Adonia D520, 30 nights. 7/9/15 to 7/10/15

Reports about cruises on Adonia
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wolfie
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Adonia D520, 30 nights. 7/9/15 to 7/10/15

#1

Post by wolfie »

A Greek Odyssey, (with a slice of Turkey and a touch of Spain and Portugal).

Our 30 nights on Adonia was chosen for the itinerary. Who could not be tempted by a plethora of Greek islands!

A trouble free journey to Southampton, courtesy of our lovely local driver who we now use each time, and we were on board enjoying our nibbles and drinks in the Curzon Lounge by 12.30pm.

Our balcony cabin was just 2 doors away from where we were in May this year so we immediately felt at home. A table for 6 in the Pacific Restaurant on 2nd sitting with table companions that were great company.

After 3 days at sea we arrived in Almeria and set off on a tour to lovely Mojacar as this was one of the few places that we hadn’t visited on our previous holidays in Andalucia. It was the start of a run of ports of call that bettered each other each time.

Our first port of call in Greece was Gythion, a delightful little place and memorable for the octopus tentacles drying in the sun! Next was Piraeus where we did very little having spent a holiday in Athens so just enjoyed a peaceful ship.

Kusadasi was the gateway for Ephesus but as the tours were mainly high activity over uneven ground and, having done a classical Greece tour some years ago, we opted out and just wandered around Kusadasi’s Grand Bazaar, running the gauntlet of the shop owners requests to, ‘please look, please come see my friend.’

We were due to call next at Lesvos but the captain had been advised that due to the migrant problem there, and our close proximity to the ferry terminal, we would instead call at Lemnos, (also known as Limnos). Unspoiled and picture postcard pretty with P&O passengers the only tourists in sight, this was one of the favourite ports for many passengers.

Onward to an overnight stay in Istanbul, the highlight port of call for many. We had spent a holiday here so just took the tram to the Sultanahmet area for lunch and revisited Hagia Sophia. In the evening we enjoyed a cruise up the Bosphorus which included dinner. We had done this previously in daylight but the illuminated buildings were spectacular at night.

The only rainy day was when we called at Samos. Despite the rain many agreed this was another favourite port. The sun reappeared for our call to Mykonos and we tendered right into Mykonos town. It was just as we had expected, very picturesque, but the shopping here was disappointing, mostly touristy stuff. People who had visited before commented on how much it had changed.

Rhodes was next and we took a short trip on the HOHO bus, explored the walled town, and chose a restaurant for the evening as we were not departing until quite late. We couldn’t avoid one couple from our table in the MDR as they too had spotted the same very good restaurant, the golden-olympiade, earlier in the day so it was home from home!!

Santorini was eagerly awaited by most passengers and it did not disappoint. Approaching, and sailing through the vast caldera, the town of Fira was slightly covered in early morning mist and the little cubed houses, clinging to the cliff top and so close together, looked just like snow or icing sugar sprinkled on the top of the cliffs. We had a great day here with some research beforehand.
None of the tours provided exactly what we wanted to do in Mykonos and we also dislike being herded and clock watching to regroup.
Straight off the tender to the local tours desks and a boat to Ammoundi Bay which lies below Oia. Oia is the town that is featured in so many holiday brochures for Greece with its white buildings and blue painted domes. A coach, included in the cost, then took us up to Oia town and we were fortunate to arrive before the crowds so enjoyed the magnificent views. The shopping here was fantastic; lots of little shops which specialised in local crafts and some very good clothes shops!!

The coach was then available at various departure times for the return to Fira. This gave us a view of the other side of the island. Fira town was very commercialised so the only option was lunch and then back down to the tender point via the cable car. The other option to get down was walking or a donkey. The latter was a no no.

Crete, and a return for us to lovely Aghios Nikolaos. Docked right in the town we had a walk and a drink and then headed straight for Faros Taverna right on the edge of a small beach, family run with papa manning the charcoal grill. The swordfish was delicious and enough for 2 people but our other order was sardines, I stopped counting at 24 sardines.

Monemvasia- just Google it, words cannot describe this fascinating, timewarp of a place.

Another visit to Malta and we took a tour took to Vittoriosa, just the other side of the Grand Harbour, one of 3 walled cities on this side of the harbour and then to the fishing village of Marsaxlokk. All this sightseeing still left us with time for lunch in Valetta via a quick ride on the new lift which we hadn’t used before as we were fortunate to travel up to the city on one of the old buses; sadly there now none left operating.

We had visited many of the places around Cadiz some years ago, so yes, it was another lunch!!

Our final port of call was Lisbon… again.

Apart from some rain one day and a very lively sea 6 days before Southampton the weather was magnificent throughout, often topping 30 degrees. We made all 5 scheduled tender ports which was a bonus. The tender in Santorini was provided very efficiently by the ‘Union of Boatmen of Santorini’ and their boats were splendid.
The entertainment on board was better than the usual P&O offerings. We enjoyed some classical musicians- piano, flute, guitar, a few tribute acts which were good, a trio of comedians, a ventriloquist, a mind reader and many more.

Of course The Conservatory on Adonia is not open every night but the themed buffet evenings, were always well attended, probably due to such a port intensive cruise and the opportunity to eat on the open back deck on the many warm evenings we had. One could eat around 7pm, catch the early show and still have time to relax to some music in Andersons or the Crows Nest.
We also ate in Sorrento and Ocean Grill a few times and on sea days the freshly cooked fish in the Lido Café was always a temptation that was hard to resist.

It was evident many times that Adonia was being measured up as we had lots of people with clip boards and fabric samples who came on at some ports of call.

We were notified on board that the water would be turned off every port day between 2 and 4pm for essential renewal of the system. That is water to all areas of the ship!!! Many passengers made their opinions known as to the health issue of using toilets and lack of water to wash their hands- the solution- to fill the sink before you went ashore in the morning!!!! Our solution was to stay ashore and enjoy a long lunch. The timing was the main issue, just when people were arriving back from being ashore and wanted a shower. Thankfully the work was completed before schedule.

We received no emergency notification beforehand about the water being off but we did receive a letter 3 days before sailing informing us of an additional 2 formal evenings!!! WHAT!!!
I enjoyed a few treatments in the spa due to my first treatment being excellent. I haven’t rated previous experiences in the spa as great and I don’t usually use the spa very much as I enjoy treatments at home regularly.

To top it all the ship managed to get a satellite signal for all the home games of the Rugby World Cup. However, this was rather biased as the England games were scheduled in the Curzon Lounge with flags and balloons whereas other home nation matches were relegated to the card room. All I will say is, just desserts!! I assume that the cruise director was rooting for the All Blacks!

I have described the cabin and the public rooms in a previous review and I am not getting muddled with our cruise on Adonia this May when I say that once again ,during the first night, we were woken by a bridge announcement to all cabins informing us of, 'complete engine failure.' Another announcement from Captain David Box some time later informed us that all was now OK and a third announcement apologising for disturbing our rest!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :roll: He loves the PA system. ;)

We had 6 formal, 5 jacket required and 19 casual evenings and although it sounds a busy itinerary the 16 port days were nicely interspersed with 14 sea days with no more than 3 ports on consecutive days; very well planned we thought.

For those who may be going on Adonia soon they may not have the 'Brodies' Bombay Cooler' cocktail on the drinks card but it is still on the tills so it is available. :D :D :D

All my posts and photos are COPYRIGHTED!!

"I have a little shadow that goes in and out with me!"
KEEP CALM AND CRUISE ON

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Happydays
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Re: Adonia D520, 30 nights. 7/9/15 to 7/10/15

#2

Post by Happydays »

You certainly were busy :) I enjoyed reading your review as we are going on Adonia in January.

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Manoverboard
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Re: Adonia D520, 30 nights. 7/9/15 to 7/10/15

#3

Post by Manoverboard »

Very good Wolfie, thank you :clap:

... but now I am depressed cos somebody is about to steal our beloved Adonia.
Keep smiling, it's good for your well being

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Solent Richard
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Re: Adonia D520, 30 nights. 7/9/15 to 7/10/15

#4

Post by Solent Richard »

What a shame you had to miss Lesbos and the town of Mitilini. We called there on Hapag-Lloyd's Europa 2 and had an interesting visit. Indeed, there were refugees being taken into custody on the jetty as our tender berthed.I even took pictures.

http://solentrichardscruiseblog.com/201 ... g-the-bar/

There is also a very well preserved Roman aquaduct a short taxi ride from Mitilini (or Mytilene depending on one's choice).
Last edited by Solent Richard on 18 Nov 2015, 11:41, edited 1 time in total.

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qbman1
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Re: Adonia D520, 30 nights. 7/9/15 to 7/10/15

#5

Post by qbman1 »

Manoverboard wrote:
Very good Wolfie, thank you :clap:

... but now I am depressed cos somebody is about to steal our beloved Adonia.
Don't worry - you'll get her back. Trust me !

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Solent Richard
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Re: Adonia D520, 30 nights. 7/9/15 to 7/10/15

#6

Post by Solent Richard »

qbman1 wrote:
Manoverboard wrote:
Very good Wolfie, thank you :clap:

... but now I am depressed cos somebody is about to steal our beloved Adonia.
Don't worry - you'll get her back. Trust me !
They've obviously got a better job for her to do.

There are still other R ships available to cruise but most will find them a little more pricier than P&O's version.

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qbman1
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Re: Adonia D520, 30 nights. 7/9/15 to 7/10/15

#7

Post by qbman1 »

Not sure I would call appeasing the conscience of rich Americans a "better job" !

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wolfie
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Re: Adonia D520, 30 nights. 7/9/15 to 7/10/15

#8

Post by wolfie »

I'm sure they will soon get fed up of the, 'experience,' qb, and Adonia will be back in the fleet to do even more innovative itineraries as we have experienced twice this year.

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Solent Richard
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Re: Adonia D520, 30 nights. 7/9/15 to 7/10/15

#9

Post by Solent Richard »

qbman1 wrote:
Not sure I would call appeasing the conscience of rich Americans a "better job" !
Perhaps you have hit the nail on the head there qb.

'Rich Americans' , prepared to pay the prices for these unusual itineraries and not likely to shirk from paying their gratuities. :lol: :lol:

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Solent Richard
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Re: Adonia D520, 30 nights. 7/9/15 to 7/10/15

#10

Post by Solent Richard »

wolfie wrote:
A Greek Odyssey, (with a slice of Turkey and a touch of Spain and Portugal).

Our 30 nights on Adonia was chosen for the itinerary. Who could not be tempted by a plethora of Greek islands!


All my posts and photos are COPYRIGHTED!!

"I have a little shadow that goes in and out with me!"
KEEP CALM AND CRUISE ON
Missing Lesbos was unfortunate not to mention the fact that the jewels of the itinerary, Yalta and Odessa, were cancelled.

I guess those that took the opportunities earlier got to make those iconic ports...

http://solentrichardscruiseblog.com/201 ... ea-cruise/

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