Returned from D601 8th-22nd January 3016
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Topic author - First Officer
- Posts: 1838
- Joined: June 2014
Returned from D601 8th-22nd January 3016
This is my review of the above cruise (not into great detail) I hope you enjoy reading about it as much as I enjoyed experiencing it
We had a great time with a few new ports the weather was hot and sunny with a couple showers on two of the sea days.
When we were in Trujillo it was a tender port, we were on the first tender a shore and there were lots of people with cameras of all sizes waiting when we arrived (unusual) it was the national TV stations filming the Adonia's arrival as we were the first cruise ship to visit! so lots of people were there with music and dancing. To cap it off the excursion to Campo del Mar Park and animal rescue wasn't bad (given Fresh fruit skewers and fruit juices that were nice) not as good as some but for the place we thought it was fine they certainly did their best to please you.
The next day in Roatan when we got on the bus for our excursion West Island Highlights included a butterfly house, animal habitat (that's what they called it) and Garifuna dancers one of the first things the guide said was how they had watched Adonia arriving in Trujillo on TV the day before ha ha! this tour was more polished as it has American ships in port so it was like any other port arrival the other one was certainly one to remember.
When we got to Limon we done an excursion which lasted all day called train,canal & countryside the canal part was the best as we seen wild life (sloths & monkeys) & birds. The train was basic which we were expecting but there wasn't much to see.
As we have been through the Panama Canal (on a previous cruise) when we got to Colon we went a trip which was a speed boat on the panama canal that took you monkey watching, we seen lots of them and several different types.
At Cartagena we were just going to go into the old town on our own but when we docked there were a couple of BIG cruise ships in as well it was heaving, so we couldn't be bothered with the hassle of taxi taxi! so stayed at the cruise terminal instead. It was the best one ever it had two biggish bird aviaries that you could walk inside. The birds were flying around us! lots of different kind and there were monkeys in the trees also macaw parrots, howler and spider monkeys they weren't caged. We stayed a few hours, had a drink just relaxing and watching everything around us. Later at dinner most people had went on a trip and wished they hadn't, as they didn't have much time in the old town which I'm assured by my daughter is really nice. They mainly said they wished they had done what we did (by default!). The other ports of call were ones we have been to before which were Aruba & Grenada but as you can imagine still enjoyable
We had some reservations just before we went in case Adonia felt too small (booked for the Itinerary) but this was far from being a problem the ship has a lovely feel to it, everyone from fellow passengers to staff and crew were friendly. There didn't seem to be as much moaning as we've heard on other ships!
The entertainment on the ship was some of the best we've had, especially The Adonia Theater Company there were only 5 cast members which went down to 4 as one had to go home due to family emergency. They were excellent apart from the evening shows they preformed 2 plays one each week on a sea day.That was different and very good sooo funny.
If you like to take part in the quizzes on board there weren't as many as usual due to fewer staff but we won a couple of syndicate quizzes! So good result....
When speaking to staff at the "drinks parties" we were told that Adonia is now expected to return to P&O proper in 2017 after a further refit so we hope that shall happen we would certainly sail on her again
We had a great time with a few new ports the weather was hot and sunny with a couple showers on two of the sea days.
When we were in Trujillo it was a tender port, we were on the first tender a shore and there were lots of people with cameras of all sizes waiting when we arrived (unusual) it was the national TV stations filming the Adonia's arrival as we were the first cruise ship to visit! so lots of people were there with music and dancing. To cap it off the excursion to Campo del Mar Park and animal rescue wasn't bad (given Fresh fruit skewers and fruit juices that were nice) not as good as some but for the place we thought it was fine they certainly did their best to please you.
The next day in Roatan when we got on the bus for our excursion West Island Highlights included a butterfly house, animal habitat (that's what they called it) and Garifuna dancers one of the first things the guide said was how they had watched Adonia arriving in Trujillo on TV the day before ha ha! this tour was more polished as it has American ships in port so it was like any other port arrival the other one was certainly one to remember.
When we got to Limon we done an excursion which lasted all day called train,canal & countryside the canal part was the best as we seen wild life (sloths & monkeys) & birds. The train was basic which we were expecting but there wasn't much to see.
As we have been through the Panama Canal (on a previous cruise) when we got to Colon we went a trip which was a speed boat on the panama canal that took you monkey watching, we seen lots of them and several different types.
At Cartagena we were just going to go into the old town on our own but when we docked there were a couple of BIG cruise ships in as well it was heaving, so we couldn't be bothered with the hassle of taxi taxi! so stayed at the cruise terminal instead. It was the best one ever it had two biggish bird aviaries that you could walk inside. The birds were flying around us! lots of different kind and there were monkeys in the trees also macaw parrots, howler and spider monkeys they weren't caged. We stayed a few hours, had a drink just relaxing and watching everything around us. Later at dinner most people had went on a trip and wished they hadn't, as they didn't have much time in the old town which I'm assured by my daughter is really nice. They mainly said they wished they had done what we did (by default!). The other ports of call were ones we have been to before which were Aruba & Grenada but as you can imagine still enjoyable
We had some reservations just before we went in case Adonia felt too small (booked for the Itinerary) but this was far from being a problem the ship has a lovely feel to it, everyone from fellow passengers to staff and crew were friendly. There didn't seem to be as much moaning as we've heard on other ships!
The entertainment on the ship was some of the best we've had, especially The Adonia Theater Company there were only 5 cast members which went down to 4 as one had to go home due to family emergency. They were excellent apart from the evening shows they preformed 2 plays one each week on a sea day.That was different and very good sooo funny.
If you like to take part in the quizzes on board there weren't as many as usual due to fewer staff but we won a couple of syndicate quizzes! So good result....
When speaking to staff at the "drinks parties" we were told that Adonia is now expected to return to P&O proper in 2017 after a further refit so we hope that shall happen we would certainly sail on her again
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- Captain
- Posts: 12153
- Joined: January 2013
- Location: Oxfordshire
Re: Returned from D601 8th-22nd January 3016
Welcome back - thanks for the report. Sounds like some interesting ports. Glad you enjoyed the cruise - and Adonia. What you have been told about her return to the fold backs up what we heard - although no one believes me !!
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- Commodore
- Posts: 15233
- Joined: February 2013
Re: Returned from D601 8th-22nd January 3016
Great report thanks. Hope you're both right about the return. We have 2017 booked but really hope to Adonia in 2018. If we're spared as the Togmeister used to say. RIP
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- Deputy Captain
- Posts: 5590
- Joined: March 2013
- Location: Instow Devon
Re: Returned from D601 8th-22nd January 3016
Welcome back and thanks for the review
Rarely hear a bad word about Adonia, she'll be missed
Rarely hear a bad word about Adonia, she'll be missed
Empty vessels .. and all that
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- Ex Team Member
- Posts: 13014
- Joined: January 2013
- Location: Dorset
Re: Returned from D601 8th-22nd January 3016
Thanks so much for the report ... and even more thanks for reinforcing the thought that Adonia will be back for us to book in 2017, as indeed we deffo will.
Keep smiling, it's good for your well being
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- Senior First Officer
- Posts: 3364
- Joined: January 2013
- Location: Gower Peninsula, South Wales