Cubie's report on Aurora R324 Christmas Cruise

[qbman1]

OK, I’ve been back nearly a week but I’ve only just found the time to assemble my ramblings on the Aurora Christmas and New Year cruise. Sorry if it goes on a bit.

The journey from home in Oxfordshire to Southampton on the morning of the 21st was OK, if a little fraught due to constant lashing rain all the way but we made it without incident and in reasonable time. The only delay was caused by the lady from CPS who was logging in our car and couldn’t get any of her pens to write in the wet so I had to give her one of mine in the end, by which time we were both thoroughly drenched. Still, if that’s the only hiccup, it can be counted a highly successful journey!

There was a bit of a queue to check-in in the Mayflower terminal but the process was as efficient as always and we were on board within about half an hour. No sooner had we grabbed a snack and a glass of wine and mince pie than the announcement came that we were able to enter the cabin (at about 1:30). All in all, a good start.

It turned out that Neil Turnbull was CAPtain once again, which pleased us no end. We had thought that Ian Hutley was due to drive this year as Neil Turnbull was on duty last Christmas. There were various rumours emanating from the Deck C Laundrette as to the whereabouts of Ian Hutley but I won’t go into that as I am sure enough has been said elsewhere !

Anyway, it is always a pleasure to sail with Neil Turnbull; not only is he highly approachable and entertaining, but he seems to seek out the calmer waters and better weather wherever possible. Not sure that Quizzical Bob would agree with that sentiment but, hey-ho!

Predictably, sailaway was a bit of a washout so we saved our freebie champagne vouchers for hopefully a better evening. We set off into a Force 9/10 in the Channel but the movement on the first night was not at all bad, although we learned later that quite a few people were confined to barracks for the first couple of days and where whingeing about the conditions. It is the North Atlantic in mid-winter after all so what did they expect ?! It appears that Queen Liz left the next day and headed straight into a Force 11 so we can consider ourselves fortunate.

Still blowing a Hooley on the first sea day but the wind was from the south-west and we were just about heading straight into it so the movement on the ship was bearable for us hardened sailors and CAPtain was taking it steady with the stabiliser fins out.

Next day was not much better and the CAPtain announced that it may be difficult to get into Lisbon due to the high winds and sea conditions and after much to-ing and fro-ing he decided that we should miss the planned call to Lisbon on Christmas Eve and head straight for the Canaries where we could expect sunshine, light winds and 20+ degrees. Sounded good to me!

As it happened, it was a really good move as we managed to secure a berth at La Palma on Boxing Day for an extra island call. Far preferable, in my book, to a wet and windy Christmas Eve in Lisbon !

By Christmas Eve, the weather had moderated considerably and for Santa’s arrival, we were in sunshine and the ship virtually stopped and turned into the wind so the poor old chap was not blown off the funnel !

For the next week and a bit it was sunshine and 20+ degrees just about all the way.

Believe it or not, really nothing to complain about on board Aurora this time. Cruise Director was Elaine Coles, who did a first class job with her team without being too overwhelming, entertainment better than we have come to expect of late (more about that in a minute) and food exactly what we have come to expect. Service immaculate as always. OK, the ship and cabins (ours was a standard balcony on C-deck) are getting just a little tired but the cabin was superbly looked after by our steward, who is probably the best we have known in over 12 years with P&O and the level of cleaning throughout the public areas was perfectly acceptable. Many of the waiters and stewards we knew from last year were back on board and they all remembered us. Don’t know how they do it but our wine steward not only remembered our names, and the others on our table last Christmas but he even remembered the table number ! We mentioned it to the CAPtain in conversation and he reckoned that we just drink too much !

For once, no sign of Norovirus, nor did we come home with the Aurora cough this year! We had a bit of a panic on day one, when we arrived to find all the public lavatory doors propped open, the hand driers turned off and all food and drink in the Orangery being served by latex-clad waiters ! Turns out that it is a policy to help prevent the spread of Noro during the first days of a winter cruise. Not sure whether it is just on Aurora or throughout the fleet but it seems a bloody good idea to me and it certainly did the trick this time.

Plenty of daytime activities throughout this cruise so no time to get bored (at least for most of us). Of particular interest were a series of wine, champagne and Martini talks and tastings. Apparently, they are hoping to roll those out in a number of other ships this year and they were certainly well attended….and good value. £10 per person each. The head wine honcho certainly knew his stuff and we had three decent-sized glasses of a good Sauvignon blanc, a Shiraz and a Prosecco. Trouble is, it was timed just before lunch so we had to skip wine with that meal !! The Martini one, on New Years Day, was even better. I was expecting a couple of tasters but we had three full Martini Glasses of neat spirit !! No wine with lunch after that, either, and as far as I can remember, we slept all afternoon too !!

The Headliners were professional as always, although we had seen every show at least twice before. One of the penalties of being loyal to P&O I guess ! The cabaret acts included Tom O’Connor (getting on a bit but always good value and a pleasure to see), Laura Broad (a loser from BGT apparently), Steve Larkins as Mercury Rising (first time for us and very entertaining), a comedian
(who was so memorable that I can’t even remember his name!) and Rhydian (finalist on X-Factor, I believe). Whilst he was feeling rather seasick during his two shows, he nevertheless gave two really good performances and received standing ovations, which you don’t see too often on a ship. The classical pianist was a lovely young lady called Tia Eagle, who was an absolute delight. Her recitals were a bit lighter than some we have seen on board, which may not have appealed to the purists but it was certainly good for us. Guest speaker for the last three days was a “back-stairs Billy” who worked as a pastry chef for the Royal family for about 5 years and was spilling the gossip about life below stairs. Not for me but Mrs C enjoyed it.

After the unscheduled stop at La Palma on Boxing Day, we were back on schedule in Lanzarote on the 27th, then Tenerife and Gran Canaria on the following days. Apart from a bit of drizzle on the Tenerife afternoon, the weather stayed fine and pleasantly warm throughout. We had an added bonus of extended stays until 10 p.m. in Tenerife and Gran Canaria.

Only slight downside was that on the morning of the 30th we awoke to find the ship sailing around in circles 4 or 5 miles off La Gomera. It seems that Saga Sapphire had been trapped there for 48 hours due to the high winds. As yet, there is only one cruise ship berth and no tug at La Gomera and it would have been too dangerous for her to attempt to leave. The forecast was for the winds to ease so we hung around for a while but there was no improvement and the CAPtain said that even if we were able to dock, there was a chance that we would be stuck there too and would risk missing Madeira (clearly not an option !!). A bit of a disappointment as it would have been our first visit to the island (and Aurora’s too) but I am sure the right decision was made in the circumstances. It looked very nice from a distance, though !

There was a fool at Reception that afternoon threatening to sue P&O, Carnival and probably God himself for the missed call at La Gomera. He complained that the brochure did not say that there was only one berth and he was not told we might not be able to land. What these poor people on reception have to suffer – they have my enduring admiration for not bopping some of the idiots on the nose !

Then on to Madeira for New Year’s Eve. Weather again very clement and a pleasant day was spent including a buying trip to the flower market and a long, boozy lunch but the highlight had to be the fireworks at midnight.

It appears that they were trying to get into the Guinness Book of Records for the total number of cruise ships in port and they managed it with 12. We had a berth at the seaward end of the mole right opposite all the action and Saga Sapphire (mercifully released from La Gomera just after midday on the previous day), AIDAblu and Braemar also berthed. Anchored outside the port all day were Saga Ruby, The World, Marco Polo, Balmoral and Funchal. AIDAstella turned up shortly before midnight along with two others but I am not sure what they were (sorry).

The fireworks were quite a spectacle and we had a grandstand seat. Our first time and if you haven’t been, do try to get there soon. We are already booked in for next year. Apparently, there were 30 tonnes of fireworks costing 3,800,000 euros (yes, 3.8 MILLION !) and the display lasted 8 minutes. Wow !!

On the way home, the weather was still pretty fair for the first day but the CAPtain said there was a storm brewing out near Bermuda and was due to catch up with us across Biscay so basically he put his foot down and we were well into the Channel by Friday afternoon, passing the Isle of Wight during dinner and alongside at the Mayflower soon after midnight. Again, we didn’t find the last two days too rocky as the wind was plumb astern most of the way but the seas were quite dramatic and some of our fellow passengers were suffering a bit and vowing this would be their first and last Christmas cruise.

If we thought the drive down was wet, that was nothing compared to the drive home ! Still we made it OK.

I always seem to manage to get a story into my reports that may cause a little amusement and I have just learned that one of our table companions had a bit of a mishap on the last morning of the cruise. She inadvertently packed her trousers when retiring on the final evening and awoke to the prospect of disembarking in her pants !! She went to breakfast wearing her husband’s blue pyjama bottoms and a coat but luckily reception were able to open one of the shops specially for her so she could buy a pair of trousers !!

No better way to finish a report on an enjoyable and memorable cruise !

[Dark Knight]

Bravo Puddy Tat
great report and it sounds like you had a grand old time

[Quizzical Bob]

Thanks, Cubie, always good to read.

So, you missed two ports again eh? I would have been hopping mad too.

[Jan Rosser]

Great report Cubie - sounds as if you had a fantastic view of the fireworks - something to put on my bucket list. I laughed at the story of the lady with no trousers - my friend's husband once packed all his shoes and had to disembark in fluffy slippers - the only thing Reception could find for him to wear

[qbman1]

Thanks, Cubie, always good to read.

So, you missed two ports again eh? I would have been hopping mad too.

Only a net loss of one in the end QBob! Anyway, at least I managed two individual quiz victories this time (and fell one point short in 6 or 7 others !)

[Mervyn and Trish]

Thanks Cubie - good report. We've done the Madeira fireworks and agree they are fantastic. But shame on our favourite Captain Neil . What could he be thinking, not being prepared to barge into La Gomera and smash up Aurora and risk smashing Saga too by nudging her off the berth, possibly getting stuck there and missing the highlight of the cruise. I think you should sue P&O for a billion pounds for not having the foresight to build an extra berth in La Gomera, fit cannon to Aurora to chase off interlopers and bring a windbreak along!

(Sorry QBob, I know you are a get-into-port-at-any-price man, but on balance I'd back Captain Neil in his judgement every time. On our cruise with him last year, by adjusting the schedule he got into every port, including a maiden call at the Faroes, while other ships were left bouncing around because they lacked his foresight).

[Wina G]

Thanks for the report Cubie, it's given us a taster for THIS YEAR ... we'll see you on board

[Suekersh]

Great report Cubie. Glad you enjoyed your Xmas cruise. I just wish there was a PO cruise going to Caribbean before Xmas and being in Madeira for NYE.

Sue

[gfwgfw]

Thanks

Lubooo

Graham x

[Romig1]

Top report Cubie...thanks so much.

[Gill W]

Thanks for your report, sounds like you enjoyed your cruise

[Onelife]

Hi qbman,

Without doubt the best report l have ever read...much better than the last "best ever" reports l've replied too....but please don't tell them l've said that

Really enjoyable read qbman. Your report gives a great insight as to how you can either get on with what cruising can throw at you, in the way of rough sea conditions/missed ports or you can let them get you down. It certainly sounds like you chose the latter.

Thank you for taking the time to post your excellent report.

Regards

Keith

[Jean W]

So pleased you had a great time. Aurora and Madeira on NYE - one of the best

Thank you for a lovely Report.

[Mervyn and Trish]

And just to be entirely clear QB, you have not succeeded in making us feel hugely jealous.

Oh hang on. A typing error.

You HAVE succeeded in making us feel hugely jealous. We will, however, be in Madeira in the not too distant future, albeit land-based and firework free, so you're forgiven.

[emjay45]

Sounds a lovely cruise, you were lucky with the weather too. You can thank me for not getting the Aurora cough, because I brought it off the ship with me in April and I can't seem to shift it.

[June1969]

Hi Qb,
Great report, so useful as we will be joining you next Christmas. Pleased the weather didn't get any worse and hoping it stays calm for our trip.

Love Madeira and have only seen the fireworks at the Atlantic Festival in June when the countries compete for the honour of doing the NYE display.

[jay-ell71]

Sorry, I am a bit late with this. Good report, good cruise, good weather, and very sensible CAPtain. (However I can't believe that someone went on that cruise with the sole purpose of visiting La Gomera??)

One point…. En passant you said The World was anchored outside Madeira. What does she look like parked up with all those ordinary vessels?

Madeira fireworks? Fab-- ul-- ous. Glad you enjoyed it. Everyone should try to see them once in a lifetime.

Did you know that each weekend in June, they hold a fireworks competition, and the winner's show is the one you see on NYE?

[Dancing Queen]

Great review Cubie, sounds as if your weather was better in the Canaries than ours was in the Med

Pleased you had a good time, the fireworks in Madeira are spectacular aren't they.

[Boxermum]

Excellent account of this cruise. We were on it too and had a great time. The 2 ships you missed from the fireworks were Mein Schiff (the one we were berthed next to in Gran Canaria) and an MSC one (Can't remember the name). The Comedian was called Micky Zany. Wish I was going again this year but we're already booked for Arcadia.

[melsea]

Great report qb, brought back memories when we were in Madeira for NYE. They are quite simply the best. Pleased you had a great cruise.
Neil is a good Captain and you know instantly what type of message he is about to deliver.

Melsea