Ventura N421 Western Europe

[Jan Rosser]

Well after a long journey I’m on board Ventura for a week’s cruise going to Vigo/La Coruna/Santander and Guernsey. Rained until we arrived at Southampton - very pleasant now - let’s hope it stays that way! The roads were very busy approaching Southampton - the Saints are playing at home and I counted three other ships in port.

I’m sharing a balcony cabin on C deck with my granddaughter - her parents and other grandparents in the next two cabins. This is the cabin steward’s first posting on P&O well first time on a ship - she’s from the Philippines - not sailed before so hope the bay is kind to her!

We are still waiting for our cases - oops my granddaughter has been up the corridor and found them Better get on with the unpacking

Sea day tomorrow and first formal night - I’ll report further when I get to Vigo.

[Onelife]

Hi Jan, just checked the weather for your ports of call and it looks like sun all the way with a refreshing breeze in Santander…Enjoy!

[Stephen]

Enjoy .

[Mervyn and Trish]

Have a good one.

[oldbluefox]

Have a great cruise 🛳

[CaroleF]

Have great cruise Mel. I've just booked a Northern Europe and Scandinavian cruise for next year on Arcadia. I look forward to hearing about your cruise. I've been on Ventura a couple of times, pre covid of course. I hope the weather is kind to you.

Carole

[Ray B]

Hi Jan, just got off as you got on, I think we left the ship nice and tidy for you.
We were on Deck 10-C deck starboard, we had Ramish as our cabin Steward, lovely chap, couldn't do enough for us. We put him to the test after an accident with a coffee cup sent coffee all over the pillows, duvet and sheets, "No problem madam, I will get fresh bedding" came his reply. He was the best and most happy and friendly steward since cruising began after Covid.
Have a lovely cruise Jan.

[Happydays]

Enjoy your cruise. I was on Ventura in October (half tern) with my daughter and grandson and we had a lovely time. We shared a deluxe balcony lots of space and my daughter enjoyed the extra "perks" that my loyalty level gave us ha ha

[Jan Rosser]

Thank you Ray for leaving Ventura in one piece - appreciate it

Well here we are in Vigo enjoying a pleasant day. Saturday night/Sunday morning it was a bit choppy - had an annoying rattle by the balcony door and quite a bit of movement but survived. Very busy at the restaurant so we were diverted to the Baytree on deck 6 and it was much quieter - they don’t advertise this venue for breakfast so we are keeping it to ourselves

Sunday was a sea day but a bit too blustery to go outside - had a “Nana” nap in the afternoon then got ready for the first formal night. The captain bought us all a drink and usual thanks for being here etc. Only certain venues insisted on formal wear and they did enforce it - beef wellington seems to have disappeared from the menu but to be fair Marco turned up trumps.

We went to the theatre on Saturday night to see the Headliners and had to sit down on deck 6 only a few rows from the stage - bit too close for me - so loud!

We managed to get deck 7 seats last night - watched a guitarist performing rock songs - my son who plays guitar said he was okay but his voice didn’t carry well. He had a few fans sitting behind us who whooped and cheered and sang along with him. We went to the Beach house after and I had my first glass of Peller Ice Cuvee - very nice but at £9.50 a glass it should be! What the heck I’m on my holidays

My son and DIL have been on an excursion today to Santiago de Compestela - the Nanas have been wandering the town with our granddaughter.

Casual night tonight and Astonishing in the theatre - yet again we’ll be ripping up cards counting them and wondering what the heck are we doing.

One thing we have noticed is the high level of sanitising on the ship. They are using air sprays (my son said they use them in schools) on all surfaces in the theatres/restaurants etc. apparently it is very effective as the ship has had outbreaks of norovirus recently.

Tomorrow is La Coruna.

[Stephen]

I think the beef wellington is over rated. Too stodgy for my liking.

Rattles in the cabin are my bug bear as well Jan. I’m often up all hours trying to jam a piece of cardboard into a gap to stop an annoying rattle or creak.

[Ray B]

We had Beef Wellington on the second week final posh night. I did enjoy it, on the whole the dinner offerings were not bad, had no reason to complain.
They were strict in some venues where a jacket was required, do people think the boards at the entrance don't apply to them.Up in Metropolis, a father and son tried to enter with open neck shirt, they were refused entry, they returned 15 mins later with a necktie thinking it would do , no, on yer way.
There was no outbreak of Noro, to my knowledge on our cruise. Hopefully Jan, the same for your cruise.

[Stephen]

We had Beef Wellington on the second week final posh night. I did enjoy it, on the whole the dinner offerings were not bad, had no reason to complain.
They were strict in some venues where a jacket was required, do people think the boards at the entrance don't apply to them.Up in Metropolis, a father and son tried to enter with open neck shirt, they were refused entry, they returned 15 mins later with a necktie thinking it would do , no, on yer way.
There was no outbreak of Noro, to my knowledge on our cruise. Hopefully Jan, the same for your cruise.

Probably pikey’s

[Jan Rosser]

La Coruna today - bit cooler but it’s quite early - breakfast in the Bay Tree - very attentive staff - it is the only fixed dining venue - tempted to change from freedom which we’ve done the last few years principally because of the children. We enjoy getting to know the waiters and being six would probably have a table exclusive to us - we’re certainly thinking about it.

Last night we avoided “Astonishing” we went up to Metropolis to listen to the Ventura orchestra play jazz tunes. Before they played we got out the Uno cards and had a game (rules made up as we go along because I bought the cards in Luxembourg airport years ago and the rules are in German!). At one point my son was holding 17 cards - silly game but had a laugh. The orchestra were very good- very talented. We remarked there were more staff at this venue than on Iona where people were often queuing at the bar due to the lack of waiters.

A gang of young adults were turned away from Metropolis because they were wearing shorts - one of the few places where the rules of dress are enforced.

We plan on a stroll around the town a bit later and then hopefully an afternoon on the balcony just chilling. There is a magician on today for the kids plus a group singing Motown and the guitarist has a new show tonight.

Just been chatting to our cabin steward who is a complete newbie - she is a delight - so funny and really enjoying her new job which she told us she is really grateful for. She told us she ordered today’s sunshine from Amazon and it came with a guarantee

Off out soon to explore - have a nice day

[Stephen]

That's what we like about the Metropolis Jan, standards upheld.
We have seen it several times where guests have been advised on the dress code and turned away. Never an issue but you would think common sense would tell them shorts are not acceptable after six o'clock. They must know the dress code before the sail surely. But then again......

[Meg 50]

They must know the dress code before the sail surely. But then again......

there's any number of posts on FB asking about dress codes.

So want to reply saying 'why don't you read your dot dot dot info pack' - but I'd get told off for being rude.
Before our first cruise we knew the brochure etc pretty much off by heart!

[Jan Rosser]

Just returned from town - the sun is now on the balcony . Had a light lunch down one of the side streets - just rolls/cakes/coffees and cold drinks in a lovely little cafe all for 18 euros! Then my granddaughter spotted a clothes shop - Mango - and bought an outfit so she’s happy

I agree with Meg so many people ask questions about dress codes etc and I think “read your bl**dy brochure - guess we can’t all be perfect .

[Mervyn and Trish]

Worse are the ones who read the brochure then take the "I've paid for my effing holiday so nobody tells me what we wear" attitude. For me it's like booking a flight to Chenobyl them complaining it didn't go to the Caribbean. If you want a cruise with a casual dress code book a cruise line that offers them. Seemples.

[Ray B]

The amount of people complaining at the shuttle bus that they had to pay £4 return after booking the saver fare.

[Ray B]

Morning Jan , I hope you enjoyed the day in Vigo, another port that I aways get pleasure visiting. Just a note from the previous cruise. Sitting in the MDR, a group walked in for Dinner in shorts and football Tee shirts. I left our table to have a word with the maître d'hôtel, who replied, on this cruise the rules are more relaxed. Well I could have had the same experience in the local pub.
Trusting you have pasengers who know how to dress for dinner.
From P&O---- Shorts, t-shirts and swimwear are never permitted in the main dining room.

[Stephen]

Well done Ray.

A slippery slope, and one of many reasons why next years P&O cruise may well be our last.

[Ray B]

Stephen, it depends on the ship you choose, cheap saver fares attract, maybe, the pub set.
By the way , I think you may have gotten away with your string vest in the MDR on that cruise.

[Stephen]

I save that for formal nights

[Mervyn and Trish]

It was certainly better on Aurora this year than our 2019 experience on Azura.

[Jan Rosser]

Santander today - bit overcast first thing but warm and sunny later. Lots of police cars descended on the docks when we arrived - lights flashing and a cordon limiting where passengers could walk. They were there all day although less of them in the night - we are due to sail at 11.30 pm to Guernsey. No idea what it was all about - should have gone to the laundry to find out .

We’ve continued to have breakfast in the Bay Tree - much quieter and good service. We walked into the town - very busy - lots of locals and so many were walking dogs - the shops and bars/restaurants don’t restrict them out here. It was humid today and we returned to the ship and as it was quiet we had lunch in the Waterside. It was okay but not a patch on the lunches on deck 8 on the Iona!

The headliners cancelled their show tonight due to illness so we went up to Metropolis and listened to the pianist. She is very good - pleasant voice and a lovely personality. It’s a very popular venue and once again tonight a group were turned away as one of the guys was wearing shorts. He was not happy but they pointed out the sign at the entrance prohibiting even tailored shorts so out he had to go. He muttered about stupid rules but he had to drink elsewhere.

The dining room was more lax and allowed a couple of men wearing shorts to enter tonight.

Forgot to mention they’ve had a couple of sailaways this week - didn’t attend but certainly lots had a good time by the sound of it.

Sea day tomorrow - hoping the weather will be kind to us!

[Stephen]

I suspect the police were tipped off about someone trying to smuggle goods in. I think your name was mentioned Jan

As for the Metropolis, there’s alway one that think the rules don’t apply to them. All credit to the waitress, who normally turn them away. The male waiters don’t seem to have the balls to do it.