Genoa 6am-9pm

Hi Linda.

This summarises what we did the first time we visited at Christmas 13, it's a nice trip.

Got €6.50 day transport pass from lottery kiosk at Apolonia Station, just behind main ticket counter. Metro to main Comercio square, tram 15E to Belem, had a nice walk around all along the front and had the Pasteis (yummy) from the famous cafe. Tram back to Figurera square and did the Santa Justa elevator which is included in transport pass. Got tram 12 around the Alfama past the Castle, walked back to ship.

The ship will be docked at JTAB, ( I checked the Lisbon port listings) or as Dave correctly calls it the old Tobacco Warf. The Apolonia station is either directly in front of the berth or just to the right. It's Comercio Square that has the horse statue.

I will PM you on facebook and send a more detailed document, the one I sent Jules last year. If anyone else wants it either hit me up on FB or post an email address on here.

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"We even went on a holiday to Austria and took them up a mountain. The couple we were with in a café suddenly produced their 2 teddy bears for a photo and apologised if we thought they we were mad. We then produced Mr and Mrs T Bear for a 'group shot' ..... it was one of the funniest coincidences ever!"

Thanks Presto2, that's a great tale.

The cabin stewards on Thomson love our ducks too.

There is a new addition to the family, he made his first trip to Benidorm this Christmas.

For those who don't know about the website, here it is:

https://joeholiday2.shutterfly.com/pictures

Sorry for going OT.... it's all in good fun.

Imagine the looks I would get on P&O setting them down as we have tea.

They normally only come out for a quick picture, then straight back in the bag before they send for the yellow van....

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Great news Brenda :-)

Hope the new home brings you plenty of good luck, and you settle in quickly.

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Joining you on Oceana 22nd March Linda :)

Doing the 17 nighter.

Will have to arrange a meet, you can put a face to the one behind the ducks then. You will find out I really am quackers...:D:D

oooh must watch that, I'm supposed to be reserved on P&O aren't I? Can't get the ducks out for afternoon tea like we did with Jules and Toni on the Dream.

Have a look at these pictures, some are balcony cabins, all with the room numbers listed.

https://joeholiday2.shutterfly.com/pictures/1840

http://www.tomsportguides.com/portguides.html

Is a cracking website for researching your own trips. You can put the PDF's on a smartphone or tablet and look whilst you are away. The ports of call forums on this website are great too.

The X80 is a great service, used it last October, just make sure you get your €4 ticket from the kiosk next to the HOHO buses pick up from then the bus stop is only across the road.

If you want to do Ephesus then as Linda says the ships tour is recommended, it's around £35-40 for the half day one I think.

We caught this glimpse of her in Pireaus last October, Still miss the old girl....

Marco Pierre White.....

I can't remember the show times, but they are not up to the usual Thomson standard, however the guest artists are good and there are a few of them rather than the one that Thomson fly in.

I remember wandering around on Christmas eve at 11.30pm and the only ones in the Atrium were us and some staff members taking pictures by the tree. Even the disco was empty.

Hi, a belated happy new year to all. :)

Well done for booking the P&O Linda.

We might be joining you, been looking at the 17 nighter, it's cheaper than any of the Thomson offerings (albeit a little colder itinerary) and it means I can get a long holiday for only having to take 11 days off work.

We have been on the Oceana twice, you have no need to worry about the ship Linda, it's a lot plusher that the Thomson fleet. As S2B mentioned lunch in cafe Jardin is excellent, they also do a nice late night hot chocolate or horlicks in there.

The only negatives we could find are that most of the passengers are tucked up by 10.30pm, and this was on the Christmas cruise:eek: , some of the staff are a bit standoffish, and the MPW offering in cafe Jardin for the evening we found was very over salted, not worth paying extra for.

Blimmin heck that's cold!!! 18 degrees here today without a cloud in the sky! All the Brit new arrivals are going round in shorts and sleeveless T Shirts and even we coldies are not wearing jackets.

Thanks for that report Brenda.

Shorts and T shirts.... that will be us on Saturday in Beni :D:D

Would rather be in Funchal over New Year though, it's a magic place over Christmas and New Year.

As you exit the tunnel, look right and Ocean Bar is the one on stilts sticking out into the water. Great spot!

 

Yes that's the way we usually plan our day too - Grande Anse followed by a wander round the Carenage - and a visit to Ocean Bar! We've never tried the bus though but did once go by taxi - I guess that dropped us near the bus stop - was it on the far side and through the craft market?

There is a bus stop near the market, but we go one stop more to the roundabout. It's quieter down there, and a nice walk along the beach past the expensive Hotels.

First time we went, we docked in the Carenage on Destiny, the main port was full of floating shopping malls. What a great sail in. :D

Great pics joe! We were just clicking through and got to one and both said 'Wow!'. Checked out where it was and...........Church Valley! :D Figures!!!!! Did you go to Ocean's Bar on the Carenage at Grenada? One of our favourite spots - and really good cocktails! ;) Brings back some great memories!

We never had a drink there, is that the one close to the tunnel?

I remember you waxing lyrical about the amount of alcohol in the drinks....hic..

It's nice walking around there, we have always headed for Grand Anse as well, getting the local bus rather than the tourist water taxi, you get dropped off at the roundabout, it's closer to the middle of the beach and away from all those Bl**dy cruisers...:p

Nice job on the time lapse Kev :D

If you fancy a change from Cane Garden I can recommend Virgin Gorda.

If you are mobile it's a great place to go, you have to be fairly mobile to get through the trail, but it's worth it.

When we went, Thomson wanted around £10 each more than the trip from the quayside, we booked with them as we thought it wasn't worth getting stranded on a different Island for the sake of a tenner.

Some more pics here:

https://joeholiday2.shutterfly.com/pictures/1575

Hi Brenda.

You are definitely doing the right thing, when you find a good Doctor that you have faith in, then stick with them.

Hope your Husband is feeling better, him knowing that you have both decided to stay close to the Hospital will be a big worry off his mind and will aid his recovery.

Best wishes to both of you.

Joe.

I thought it was a huge faux pas that they were posting pictures of one of the last cruises to the fjords and saying how fabulous it was. Knowing that they are not going back next year.... Doh.... :banghead::banghead:

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What if it's a service cat?:D:D:D