Aurora Weekender
Well this was the end of Pam's mission - to have set foot on all current P&O ships.  I completed mine two weeks earlier with Ventura. Although neither of us had cruised Arcadia (she's already done a Holland America Vista so has no interest), we've both visited so that's the setting foot part sorted!  Originally we planned to do the Weekender on Aurora in June when we discussed it in 2006, but it was a little too close to Boudicca for Pam to come back down again so we opted for the end of September and booked Stateroom with Balcony B207.  This would be my third cruise on my favourite existing ship and the lova affair was far from dying.  I have another, longer cruise to look forward to, albeit in 2009.  How would I cope not setting foot on this ship for more than twelve months???  It would be hell!  I loved Aurora more than I ever thought possible for a 'hulk of metal', as my Australian friend Juanita calls them and I'm not ashamed to admit it.  It's just very easy to become attached to them, ending up broken hearted when they're sold to other line or for scrap.  So while I still adore Aurora, my thoughts were on Pam.  Would she like the ship like Rowan had or never want to go on her ever again?  We'd done so many Weekenders now to Zeebrugge we could write a book.  In fact, Rowan's husband even suggested I buy a holiday home since I spend so much time there!  After the revamp of P&O's website these trips became known as a Party Cruise.  Pam's ticket arrived on the 30th August.  Mine, for some reason, turned up on the 1st September.  Very odd, even for the Royal Mail!  Having done the dreadful Ventura I was looking forward to a ship where decor was perfect, which knows what it is and gorgeous to boot. Aurora returned from a charter in the early hours of the 27th.  I arranged to meet Pam at Town Quay.  They were testing the lifeboats as we went over on the ferry on what turned out to be a gloriously hot day.  So hot I packed my coat in the case as soon as we got off the ferry.
The drill, supposedly over by 12.30pm, wasn't.  Pam arrived and took some pictures then off we went to Mayflower.  My girl looked as gorgeous as ever.  How could anyone not love the gorgeousness that is Aurora???  I wished I were having a longer cruise but two nights on her was better than none.
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		(C) Copyright Patricia Dempsey 27th-29th September & 18th October 2008 Not to be reproduced without permission