The One with the In-Laws- P&O Iona Fjords April ‘23-Day 1-Embarkation

[vampiress88]

Pre travel day.
Had my hair done this morning by one of my youngest child’s friends mum as she is a hairdresser while the kids played. We got all the car, packing done and hubbys hair sorted. Used up all the left over food in the fridge, had an early night even though I didn’t sleep much.

There have been a few changes since I started my trip report.
Hubbys parents have booked the same cruise as us on a late deal. They are on deck 4. I’m not sure if they are going to like P&O due to the dress codes but the father in law used to live in Norway when he was very young so has wanted to visit again for a while. I’m not sure how much time we will spend with them etc. The kids will still want to go to the club and I’ve already put my foot down saying I’m not buying rounds of drinks. The kids don’t know yet. They will find out when they knock on the door tonight.

Also we have moved to deck 16 at the front of the ship due to how the balcony was set out in the other one.

Day 1- Embarkation

Alarm set for 6am. I’m not sure we need to be up this early but it said 4 hours for Southampton yesterday so we want to set off by 7.30am. Up, everyone showered and dressed. Used the last of the toast and made a coffee for the journey. Everyone has already argued a million times already, wouldn’t be a holiday if we hadn’t. Managed to get off on time but have a feeling I’ve forgotten something. We are buying something from Facebook and I’ve already gotten out the cash for it. Well I’ve forgotten so looks like I’ll be getting out more cash when I get to the services.

First stop will be Watford Gap. It’s around 1hr25 after setting off. Couldn’t manage more than that without bathroom breaks.
Scarlett gets out the car and she hasn’t cleaned her trainers like I asked. Georgia then gets out and she has her scruffy school trainers on instead of the lovely new ones I bought before Christmas. Fuming actually because now she is making us look bad like we can’t afford new trainers.
Said trainers are worn around the top so you can see the white stuffing inside them. Both kids were bought trainers at the same time but Georgia being Georgia always manages to make hers more scruffy than Scarlett’s.
We had chosen the shoes already so I don’t know why she put these on at all. Too late to turn back now.

Next stop was chievly and we got a cinnamon coffee, 2 sausage rolls and ham salad sandwich for £9.25.

We set off to get the power ranger helmet from Totten and then off to the cruise terminal. Only a 15mins drive.
We saw the sky princess and she definitely didn’t look very big compared to Iona.

We got to the terminal at 12.30. We had the cps parking with our select fare so drove through that, handed off the keys and got the bags out the car. Checked in the bags with the men, went through the terminal to the check in desk. Quick toilet stop then through security and we were on the ship for 1.15pm. Lovely and quick.

The room was ready so we got our cruise cards, dropped some of the bags off

Then we went to the muster station which happened to be next to Brodies. We had a few drinks in there as Brodies is our favourite place on Iona and got a text from the in laws that they had just got to the terminal at 2.30pm as they had come on the coach. Not sure how long it will take them to get through.

The kids played pool with hubby, Georgia was terrible and she always hates to lose. Very like her daddy. We were waiting for the in-laws to show up and surprise them. Scarlett’s jaw dropped when she saw them, nanan is on the ship she kept saying, not sure if she was happy about it or not. Her face said not but she controlled it well 😂

To put it in perspective we probably see the in laws maybe 6 to 9 times a year. They dont take the kids out anywhere and don’t really text or call them. Only come to ours for a coffee for an hour usually when my sister in law is coming up. So I suppose the kids weren’t sure what to think. Hubby swears he didn’t realise that she would book to come when he showed her what ship we were on, but he has good memories of his holidays with grandparents so said it would be good for the kids to have the same.

Georgias awful trainers as you can see they have no fabric at the top. And also nanans choice of footwear much to my hubby’s disgust.

We all had a drink, grandad is excited about the ship as it’s his first cruise. They got a drink and the kids played pool with nanan. She was now hungry so we all went to the quays. Nanan had fish and chips. Grandad had burger and fries. We all had a little pudding as a snack, carrot cake, apple and cinnamon and dulce de leche tart because we knew we were going for dinner around 6.30pm and it was now around 4pm so too late for us to eat a big meal. Although nanan and grandad polished off theirs.

The kids went to look at their nanans cabin and we went back to ours to do the safety video. No bags were here yet so we were unsure what to do next. Kids came back and five minutes later there was a knock at the door. Cases were here. Quick unpack and then shower and changed ready for the evening.

Scarlett called nanan and we said we would meet at keel and cow at 6.45. We got down there first and there was no one seemed to be dressed in “smart casual” as we were. Most still looked like they were in the travel clothes.

The in laws turn up and we joined a virtual queue. About 5 maybe 10mins later it said our table was ready. We were seated by the window in the Aqua restaurant.

Me,Hubby and father in law had chicken croquettes

Mother in law had smoked halibut.

Me and hubby had garlic chicken

Father and mother in law had lamb.

I had sticky toffee pudding.

Hubby, father and mother in law had pavalova.

Scarlett ordered fish fingers and chips.

Georgia being her normal self ordered chips,egg and mash potatoes

Both had chocolate marquise with orange sorbet for afters.

This dinner really did not go but as you know that’s Georgia.

It was just gone 8 so we went to watch the last bit of the pulse act in the club house

Then father in law took the girls to deck 18, little bit cross about it actually but I’m having to bite my tongue. He’s going up there to have a smoke of the e-cig and I don’t think he should be taking the kids where there are people smoking but I got over ridden so I’m shutting up for now.

They hadn’t returned by 8.25 and I was starting to get worried but they strolled in and that’s when we realised that Scarlett had lost her handbag. Thankfully I had said they couldn’t have their phones in them so off back up to the top to look for it and still couldn’t find it. It was 9 now and we were shattered, hubby had had more than enough alcohol and I wanted a coffee so we said goodnight to the in laws.

Back to the cabin, some milk for the morning and all ready for bed. I decided against the coffee as I got too tired. Not sure what the plan is for tomorrow. Maybe swimming before breakfast. They are booked in for the kids club both morning and afternoon so might do that.

[EssexSue]

I'm following this with interest. The trainers don't look as bad as you said but I'd have been really narked about it too.

[disney_l81]

I always like reading your trip reports- I think because they are so honest Your doing well so far with nanan and grandad!