More Fun in Italy - side by side!

Just look at who is parked in front of us!! ARCADIA!...............


Hello once again from your man in the Med!

What a joy to see Arcadia in Civitavecchia with us. Arcadia was berthed just in front of us and it was very exciting to see friends and colleagues.

We had great fun waving at the Arcadia Tour Coaches as well as our own as hundreds of passengers set off on their adventures to Rome.

Meet Gabriella - our fantastic Port Agent in Civi. The traffic going into Rome was very heavy - the last tour was due back at 1830 hours however it did not make it until 1900 hours - but then that is the beauty of being on a P&O Cruises organised excursion as we will always wait for you!

Jackie Bott - Senior Purser and Passenger Services Manager of Arcadia came for a visit - we had a good catch up on all the news and views. Jackie and I sailed together on Arcadia for the entire Transatlantic Christmas Cruise and the full 2010 Round World Cruise - we could write a book! Jackie was looking very well after a relaxing leave and she was delighted to be back on board Arcadia.

The next day we were in Livorno where the majority of our passengers set out to visit Florence and Pisa.............and again like a military operation (we are the experts!) the Tour Coaches are all lined up and ready to board - we make it easy for you to see the best places in the whole wide world - the world of P&O Cruises. Many of our regular passengers say that P&O Cruises is simply stepping into another world - and what a wonderful world it is...............

Operation Florence...............

We always have lots of people from the ship on the dockside to assist with dispatch....check out that blue sky - what a lovely start to the day.

The Master of OCEANA - Captain Mark Symonds along with our Commercial Manager Karen Snaith are keeping a watchful eye on dockside operations, and enjoying friendly banter with our passengers.

Once the morning arrival formalities were completed and everyone was on the move James and Hayley got a lift into town with Guido our Livorno ship's agent in his stylish Audi - and our first stop was a naval outfitters where I got new white shoes for Aurora's Round World Cruise 2011 and new trousers! You have to plan ahead in this job..!

After all the trying on we were gasping for a good Italian Coffee - with the locals! This coffee bar is run by a husband and wife couple with Mama to keep an eye on things - we had great fun and they were interested to know all about us and what we were doing in downtown Livorno! It was a bit like 'Last of the Summer Wine' Italian Style!

Thanks for a great Morning Coffee - we will be back! Italian people are very fun loving and joyous and make you very welcome to their country.

The more I get to know Livorno the more I like it.

We visited COIN - the Italian equivalent to John Lewis and House of Fraser!...........I got some bits and pieces of accessories for my Coffee Machine at home - all ready for my winter entertaining when friends pop in.....nothing like name dropping!

Stylish buildings everywhere you look........

You could almost be in Venice - this is a part of Livorno I have never seen before but what I saw I liked......this is the good thing about track cruising you get to know the ports of call very well indeed.

Everywhere is well maintained and painted up - you need a boat here......

After a light lunch what better way to get back to the ship...............

Simple elegance with style - makes you feel good.........

Plenty of coffee bars and ice cream parlours which are hard to resist.............

Bumping into friends - My hairdresser Cora and her friend Kylie..............Cora is Irish and Kylie is Scottish! This is the shuttle bus pick up point to get back to the ship - see we think of everything to make it effortless for you.

The Promenade Deck is very popular on P&O Cruises ships - on OCEANA you can walk all the way round - three times round is a mile........for those who like to sit and read and relax we have an afternoon tea trolley which is manned by two uniformed waiters who will service tea, sandwiches and cakes - what more could you wish for?...........of course everyday we serve a traditional afternoon tea in the Adriatic Restaurant with silver cake stands, fine linens, individual tea pots with your choice of loose leaf tea. Finger sandwiches, toasted tea cakes, crumpets, assorted hot scones, clotted cream, preserves, cakes and pastries.........if this is too much for you there is also a lighter option at our Plaza Buffet Restaurant.

Passengers and ship's company had exciting tales to tell of their visits to Rome, Florence and Pisa - and for those who stayed local there is still plenty to do. With P&O Cruises the choice is yours - whether to do everything or do nothing - but one thing is for sure - you will be spoiled for choice!

It is amazing how many newcomers are coming up to me and saying how much they have enjoyed reading this blog before they left home to join Oceana. When they see me they feel they already know me and keep reminding me about something I said in a previous blog. It is a wonderful feeling.

I am glad that all went well for the Pope's State Visit to the UK. I would love to have been on the planning and logistic committee for that visit - the time running order must have been amazing.

Livorno is a busy ferry port - good bye for another time - hope to be back soon.

Ciao,

James.

Patience means changing yourself before attempting to change the world!