General Agent

Many thanks for your replies. It seems that we will have tissues but will take some just in case. We are very much itinerary/destination driven rather than by cruise line but we do prefer smaller ships, which with less than limitless pockets, means older ships. Not yet tried P&O but perhaps we should.

Many thanks, We thought they had in the past but not been with Fred for some years and in these times of cost cutting we did wonder if it was still the case. Food to hear they still do.

A trivial question I know, but are there facial tissues in all cabins on Balmoral?

I have commented on the other version of this topic but feel it is worth clarifying some points. Yes, the ship is stunning, the staff great and everything spotlessly clean. The free shows were ok but for me lacked the atmosphere that a live ships orchestra adds to a performance and rather loud. Food is subjective but I do expect it to be served hot in the MDR and of good variety and quality, which I personally did not always get. In my opinion, if you are going to have a four day menu rotation on an 8 day cruise, there needs to be a little more choice. The quality of the steak in the MDR in my personal experience was variable from almost inedible to ok. Yes I could have sent it back but on a table of 8 I did not feel comfortable doing so. I would find the ship crowded with more passengers on board especially at double that we experienced (2600) with associated longer service times in the bars. This cruise was great value at about £45pppn for a Bella balcony. We used this cruise as a taster for this ship (and MSC) for a couple of cruises we had our eye on for 2023 where the cost is more than double at about £95pppn and for me at that price does not represent good value especially at greater passenger numbers getting on and off the ship for excursions and shuttles. It is great that we can have, and respect, different opinions and there are cruise lines and ships out there for us all. It's just that this ship is probably not one for us unless it is great value and half empty, which is something you cannot know at time of booking.

We were on this cruise too and agree with most of Bogof1 has said. This ship had 2600 passengers and 1600 crew according to the sign in Le Havre. This ship can take 4800 at double occupancy and 6300 at full capacity with max crew of 1700. At less than half full capacity and only about 5% down on crew, the ship should have been able to cope well with the numbers. Even at these numbers the ship felt crowded in many areas (bars and restaurants) where seating was at a premium and service, except in the evening, slow and somewhat chaotic with drinks orders taking way too long to be taken and arrive and the wrong good and drink orders being delivered. I can only imagine what it would have been like with double the passengers. As this was term time for UK passengers, only pre school children were on board but there were quite a few with buggies etc. The buffet at breakfast was quite relaxed as these things go with plenty of room if you went to the back of the ship, but in several days there were no mugs for tea/coffee for about 20 mins. The 4 day menu rotation was a first for me. At least you knew what not to order second time around. Food quality was variable at best and not up to standards of budget lines used before (CMV, Marella etc.). Dress code is non existent even for 'formal' night so why advertise it as such? Disembarkation was a farce. I don't know the reasons for what happened. Queues started forming for self disinformation before 7.30 and it took over 2 1/2 hours for some to have their face to face passport check.and a.further hour or 2 to get off the ship, due to 'technical reasons'. This passport check was not the main cause of the lengthening queues. The bottle neck was due to the very slow cruise card reading programme. there were 2 border guards checking passports and at least double the number reading the cards and putting stickers on. I.guess this was to ensure all passengers were processed even if they did not got off. There was no meaningful information from staff, no water and no one managing the queing which snaked back in itself in several places. We joined the queue at about 10.15 when it had reduced considerably and got.off on.deck 5 where there was no queue even though there was still a long queue of about 100 people on deck 6. We were out of the port by 11.15 having picked up our car. Not all of the problems can be laid at MSC's door but their card reading system need a full update as it took 3 to 4 time as long as systems in other cruise lines and they need to realise that communication is vital even if you have nothing new to say. Staff going along the lines with water an maybe sweet or biscuits would have helped pacify those who were getting quite heated. Will we sail.with MSC again? Most unlikely as the general cruise experience was not what we like and we now know the big ship experience at anywhere near full capacity is not for us. By the way the original post seems to be repeated and maybe could be merged?

They are magnetic. That is why they ask you if you have a pacemaker on embarkation. What they do if you have one I have no idea.

I wish I had looked this morning, have just got back from on site LFT test (negative) for cruise on Friday from Southampton ..... At least my travel companions can cancel theirs but for me its £20 I could have spent on something else! No message from Princess at all.