libralass
11th June 2009, 08:17 PM
Oriana Cruise - X907 - 23rd May - 1st June 2009
The arrival into Southampton was easy, despite being a bank holiday weekend, and Oriana being one of 4 ships sailing that afternoon. We passed the new Ikea next to the Etap Hotel, and drove straight past dock gate 10 towards the dock gate 4. We had the best arrival ever... drove straight to the front of the terminal where plenty of CPS staff were waiting to take our car. There was no cars queuing .
The new two week old Ocean Terminal was very modern and bright, with plenty of arrival staff to point you in the right direction. We were given lettered queue cards I can confirm, ours was 'H' and they were calling D' when we arrived at 12.20pm. You then had to sit down and wait for your letter to be called before you could check-in. It seemed as if about 100 people were called per letter, so after 20-30mins we were called to queue at the check-in desk. From then all all ran really smoothly, photo taken for onboard cards, sign the health declaration form to declare no upset tummies and now also no colds/flu (swine fever checks) and then we walked a few yards to the security area where our hand luggage was scanned and then straight onto the ship. I have created a photo album just of the Ocean Terminal for those interested who may be sailing from this new dock or returning to it. Here is the link: click it or copy and paste to your search bar.
http://picasaweb.google.com/AuroraPartyCruiseSueV/NewOceanTerminalBerth46May09?authkey=Gv1sRgCMmwg_i Qk5nJswE#5342423009479201858
After lunch in the self service restaurant The Conservatory , we went out to the lovely aft stern tiered decks and found a sun lounger to relax and wait until are ‘cabins are ready’ announcement, which we were told would be around 2pm and it was.
The weather was fantastic, lying the sun lounger looking out on the docks was surreal, not used to hot sunny weather relaxing on a lounger in Southampton, am usually blown about by high winds!
The sail-away was also the best we have ever had in 7 cruises, as the weather remained glorious all day and up to about 9pm when it got dark. We were the first to sail away followed by Independence of the Seas, Grand Princess and Saga Ruby.
Our ports:
We only had 4 ports on this 9n cruise.
Vigo : We did a P&O tour to Santiago de Compostela. As we left the ship we saw some grey clouds, but ever the optimist thought as we were in Spain it would ‘burn off’ -big mistake, as we rounded the first hill, the remaining blue skies turn grey, and then the rain began to fall, and then it turned heavier, and it was like that all day non-stop. We had no coats and were on a 5 hour ‘on your own’ trip, in this religious city known for it wonderful Catherdral, and as being a Mecca for pilgrims from all over Spain and Europe…. After 1/2hr looking around the Cathedral we ventured out getting soaked to the skin, and found a few shops and cafes, and made the most of the day despite the rain. Never had the welcoming site of the ship looked so appealing. As we sailed away from Vigo, the clouds turned blue, and the weather from then on for the next 7 days was sunny and hot - Canaries here we come!
The sea days were lovely although we found the usual sun bed hoggers were alive and well. We went looking for loungers either near the pool or on the rear decks and they were all reserved with towels. This must have been done before breakfast . One day we did manage to get 2 2nd row away from the pool, so I was pleased. All three pools were dominated by children, even small children in the Jacuzzis, I thought that was not allowed but no staff were policing the situation. We knew the best pools at the rear of the ship near the lovely aft tiered decks had been ear-marked children’s and they were indeed in there , but the other two pools as well meant it was impossible to have a decent swim, and when two children under 6 came into the Jacuzzi and started screeching, messing around with the on/off switches and dunking themselves under the water, I gave up and got out. Their parents were oblivious to the signs , but hey-ho,
Lanzarote.
We did a great tour here - ’ Mountain of Fire‘ £34pp. The coach took us to Fire Mountain National Park, a massive area which looks like a lunar landscape of high volcanic hills and lava formations. No-one is allowed to walk in this vast national park, so no litter !, no footpaths, no cars, no people, and just the occasional tour coach . We were first taken to the visitor centre where we saw some demonstrations of the heat within this earths crust, proving the volcano is not extinct, just dormant. , then we went to the coach for a tour through the park, amazing scenery which is used in films when such a landscape is needed such as planet of the apes etc.
Tenerife
Here we did another tour - this time to Puerto de la Cruz. We did the on your own trip, and enjoyed the shopping, the views and had a lovely lunch and a few glasses of wine . There is a great lido here with beautiful landscaped pools surrounded by palm trees with sunbeds included in the 3e entrance fee, if you want a relaxing sun bathing day, it would be great here. My euros disappeared in the shops , where I found lots to tempt me, new sunglasses, perfume, and other bits and bobs. A good day.
Madeira
We have been here before and already done the cable car ride and walk through the lovely Monte Palace Gardens, after this you can have the famous sledge ride down again to Funchal. So this time we decided on a tour to see some of the surrounding area outside Funchal, Well, we saw a lot of banana plantations, rugged hills and small villages, and passed Reids Palace where people go for ‘tea’, but I was hoping to see more of the lovely flowers here, but it was rather green… The view points the coach stopped at were very busy with lots of other coaches and some begging children, and a bit disappointing. The trip was ‘A Taste of Madeira’ and we were taken then to a small rum distillery for 40 mins and given a small piece of Madeira cake, and some rum (wow, for over £60 tour). We were then driven to a small town Ribeira Brava for 50mins for a walk around/beer/ explore. It was very hot and sunny in Madeira and we wished that we had stayed in Funcal and explored the town, shops markets and gardens. But never mind it was still a pleasant day. We sailed away early at 3.30pm, and that’s when we had the announcement we had nor virus onboard, for our final three days at sea.
The arrival into Southampton was easy, despite being a bank holiday weekend, and Oriana being one of 4 ships sailing that afternoon. We passed the new Ikea next to the Etap Hotel, and drove straight past dock gate 10 towards the dock gate 4. We had the best arrival ever... drove straight to the front of the terminal where plenty of CPS staff were waiting to take our car. There was no cars queuing .
The new two week old Ocean Terminal was very modern and bright, with plenty of arrival staff to point you in the right direction. We were given lettered queue cards I can confirm, ours was 'H' and they were calling D' when we arrived at 12.20pm. You then had to sit down and wait for your letter to be called before you could check-in. It seemed as if about 100 people were called per letter, so after 20-30mins we were called to queue at the check-in desk. From then all all ran really smoothly, photo taken for onboard cards, sign the health declaration form to declare no upset tummies and now also no colds/flu (swine fever checks) and then we walked a few yards to the security area where our hand luggage was scanned and then straight onto the ship. I have created a photo album just of the Ocean Terminal for those interested who may be sailing from this new dock or returning to it. Here is the link: click it or copy and paste to your search bar.
http://picasaweb.google.com/AuroraPartyCruiseSueV/NewOceanTerminalBerth46May09?authkey=Gv1sRgCMmwg_i Qk5nJswE#5342423009479201858
After lunch in the self service restaurant The Conservatory , we went out to the lovely aft stern tiered decks and found a sun lounger to relax and wait until are ‘cabins are ready’ announcement, which we were told would be around 2pm and it was.
The weather was fantastic, lying the sun lounger looking out on the docks was surreal, not used to hot sunny weather relaxing on a lounger in Southampton, am usually blown about by high winds!
The sail-away was also the best we have ever had in 7 cruises, as the weather remained glorious all day and up to about 9pm when it got dark. We were the first to sail away followed by Independence of the Seas, Grand Princess and Saga Ruby.
Our ports:
We only had 4 ports on this 9n cruise.
Vigo : We did a P&O tour to Santiago de Compostela. As we left the ship we saw some grey clouds, but ever the optimist thought as we were in Spain it would ‘burn off’ -big mistake, as we rounded the first hill, the remaining blue skies turn grey, and then the rain began to fall, and then it turned heavier, and it was like that all day non-stop. We had no coats and were on a 5 hour ‘on your own’ trip, in this religious city known for it wonderful Catherdral, and as being a Mecca for pilgrims from all over Spain and Europe…. After 1/2hr looking around the Cathedral we ventured out getting soaked to the skin, and found a few shops and cafes, and made the most of the day despite the rain. Never had the welcoming site of the ship looked so appealing. As we sailed away from Vigo, the clouds turned blue, and the weather from then on for the next 7 days was sunny and hot - Canaries here we come!
The sea days were lovely although we found the usual sun bed hoggers were alive and well. We went looking for loungers either near the pool or on the rear decks and they were all reserved with towels. This must have been done before breakfast . One day we did manage to get 2 2nd row away from the pool, so I was pleased. All three pools were dominated by children, even small children in the Jacuzzis, I thought that was not allowed but no staff were policing the situation. We knew the best pools at the rear of the ship near the lovely aft tiered decks had been ear-marked children’s and they were indeed in there , but the other two pools as well meant it was impossible to have a decent swim, and when two children under 6 came into the Jacuzzi and started screeching, messing around with the on/off switches and dunking themselves under the water, I gave up and got out. Their parents were oblivious to the signs , but hey-ho,
Lanzarote.
We did a great tour here - ’ Mountain of Fire‘ £34pp. The coach took us to Fire Mountain National Park, a massive area which looks like a lunar landscape of high volcanic hills and lava formations. No-one is allowed to walk in this vast national park, so no litter !, no footpaths, no cars, no people, and just the occasional tour coach . We were first taken to the visitor centre where we saw some demonstrations of the heat within this earths crust, proving the volcano is not extinct, just dormant. , then we went to the coach for a tour through the park, amazing scenery which is used in films when such a landscape is needed such as planet of the apes etc.
Tenerife
Here we did another tour - this time to Puerto de la Cruz. We did the on your own trip, and enjoyed the shopping, the views and had a lovely lunch and a few glasses of wine . There is a great lido here with beautiful landscaped pools surrounded by palm trees with sunbeds included in the 3e entrance fee, if you want a relaxing sun bathing day, it would be great here. My euros disappeared in the shops , where I found lots to tempt me, new sunglasses, perfume, and other bits and bobs. A good day.
Madeira
We have been here before and already done the cable car ride and walk through the lovely Monte Palace Gardens, after this you can have the famous sledge ride down again to Funchal. So this time we decided on a tour to see some of the surrounding area outside Funchal, Well, we saw a lot of banana plantations, rugged hills and small villages, and passed Reids Palace where people go for ‘tea’, but I was hoping to see more of the lovely flowers here, but it was rather green… The view points the coach stopped at were very busy with lots of other coaches and some begging children, and a bit disappointing. The trip was ‘A Taste of Madeira’ and we were taken then to a small rum distillery for 40 mins and given a small piece of Madeira cake, and some rum (wow, for over £60 tour). We were then driven to a small town Ribeira Brava for 50mins for a walk around/beer/ explore. It was very hot and sunny in Madeira and we wished that we had stayed in Funcal and explored the town, shops markets and gardens. But never mind it was still a pleasant day. We sailed away early at 3.30pm, and that’s when we had the announcement we had nor virus onboard, for our final three days at sea.