Our first time - advice please
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Topic author - Able Seaman
- Posts: 16
- Joined: November 2017
Our first time - advice please
Well, I am taking wifey on our first cruise next August....and I feel like a fish out of water. Can any of you lovely people offer a complete newbie any advice whatsoever, to stop me making an idiot of myself on board ? Many thanks to you all.
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- Ex Team Member
- Posts: 11358
- Joined: January 2013
- Location: Cumbria
Re: Our first time - advice please
Welcome!!
There is a New to Cruising section on the forum which has all sorts of tips advice for newbies but if you have any specific questions please do post them and I'm sure somebody will be able to answer them.
Where are you going? And which ship?
There is a New to Cruising section on the forum which has all sorts of tips advice for newbies but if you have any specific questions please do post them and I'm sure somebody will be able to answer them.
Where are you going? And which ship?
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Topic author - Able Seaman
- Posts: 16
- Joined: November 2017
Re: Our first time - advice please
Thank you so much for getting back so quickly. We are going on Oriana, 19 days around the Med, next August.....I see there is a 2 day taster cruise from Southampton to Zeebrugge right before this one, so I am going to tag that on as well, giving us 2 days to get to know the ship before the main cruise, and giving us 21 days in total ....good idea do you think ? The info in the brochures is confusing re dining.....We have elected to have freedom dining, and I'm not sure whether that allows us to dine in Peninsular and Oriental restaurants, as I say, the info is, I feel, contradictory.
I would love any tips, especially about dress codes... I am a scruffy sod by nature (I consider Compo well dressed).....I would also like to take a some drink on board as well, is this still allowed, or will they confiscate it ? Many thanks again good people.
I would love any tips, especially about dress codes... I am a scruffy sod by nature (I consider Compo well dressed).....I would also like to take a some drink on board as well, is this still allowed, or will they confiscate it ? Many thanks again good people.
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- Senior First Officer
- Posts: 3951
- Joined: January 2013
Re: Our first time - advice please
Welcome Brixham, and be warned - cruising is very addictive!
On Oriana freedom dining is in the Peninsular restaurant at the moment.
https://ask.pocruises.com/help/PO/life- ... dom_dining
On Oriana freedom dining is in the Peninsular restaurant at the moment.
https://ask.pocruises.com/help/PO/life- ... dom_dining
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- Deputy Captain
- Posts: 5613
- Joined: March 2013
- Location: Instow Devon
Re: Our first time - advice please
Welcome to the forum
We have a soft spot for Oriana, she's a lovely old ship with a nice atmosphere.
Freedom dining is they way forward these days although many still prefer the set sitting club dining, so it suits all sorts.
That is the beauty of cruising. Do as much or as little as you like.
As for the dress code, smart casual is the usual with a few formals thrown in.
Smart casual just means a smart pair of trousers and a smart shirt. nothing too fancy is needed.
Formal means a dinner suit for the gents, although any smart suit & tie is acceptable, and a posh frock for the ladies.
We think that making the effort for dinner adds to the holiday experience.
I've known quite a few over the years who have told me that they didn't fancy the formal nights and dressing up, only to love it and say it's the best bit of the holiday.
As for drinks, fill your boots !!!
They don't seem too concerned about it.
I usually take a few bottles of bubbly and a wine box.
Any questions about ports, just ask.
100% sure someone on here has been there.
We have a soft spot for Oriana, she's a lovely old ship with a nice atmosphere.
Freedom dining is they way forward these days although many still prefer the set sitting club dining, so it suits all sorts.
That is the beauty of cruising. Do as much or as little as you like.
As for the dress code, smart casual is the usual with a few formals thrown in.
Smart casual just means a smart pair of trousers and a smart shirt. nothing too fancy is needed.
Formal means a dinner suit for the gents, although any smart suit & tie is acceptable, and a posh frock for the ladies.
We think that making the effort for dinner adds to the holiday experience.
I've known quite a few over the years who have told me that they didn't fancy the formal nights and dressing up, only to love it and say it's the best bit of the holiday.
As for drinks, fill your boots !!!
They don't seem too concerned about it.
I usually take a few bottles of bubbly and a wine box.
Any questions about ports, just ask.
100% sure someone on here has been there.
Last edited by barney on 09 Nov 2017, 14:54, edited 1 time in total.
Empty vessels .. and all that
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- Captain
- Posts: 12153
- Joined: January 2013
- Location: Oxfordshire
Re: Our first time - advice please
Seems to be a change afoot on the booze front - see this ongoing thread:barney wrote: ↑09 Nov 2017, 14:51Welcome to the forum
We have a soft spot for Oriana, she's a lovely old ship with a nice atmosphere.
Freedom dining is they way forward these days although many still prefer the set sitting club dining, so it suits all sorts.
That is the beauty of cruising. Do as much or as little as you like.
As for the dress code, smart casual is the usual with a few formals thrown in.
Smart casual just means a smart pair of trousers and a smart shirt. nothing too fancy is needed.
Formal means a dinner suit for the gents, although any smart suit & tie is acceptable, and a posh frock for the ladies.
We think that making the effort for dinner adds to the holiday experience.
I've known quite a few over the years who have told me that they didn't fancy the formal nights and dressing up, only to love it and say it's the best bit of the holiday.
As for drinks, fill your boots !!!
They don't seem too concerned about it.
I usually take a few bottles of bubbly and a wine box.
Any questions about ports, just ask.
100% sure someone on here has been there.
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=6420
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- Commodore
- Posts: 15991
- Joined: January 2013
- Location: Down Souf. The civilised end of the country :)
Re: Our first time - advice please
Welcome to the forum brixhamrfcbrixhamrfc wrote: ↑09 Nov 2017, 12:55Thank you so much for getting back so quickly. We are going on Oriana, 19 days around the Med, next August.....I see there is a 2 day taster cruise from Southampton to Zeebrugge right before this one, so I am going to tag that on as well, giving us 2 days to get to know the ship before the main cruise, and giving us 21 days in total ....good idea do you think ? The info in the brochures is confusing re dining.....We have elected to have freedom dining, and I'm not sure whether that allows us to dine in Peninsular and Oriental restaurants, as I say, the info is, I feel, contradictory.
I would love any tips, especially about dress codes... I am a scruffy sod by nature (I consider Compo well dressed).....I would also like to take a some drink on board as well, is this still allowed, or will they confiscate it ? Many thanks again good people.
Whatever you do don't mention the word 'Tips' on here.
Last edited by Stephen on 09 Nov 2017, 15:07, edited 1 time in total.
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- Captain
- Posts: 12153
- Joined: January 2013
- Location: Oxfordshire
Re: Our first time - advice please
Not to you anyway !
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- Deputy Captain
- Posts: 5613
- Joined: March 2013
- Location: Instow Devon
Re: Our first time - advice please
I stand corrected cubie.qbman1 wrote: ↑09 Nov 2017, 15:04Seems to be a change afoot on the booze front - see this ongoing thread:barney wrote: ↑09 Nov 2017, 14:51Welcome to the forum
We have a soft spot for Oriana, she's a lovely old ship with a nice atmosphere.
Freedom dining is they way forward these days although many still prefer the set sitting club dining, so it suits all sorts.
That is the beauty of cruising. Do as much or as little as you like.
As for the dress code, smart casual is the usual with a few formals thrown in.
Smart casual just means a smart pair of trousers and a smart shirt. nothing too fancy is needed.
Formal means a dinner suit for the gents, although any smart suit & tie is acceptable, and a posh frock for the ladies.
We think that making the effort for dinner adds to the holiday experience.
I've known quite a few over the years who have told me that they didn't fancy the formal nights and dressing up, only to love it and say it's the best bit of the holiday.
As for drinks, fill your boots !!!
They don't seem too concerned about it.
I usually take a few bottles of bubbly and a wine box.
Any questions about ports, just ask.
100% sure someone on here has been there.
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=6420
I wasn't aware of that.
Will curb my enthusiasm a bit
Empty vessels .. and all that
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- Captain
- Posts: 12153
- Joined: January 2013
- Location: Oxfordshire
Re: Our first time - advice please
You're understandably excited after that 7-5 win over Reading Under 10s !
Wouldn't worry, the booze malarkey only came to light today
Wouldn't worry, the booze malarkey only came to light today
Last edited by qbman1 on 09 Nov 2017, 15:38, edited 1 time in total.
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- Commodore
- Posts: 15991
- Joined: January 2013
- Location: Down Souf. The civilised end of the country :)
Re: Our first time - advice please
Don't apologise to him barney. Who's hebarney wrote: ↑09 Nov 2017, 15:33I stand corrected cubie.qbman1 wrote: ↑09 Nov 2017, 15:04Seems to be a change afoot on the booze front - see this ongoing thread:barney wrote: ↑09 Nov 2017, 14:51Welcome to the forum
We have a soft spot for Oriana, she's a lovely old ship with a nice atmosphere.
Freedom dining is they way forward these days although many still prefer the set sitting club dining, so it suits all sorts.
That is the beauty of cruising. Do as much or as little as you like.
As for the dress code, smart casual is the usual with a few formals thrown in.
Smart casual just means a smart pair of trousers and a smart shirt. nothing too fancy is needed.
Formal means a dinner suit for the gents, although any smart suit & tie is acceptable, and a posh frock for the ladies.
We think that making the effort for dinner adds to the holiday experience.
I've known quite a few over the years who have told me that they didn't fancy the formal nights and dressing up, only to love it and say it's the best bit of the holiday.
As for drinks, fill your boots !!!
They don't seem too concerned about it.
I usually take a few bottles of bubbly and a wine box.
Any questions about ports, just ask.
100% sure someone on here has been there.
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=6420
I wasn't aware of that.
Will curb my enthusiasm a bit
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- Ex Team Member
- Posts: 11358
- Joined: January 2013
- Location: Cumbria
Re: Our first time - advice please
If you are sailing out of Southampton I would say not to bother with the 2 day acclimatise cruise. You will have a couple of days to unwind and explore the ship as she will be two days at sea so there is plenty of time to find your sea legs and discover what the ship has to offer.
Tips will be added to your onboard account unless you choose to remove them. Personally we have always found cabin stewards and waiters to be very friendly and helpful so we tend to leave the tips as they are but it is a personal preference.
Similarly on formal nights I think you will find most people like to dress up in DJs with ladies in cocktail or long dresses. As barney says some wear a dark lounge suit. My advice, unless you are dead set against the idea, is to go for it rather than feel left out. The ship photographers will be out and about to take formal pictures if you so wish and it is a good opportunity to dress up . However if you choose not to nobody will have your arm up your back although on those evenings you will not be allowed to eat in the main restaurants and some bars will not be available to you.
A word of warning though..................... cruising is addictive. We said we would give it a try just to see if we liked it.................
Tips will be added to your onboard account unless you choose to remove them. Personally we have always found cabin stewards and waiters to be very friendly and helpful so we tend to leave the tips as they are but it is a personal preference.
Similarly on formal nights I think you will find most people like to dress up in DJs with ladies in cocktail or long dresses. As barney says some wear a dark lounge suit. My advice, unless you are dead set against the idea, is to go for it rather than feel left out. The ship photographers will be out and about to take formal pictures if you so wish and it is a good opportunity to dress up . However if you choose not to nobody will have your arm up your back although on those evenings you will not be allowed to eat in the main restaurants and some bars will not be available to you.
A word of warning though..................... cruising is addictive. We said we would give it a try just to see if we liked it.................
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- Captain
- Posts: 12153
- Joined: January 2013
- Location: Oxfordshire
Re: Our first time - advice please
I dunno - you certainly get a completely different atmosphere on a 2-nighter so that followed up by a "proper" cruise will give a taste of the full cruising spectrum !
We did a booze cruise on Aurora back-to-back with a Fjords cruise and spent turnaround morning in town in Southampton. When we got back to the ship, the atmosphere was so different, we thought we had boarded the wrong ship !
We did a booze cruise on Aurora back-to-back with a Fjords cruise and spent turnaround morning in town in Southampton. When we got back to the ship, the atmosphere was so different, we thought we had boarded the wrong ship !
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- Ex Team Member
- Posts: 11358
- Joined: January 2013
- Location: Cumbria
Re: Our first time - advice please
But if they don't like the first cruise will it prejudice their feelings for the second ...........................
Don't ask me cos I'm not into booze cruises.
Don't ask me cos I'm not into booze cruises.
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- Commodore
- Posts: 15361
- Joined: February 2013
Re: Our first time - advice please
I notice that along with the change in policy on the amount of drink you can bring on board the term "party cruise " is to be dropped and dress codes are to be enforced.
Last edited by Mervyn and Trish on 09 Nov 2017, 17:28, edited 1 time in total.
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Topic author - Able Seaman
- Posts: 16
- Joined: November 2017
Re: Our first time - advice please
Thank you so much everyone, these ahem, "tips" (I promise I won't say it again) are really useful. As it's a special year next year, wife has a "special" birthday, plus it's our Ruby Wedding Anniversary, I want it to be special.....got the DJ already, though I will feel very uncomfortable at first, but I like your comments about feeling good in it after a while.....wifey is all excited about the "posh frocks" bit, so we'll be fine on that front. I would like to take a bottle of champers on board, and that seems , from your comments, to be ok. Wine is a different matter....can't stand the stuff, being a beery swine, but I guess turning up with a forklift truck isn't going to go down well, so I'll just buy it on board....
I think I will go for the extra 2 day cruise to Zeebrugge, I hear what you say about it , well, being a slightly different clientelle, but it will give us 2 days extra PLUS about an extra 12 hours, and we'll already be on board....
qbman1 we are up in your neck of the woods again this sat....Newbury...hoping for a better result than last week at Maidenhead !
I think I will go for the extra 2 day cruise to Zeebrugge, I hear what you say about it , well, being a slightly different clientelle, but it will give us 2 days extra PLUS about an extra 12 hours, and we'll already be on board....
qbman1 we are up in your neck of the woods again this sat....Newbury...hoping for a better result than last week at Maidenhead !
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- First Officer
- Posts: 1861
- Joined: January 2013
- Location: Hampshire
Re: Our first time - advice please
The only thing you'll need to worry about is saving for your second cruise. As far as the 2 night cruise, if you do this just bear in mind that the atmosphere aboard will be entirely different from the one you'll experience on your longer cruise. As Foxy says some of the so-called Party Cruises can be noisy and I'd hate those two nights to make you think, Whatever have we done? Just warn your wife not to judge what the cruise is going to be like from the first two nights. I'm sure you'll really enjoy the formal evenings, good for you to be already prepared. You'll find the majority of men on the full cruise will be wearing Black Tie and the ship does take on a glamorous atmosphere on a formal evening. Enjoy yourselves.
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- Senior First Officer
- Posts: 3951
- Joined: January 2013
Re: Our first time - advice please
We've never done a bcak to back an perhaps others can advise. It may be worth asking for the same cabin for the two cruises.
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Topic author - Able Seaman
- Posts: 16
- Joined: November 2017
Re: Our first time - advice please
Another silly "newbie" question.....as wifey is diabetic, her drink intake is rather limited......does Oriana serve anything other than diet coke, do you know ? Perhaps diet lemonade, or sugar free flavoured water > thanks guys, your answers are really helpfullll....Quizzical Bob, tried that re the cabins, can get next door, which is good enough for us.....cabins with balconies, should be good.....
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- Commodore
- Posts: 15361
- Joined: February 2013
Re: Our first time - advice please
I don't know the details because we are fortunate not to have the problem, but P&O are very good at dealing with all types of dietary requirement.
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Topic author - Able Seaman
- Posts: 16
- Joined: November 2017
Re: Our first time - advice please
Thank you again Mervyn and Trish....one for the Travel Agents then....make them earn their commission
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- Captain
- Posts: 12153
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- Location: Oxfordshire
Re: Our first time - advice please
If you or your TA ring P&O, I have always found them really helpful and they will send on advance notification of any requirements to the ship. We once had to request a specific table in the MDR (long story !) and they even arranged that for us
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- Site Admin
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- Location: Lancashire
Re: Our first time - advice please
On the point of doing back-to-back - if you do not have the same cabin then the staff on board will do most of the moving for you (or at least that is what used to happen)
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Topic author - Able Seaman
- Posts: 16
- Joined: November 2017
Re: Our first time - advice please
Another daft question if I may.....TIME.....on board ship, does it keep to UK time,, or local time ? If local, is there an announcement to remind you to change your watch ?
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- Site Admin
- Posts: 9442
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- Location: Lancashire
Re: Our first time - advice please
Local time. When the clocks go back you will be told by everyone as well as it being in the daily Horizon paper and there will be a card on your bed to remind you before you retire for the night. When the clocks go forward then that usually happens at middaybrixhamrfc wrote: ↑17 Dec 2017, 08:17Another daft question if I may.....TIME.....on board ship, does it keep to UK time,, or local time ? If local, is there an announcement to remind you to change your watch ?