1 Week on board P&O Aurora Cruising Spain & France (part 3 of 3)

[@TravelBlogJamie]

It’s our finale! But do we go out on a high?

[@annfox2854]

I had a stop in La Rochelle a few years ago. Loved it, beautiful place. Walked around for hours. The town hall is a must see

[@breadyegg]

It looks like walking through a living postcard!

[@TravelBlogJamie]

❤️❤️❤️

[@davedavids9619]

How did you come up with the idea of a pringles song ? It makes you stand apart from anyone else, it is just funny and great to watch your vlogs. Keep it up. 👍

[@TravelBlogJamie]

I honestly think I was a teeny teeny bit tipsy and not thinking straight 😂

[@chriswarrington7066]

You are so right about the food on Aurora, Jamie. Not only was the buffet very poor, and sometimes I did struggle to get a table, but also in the main restaurant meat was often like shoe leather, the so-called roast potatoes were like bullets and vegetables raw. As for the cheese plate, that has declined so much in standard. You used to get Stilton in port on a black tie day. Yes, there were positives about Aurora, but not the food. I try not to use their shore excursions either. Far too expensive and often a complete rip off. Perhaps I’m a glutton for punishment but I’m going again next July! Might be better?!

[@TravelBlogJamie]

Oh I do hope so, Chris!!

[@suzy_c]

La Rochelle looked 👌 it takes me back to GCSE French, La Rochelle was always popping up in Tricolore! 😂

[@TravelBlogJamie]

Always 😂

[@ArnieRelffe-Arnold]

Fantastic vlog as always Jamie! Funny, informative and oh how I LOVED the rhinoceros!!! lol Take care mate. Arnie x

[@TravelBlogJamie]

Glad you enjoyed it🙏🙏🙏

[@john07973]

Another good video 👍🏻 Your summary was well balanced with praise where it was due, I hope P&O management take note and rectify the inclusive dining food and service issues. I think I'll start watching your Florida trip now .

[@TravelBlogJamie]

If only they’d take note! They won’t - they don’t listen to a word I say 😂

[@LadyDee150]

Love when you take us around with you on your strolls around the cities. For this one, the open spaces and the lush greenery are just beautiful 🤩 It was great seeing the colorful market too🥰🥰 And, your elegant pringles opera performances always add that extra special touch😄

[@TravelBlogJamie]

Oh, elegant?! Love it 🥰

[@matthewpotter8491]

Interesting titbit… the Glasshouse used to be called Cafe Bordeaux when Aurora first launched. Remember it from back in the day and being really novel eating in something on the ship which wasn’t the buffet or main dining room. How things have changed over the years.

[@TravelBlogJamie]

👍👍👍

[@michey123]

Another fabulous Volg and I’m always impressed with your constructive criticism rather than being petty ( unlike some KZbinrs 🙊 ) Ice 🧊 bucket and tongs what more does a passenger want ❤ - thanks Jamie !

[@TravelBlogJamie]

I need more mixers in future

[@juliaford8462]

Another fun vlog. Love the turn-down service, made me laugh out loud. xx

[@TravelBlogJamie]

😉

[@jackietanner2121]

Fantastic review. Have really enjoyed all three. You so very funny. Makes the videos so entertaining. X

[@TravelBlogJamie]

Thank youuuuuu ❤️❤️❤️

[@antsadventures149]

Great vlog as ever love you guys and enjoyed maffoo doing the voice over on the ship tour ❤

[@TravelBlogJamie]

🙏🙏🙏

[@frenchietj]

Amanda said she would have what you had for dinner at the beach house. Great vlog as always

[@TravelBlogJamie]

She has good taste 😉

[@angelacox-martin2789]

Very funny, loved the sad disco especially 🤣Won't be rushing onto that ship but always look forward to your vlogs regardless of where you go! x

[@TravelBlogJamie]

🙏🙏🙏

[@wendyjones2351]

Hi Jamie La Rochelle looked amazing especially all them pastries im not one for dressing up much prefer casual so much more comfy love the pringles song great video ❤

[@TravelBlogJamie]

I do like to be comfy for sure ❤️

[@geanninesmith796]

❤ Thanks for your honest review Jamie, hopefully P&O are watching this series and sort out the problems 🙏

[@TravelBlogJamie]

They don’t listen to me about anything lol 😂

[@geanninesmith796]

@@TravelBlogJamie well they bloody should do! Food is a huge part of a holiday... An expensive one (for us) at that.. I hope it improves by the time we go on next March 🙏 my worry is as we get back it goes in for it's refit... They might not care as much then either 😢

[@johnhenfrey5936]

Enjoyed following you round La Rochelle. Think you gave a balanced view of the ship and overall cruise experience. We found dining, queues and the buffet to be the pressure points. Having said that we did enjoy the ship and would go on Aurora again. We found Beach House slow in service and waited nearly an hour for our main course, but have enjoyed the Beach House on other ships previously. Look forward to following your future travels

[@TravelBlogJamie]

Thank you 🙏

[@kimharrop4301]

Another great fun video Jamie 👍 and welcome back to smelly old Southampton my home town!... 🤣😂😂😉

[@TravelBlogJamie]

😘

[@claremgraham]

Fantastic vlog as usual we having been waiting impatiently for this to come out once we discovered you were on board and I attacked you in the check in area 😮😂😂 it has been very nice to look back on our holiday through your eyes and I agree with you totally the food in the buffet was really very poor x

[@TravelBlogJamie]

Oh hey Clare!

[@claremgraham]

@@TravelBlogJamie ❤️

[@carolr9301]

Captain Love didn’t tell us about the rough weather we experienced going down Southampton water just before Easter. It was very rough at dinner. I loved it. I had to hold onto my wine. He apologised the next morning, he reckoned he didn’t know.

[@TravelBlogJamie]

Ha!! He doesn’t always give too much away, does he 😂

[@carolr9301]

@@TravelBlogJamie he said before we left Rotterdam that once the engines arrive we’ll be off. I thought it sounded so funny. Where have the engines been. 😂

[@kimhiller2861]

The pringle song is Je ne regret riens!!! So funny sung with a couple of pringles in your mouth!😅

[@TravelBlogJamie]

🤩🤩🤩

[@TravelwithUsLynnePaul]

Loved this video - it was lovely to see Pat even though I had only seen her a couple of days before in Getxo 😀😀😀

[@TravelBlogJamie]

Naughty drunken Pat 😂 She did tell me you met uk which was lovely 🥰

[@TravelwithUsLynnePaul]

@@TravelBlogJamie 😂😂😂 after the weather on our cruise I could have introduced you to a naughty drunken Lynne most nights 😂😂😂

[@TravelBlogJamie]

@@TravelwithUsLynnePaul lol 😂 you did suffer with the weather didn’t you

[@tonynewman1694]

Good honest vlog shame the buffet did not improve over the week and this is a very popular venue for breakfast , never experienced empty dishes . P&o defo watch your blogs and will jump into action 👍😁

[@TravelBlogJamie]

They don’t watch or care imo Tony - but I hope they’ve had enough feedback to try to address those shortcomings - they are super important for guests

[@tonynewman1694]

@@TravelBlogJamie the buffet is where a lot o guests have breakfast or choice and sped and they have both gone on this occasion 💯❤️

[@kathleenmcgovern8669]

Thank you Jamie for your entertaining vlogs. Going on Aurora soon so interested in everything. Has anyone from P&O ever commented regarding your reviews? I know they can't monitor the many cruise review sites of course but you never know. So many companies v keen on feedback I'm sure they do look at some.

[@TravelBlogJamie]

They never do. They never ask for suggestions. They may well watch but they’d never let on. Out of all the cruise lines I sail, they are the only ones who won’t engage, unfortunately.

[@jackiehill9076]

Great Vlog Jamie x

[@TravelBlogJamie]

Thank you 🙏

[@angelahorton5745]

Another great honest review. I think I'd still book for a specific destination if the price was right although I'd manage my expectations for the food and lower the bar. Thanks Jamie!

[@TravelBlogJamie]

A sensible suggestion here for sure! 👍

[@janerees8990]

Thank you Jamie. Another fab presentation. Never tried the tiffin lunch in Sindhu. Assume it’s a walk up and book thing?

[@TravelBlogJamie]

No, like k mentioned in the vlog, got to book when on board and in advance of the day (book as soon as available in the app is my recommendation)

[@akajasonbourne]

I think La Rochelle could easily be an overnight port of call. Imagine the old port of an evening. La Rochelle is definitely one to look out for on an itinerary. QUESTION Are the Tiffin lunches available on the other P&0 ships, it looked mighty fine.

[@TravelBlogJamie]

Tiffin lunches not available on all ships, no! I hope they start re-introducing them, though!

[@akajasonbourne]

@TravelBlogJamie Would surely be a popular addition.

[@TravelBlogJamie]

@@akajasonbourne absolutely

[@Dawnuser-eu3ye9uv2c]

La Rochelle looked lovely all those nice bars and cafes. Aquarium looked very interesting. Do you think cruse lines are pushing us to specialty dining with us appetising food. Costs and packages seem to be changing all the time. Enjoyable vlog thank you Jamie. X

[@TravelBlogJamie]

I don’t think so as we had great food in the buffet and MDR on the last few cruises - I think this was a lack of care and quality assurance

[@Dawnuser-eu3ye9uv2c]

@@TravelBlogJamie Good to know.

[@breadyegg]

Lovely Pringle lips rendition of an old classic (below) Non, je ne regrette rien" by Édith Piaf

[@TravelBlogJamie]

Hehehe 🤣

[@TheSpanishChannel]

🎉🎉🎉

[@TravelBlogJamie]

❤️

[@chriscliffordCH]

Great video as always but what was the last Pringles song?

[@breadyegg]

Non, je ne regrette rien" Édith Piaf 😊

[@chriscliffordCH]

@@breadyegg I got that one, it was the first Pringles song. But what about the last one?

[@breadyegg]

@@chriscliffordCH Sorry! It was "One moment in time" Whitney Houston

[@chriscliffordCH]

@@breadyegg Aha! Thanks a lot 😀

[@TravelBlogJamie]

Bingo

[@live2skide1]

PRO TIP - Send your partner to find a table in the buffet and hold it until you return. Second tip - take 2 plates, not 1. Put food on and COVER with the 2nd plate. This keeps things warmer going back to your table and also keeps other peoples germs from finding their way onto your food when they cough and sneeze. THIRD Tip; Eat in courses; return to the buffet and collect a clean plate for additional food. I'm manic about hot food.

[@TravelBlogJamie]

Yes, Maffoo always got a table. Getting a table not a problem. Going back and forth is the problem. Having no tray is a problem. The food was poor in the buffet. Thats a problem. Eating hot food breakfasts in stages? One plate of potato and mushrooms followed by the other items? No thank you! They need to do better. It’s a holiday, not an endurance test.

[@john07973]

On Iona I got used to having no trays in the buffet. I suspect the lack of them might be to curb gluttons.

[@sharnieyorke]

Such a shame about the buffet, we had exactly the same on Ventura last year😮

[@TravelBlogJamie]

Oh disappointing to hear

[@danielmunt3336]

I’m not a fan of P&O but I think you are very fair as always in your reviews. We were on Britannia in the summer and the food where you didn’t have an additional charge was very poor! But the food in the additional charge was excellent especially the cookery school evenings the food was awesome. I don’t mind paying for speciality restaurants but really shouldn’t have to keep paying for decent food we only ate in the MDR twice as the food wasn’t good. Safe travels.

[@TravelBlogJamie]

Thanks for sharing!

[@philadams964]

Oh dear, buffet food did not look good, we are booked on her in Sept this year. Southampton to the Caribbean and back, Hooe the food improves😢😢

[@breadyegg]

I hope so for you as well. We were on Aurora early 2023 and after a string of ever declining p&o standards it was the final straw and we decided to switch cruise lines. Also, the travel to smelly old Southampton for us is a whole day early start event, which doesn't help! If we lived a lot closer to Southampton we'd be happier sticking with p&o as the prices are the best you can get per night in that UK

[@TravelBlogJamie]

I hope it does too but I don’t think P&O are much for listening to feedback

[@TravelBlogJamie]

👍👍👍

[@kimhiller2861]

Another pringle song.. One moment in time 😅

[@TravelBlogJamie]

You’re good at this

[@pathutchinson1632]

Well I didn’t sound as drunk as I thought I would 🤣

[@TravelBlogJamie]

Practically Betty Ford Clinic recovery

[@pathutchinson1632]

🤣🤣

[@breadyegg]

It feels like p&o are favouring the newer, bigger ships very at the neglect of the older, smaller ones. The Aurora remains a lovely ship though.

[@TravelBlogJamie]

I’d disagree as Azura and Arcadia both fab cruises in the last few months. But I think a significant change over of crew on Aurora has not served them well!

[@janetsullivan4072]

If yhe buffet breakfast was so bad why didn't you eat breakfast in the mdr

[@TravelBlogJamie]

We did - did you not watch how badly that went in part 1??

[@tommurphy6342]

Pringles song better than Edith Piaf version......👋

[@TravelBlogJamie]

Lololololo

[@jacquelinearcher1158]

I really wonders how often people refresh at home..? It’s so wasteful to gut ships every few years…straight to landfill. Clean yes…but new ?,really…isn’t it time to changes expectations..

[@TravelBlogJamie]

Refresh what?

[@TravelBlogJamie]

Time between refresh would be 6 years for Aurora, not a few

[@sarahwadsworth8293]

@TravelBlogJamie, do they sell bottled water onboard Aurora? Just something to take with tablets? Do they sell cordial in the shops?

[@jacquelinearcher1158]

@@sarahwadsworth8293 no but they sell tinned water and water is available in the buffet 24/7 ..just take a glass back to the cabin

[@sarahwadsworth8293]

@@jacquelinearcher1158 thank you.

[@janetsullivan4072]

Why do other people get bothered what others do on their holidays. Its your holiday do what you want

[@TravelBlogJamie]

Don’t ask me lol 😂

[@cruiseforever1281]

Great video. Given you like the waves rough, give the Drake’s Passage a sail. 🫶

[@TravelBlogJamie]

One day ❤️