<p>I got my room over looking the NOS at the Holiday Inn but i think I made a mistake as this meant that <br />neither my husband (DH) or I slept a wink all night. We tossed and turned and got up every 40 minutes <br />to look out of the window. Then when it did arrive the sheer size of it took your breath away! What a <br />sight, it was fantastic - she's massive. At 10:30 we saw a line of cars waiting to go in so off we went to join <br />them. ... http://www.cruisecrowd.com/ Sun, 20 May 2012 03:59:10 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2-ppt (info@mypapit.net) WWW_LISTING_THUMBNAILStn_600_list_Navigator2007257_1244225133.JPG <p>I got my room over looking the NOS at the Holiday Inn but i think I made a mistake as this meant that <br />neither my husband (DH) or I slept a wink all night. We tossed and turned and got up every 40 minutes <br />to look out of the window. Then when it did arrive the sheer size of it took your breath away! What a <br />sight, it was fantastic - she's massive. At 10:30 we saw a line of cars waiting to go in so off we went to join <br />them. We were on the ship by 11:45, the rest of the afternoon was spent wandering around just looking <br />at everything, getting our bearings. Had the musterdrill at about 4 and then went up on deck for the sail <br />away. I have to say it was a slight dissappointment. The QM2 and the Grand Princess were also docked <br />but there was no horn blowing. The QM2 slipped away quietly and the people on the Grand Princess <br />waved at us and we waved back but no horns! :( We had to go to dinner without changing as our cases <br />didn't arrive until about 9:30.<br /><br />The dinning room is lovely. We had a table in the Coppelia which over looked the captains table and <br />were seated with a family of three. I had requested a table on our own, as i was offered this at the time of <br />booking, so i was supprised to see 3 other people sat there when we arrived. This wasn't a problem it is <br />just a little awkward trying to make conversation every night with people who are initially strangers. In <br />future i would request a larger table so there's a variety of people to chat with. Dinner was very nice, i <br />can't remember what we ate i just remember all the meals in the dinning room were of a good standard, <br />the waiters were brilliant too. We went to bed early that evening and i have to say i slept well.<br /><br />Our room was right at the front of the ship - behind the heli-pad which gave us a good view of all the <br />ladies doing a Kate Winslet impersonation from Titanic. There was more than enough room for the 5 of <br />us in there. It was quite roomy the only downside being we had to share one bathroom which can be <br />awkward when getting ready for dinner. . The bed was fantastic,huge and comfy, better than the one i've <br />got at home.<br /><br />Sunday was the first day at sea and the meet &amp; mingle. I woke up late (must of been the sturgeon) and <br />felt really queezy and was going to give the meet &amp; mingle a miss but DH wouldn't let me. He gave me <br />some more medication and off we went. When we arrived they were taking the group photo with the <br />captain. He then left and we sat chatting, i was glad i went as it was nice to put faces to names. Miss <br />Mental,Silver1 and Chameleon it was lovely meeting you and thanks for the chitchat along the way. . We <br />also met up on other nights and our kids grouped together aswell which was nice - well done Mr.<br />Chameleon. .<br /><br />The Captain said the crossing of Biscay was moderate and he was happy with that.....by now i'm feeling <br />such a wimp!! He talked about the bad crossing Chubbas and Wendy had and described the waves as <br />20ft high.<br /><br />Gibraltar - I thought Gib was quite nice, the people seemed friendly and the shopkeepers were very <br />helpful. DH and my youngest went to see the apes. They did this independantly using the Taxis at the <br />dock. Dh said the driver was very interesting and knew how to handle the apes, they also saw the caves. <br />My daughter and i strolled round the shops and we all ended up back in the Windjammer by 12.00. The <br />sailaway from Gib was great as Oriana was docked at the side of us. They were all on the decks with <br />their Union Jacks cheering and waving us off.....even the horns were blown!! it was great. Thanks to all <br />the people on Oriana for a memorable sailaway.<br /><br />The next stop was Villefranche. We caught the train to Monte carlo, walked along the harbour looking at <br />all the yachts.....ooooh how the other half live! and then took the lift up to the Grand Casino. The <br />gardens infront of the casino are pretty and Monte Carlo was a nice place to wander round. Got back to <br />the ship at around 1.00pm. The ship was quiet and it almost felt like we had it to ourselves. Brilliance was <br />tendered next to us...she looks a lovely ship. Sailaway was at 10.30pm with a pool party and buffet on <br />deck 11....no big party atmosphere, i'm sure their sailaways could be better.<br /><br />Florence/Pisa was the next stop. We should have docked in Livorno but we tendered in La Spezia <br />instead. Apparently a cargo ship was docked for 2 days in our berth at Livorno. La Spezia is about 90 <br />minutes north of Livorno so it was a bit of a long day for those people doing the Florence trips. We didn't <br />go to Florence because we want to do it as a city break. Apparently it had a very heavy downpour that <br />day and the streets were like streams. We stayed on board and had the solarium to ourselves. We <br />should have left La Spezia at 7.30 but eventually left at 10.15 as the captain couldn't get the anchor back <br />up. They had to cut it off and leave it there so we could make Rome in time the next day.<br /><br />Rome...we took the Rome on your own tour as this gave us the reassurance of getting to and from the <br />ship without any hassle and time on your own in Rome. The coach dropped us off at the side of St.<br />Peters, we got a taxi from there to the Colosseum. It was hard standing inside the Colosseum as the sun <br />was beating down on you with very little shade...didn't stay long as it was becoming unbearable. Walked <br />to the Trevi and the Pantheon, ate some delicious pizza and had a lemoncello gelato...very nice . We <br />then walked back to St.Peters and took the coach back to the ship...a very tiring day!!<br /><br />We had booked to eat in Chops tonight, what can i say, the food was fantastic!! I've never had steak that <br />tasted soooo good. I should of taken the camera but i forgot. They brought us a loaf of freshly baked <br />bread and some delicious spread which we heartily tooked into. There was only one slice remaining and <br />no spread by the time they brought the starters....BIG MISTAKE we shouldn't of eaten so much bread...<br />but it was good. The starter was portabello caps it was like a work of art and i didn't know whether to eat <br />it or take it home and display it on the mantle! I ate it in the end and it was delicious. Then came the fillet <br />mignon, double whipped mash potatoes,creamed spinach and wild mushrooms with bernaise sauce, <br />greenpeppercorn for DH. We were in 7th heaven! For dessert i had the chocolate mud pie...it killed me to <br />leave some but i had to. I just couldn't eat anymore, i could barely move from the table i was that stuffed!! <br />Dolphins played in the sea as we ate...it was a real treat all round. DH went to the casino and i went to <br />bed. He won $100 at blackjack, he started with $40 of chips...not a bad night.<br /><br />Sardinia was next. We decided to have a lazy day on board . We ate at the windjammer, got a good table <br />over looking the wake. It was fairly quiet in there at 7pm. The next day was at sea. I saw the belly flop <br />competition by the main pool and have to say it was quite funny and the men involved were good sports.<br /><br />Cadiz. We got off the ship and walked around Cadiz. We thought it was lovely and clean with a <br />quaintness about it. The Sea Princess was docked at the side of us. It looked a nice ship. We were back <br />on board by about 2pm and decided we'ld like to eat in chops again. They were fully booked until the end <br />of the cruise. They had one table available at 7pm on the last night.<br /><br />Vigo. Walked around Vigo for an hour but didn't get a good feel for it. It was hard to find anything and <br />was uphill with quite afew street traders selling bags, watches etc. We found the local fish market which <br />was a little interesting and then wondered down a little passageway which had lots of oysters for sale. We <br />decided to go back to the ship. Later that evening the comedian described Vigo as a dump.<br /><br />Friday was a sea day and our last day of the cruise. The bay was like a mill pond and the sun was <br />shining. The compass was packed with activities today. Dh won the table tennis comp and got some more <br />ship shape dollars enabling him to swop them for a T-Shirt. I went to the art auction where someone <br />bought a Rembrandt for $17,000. We ate at chops that evening as it was the only time we could. It would <br />of been nice to eat in the dining room on the last evening but the food was too good to resist in chops. <br />We later popped into the dining room to say our goodbyes and hand out our tips. We later met up with <br />Mr and Mrs chameleon, Mr and Mrs silver1 and another couple from the CC board for a pleasant evening <br />in the schooner bar.<br /><br />We decided to take our cases off the boat with us rather than wait for the time allocation if we had them <br />delivered to the shore. We left the ship at 7 am and were in the car by 7:10. I hated leaving the ship and <br />thought about the excited people in the holiday inn waiting to board her.<br /><br />Points I missed - not alot of lobster, i could of asked for more but i didn't as i didnt want to seem greedy.<br /><br />Favourite places.<br />Cosmopolitan lounge- drinking cocktails looking over the sea - Fab!<br />Schooner bar- if you could find a seat, as it was really busy in there, i think alot of people liked Ian Miller <br />the pianist/ comedian.<br />Vintages- found a nice wine in there.<br />Solarium- small and quiet with nice loungers. loved the jacuzzis in there.<br />Cafe Prom- always got cookies and hot chocolate to take back to the room at night.<br />Ixtapa lounge- for the quizzes.<br />CHOPS- good food, good views and brilliant waiters. Didn't get the chance to eat in portofinos but heard <br />it was 10 times better than chops.<br />We only managed to get a table in the two poets once. This place was always packed.<br />Johnny Rockets- ate too many onion rings and fries in there. then had to find room for the burger and <br />apple pie!!<br />The kids enjoyed the rock climbing, golf and inline skating.They also spent alot of time playing the cards <br />and games in Seven hearts.<br />We all had a fantastic first cruise and met some lovely people.<br />I now know what PCD is!!<br /><br />Formal nights- great dressing up and having photos taken!<br />Whale watching- Dh and i were drinking coffee in our room looking out of the window. Dh said "that's a <br />whale!" and sure enough it was! we saw it three times and then it disappeared.<br />Art auctions- wandered in and ended up staying, thought it was quite interesting and good fun.<br />Bingo- $95 for two strips of 6 and a strip of 3!!! Didn't play again. on the last day the jackpot went to <br />someone from manchester, $14,000 ... it wasn't me.<br />Slots- apparently someone walked into the casino and put in one dollar and won $1000. Why doesn't that <br />happen to me?!!<br />Chefs- it was nice to see all of the chefs come into the dining room, they must work so hard every day!<br />Captain- only saw him dine once in the dining room but did see him dining in chops with his wife, he <br />seems quite a funny guy when you listen to him.<br />Laundry- i used the laundry service afew times and have to say Dh's shirts have never been ironed so <br />well.<br />Lava flows- i drank loads of them on this ship and never got tipsy, i think all the ice dilutes the alcohol. <br />Idid have a patron margherita - silver1's suggestion and i must say i could taste plenty of alcohol in that.</p> http://www.cruisecrowd.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=600&catid=7#jreview_129

]]> wakelover Navigator OT Seas Fri, 05 Jun 2009 18:05:33 +0100