Day 5 - Funchal, Madeira

Wednesday 31st January 2024

The 8am announcement woke us up, luckily.

First job to collect tickets for the cable car from the tour desk, only available till 9am!

Then it’s breakfast in the Coral.

Low cloud and a bit foggy this morning, not the best day for a trip up the mountain, but hey-ho.

P&O shuttle just by the ship, hardly any wait and off we go into town.  Drop off in a new bus parking area on the sea front, quite convenient for most things and should be much easier than the old pick-up in the main shopping street.

Only a short walk along to the cablecar.  Pre-bought tickets did save a queue for the ticket booth but still a longish queue for the actual  gondolas.  In we get (with only four others) and off we go up the mountain flying over the town looking down into peoples homes and gardens.

Had a bit of a walk around at the top, not much there without a longish walk up and down steep paths, even the Botanical Gardens which would have been good, and includes the best viewpoint, but that’s just as steep if not more so.  Luckily the cablecar didn’t quite take us up into the cloud and the views were somewhat obscured but still OK, would have been better on a clear day.

Back down on the cablecar, just us two this time, one for a ride the bus back and one for a walk back with a quick stop at the Spa for a bottle of Tango.

Time for lunch in the Coral, very nice again, we are getting very conventional.

Relaxing afternoon, making full use of our balcony and conservatory now the weathers is improving, even a bit of sun breaking through.

Couple more trivias today, no wins!

Burger for dinner, then relax with a film

Day 4 - at Sea

Tuesday 30th January 2024

Made an earlier start today, it’s the Coral Restaurant for breakfast.

Brodies for trivia, geography theme today and a perfect 20/20, a win so it’s golden stickers, hooray!

Morning coffee in the Vista then a few laps of the promenade, weather improving somewhat at last.

Took the opportunity to go to the theatre for a showing of Oppenheimer.  Film much too long, seats getting very uncomfortable, not really very enjoyable, glad we didn’t have to pay for a cinema ticket, seems the critical acclaim and chances of Oscars etc doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a film worth watching.

Cup of tea and a cookie to keep us going.

Tonight off to the Beach House for dinner.  Nachos, Fajitas and curried goat pot followed by a shared banana split tonight,  all delicious.

Just a little cheese and biscuits to roundoff the day back in the cabin relaxing with Poirot.

Day 3 - at Sea

Monday 29th January 2024

Late up this morning so only choice left is breakfast in the buffet.

Off to Brodies for the morning trivia followed by coffee and cake in the Vista.

Thought we would try the progressive quiz on this cruise, having joined a small quiz team we might at least have some chance.  Progressive quiz run on sea days, points accumulate to find the winner at the end of the cruise.

Weather pretty poor again today, cool and windy with occasional showers.

Afternoon tea in the Horizon buffet.

Formal night tonight, so canapés arrived.  Got dressed up in our best gear and off to get a glass of champers from the bar on our way to the theatre.  Tonight it’s the “Skys the Limit” by the Headliners, not a bad show.

Time for a snack, bit of a job to find anything open and accessible, just the horizon still serving, most options close at 9.30.

Day 2 - at Sea

 Sunday 28th January 2024

Today it’s a chill and overcast day, a bit windy and a 3m sea.

Made it to the Coral Restaurant for breakfast, definitely the best way to start the day.

This morning it’s the trivia in Brodies followed by coffee in the Vista Cafe.

Rounded Ushant about 11am.

Tried lunch in the Coral Restaurant today, not a bad option, selection quite acceptable.

Afternoon spent in the cabin, weather stayed overcast and windy all day with only very occasional glimpses of the sun.

Light dinner in the buffet.

Day 1 - Southampton

 Saturday 27th January 2024

Ocean terminal today, joining the P&O Iona for some winter sun and warmth in the Canaries.

ABP parking again, feels like it a slow method of parking but actually doesn’t take very long.  Luckily no waiting in line for Caribbean Guests so quickly through the formalities and onto the ship.  Registered at our Muster Station, in the Keel and Cow first and then into the Pearl Restaurant for our Welcome Lunch.  Same options as previous P&O for lunch (memories of the old days when on P&O you could rely on repeat menus on every cruise, day one “Best of British”).  Lunch curry very tasty again, must remember to collect dessert when getting main course, saves queueing twice, the second time as restaurant gets busier.  House wine etc if you can catch the waiters eye!

After lunch cabins not ready yet so it’s a walk round till the announcement at about 2pm.  Off to the Quays to collect milk and a small dessert for a cuppa in our conservatory.

Unpacking and a chance to relax.

Iona under the command of Captain Wesley Dunlop.

Afternoon stroll on the promenade, only one side open due to refuelling.

Light dinner in the buffet followed by Hercule Poirot in “A Haunting in Venice” on the TV.  The movies option on the TV most welcome even if the choices are not mostly to our liking, shame the TV doesn’t have a timer for shutdown.

Very happily this cabin doesn’t have the background music of our last one on the other side of the ship, just a bit of creaking from the patio door whilst it’s windy.