Back At Sea

We heading off on Aurora on a mini cruise break.  A real shame it was only for three days, but three days was better than nothing!

We hit the queues for check-in but at least they were moving quickly.  First moan logged after 5 minutes (you wouldn’t get this [the queuing] with Celebrity!) and by one o’clock we’d boarded via the staff security entrance so we avoided the photographers!! Before we knew it, we were on board and having lunch in the Orangery.

Once we’d finished lunch, the cabins were ready so headed down to check ours out. We’d booked a Deluxe Balcony Cabin on Britannia deck – Cabin B219. We were really impressed as it was probably more spacious than the mini suite we’d had on Oceana earlier this year (and more storage space too!). There was a large sofa bed for Callum, a decent size balcony with two chairs and a little table. Storage-wise, there was a very large wardrobe, a large chest of drawers plus other cupboards/draws in the cabin too. It really does feel very spacious.

The others had all booked outside cabins and these had a lovely big picture window and were really light. We had a bit of time on our hands before muster drill so took Callum down to Toy Box. It was just as we remembered it – very spacious and really light and airy. Callum also explored Jumping Jacks and loved the ball pit there. Mind you, Jon preferred the PS games and Aly & Nic, the colouring in!! Another couple and their daughter were also in Jumping Jacks – strange co-incidence that their daughter had come down with chicken pox on their last cruise on Ocean Village which confined her to cabin for 4 days – they were only on board for 1 week though!

Next stop was muster drill to learn what we need to do if anything goes wrong – our muster station was in The Playhouse (the cinema) and it was impressive – we never used this facility on the last cruise, but hopefully will on our next.   Our lifejackets duly fitted and straight after Muster drill, it was time for sail away and the obligatory glass of bubbly was quaffed as we sailed down the Solent towards the Isle of Wight.

From here, it was kids briefing. Callum got another little rucksack to add to his collection and won a magnetic noughts and crosses game in the raffle.  Then it was time for kids tea – Callum must have been hungry as he ate loads – fish finger, sausage, Yorkshire pud, carrots, peas, spaghetti hoops, a small handful of chips and a boiled potato. This was followed by a cake and a biscuit and a couple of spoonfuls of jelly.

Callum finally got to play in Toy Box at 6.15pm which left us just enough time to get showered, changed and meet up with the others in Raffles for a pre-dinner drink.

We were dining in The Medina Restaurant, table 76 which was next to a window (not that we could see an awful lot at by 8.30pm it was well and truly dark). The first meal was lovely. I had Carpaccio of Duck with an apple and walnut salad whilst all the others had risotto. It was a tough choice to make between mushroom soup or beef consommé, I choose the former, Jon the latter. For mains, Jon tried the Poachers Pie (partridge & venison) whilst I opted for salmon. The white choc and raspberry soufflé was far too tempting for Ray and I to resist whilst Jon and Nic opted for cheese & biscuits.

We had to pick Callum up from Toy Box at 10.30 and only just made it as dinner was overrunning and transferred him into the Night Nursery. This meant we got to see the Headliners perform their Queen Tribute act – “We are the Champions”. We were pleasantly surprised by the performance – especially from the Peter Andre look-a-like. We collected Callum from night nursery at 0.45am … although we also lost an hours sleep as the clocks were moved forward.

First stop Zeebrugge and the delights of Brugge await.