We set off at 8.10am on Saturday and arrived at the Queen Elizabeth II Terminal at Southampton at 1325. A journey of 3 hours and 45 minutes had taken well over 5! There was a lot of rain and spray on the M1 and traffic slowed up to a crawl on many occasions. We left the M1 to cut across to Oxford and that was slow at times too and even worse in the opposite direction so we decide that we would return via the M3, M25 and M1.
The weather slowly picked up and the sun was shining by the time we reached Southampton. We feared delays from the major road works around the port entrance - designed to improve traffic flow, but they weren’t the problem and next time we must find a route into Southampton which brings up to such as Dock Gate 4 along Town Quay from the western direction as there seemed to be hardly any queue from that side as we all tried to get in via Dock Gate 4. Southampton in the docks area was pretty well gridlocked and it was almost completely down to cruise traffic – Celebrity Eclipse, Emerald Princess, MSC Opera, P&O’s Aurora as well as P&O’s Oceana were all in port and due to leave later in the day. Indeed, it was quite a procession down Southampton Water as all the ships left port together.
Check-in was fairly efficient, although our desk clerk was a touch officious, we felt. We had the almost obligatory ‘Welcome Aboard’ photo – we hoped we were more smartly dressed than usual so it might be worth it – and we were on board. We unpacked a little, but at 4pm it was muster which seemed long drawn out and it was then that we discovered that the captain was an Italian. Shivers went down our spines!
At the foot of Southampton Water we steered left towards the English Channel and we were away. Aurora was as appealing as before and we soon started to remind ourselves where everything was. Passengers were pretty much 100% Brits and there were quite a few walking wounded, as well as a fair sprinkling of obesity, although not so much as on board ships with more American clientele. We are at the younger end of the age spectrum, although there are a number of families with children away for half term week.
Our luggage was almost all outside the cabin before we go to it and the steward soon introduced himself to us – Leviston from Goa. We had brought 3 suitcases of gear plus a holdall as well as hand luggage. One of our heavily-bubble wrapped sherry glasses from home had not survived the journey, alas – a reminder not to put even well packaged glass items in a holdall. The champagne flutes in the suitcase had survived fine.
We think that the ship is full and yet it all seems remarkably uncrowded. One couple at our Sunday breakfast table talked of taking up an offer and of booking 10 days before departure. We told them not to say to us what they had paid!
Our first evening was smart casual and we decided to dress to and perhaps beyond that level. There are signs at the main venues reminding passengers what the day’s dress code is. We had a drink in Anderson’s Bar for old times’ sake and it seems it had change a little. Our waiter there said that it was to be refurbished towards the end of 2014 and he wasn’t sure what was in store. We had a look around the fashion shop, wondering if they had any bargain pairs of women’s black trousers to replace a pair of Elizabeth’s which it seems I may have accidentally taken out of the joint suitcase by accident. The jury is out on that until we get home, but Graeme is in the dock at present. No black trousers there, but Bergen awaits and it is Norway’s second city so surely they must have some at the right price to set off Elizabeth’s sequined gold top so that she can cut a dash on a subsequent evening on the cruise.
We realised that we had asked for a table for two on late dining and we got just that – a table for two but by a window which is quite a treat. Staff were friendly and lively but we didn’t feel that we had a particular waiter and assistant waiter introduced to us. Drinks as before were at the most reasonable prices we’ve ever found at sea – e.g. £3.50 plus service charge for 500ml of such as Marston’s Pedigree or Old Spotted Hen. Wine prices were very reasonable and there were measures listed everywhere, e.g. 125ml or 250ml of wine by the glass. The choice of wine also included a German white wine – quite rare on a cruise these days. The food was good – many courses – starter, soup course, main course, dessert, cheese and biscuits then a brownie with coffee and a paid-for liqueur if you wish.
After our meal it was show time and their ‘Headliners’ dance troupe led the entertainment, but they also made a lot of the fact that Leanne Mitchell, star of a recent series of ‘The Voice’ was on board and would be performing during the cruise.
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