Ventura Blog: Weather, Wifi, and Technology

When I first asked Chris where he would like to go on our next cruise, and he replied "Iceland", my heart sank. I do enjoy a bit of sunshine, and you don’t choose a cruise to Iceland if you are seeking hot weather. But yesterday’s fine weather on our first sea day was a real bonus. I sat for over an hour in the heat of our cabin balcony until the fear of sunburn called me inside.

We also attended a meet-up of all those facebook members who had joined the cruise event on social media. With so many passengers onboard, it's a great way to connect in person with a few familiar faces.

The threatened overnight thunderstorm never appeared though rain did wash the decks after dinner.

The evenings are growing longer now as we anticipate our arrival in the land of the midnight sun, and there are always interesting things to see in the North Sea.  

As I write this we spending our final sea day before we arrive in the Faroes. We are currently sailing between the Orkneys and Shetland Islands, and although the sky is clear, the temperature is definitely dropping. It’s time to pack away the T-shirts and find the jumpers.
Swimming in one of the two outside pools today would only be for the very brave, but Ventura also has a large all-weather pool with a retractable roof. Although unoccupied when I took this photo, several active souls went in this afternoon.

For me, today was a good opportunity to chill with a book and to catch up on some technology.  Wifi onboard is not necessarily cheap, but there are a variety of packages to choose from.

The occasional user can select a ‘pay as you go’ option, which will cost very little if you compose your emails off-line then only connect to wifi post them. There are also three daily or cruise packages. Chris and I share the cost of the ‘browse’ package for the entire cruise. This gives us internet access to everything except video streaming. We can’t both go on line at the same time, but with a bit of negotiation we seem to manage. All the cabins also have a TV (two TVs in balcony deluxe and suites) which show a wide variety of films, popular TV shows and international news channels. The TV also streams ship’s information and port talks. We do enjoy the navigation channel which has a live link to our location.

And while I am on the subject of technology, I have a confession to make. Yesterday my watch strap broke, and the only small size really cheap replacement I could find in the onboard shops was a child's Barbie Doll one. So instead, I treated myself to a Fitbit watch from the ship's Dixon's Travel Shop. I now have a step tracker and calorie counter attached to my wrist which is motivating me to use the stairs instead of the lift. I doubt my new found fitness enthusiasm will last long!  

       My next blog post will be about our day in Torshavn in the Faroe Islands.

Ventura: Embarkation and Sailaway

We are on board P and O Ventura heading through the North Sea towards the Faroe Islands. The sea is very calm, and the Norfolk coast is to our East, though not visible. After a tiring day yesterday, it is great to be surrounded by ocean, with the prospect of two sea days before we reach our first port of call.
With the house sitter installed, and instructions left re watering plants etc, we were in our taxi by 10.30 yesterday morning for an uneventful journey to Southampton. However once in the terminal, we discovered that the air bridge had broken, and we found ourselves held up for over 90 mins before we could board. The atmosphere was humid, and you could feel the growing stress levels of the waiting passengers. It was with relief that we finally entered our beautiful cabin at about 3 pm. The Champagne was waiting.

With the introductions from our cabin steward and the mandatory muster drill at 4.30 pm, we barely had time to empty one of our three cases, before Ventura set sail at about 5.30 pm.
The outside temperature was warm and you could sense the diminishing passenger stress, as we all emerged onto our balconies or the open decks to watch our departure from Southampton.

There were three other ships leaving the port, and we enjoyed listening to the blasts of each ship's horn as they greeted each other in the sailaway.

Explorer of the Seas was the first to set sail followed by Queen Victoria and finally the impressive Queen Mary 2.

I am looking forward to the first meeting of our facebook group today, but before that I still have two cases to unpack! 

   

Preparing to Cruise

For those readers who have dropped into my blog for the first time, welcome, and here is a brief introduction. I’m Claire Baldry, retired, but I write as a hobby. I describe my writing as a hobby which has got a bit out of hand, because I write a lot, books, poetry and blogs . And when the budget allows, I cruise a lot too.

I’m married to Chris, a victim of my love of cruising, or so he will tell you, but I think he quite enjoys it really. Chris has had Type 1 Diabetes, seemingly forever. That means a lifetime of injections, unless, like us, you stamp your feet a lot until the NHS give in to your protests, and they upgrade you. For the past two years Chris and been attached to a life-changing sensor insulin pump.

Anyway, back to the subject of cruising....

Time was when I would break up from full-time work on a Friday and be packed and ready to leave for a cruise early the following morning. My greatest worry would be that Chris would drop unconscious en route (which happened from time to time) but somehow we coped. Although we are only in our sixties, things take a lot longer these days. Chris has slowed down, and I worry more. So, three weeks before our departure to Ventura, the cases are out, and I have begun to delve into the dress suit cupboard.     

Time was when our body sizes were reasonably consistent, but we now have senior flab, so we have to ‘try before we pack’.

Time was when Chris ordered his own holiday medication, but he’s not quite as organised as he was, and his eyesight is deteriorating, so that is now my responsibility. I have therefore become a compulsive list writer.

Time was when we used our Tesco vouchers and caught the train to Southampton carrying two or more large suitcases and a picnic. The last time we did this was earlier this year, when even with assistance, I managed to hurt my back and vowed never again. So the first treat of our forthcoming holiday will be a three hour drive in a luxury taxi from our front door to the port. Sorry kids, that will make another dent in your inheritance, but I really don’t feel very guilty.

Anyway, back to the packing. I chose this morning to ask Chris to try on his dinner jackets, plural because we have four formal nights on our next cruise. It is a bit of a chore for Chris to try stuff on,  because he has to shuffle with the wiring on his pump, (and he is a man) but the deed was done without a major argument, and we found two jackets which fitted…one could even still button up at the front. With both jackets machine washable, and on a nice sunny day with a strong sea breeze, they are washed and clean. It’s a start.

Time was when I could walk all day in high heels like these. Can I remember that far back?

So I needed to sort out a couple of almost flat pairs of glitzy shoes to accompany my dresses. The only time I wear dresses these days is on a ship. I discovered said shoes in a heap at the back of my wardrobe, so they have christened the otherwise empty case. It’s a start.

With two jackets washed, two pairs of shoes packed, and a taxi pre-ordered, I can feel my holiday anticipation growing. And I can cross two items off my ‘to do’ list.

If you have been kind enough to read this blog post so far, I am finishing with a poem which I wrote a few years ago:                            
                                                               'The Formal Night'        
              
                                                           Tonight the dress is formal,

I have a new ball gown,

My husband purchased braces

So his trousers won’t fall down

With bow tie firmly fastened,

I am worried he will choke,

But we risk his suffocation,

As he’s such a handsome bloke

We parade before the Captain,

How important this all feels,

Then beneath the dining table,

We kick off our pointed heels

There’s a lady sitting near me

In a dress that’s rather tight,

She is holding in her tummy,

But she may not last the night

(From 'Seaside and Sailaway' by Claire Baldry) 

         

Amsterdam from IJmuiden

In March this year my husband and I went on a short P & O cruise on Azura which used IJmuiden as its gateway to Amsterdam.  You may have seen my earlier post about the port. This was a last minute change of plan by P&O, so the organisation was a bit haphazard, and passengers were disappointed at not sailing into the centre of the city. To be fair the good people at P&O realised that the arrangements were not up their usual standard, and took steps to improve matters, even ringing me for further feedback on our return. So this post is not intended as a moan. I am simply providing a few details about what happens when you shuttle from IJmuiden to Amsterdam and your walking route into the town centre. This may help interested passengers to find their way around, and also to decide whether or not to book a ship's tour. Please bear in mind that my husband is partially sighted, so we were very aware of traffic and crowds.     
Firstly, as IJmuiden is not especially interesting, most passengers will probably want to take a tour or shuttle into Amsterdam, so expect plenty of coaches and possibly queues at popular times.

P & O does however move the queues on quickly so the wait should not be unduly long. Once on the coach, the journey into Amsterdam takes about 45 mins. There is not a lot to view in the first part of the ride, although it is interesting to see how many wind turbines dominate the landscape.

Once the waterways appear at the roadside there is more to see.    

The shuttle buses in Amsterdam park beside a waterway, just a few minutes walk from Amsterdam Central Station. This is also the place where passengers for many river cruises are dropped off, so you need to check the return signs on the buses.

 

This was the first time I had been close to so many river cruising boats. I was amazed at how large and luxurious many of them appeared. I was impressed and it did make me think I might like to investigate river cruising! 

Anyway, once off the coach, Amsterdam Central Station is visible, and you need to head in that direction. Just walk straight ahead with the water on your right. 

(Please note this photo was taken on our return walk, but, from the coach, the station is to the left of the footpath.)  There are pedestrian crossings, but you do need to be alert as the bikes are often fast and ignore the crossings. If you choose to enter the station, there are loos, shops for drinks and snacks, and plenty of seating.

 When you have walked past the station, or walked through it, there is a tunnel on the left hand side.

The footpath is wide, but yet again it pays to be wary of cyclists. It only takes a few minutes to walk through the tunnel and you emerge in the centre of Amsterdam. There are displays of maps and many signposts, though it can get very busy. You can catch one of the many boat trips from here, but you may have to queue.

     

On this occasion we chose not to do a boat trip, but we have done a boat trip in Amsterdam in the past, and absolutely loved it. My husband's eyes were not good that day, so he found the crowds and cycles difficult to negotiate, but this would not be a problem for someone with clearer vision and good mobility. Amsterdam is an amazing and vibrant city. We were very tempted to stop for a pancake.

    

With greater research we might even have boarded one of the many water buses which transported the locals and their bikes all over the area.

So to sum up.....my advice would be...do your research and allow plenty of time for the shuttle to the city. Be aware that at busy times it will be very crowded. Watch out for cycles, and, if crowds are not your thing or you have mobility or vision problems, this may be one of the places to book a tour. 

Azura Superior Deluxe Balcony Cabin

One of the reasons why I choose to travel on the larger P and O ships is because they provide a large number of reasonably priced balcony cabins. On our most recent cruise we stayed in a superior deluxe balcony cabin. The ones on Ventura are very similar in layout. So for anyone interested here are a few details about our recent 'D' deck superior deluxe balcony cabin.

They are larger than the ordinary balcony cabins with a long settee, two chairs, and two TVs. 

  

The bed is, as always, comfortable, and there is plenty of storage including a spacious hanging area.

There is a full-size bath with shower over

The uncovered balcony is well  furnished, though overlooked. However, we prefer this as it gets more sun then the covered ones.

As well as the considerable additional space, you do get a few welcome extras..... binoculars, an atlas, use of P and O dressing gowns, and complimentary champagne and chocolates.

Sorry that was all the photos, I could manage to take before we started to unpack and made the place look untidy!
I appreciate that choice of cabin depends on your budget and how much time you actually spend in there. However I hope this blog might help readers decide whether or not they want to pay the extra. We certainly thought it was worth the money.  

  

A Taste of IJmuiden (for Amsterdam) from Azura

It’s always a refreshing to dock in a port which we haven’t visited before. So despite our disappointment at not sailing into the centre of Amsterdam, we were interested to see what IJmuiden had to offer. As this port is likely to be used a lot in the future, I hope my observations will be of use.

Azura passed the long harbour wall at about midday on Friday 22nd March (Dutch time) in the company of the pilot boat, and we then caught a glimpse of IJmuiden.

It appeared to consist of a large complex of mainly industrial units, though I believe that there was a small town about 2 to 3 km away. I  will shortly describe what else I discovered about IJmuiden, but in the meantime, here is a personal observation.
Our sail in to Holland was just six days before the original Brexit date, now probably postponed. I have no idea whether readers of this post are remainers or leavers, (and I have no intention of revealing how I voted), but I think most would agree that the way our government have managed the process leaves a lot to be desired. I couldn’t help but feel the irony when I saw our entry to Ijmuiden was described in the daily Horizon paper as ‘The Great British Sail In’. Our journey past reclaimed sand dunes and oil refineries was accompanied by loud renderings of ‘Jerusalem’ and ‘God Save the Queen’. As far as I could tell, apart from the port officials, there were only a couple of local spectators watching us dock. I hope they had a good laugh at our patriotic bravado.   

So what else can I tell you about IJmuiden?

It is certainly industrial, and the 3km walk into the town centre (if indeed there is one) was too far for us too attempt. P and O seemed to assume that all guests would wish to go into Amsterdam,  but had failed to book sufficient shuttle buses for the 45 minute journey each way, so there were waits announced of over an hour onboard for the first shuttles to return, and we were instructed to stay onboard until the busses arrived. I'm sure that the good people at P&O will rectify the situation on future cruises, but this did not help us. So we decided instead to take a stroll and headed on foot to the port gates, not realising that the empty red bus was actually waiting to transport any guests who wanted a lift to the port gates. (This alternative had not been announced.) We discovered a modern cruise terminal which looked as if it might be developed in the future.

There were toilets, a large photo of the Dutch Royal family, and (upstairs) a coffee shop and view point.

As you can see from the photos, the place was largely empty. There was also a charming tourist stall selling a variety of souvenirs. We had a long chat with the very lonely stall holder who begged us to tell the other guests on the ship he was there, and jokingly offered us a 10% commission if we could muster up some trade.  

We purchased some painted wooden tulips and some really charming windmill Christmas lights, but suspect we may have been his only customers for the day.
Once through the terminal we spotted some steep steps which appeared to lead to the beach.

All we found at the top was a long road, but we understand that a few other brave passengers did find the beach and spotted jumbo buggies racing along the sand. So come on P&O, get out and explore and provide some more local info for your passengers!
On our return the lonely red bus driver spotted us and took us back on the three minute journey via containers and skips to the ship's gangway.

On a more positive note, we did make it into Amsterdam the following day.....more to follow..... 

  

Premier Inn West Quay Southampton: The Start of a Weekend on Azura.

So here we are in Southampton, staying at the Premier Inn West Quay, ready to embark Azura later today. For anyone interested, the Premier Inn West Quay is very central, close to the West Quay Shopping Centre, restaurants and harbour, with reasonably priced comfortable rooms. Ours cost £56 (room only). 

There are easy to use check-in machines....type in a few details from your booking and 2 key cards magically jump into the box at the bottom. 

However, like most Premier Inns , the hotel is also security conscious. The reception desk is manned 24 hours, and you can only enter the lifts by using  your key card. Next to the list is a freephone for taxis and a list of all the ships in port with the names of the terminal where they will be berthed, a useful reminder when booking a taxi.

If staying a bit longer, you could even collect a parcel from Amazon.

  

Last night we met up in the bar with a group of friends, all linked by our longstanding membership of a little UK based cruise forum and facebook group. People have travelled from as far as Scotland, Wales and the South West, and more will be joining us onboard. 

     We have no idea what the weekend will bring, but I am sure that the company of friends will enhance our stay.....see you onboard!