This cruise called at Bergen, Flam, Olden and Stavanger on P&O’s Aurora. This cruise was immediately after our earlier short cruise to Belgium and Guernsey.
We then cruised to Olden and Stavanger before returning to Southampton.
Day 1 Monday 16th May Southampton
Our first task in the morning was to empty the safe and to make sure that we had re-packed and that our suitcase were ready to be moved. The next task was to go to reception and trade in our cruise cards for new ones programmed to our new room. All around us everyone else were dressed to go home and pulling suitcases or hand luggage and leaving the ship.
Breakfast was in the Medina restaurant and we just made it before serving stopped. We were now in between cabins so we went up to The Crows Nest to meet friends and sat in a now deserted bar relaxing. Our friends set off for a walk into Southampton as we went back down to our cabin to begin unpacking. Our bags and clothes (on their hangers) were all moved from our old cabin. So unpacking could start again.
We decided to get some fresh air and leave the ship and walk into Southampton too. We followed crew members out through the baggage hall, through customs and then to the outside of the Mayflower Terminal. Time for some UK phone calls and a decision to go back and onboard and have a swim. Getting back was a little more difficult as security was not open in Departures so we had to go to Arrivals(!) and look for crew members queuing there to re-join the ship. The security guy was mildly confused and initially refused us entry until a colleague explained that we could board with the crew.
Swimming was out of the question as the pool had been emptied so instead we used the jacuzzi and watched all the ship’s visitors stream past on their guided tours. We ate in the Horizon buffet restaurant for the first time and I had an excellent chicken curry dish. The sun was shining so it was back to deck 13 to watch the busy harbour and do some reading an enjoy a pint of Peroni.
After another safety briefing (and more ‘dirty’ whistle blowing) Aurora left the quay and passed Britannia.
It was a beautiful afternoon and I returned to one of my favourite subjects – the moon.
At dinner we were joined by another couple to makeup our table for eight. Dinner for me was salad lyonnaise, potato soup, steak and then bread and butter pudding.
Day 2 Tuesday 17th May at sea in transit to Bergen
The day was clear but with a cold wind. After breakfast we were passing to the East of Great Yarmouth and had oil production platforms on both sides of the ship.
We walked nearly 3 miles around the Promenade deck and then retired for some lunch in The Glasshouse. Catch of the day was haddock in cider batter accompanied by a pint of Peroni.
The traditional Captain’s welcome on-board party was held (for us on 2nd sitting) at 8 pm in Carmen’s. It was a formal night and dinner was a Marco Pierre White menu. I had asparagus spears, mushroom soup, lamb cutlets followed by tarte ou poivre.
The show after dinner was Walk Like A Man, a tribute group for Frankie Vallie and The Four Seasons. This was excellent and helped us to remember all their hits. We did have some audience participation too!
