bob_a_builder

I'd read somewhere Towel animals had stopped. But can confirm they are still happening too

To update this story

On Explorer or Adriatic Explorer out of Corfu tonight

Turn down and choccis are certainly happening as is Cruise News being delivered to cabin 

I.e exactly has it has been on all previous cruises for us so not sure why it wasn't happening for others as reported earlier 

After that  last call, I did call into the local TUI shop, with much the same result, one of the girls did try to call into Marella on my behalf, but even though she was staff they refused to speak to her, since was not the LEAD passenger ! - So left none the wiser. To her credit she kept trying after I had left the shop and called me later that day, informing that the would be available 2 week before, and it wasn't just me and no-one else would have had earlier access
Checked tonight and they are now at last available as she said. 2 weeks before cruise date

The dining options had already become available about 3 week before cruise date

Who knows whether this is the new normal or there was just some internal web site issue 
Anyway case closed as far as excursions on this cruise (Adriatic Explorer - 3rd May) is concerned

Well, No surprises there then
Didn't receive the promised email from Excursions team as stated on Thursday
Nor the promised follow up call on Monday to check that email had arrived

On, todays call . I explain it all again , get "Ok Sir, this time I'm going to put your thru direct to Excursions team" -- holding muzac
"Hello, I'm X from the Reservations team....." , " Oh No I don't have any visibility of excursions" - I'll have to email them and get back to you 

Its a comedy of errors, they are totally incompetent, and there is no accountability since you can never get back to the same person, so they continue to fob you off each time

 

Thanks 
Yes I have tried that on the phone app

and on the PC if you go direct to the Cruise Control page
https://www.marellacruisecontrol.tui.co.uk/login
You have to log in each time anyway
Still no joy

 

One possibility, could be due to still having a 'red dot' on one of the Cruise control sections, which they did blame as one of the reasons I might not have access to the Excursions/Dining sections ?

Initially I had 2 red dots
I was able to clear the red dot on the Travel Information section by adding requested info
But when clicking on Passport info (already entered on same day as booking) which is also marked with red dot. 
On the next screen it confirms all data is entered , so there is no further information reqd

And it seems to be stuck in that un-resolvable loop 
Whether thats really limiting my access, only TUI know but can't resolve, but do say others are having problem too

 

Still no change for me !  even now inside the recently invented '30 day' rule ?
Still no visibility of excursions or dining options
Been on phone today, claim they will be sending me an email with the possible options 
Lets see if that happens ....
 

Yes, Looks like the 30 days thing is something like 'buying time' to get the issue fixed.
When I 1st called, they tried the 'Yes, we have had reports of a problem today...."  - although I had had the problem every day for the previous 5 days
On the 5 calls I had, it was a different excuse each time before they came up with that one - which is difficult to argue against
I also went into shop today, they said they wouldn't be able to see anything any different from me, and they couldn't  ! - just the blank screen too
Putting aside the actual booking issue to one side, they have been unable to even provide a list of possible excursions and pricing so you might plan your trips - How many umpteen times have they run this cruise before and must have all those ducks in a row even if they are unable to take a booking for them

After multiple calls (5 actually), to different CS agents all offering varying reasons/excuses as to why I am unable to book excursions. 
On the last call I have finally been told excursion booking opens 30 days before cruise date !
I'll try again then,
 

But the blank screens I'm seeing are filling me with confidence 
Surely the web site could inform me of that window rather than just blank me !

Ok - thanks, not been aware of the actual booking windows before.
Have always been what I think is a late booker, a month or so before sailing, and have not bumped into any restrictions before ( just lucky perhaps)
But the fact its just a blank screen rather than some sort of notification message and the fact that the phone app is not allowing me in at all was/is starting to concern 

On 3/24/2024 at 11:11 AM, Jim The Scot said:

Ps software issue?No software issue if you want to book excursions😉

Is it just me then ....?

Try to book Dining says 

"Unfortunately, Speciality Dining is not yet available to book on your chosen date, please check back again later."

Trying to book excursions 
Just loads an empty page !  - tried 2 different browsers on PC  same issue

Trying on the phone app (android) - App won't go past splash screen
 

for a 3rd May cruise

On Discovery 2 in Caribbean last week 

Labels really need to be on cases on initial airport check in 
Since the next time you see your bags is out side your cabin door 
With out the right labels it might be much longer before you see them ?

We were on Discovery 2

Yes, the 2 future ads I was looking at, whilst are same itinerary, do refer to the  Explorer 2 ship

Just back from the Caribbean having done the "Flavours of the Caribbean" and "Exotic Explorer" trips back to back
We thought we were booking a Adults only cruise, but  disappointed to find that certainly wasn't the case on board
Others also seemed to think they had booked an Adults only cruise ?
Can't refer back to the Advert I booked from 
But looking at TUI advertising of  future versions of same trips it does specify adults only
Do they vary that based on school holiday dates etc - although didn't think we were travelling in a school holiday zone