Aurora Review

November sun aboard the Aurora

Review for Spain Cruise on Aurora
User Avatar
SkySailer
2-5 Cruises • Age 70s

Rating by category

Value for Money
Embarkation
Dining
Public Rooms
Entertainment
Fitness & Recreation
Service
Cabin

Additional details

Sail Date: Nov 2014
Cabin: Balcony Stateroom with Bath/Shower

As this was the last scheduled cruise by the Aurora before its well-publicised re-fit, we did wonder if standards might be expected to slip, but our fears were groundless. This was our third cruise but we have never been with P&O before, and the convenience of boarding at Southampton meant no flights and therefore no weight restrictions on baggage. Paying the cheap rate for P&O cabins means you don't get a guaranteed car parking slot on the dockside, so we did the next best thing and booked with Alternative Cruise Parking (ACP). That was also a good move, since mini-bus transfers to and from the ship are included in the price, and the staff there were extremely friendly and helpful.

Both embarkation and disembarkation procedures at the Ocean Terminal in Southampton worked flawlessly and we had virtually no delay for queues either getting on or off the ship. That was another big plus for us, having previously suffered chaos and long delays with MSC at Genoa.

We booked a balcony cabin on deck 12 (Lido deck) which is on the same level as the bridge, and by chance were allocated a cabin on the port side just two windows behind the bridge itself. It was clean and tidy, and everything that we had expected. The bed in particular was much bigger than the one we have at home, and has set my wife off on another shopping hunt for a new one, but that's another story. The balcony was the type with a framed opening rather than floor-to-ceiling view, which was quite good on some days for minimising the spray from the Bay of Biscay! Even so, the two wooden chairs and little coffee table out there did tend to get wet overnight, and we got into the habit of stashing the seat cushions vertically against the forward wall so they didn't get splashed.

Cabin Review

Balcony Stateroom with Bath/Shower

Cabin IB

This is a balcony cabin on deck 12 (Lido deck) which is on the same level as the bridge and just behind it. Clean and tidy, and everything that we had expected. The bed in particular was much bigger than the one we have at home, and has set my wife off on another shopping hunt for a new one, but that's another story. The balcony was the type with a framed opening rather than floor-to-ceiling view, which was quite good on some days for minimising the spray from the Bay of Biscay! Even so, the two wooden chairs and little coffee table out there did tend to get wet overnight, and we got into the habit of stashing the seat cushions vertically against the forward wall so they didn't get splashed.

1 Helpful Vote
previous reviewnext review

Find an Aurora Cruise

Any Month

Get special cruise deals, expert advice, insider tips and more.By proceeding, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

© 1995—2024, The Independent Traveler, Inc.