| As I sat outside the Yacht & Compass waiting for Pam, there was an announcement telling Freedom diners they had to book if they wanted to eat in the restaurant because many times had gone. When Pam appeared, she told me about some people complaining they were celebrating a 70th birthday, had ordered a cake but had no table large enough for them. It made us wonder why they'd opted for Freedom Dining in the first place if they were celebrating anything. With a cake, how would the staff know where to deliver it if they just turned up? Totally stupid of them not to plan properly in the first place. A waiter came along asking if he could get us anything. Pam asked for a cappuccino but he said that bar didnt do it even though it was in the menu so she said she wouldn't have anything and went to photograph the bar. I ordered a hot chocolate which I had to admit wasn't very nice. Why have frothy cold milk on top? It ended up being cold chocolate as you drank it. Once Pam emerged we went along to the Footlights Theatre. We both liked the artwork along the wall outside but were disappointed the theatre was so small. |
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| When we reached Winners on Deck 8, Pam noted it was similar to Bliss on Norwegian Gem, which we'd nicknamed the knocking shop. This was a more upmarket knocking shop! Part of this vast area was Monte Carlo, the casino. It was a really nice public room. |
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| When we stepped outside onto the Lido Deck we saw the mist had given way to sun - woo! It was delightfully warm after such a miserable morning and sailaway from Southampton. |
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| At 2.30pm, as Pam wanted to catch some of the other shipping movements, we ventured out onto the dock. It had got colder and miserable again with some strong wind. |
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| As we slowly made our way forward the security guard kept shouting for us to move. It wasn't as if we were right on the edge. There were people nearer the water than us. I can understand he was thinking of safety but the number of times I've walked along a dock (including last December in Zeebrugge when I went the entire length to photograph QE2 and Aurora) and nothing's been said shows most realise the majority of passengers won't be stupid. We looked up to our balcony (top centre), glad we'd chosen it as it was more convenent to get onto the deck. |
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| There were several piles of pipes on the dockside with PAM on the sides which gave us a chuckle. Once the Wallenius Wilhelmsen container ship had left we went back in to defrost until sailaway. There was the usual formal night and Captain's Gala Party. Freedom Dining could go to either but as he announced he wouldn't be at the first due to being on the bridge, we decided to attend the second then go to dinner at Cafe Jardin afterwards. We cast off ten minutes early and backed up to turn giving three long blasts. As we were, a car carrier went past. |
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| I particularly liked being able to look along the side of the ship from the observation area as though you were on the bridge. What an excellent design and a shame more ships don't have something similar. As I made my way slowly back in, I found Pam who pointed out the same crew member playing about with the football the day before was taking down the flags. He acknowledged us and I waved back. |
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| We hadn't done the Promenade Deck so made our way down to that. Pam spotted the chairs were secured with rope. As we walked around we noticed more bit clearly not replaced during the refit. |
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| Halfway along the stern we spotted a crew door with a tantalising gap. Being the curious souls we are, no door was going to prevent us having a closer peek. We looked around for some way to open it. There was a button to our right which Pam pressed making the doors slide open. They closed pretty fast so it needed pressing a few times so we could get photos. |
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| Forward now to complete our lap. The deck was fairly empty, probably due to the cold. All the better for us as it meant people wouldn't get in the way. I noticed the clock was 1 hour 42 minutes fast so had to take a photo. We also found the other builder's plaque. There's a thing known as the Fincantieri wobble, reportedly common on all ships built by them and it's true. It exists. Oceana wobbled with the best of them. |
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| Now this was more like it and better than the metal walls on Oriana and Aurora. Such a shame we couldn't get inside to look at the machinery properly. Some crew members inside waved at the camera making us laugh. |
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| I found the below amusing and there were two of them. No idea who wrote it or why but as Pam vanished I did my best to snap one through the metal grille when suddenly a crew member asked if I was okay. I replied yes and was fascinated by the machinery. He then asked if I'd like a closer look. So I did what the muster announcement always warns against - I went to a crew area after being invited! The crew member shall remain nameless as I don't want to get him into trouble even though he said I could post the pics here. He explained about the anchor and the ropes as I was full of questions. Who needs galley tours or engine and bridge visits when this is the interesting stuff? I looked down the anchor and saw the sea rushing by. It was amazing to think it didn't move at all. I told him where I was from and about the bloke at the marina telling people on the 11th she'd returned from the Caribbean but I saw her pass Ventura on the 10th. He explained they'd had a request from VTS as there were sales people aboard the newer ship who wanted a closer look at the clean Oceana so they had an army of cleaners making her spotless. |
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| By now Pam had come looking for me but was kept the other side of the fence wanting to come in. The crew member led me onto the docking platform, telling me not to go too far out in case I was seen by someone on the bridge. What can I say? It is truly an amazing experience being stood there as you're sailing at however many knots. |
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| As he went to let me out Pam asked if she could have a go on the docking platform. Afterwards she said she didn't believe I was afraid of heights after standing on that. I'm afraid of heights as well as deep water and can't swim but none of that even crossed my mind. I was just so thrilled to be standing there so a million thanks to the crew member for giving us both a chance to experience it. A quick pop to the photo gallery only to be told he couldn't find more albums and they were stopping them. We went back to the cabin as we had some time to kill before changing for the party. Pam was grumbling about the mattress on her bed sliding and as she inspected it, her curiosity got the better of her and she decided to see if it really was Slumberland as the Portunus magazine had said. Well it was, complete with P&O logo. |
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| This is the time I say Royal Caribbean do these parties better again. We were at the atrium in plenty of time as it started at 8pm. It was a long time before any staff came out with the drinks but we were first to get them our side for a change. They also came round with the odd nibble. Second sitting dinner was 8.30pm but the captain didn't appear until after that. When he gave his speech you could barely see him! He really should have stood further forward so everyone could. A lot of people around is were talking so if they hadn't come to hear what he had to say I wondered why they bothered. He then cracked the same joke I'd heard on Aurora about the Captain's dinner and he'd had a terrible time cooking it. Afterwards he posed for photos. There was a rather short queue as well. When you waste opportunities as they did, it makes it a bloody stupid bloody place to hold the party. On Vision of the Seas it was in the Some Enchanted Evening Lounge. Navigator was the Ixtapa Lounge with the speech in the Royal Promenade, making sure everyone could see him. |
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| After I'd had my photo taken with the captain we went to dinner. Cafe Jardin was virtually empty. Whether than was due to people dining earlier or elsewhere we didn't know, but at least there was no queuing. Pam bought me a Blue Lagoon as a thank you for the docking platform earlier and we ordered our dinner. It was the worst meal I'd ever had. The Caesar salad was nothing like it. Few bits of limp lettuce, slivers of mushroom which looked like slugs and the croutons were whatever breadsticks they were using cut and deep fried so it was more like fried bread. In the Plaza at lunchtime you could have that so how could it go so wrong? Starters were pre-prepared and kept in an open chiller where anyone could go near it. Once we'd finished the main course, we waited and waited after the waiter had taken the plates for him to come back to take our dessert order but he didn't. Just kept going past. Suffice to say we weren't impressed. |
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| Walkies time to check out the funnel as it was the last chance, barring rising at the crack of night, to see if it was lit. Blimey it was cold and windy! It was lit but not much. We didn't stay out long. Pam decided to take her case off in the morning but with my back there was no way I was going to so packed everything not needed away and left it outside. She changed her mind during the night and, even though it was well after the cut off time, took it anyway. |
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| Morning and it was still as misty as the majority of the entire trip. I went forward so I could let my dad know when we were near Hythe and found some either badly cut or damanged astroturf as well as an old lifebelt where you could see where a previous O had been. The pilot boat sped up ahead of us. I was really excited as this would be the second time in twenty-one days I would arrive with the QE2 already in! Of course when we originally booked she wasn't meant to be and also she'd been moved to 105 so we wouldn't pass her. Aurora was also going to be there with her lucky passengers behind Lizzie. We were on the wrong ship! Boudicca was also meant to be in QEII but was delayed until noon. We were late, due to dock at 8am but would get in slightly earlier than that. |
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| There they were - my two favourite girls shrouded in mist! The amount of time they've been together over the past twelve months people will begin to talk! |
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| Up went the P&O house flag as we neared Western Docks and those two beauties already alongside. As we made for the turn back into City Terminal, Pam and I went to the stern, cutting through the Plaza. |
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| Here we found more cost cutting. One part of the astroturf was clearly old and damaged while that beside it was brand new. It seems silly to us some parts were new and others not. |
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| They were putting the flags up on the gorgeousness that is Aurora while Lizzie had the ropes and platforms ready for her funnel to be painted. I felt sorry for anyone trying to get photos of Lizzie through the gaps in Aurora's glass on the observation area. Glass be make it sheltered but it's crap for photos. It's one of the few things I don't like about her and where Oriana and Oceana are superior. |
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| Once we'd docked around 7.50am, we returned to the cabin to collect our things as we had to vacate it by 8am. We weren't due to be called for disembarking until 9.30am so went to the Plaza for breakfast and spotted a carpet fitter en route. |
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| After breakfast we went to the photo gallery to pick up my picture with the captain. It was dreadful. Soft focus, 10"x8" and not even any photoshopping like the name of the captain or date as there had been on Oriana's Weekender. We then found Starlights a little further along, which we'd been unable to get properly before as there were rehearsals going on. Then I suggested one more trip outside to get Lizzie from that deck as we hadn't yet. The sun had come out, burning away the mist, and we saw the painters busy working on her funnel. |
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| We chatted to an elderly couple who were on the back to back and we educated about Adonia being Oceana's sister and was now Sea Princess. They said they wouldn't go on Ventura because of being a block of flats so Pam said we'd never go on either, with a sly wink to me as we are for research purposes though neither of us like that bikini wax Princess funnel. Just as whatever horrible behind us was casting off at 9am, our colour was called to disembark. they were running early so Pam had to miss it. The queue in the atrium was horrendous as they hadn't made sure everyone from the previous colour was off. |
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| After we loaded the car we went to Mayflower to try and get a closer look at what they were doing to Lizzie, then to Mayflower Park for more photos. Pam dropped me home then went to the marina for Boudicca's arrival. So the verdict. I loved Oceana. Apart from the awful food and bad service in Cafe Jardin I had a fantastic time and she easily replaced Oriana as second favourite P&O ship for many, many reasons. Despite being designed for Americans, she has a cosiness found on those under 80,000 tonnes. She never felt crowded, even the decks when it was nice those couple of hours in Zeebrugge, apart from at breakfast that last morning when everyone seemed to turn up after 8am only to be in a very long queue. All the crew we came into contact with were incredibly friendly and it's clearly a pleasant ship to work on. I want to go on her again. For photos of the departure and passing QE2, click here. For more photos of QE2 and Aurora from our arrival and afterwards click here. |
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