Keith and Marions Sojourn
PART ONE
Oceana Med Medley 30th September-14th October 2007
After sorting out the hire car at this end we were off Southampton bound.
Arrived at Novotel and Marion and Sue did the getting ready for the evening thing while Bob and myself took the car to the airport and got a train back only to find that our other halves had been in the bar half an hour “waiting for us”!
Never mind we are speed changers and didn’t loose much time in getting ourselves down to the bar.
A look out of the window at around 5.30am I saw Oceana slipping into view.
We set off from the hotel at 11.30am and were at the front of the priority boarding queue and at 12.30 we were on our first freebie drinks onboard in the Gold lounge don’t you know !!
At 2.30 our cabins were ready and it was time to unpack(if your cases are there).We were one down but that soon turned up so we got everything put away and it was a quick tour of the bars before lifeboat drill.
We got that out of the way and it was up on top Pennant Bar for sail away.
Must admit the band was better than usual.
Down to the Adriatic Restaurant to see where our dinner table was and we were at the back near the galley next to a window.
Pre dinner drinks in Magnums(our favourite bar)then on to dinner.Why is it that the first meal is always the best?
After dinner up to the Y&C(yacht and compass)for the evening of frivolity.
Following morning a slight hangover and its time to eat again, the full English obviously.
Weather not brilliant a little cool and on the windy side so it was time to go back inside for a wander round(with the rest of the ship).
That evening she (Oceana)was doing a bit of a dance and lots of people disappeared. There were 900 first time cruisers on board and as usual they were strolling around scratching their heads no knowing which way was up so you have to step in and help. I’m not surprised they get lost when they don’t even have the little maps in the wallet and sometimes don’t even have the wallet just their cruise card clutched in their hand and cabin key in their pocket.
A few days at sea was brilliant for winding down and settling into the shipboard routine. We were doing all the quizzes and even won one of them a pop and general knowledge quiz to boot.
Barcelona soon came around and ive never seen such a scramble for passengers wanting to get off!
I was surprised when the shuttle dropped us off at a different place to the usual, it was nearer to the marina so a slightly longer walk to Las Ramblas.
A stroll up and down and the number of “statues”has not half increased but now they ask for money before any photos were taken.
We then stopped at an Ausie bar for a quick slurp then another short stroll to a street bar where the drinks came in the form of litre glasses(luxury).Whist sat watching the world go by we espied a bloke doing “find the lady”and after a short time a crowd formed and he was making quite a killing. It was after watching him for a while that you could see who his stoolies were,putting 10 euros down and funnily enough winning.
All this came to an end when an American bloke sussed them out and demanded his money and everyone elses back(he succeeded).
Anyway this ended our jaunt and it was time to return “home”.
:D :D :D Can just see all the folks at P & O chortling with glee :lol:
OH BOY, they are BACK. we're gonna make money on this cruise :mrgreen:
GREAT review Keith...glad to hear you and Marion enjoyed yourselves...never doubted it for a minute
"900 FIRST time cruisers"...oh my! :shock:
No doubt...not enough time to unpack the bags....and you both will be ready for the next cruise :lol: :lol:
Re: Keith and Marions Sojourn
Pre dinner drinks in Magnums(our favourite bar)then on to dinner.Why is it that the first meal is always the best?
Do you think that it's because of all the drinks before? :lol: :lol: :lol:
Happy to hear that as usual you have a great time :)
Great review :D
900 first time cruisers :shock:
must have been a pleasurable feeling for you :!:
He's not smiling in the photo! Is it because he needs to share his beverage?
Great review :-)
Yes it is nice being looked up to for advice :wink: .
One thing I cannot understand is that they gave us a priority tender disembark,you would think that they would want us to stay on longer !!
Everyone has assigned lounge to wait in to disembark...But Keith has assigned bar...CJ
Its funny that as we had a short wait in Winners Bar before getting off.
Part deux
Anyway this ended our jaunt and it was time to return “home” home being D723.
Another day and a new port Monte Carlo. It is 1975 since I was last here and the promenade looks somewhat different and the new jetty that we managed to fit in at the last moment was better than using the tenders. We had a quick stroll around at the shops and the prices were a little alarming to say the least. Bob and myself decide to walk up the hill to the Casino and boy has it changed up there -much nicer now looks like there has been a fair bit of money spent tidying the area up. We hadf got quite a sweat on climbing up there and it was time for a breather in the nearest waters edge bar.
Back to the ship now and time to rest for the evening onslaught and early night for the ridiculas getting up time of 6.30am.
The coaches were all on the quay side and wouldn’t you know that our coach was supposed to leave first but no, someone decide they wanted a lie in!!
Anyway we were away to Florence for our first visit there,we needant have worried as the place was absolutely chocker blocked(five ships in).We could not hear the guide and there were queues everywhere..One of the party behind us managed to get knocked down by a car,I don’t know what happened to him as he was whisked off in an ambulance.
Florence itself is a pretty place but this day it was just too busy for us so we wandered off to find respite in a restaurant.A few pizzas and a lovely bottle of Chianti and things looked more rosy.
The following morning one of our favourite places Santa Margherita ,its just very pretty a slows you down to a relaxing place.We didn’t go to Portfino this time as the boats were very busy but we have seen it before.
The queues to get back to the ship on the tenders was lengthy but hey ho the bar was near by.
Another early start for Rome this morning and everything went without any snags.Our tour guide on the coach was excellent very informative and only surpassed by the actual guide in Rome(by far the best we have seen).We did the same tour as last time guided in the morning to 1.00pm and free time until 4.15 pm.First it was the forum and Colosseum then on to the Vatican and it is still amazing the second time round. Freetime was spent in a great restaurant used by the locals.
Another first the next morning Ajjacio(Corsica)and another lovely place unfortunately the shops were just closing so no shopping but the bars were open.
They were just setting up for a big event on the quayside a formula one show,shame we missed it.
A lovely lie in as we had a day at sea and the weather continued very hot.
Next was the mad rush called Gibraltar the Captain got us in earlier and gave us an extra hour ashore(to save the odd pound on items that you didn’t really want). Off to the Gib Arms for a quick one and a bag of fish and chips to eat on the way back top the ship.
The leaving party on the after deck was brilliant with lots of flag waving and singing.
Two more days at sea to completely wind down before home.On the way the champagne waterfall was being set up and on placing the last glass craaash half the tower came tumbling down to the bar managers disgust,he souted oh no not again that will come out of their wages(believe that if you must)
We watched the England match on the final afternoon and you felt like you were already back home.
The following morning we were .
Med cruises are always whistle stop!
Glad you had a good time.
:lol: Cheers Wolfgang you always make me feel important :lol:
By the way A Happy Birthday To Me 28 again :lol: :lol:
