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Aurora

Arcadia

Good apart from the food

Kusadasi

We booked on this itinerary for 2020 but we all know what happened then! We last sailed to eastern seaboard of Canada and the USA in 2005 on QE2 and thoroughly enjoyed it but our travelling companions preferred to stick to the Canada-only option (Arcadia was doing the Canada/USA itinerary this year). It was a major improvement on our 2005 experience as we got the colours of the 'Fall' just right, they were truly beautiful. 

Aurora is our favourite ship and, despite a Covid-ridden cruise to the Caribbean in March this year, our love for her has not diminished. There were only 1170 passengers aboard which made the ship very spacious and the impact of Covid was minimal to our knowledge and seldom mentioned. Pre-cruise and on-board testing were sensible requirements and wearing masks inside the ship and when on tour for most of the voyage was not an imposition.  And people were very compliant which made for a good atmosphere aboard.  

We love sea days and for most of the voyage the weather was remarkably good. Unfortunately, Hurricane Fiona caused difficulties in the first part of the cruise, both in the damage it caused to several of the Canadian ports on the itinerary as well as the requirement for the captain to take a wide detour to avoid it. As a result, Quebec ended up as the first port of call, nine and a half sea days after leaving Southampton, but we were able to spend an extra half day in this lovely city as a result. Corner Brook was added to the itinerary to substitute for St John's, Gaspe and Charlottetown and the contrast between the mixture of big and small ports was both interesting and refreshing. 

Entertainment was lavish with an excellent Headliners company aboard and a wide range of comedians, musicians, singers etc to suit all tastes. The guest speakers were good too although scheduling on the voyage home meant that they were often on at inconvenient times - and one speaker only managed to give the first of a pair of presentations on his schedule. 

Unfortunately, a number of regular features of a pre-pandemic P&O cruise were absent. It appears that the welcome aboard cocktail parties have gone (only the missing Peninsular Club party was acknowledged with a drink voucher), Nibbles have gone from the bars (and evening canapes in Anderson's), formal afternoon tea is no longer featured, the crew show is no more, and the White Company skin care lotions have gone from cabins. The evening cabin turn-down service has gone but was generally not missed and is frankly unnecessary. No doubt the room stewards can be more profitably used elsewhere. The 'My Holiday App' was useful on Aurora for tracking on-board spend and for booking excursions though there were inconsistences in how it worked for restaurant reservations. A pity too that printed excursion brochures and port guides have inevitably gone online.  In contrast with some of the boutique cruise companies, the in-cabin entertainment system was very outdated - talks and shows could not be seen live, or very easily at all on 'catch up'. Satellite TV reception was better than we've experienced in the past but the 56 TV and Radio channels almost constantly accessible on a recent Greenland cruise on another company's ship represented a far superior product. But Aurora remains a very habitable and comfortable ship, the crew are as lovely as ever and, if you can tolerate the lack of trimmings (essentials?) that are now widely available elsewhere, she provides a lovely cruising experience

So, we enjoyed an excellent cruise. Unfortunately, a medical issue on our final morning rather took the shine off it but we were very impressed by the intervention of the P&O Care Team who contacted us out of the blue and provided a lot of post-cruise help and reassurance. We never knew they existed but were very impressed - well done P&O!

Dodging Hurricanes to Canada

After the disappointment of Aurora in March, It was with mixed feelings that I returned for her cruise to Canada this autumn.

But on the whole I needn’t have worried. Aurora has rediscovered what first attracted me to the ship ten years ago -  the friendly atmosphere of a smaller ship, waiters and bar tenders who within days had learned what I wanted even before I did, a range of interesting daytime activities to keep me occupied during the Atlantic crossing, and cleaning standards that were a credit to my cabin steward and to the housekeeping team who kept the public areas so spruce.

Dinner is an important part of a cruise holiday and standards in the main dining rooms were high even if the menus were a bit samey with beef in all its forms and salmon making regular appearances. I prefer something different. My sea bass and lemon sole were excellent, ditto the liver and bacon, but if variety is the spice of life why not a crew curry occasionally? As for desserts, full marks for the lemon posset. On formal evenings, I had no complaints: the lobster was grilled perfectly - moist, hot and tasty.

So far so good, but cruise holidays are not the same as they were and for those returning after two years of Covid, the changes might surprise. In the name of Covid Protocols, drinks’ parties are no more, pillow chocolates have disappeared, senior officers are rarely spotted, and . . . well, the list goes on. As this was a cruise to Canada, the Covid régime was rigorous. We had an observed test before boarding, two more during the cruise and masks were compulsory.

(Interestingly my next cruise - to the Mediterranean - was very different. The protocols had virtually disappeared with no testing, no masks - even for crew, and a return to significantly higher passenger numbers . . . but still no drinks parties, no turndown service and very little sign of officers, with the honourable exception of the Hotel General Manager. So progress of a sort.)

But back to Canada. The Atlantic crossing was calm until we caught the tail end of Hurricane Fiona and faced a couple of days of choppy seas with plates and cutlery swept to the floor on one memorable occasion. A couple of ports were abandoned due to storm damage and we diverted to alternatives like Corner Brook, Newfoundland, a one-horse town if ever there was one. However there was some consolation. We stayed an extra night in Quebec and if you’ve never been, I can recommend it for its history, elegance and culture. We arranged a free guided tour to the province’s parliament - visit the Tourist Office in the main square for details of times - and listened to part of a civilised debate. All very different from Westminster.

We were too early for vivid autumnal displays but nevertheless the scenery along the St Lawrence was beautiful and at every port, whether a large city like Halifax or in small town Saguenay, I was impressed with the warm welcomes from everybody we met.

There were a lot of sea days and I enjoy them, although they’re not to everyone’s taste. But what can you expect if you’ve booked two Atlantic crossings?  The watercolour art classes met morning and afternoons and our teacher, Cathy Gordon, inspired us with her ideas and infectious enthusiasm. There were also craft and bridge classes, whist afternoons, more than enough quizzes and gym workouts for the masochists. In the evenings the Headliners worked vigorously to entertain whilst the cinema offered films that were mainly mediocre, although the latest Downton movie proved popular. 

P&O assembled some excellent speakers, all of them having solid stories to tell and all of them making you want to return for more. Geoff Hughes, a former governor at HMP Belmarsh, was given the graveyard slot of 09.45 yet each morning the theatre was full. His accounts of not only life in a high security jail but also about prison regimes around the world gave pause for thought as well as cause for laughter. If you enjoyed watching David Jason in a Touch of Frost you would have liked another of the speakers: his sergeant, actor John Lyons. He held the audience in the palm of his hand with anecdotes about life on stage and screen.

Most cruisers accept that Aurora is the last of a dying breed for P&O. With fewer than 1200 guests the ship felt even more intimate and that’s no bad thing. Would I book another cruise? Well, Aurora may not have the razzmatazz of the giants of the sea, but it has heart. And It doesn’t have children. So no question, I’m already looking at Aurora for 2025.

(David George worked as a journalist for BBC Radio before retirement and now writes about cruise ships. He has also published European city guides.)

Getting There

We were first time P&O passengers on the Aurora although we have sailed with other companies. What follows is our experience and is intended to review but also to answer questions other new P&Oers might have. Every cruise is unique and two people on the same ship at the same time can have a very different experience. So, if I have said something you do not agree with or dislike, please just accept that what is written is our experience and not a dig at P&O.

Arrival, Departure and Return

Dropping off our car with CPS at Southampton and then checking in was quite easy, particularly so if you have sorted out the numerous sheets of paperwork and proofs which P&O demand you have into some sort of order. Boarding was done by scheduled time of arrival and also loyalty tier level so if you have no tier, you board last (for us about a 30 minute wait). Two of our bags arrived outside the cabin quite quickly, the third after we had set sail (we had a GPS tracker in it so we knew that it was onboard). 

Everything on the P&O website (manage my booking etc) did what it was supposed to do during the pre-trip period although we had trouble downloading the port guides. The closer to the departure date we got, the more texts and emails we received including one, when we were 30 minutes away from the port, telling us not to forget our passports and had we had an observed COVID test? We did the Zoom version of the observed LFT COVID test with Prenetics and it worked well other than some difficulty in getting the results into their system (their email-help sorted it out very quickly). We shall use them again.

Disembarkation: Bags had to be put outside the cabin on our last evening by 2200; you can pre-register: to disembark in a specific time slot; for early self-disembarkation from 0715; for mobility assisted (MA) disembarkation; or just wait to be told your time slot. We were told to be out of the cabin by 0800 and departure assistance would be available between 0830 and 0930. There were problems with staff to manage disembarking in a timely way – we had to wait 1 ½ hrs to get off the ship. We returned to a different terminal to departure but our car had been moved by CPS and was at the new terminal.

The Ship

Although over 20 years old, it was clean and tidy. Creaked a bit (but so do I) and almost everything worked. Ship about 2/3rd full. Lifts generally worked well and rarely were over crowded. Most internal doors were either open or automatic or easy to open. Library open and book choice reasonable for a cruise ship although some of the Guide Books were over 20 years old. Laundrettes were open on 3 decks 8 am to 10 pm (wash cycle about 45 minutes, bring your own washing powder, queues very common but quieter in the evening). Ship overall very quiet and little noise heard from people power walking on the Promenade Deck (3.2 laps equals one mile) above our cabin. We crossed the Atlantic both ways and got extra time in bed most days on the way out and less on the way back. We used the ships’ £15 per day WIFI occasionally (plus free WIFI whenever we were somewhere offering it) and we were surprised at how good it usually was.

Cabin

Cabin tidy and clean on arrival, no dressing gowns provided nor flannels nor body lotion (there was soap and body wash in tubs attached to the shower wall). You can ask for flannels but not dressing gowns (available to purchase - £40 for two). The cabin was serviced once a day and not properly vacuumed at all during the cruise nor was the shower room floor washed. It was possible to hear the people in the next-door cabins when they sneezed. Beds only relatively comfortable, sheets tired and ill-fitting and changed once during our 24 days. Towels changed most days.

There was a fridge, kettle (Nescafe, Typhoo, long life sachet milk and fresh supplies once a day), a hair dryer, lots of wardrobe space and plenty of coat hangers, (but no trousers hangers), many drawers (I was told 13) and a small safe. Suitcases slid under the bed quite easily. No water provided other than two cans on the first day but cabin tap water was ok to drink. Cabin TV quality so poor that watching anything was a waste of time. This was not a satellite thing because when TV shown in the main theatre, the quality was superb. Shower pressure very weak but hot and controllable. 3 single standard UK 3 pin sockets in the cabin (plus one behind the TV) - experienced passengers brought a multi-block with them. Aircon / heating worked ok. Hairdryer attached to the wall. Other than the shower pressure and the TV, we have no complaints about our cabin – as good as many others we have experienced.

Food and Drink

Food quality varied from excellent to quite poor, often food was not hot enough but served on very hot plates. At its best, it was what you would expect from a good cruise kitchen (ignoring food temperature) and at its worst, it was poor canteen standard.

Specialist needs (Veggie / Vegan / GF) were sometimes very badly catered for, quite often with a disappointing lack of choice. At some lunches in Horizon (Deck 12), there was no hot protein dish available - it had all been eaten or looked too unappetising / stale. One evening in the Medina Restaurant I had to refuse my veggie dinner (to the embarrassment of our waiter who seemed to feel personally responsible) it being so poor in content and quality – an action supported by another veggie on the table. Occasionally, the veggie offer was superb (although a bit cold). In-Cabin breakfast choices quite restricted – nothing hot (including no fresh tea / coffee), no boiled eggs or paninis or toast (few people seem to use this option). It was not uncommon for cabin service trays to sit uncollected on corridor floors for most of the day. In summary, food quality was very variable and unpredictable. We heard that the kitchen was short staffed and that some supplies had run out.

Freedom dining worked very well and the app was very good and useful for getting a table (wait usually less than five minutes) and for keeping track of our account. We enjoyed meeting new people at every dinner although we could have requested a table for 2 if we wanted to. Two black ties every week, for the first we were given a voucher for a free drink and the captain addressed us from The Bridge. Generally, front of house staff very willing and helpful but they often said “sorry, the kitchen is slow at the moment” as a reason for service speed being very very slow (a few times 30mins+ between courses). Bar prices very reasonable. Drink package overpriced at £39.95 per person per day. Every experienced P&Oer we spoke to said that food quality and service had dropped since they last cruised with P&O.

Activities and Entertainment

The next day’s programme sheet came about 1800 (nice and early) and a daily world news sheet arrived at breakfast time. A good variety of lectures with new lecturers joining the ship during the cruise. Lots of craft classes and numerous other activities on offer (spoilt for choice) but no “port talks” (Port information on the P&O website concentrated on restaurants and shops rather than the more usual information, no port maps available from Reception). Entertainment (again new performers joined the ship during the cruise) ranged from very good to ok to consistently out of tune. Overall, quite entertaining, something for everyone and far better than other ships we have been on.

Sight lines in the Curzon Theatre very good apart from a very few seats near the pillar on either side. A good amount of disabled seating spaces clearly marked but quite a steep ramp to get up in order to get into the theatre. Because the ship was only 2/3rds full, we were told we did not have to book for anything.

Ports of Call

We encountered Tropical Storm (ex Hurricane) Fiona as we approached Newfoundland. Consequently, we diverted to avoid the worst effects resulting in 10 days at sea before we got to Quebec for a slightly extended stay. Whilst the sea was quite rough and lively for a long time, to us the ship seemed very stable and we felt no sea sickness. Three ports were cancelled and there was one substitution. 

Support for the mobility impaired

We had an adapted cabin which had an automatic door wider than the standard cabin. It also was slightly larger to provide manoeuvring space. We were able to store a manual wheelchair and a walker with no problems. We had the beds arranged as a double but those cabins I saw with them arranged as two singles seemed to make better use of the space. The shower room door was manual, plenty of grab rails inside and a bench to sit on in the large shower area (plastic curtain around). The sink was fixed and all cabin furniture seemed to be standard rather than mobility adapted. Most corridors were slightly too narrow for a small width wheelchair to pass a cabin steward’s trolley. Quite a few passengers had electric mobility scooters stored in their cabins.

Around the ship, staff were very helpful. The booking app let you notify the restaurant that a wheelchair space was required for a meal. There were a few steep slopes here and there and due to the ship’s old design, it was not always possible to get from one end of a deck to the other without going up or down a deck. There were plenty of Disabled Toilets scattered around the ship (usually automatic doors) and always clean

Some ports had very steep gangways due to the tides. Four staff usually assisted wheelchair bound passengers to go up or down these gangways, and whilst willing, they had little idea about how to maintain passenger dignity during this process (we saw some being manhandled without sensitivity in front of other passengers) or how to navigate wheelchairs over bumps and slopes both smoothly and safely – “push hard and shove” seemed to be their method.

All trips are given an activity rating and we found these to be reasonably accurate. Some coaches had trouble storing a wheelchair (even when folded) but staff usually found a solution. Reserved places were usually indicated at the front of coaches for Mobility Impaired travellers. Electric scooters would be very difficult to get onto some of the coaches used. Overall however, we felt that it was relatively easy for the mobility impaired to have a comfortable holiday on the ship. Almost all our fellow passengers soon got into the habit of holding lift doors and allowing for manoeuvring space etc for which we were very grateful.

COVID

Compulsory COVID testing efficiently carried out twice during the first week – do not know if this was a destination requirement or P&O being careful – either way very welcome. Lots of hand sanitizer scattered around the ship. Wearing facemasks around the ship compulsory for the first 3 weeks and encouraged once we had left Canada (no mask wearing anywhere by Canadians), spare masks available if you asked. Everyone had their “when I had COVID / on my last cruise ……” stories. Moral seems to be to bring plenty to do with you just in case you get it and are confined to your cabin. Those who had been confined on earlier trips spoke well of their food / drink / internet support. P&O would not tell us how many +ve COVID cases there were on board “for confidentiality reasons” (but it was not rampant) and a nurse tried to justify this by saying that “even we do not know”– an unnecessary withholding of information created wild rumours and led to resentment at the compulsory wearing of facemasks when walking around but not when close to each other at meal times or in drinking etc.

Summary

Quite enjoyable but cost cutting seems to have damaged aspects of the quality, glamour and luxury of the product. The long-time P&Oers we spoke to were (without exception) not short of comments beginning “we used to get………, quality standards have really dropped…….., etc” however there was a lot of brand loyalty remaining. Will P&O remain in the small ship adult market? Loyal P&Oers thought not. Would we travel with P&O again? Probably yes (but only on a small ship), however we do enjoy the quality, glamour, luxury and attention to detail which now seems to be missing.

From jellybean homes in Newfoundland to soaring skyscrapers in New York and from the colours of a New England autumn to blueberry pie and cream in Kennebunkport Maine, this is a cruise that ticks all the boxes.

THE SHIP

Service across Aurora was first class. With no waiting around in airports and a speedy check-in at Southampton, it’s no wonder cruise holidays are so popular. Once I had stowed my cases under the bed, I could relax into the cruise and be waited on hand and foot. Pure luxury!

Aurora is one of P&O’s mid-size ships with about 2,000 passengers and more than enough crew to make sure every need is cheerfully met. Crossing the Atlantic was a breeze. A guest speaker in the theatre followed art classes each morning and then it was a time for a Costa coffee in Raffles on Deck 8. Afterwards a stroll along the Promenade deck (where three circuits equates to a mile) before heading to lunch, either in Medina (Deck 6) for waiter service or in Horizon on the Lido deck.

Food is a cruise highlight and within three days I was putting on weight. Action this day! I spent an hour in the gym most afternoons before playing cards and then ruined things with afternoon tea. Time flies by and, after a pre-dinner drink in Anderson’s (Deck 7), it was time to head to the main restaurant for dinner.

The Executive Chef inspired his team to create many memorable meals. The range of fish was impressive and the barramundi, lobster tails and sea trout had excellent flavour. But then so did the sirloin steaks, calves’ liver and lamb shanks. Before you ask, yes I enjoyed the desserts as well – there were always exquisite gateaux on offer but traditional puddings like bread and butter pudding went down equally well. 

Next stop, an early quiz perhaps or on to the Curzon theatre for a show. The Headliners presented a range of productions including new ones for me, like ‘Applause!’ but older ones such as ‘Destination Dance’ were performed with so much energy that I was happy to see them again. 

Comedians, singers, instrumentalists and jugglers took to the stage when the Headliners were resting and in the Playhouse cinema recent releases like The Green Book and Yesterday passed a pleasant couple of hours. 

My sea view cabin was on Deck 8, handy both for Raffles and for the cinema. It was compact but supremely comfortable and my steward, Filipina, worked hard to keep it spick and span. She even found time to chat about my days ashore before rushing to her next cabin.

Others in Aurora’s team were just as impressive. Robin John in Utility Housekeeping is one of the many who work through the night to keep public areas sparkling. These young crew members work hard yet Robin cheerfully gave up his time to respond to my request for a length of string I needed in art class – within minutes he had found some for me. Five star service too in the Spa where Dilpreet gave me not only an excellent haircut (just £10 on some port days) but also useful tips for planning a visit to India. 

Meanwhile, in the restaurants, I will remember Judith – a member of the management team – for her broad smile and commitment to ensuring that service was as it should be. It was, and waiters like Hanif, Marcelino, Costa and Roswin were key players in delivering those high standards. With so many positives, no surprise that the Loyalty & Future Cruises desk on Deck 5 was busy. If senior loyalty manager Hope Lyttle wasn’t keeping waiting time to a minimum, she could be seen around the ship, hosting loyalty lunches and welcoming us to Peninsular drinks’ parties. 

THE PORTS 

St John’s, capital of Newfoundland, our first port after crossing the Atlantic, has a long history. It was here that Marconi received the first transatlantic wireless message in 1901 and in his honour we marked his achievement by hiking up Signal Hill to log on and catch up on messages from home. The city is also famous for its colourful jellybean homes, their clapboard facings painted in pastel shades. Like Bar Harbor later and indeed every other coastal town, the locals provided warm welcomes and insights into different cultures.

Hurricane Dorian was heading north as we were preparing to sail south from Canada and Captain Neil Turnbull decided in the interests of our comfort and safety that he would take Aurora back into the Atlantic, away from the storm, and return to the eastern seaboard when Dorian had passed by. Although it meant we missed a port, his decision was appreciated.

We were rewarded for our patience when we reached Charlottetown. Immaculately trimmed verges, trees fringed with the reds of early autumn and some beautiful churches including the Basilica of St Dunstan made this a town to be savoured. Famed for its links with Anne of Green Gables, the ship’s excursions were soon fully booked.

In Boston we faced US Immigration, often a grim affair. But not here. The face-to-face process took place on board with minimal queuing. And, wait for it, the US officials smiled and were charming. Once through, the American dream became reality.

In Newport, Rhode Island, the Cliff Walk provided glimpses of mansions, some open to the public, that date back to pre-war times when Newport was a playground for the rich. Further south, Kennebunkport near Portland, Maine, was just as memorable. This is the summer home of the Bush family dynasty and a very classy place it is too, with boutique shops and quiet side streets lined with cafés and foodstores. There we found the ideal spot to test the Blueberry pie and I can confirm that it is delicious, although perhaps I could have done with a smaller slice. In America, I decided, everything is big.

New York City was the half way point of the cruise and we had three days to explore. The berth couldn’t have been better, just a 25 minute walk from 42nd Street. Even closer was Hudson Yards where, if you pre-book free tickets online, you can climb to the top of the city’s latest landmark attraction, the Vessel. 

Once we became used to the grid system of streets, we were quite blasé about stepping out at night to explore Manhattan and enjoy a beer. We even used the subway to visit the Twin Towers Memorial and yet again, the friendliness of the station staff in helping us to navigate the system was impressive. Quite a few passengers took advantage of Broadway to see a show, benefitting from cheaper seats available at registered ticket agencies. 

The famous yellow cabs were everywhere and happy at night to return passengers to the terminal. But one piece of advice – agree the fare in advance and do not assume that your driver will know the route. They are not like London cabbies although they do share an ability to talk the hind leg off a donkey.

WORTH BOOKING?

I loved this cruise. Officers and crew were united in providing us with the very best service and even the weather was kind. No surprise, then, that I have re-booked. Next year it will be Canada and the year after, the United States. If this cruise isn’t already on your bucket list, it deserves to be. 

.......................

(Self-confessed cruise addict David George worked in BBC radio news before his retirement and now writes European city guides and cruise blogs.)

The American Dream

We loved the itinerary therefore we decided to book this 24 day cruise. The embarkation was quite muddled on arrival to the ship however we were allowed in our cabins quite early. Our mini suite was very spacious but also very tired and the bathroom had paint peeling from the twin hand basins and the bath ( which we never used). Our steward was Savior who was so professional and also very caring and helpful. 

We have cruised many times before but this was our first time on Aurora. We didn't like the layout because for example, if there was no table available in the Medina restaurant and you were given a charger, you then had to take a lift up one floor and order a drink in a very full Anderson's bar. By the time our aperitifs were served our chargers inevitably bleeped. Very frustrating!

Due to the long journey and inclement weather we relied on the ship's entertainment to keep us amused. We enjoyed the many talks particularly the Orka ladies, Terry Brown and Gervais Phinn. There was lots of classes and activities to suit all. The Medina restaurant was always crowded, however we did enjoy the food more so on this cruise. The Glass House and Beach House were delightful however Sindhu was quite dull with no atmosphere. The staff can be a little rude by interrupting table conversation to describe the dish being presented to us. They should be more polite! 

But joy of all joys, sailing into New York for the first time was amazing. We docked by 45th Street and from our balcony we were right beside an aviation science museum which was an out of service aircraft carrier. Right in front of us in all it's glory was Concorde. New York was busy, as Trump was in town, so some roads were closed for security which impacted on our 'Highlights of New York' excursion. 

The other destinations were very enjoyable, particularly Boston, Bar Harbour, Halifax & Quebec. We enjoyed a Lobster bake in Bar Harbour, however it was 11.20am in the morning following our drive around a national park. The Cabot Trail in Halifax was delightful with lovely scenery and a charming town called Badecker to meander round and shop for an hour. We also enjoyed the Sugar Shack in Quebec. It was a lovely drive through fantastic fall scenery  which ended up in a clearing on a maple syrup farm. The owner was charming and also spoke good English. We were fed with apple pie and maple syrup and then we moved into another shack for a talk on the history of farming Maple juice. They also had a small shop in this building which was much more reasonable than Quebec. All in all there were lots of enjoyable things about this cruise however the ship is long overdue for a refit.

Great Destinations, Rough Seas!

We have just returned from a 24 night round trip cruise from Southampton to the USA and Canada which, although it was our 16th P&O cruise and our 5th on Aurora, was the longest cruise we have ever done. Overall, it was a very enjoyable cruise, but rather than review each of the 24 days, I have summarised the good points and not so good points, from our perspective. 

GOOD POINTS

Good and varied itinerary, with New York, Quebec and our tour to Kennebunkport being the highlights. 

Aurora is a lovely traditional cruise ship, which attracts a passenger profile that suits us. Average passenger age on this cruise was 73. 

Approaching New York from the sea is a ‘must do’ experience that you will never forget. Berthing in the Manhattan Cruise terminal, with all the main sights within easy walking distance, was superb and ‘one up’ on Cunard, whose QM2 was berthed over in Brooklyn. 

The main dining room food was almost always a very good standard. 

Service and food in the Glasshouse was excellent and it was always quiet in there, which suits us. 

Although the Sindhu on Aurora is the only one in the P&O fleet that we don’t like - and our one evening meal there was underwhelming - we did enjoy the Tiffin Lunch there. The staff never smile though and don’t seem to enjoy their work - the complete opposite to the Glasshouse team. 

Port presenter Sam was first class. Exemplary knowledge and detail, all delivered from memory. 

Jeffrey Holland’s one man play about Laurel and Hardy was the best performance we have seen on any P&O cruise and a real step up from the holiday camp style entertainment that usually prevails. Quite ironic, given that he is best know for being in Hi-di-Hi. 

Having ORCA whale and dolphin watches and talks was a very welcome addition to the cruise. We also managed to see Sei Whales, Beluga Whales, Atlantic White Sided Dolphins and porpoises at sea, as well as a Bald Eagle and Chipmunk ashore. 

‘String & Tonic’, Gervase Phinn, Jeffery Holland, James Pearce and Andrew Killian were all excellent guest lecturers or artists. 

NOT SO GOOD POINTS

Twelve sea days in mostly force 8 to 10 weather is tiresome, and we wouldn’t do another transatlantic by sea unless there were stops both ways. 

We have discovered that 24 nights is too long a cruise for us, especially with lots of sea days which become repetitive. Our optimum cruise length is now minimum one and maximum three weeks. At least we now know that we would never want to do a World Cruise!

A number of passengers came on the ship with coughs and colds and this spread quite extensively. By the end of the cruise, it was almost impossible not to end up sitting near someone who was either coughing, blowing their nose or both. 

We would have loved the interactive HD TV’s of Britannia, with on demand movies, to help while away the sea days. The old fashioned TV’s on Aurora are rubbish in comparison. 

Service standards in the Medina Restaurant had slipped from previous cruises on Aurora. Service was too quick at times, with one course immediately following the next with no break in-between. Although you are allowed to enter the Freedom Dining restaurant as late as 9.30pm, they start dimming the lights briefly just at around 10pm to try to hurry guests up, which was unacceptable. 

Missing a port is always a great shame and we missed Newport Rhode Island. 

Sound insulation between cabins is very poor. We were disturbed by the people above us pacing up and down in a very heavy footed manner at all hours, which sounded like thunder from below thanks to the metal ceiling.

Captain Pembridge insists on doing all 5 of the return transatlantic clock changes at night, which went down badly with passengers, many of whom were used to them being done at lunchtime. The crew that we asked prefer the time changes at lunchtime as well. There should be a P&O policy on this and it shouldn’t be at the whim of individual Captains. 

Some guest lecturers were scheduled to give talks over lunchtime, which was poor planning. 

Terry Brown, former police officer, was very engaging but his talks on the outward journey lacked substance, were rambling, repetitive and never really got to the point.

USA & Canada Adventure

Had never been to US ........ we have come to cruising quite late.......never thought it would be for us but we have loved those we have done (Baltic, Eastern Med and now this to NY and up as far as Quebec)  

I read another review about this trip and would disagree on a number of points.

We always travel steerage!  Always an inside cabin, because if rough at sea, I do not wish to see this.  We only use our cabin to sleep and to shower.  We had a larger inside cabin, midships, which was fine.......we enjoy space and all home comforts at home!!  We all enjoy the same food, use the same linen and share the same amenities.  Another reviewer did not enjoy the days at sea...........we loved them.......there are so many activities from which to choose! 

A typical day following breakfast, we'd take advantage of an hour in the gym with a trained fitness instructor, then a quick drink in the Horizon restaurant, then enjoy an hour with a guest speaker,  civilised lunch in Medina restaurant......then we'd maybe read for an hour up in the crows nest......before another group activity, perhaps a classical recital before high tea in the Medina restaurant (usually only for a drink)  then it is time to prepare for dinner and a show........and if up to it, you could then take in a film in the excellent cinema.  

I don't know how the other reviewer could have found the time boring......we were spoilt for choice.......I could equally have enjoyed line dancing, ballroom, choir and the painting group and other things but couldn't fit it all in.

Something which we found particularly enjoyable, in contrast to the other reviewer, were Terry Brown's talks and even more his murder mystery adventure over several days..... which took a lot of planning ......this was very much enjoyed by those who joined in the fun.

We choose freedom dining........we enjoyed the company of new people at each meal, the food was excellent (though some of the puddings didn't quite work!!) but if something isn't good,  it will be changed without question .......staff were efficient, professional and charming.

And I haven'r mentioned the places we visited.........we were disappointed that the Rhode Island trip had to be cancelled due to severe weather conditions, but I'd rather be safe.

We booked many excusions.....you pay your money and make your own choice.......one outing was not good,  we gave feedback to the appropriate representative on ship and it was put right.

We liked this smaller ship and have booked our next cruise on her....we love the ease of the car parking service......the ship will have another refit before we use her again..... hopefully the windows which have blown will have been replaced along with the once high-end soft furnishings in public areas which are now looking very tired.

We loved it!

We chose this cruise for the destinations, we have done lots of cruises but never cruised with P&O before but have friends who have so were going on their recommendations. The embarkation was very efficient at the Mayflower cruise terminal. When we entered the ship we were just directed in the vague direction of the lifts, unlike other cruise experiences where we have been shown to our cabin by cabin stewards. When we arrived at our cabin it was not very clean, dusty and there were hairs in the bath uggh. The 2nd morning the toilet flush failed, it took 3 phone calls and over 1hour to get a response and then it failed again the next day. The service in the Alexandra restaurant was at times very slow, the menu was repetative and some very strange items ie; salt&vinegar icecream, liquorice jelly (I didnt dare to try).

I found this the most confusing ship to find my way around in some cases to get from front to back you had to go up a floor walk through to the next lift and then go back down. I much prefer the other ships/cruise lines I have travelled on, Fred Olsen all thier ships and Cunard Queen Elizabeth I will be cruising with them in the future but definately not P&O.

I did however enjoy the ports we stopped at with exception of New York which was the most unwelcoming cruise terminal I have ever visited, its just a wharehouse type shed, no information of help desk. When we were walking back to the ship after an evening trip there were bags of rubbish everywhere and rats running in and out of the bushes.

We had some very good excursions in each of the ports, I think one of the best was the Sugar Shack in Quebec it was a fun night out and the last port on our cruise.

Loved the ports but not the ship/service on board

Welcome to P&O - now owned by Carnival Cruise Line.We chose this Cruise for the Itinerary and The Fall.Sadly we ended up seeing only 6 ports of call out of 9. We missed Rhode Island ,Aurora then broke down at Portland Maine and missed out on Bar Harbour(we think priority given to The Queen Mary)so had to put up with Michelle Obama stopping one getting on and off the ship in Portland on our second day in Port.Then missed out on St John's New Foundland.Most passengers were angry on board and feel cheated by P&O.

Aurora has been a pain since she has been launch and now requires a full refurbishment !? I think she should be scrapped like Canberra !! Don't recommend P&0 to anyone after this Cruise and a nightmare World Cruise on Oriana.The company has gone to the dogs and we now have pigs in the trough in the Orangery.Yes ! Fat passengers who don't know how to behave.Welcome to Butlins on Sea .

A waste of money and time and feel Fred Olsen Line have more to offer and smaller ships,to get into various ports like Bar Harbour etc ! Big ships on this Itinerary with tenders no good.

Cruise from Hell !!

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