Aurora to Canada/USA

[CaroleF]

We left Southampton on Sunday for our 30 night trip to first Canada and then USA, we were delayed leaving partly because there was some sort of formalities that had to be completed and then there was a medical emergency. Two ambulances were seen on the dockside but we haven't heard any more about it. We had an amazingly quick boarding. We had a 12.30 boarding time and left home about 11.15 - only about 20 minutes or so away from the Port. We went straight to the check in, courtesy of our Mini Suite, and were on board sitting in the Medina Restaurant at the Complementary Lunch by just after 12.45 which we thought was excellent. The food was good too and the wine waiters were very good at keeping everyone's glass topped up. The cabins were ready just before 2pm and we managed to be completely unpacked by 3.15! The Muster Drill was put back until 4.15 and we didn't have to take life jackets! It really did make things so much easier afterwards, not having everyone hastening back to their cabins to dump the jackets.
However, sail away had to be put off as we had another medical emergency and then we missed our slot so in the end it was around 7pm by the time we left but wasn't going to impact on our journey according to our Captain - Neil Turbull. We haven't sailed with him since 2008 when he was the Deputy Captain on Oriana when we were on a three night trip. He was on our table each night because his parents were on board and on our table, he was great fun. We haven't heard much from him so far but we have the Captain's Welcome Aboard Party this evening so no doubt he'll have things to say.

We are on Club Dining, 2nd sitting table of 8. For the first time I had a moan, well made a comment to the waiter. The first evening we were fairly late being served but last night it was ridiculous. We were eventually served our desserts at 10.10pm when the tables all around us had finished and gone. One of our waiters came up and asked if everything had been all right so I told him that it was far too late to be starting dessert. It had taken ages for us even to be given the menus. I wasn't the only one on the table to say so. Anyway he promised that this evening we would be served much earlier. I can only think they have so many tables to serve that someone has to be late but not that late! That's the first time I've ever complained about anything on a cruise but it was just getting silly.

It's now Force 6, white caps everywhere but not particularly uncomfortable at the moment. We've had some good Port Presentations from Sam Whiteside who we've met before. He really is an excellent presenter, no notes at all and his knowledge is amazing. He's also very good about talking about passengers who want to visit the ports independently. The theatre was packed both days. The talks are on the TV of course later but it is interesting to see the presentation live.

We get to St. John's Newfoundland on Friday so two more days at sea, incredibly relaxing. Most of the passengers are 'of an age' but then that's to be expected for a 30 night cruise at this time of year. Aurora is looking splendid. It's the first time we've been on her since her refit and she's certainly been smartened up with new upholstery, new carpets, new chairs in some area, very smart.

More later.

Carole

[Jan Rosser]

Looking forward to your report - I’ve done a transatlantic on Aurora in November and found her very stable in some awful weather in the Bay. Keep them coming Carole - I’m sure it is going to be very different from my recent cruise on RCI

[GillD46]

Looking forward to more. Enjoy your trip Carole.

[Kenmo1]

We left Southampton on Sunday for our 30 night trip to first Canada and then USA,

Look after Aurora for us, Carol, as we get on as you get off. Hope you have a really super holiday. Good selection of ports. Love Bar Harbour, it is gorgeous so fingers crossed that you get in. Looking forward to the next part of your review.

Maureen.

[Suekersh]

Thanks Carole. This is a similar cruise to one we have booked for next year on Arcadia.looking forward to reading your reports.

[barney]

Cheers Carole

[CaroleF]

Losing track of the days already! One thing we and others have noticed was on Monday morning breakfast - Eggs Benedict day. We were on a table in the restaurant with two others and we all ordered Eggs Benedict. What arrived was a very small muffin - about 2 inches in diameter with a tiny piece of ham on it, a poached egg and a splash, literally, of hollandaise. We all looked at the waiter in amazement and the other man on our table said - Is that it? The waiter asked if he would like another one and so he went off and came back with a plate of them. There was general talk around the ship - What's happened to the Eggs Benedict?

Weather continues to be fairly kind to us, smooth, mostly although it got to a Force 6 yesterday. Bit bumpy during the night but better this morning. Captain Neil Turnbull was the star turn at the Captain's Welcome Aboard Party and had people laughing. He's told us he's only going with us far as New York and then he goes home for leave as he says he hasn't seen his family in quite a while. We have someone called, I think, Patrick Maguire who someone remembers as a Deputy Captain, but we've never come across him.

Mike Doyle was in the theatre and made the most of late arrivals of which there were many. Captain Turnbull didn't finish his chat till 8.45 so everyone was late for dinner. Our dinner service was greatly improved from the previous night thank goodness. Mike Doyle didn't really make fun of people too much and most of them joined his with his chatter. He certainly has a great singing voice and his show went over time I think, very well received.

We are now two hours behind you and apparently we put our clocks back another 30 minutes tonight. We've been keeping an eye on the shenanigans in Parliament - what a mess. Looks as if we're heading for a General Election I suppose.

We have the Headliners presenting Fantasy tonight so we'll probably go and see that, I think I've read good reports. We've had an Irish group called The Shamrock Tenors on board but we haven't seen them. There's another Classical Concert on this afternoon with Stephanie Edwards (soprano) and Elspeth Wilkes (piano). We saw them a day ago and they were very good. Today's theme is Love and Loss, hope not too gloomy. We may go and see that. There's been very little publicity about the Drinks Package, it's certainly not been made a lot of either in the Horizon paper or on board with displays. I think I've seen one outside the restaurant but nothing else. No-one has mentioned it on board that I've chatted to. It almost seems downplayed. The wine waiter hasn't mentioned it either.

There is evidence of the removal of plastic. No butter pats in plastic - large dishes of butter and Flora in the buffet, in the Restaurant it's the little rosettes of butter on the china dishes. No tomato ketchup or mustard or mayo in packets either - large dispensers in the buffet and if you ask for some from Room Service it's in little ramekins. No toothpicks on the tables, although a woman on our table told us that someone had asked for them and was presented with one toothpick on a plate! No face flannels in the cabins although you can ask for them to be provided - our lovely Stewardess, sorry I suppose I should say Steward told us about that. On our 65 night cruise on here we had for the first and only time a not very good, in fact awful Steward but this time we have a very smiling lady who is superb.

There's a talk this morning on Ethical Hacking and Cyber Security so we may go to that, presented by Computer Specialist Roger Evans. The sun's just come out. We have one more sea day after today before St. John's. More later.

[Ranchi]

It will be interesting to see how/ if the egg situation changes as you get into US waters.
Have you seen the oil drum sized marmite tub in the buffet yet?
The location of rosettes of butter in the buffet is fairly crucial either so runny that you can’t pick them up ( near hot food) or so hard that they shatter your toast. I’m sure they will get it ‘Goldilocks just right’ soon.
These are certainly not criticisms of P&O just things which made me smile.
On a very positive. I thought the suppliers (& cooking & serving) of fish to P&O have stepped up a gear in recent times. Was impressed on my last two cruises.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Sounds great. Neil Turnbull is one if our favourite Captains.

[Kenmo1]

No face flannels in the cabins although you can ask for them

Carol, Is this only happening on Aurora as we had them provided without asking on Oriana last month ? Perhaps I had better pack some to be on the safe side. Also, do PO still provide the shower caps ?

Maureen

[Manoverboard]

I am a tad surprised that anybody is prepared to use a face flannel that is not one's own … just saying

Keep it coming Carole

[cruisin_duo]

Love reading the reports on the forum, and look forward to hearing about the rest of your trip Carol. Thank you for posting.

[GillD46]

I am a tad surprised that anybody is prepared to use a face flannel that is not one's own … just saying

Keep it coming Carole

Because I use the hand towels for my hair, I always use the face cloth to dry my hands after using the bathroom. Never, ever on my face.

[Kenmo1]

I am a tad surprised that anybody is prepared to use a face flannel that is not one's own … just saying

Keep it coming Carole

Haven't used a flannel (not even mine) on my face in 50 years or more -- face cleanser and tissues or wet wipes are for that. I like to know that there are a couple of clean flannels provided daily for using in the shower should I require one. I have just chucked two brand new ones into the holiday box ready for October to be on the safe side but I am sure they won't be as clean after 17 nights if I need to use them daily as the ones provided fresh every day by the steward.

Maureen

[towny44]

I am a tad surprised that anybody is prepared to use a face flannel that is not one's own … just saying

Keep it coming Carole

The towels and facecloths are all washed on a high temp setting, any bugs that can survive that deserve the right to infect me.

[CaroleF]

Well we've had a real set back. John was diagnosed with Polymyalgia a while ago and is on steroids being treated quite successfully. Yesterday afternoon he said his foot felt a bit numb. This morning his whole foot was numb so I badgered him into going to the Medical Centre. He was there for ages. Anyway the result of that is that we have to go to see a Dr. in a hospital at St. John's and we have to take enough luggage in case he has to stay in. We also have to pack up our cabin - staff did volunteer to do it for us - and if, as seems likely at the moment we have to fly home the luggage can stay on the ship until she returns at the end of the month. It will be up to the Drs at St. John's, the Dr. on board - who is lovely - and the Insurance Company as to what happens next. So we have another day at sea tomorrow and then off to the hospital in St. John's on Friday morning. We have seen the Passenger Services Manager who has been extremely helpful - told us we have free phone access from the cabin so we can phone family etc. Everyone is really being as helpful as they can. However, it is a bit of a nightmare as you can imagine. I just had to buy a plug adapter as we didn't bring one as all the ship's sockets are British. This is in case I'll need to charge my phone while in Canada. The Dr has been in touch with our insurance company so hopefully all that is in place. So we'll see what happens. Not what we planned for as you can imagine! Dr. says apart from Polymyalgia John is fit and well! He's not convinced the numb foot is anything to do with the Polymyalgia. I thought John had had every known test to man before they diagnosed the Polymyalgia, MRI, CT, all sorts of blood tests etc. etc. We'll see.

[Kenmo1]

OMG Carole, so shocked to read your latest entry. Hope everything is ok once he sees the Doctor in St Johns and you can both rejoin the ship. Will be thinking of you.

Best wishes to you both,

Maureen

[towny44]

Sorry to hear your news Carole, let's hope for better news from the St John's doctor.

[GillD46]

Oh Carole what a worry this must be for you both. Like everyone else, I hope you receive good news in St John’s and are able to continue, but whatever, I hope that John and you are well looked after.

[Jan Rosser]

Oh Carole what a worry for you both - I do hope that the doctors are able to sort things out for you and that you can carry on with the cruise. We are all crossing our fingers for you - take care.

[Dancing Queen]

So sorry to hear this Carole, wishing you all the best and I hope you are able to continue on your cruise.

[Happydays]

Sorry to read about the problems with your husband's health, hope you manage to get a good result. Best wishes.

[Manoverboard]

Goodness me …. here's hoping that John's foot turns out to be something insignificant and temporary.

[cruisin_duo]

Carol, so sorry to hear your news. Hope all goes well, and that your husband gets better soon.

[CaroleF]

Thank you all for your good wishes, we have fingers crossed. I must say the internet access is working amazingly well and I'm able to get good reception in the cabin - paying of course but I've found the 24 hour package works well if taken out in the late afternoon which sort of gives you access for two days. We have quite a lot of on board credit this cruise so John thinks we should spend some of it in case we don't get back and then will have lost it so Christmas presents of perfume for daughters and some for me! We now have to sort out packing what we want to take off with us and possibly onward to home and the rest packed up and left on board. We've decided to eat in The Glasshouse this evening as it's very difficult being on a table with others when they are chatting about what they're going to be doing tomorrow in St. John's, difficult for them to as they don't know what to say.

So, I'm hoping I'll get internet access at the hospital we'll see. I still think the end result will be that we don't come back on board but we'll hope that we do. Will eventually let you know what happens. I've already had Confirmation for the cancellation of all the tours we've booked, very efficient!

Carole