Live from 35 nights on Ventura, what have I done?

[mrsgoggins]

The heading, is meant to convey that despite having done lots of cruises over the past 8 years, the length of this one causes me a little anxiety. Just a little you understand because January in the U.K. rarely has much to recommend it.

 

As I write it’s the first full sea day and force 8 gale was mentioned by the captain.  I’m not a good sailor and so having taken Stugeron, nothing would get me away from my midship position.  Only Bruce Springsteen himself could tempt me into the theatre at the front of the ship, since that is where my most embarrassing being ‘ill’ situation occurred, albeit on a much smaller (Viking) ship.

 

I won’t be writing daily but as I so much enjoy reading others ‘warts and all’ accounts, thought I’d give it a go, and with @grapau27’s encouragement, I will try to upload a few photographs as he assures me it’s easy using an Android phone, which I have, although I’m starting this on my iPad for ease.  Background done, I’ll make a start.

 

It seems to me that @Selbourne’s poor boarding experience on Aurora yesterday had much in common with the embarkation on Ventura and the people I’ve spoken with at breakfast and lunch were all variations of ‘never known it to be as bad’ and most of them were P&O veterans.  DH and I decided to come down by coach (we normally drive down the day before) after having had a really good experience with Eavesway when we did a one-way transatlantic last October, and they did not disappoint this time either.  We were collected at 7.45 am from Burtonwood services (near Warrington) and the driver announced that in addition to his 2 pick up stops and 1 hour lunch stop, he would make an extra short stop because of the delayed boarding. In the event though, and despite very heavy traffic around the Ocean terminal, we were dropped off shortly after 2 pm.  As our original boarding time was 3.15-4 pm, and we had been requested to delay by 2 hours, giving us a 5.15 boarding time, we took a quick glance at the 2 very lengthy outside lines and decided not to join them.

 

I approached one of the Interlink yellow jackets to ask where I could pick up an Uber and she pointed out the dock gates but also told me that there were coffee shop and pubs just a short walk away ‘across the green’.  We spent a very pleasant few hours in The White Star nearby in what I quickly identified as Ventura corner by the nature of the hand luggage of the other 6 people already there.  There was much laughter and interesting conversation and when we returned to the ship shortly after 5 pm, the port looked very different and boarding was relatively fast and efficient.  We definitely did the right thing not staying - my walking is not great, but my ability to stand for hours is even less good!

 

Today, despite the rough conditions overnight, which continue, it’s been a pleasant day with a good dinner, not made by me, a good breakfast (but oh how I wish they came round more often with tea/coffee refills) and a good lunch, also not made by me - result!  I had intended to go to a vocal workshop today but as it was in Havana and aft, decided against it.  As it was, we shared a table at lunchtime with 6 other nice folk - one of whom left before her main course due to the motion - and again, laughter ensued.  I enjoy chatting with others but because DH has poor hearing, often request a table for 2, but I should add that this bothers me more than it does him.

 

Even after a short time, I feel that the atmosphere in and around this ship is good natured; people speak in lifts, banter in queues, etc.  The vast majority of us are in the 60+ category and are seasoned cruisers and along with people from the bus, many appear to be regulars on these long cruises, although I’ve also spoken to others who share my concern of five weeks 🫣.  That’s partially flippant I should add, because I do know we are very lucky to be able to do this.

 

The entertainment in the theatre last night was a UB40 tribute band, who were okay - at least I knew the songs, unlike DH who has never really done pop songs (or popular culture for that matter) even when he hearing was good!  They didn’t do ‘Red red wine’ however and so I suspect it will be included on their next outing.  I know nothing of bars, being virtually a non-drinker but have pre-paid for Epicurean and the Beach House and will report back on my visits to them later.  I’ve also pre-booked 4 easy ship’s excursions (well, hoping that the ‘Death in Paradise’ tour qualifies or can be made to be easy!) and also the hire of a golf cart in Bonaire.  We did 2 back-to-back Caribbean cruises out of Fort Lauderdale last year (and have visited previously) so are quite relaxed about what we see and what we don’t. 

 

I had intended to be brief, but can see I’ve failed in that already 🙄. I’ll end by saying that the internet downloaded my newspaper relatively quickly and now I intend to swap my internet package over to my phone in an attempt to download pics from last night’s meal. Wish me luck!

[Interestedcruisefan]

Can't believe a UB40 tribute didn't sign "red red wine'

 

Have a great  cruise I'm sure you will!!!

[yorkshirephil]

31 minutes ago, mrsgoggins said:

The heading, is meant to convey that despite having done lots of cruises over the past 8 years, the length of this one causes me a little anxiety. Just a little you understand because January in the U.K. rarely has much to recommend it.

 

As I write it’s the first full sea day and force 8 gale was mentioned by the captain.  I’m not a good sailor and so having taken Stugeron, nothing would get me away from my midship position.  Only Bruce Springsteen himself could tempt me into the theatre at the front of the ship, since that is where my most embarrassing being ‘ill’ situation occurred, albeit on a much smaller (Viking) ship.

 

I won’t be writing daily but as I so much enjoy reading others ‘warts and all’ accounts, thought I’d give it a go, and with @grapau27’s encouragement, I will try to upload a few photographs as he assures me it’s easy using an Android phone, which I have, although I’m starting this on my iPad for ease.  Background done, I’ll make a start.

 

It seems to me that @Selbourne’s poor boarding experience on Aurora yesterday had much in common with the embarkation on Ventura and the people I’ve spoken with at breakfast and lunch were all variations of ‘never known it to be as bad’ and most of them were P&O veterans.  DH and I decided to come down by coach (we normally drive down the day before) after having had a really good experience with Eavesway when we did a one-way transatlantic last October, and they did not disappoint this time either.  We were collected at 7.45 am from Burtonwood services (near Warrington) and the driver announced that in addition to his 2 pick up stops and 1 hour lunch stop, he would make an extra short stop because of the delayed boarding. In the event though, and despite very heavy traffic around the Ocean terminal, we were dropped off shortly after 2 pm.  As our original boarding time was 3.15-4 pm, and we had been requested to delay by 2 hours, giving us a 5.15 boarding time, we took a quick glance at the 2 very lengthy outside lines and decided not to join them.

 

I approached one of the Interlink yellow jackets to ask where I could pick up an Uber and she pointed out the dock gates but also told me that there were coffee shop and pubs just a short walk away ‘across the green’.  We spent a very pleasant few hours in The White Star nearby in what I quickly identified as Ventura corner by the nature of the hand luggage of the other 6 people already there.  There was much laughter and interesting conversation and when we returned to the ship shortly after 5 pm, the port looked very different and boarding was relatively fast and efficient.  We definitely did the right thing not staying - my walking is not great, but my ability to stand for hours is even less good!

 

Today, despite the rough conditions overnight, which continue, it’s been a pleasant day with a good dinner, not made by me, a good breakfast (but oh how I wish they came round more often with tea/coffee refills) and a good lunch, also not made by me - result!  I had intended to go to a vocal workshop today but as it was in Havana and aft, decided against it.  As it was, we shared a table at lunchtime with 6 other nice folk - one of whom left before her main course due to the motion - and again, laughter ensued.  I enjoy chatting with others but because DH has poor hearing, often request a table for 2, but I should add that this bothers me more than it does him.

 

Even after a short time, I feel that the atmosphere in and around this ship is good natured; people speak in lifts, banter in queues, etc.  The vast majority of us are in the 60+ category and are seasoned cruisers and along with people from the bus, many appear to be regulars on these long cruises, although I’ve also spoken to others who share my concern of five weeks 🫣.  That’s partially flippant I should add, because I do know we are very lucky to be able to do this.

 

The entertainment in the theatre last night was a UB40 tribute band, who were okay - at least I knew the songs, unlike DH who has never really done pop songs (or popular culture for that matter) even when he hearing was good!  They didn’t do ‘Red red wine’ however and so I suspect it will be included on their next outing.  I know nothing of bars, being virtually a non-drinker but have pre-paid for Epicurean and the Beach House and will report back on my visits to them later.  I’ve also pre-booked 4 easy ship’s excursions (well, hoping that the ‘Death in Paradise’ tour qualifies or can be made to be easy!) and also the hire of a golf cart in Bonaire.  We did 2 back-to-back Caribbean cruises out of Fort Lauderdale last year (and have visited previously) so are quite relaxed about what we see and what we don’t. 

 

I had intended to be brief, but can see I’ve failed in that already 🙄. I’ll end by saying that the internet downloaded my newspaper relatively quickly and now I intend to swap my internet package over to my phone in an attempt to download pics from last night’s meal. Wish me luck!

Was the tribute band "Rats in the kitchen" as we have seen them a couple of times and thought they were very good, they did Red red wine in their second show.

[mrsgoggins]

Well I've uploaded last night's meal I hope 🙏, but don't intend to do this too often - seeing if I can really.

 

For the record DH had a mushroom mousse to start and I had chicken croquettes with a dip. Mains were red snapper for him, lamb for me and we finished with sticky toffee and vanilla sauce plus cheese and biscuits for DH. All were pronounced very good apart from the sticky toffee pudding which tasted nothing like I've ever made, or purchased before and therefore a slight disappointment, but overall a good dining experience!

 

Now to press the send button ......

 

[mrsgoggins]

2 minutes ago, yorkshirephil said:

Was the tribute band "Rats in the kitchen" as we have seen them a couple of times and thought they were very good, they did Red red wine in their second show.

 

It was! Good to know.

[CarlaMarie]

@mrsgoggins Have a wonderful time, and thank you for sharing your cruise with us. The food looks lovely and nicely presented too.  

[Angel57]

@mrsgoggins thank you for posting your blog and photos. I enjoyed reading it.

I hope the motion of the ocean soon calms.

Have a wonderful time.

 

[Purdey16]

Thank you for your report it was nice reading and I hope you have a great cruise on Ventura, we’re doing 32 nights next January on her ( I think ) I’ll have to look in my cruise folder 😂 hope the weather improves for you .

[July morning]

Good report, I enjoyed reading it really good to have two reports on the go. 

Have a great time 😁

[Presto2]

Looking forward to following your adventure!!

[Selbourne]

Brilliant review @mrsgoggins Keep them coming. Yes it’s a bit rough isn’t it and despite assurances from our Captain (on Aurora a couple of hours ahead of you) it’s not getting any better. I felt a bit ill this morning (first time in years) and am willing it to ease. 
 

Hopefully, having seen the original UB40 band ‘live’ back in the 80s, the tribute band come onto Aurora at some stage. We currently have the Privateers who are the best group we’ve had on a P&O ship for years. 

[purplesea]

Thank you for sharing your cruise with us, it is an interesting read. I hope the sea calms down for you and that you have a great cruise.

It's my turn to cruise is two weeks.

[grapau27]

2 hours ago, mrsgoggins said:

Well I've uploaded last night's meal I hope 🙏, but don't intend to do this too often - seeing if I can really.

 

For the record DH had a mushroom mousse to start and I had chicken croquettes with a dip. Mains were red snapper for him, lamb for me and we finished with sticky toffee and vanilla sauce plus cheese and biscuits for DH. All were pronounced very good apart from the sticky toffee pudding which tasted nothing like I've ever made, or purchased before and therefore a slight disappointment, but overall a good dining experience!

 

Now to press the send button ......

 

Excellent photos.

Food looks delicious.

Best wishes for a fantastic cruise.

[Ardennais]

Hope you too have a lovely cruise. Can’t believe that our 35 nighter was 4 years ago - seems like yesterday! 

[terrierjohn]

Those photos are very good, and all the right way up as well, you're obviously a quick learner 

Enjoy your cruise and I look forward to your further reports.

[PurpleMoonlight]

How's the weather today?

 

I was on Venture for the short new year cruise. She handled the storm very well I thought.

[Cathygh]

Thank you, have a good cruise. I am considering this cruise for a future January for the same reasons so I am very interested in how to keep busy on the sea days.

[TigerB]

Great first post, and many thanks for the food porn.👍🏻  It looks like first night menus are just about identical across the whole fleet.  That red snapper looks small, or are your old man's hands massive?  I reckon I would be asking for two of those.😋🤭

 

Our lass has Guadalupe on her list of places to visit, so a review of the Caribbean Midsomer tour would be welcome (for her).  If we had all the money in the world there are two places I would not want to live: Midsomer and Saint Marie!😂

 

I look forward to your next installment.🙂

 

 

 

 

 

 

[LesleyAnn60]

I’m interested in doing this cruise so thank you for taking the time to do this report. Food looks great and a big bonus with no food shop or cooking. Sounds perfect to escape the miserable weather we get in January & February 

[gsmt47471015]

Nice pictures ,thanks,  hope things calm down for you all,  just a little surprised to see green beans though as its out of character for P and O 🤣🤣🤣🤣  

[pennib]

Thanks Mrsg. Having kicked P&O Caribbean Christmas cruises into touch, we have already booked the Ventura for January 2025 but it is your comments about Eavesway that we found really interesting as I have already booked them and we are getting on like you at Burtonwood services. We know of others who have used Eavesway and they all give good reports. Like you, we don’t want to drive ourselves to Soton although we have done so (to join the old QE2) back in 2006. We are not worried at all about 35 nights having done 2 or even 3 28 nighters on Azura.

have a great cruise and we look forward to your next reports!!

[mrsgoggins]

I have very little to add about yesterday on the ship, as I was staying safely midship with reading and snoozing to make up for a poor night’s sleep on Wednesday.  The seas remained rough, as you will have gathered from Selbourne’s excellent, detailed account.  
 

Thanks I believe to Stugeron, I felt okay to manage both lunch and dinner in the mid ships restaurants and both times enjoyed our dining companions on shared tables.  I had hoped to get the same table for 2 we had on Wednesday night for dinner. We joined the sizeable queue at 6.05 pm, only to be told there were NO tables for 2 left!  Not the end of the world and as previously mentioned, it’s mainly due to DH’s hearing that I make this request, and it had a good outcome, but anyone considering this cruise on Freedom dining hoping for an early table for 2 should bear this in mind - early dining is very popular.

 

Before leaving home I had booked one Epicurean and one Beach House experience with the intention of using my OBS to book more.  Today I booked a further 5 Epicurean and 3 Beach House and may yet book more, although I doubt we will bother with Sindhu, having tried it on here and Iona and not been especially taken with it; but then my experience with Indian food at home runs to M&S butter chicken!  Although I did make Mary Berry’s excellent Malayan chicken recipe for friends over Christmas and that went down well.  Not Indian I know, but near enough 😉

 

This morning there were 2 guest speakers: Jamie Hayes on The History of the Musical in the theatre, and later Paul Castledine on Life as a Visiting Actor in Havana.  As the seas had calmed a little we went to the latter and found Paul Castledine’s tales of his work as an extra on film and TV interesting and entertaining.  @Cathygh the activities mostly do not interest us but if you want to work on your fitness with stretch classes, fit steps, dance classes etc then you will be well catered for.  Then of course there are all of the ‘lead in’ activities which are essentially sales pitches in disguise etc.  Apart from the speakers, I may attend the odd quiz (today’s themes are capital cities with a later Jukebox music challenge) and DH is about to attend his 2nd French lesson, which seems like a good addition to the activities.

 

@PurpleMoonlight as you will have gathered, the weather and sea conditions are now improving, but reception could not say when the pools would be refilled, much to DH’s disappointment.  This ship has had quite a list to port and I’m pleased that the captain mentioned it as I would have been tad concerned otherwise 😳.

 

@TigerB I will try to be mindful of your ‘lass’ (love that term of endearment btw) when I do the Death in paradise tour, and will report back.  I’ll add Cabot Cove to your list of places not to live 😉.

 

@pennib I will be sure to let you know how disembarkation goes in relation to Eavesway. We normally self-disembark to be on the road as early as possible and so we will be interested in how soon we get away, but I guess it will all depend on if we have stragglers amongst us.

 

Tonight’s entertainment choices are Headliners performing On the Horizon, vocalist Josie McCormick or the Comedian Phil Melbourne. We will go to the theatre.

 

Yesterday and today P&O put on their special lunch for the Caribbean (I think) and above passengers.  There was a very long line when we left Havana around noon; I assume they were heading for the stairs to go to the Bay Tree restaurant.  We spoke with people who attended yesterday’s event who said it had been very good.  Just shows how many P&O stalwarts are on board that they needed to host over 2 days.

 

We have, as expected, been very happy with the food.  I’d say the presentation of the main course is more akin to how I would serve at home, which is fine with me, compared to the American lines we have sailed with (Disney, Princess and Celebrity) where presentation is often more elaborate. Definitely an observation rather than a criticism though. I’ll save my criticism for the slow breakfast service (toast brought and butter following 10 minutes later etc) and difficulty getting refills of hot beverages.  The refills has been an issue on each P&O cruise we have been on - I think this is the 6th time - but a small thing in the scheme of things.

 

Thanks for your nice comments, unless someone asks something I can answer, I’ll leave it for a few days.  Tonight is Celebration night so almost time to get ready. We do comply, but are not fans of dressing up nights, although I feel we are possibly in the minority on a cruise such as this.  I’ve booked the Beach House for the next 2 😁

[pennib]

Good luck with the Epicurean. For our Britannia  Christmas cruise we made 2 bookings from home. The first was for the week before Christmas and this was fine except that they don’t do tableside crepes suzette any more. Reason given that there isn’t enough room to safely use the trolley between tables. We were very disappointed as we have had this dessert before in the Epicurean on Britannia without any problems. Many other passengers were disappointed. 
Our second booking was for Christmas Day dinner (again something we have done every year).  However Christmas 2023 was a complete washout. No amuse bouche, no sorbet before the main course, a very disappointing main course. Our friends who ate in the MDR enjoyed both these things and indeed when we were given a couple of menues to bring home (given to us by the 2 lovely waiters in the Oriental for breakfast, they confirmed what people had in the MDR for Christmas dinner. We were very disappointed. Probably won’t bother with the Epicurean again. 
On the other hand we had a couple of excellent dinners in the Beach House.

[TigerB]

Thanks for the second installment👍🏻

 

Hopefully, once you start your six days across the Atlantic it will settle down a bit. We couldn't believe how warm and calm it was for us, sailing south on Arvia last January.

 

Ah! Cabot Cove. We were in Maine about ten years ago and visited one of the places that inspired the writing. I could have sworn we saw Jessica on her bike!

 

When you're in Funchal on Sunday and you see a fella looking green around the gills, pushing a lady in a wheelchair, also looking green around the gills, in a desperate search for a farmácia, you know who that will be.  I'm sure they would snap your hand off for any spare Stugeron!🤭

[TigerB]

32 minutes ago, pennib said:

Good luck with the Epicurean. For our Britannia  Christmas cruise we made 2 bookings from home. The first was for the week before Christmas and this was fine except that they don’t do tableside crepes suzette any more. 

 

We've had several different excuses over the last sixteen months, on Britannia, Arvia, and Iona, as to why they don't do it tableside on those ships.🙄

 

@mrsgoggins, hopefully you'll have your Crêpes Suzette prepared tableside, just as @Selbourne did on Ventura last autumn.🤞