Oceana 4 nighter Feb 2018

[welshynurse]

So its only taken a year but finally getting the cruise report up! It's going to more a general overview than a day to day as it's been to long for my brain. To remember details!
7th Feb
Uneventful drive to Southampton, confused 2 year old got a bit upset when a random man drove her car away, bot sure she quite understood the way the car parking system worked!
Check in was a bit long winded as there were big computer problems so took far longer than normal. Helpfully though the check in staff moved us to the shortest que as we had a toddler with us. Mum was a little emotional going on board as we were going to scatter Silver Shiney's ashes and they had a lot of memories of this ship.
Due to the computer glitches, muster stations and sail away were pushed back an hour of so, as at the time we were meant to sail there were still several hundred people not yet on board! It did give us time to regain our batings and get to the kids club for registration.
The kids club had been recently refurbished and had a soft play, so one happy 2 year old!

In mum's cabin there was a letter from the head of guest services to arrange to meet up about the scattering. She also received a phonecall from him to make sure she was checked in and happy with everything. This gentleman went above and beyond for the whole time. We went to reception to meet him and he offered to keep the ashes in his personal safe in order to keep them safe for the duration.

Dinner in the main dining room was a different experience with a toddler but the waiters were so attentive to her and every day her serving of icecream got bigger and bigger! After dinner we took the little one to the kids club. They put a film on at 8 and the children could crash out on bean bags. If she fell asleep they paged us and we just checked her in to the night nursery. There were only a few children on board so never a problem with being over subscribed.

The next day was port in Zeebruge. We had booked a trip to Bruge as felt having organized transport easiest with a toddler. Bruge is a really beautiful city although struggled to find a cafe that had access for a buggy/wheelchair. We did find a place that we got a hot muffin and a coffee for 7euros. The cobbled streets were also a bit of challenge for wheels.

The second port was Amsterdam. Less impressed here. I don't think the bitter cold helped, or the crazy cyclists everywhere! The thing I was most shocked about was the cannabis availability. I knew it was there but I thought it was like the red light district, it was there if you knew where to look! But it was everywhere! We asked for a recommendation for lunch and the cafe we wete directed to sold hash burgers, chips etc, which I decided was not appropriate with a 2 year old! We did find a nice place just behind the flower market where we got some proper chips and mayo, and they very kindly gave my daughter a lolly when we left...not a hash one although we could have easily bought one!
We bought a bus/boat ticket which included free entry to a diamond museum. A definite recommendation! It was basically a shop with a bit where they filed etc the diamonds but it was very interesting and being in a locked room and handling €70,000 diamonds was an experience!
We spend the afternoon going round the whole city on the cannals. A good way to see the sights and get the history, it was also out of the cold and got my daughter to nap so wins all round!
I'm not sure if I would go back to Amsterdam, but maybe it was the wrong time of year and would be better without the little one.
On the last full day (sea day), we had the scattering of ashes in the afternoon. The person who we had been speaking to us all week escorted us from the atrium to back of the ship. There was a table with a white cloth, a simple flower arrangement and a bowel of rose petals. The captain was there as was the head of security. There were 2 crew members blocking off the deck to the rest of the public, who we were very grateful to as it was freezing!
The captain read a litergy and I read a poem. He then invites us to scatter the ashes and the rose petals. It was very simple, but very personal and I can't thank all involved enough for the dignity and care they provided.

The evening entertainment during the cruise was as the norm, excellent musicals show and a dance one I hadn't seen before. My little one loved the dance show. Gino Decampo was on board and did a show. However he was more celebrity juice than day time TV so we didn't stay long! Not sure swearing when he had already acknowledged the 8 year olds in the audience was appropriate. Think maybe a warning in the Horizon would have been helpful.

The food was as good as always. We mainly did buffet at lunch and main restaurant for dinner as easier with the little one. The waiters quickly got to know our daughter and always got her food out before anyone else, even when the wine waiter tripped into the waiter and ended up wearing my daughter's Sheppard's pie!

The children's work was brilliant. The head of the room was a lady called Alison. She was really lovely but my little one was not impressed at being left everyday so even now of you say the name Alison she isn't happy! As much as the children's club was great, and cruising is definitely an easy holiday with a child, I think a bigger ship would be better. Other than the reef there was not anything for children so an older childay be less entertained. But that's just my view.

All in all it was a good cruise, slightly emotional but a good introduction for my daughter and a fitting way to say goodbye to dad. We probably won't go back on Oceana now, I think the memories are enough, and it was our final cruise with Dad.
Sail on Silver Shiney x

[Mervyn and Trish]

Thank you so much for the report and what a fitting "burial " for Shiney. He is still much missed here. As you say, Sail On.

[Kenmo1]

Thank you for this special review, welshy - it brought a lump to my throat especially the final paragraph. As Merv said, your Dad is missed on here.

Best wishes,

Maureen

[Manoverboard]

Shepherd's Pie will never be the same … but most of all it was lovely to read about the dignified send off for our Silver Shiney.

Thank you so much for posting that we could share your experiences.

[david63]

People (myself included) are very quick to "have a go" at P&O over anything and everything so it is refreshing to read that they can, and do, go the extra mile and get things right when it matters

A fitting farewell to our "friend"

[towny44]

Thank you for the report Welshy and as others have said your Dad is still very much missed on here, sail on Silver Shiney.

[Jan Rosser]

Well I don’t mind admitting I was in tears by the end of your report- I loved the banter with your Dad - his sense of humour and the friendship we all felt with him. Sail on Silver Shiney

[Stephen]

I'll second that Jan.....except the tears bit

[Mervyn and Trish]

I was

[Gill W]

Thank you for sharing your experience.

It was good to hear that P&O looked after you and made the experience something that you will treasure.

[GillD46]

So glad everything went smoothly for your final farewell to your dad.

Thanks for including us in this special goodbye.

[Ian Perth]

Lovely post and what a great thing to do, so glad P&O looked after you all well, I’m sure you will all have some great memories cruising.

[oldbluefox]

Thank you for sharing with us that special moment with your dad who was such a respected member of our forum.

[Happydays]

May I share the same thoughts of the others in the previous posts.
I also remember Silver Shiney and thought what your mother and yourself done was lovely I would love to have that tribute! Something you as a family shall never forget hope you have more happy cruises ahead of you.

[Ray B]

Thank you Welshy for sharing that wonderful tribute to Alan, Silver Shiney with us all, always the gentleman on this site and sadly missed.