2014 Aurora Worldie

[ivygirl]

A year to go yet! Is anyone else on this cruise? Unfortunately not doing the full trip but do have 47 nights (Hong Kong - Southampton) to look forward to!

Pat

[Seabird]

Hi Ivygirl
We're doing Hong Kong to Southampton too....with a few nights in Hong Kong first. Very excited!
Sailed some of the route on Artemis a few years ago, but wanted to see more of HK, KL, Vietnam and South Africa...and there're a few great restaurants and perfect spots we'd love to revisit on the way....
Took our first long distance cruise on Aurora...seven years ago we sailed on her to Sydney...and we loved her. Hopefully her current technical problems get fixed and she gets a bit of spruce up before her next worldie.
See you on board! L

[Dorsetcruiser]

We have just returned fom the 2013 WC sector from Southampton to Sydney. Aurora certainly needs sprucing up - looking very tired. The propeller situation was a bit of a fiasco with ports cancelled and then reinstated. Also the Orangery service was dire, very poor food selection and staff who could not raise a smile. Do not think we will be rushing back to P&O

[ivygirl]

The propeller problems must have been awful. Did you have to miss many ports? Surprised you thought Aurora looked tired! We were on her a few months ago and she looked all spic and span then. We do not use the self service (on any ship!) very often but we did not notice anything amis when we did use the Orangery. We have always found the crew (on any P&O ship) friendly and helpful. Sorry it did not live up to your expectations.

[Orcades]

Hi fellow Aurora 2014 Worldie cruisers. O excited I am doing the full trip . It has been an ambition since my first cruise.

I was booked on the similar itinerary Azura Worldie 2013 and had to suffer the cancellation disappointment after spending months preparing.

Looking forward to sharing the camaraderie in the best part of a World cruise the planning and sharing of ideas. The P& O CC Aurora World Cruise 2013 topic was epic with the excitement building as they got nearer and nearer to sail away day.

304 days 4 hours to go

[Dorsetcruiser]

The propeller problems must have been awful. Did you have to miss many ports? Surprised you thought Aurora looked tired! We were on her a few months ago and she looked all spic and span then. We do not use the self service (on any ship!) very often but we did not notice anything amis when we did use the Orangery. We have always found the crew (on any P&O ship) friendly and helpful. Sorry it did not live up to your expectations.

Prop problems did not really affect our enjoyment but we did book the cruise mainly for the Hawaii and South Pacific ports so losing Bora Bora was a big thing for us. Food is always very subjective. We are used to buffets on Princess Ships and the P&O offering did not match up in many areas. Staff throughout the ship were mostly very friendly but it seemed to us that the staff in the Orangery were unsmiling and abrupt. Also the way the Orangery is set out is very user unfriendly. Main areas of the ship are fine but the cabins and balconies are definitely due for a refit! We never go on a ship with any preset expectations as that is a recipe for disappointment. We enjoyed the cruise immensely but P&O would probably not be our cruiseline of choice in the future. However we tend to choose cruises by itinerary and are not blindly loyal to any one cruiseline, so who knows

[Quizzical Bob]

We love Aurora but we don't normally use the Orang-Utangerie. Having been on Oceana just before and enjoyed the buffet there we have realised that it's a very poor design for both comfort and ease of use.

[ivygirl]

Hi Orcades, like you looking forward to lots of banter in the run up to our cruise! As you have experienced this part of the world before I will look forward to all the tips and ideas you can give us on the different ports. We did Southampton - Hong Kong on Arcadia in 2011. You will love Hong Kong, I don't like big cities but to my surprise I loved Hong Kong, it is so different! We hope to fly to HK on Virgin Atlantic again as the flight back last time was so good. It's now LESS than a year to our adventure!!!!!!

[ivygirl]

Call it another Senior Moment!!!!! Some of my last post was meant for Seabird! I'm sure both of you will sort out my mixed up post!

[Orcades]

Hi Ivygirl,

I agree with you about Virgin Atlantic. Flown with them many times. Using them again next month.

Seabird
Yes Aurora is starting to show her age. I first sailed on her in her maiden year 2000. A ships engineer told me the ships built in her era are more expensive to maintain due to the plumbing quality. I remember seeing buckets back in 2000.

I like modern hotel ships but I am a traditional cruiser. Orcades and Canberra being my first cruise ships where the facilities, which included hot salt water baths, were down the corridor. Aurora suits me for a Worldie.

I am starting to look into information / planning. At this stage its seems overwhelming but I am sure using this forum sharing info from experienced Worldie cruisers will help.

Some topics for discussion: Visas, insurance, which port are best for P & O excursions or DIY, Packing tips...

Do you think we can get enough interest to organised a CC forum get together meeting in Uganda Room? Anyone interested in a cabin crawl?

[PeterM]

Hi Ivygirl, we are booked on the same legs - Hong Kong-Southampton.
We have just come off Aurora having done San Francisco to Hong Kong.
Prop problems seem to be resolved except that a water seal is leaking.
This is to be fixed in Dubai. Prop bearing was overheating. Problem has been with the ship
since new. Temp. sensors were fitted at a previous repair so an eye could be kept on this.
Lloyds dictate what can and can not be done when this overheats, as it affects insurance.
This is all straight from the Captains mouth as he explained things to us. Only place missed was Bora Bora.
There was a rumour that a refit was scheduled after this world cruise but later denied.
There were buckets etc in corridor on B deck catching water running through ceiling. They did a
maintenace plumbing job to fix this, and it seemed ok when we left in Hong Kong.

[Dorset cruiser]

Despite previous posts concerning things we did not like on Aurora, we are now seriously considering going on her again next year for the HK to Southampton sectors - it's a great itinerary!

[ivygirl]

Hi Orcades, just over 9 months, not that I'm counting! Good idea to have a get together in the Uganda room. Not sure what a cabin crawl is!!!! We have our flights to Hong Kong booked now, unfortunately not VA. P & O have put us on BA this time!

[Orcades]

Hi ivygirl

Some random thoughts

A cabin crawl is where CCers visit each others cabin for a nose around (it is not like a pub crawl with a drink in each cabin). There was a long running joke on PandO CC (still available to read via back door) as to who in the group had the suites and the shock and aww to be in a suite. Be warned my cabin has a notice on the back of cabin door - Do not swing cats.

How is the packing going? Had a laugh at some of the things people packed for 2013, toilet brush, bungee cord and 60’s wigs

Anyone interested in getting Aurora World Cruise 2014 T-shirts?

We only need a Chinese single entry visa because we remain in Chinese waters. Valid 3 months so must be obtained late Dec 2013 cheapest to get DIY .


I have been researching port excursions to Great Wall of China. Wondering if there will be time to walk to the watch tower. Weather will be cold and there may be ice. Most reviews say its strenuous on uneven steep steps but the view is worth the effort.

Lets hope more people booked on this Cruise read this and join us. It would be good to have a meeting in each sector.

Call me sad but I am just about to go to the beach to see Aurora sail past.

[Seabird]

Hi Everybody - Seabird here! Sorry to disappear for so long but lost contact with this site for a while?? Good to be back.

Yes excitement mounting here too! Starting to get formal wardrobe refreshed....EBAY is a wonderful esource!!!
Have booked flights now and upgraded to WTPlus to get a decent baggage allowance. Not done fly to cruise before so a bit concerned about how much we'll be able to take in weight allowance. Usually juggling what fit into the filing cabinets P&O laughingly call wardrobes....this time everything I take will have to earn it's weight and space in the suitcase first!!!

Looking forward to spending 3 days in HK - visited on Artemis Far East tour...but only had a day there and lots of unfinished business. We took the Big Bus Tour - reall worthwhile if you haven't been befoe anddon't fancy too much walking on HK Island. Star Ferry was really easy to do from cruise terminal Artemis used....but I read HK has a new cruise terminal furtheraway from main shopping/crossing area??

Re trips in Beiijing. Whole Day tour to Forbidden City and Temple of Heaven was excellent. Got to walk whole length of Tianemen Square as well. VERY COLD in late February with ice underfoot and snow swept in great mounds everywhere. Was told part of wall nearest to east side of city, which is where most cruise tours take passengers, has been rebuilt to provide easier access for mass tourism and is v commercialised??

Visited Saigon on last trip and fell in love with Vietnam so REALLY excited abot seeing other parts of country...has anyone been to Halong Bay??

Great to have other people to chat with.... only 288 days to go....

Seabird

[ivygirl]

Love the idea of a cabin crawl! Guess I'm just nosy!! Not started to think about clothes yet, want to loose a bit of weight first! We did the Southampton - Hong Kong on Arcadia in 2011 and stayed in Hong Kong for 3 days. I didn't expect to like it as I don't care for cities but it was just so different, I loved it. Wondering what the flight will be like, have only flown with BA once (Hannover - Berlin and was not impressed!). We have upgraded so we have 2 23kg cases each or 3 for me and 1 for hubby!

[Orcades]

Just over 5 months to sail away. This topic has been quiet for quite a while. How is everyone? How is the preparation going? The cruise is popular. I notice the full World cruise is nearly sold out.

I am actively trying to loose weight, so the clothes I am buying in the sales will fit.

Looking at port tours. Has anyone done the Kayaking Adventure in Halong Bay? It looks interesting but how fit do you have to be? I have been researching which Safari/animal reserve trip to do. They all have mixed reviews.

I have booked Premier Inn for the night before. It will be good to start the trip relaxed and meet fellow CCers and start the party the night before.

[jemgee]

Hi all

We really enjoyed a great 2013 Southampton to San Francisco leg and CC get together in Uganda room. Still in contact with our dinner table friends. The only drawback we feel is that the 2 day stops are not a full 2 days and we want to stopover in NZ

I hope that some of the wear and tear on Aurora eg misted windows in crows nest and orangery will have been replaced.

We stopped in San Francisco for a week before return on Virgin to LHR. It was the worst flight we have ever been on - turbulence the whole way and the food was dreadful.

We are intending to book a week in San Fran to join Aurora 2014 to get off in NZ. Then fly to Sydney and join Arcadia to go to Singapore. This will give us a couple of weeks in NZ and we have friends in NZ and Kuala Lumpur to look up before return flight to UK.

[Seabird]

Hi Orcades - just caught up with your post about wild life/safari parks in South Africa.
Last time in Port Elizabeth we went to the Pumba Reserve for the day and found it excellent. Great game drives - over three hours in the morning and nearly another hour after lunch. Saw big five, including white lions and a rhino family with tiny baby. Wonderful experience and lunch was to die for!!!
We met several people who had travelled further from Port Elizabeth to visit the Kariega Reserve and found it very disappointing.

Have just noticed that Pumba is also being offered by P&O for an Overland excursion which sounds exciting! However we've always wanted to do the Garden Route so that's the trip for us this time!!

Getting v excited now - less than 200 days till we arrive in Hong Kong.

[Southwinds]

Ivy girl....is having issues logging in. She will be back once it's resolved..

[Southwinds]

Port Elizabeth ...do try the game reserve day...we did, can't recall the name of it now. But it was memorable. Great lunch and talk by a South African crocodile Dundee sort...

[PeterM]

Anyone staying in Hong Kong looking for a good Chinese meal should go to
The Jade Garden located on 4th floor of the Star building, opposite the Star Ferry Terminal.
Can highly recommend it.

[Smoggie on tour]

We did the full world cruise on Aurora earlier this year and enjoyed every single minute. For those undertaking the 2014 world cruise all I can say is you very very lucky people!!! We will spend the winter months here trying not to think of you all enjoying the heat, sunshine and all the wonderful places you will visit. Aurora handles the not so perfect sea conditions very well, we found the staff to be very helpful. For those of you still looking for house insurance try RIAS. I wish you all the very best and enjoy the experience, am really jealous. However, we have booked Auroras world cruise for 2015 so we do have that to look forward to

[Carlos Price]

For Passengers on the 2014 Aurora World Cruise watch the 'America's Cup' on BBC2 TV Sunday at 12.15. Includes lovely views of San Francisco Bay the Bridges the Waterfront.

[Quizzical Bob]

For Passengers on the 2014 Aurora World Cruise watch the 'America's Cup' on BBC2 TV Sunday at 12.15. Includes lovely views of San Francisco Bay the Bridges the Waterfront.

The Disney Wonder was there Thursday. It's a spectacular harbour, I had a couple of visits there in the early 80s to do a couple of jobs for Dolby, may he rest in peace.