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Sunday 22nd October 2017

Weather: Overcast but rain coming in for sailaway
Seas: Gentle Sway

Overnight, the ship hit Force 10 Winds but in spite of this, Aurora was not really rocking and rolling much to Jon’s disappointment (he won’t be happy unless the waves are breaking over the bow!). A very gentle side to side rocking to help rock everyone to sleep.

We arrived into Southampton a little later than planned – we didn’t dock until 6.30am but being a two nighter, there wasn’t too much luggage to offload. It didn’t bother us – we were staying onboard for the next cruise!

We headed down to breakfast at 8am and joined the queue, which moved pretty quickly. Afterwards, we swung by reception but the queues were snaking around the atrium. We needed to collect our cruise cards for the next leg. We headed down 15 minutes later and there was still a queue with everyone querying bills. The cabins next to Mum and Callum were being turned around for David, Nicky and co … and we left a few bits and pieces in for the kids (and big kids!)

Back down to reception and we joined the queue – not as long. A lot of people still querying their accounts and wanting to know why they had incurred a service charge. Another couple were seemingly querying every item on their bill.

Mum headed up to the Crows Nest whilst I headed around the ship taking advantage of a lack of passengers and taking photos (see bottom of this post for a whistle stop photo tour). Jon and Callum headed to play table tennis and let Callum loose in an empty swimming pool.

Mum was going to the Caribbean welcome aboard reception with canapes and free drink. I had a nail appointment booked for 12.30 then the plan was to meet Jon and Callum in The Glass House for lunch.

Time for the spa and my nails were done by a lovely lady Merry Joy who was from the Phillipines but loved exploring the world. It was her first time onboard P&O and she was really looking forward to the cruises to Norway.

After nails, I headed down to the Glass House where we had another set of tasting plates accompanied by a glass of FMC and Planeta. Mum joined us after the Caribbean reception which was much quieter than the previous one. She had a coffee and decided to go down to the foyer to greet David & family as she’d spotted their car arriving in Southampton.

We headed back to our cabin where we found David, Nicky & kids already onboard, trying to get into their cabins and the kids deciding who was sleeping where! Tom had nabbed the bed settee … he’d found out within 2 seconds that the cabin TV had Sky Sports News and he could watch this in bed!! Jess was kicked out onto the bed settee in David & Nicky’s cabin.

We went to register all the kids into Kids Club – the youngest three all needed to be signed in and the older two could come and go as they pleased as long as they had their cruise card. The boys found the pool table so they kept themselves entertained. All of them received a messenger bag as a thank you for cruising.

Muster Drill was starting at 4pm so we all headed along to Carmens for the safety briefing and obligatory trying on the life jackets.

After muster, the newbies were going for a little explore and the plan was to meet us at Pennant Bar on the aft of Deck 12. We got out the back and ordered drinks … freezing cold and a little rainy so we aborted that and went back to the cabin balcony. Alas Navigator of the Seas had left before us so we wouldn’t get to sail passed them. David, Nicky and kids all joined us on the balcony with the grown-ups having a glass of prosecco.

We were on first sitting so it would be a mad scatter to get ready for 6.30pm dining. No time for pre-dinner drinks so straight down three floors and into Alexandria.

We were towards the back of the restaurant and David, Nicky & co were on one table; we were on the table next door. For starters, Callum had the hot smoked trout, Jon and I the crab pasties and mum the prawn cocktail. Jon Callum and myself went for the Cullen Skink soup then for mains, Mum and Callum went for lamb and Jon and myself went for swordfish. Puddings, Jon had the Molten Chocolate Cake, Callum ice cream and sorbet and mum her usual fruit salad with ice cream. I had cheese & biscuits.

After dinner, the boys decided they wanted to play on the Wii Gaming Stations near kids club so they went with strict instructions to meet us in the Crows Nest at 9pm. Ollie was adamant that he could find it. David, Nicky and Jess were going for a walk so Mum, Jon and I headed to the Crows Nest for a quiet drink. Bang on time (well, impressively two minutes early!), the boys turned up through one door of the Crows Nest, whilst David Nicky and Jess arrived through the other.

Callum had forgotten the playing cards but luckily I still had Callum’s Top Trumps in my handbag so the boys & Jess kept themselves entertained. David discovered they served Doombar, Nicky discovered the Estrella-Damm was gluten-free … but the Crows Nest didn’t have any so had to resort to Tennants Gluten Free Beer … and we all discovered that a round of drinks including Kids was expensive!!

You could feel you were onboard a ship as there was a gentle swaying so we would all get rocked to sleep tonight!

Callum’s Bingo Check list:

Spot the Spinaker Tower

AURORA PHOTO TOUR

The Atrium (Decks 5-7)

Main focal point is the stunning Lalique inspired waterfall that stands 3 floors tall.

Deck 7

Prom Deck

Your typical Prom Deck – wide and plenty of room for people to sit and do whatever with plenty of room for people wanting to walk completely around the ship. No having to climb stairs to get to another level to do a circuit or disappear inside to find the clam shell. 3.2 laps of the Prom Deck is equivalent to 1 mile.

Carmens

The show lounge at the back of the ship used used by entertainers and various activities during the day.

Champions / Casino

Champions is the casual bar on the ship, showing live sport around the clock and hosting various musicians and entertainment events. on the other side of the corridor, there is a small casino (adults only!).

Masquerades

The Nightclub and venue for various entertainment activities.

Andersons

A very traditional bar (child-free) featuring wooden panelling, fireplaces, high back chairs and the ambience of an old country house. Recently, the bar has introduced Gin & Rum flights and features an extensive Gin list.

Tiffany’s

Immediately outside of Andersons, Tiffany’s is the piano bar.

The Theatre

Right at the front of the ship.

Deck 8

Sindhu

Sindhu is the creation of Michelin Star Celeb Chef, Atul Kocchar’s – one of the speciality Restaurant onboard the majority of the P&O UK Cruise Ships. Not so much curry heat but a wonderful infusion of spices. It’s our favourite onboard and try to eat here at least once whilst on a cruise. On 2 day cruises, this costs £25 per person / £20 each for longer cruises. That’s for three courses plus coffee … and a couple of surprises along the way!

Raffles

Doubles as a Coffee Shop during the day and a bar

Photo Gallery

Old style photo gallery with all photos taken throughout the cruise on display here. No electronic displays or way to view photos from the comfort of your cabin.

Vanderbilts

Card Playing Room and where carpet bowls takes place during the day! Of an evening, the Syndicate Quiz is hosted here.

The Playhouse – Cinema

One of the few ships with a dedicated Cinema and films are shown 2-3 times a day. It also doubles as a mini-theatre with lectures and port talks being held here.

The Glass House

One of our favourite places on ship but much quieter on Aurora as it is on Azura. This is the Wine Bar – all wines served here have been chosen by Olly Smith and you can chose to have them served by the glass (large or small) or a bottle. Typically, our favourite wine is the most expensive on the list: The Ken Forrester FMC from South Africa. Another fabulous wine on the list is the Peller Ice – Canadian Sparkling Ice Wine.

Kids Clubs & Game On

All four kids clubs are at the back of the inside section of Deck 8. In addition, there is a Game On Zone featuring 4 Wii Stations which the kids found and spent an hour here after dinner.

Terrace Deck & Pool

Out the back of Deck 8, is the aft terrace. Aurora and sister-ship Oriana, are probably the most stylish of all the P&O ships with it’s fabulous tiered aft deck overlooking this area from Deck 13 down to Deck 8. It can create a fabulous environment for sailaways.

There’s a family pool plus a splash pool for babies / toddlers (swim nappies are not to be worn in the main pools). The outside area of the two younger kids clubs wrap around the back of this area.

Deck 12

Horizon (Buffet)

The place you can get food, pretty much 24/7!! They’ve introduced hand wash stations at either end with a wash basin and hand sanitisers, but these are much less effective than the old way of doing it. So many people just walked straight by into the buffet without washing or sanitising their hands; the old way of someone stood at the entrance to the buffet, squirting everyone’s hands ensured everyone was done.

Not the best flow for a buffet – the stations in the middle cause congestion as people are working from both ends depending on whether you go for salad first or meats first!

Crystal Pool (also Deck 13) & Lido Grill

Unless the seas are rough (and pools closed!), then the conservatory/sky dome provides a fantastic space that can be used by everyone all year around. There are tables as this area is used as an over spill from the Horizon Buffet plus there is a Lido Grill (burgers, hot dogs etc), and a bar. Two table tennis tables are on the upper level of this area – if you are lucky, your ping-pongs won’t end up in the pool!

Riviera Pool

This pool area is adult-only … and is right by the gym.

Spa

Overlooking the Crystal Pool area, this is where you go for various treatments.

Shuffleboard & Quoits

On either side of the ship, there are three shuffleboard courts and three quoits courts plus all the equipment. Just hope no-one pulls their sunbeds over the courts else you won’t be able to play!

Deck 13

Crows Nest

A large bar located in the area immediately above the bridge. A favourite place for many to sit, chill and watch out the large windows to see where we are going. Musicans play during the evening and there is a small dance floor.

Library & CyberStudy

Aurora boasts a fairly extensive library for a ship this size plus there is a couple of computer stations for people to use (you will need to buy an internet package if you want to go online!)