vwgolf

Balcony all the time! We love sleeping to the sound of sea with the balcony door open all night.

27 minutes ago, gnome12 said:

Do not start over!

See this thread

 

Thanks but I see that went up six months ago. If it hasn't been fixed by now, I doubt it ever will be!

Just got back from cruising the Adriatic. I can confirm that Corfu Airport is as bad as ever! 

Help! I've just found out that the email address I created my account with is an old one that I no longer use; I always log in with my user name. However, when I try to change my email, I get a message saying my email is blocked due to too many rejected messages. Does anyone know a way around this or do I need to create a new account? Thanks!

We had an Egypt stop cancelled a few years ago by Marella (or Thomson's as they were then) for safety reason. Ironically, we ended up going to Israel instead! 

I'm going on the Explorer next week so this will give me something to look forward to!

On 9/1/2023 at 2:26 PM, dronnygirl said:

I think you need to speak to your insurance company to check exactly what it does cover.  It's always best to be on the safe side.  It does seem inexpensive but we have annual worldwide cover so ours is quite different 

Thanks, just checked with them. Apparently a medical transfer from a ship at sea is covered and this is a different thing to an "air-sea rescue". Who knew?! 

On 9/5/2023 at 10:09 PM, Hookedoncruising! said:

Hi vwgolf,

The explorer does have a large sundeck for adults only.

Perfect thanks. 

Does the Explorer have an adults only pool or outdoor area? We are going during October half term week as my wife is a teacher but would also like to be able to escape the kids for a while (as my wife is a teacher!). Thanks.

I used to take a suit and dress shirt on all cruises but now I don't bother, especially with fly-cruises where they take up so much extra space and weight in your case. The trouble with a "dress to impress" dress code is that it's very much open to interpretation. I just wear smart trousers and a collared shirt for dinners each night, including dress to impress nights. If they stated "black tie" and enforced it, I'd be happy to oblige. 

33 minutes ago, vwgolf said:

We went to Italy earlier in the year and our insurance for a week's stay was just over £15. I've just booked a cruise for October and the insurance, including cruise cover, has rocketed to £64! This was one of the cheapest options after looking at several comparison sites. I'm not sure if it's simply the cruise cover or the fact that I turn 60 the week before we depart that has caused this. 

Also, looking at my policy details I see that is specifically excludes "air-sea rescue". This is something I'd expect to see covered  for cruises, or am I worrying unnecessarily? 
 

Thanks. Less choice in the food offering is something I hear quite a lot which is a shame but costs have to be cut somewhere. I guess it's either that or increased prices, though. 

We went to Italy earlier in the year and our insurance for a week's stay was just over £15. I've just booked a cruise for October and the insurance, including cruise cover, has rocketed to £64! This was one of the cheapest options after looking at several comparison sites. I'm not sure if it's simply the cruise cover or the fact that I turn 60 the week before we depart that has caused this. 

I've just booked our first cruise since 2019 on the Marella Explorer, the Adriatic on 20th October. We're really looking forward to it and although we've cruised with Marella a number of times, we've not been on the Explorer.I'm not a great reader of reviews as they range from the truly awful to the utterly brilliant and depend very much on the eye of the beholder but I was just wondering what we can expect to have changed since our last cruise, back in 2019. Pretty much the same? Standards have slipped? Food better/worse? That kind of things. Thanks!

22 hours ago, oscarshep said:

Hi vwgolf,

The uncertain is becoming more certain almost weekly for travelling so fingers crossed you feel able to travel relatively trouble free very soon. The `faff` around the LFT is actually very straightforward. If you have a mobile phone you will manage fine. Simply buy through the TUI website from whatever supplier you decide. It was my last hurdle before boarding tomorrow at Dubrovnik and I can`t lie ....I`m releived it`s all done now. It took around half an hour tonight to do the 2 tests and upload them to Chronomics. Their instructions were very clear and easy to follow. Our results came back within a minute. Do not be put off cruising for fear of the test as it really is very easy. We`re due to cruise again in October and I hope the test requirement is gone by then. You can view a Chronomics tutorial on YouTube as well if that might help.

Many thanks for you reply. We're looking at the Cosmopolitan Classics cruise sailing on 6th August which visits French, Spain and Italian territories. Hopefully the entry requirements will all be pretty much the same by August!

Excuse my ignorance but what is the difference between these AFT tests and the LFT tests that we used to be able to do free of charge? I still have a supply of these but I'm guessing they can't be used. I'm thinking about booking a cruise for the first time since 2019 but not sure if I can bothered with the faff and uncertainty just yet!

4 hours ago, FIFE1 said:

Jim

 

Looks even less likely given the information from earlier (1) Health secretary saying foreign holidays doubtful this summer. (2) Spain also doing a quarantine of 14 days. We await further information from Marella

 

Yes, it doesn't look like there will be many people going abroad this year. I'm not even sure if we'll get a chance to go somewhere in this country; I can see guards at the Welsh and Scottish borders turning us back!

TUI have a lot to answer for and I've had my fair share of problems this year but this is one where they are right. No cruise line (or any other travel company) will accept responsibility for things you booked independently. My sister's holiday to Florida was cancelled but the travel company (not TUI) wouldn't pay for the theme park tickets she had booked. If you had a poor response from their customer services team that is a different matter - and one many of us have had experience with recently - but to expect them to compensate you for your airline tickets is just pie in the sky. You still have the flights; why not book a hotel stay in Dubai instead? But don't expect the hotel to compensate you if that gets cancelled too.

4 hours ago, so,ton saint said:

 

Thanks for posting COLBRIT those who dares may win, I have my cruise booked for June 2021 Sunshine State and Sand,s but until there is a Vaccination similar to the Flu jab, its a no no for me, three hours Gatwick  10 hour flight  and two weeks on a ship.

 I fancy some of the US sailings too but I'm going to hold off booking any cruises until I'm convinced the risk is being considerably lower than it is now.

19 hours ago, kyleshawney said:

 

Michael O'Leary of Ryan air said when interviewed on the BBC last week, that in their (Ryan Air's) opinion there would be large discounting across the board way into next year by the whole travel industry.

 

He further said it could take to the end of the year to complete the last of all the cash refunds.

 

However It is all speculation, but we will err on the side of caution.

 

He's probably the most dislikeable man in the travel industry!

14 hours ago, nancyneptune said:

 

 

 

Which store did your daughter do her shopping in ?   She needs to make a complaint to the management.

 

She did and received a very apologetic email back.

Best keep the conversation to TUI now before I'm arrested!

On ‎4‎/‎30‎/‎2020 at 2:49 PM, nancyneptune said:

Most people who have a Tesco Clubcard will have received an email from the CEO Dave Lewis this morning explaining the measures their stores are taking during the Coronavirus crisis. Apart from the safety measures they have taken in store to safeguard their customers, they have also taken on 12,000 new staff and 4,000 delivery drivers.  Keeping customers up to date with what's happening in the company.

 

.

A pity they don't put this into practice. My daughter went to Tesco last week and said it was hell on Earth with no evidence of social distancing and staff standing by as people pushed and shoved their way around the store. She went to Lidl this week and said it was heaven in comparison!

On ‎4‎/‎21‎/‎2020 at 6:45 PM, howmuch! said:

 

Congratulations - wonders never cease. I would definitely buy a lottery ticket this week!!

I bought one - no luck, sadly!

42 minutes ago, WeeCountyMan said:

 

Nice one, well done that man.

 

Incidentally, Simon Calder was on BBC Radio Scotland this morning - he reckons flights to Spain and Canaries have a fair chance of resuming July or August.

 

That came as a surprise to the show's host - as it will to many I suspect.

Thank you! It will remain in my bank account for a few months until we are quite confident the situation is as near back to normal as it ever can be!

23 hours ago, howmuch! said:

 

Ahh, didn't realise that. The second email you just received might be 'real money' not just a promise. Let us know when it arrives, as I haven't seen hardly any reports of actual money being deposited. Fingers crossed

Money fully refunded and in my account. Woooo!!!