The Adventures of Podge & Tubbs

Here was to be yet more stories of our adventures of Podge (His Podgeness) & Tubbs (The Duchess) as they continued to cruise the Seven Sea and yes, we do know there actually more than seven seas (see endnote). But, as we entered into 2021, Covid was still prevalent and getting back on cruise ships still seemed beyond the proverbial horizon. Or, was it?

As winter moved into Spring there were buds of hope as cruise companies started to look for ways in which they could restart. After nearly 15-months since cruising was halted ships started sailing with passengers in the second half of June but only sailing, no land fall, thus the concept of the SeaCation was born. And most importantly, P&O commenced it’s first 4-day SeaCation towards the end of June with the Britannia and in August with the Iona. Naturally, Podge and Tubbs were straight on to P&O and booked a 4-nighter on the Britannia (for July) and a 7-nighter on the Iona (for August).

Boarding for both these cruises was a whole new experience for us both and in fact for everybody. Not on any previous cruises were we forced to wear face masks in all public area; not before were we told that we had to have all vaccinations (for Covid); not before did we have to undergo pre-boarding [Covid] tests (while remaining in our cars) before we could check in and and ultimately board the ship. But, like everybody else, we were just happy to be back on a cruise ship. And, I have to say, that with all the protocols put in place by P&O, we felt a lot safer on board than we did out and about at home.

OK, so neither cruise went anywhere but to sea (all we could see was sea) but actually, we really did enjoy both experiences. The Iona, because we had the luxury of time, took us all the way down to the northern coast of Spain for some very lovely weather.

We enjoyed ourselves so much that we immediately booked a Canaries cruise for October the same year on the Iona where we tried out the new concept of a Conservatory Suite. These cabins let the great outdoors in via an additional lounging area with floor-to-ceiling glass (and an external door) between the main cabin area and your balcony (see endnote). This (the conservatory) was the ideal place for Podge to chill out and relax while reading his book and having a sneaky whisky, or two, before bed while Tubbs was already in the slumber land and fast asleep in her favourite bed 😴 (a P&O bed) which she often refers to as her marshmallow bed 🛌.

The [Canaries] cruise itself was absolutely wonderful and such an uplift after so long under the trials and tribulations of Covid but, as I said earlier, we both felt safer on board the Iona than we did at home. While in Gran Canaria, we visited Café de Mogán for our traditional Canaries Lunch while our other traditional Canaries Lunch was in Restaurante El Lateral 27 in Tenerife. We’re still looking for our favourites on the other islands but we like a challenge. On our way back to Southampton 🥹 we were scheduled to call in as Cadiz but unfortunately, the weather gods were against us and so we had to make do with a ‘cruise by’ instead: Ah well, we just to make up for it with a bottle of wine in our conservatory. Our last stop was Lisbon where we enjoyed a brief visit to Estriol after which it was homeward bound happy that at last cruising seemed to be back up and sailing again.

And so, we booked two more cruises for 2022; Caribbean fly cruise (Britannia) and; Canada Cruise (Aurora) for the colours in the fall.

Endnote:
Historically, the seven seas were the Aegean, Adriatic, Mediterranean, Black, Red, and Caspian seas, and the Persian Gulf (sea)! Modern interpretation would be the Arctic, North Atlantic, South Atlantic, North Pacific, South Pacific, Indian, and Southern Oceans: Source National Ocean Service As far as Podge is concerned, they’re any sea Podge is sailing at the time which, can be quite a lot. For instance, sailing the Mediterranean Sea could include: The Balearic Sea; The Ligurian Sea; The Ionian Sea; The Adriatic Sea; The Aegean Sea; The Sea of Crete; The Sea of Sicily plus many more. But, who’s counting. I’m not! Well, actually I suppose I just was. Ooh Err, I’ve got a headache now. 🥴 🥴

The description of the Conservatory Mini-Suites were taken from P&O’s website.