mrsgoggins

LOL, no just a farmer’s field!

Lovely morning here in West Lancashire. An uplifting feel to the day. I was inspired to take a photo from my living room window, so apologies if it turns out upside down or, worse still, huge!

We used them two weeks ago when we joined Iona around 1 pm and waited in the car for no more than 2/3 minutes before we were processed. We have only had a long queue with them just once (a few years ago pre-covid, but from memory, 15 minutes tops), but hey, we were sat in our car and not having to cart the luggage any distance, so no stress at all. Additionally, the disembarkation process was so quick, just across the road, and DH who normally hates handing over the car keys, is always impressed with them and remarked what a slick operation it is.

I’ve always rated her as an actor (but not enough to watch Corrie again) and saw her twice in one woman shows in the West End. The first time was as Joyce Grenfell and the second as Florence Foster Jenkins - years before the film with Meryl Streep and Hugh Grant came out. I think the comedy label comes from her BT ads - ‘an ‘ology, he’s got an ‘ology?’ 😁

After watching since I was a child, I finally gave up on it about 6 or 7 years ago, when the humour became less and less and there so many episodes to catch up on if you had been away - twice a week with Mavis, Percy Sugden, Blanche, Norris etc suited me down to the ground! In fact, when I was about 11, I remember writing to my favourites at Granada requesting signed photos and had a good collection including Elsie Tanner, Len Fairclough, Ena, Martha and Minnie, the latter being a favourite since she included a long hand written letter, probably because I had admired her cat, Bobby 😁. And, Harry if you are reading, I just about remember the Grove family! These days I catch up with the Archers on the iPlayer but that's about it for long running series. After having been away, my recorded catch ups are The Bay, Unforgotten, Would I lie to You and The Andrew Neil Show.

We self-disembarked at 6.30, drove off at 7.50 and were home in West Lancs for 10.35 - a record for us. And yes, the cruise was good thanks, but we belong to the ‘never had a bad one’ group. The Captain told us that the ship had behaved magnificently as it always does during the ‘challenging’ (Bay of Biscay) conditions, and that it would begin to calm by mid afternoon yesterday, which it did. Stugeron (and staying midship) kept me well as you predicted Harry 👍 There was much to admire about the ship, but it’s not for us, so we are very unlikely to sail on Iona again, but it delivered the winter sun we wanted in comfort and without the need to trouble an airport - result! 😄

I think an appropriate term here - one of my late mother's favourites - is Job's comforter 😁

I meant it quite literally when I said ‘interesting’. As in, the Captain reporting the positives whilst still urging caution around the ship when reporting that conditions will deteriorate (my word not his, he spoke of increase of swell etc). I guess he has a decision to make about how much to “share” for not wishing to worry people. I had a full lunch today thinking that it just might be the last time I leave my Iona (mid ship) cabin until Southampton! When you first reported the news about Sky Princess missing ports to dock in Southampton 2 mornings ago, I did wonder why we weren’t doing the same and said I hoped it wasn’t because of Gary Barlow being due on board. DH assured me that the Captain would not have included that in his decision making. Hmmmm 🙄 ….. 🤞

Interesting. The captain said this morning that he's made excellent progress since leaving Lisbon yesterday and we have a tail wind, so we shall see.

The standard UK travel industry's response of course. However as someone who has cruised extensively over the past 6 years, and a keen reader of CCs Princess and Celebrity boards,(as I travel with them more frequently than P&O), I don't recall any instances where I thought 'you would have done better with UK consumer protection' when things have gone wrong! Those protections didn't serve us any better during the pandemic when US customers faired in a similar way to us, ie all in good time. However, I do thank you for the insightful responses you make to these boards and the time you give, 👍

Been working on Celebrity for some years and there it is open to UK customers. I have considered it but never done it because of the location issue. I want to guarantee midship and that isn't possible. You already provide your cc details when you bid and so no negotiation over cabin as I understand it.

One laugh emoji wasn't enough 😂😂, very sharp 👍

As a poor sailor, currently in Lisbon on Iona and due back in Southampton on Saturday, I am not cheered by any of this 🤢🤢. I’ll be starting my Stugeron routine tomorrow, wish me luck!

What you describe may be happening on the current cruise also. We have opted for the smaller Opal dining room which appears to book up and disappear from the system, leaving the 2 larger venues to queue virtually. Therefore people are more likely to be turned away from the smaller dining rooms if they are fully booked. Not surprising. This evening people were prevented from entering the theatre (told they could wait if they wished) because they had a booking for the earlier show which they had missed. I can see how this is necessary on a ship the size of Iona when full, but it just isn't for us, despite having no problems ourselves. I've joined the 'prefer a smaller ship' group, but not a 'small' ship - I want big stabilisers for the Bay of Biscay challenge 😉

+1

😁 Very true, the only thing you've ever written that I disagreed with was your not liking Lindt Lindor! Thank you. I have already made a few notes with the intention of writing them up when I am home and have access to a 'proper' keyboard. I can't do thumbs alas, but if there's anything specific you'd like to ask, I'll oblige if I can.

I agree up to a point. I'm on Iona now and can see it's not a good fit for us. I'm a planner, dine early and am reasonably 'tech savvy' but I dislike not being just able to turn up at whichever time theatre performance I fancy after dinner. Even pre-booking 5.30 dining puts you in a queue, often with those who haven't understood the system. I feel really sorry for some older folk who appear bewildered when they reach the front only to be declined immediate entry due to not booking. Then there are those (passengers) aggressively asking if you've booked 'because there are plenty who haven't?'. Only day 3 for me and so it will probably settle down as those not 'in the know' become informed. It's the size of the ship and passenger numbers ultimately. Lots to like on this mega ship but it's a once and done for me! And I will barely mention the 2 thin slices of turkey, one roast potato and 2 sprouts on last night's dinner 😂. Taste was good though!

The photo of Oasis and Enchantment was reassuring for me Graham as we are on the latter later in the year out of Athens. We had a wonderful cruise on the giant (to my eyes) Anthem of the Seas in 2021 but it was only carrying around 1300 passengers. Happier with smaller. Thanks 👍

Same glorious sunshine in my part of SW Lancashire Michelle 👍 Eight years ago an elderly lady posted on a local internet site that she would like to meet new people. Six strangers turned up at the coffee shop and we all became good friends. We try to meet up weekly at each other’s homes but sometimes go out for lunch instead. Today I’m hosting. Next week, however we are returning to the coffee shop where we first met, to remember the wonderful lady who brought us together. She died suddenly one year ago at the age of 92, whilst still being fit enough to collect her morning paper and climb stairs! Despite being 20 or so years older than the rest of us, she was lively of mind, intelligent, kind and a joy to be with and we miss her. Enjoy your meal out tonight Michelle.

I’m certain that I would enjoy sharing a table with you and your wife Harry, and I agree with much of what you say, but my husband’s hearing is so very poor these days, that I find it stressful sharing, knowing he will be missing parts of the conversation. We don’t linger over meals because dining rooms are noisy places and so we save our conversation for our room. As an aside, I’m lucky enough to have really good hearing and so often I find myself overhearing conversations on neighbouring tables and wishing I could join in! I’m sure there are quite a few reasons why people would prefer not to share.

Did you try the other restaurants before settling on the Coral restaurant? Thanks for the info about not needing to book for the Glasshouse or Olive Grove.

I'm due on Iona in two weeks and I'm still trying to work things out. I've made the bookings I think I want, but hesitated about Sindhu. The reason being we tried it on Ventura last year and were not that impressed. Does the £10 pp booking fee come off the total spend or is it just that, a booking fee? Good to hear of so many positive accounts because previously I had read the lengthy cruise reports on here and they are generally less than flattering.

Unless there is another one we did not see, the small ferry we saw very close to the ship was taking people on a short tour, but I don't remember the price. We were looking for exactly what you describe but didn't see any sign of one.

Mmmmm ...... not sure about the swings and roundabouts analogy. We've docked at Pointe Seraphine twice previously (and didn't realise there was another place to dock!) but this year, on Celebrity's Equinox, we were at the dock in town whilst the much bigger Anthem of the Seas was at Pointe Seraphine. The port exit was scruffy and the nearby market itself had seen better days and had few visitors. I felt sorry for the stallholders and so made a purchase, which I rarely do. Also, this area is not easy for people with walkers or mobility issues, unlike Pointe Seraphine. A young Canadian couple we became friendly with, did do the walk to Pointe Seraphine and I think said it took them 20 minutes to do, at a good pace. We did enjoy watching the crowds of folk returning to Anthem from our balcony because the only time we had been on her, was during a covid-safe bargain week around the UK in 2021, when the ship had fewer than a third of its passenger load. That year will be forever thought of as a golden year of cruising in my mind.

My (retired) pharmacist cruiser friend recommended Stugeron to me years ago, before she became a really good friend and she definitely didn’t ask what medication I took. I think your caution is probably misplaced in this instance, although I would always read the details on/in the packet as I assume others would do the same. I’ve been grateful to Stugeron a few times and only wish I’d known about it on a Viking cruise (small ship plus North Sea) when I ‘disgraced’ myself in the theatre. Since then, I only book midship, low deck and stay away from the theatre!