JeanieC,Aston

Hi Bo Thanks for that,,now I understand how Americans can book 5+ cruise then choose one to go on,,,I understand refundable deposits for cruises but didn’t know insurance would pay out for non-refundable air fares.

Hi I don’t think I have ever purchased travel insurance in the UK that gives you cancel for any reason. Are you saying you can cancel a $10000 cruise because you change your mind and the insurance company will give you back the $10000? If the cruise and flight was bought as a package I might get my flight costs back as well But if I booked cruise and flight as different entities I don’t think my insurance would cover my flight costs,,,,why should they,my flight has not been cancelled.

Hi I agree,,it’s just that I can’t work out the criteria for which beer goes in which category. For example,,,,Guinness is in Classic as is Newcastle Brown but Stella is in Premium. Yet Guinness and NB in the UK are far more expensive than Stella. I for one would never consider Stella a premium beer. No matter,,,I only drink Guinness,Boddingtons and Jameson’s on Celebrity,all on the CP…I’m happy. I was on a Celebrity ship a few years ago sailing from Dublin and they had no Cans of draught Guinness only bottles of Guinness Foreign Extra 7.5,even the Irish on board couldn’t drink that,,,,one Cork man actually put water in it.

Hi I always find it hard to see how they categorise drinks into Call or Pall. Stella Artois in our local Asda here 30 cans or bottles in the UK can be had for the equivalent of $26…..$1.15 a bottle.

Hi Have visited Spike Island,,,a good visit for a couple of hours,,and its history is great. The ferry leaves just up the road from the dock,,as you say book online,it’s only a small ferry and watch for return times. We have a history of Irish immigration in my town outside Liverpool,an area of the town is called Spike Island,,,,and there was a pub of that name now knocked down. Spike Island..

Great to hear..thanks.

I will be on Silhouette as she docks in Southampton on the 3rd May. Jameson will do for me but more important have they got Guinness,,,,last year same cruise,same time,they had none.

Hi It’s very nice if you like docks,,,Rotterdam is the biggest port in Europe. From the centre to the North Sea its 20 miles of docks. If you are a ship buff like me it’s great. Btw,a short taxi/walk from where the ship docks you can have lunch on SS Rotterdam and see how cruisers used to live years ago.

Hi Not sure it’s to do with water levels,I imagine the water level in Amsterdam is controlled by the locks into the North Sea. The water levels in Holland is always controlled by dykes,,,they suffer from high water levels not low. A problem a few years ago was Amsterdam imposed a tourist tax on cruise passengers,P&O ruises was one company that refused to impose the tax into fares so refused to dock in Amsterdam and instead docked at Ijmuiden (sea side of the locks) Passengers transferred to Amsterdam by shuttle buses. Like lots of other ports it may just be the large amount of cruise traffic these days.

Hi We did two Fred Olsen cruises from Liverpool last year. The Scottish Islands in June,,,8 nights,and it rained every day. Your lovely country the Norway Fjords in end August,unbelievably sunny and warm. FO are older ships but full of character,love the wrap around decks,,,,food and service second to none….and beer prices very reasonable,unlike Norway..lol. I bet you know where this is?

Hi Ken. Hows your head for heights,,have you time for the Harbour Bridge walk?

Hi. I was in Rotterdam in March on P&O Iona. Just for info the ship docks next to Erasmus Bridge. Photo taken from on the bridge….

Hi 43 is a Spanish liqueur with a taste of vanilla..a bit sweet for me. If anyone is in Spain try a Carajilo it’s a espresso with a dash of aSpanish brandy. You see workman down a quick one on the way to work.

Hi I have my Irish Coffee using Jameson after dinner,,,,with the cream poured on over the back of a spoon,,,not the squirty stuff. Takes a lot of practice keeping the cream on top of the coffee.

Hi Wouldnt that last one be a Espresso Macchiato?

A tip….most ports of call are not the main cities of Europe,are easy to walk around for a taste of local life,food,drink etc. For the big attractions like Barcelona,Rome,Florence,Athens and Naples etc jump on the HoHo bus to get a real glimpse of the place,,get on and off if you want to visit somewhere like the Trevi Fountain or Acropolis,,,the HoHo in Barcelona is the best in Europe imo.

The only problem with ordering FOS is the 15 minutes sat looking at it whilst it cools down. Just be careful you don’t get a piece of that hot cheese stuck to the roof of your mouth.

Duplicated

Duplicated

If I sail Celebrity from Southampton I will wear a blazer on Chic nights. If I sail P&O from Southampton I will wear a Suit & tie or my Tux. Horses for courses. On formal nights on P&O or Cunard if not wearing Jacket & Tie or Dinner Suit you will stick out like a sore thumb.in fact you will be refused entry into MDR and certain bars. I don’t have strong feelings either way,if you don’t like the rules don’t book the cruise.

Hi Maris Shame it’s all over,one of the best bloggs I’ve read….really enjoyable. And the photos made it even better.

Hi There is a pub 100m from the cruise terminal called Kelly’s Bar who have live music on. My favourite is the Rob Roy on Pearse Sq just a bit further along. My last visit before lockdown on Reflection …..in the Rob Roy. The train station is next to the ship,,,20 minutes into Cork City.

What rules have been broken? It astonishes me why people want threads closed. If I don’t like a thread I don’t read it.

Hi Jim I was on a Round Britain cruise last year,,if you haven’t booked a tour on Shetland already i would suggest doing it know,,,there is a lack of vehicles on Shetland and tours get booked up quick. I also see your cruise has Cobh overnight,,there is some great little pubs and they put on live music when a ship is in,,,,fiddles and Bodhran at the ready. I can see lots of unsteady people walking back to the ship that night. With Liverpool,Waterford and Belfast this is a great itinerary. I will be on the Silhouette cruise from Southampton on 3rd,,,the same itinerary as the one you missed with COVID last year. The cruise last year was a shambles,,,I’m giving X a second chance.

Hi Also called in these parts……Paddy’s Wigwam.