When we got up it was just as cold but also pouring and windy - how depressing!  The Weather Channel said only 50% chance of rain but this was non-stop so more like 100%.  Amsterdam was decorated for Koninginnedag, or Queen's Day, on the 30th April.  This year would be very different, however, as Queen Beatrix abdicates and her son, Willem-Alexander becomes King and the celebration date will also change to fall on his birthday.  After a little wander when I bought a book from the library, we went to Cafe Bordeaux for lunch.  Service was sooooooooooooooooooo slow!  Despite us being sat there ages staring up the menu until our eyes went funny, the orders weren't taken until people sat at the next table, who hadn't perused it a fraction of the time we had.  The woman at the next table said to her other half she hoped it wouldn't take long as they had to go on their tour.  When the food arrived, the waiter gave us their order!  I had risked the chicken Kiev, knowing how awful Cunard's is with its obvious processed chicken and supermarket quality but was pleasantly surprised by this.  The water wasn't replenished and dessert was pre-made.  

I went to charge the phone before we headed off the ship while Fay waited for a coffee which never came so returned to the cabin.  We set off and got soaked walking to Centraal Station for the train to Rotterdam.  After buying our tickets we went to the platform but they're so confusing.  Fay decided to walk further along and there was our train right at the bloody end.  I like European trains.  You can hear yourself think with no clackety-clack and generally (each time I've used them anyway) it's generally quiet unlike UK trains where even the quiet zone can be noisy.  Once we arrived at Rotterdam Centraal, we had to make our way around the obstacle course that was the way out due to all the building work which has been going on ages.  It was a bit like at Amsterdam Centraal.  We found the taxi rank and asked to be dropped off by the cruise terminal, which was boarding people for the Norwegian Breakaway jolly.  

The weather was as bad as we left but lulled us into a false sense of security by stopping for a while before pouring on our head again.  The Spido office were beginning to decorate for the 30th and they no longer run a boat to the Rotterdam ship so back over the bridge we went and to Hotel New York for a drink!  They had now added a bridge from behind Hotel New York to the part which had Rotterdam on but there were no signs saying "Ship This Way" so it was a bugger trying to find.  It took us an hour to get from HNY to the bloody thing so we were more drowned rats.  There are still three management companies, according to one person working there, and many areas are STILL closed off to the public.  In fact, since my stay in June 2010, a few more places are no longer accessible.  After a quick look round and an Ocean Bar full of conference people, rain still coming down, temperature dropping, we decided to call it a day, get a taxi and go back to the station.  Thankfully most people on the VERY crowded platform boarded the one to Den Haag and we managed to find a seat on the 1822 to Amsterdam, which was running ten minutes late.  

By the time we reached our stop, the flipping rain had stopped, it was a little warmer and the sun was making Aurora a gorgeous colour.  Then we went back on the ship and up to the Orangery for a very late dinner, though trying to find a bar waiter was impossible!  And don't get me started on the chef who said he can remove the bell peppers.  The juices are already mixed into the food thanks to your stupid garnishing, you idiot!  Some nice deck shots when it was dark enough after a drink in the Crows Nest then back to the cabin.

We were sailing from Amsterdam at 7am, so we had to get up for that.  We were a little late but once the ropes were thrown, moved away silent and headed towards the lock at IJmuiden.  I was back asleep by then, totally knackered after the Rotterdam trip, but Fay was up watching.  I eventually got up, had a drink in the Crows Nest before going to the Medina for lunch.  Those two Southampton women from dinner were on the table as well as a Manchester United fan who looked like someone who'd glass you but was religious.  His wife was quiet.  Our waiter was so funny and sang!  The women thought he was mental, and not in a jokey way.  The rest of us thought he was great. AIDAstella was passing in the distance en route from Southampton to Invergordon then it was packing time and ordered room service.  

I was told they don't have a chicken sandwich, even though they did three days before.  When I asked what they had, was told a chicken and bacon baguette.  I ordered that minus bacon but when it came I couldn't eat it.  The reason?  They'd drowned it in relish full of bell peppers!  The room service menu doesn't mention the relish otherwise I'd have asked for it without as well.  We skipped dinner in the restaurant and went to the Orangery which had an Indian theme, as our cabin steward had said.  But someone chopped up bell peppers very finely and hid them in the beef curry so you had no idea they were there until you ate some.  Flipping good job I didn't eat any.  Before bed the ferry Rodin overtook Spirit of France as we passed Dover and, Crown Princess and Ventura passed us off the Sussex coast.

Morning was back in Southampton so up early to watch us come in.  At least it was dry, despite the cold, but the decks were absolutely soaking.  The bill arrived and now I knew what I'd had to sign for when the room service came the previous day - that bloody baguette they conned me into having and made sure I couldn't eat!  He never said it was £1.50 when I phoned.  Then it was on deck in the cold once we'd rounded Calshot.

Stupidly, we had to be out of the cabin by 8am yet the Medina didn't open until 7.30am and then there was a huge queue.  I've gone to the main restaurant on the final morning a few times on several ships, including P&O, and it's been good.  This wasn't.  There was a huge queue which then took us ten minutes to get in.  We were told there were no tables for two left so had to sit with others and just pointed in a general direction.  As we tried to find where he'd pointed to, we passed an empty table for two and another waiter said we could sit there.  We waited and waited and waited and finally got a menu while another asked if we wanted tea or coffee.  Once the other tables the waiter served were full, he took orders.  The table next to us ended up with their food ages before us.  My tea and orange were gone by then, as was Fay's coffee.  More hot drinks were offered but my tea was tepid.  We were out by about 8.30am and there were still people queuing to get in.  

As we collected our stuff, there was an announcement saying luggage was all in the terminal and we can go when we wanted.  This naturally created disorganised chaos as, while many joined the end of the queue, those coming from stairs and lifts barged in so they moved and the rest didn't.  There should have been a crew member controlling it and we weren't the only ones unhappy with the situation.  Once we got off, Fay went ahead by escalator while I waited for the lift and Nicky was there, who used to give me passes to visit QE2 then I saw a couple of times last December.  Getting the luggage and a taxi was much easier and quicker than the entire past hour or so on the ship!

I have to say sadly that is the WORST cruise on Aurora I've had since my first in 2007 and I'm not even sure I want to go back.  2011 had been pretty bad, due to everything being aimed at old people and couples but since then I've been on Ventura, Oriana and Azura and had none of this, though lack of waiters shows on Ventura and Azura as do other cost cutting measures now also beginning to be evident on Aurora.  Also, right at this moment, she has ceased to be my favourite ship in service after this experience.  I may go back in a year or so since no two cruises are the same and my second on her was much better than my first.  As P&O are alienating single passengers by banning them from booking Getaway fares, instead forcing them to be ripped off with the Vantage ones, I'm unlikely to go back on my own anyway.  Other lines, more welcoming and with cheaper fares for better itineraries, activities and entertainment, will do very well if they continue down this road of poor service and other things.  It's so sad and I do hope things will change because I want to go on some of their ships again but not when it's like this.

To see more photos of the ships during this cruise, click on the Other Stalking index.