Good Day Everyone,Our first port of call on this cruise was the delightful City of Malaga.
I love cruising to Malaga and whether you wish to shop, go to the beach or simply enjoy a local lunch it is all on the doorstop. Malaga has a very attractive 'old quarter' by the Cathedral which is fascinating to explore by foot.
Last year I escorted one of our shore excursions to Marbella and Puerto Banus and enjoyed exploring Marbella around the Plaza de los Naranjor - Orange Tree Square. Puerto Banus is a 'designer' resort and definitely suited to the rich and famous, and lovely to visit. It is somewhere I could easily go back and stay on holiday. Friends of mine have stayed in the Casino Hotel there and recommended it to me - you never know maybe one day. The trouble with me is that once I get home it is difficult to get me on the move again!
Morning sun rise over Malaga taken from my cabin as Arcadia approaches. I thought to myself this is going to be a good day.
Another place I hope to visit soon is the Andalusian village of Mijas, I have heard great reports on this Village - perhaps you have been there? Did you know that Picasso was born in Malaga? This is something the locals are very proud of and on the 27th October 2003 the King and Queen of Spain inaugurated the long awaited 'Museo Picasso'. There are over 200 paintings, sculptures and etchings form the different stages of his life. Something for all your arty folk!
Hopefully sometime I will get to see the Caves of Nerja, but I am not that keen on underground things, stalagmites and the like.........I prefer to see the sky above me when I am on the water. I love the way of life in Spain and I can understand why so many people choose to live there or have second homes there.
Since leaving Malaga we have enjoyed two 'perfect' days at sea and at noon today we went through he Messina Straits. My colleague Tim, Third Officer on the Bridge promised to take some photographs for me so I will post these in due course. My day was a morning of meetings and interviews so I appreciate the help I receive from other 'Blog Associates'!
Meet Tony and Jean Turrell with Brian and Jill Dann - they are blog fans and are happy to be pictured here! It is always a joy to have the Turrells and the Danns sail with us. Tony and Jean have been on many ships and Arcadia is their favourite. I bumped into them this evening and you would hardly recognise them as they have been working very hard on their sun tans!We are all looking forward to Dubrovnik, followed by two days in Venice..........revered as one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
Bye for now,
James
I will go anywhere as long as it's forward.
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17 comments:
I did the voyage to Venice last summer and it is one of my favourite itineraries! I think it just about beats the Baltic route partly because of the weather...and, of course, that sail in to Venice.
Who's your Port Presenter now that Alison is on leave? Have they some snippets for us?
I hope one day it will be ME! I'm just waiting for P&O to say YES.
Morning James
The weather looks absolutely glorious. This is one of my favourite cruises with Venice being the highlight and Dubrovnik coming a close 2nd! It's a shame the rest of the family don't share my enthusiasm for Venice!
I've always fancied going along to Puerto Banus when we go to Malaga, but I've never got their yet. Been to Malaga plenty of times, but usually end up wandering around the city rather than venturing any further. Oh well maybe one day.
I love the picture you took of the morning sun. Are you lucky enough to have a balcony cabin as your "home" whilst onboard?? We have booked one of the aft balcony cabins for the Xmas cruise. Originally I had booked a D deck cabin as I was led to believe that these would be the best cabins to have, but after seeing your world cruise photos of the aft of the ship I noticed that the D deck cabins seemed to quite dark and then discovered that D deck was now fully covered. So I quickly got on the phone to head office and moved my cabin to E deck. I hope I've made the right move!! If I hadn't seen your blog photos, I may never have had chance to change so quickly so I'm thankful for that!
Well I've finished my breakfast and now pondering going to the gym. Need to get into a fitness regime or I may not get in my cruise clothes for Xmas (which is 16 weeks tomorrow)! Yes I'm on countdown :-)
Will you be EP on the Xmas cruise James?
Elaine (aurorabore)
Gday James,
What a lovely sunrise taken from your cabin, beats the view i get from my bedroom window any day.
Just looked at the webcam it looks a glorious day in Dubrovnik.
We are heading into spring soon here in Perth we had a little taste of what is to come yesterday and today, with blue skies and temps around 20 degrees.
Enjoy the rest of the cruise looking forward to the pictures from the bridge,
Geoff and Julieta Witts Perth
Hi Elaine,
We were on the Grand Voyage from Oz to southampton and stayed in a 'D' deck balcony stateroom.
It was neither dark or closed in, we were on the balcony constantly through our 7.5 weeks on board and found "D" deck a great deck to be on.
Having said that, Arcadia is one of the most stable ships that we have been on, we enjoyed our time with Arcadia and the crew immensley and look forward to travelling with P&O UK on board Aurora in 2010.Hope that Aurora behaves on that 2010 Grand Voyage!
Cheers!
Has been 30-32 degrees C here in SE Qld, Australia. who would think that it is still winter!Normally unheard of, hate to think what summer is going to be like.
This is for Elaine,
Just a quick Q about Aurora, do you know if you are able to take your own alcohol on board for use in your cabin. We could on Arcadia but not sure if all P&O ship policies are the same.
Good to have you back!
Anonymous
Many thanks for the info re the cabins on Arcadia. I changed from D to E earlier on in the year. We have had an aft suite a couple of times on Arcadia and loved it out the back there. Very rarely moved from the cabin if I'm honest. Having seen the photos of the new deck area around the pool though, I quite like the look of the new furniture. Looks very inviting!
Now for the question about taking alcohol onboard. From posts on cruise connections it would seem that you can take alcohol on all the ships. I was away in May when there was an altercation in the crow's nest with a chap who had brought a bottle of rum and brought it into the crow's nest and then proceeded to put it in a purchased soft drink. This was not acceptable and quite rightly so. The head barman called the food and beverage manager who took the chap to task.
I have seen other posts that suggest you can take your own wine onboard for consumption in the restaurant, but you have to pay a corkage fee (no different really to taking your own wine to a hotel in the uk). I personally quite like the wines on offer in P & O's wine list, so wouldn't do that anyway. But from posts on cruise connections I do know of others that have.
James, maybe you can tell us what P & O's official stance is on bringing your own alcohol onboard. I believe some of the other lines (RCI, Celebrity and Carnival) confiscate alcohol if you bring your own and give it back to you at the end of the cruise. But then I have also read on some cruise forums it's because our american cousins take cases of the stuff!!!!!!! I know P & O have a sensible drinking policy. And I'm sure at certain times of the year this is well needed.
Elaine (aurorabore)
Hi James, Hope you have a great time in Dubrovnik. It's such a lovely city just to be in.
Hi Anonymous, We are on Aurora's 2010 Grand Voyage from Singapore to Southampton. Are you doing all of it or only part? We too hope she behaves herself. We were on her maiden voyage that returned home after two days, but have been on her twice since and all was very well indeed. regards to all, Jay
Hi Jay, We are doing Brisbane to Southampton but not getting off in Southampton, we are doing Back to Back cruises, 2nd one to Canary Islands.
Are you getting on at the 1st or
2nd Singapore stop?
Oh that sunshine looks divine. I got caught in amega rain shower today. The words drowned and rat spring to mind.
I hope you enjoy the lovely September sunshine. As for Venice - we've never been but we're going there - on a different ship shhhh - next autumn.
Hello Anonymous, Nice to hear from you,9 whoever you are!) We are only seeing Singapore once so it must be the second stop. How decadent of you to stay on board. regards to all Jay
oops,slip of a finger there on the bracket. sorry Jay
Hi Jay,
Sorry I like to stay anonymous cause someone else blogging has my name!
I also know that you were on the Arcadia Grand Voyage this year while we were also on from Bris.-Southampton.Never met you though.
We so hated leaving the ship in Southampton,and especially that the day that we disembarked we suffered the dreaded effects of the Noro Virus which lasted 4 days, but we were still very happy and decided that in 2010 and 2011 we would not be disembarking with the other Grand Voyagers and that we will be staying on board, and so we are.
Nothing decadent at all, well yeh, maybe a little.
Thank the lord for the excess baggage company, we are able to take all we need. Reminds me that we still have not unpacked the 6 suitcases, must do that soon.
It is always much more exciting to pack than unpack!
Maybe we will meet on Aurora. I remember seeing Aurora off Airlie Beach when Arcadia was on the way to Yorkeys, looked beautiful and was so sad to hear that she had such a terrible breakdown. Fingers crossed that all will be good for our Cruises.
Cheers!
Great to hear from you Anonymouse!I do hope we meet when we are on Aurora. I'm sure that can be arranged. Aurora is beautiful.
So very sorry you sufferd from the NV, horrible. James has gone a bit quiet. Hope all is well
Kind regards to all Jay
Hello Anon,
We do allow passengers to bring Alcohol on board Arcadia.
James.
Hazel G
Bob Snelling is our Port Presenter for this cruise.
James.
Elaine,
I do have a balcony on board!
James.
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