Son of Anarchy

On Aurora, saw most, maybe all of the medical team's officer in Beach House one evening. All in their posh uniforms. One of them must have been on call, had their red grab-bag (well, rucksack actually) with them.

Really enjoyed the High Line as well. Just pinged off our missed port claim to the travel insurance people.

Had some really interesting chats at these events. An officer (with his wife) who was retiring and it was his last day at sea. Food and beverage manager, some interesting insights into that world of operations. Leon de St. Croix, fun guy, great chat about astronomy and interesting insights into his world of entertainment management.

We did that trip on the first night. Sorry to hear what happened. We didn't hear any scuttlebutt about it around the ship. Don't really know how we would have reacted about that. I do think that a bit more than just a full refund should have been provided. The trip takes up the whole evening, so couldn't use either the MDR, buffet or speciality restaurants on board. Maybe a complimentary meal in speciality dining to make up for the disappointment of what happened and having to rely on the afternoon buffet and Lido Grill service until returning for the late night buffet.

Interesting. A few years back was at one of those Captain's interview events with Andy Carr?. At the Q & A he was asked what the life kspanof a cruise ship was. He said that an accountant's answer would be 30 years, and a Captain's answer was 25 years. Another 5 years would take Aurora close to the accountant's answer. As Megabear and Selbourne have pointed out, no new builds on order (as far as we know), and of course Aurora and Arcadia serve a different audience to the rest of the fleet Personally, I thought Aurora could have done with a spruce up - some of the arms on chairs in the buffet were worn through. Only saw one coffee machine out of order, bit of a glitch with a lift one day, Blimey, not bad for someone over half way through their life cycle. Oh and the TVs in Champions could have been bigger. First world problems... Hopefully both Aurora and Arcadia can be cost-effectively maintained and continue beyond the accounts estimate.

At the Peninsula Party on Aurora last week, the Captain said that she was in the forthcoming brochure. Though as we know that doesn't stop them from selling the ship after taking bookings.

Just got back from 30 nights on Aurora. The thing that I missed the most was that there was no progressive quiz on sea days. Theme quiz yes, and syndicate quiz in the evenings. Went to theme on the first three sea days, and thereafter gave it a miss and went to the gym instead. Basically, the theme quiz clashed with the morning art class which The Ole Lady decided to do from the second day. We were travelling with another two couples. Although one of our friends also did the art class with the Ole Lady, they would have gone to the class that didn't clash with the quiz. Was glad to see that classical recitals were still happening on Aurora, did them on each day there was one. A gradual re-introduction of Afternoon Tea in the MDR on some sea days. Went on one afternoon, lovely. Only a 15 minute time slot to get in though. And Chocaholics buffet in the MDR towards the end of the cruise as well, though we didn't give that a go.

One of the things we noticed on Azura earlier this year was by late afternoon people left towels on loungers because they couldn't be bothered to put them in the used towels bins. Possibly a result of not providing lounger towels in the cabins anymore? Don't need to take it back to the cabin to get a fresh one, and too lazy to place in the appropriate bins. We just removed the towels and used the loungers.

Had the news on in the background yesterday and couldn't stop giggling at the thought of THE Ali Bongo being the president of a country. Had to google him to make sure I remembered the name correctly.

Due to sail on Aurora this weekend. Didn't expect to be able to book speciality dining prior to boarding. However, yesterday noticed that Sindhu and Beach House had suddenly become bookable. Made two bookings for Beach House.

Where I used to work our IT was provided by a company called CGI. They provided IT for a lot of government departments and public sector companies. They were a nightmare. I wonder whether they are the provider/maintainers for the ATC people and some of the rail IT stuff at a national level. Whilst I was still working, at one point my employer used a no cost get out clause to get out of the contract with CGI.

We are talking P&O here! 😇

What happens if the captain becomes incapacitated and there is insufficient fuel remaining to go to an alternative airfield?

According to Marinetraffic, thundering along at near full speed.

Hope your cruise goes ahead for you with minimal dispruption, 🤞

Sounds like an ideal passenger for the SS Drama Queen!

Good name for a ship!

We would not have volunteered to leave the ship either.

Wasn't aware of that, thanks. I can see the reasoning in that - Have a problem on a cruise where you've had an inside cabin on a Saver fare, get xx% FCC and use it towards a new booking for a longer cruise in a higher grade cabin, is potentially more than an FCC based on the cruise you had the problem on.

Whenever we've had FCC on P&O it has always been xx% off the price of a new booking. Anything that has been % off the price of the cruise we were on has been an actual refund to credit card.

We were on Ventura in 2019 when she broke down in Tenerife and we spent five days there. 50% refund of fare paid, plus I think £25pp OBC. We were B2B with the following cruise, which was cancelled. We got to stay on board for free for the run back to Southampton.

I was working on the premise that not enough passengers would volunteer. I doubt we would have volunteered.

Meant to say: I would not want to be one of those being asked to leave. Doh!

Sounds logical to me to do it that way. Mind you, I would not be one of those being asked to leave. Hopefully if anyone does have to be voluntold to go home, they will be well looked after.

Only Freedom dining on Arvia and Iona regarding main dining rooms.