E303 - Atlantic Islands

[Not so ancient mariner]

Thanks for all the good wishes. We too will be on the road in a couple of hours.

[welshynurse]

Hope you all have a wonderful time, and safe journey to all those travelling down to Southampton

[Emrobo]

At ocean terminal and waiting to board

[anneed]

Hi Emma, I'll be there in a couple of hours. Hope the traffic is OK - Saints playing at home today. Trust you got all the nappies in the cases! I've just been to Argos to get a dress carrier for my long frocks. See what I mean about panicking till the last minute?

Look forward to meeting you - I'm in cabin B608.

Anne

[Emrobo]

Had to use another case! Traffic was surprisingly quiet, we left hotel at 10:30 though.

Seems so far there are only 4 children waiting to board!

We are b732 so same deck

[anneed]

I'm sure there will be lots more little people on board. It's out of school holidays so that will keep numbers of older children down. Your two will get lots of attention from the youth crew.

Just checked the weather again. 20 in Funchal which is quite good.

[anneed]

And your cabin is just up the corridor from me!

[anneed]

Guess I was probably first home- stopped at Tesco so it was 9.45am when I got in! Nice to meet Emma and Steve - hope Gary and the others had a good time as well.

Looking forward to new brochure...

Ax

[makina]

We got back to oxford at 11am. Had a great time on our 1st cruise. Wedding day was superb & stress free.
Cabin, steward, food, ship, staff all faultless loved every minute of it. Best holiday we have ever done, still on a high 1 or 2 negative points but so small & unimportant not worth mentioning.

Spent the afternoon loading over 2000 photos onto the computer and washing 5 suitcases worth of clothes.

Would i cruise again - WITHOUT A SHADOW OF A DOUBT.

[Emrobo]

Guess I was probably first home- stopped at Tesco so it was 9.45am when I got in! Nice to meet Emma and Steve - hope Gary and the others had a good time as well.

Looking forward to new brochure...

Ax

Yes lovely to meet you both and Tractor Boy and his missus

Gad to hear you enjoyed your first cruise Makina. I am not even attempting photos until Monday - we have 1200 on the dslr alone, and then we have the compact to go through!!

Was a bit scary though the Monday hey? Never had it so rough like that!!

Also looking forward to the new brochure, we have put our down payment down ready

Anne, what is this I hear about the syndicate quiz and the cruise director saying about people should be having fun on Oceana - it isn't oriana?

[makina]

Ive only done my dslr & the cd we purchased from the on board photographer with our wedding photos on, might do the other camera tomorrow after picking the dogs up from their holiday!!

My son & i quite enjoyed the ride through rough seas, my wife on the other hand wasn't too good & had to lie down until tuesday!!

[Quizzical Bob]

Anne, how did you get on in Casablanca?

[Not so ancient mariner]

Guess I was probably first home- stopped at Tesco so it was 9.45am when I got in! Nice to meet Emma and Steve - hope Gary and the others had a good time as well.

Looking forward to new brochure...

Ax

We eventually got home at 5.30 after a rather tiring journey. I took a leaf out of P&Os book and turned the wick down a touch to save fuel, and managed the 700mile round trip at an average of 54.4MPG:- somewhat better than Oceana gets!!
Now we just have all the unpacking and washing to do
The cats gave us a great welcome though!

[anneed]

Hi all,

Emma I don''t understand about the cruise director's quiz comment. As far as I know we were having fun! There may have been some moans about the team I was in winning all the time but I couldn't help that. We had a couple on their 90th cruise so I think they must have heard a lot of the questions before. To be honest i was sick of the P&O plonk we kept getting and had a cup of tea while the others drank it!

Bob, I changed my trip in Casablanca to do one that took us inside the mosque. Found it very interesting although we had a guide that just wouldn't shut up.Too much information! If I do that port again I'd go back to the Portuguese connections trip. Most people seemed rather disappointed with Casablanca. I think they were expecting to see Humphrey Bogart.

Anne

[Emrobo]

When we were doing a quiz in the yacht & compass in the day the entertainment officer said it was something to do with a 'decider' so they asked for the total age of those leading the quiz that night (wasn't the usual lot?) and some people huffed and puffed that is why he said it? I wish we had chance to have a go but sadly the kids club shut at 10.30

We had plenty of moans all cruise Anne - so I wouldn't worry!!

We really enjoyed our Casablanca tour

[makina]

We also enjoyed casablanca we did the highlights tour. Probably not go there again but at least we can say we been there.

In fact we enjoyed every port we called at, if i had to pick one that wasnt as enjoyable as the others it would probably be lisbon where we just done a hoho, wished we went to jerez to see the horses now still theres always next time

[Emrobo]

We also enjoyed casablanca we did the highlights tour. Probably not go there again but at least we can say we been there.

In fact we enjoyed every port we called at, if i had to pick one that wasnt as enjoyable as the others it would probably be lisbon where we just done a hoho, wished we went to jerez to see the horses now still theres always next time

We also got on the HoHo bus in Lisbon. We have been to Cadiz before and did our own thing so we went to see the horses this time, I love Cadiz

I still couldn't work out who you were on board!

[makina]

Cadiz is lovely shame it rained.

I had the same problem as i think there were 3 or 4 couples on board with 2 little girls.

My son Nathan was running riot around the pool area most of time lol

[tractor boy]

Hi All, I have been having trouble getting on to this site since getting back, Well great to meet Emma , Mark and the girls. Anne, we did meet, I was in the hot tub when you found the rear of the ship, I was not sure it was you so didnt say anything except tell you the water was nice. Emma did point you out on the bus, but then I did not see you again after that. As for the rest of you we will have to meet on another cruise. Congrats too Mr & Mrs Makina.

[tractor boy]

Just on another note, We found this to be one of the quietest cruises we have been on, we noticed that the bars where quite empty and many of those in there where drinking tea or water (also noticed by many bar staff). Le club was pretty much dead most nights and you could even get a seat in the Y&C in the evenings. The atrium did a great job as an alternative library/sleeping lounge up until 11pm. It did seem like many people did not know they where on holiday. I dont know why this was though. Even the Captain commented on it. We have many friends working on Oceana and they said it has been like it for the last 2 cruises. Am I getting to young for all this.

[Emrobo]

Cadiz is lovely shame it rained.

I had the same problem as i think there were 3 or 4 couples on board with 2 little girls.

My son Nathan was running riot around the pool area most of time lol

Still struggling to place you - we were only around the pool twice I think.

[Emrobo]

Just on another note, We found this to be one of the quietest cruises we have been on, we noticed that the bars where quite empty and many of those in there where drinking tea or water (also noticed by many bar staff). Le club was pretty much dead most nights and you could even get a seat in the Y&C in the evenings. The atrium did a great job as an alternative library/sleeping lounge up until 11pm. It did seem like many people did not know they where on holiday. I dont know why this was though. Even the Captain commented on it. We have many friends working on Oceana and they said it has been like it for the last 2 cruises. Am I getting to young for all this.

I found them busy when we wanted a drink, nowhere to sit - but most people were either snoozing or reading but not drinking which was frustrating. Best way we found to get a seat was to bring the kids in, one look and people soon shifted lol!!

[makina]

Glad we weren't the only ones frustrated with the amount of people using the atrium & other bars to sleep in. As this was our first cruise we thought this was standard procedure, do these people not have beds or rooms to snooze in!! At least i got a seat to watch the mighty spurs beat arsenal.
Another thing we noticed was, does every talk or demonstration lead to a sales pitch?

Emma by process of illimation im sure i did you see you and your family at least once. Ive just noticed you come from chester & the other family that could of been you had an essex accent. Cant pinpoint where our paths crossed but you had a bright orange top on? If it helps im short with a shaved head and a tattoo on my forearm!

[Not so ancient mariner]

Hi all,

There may have been some moans about the team I was in winning all the time but I couldn't help that. We had a couple on their 90th cruise so I think they must have heard a lot of the questions before. To be honest i was sick of the P&O plonk we kept getting and had a cup of tea while the others drank it!

Anne

Not from our direction. It just made it all the more satisfying on the two occasions (out of 14) that we managed to win the plonk.

Anne and Emma (+family) were the only ones that I managed to chat to on the ship. I did wear my 'ancient mariner' cap a fair bit of the time, but it was too windy on the upper decks for the first few days, and I did have to chase it up the beach at Cap Trafalgar.

[anneed]

Ah, yes I do remember you in the hot tub Gary! Was disappointed that the adults' 'pool' was so tiny. I love swimming but this was the first cruise I've never put my costume on (and i don't mean I was skinny dipping!).

Makina - I'd definitely recommend the sherry and horses trip in Cadiz. The sherry place was excellent with whole bottles to knock back and a very interesting tour of the production area. So different to the grotty wine place I went to on the Volcanoes and Wine tour in La Palma. Tiny sips of horrible wine and no welcome or guide provided at the winery. In fact that whole trip was a disaster as a fog bank stopped us from seeing the volcanoes. I know P&O can't help the weather but I thought we should have got some dosh back for that excursion.

Another moan - oh dear I'm turning into a cruise whinger - was the lack of interesting things to do on sea days. Wish they'd get some more speakers in. I enjoyed Eddie Large's stint in the evening but was surprised he wasn't on again. Am also fed up with the spa and art talks which are just aimed at making you buy their products.

On a positive note, I loved Oceana herself and thought my cabin was tip top. I've noticed on other ships that you can get quite a bit of noise from the adjoining cabins but this time it was lovely and quiet. Also thought the food was generally very good and the staff couldn't be faulted for friendliness and eagerness to help.

I'll book my next cruise for later in the year to try and get better weather - but that's always pot luck!

Anne