glanders

We were on Queen Elizabeth in June in Queen's Grill. On a morning we needed to tender, we did not get priority tender tickets. We called the Grills concierge, who told us were were not entitled to priority tenders, which we knew was wrong. We went down to get a regular tickets, and there was a 1.5 hour wait, which also was annoying, as Celebrity seems to get folks off the ship faster. We spoke to the person who was managing the tickets, and he said he could not do anything and to take it up with the home office when we got home. It was all very annoying, as it delayed our touring by more than an hour. When we got back, the concierge tracked us down and was all apologies, saying that she should have sent the priority tickets. A couple of days later, she reached out to us to let us know a port that was to be tendered was now docked, and we would not need priority tickets. The experience was annoying, especially the insult added to injury of being told to contact the home office, but on the whole it did not affect the trip at all. We've cruised four times since cruising resumed, twice with Celebrity, once with Azamara, and once with Cunard. We tend to go into the experience with a lot of grace. Knowing how much money cruise lines lost during the height of the pandemic, it amazes me that things aren't even worse when you get on board. I imagine most cruise lines will struggle with staff and standards for years to come. And that's ok with us.

In a Q4 now on QE. Products are Penhaglion Quercus. Nice smell. We didn't ask about bar soap and just bought a bar when we got to Juneau.

It has ended as of today for those of us who need to return to the U.S. or for visitors coming to the U.S. It will be re-evaluated by CDC in 90 days. For us, it means we do not have to work out a test while onboard QE June 23 for a return to U.S. June 24. Great news for us.

We stayed at El Palace Hotel Barcelona as well a couple weeks ago and had a fantastic stay.