Missus Makkem

it was the same boarding the Ovation last week ...super efficient.

I always bring my own from home, or purchase my own toiletries in embarkation city prior to the cruise. The stuff on board is awful :(

Had a very pleasant surprise on our Harmony cruise last week when the amenities were all L Occitane....fab.

Wetherspoons in the old part of Southampton is also good.

Not too far to walk and they do a good eggs Benedict,all reasonably priced.

Just got off the Ovation today in Barcelona and we had a kettle... great for our afternoon cuppa.

Here is a link to her blog, with her "explanation..

 

http://www.iamfiercelyoptimistic.com/#!Untitled/c1rfl/572418630cf26b6d6846e40b

What a contrived fairy story.....

Aload of utter rubbish.

She needs help but not from any Embassy.

2 days til we embark on Ovation.

If you are spending anytime in a hotel before your cruise, be sure to pack an electrical outlet adapter for your electrical appliances. If the device, such as a laptop, has it's own transformer you won't need to power adapter - just the outlet adapter.

 

I always pack a facecloth for Europe since most of the hotels don't supply one. ( I wonder how they scrub their nether-regions? :eek:)

a face cloth for you nether regions ugh.....its a face cloth.

used to be in the good old days people would not post about happenings on the Quest so it could be a big surprise but no more a surprise after the OP s posting!!!

We have friends who love sushi and will go to Windjammer pick up a plate of it plus wasabi etc and bring it out to have as nibbles with their drink.

I know some will not want to read this so go away now if it offends you. We only sometimes cruise in a full suite but always go to the CL. Believe it or not, the concierge depends on tips for a living so we always tip him/her as if we were in a suite. Trust me, after a few cruises the concierges like having us in their lounge just as much as having full suite guests. Honestly ask your selves do you honestly think he/she really cares how much you gave Royal for your room or do you think he/she cares who much you give them?

The concierge does not rely on tips for a living they are actually an Officer based at Guest relations and as such they are salaried.

Tips are their perk of being a Concierge.

The views getting into those ports are great.

Even better going up the Gerenger fjord or back down if you have a Norwegian captain as they will have you on deck telling you of all the waterfalls sights etc you go past.

Check you have blackout curtains asit will not get dark at night where you are going a bit of dusk perhaps but who knows you might glimpse the Northern lights right up at the top of the world.

As a Brit have no idea what this is!!!

Do not worry too much about tendering in Villafranche as Royal use the local very large tenders provided by the local authority here.

They are usually very efficient and hold lots of passengers.

We are trying our first River cruise next month and are really looking forward to it.

Off down the Danube and the differences will be interesting but so far the company have been great.

M&M is primarily a female senior citizen event just like CC. The ladies love the little trinkets that the cruise line provides. The men prefer spending sea days in the casino or the bar.

Why dont you just stir it up?

I just wondered if someone knows the number or the rough number of D, D+ & Pinnacle members there are currently, or if this number is not available.

 

I was just curious, no other reason :)

 

Thank you

Jean

The Loyalty Ambassador often gives out numbers at the Welcome back party but just think these can all change after RCI s ships do another week or so cruising

I'm surprised you wouldn't have to go through customs in Barcelona, since London isn't in the European Union. I would think you be in transit through Heathrow. Or am I dreaming?

When we connected in Paris, we cleared customs there so we didn't in Barcelona.

 

 

Oh dear I thought the decision to not be in the European union was not happening til June 23rd, this year the things you learn on Cruise critic.

We do not use the Euro for currency as we still prefer the good old British pound.

Be aware that after the recent atrocities in Europe specially Brussels airport security is being hyped up and this could cause you more than a slight delay at Barcelona airport.

Not worth the angst, get there the day before.

I'm booked on the Independence 2017 and we port in Brussels. I am MORE motivated to go now. These sites are not guaranteed to be here 10-20 years from now because some terrorist may destroy them. I want to see as much of the world as I can while it is in tact.

Worry not as it is not possible to port in Brussels.

Another who has over the last 2 years tried Celebrity and love it, change of many things but specially new itineraries.

Never say never as we have loved Royal too but felt it was time for a change and it certainly worked for us.

The Indy is very much a children friendly ship...great H2O zone, wish I could use it.

Have never seen anyone turned away either in the CL or DL...perhaps other's have.

My other half was asked one time to return after 6pm in long pants and not shorts.

Did not bother him, he just forgot the time as he was chatting to friend but he did comply with the Concierges request.

Try asking when you get on board, amazing what your cabin attendant can do.

Just incase anyone missed the bargains.

Transfers etc are often included in your cruise documents. That long 18 or so page thing that people rarely read or print

But the OP was not on the transfer lists that the vans coming to the hotel had.