N914 - Birthday cruise

#1

Have recently returned from my birthday cruise on Ventura 2-16 June and had a great time.

As it was a special birthday, we booked a Suite as soon as the cruises became available and were informed several months later that it was a Strictly Come Dancing cruise - which was an early birthday present for me! I have tried to keep the report brief, but it just kept getting longer - sorry!

2nd June-Embarkation day.
Arrived at the Ocean Terminal at 11.20am and were directed into a holding queue. Soon got rid of car and luggage and on production of e-tickets were shown straight through to check-in, where we were given a card to gain entrance to the priority lunch. We were then shown to the priority lounge area. I got a coffee but had only taken one sip when we were called to board! Went straight to the Cinnamon restaurant and enjoyed a couple of glasses of fizz and some nice nibbles. When we went up to cabin there was no sign of luggage, but the butler, Dinesh, came to introduce himself followed by our room steward, Wenzie. I asked Dinesh if he could find out when the pairing dinner in the Glasshouse was as we wanted to book it. Once luggage arrived, I unpacked (so much storage space!) and then we attended the muster at .430 in the Havana Lounge. We lazed around for a while and ate our canapes, before heading off to the Glasshouse for a Pre-dinner drink and then headed to the Bay Tree Restaurant for the second sitting dinner. I had previously e-mailed the restaurant manager requesting a table similar to the one we had last year on Azura and we were very fortunate to have our request granted – with a nice table for 2 near the windows at the back of the restaurant. Had a good meal and then an early night.
3rd June – Sea Day
Woke up and went to do a few laps around the promenade deck planning to pick up tickets for the SCD showcases afterwards, which were available by the theatre between 8.30-10.00am, but when I cut through by the theatre because the front deck was closed off, there was already a huge queue! Once I had returned to the cabin, I rang Dinesh and asked if he could get tickets for us! Went up to the Epicurean for breakfast – a very nice, civilised start to the day - then went for a wander. Called in at the future cruise desk and booked next year’s cruise – gone for a C deck cabin this time on Azura - not a lot of difference in price, but a bit more OBC! Went to the line dancing and returned to the cabin to find tickets for both this and next weeks SCD showcases! Both lots of tickets were for the 8.30pm shows, so we booked the Beach House for 6.45 tomorrow. Had lunch in the MDR and after the clocks went forward at 2.00pm, went to the Q&A session with Alijaz and Janette, hosted by Lisa Riley. I loved it and had my photo taken with them afterwards! First formal evening and Captain’s welcome party, so all dressed up we went along and managed to grab a couple of glasses of fizz. Captain Willard couldn’t speak due to laryngitis, so someone else did the talking! Then a lovely dinner followed by the Headliners show “Magic Moments”. One we hadn’t seen before and enjoyed. Quick session at the blackjack table followed by bed.
4th June – sea day
Got up about 8.00ish and did a few laps round the prom deck before breakfast - again having to cut through by the theatre – and once again there was a queue for the SCD showcase tickets and I spotted Dinesh queuing – obviously someone else had asked him to get their tickets! Went to the line dancing and then had a look at the display of SCD costumes around the Atrium. Got some lunch from the poolside grill and pizzeria and ate it on the balcony along with a glass of fizz. Went to theatre for an audience with Dr Ranj followed by a Dance Masterclass by Alijaz and Janette in Havana, which was extremely busy! Weather had improved so we sat out on deck in the sun for a while. Then went to the Glasshouse for a drink, then all the way up to the Beach House for dinner and then back down to the theatre for the SCD showcase which was absolutely brilliant. Had a quick drink in the Glasshouse followed by another short session in the casino and then bed.
5th June – Gibraltar
Due to lack of berths in Barcelona, the itinerary had been swapped about a bit, so Gibraltar was now our first port. After breakfast at 7.30 we went ashore and caught a bus down to Europa point, an area we hadn’t visited before. Finally it was a beautiful hot day. We walked back to town and Billy bought me a Swarovski necklace and matching earrings for my birthday! Got back on board for the deck barbecue lunch and then sat out on deck in the sun in the afternoon. Then usual drinks in Glasshouse followed by dinner and another donation to the casino before bed!
6th June – Cartagena
Another beautiful hot sunny day. After breakfast, had a wander round town and then returned to the quayside to take a boat out to Christmas Fort. It takes 10 minutes to get to the fort where you can get off and spend an hour there before catching the next boat which continues round the harbour for another 30 minutes. The cost including the fort was 8 Euros, but you can just do the boat trip if you want. There were about 30 school kids on the boat, but the guide at the fort was very helpful and suggested we visited the upstairs area first while she showed them round downstairs and then went back down when she went up! It worked very well and we were able to enjoy a nice peaceful visit! Got lunch from the Grill and Pizzeria and ate it on the balcony and then went up to the Sun Deck to sunbathe and swim. Unfortunately, a swarm of bees settled on the railings by the retreat and so they evacuated the whole deck. So we had an ice-cream and went back to the cabin to get ready for the Glasshouse pairing dinner which was as good as ever. We then went to the show Astonishing – which we had not seen before. Good to see something a bit different.
7th June – Sea Day
Another beautiful day – managed 6 laps round the promenade deck before breakfast and then spent most of the morning sunbathing up on the Sun Deck – without the bees! Leaving Billy on deck I grabbed a baguette from Grab and Go and took it back to the cabin for later as I planned on entering the Blackjack tournament. Got a good qualifying score, so went to eat my baguette and in my hurry to get back to casino, left my card in the cabin! Didn’t win and then couldn’t find Billy on the Sun Deck, so rang the cabin and tried banging the door and in the end had to go and explain to reception and get a new card. When I got back in there was Billy sat out on the balcony – hadn’t heard the phone ringing or knocking on the door! Went to the SCD fashion show at 4.00pm which consisted of the female Headliners modelling the costumes, ably assisted by some of the male officers – some of whom really got into the swing of things and tried out a few moves – very entertaining. Sat on balcony for a while afterwards and when Dinesh brought the canapes, asked him if he could send invites to the two couples on the tables next to us in the dining room for a little drinks party before dinner on my birthday on 9th June. Ordered some champagne and a party platter for this. before getting ready for the second formal night and the Peninsular party in Havana. Got a couple of glass of fizz and some canapes and then a wine waiter dropped a glass of red wine, some of which splashed on my dress. I asked him to bring me a glass of white wine and with a serviette managed to soak it off. Luckily it was a multi-coloured dress and not light coloured! Had dinner and then bed.
8th June – Marseille
A new port for us and another hot, sunny day. Took the shuttle bus into town (free for select fare), and walked up to the Notre Dame Cathedral. Magnificent views of the city from there. Then walked down to the Pharos Park. Had a panini for lunch and then walked to the Triumphal Arch (Marseilles answer to the Arc de Triomphe). Then back on shuttle bus to spend the rest of the day sunbathing on sun deck with a swim in the Oasis Pool. Went to the Glasshouse for pre-dinner drinks where I had the Party Flight! This includes a glass of Tattinger, a glass of Ice Peller and a glass of Moscatel – very good!! Good dinner again and then went to the Headliners Show Paradise City – another one we hadn’t seen.

More to come......

#2

Sounds a good trip so far. Belated birthday greetings.

#3

An interesting review so far, Michele, and I have already learned a couple of useful tips for different things to do when we re-visit Gibraltar, Cartagena and Marseilles. I think our mistake with 2 visits to Marseilles has been to concentrate first thing on the harbour area near where the shuttle bus drops you and then we can't be bothered to climb the hill to the Cathedral once the day gets warmer. Obviously it would be a better idea for us to head straight up to the Cathedral first thing.

Looking forward to the next part of the review.

Maureen

#4

That's what we thought Maureen. It was already getting warm when we got off the bus. It was a bit of a trek - especially the last bit, but well worth it.

Michele

#5

Enjoying your review. Looking forward to your next post.

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