Ardennais

I wonder where they’ll make their money on this sailing. We went for the Princess Plus fare which includes drinks, Wifi and Grats. Still a cheap cruise even allowing for that. Bought a bar of soap for $3 and a cap for $12 - my husband when packing could only find a cap with Russia on it so needed a new one! I struggle to see what else will be on our account as we’re not doing any excursions!

To make dinner reservations, view and book shore excursions, view drink menus I suppose. No paper copies and therefore no drop off boxes for booking shorex.

One thing that’s very very evident is that everyone seems to be looking at their phone due to the app. And we’re not talking about youngsters but middle aged and older!

As you can tell from the photo, it’s not P&O! We boarded Enchanted Princess yesterday after a stressful few days! Set up Medallion App about 5 weeks ago and uploaded our Covid passes. Ordered the Medallion which was ready for us at Ocean terminal. The Covid passes were still pending approval when we boarded! Did a Prenetics supervised test on Zoom on Wednesday - after registering and setting up our profiles three weeks ago. I also uploaded our certificates which arrived within the hour and they were also pending approval yesterday. Same for everyone! They still wanted too see copies yesterday. The app doesn’t work everywhere - it keeps logging out and there were queues waiting for help last night. There are QR codes on tables for the drink menus but they don’t work anywhere and paper copies are few and far between. Small niggles but we know by now what mocktails they have - a first timer wouldn’t know. Enchanted Princess can take 3600 passengers. The cruise director last night announced that there are 2600 onboard - 69% full. 1200 are first time Princess cruisers and there are 250 Elite passengers. 48 nations are represented. Service is good thus far and the atrium area by the International Cafe on deck 5 us lovely and spacious. Turn down last night and fresh towels provided. Lovely airy ship, very very clean. About 5 weeks ago on the app I had booked 7.20 dinner, Capri restaurant for the 7 nights. When we got there last night I was told that it was still first come first serve but that I could try the other door! The second lady I spoke to was far more efficient and led us in straight away! We spoke to some other passengers later on and they were all totally confused with the system! We’ll see tonight what happens! That’s all for now. I know this is the P&O board but I don’t mind answering some questions if that’s ok!

We’re on the sea again after a 26 month break!

Free with P&O as we paid Select. Can’t remember what happened with RCI and NCL

Helsinki is a fair way to the centre and shuttles were provided. Tallinn is a fairly easy walk. In Copenhagen we’ve always docked at the Langelinie terminal with various cruiselines. We once walked with the children all the way to Tivoli Gardens and although quite a distance, it was a very pleasant walk. As you say, the hoho is also an option which we’ve done but beware - the last bus stops in the city centre around 5pm. We were caught out thinking it would take us back to the cruise terminal!

It’s Often Not Accurate

Sorry I thought it was in the safe as you said you hadn’t taken it out. I thought you meant out of the safe!

Sorry to hear that. Is it possible that the cabin attendant hadn’t actually seen it? They might just have opened the safe quickly and assumed it was empty as it’s sometimes difficult to see flat objects. It therefore could have been the next passengers!

I’ve said it before, I have nothing against them personally. But one branch is now looking for another grace and favour residence in Windsor, but are keeping their grace and favour London base, and hanging on to their current country pile in Norfolk too, just in case. There’s something badly wrong somewhere.

I’ll spell it out then. ROYAL Family!

Nothing to do with jealously or envy. All to do with subsidising this lot at the top. And in the old days, people didn’t know any better! They were brainwashed into loving the hereditary family.

As I said, if private citizens have made their own money, fair enough. It’s the family right at the top that gets me. For goodness sake, if they have to attend these functions, then at least show some self-awareness and rewear your costly clothes and hats. You can argue that the formal events are their so-called working shifts, but Royal Ascot is most certainly not and neither is the regatta!

I’m glad you mentioned Royal Ascot. I have no objections to moneyed people spending their money in any way they wish, but it really sickens me to see the hereditary family gadding about in their finery day after day. Out of touch? I think so.

But it’s the reality for so many families. I’ve seen mothers rushing here and there over the years, working in social care, retail or hospitality (the kind of jobs we have around here) just earning the minimum wage during school hours just to pay basic bills. Another thing to consider is that these people won’t have the good private pensions that a lot of our members here enjoy. Forget buying shares, forget having several meals out a week. Forget multiple cruises every year! And as Wozz said, the hospitality industry can’t offer better wages as they would then have to increase their prices.