Foxy's Aurora R506 Mediterranean Review pt4

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oldbluefox
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Foxy's Aurora R506 Mediterranean Review pt4

#1

Post by oldbluefox »

Sea days to Gibraltar
We awoke to clear skies and by now the winds had eased and the sea was much calmer. Mid morning we had a lovely sail through the Messina Straits between Italy and Sicily. There was a good view of Mount Etna which was capped in snow and land on either side was never far away. We then sailed across the top of Sicily passing by a myriad of little islands along the way.
Captain Vago has just announced that we expect to be in Gibraltar at 1.30 and would not be leaving until 6.30. Surely that will be enough time for the M&S aficionados and duty free shoppers to stock up.
We arrived in Gibraltar bang on time just as Cunard's Queen Victoria was leaving. Just as well really since we were using the same berth. There was much sounding of whistles as the ships passed each other. We left disembarking for a while whilst the rush was on and then had a walk into town. Just before the Casemates we turned off into the Blue Quay area and what a contrast it is compared to the rest of Gibraltar. (Thanks to Cornmillgirl and her husband for the tip). It's a relatively new development of high rise flats, eateries and marina. There's also a 'block' of flats which look like a very modern ocean cruiser.
Gibraltar.jpg
From there we made our way to the Main Street where, although it was Sunday most of the shops were open. OH made her way towards M&S but disaster struck. It was closed when she got there. What a shame!!! By this time many of the shops were starting to put up their shutters so we made our way back to the ship.

Next Day
A sea day today but nothing much of note apart from the ship slowing and circling to inspect a piece of wreckage. It was orange and looked like a canoe or a pontoon from a catamaran. However it was much too short to be either of these. Anyway the crew spent quite some time examining the find and decided it was probably part of a pedalo type boat which had been swept out to sea and, satisfied there was nobody attached to it we went on our way.
In the evening we went to Curzon Theatre to hear Roger Wright who may be better known as the original lead in Lion King. He was very professional and sang a variety of songs including one from The Lion King. After that we went down to Carmens where there was the Crew Show. Unfortunately it was impossible to get in which was a pity as we know how enjoyable this show is.
It beats me why P&O persist in showing this, plus the Headliners Queen and Abba shows in a show lounge which is not big enough to take those who want to see the shows. Many people go to the first show and then stay put (which they are perfectly entitled to do) but it means others can't then get in. The cynic in me says from P&O's perspective it means they make more money from drinks sales.

Last day at sea
Yesterday we were really pleased to meet Quizzical Bob. Frank Manning and I had devised all sorts of plans to find him but ultimately he managed to track us down.
The Bay of Biscay has been well behaved. There has been a bit of a roll and it has been overcast but conversation has now changed to 'Have you far to go?' And 'What time will you get back?'
In the morning we made good progress with our packing and had a very pleasant coffee with Frank Manning and his wife in Crow's Nest (what a lovely lounge that is) before we went down to The Playhouse to see Paddington Bear. I must admit I couldn't believe I had been talked into going but I actually enjoyed the film as did the rest in there if the laughter was anything to go by. Considering how depressing the last day can be it proved to be an afternoon well spent. By the time we got back to our cabin there were plenty of suitcases in the corridor underlining the fact the holiday was well and truly over.

The farewell show was an evening with Fogwell Flax who started off doing voices for Spitting Image. His impersonations were very amusing and very clever and something very different from the norm. Sadly the Headliners Queen show the other night had to be cancelled due to illness of one of the cast so we never saw them again.

And so the next day dawned and the sun was shining!!! It seemed to take ages for all the cases to be unloaded. By the time we had disembarked, collected our suitcases and sorted ourselves for the journey home it was 9.45. We stopped off at the Shell garage to top up with fuel and eventually reached home at 5.00 after a good journey with just a couple of hold ups on the A34.

It had been a great holiday. Aurora never fails to please. The new buffet is a great improvement over the old one, Sindhu was an experience worth repeating, the entertainment had been excellent throughout. We had met some lovely people (and some we would hope never to come across again!!!) and now it's back to washing, ironing and supermarket shopping. Meanwhile I seem to have half the mosquito population on the front of my car and I'm not yet sure whether to mow the lawn or combine harvest it.

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cornmillgirl
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Re: Foxy's Aurora R506 Mediterranean Review pt4

#2

Post by cornmillgirl »

Welcome Mr and Mrs Foxy glad you enjoyed Aurora, makes me want to go back on her pronto! Great to hear the buffet restaurant has
been improved, it was like going on the dodgems in the old Orangery, the number of times I got a tray and then put it back, because I
could not be bothered.

Great to hear you checked out the Ocean Village in Gibraltar, last time we went we headed off to Pizza Express, love my pizza!

Sure you've another cruise in the pipeline, we've only got till September to wait :D

Anyway enjoyed your report and hope all the washing/ironing/gardening is done, we've just about got straight!

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Manoverboard
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Re: Foxy's Aurora R506 Mediterranean Review pt4

#3

Post by Manoverboard »

ps .... Did I happen to mention my footie correspondent who texted me the scores ?

You did indeed and thank you for mentioning it, tis nice to be appreciated once in a while :lol:

A great report Foxy ( as usual ) and yes you did need to spend more time in Cavtat, we spent three days in a sea front Hotel there using it as a base for both Dubrovnik and Kotor. A lovely atmosphere there during the evening when the hoards have returned to their ships and apartments.

:wave:
Keep smiling, it's good for your well being

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Dancing Queen
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Re: Foxy's Aurora R506 Mediterranean Review pt4

#4

Post by Dancing Queen »

Welcome back Foxy, what a thoroughly enjoyable read and further enhanced by the lovely photo's, thanks for the tip about Ocean Village in Gib I will check that out the next time I'm there, I don't know why but I didn't think it was somewhere you could just wander into.
Jo

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oldbluefox
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Re: Foxy's Aurora R506 Mediterranean Review pt4

#5

Post by oldbluefox »

You can just wander into it. It's when you are escorted out you have the problem!!
No, it's a lovely area to wander through and, I would imagine, comes alive at night with all of its bars and restaurants. Well worth a visit.

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Onelife
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Re: Foxy's Aurora R506 Mediterranean Review pt4

#6

Post by Onelife »

Without doubt the most depressing review l have ever read.....Sorry Foxy, but l'm sick to death with reading reviews about how my furom chums have been enjoying such lovely cruises...especially so when l don't have any cruises to look forward to myself.

Oh, and did you really have to post thoses lovely pictures....talk about kicking a man when he already has his fingers in the electric plug socket.

Lovely to hear that you've had a great time and really pleased to hear you and Frank have put on loads of weight. Its just a shame M&S was closed as l would have loved to hear about your wifes spending spree...especially if she was using your credit card.

Anyhow, l'm sure others will have enjoyed reading your excellent review, l only wish l could say the same :)

Regards

Keith :wave:

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towny44
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Re: Foxy's Aurora R506 Mediterranean Review pt4

#7

Post by towny44 »

Nice review Foxy, some good little tips about some of the ports of call, but sadly lacking in trying to sell me on Aurora, I didn't get a feeling that here was a ship that I must sample.
John

Trainee Pensioner since 2000


Frank Manning
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Re: Foxy's Aurora R506 Mediterranean Review pt4

#8

Post by Frank Manning »

towny44 you dont know what you are missing. Aurora is fabulous. Well done Foxy for such a comprehensive set of reports, without mentioning 'Frank is so Moneysupermarket' once!

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Onelife
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Re: Foxy's Aurora R506 Mediterranean Review pt4

#9

Post by Onelife »

Oh dear Frank.....l never pictured you strutting your stuff in a pair of high heels, wearing a pair of cut off jeans....even if it was a themed evening.

Have some respect man :lol:

:wave:


Frank Manning
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Re: Foxy's Aurora R506 Mediterranean Review pt4

#10

Post by Frank Manning »

Oh dear! My secret is out....many thanks Foxy...but size 13 men's high heels are very expensive; I am generous to a fault with my deviations.

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Gill W
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Re: Foxy's Aurora R506 Mediterranean Review pt4

#11

Post by Gill W »

Thanks for your review - sounds like it was a great cruise.

The last time I was on Aurora was in 2011, and for one reason or another it was a slightly lack-lustre cruise, but I am keen to try her again now that the refit has been done
Gill

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Kenmo1
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Re: Foxy's Aurora R506 Mediterranean Review pt4

#12

Post by Kenmo1 »

Thank you for your review, OBF. Some of my favourite ports to read about and some excellent photos to look at. I now realise why the forum was quiet for a while - you, Frank and QB were all thoroughly enjoying yourselves on Aurora.

Maureen :wave:

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emjay45
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Re: Foxy's Aurora R506 Mediterranean Review pt4

#13

Post by emjay45 »

I'm very disappointed there is no photo of Frank in his Somoneysupermarket outfit. :lol:
Towny44 It really is a lovely ship. Of course not everyone has the same taste and I believe you prefer Celebrity ships. I suppose they are more modern. You really should try the Aurora, you may be surprised.


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Re: Foxy's Aurora R506 Mediterranean Review pt4

#14

Post by Frank Manning »

No chance Emjay! But I do have one compromising one of OBF for sale to the highest bidder! :lol:

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Onelife
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Re: Foxy's Aurora R506 Mediterranean Review pt4

#15

Post by Onelife »

Frank Manning wrote:
No chance Emjay! But I do have one compromising one of OBF for sale to the highest bidder! :lol:
My word is my bond Frank......post it and l'll settle up with you later :thumbup:

:wave:

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Stephen
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Re: Foxy's Aurora R506 Mediterranean Review pt4

#16

Post by Stephen »

Onelife wrote:
Frank Manning wrote:
No chance Emjay! But I do have one compromising one of OBF for sale to the highest bidder! :lol:
My word is my bond Frank......post it and l'll settle up with you later :thumbup:

:wave:

Don't fall for it Frank. If he ever mentions the word 'bond' in a sentence stay well clear :D

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Onelife
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Re: Foxy's Aurora R506 Mediterranean Review pt4

#17

Post by Onelife »

Stephen wrote:
Onelife wrote:
Frank Manning wrote:
No chance Emjay! But I do have one compromising one of OBF for sale to the highest bidder! :lol:
My word is my bond Frank......post it and l'll settle up with you later

:wave:

Don't fall for it Frank. If he ever mentions the word 'bond' in a sentence stay well clear :D


Yeah Frank....and if Stephen ever approaches you enquiring as to whether you need your belt taking in a notch or two....then take my advise and run like bloody hell.

Been there....suffered ever since :cry:

:wave:

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Stephen
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Re: Foxy's Aurora R506 Mediterranean Review pt4

#18

Post by Stephen »

Onelife wrote:
Stephen wrote:
Onelife wrote:
Frank Manning wrote:
No chance Emjay! But I do have one compromising one of OBF for sale to the highest bidder! :lol:
My word is my bond Frank......post it and l'll settle up with you later

:wave:

Don't fall for it Frank. If he ever mentions the word 'bond' in a sentence stay well clear :D


Yeah Frank....and if Stephen ever approaches you enquiring as to whether you need your belt taking in a notch or two....then take my advise and run like bl**dy hell.

Been there....suffered ever since :cry:

:wave:
Ahem, scuse me. It wasn't me standing in the corridor on Adonia with trousers round me ankles saying 'Can you adjust it' to everyone walking past.

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Onelife
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Re: Foxy's Aurora R506 Mediterranean Review pt4

#19

Post by Onelife »

Hey up Foxy.....only just bumped into your review again as is the case with Melsea's but unlike yours l've still got 13 pages to go with Mel's

Sounds to me like you missed a good opportunity when the ceiling fell down.

I would have been positioning myself so something fell on my head, at the very least l would have used some sharp implement to draw blood....for gawd sake foxy you could have got another cruise out of it.

As for the poor maid that got stuck on your balcony.....what the hell were you playing at giving her a chocolate when what you should have been doing is asking her for a reward for letting her back in....another opportunity missed!! :lol:

Nice to retrace one's steps from time to time as reading reviews through again allows you to say things you should have said before... but didn't

Foxy....your review is without doubt the best review l have ever read...again...but please don't tell Gill and Peter I've sad that :angel:

Btw...I'm awarding you 10/10 for your Corfu report as it is the pitts isn't....until you make your way to the old town...better still take an excurrsion to the heart of Corfu which l've heard is Beautiful.

Regards

Keith :wave:

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Gill W
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Re: Foxy's Aurora R506 Mediterranean Review pt4

#20

Post by Gill W »

Onelife wrote:
but please don't tell Gill and Peter I've sad that :angel:
:lol: :lol:
Gill

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