MV Aurora - Final Comments

Cruise-Australia.net

Discover Cruising at its Best!

With Reuben Goossens

Cruise’n’Travel Journalist / Cruise Reviewer & Maritime Historian

P&O Cruises UK

A Carnival Corp Company

MV Aurora

2006 World Cruise Review

Final Comments

Ships Photographer - Used with permission

The Positives

Having been on 49 P&O UK, Australia, and Princess cruises I feel that my comments are without any prejudice, thus it will be a honest report covering both the good and those things that could be improved upon.

It needs to be noted, regardless some of the shortcomings during this cruise, a P&O cruise is a wonderful experience, one I would recommend to anyone. The service level is of a high standard, with stewards being friendly and efficient. The ship has been superbly crafted and has a host of excellent facilities and many magnificent lounges and bars.

Accommodations are of a high standard, each has a vast amount of storage space, ideal for the around the world cruise. Each cabin, stateroom, mini suite, suite and penthouses has every possible comforts expected of a modern cruise ship.

The author’s cabin F218

Aurora has an expanse of open and covered deck spaces, all with ample deck chairs and sun lounges. There are three Pools, four Jacuzzis and a children’s wading pool. With an excellent Gym and Spa facilities, Aurora offers without a doubt the perfect cruise package.

Crystal Pool

There are marked differences between Aurora and her sister Oriana, but that gives them a feel all of their own, rather than being merely a copy of each other. Which ships is the better? That is a matter of choice. Many passengers on Aurora had their opinions, but I found that this was mostly related to which ship they travelled on first. Personally, I first sailed on Aurora’s maiden world cruise in 2001, then on Oriana in 2005 and on Aurora again this year. Which ship do I prefer? Personally Oriana is my favourite. Why? For me she has more casual, relaxed atmosphere, but, then again, I am an Australian and Australians tend to be more casual. As I stated on the first page of this review, I preferred the casual 24 hour dinning facilities of Al Fresco’s, rather than the somewhat stuffy formal Café Bordeaux. But, again that is a matter of choice.

Crows Nest

Aurora has many other positives features, all of which are obvious if you have viewed all pages of this cruise report. However, during this cruise I discovered that quite a few changes have been made to services onboard. One year changed the overall cruise experience to some degree.

The Negatives

Speaking of relaxed and casual, I feel that there are far too many formal and informal nights. What is the difference between these two? Formal requires a dinner suit, tuxedo, or a suit, with a bowtie or a tie. Informal, still requires a suit, collar and a tie. Thus informal is almost formal, but without a dinner suit. However, if you have a shirt that by design does not require a tie, that is OK, but the jacket is a must. It needs to be noted, that the dress code of the night is strictly enforced thus don’t try to remove your jacket, even though it is hot, for you will not be served and even asked to leave the lounge. The daily ships programme “Aurora Today” states regarding the formal nights – “We would request in order to maintain the ambience of the evening, you remain in your formal attire for the duration of the evening.”

On our 18 night cruise, from San Francisco to Sydney there were ten formal/informal nights. Each port day (evening) well as the night before arriving at the end of a sector, such as Auckland and Sydney is casual. Thus, on our cruise we had 8 Casual nights, meaning more than 50% of the cruise you had to wear a suit and tie. The dress code was considered too formal for Europeans, Canadians, New Zealanders and Australians onboard. However, the Brit’s love dressing up, and it is an English ship!

Entertainment

Entertainment: Having sailed on Oriana from Brisbane to the UK last year, all shows were repeated two or three times on that voyage. This year on Aurora, the same old shows were performed once again. It needs to be said that the Theatre Company works very hard and puts a great deal of effort in their performance. But the never ending repeats simply says - Poor show P&O. Regular world cruise passengers, having paid up to A$89,000 for a round the world cruise, P&O you should be able to do much better!

Curzon Theatre

Entertainment officers” Sadly the entertainment staff on this cruise was to say the least a non event. Cruise director Ian Fraser, known by many “Mr useless” is seldom seen, except for when there is a big crowd in the Theatre, he introduces an act. It is his responsibility to arrange the entertainment onboard, and on this cruise timings were all out meaning had to miss out on certain events. Let me give an example of Oriana’s nightly entertainment schedule based on the 1^st sitting. The Main Show performed in the Curzon Theatre - 8.30pm. The Classical concert performed in the Curzon Room - 9.30pm (giving passengers time to transfer from the show to the concert). On many nights there would be a cabaret/variety concert in the Pacific Showroom at 10.30pm, thus if you so wished, you could attend all three events. Nightly dancing was in Harlequins from 930pm. Music would commence in Crows Nest at 9.30pm through to midnight, thus there were ample choices. However, on Aurora it was very different.

First, there were now fewer production shows per week, with the gaps being filled in with cabaret act and concerts, which on Oriana last year would have been additional shown in the Pacific Showroom. The equivalent of Harlequins dance lounge on Oriana is Masquerades on Aurora. This room was empty and unused all day until 10,30pm when the Disco commenced. Thus dancing on Aurora was relegated to the magnificent Carmen’s Showroom. The acts that would normally have been at Carmen’s were now seen at the Curzon Theatre. The nightly production shows in the Theatre commenced at 8.30pm as usual, however, classical concerts performed in the Playhouse commenced at 8.45pm (first sitting), thus, you passengers had to miss one or another. With a large senior presence on the world cruise,like last year, most first went to the show in the Theatre and then up to the Classical concert.

Another entertainment error I felt was the overload of comedians, and the lack of vocalists. Comedians were: John Bell, Don Reid, Hilary O’Neil, which I have to say were very average. The only outstanding comedian was Taffy Spencer who brilliantly used magic as a tool for comedy. He also entertained on Oriana last year, but we happily enjoyed his brilliance once again. The only true vocalists that performed in the Curzon Theatre were the excellent vocal harmony group “Stutz Bear Cats” who were enjoyed by all.

Happily, this year there was at least one new show by the Theatre Production Company, “The Blues Brothers” which was performed in Carmen’s. It was funny, lively, and simply great. See it is not all bad!

The ships orchestra The David Beer Orchestra was excellent; they also performed several times in Crows Nest. Guest bands included – “The Miles Forman Trio” (just OK?) – And the wonderful sounds of “Caravan,” a Pilipino vocal harmony group, who, when let loose out on deck and occasionally in Carmen’s, were a joy to listen and dance to! Both the aforementioned groups entertained at Crows Nest at different night as well as beside the Riviera Pool at lunchtime. The ships pianist was Paul Collins (OK). The only other show was the woeful stage production named “Stepping Out” by Richard Harris (not THE Richard Harris). Anita Harris played the lead. I can honestly say that everyone hated this play which was worse that an amateur production to say the least, any school group could have done better!

Summing up, the entertainment level between San Francisco and Sydney was relatively poor, with exceptions such as the Stutz Bear Cats, Taffy Spencer and Caravan, all of whom made the cruise worthwhile.

Portunus Club

Portunus Club: For the regular cruisers on a P%O ship receive points for each night travelled. This means, if on the lower level (Ruby) you receive 5% of your onboard spending, this increases to 7.5% for a (Sapphire) member then 10% for a Gold) member. Sapphire and Gold members are also invited to special parties and luncheons with all drinks included. Prior to my cruise I received from an Portunus executive with a welcome back onboard the Aurora and it announced that I had gone up one level and would receive the appropriate discount. The letter continued not to book any shore excursions online, as the new discount would not apply until after boarding. However, I was told onboard, by the female “who cares less” Portunus Club assistant, this was not the case. I had indeed gained enough points, but the new level and its additional discounts would not be available until my next cruise. Having showed the letter, which stated differently, she admitted that the letter was “somewhat deceptive.” Mind you, when I emailed the Portunus club re an enquiry a week prior my departure, they came back saying that I was not a member that was regardless having provided my membership number. P&O is far from being efficient!

Conclusion

Obviously, there will be some debate on my thoughts above, but it needs to be understood from the following view point. I have been directly involved in the Passenger shipping industry for 45 years. During that time, I have undertaken 108 voyages/cruises. I have operated a cruise ship in Australia, and now run a number of cruise and maritime sites. Thus, the above is not just a grumbling passenger speaking, but I believe it to be an accurate assessment of the cruise in question. Yes, there were problems and a good number of cutbacks in order to save costs, thanks to Carnival ownership of P&O!

However, it still needs to be said that I enjoyed the cruise immensely. You might say, but you have just listed a number of shortcomings regarding the ship, etc? Yes I have, but a cruise or any vacation is never perfect, a cruise/vacation is what you make it, and my experience on Aurora was delightful! Having our good friends, George and Eileen Walsh at our table was a great plus. Last year we were privileged to have this delightful couple from Wigan in the UK at our dinner table (a table for four). We became instant friends having so much in common. After the cruise we kept in contact and discovered we booked the same cruise out of San Francisco. We arranged to be seated together once again. Together we had a marvellous vacation and did all we wanted to do and more. Having arrived home, we have happy memories, for we turned anything that may have been a negative into the positive. I say it again, a cruise is what you make of it. Life is short, so go and enjoy it!

Bon voyage

Reuben Goossens

INDEX

Page 1 - Main page

Page 2 – Accommodation

Page 3 – Navigation and Sun decks

Page 4 – Lido deck

Page 5 – Devanha deck

Page 6 – Promenade deck

Page 7 – Ellora deck

Page 8 – Formosa Deck & the Atrium

Page 9 – Final comments

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