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MBP&O2/O

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Everything posted by MBP&O2/O

  1. I have been totally 'dead ship' twice in unfavourable circumstances. The first time wasbeing towedoutof a drydock by two tugs. We had no engines. No problem until a sudden squall which caused one tug to snap its line and the remaining one couldn't cope. All we could do, on the poop, was stand clear when we collided with the jetty. A surreal experience🙂 The other time was in force 8 when we lost the main engine and within an hour we lost the emergency generator. That was 'interesting' 🙂 I dread to think what was going through their minds when they realised just exactly what was going to happen.
  2. For what it is worth, the last time I was seriously involved in a dry dock it was on an oil tanker. The following surveys were made: (a) 3rd Special Survey of the hull with thickness determination. (b) Docking Survey. (c) Annual Survey. (d) Safety Equipment Survey. (e) Safety Construction Survey. (f) Load Line Survey. (g) Completion of Continuous Machinery Survey. (h) Tailshaft Survey. The reason I was involved, was that the DD was in April and the ship sank the following January. I was2/O at the time. The reason was suspected metal fatigue on a cooling pipe. Just to prove that even a DD isn't perfect 🤣
  3. It would be interesting to know exactly what happened, why it happened, and what the damage was.
  4. Unfortunately it is not what you or I believe that counts .... it is what the company safety officers perceive the risk to be. 🙂 Having been there and worn the tee-shirt I will concur with their decision to ban them.🫡
  5. Ballpark ...we used to take about 30 days from the Arabian Gulf to Europe or the other way round. Where from/to could make a couple of days difference. This was a base speed of 15 knots. The only 'stop' was a very brief stores r/v with a launch off Robben Island.
  6. I understand that some cruise lines may object to this practice citing fire / safety issues. It could be worth some research?
  7. Must have been one BIG bang 🙂 I've been on a few ships where we have gone alongside and damaged the paintwork but have never seen a puncture. The going rate in those days was to come alongside, broadside, at a speed of 1 metre per minute.
  8. IMHO SS UK really don't care. They have set themselves very low standards and they consistently fail to meet them. Since covid every dealing I have had with them has been less than satisfactory. Even my TA whom I now use is getting frustrated with them.
  9. I tried mock booking with them. Two adults with three cases. The 'basic limo' was classified as too small so an upgrade in size was required .... at double the price. I think not 😁 I remember someone pointing out that pre D2D they suddenly offered a 'free' limo service. Coincidentally the prices of the few cruises it was offered on increased by £200? If you did not want the service they offered a 'refund' of £100. Taking the Mickley is a polite interpretation 🙂
  10. We had a lovely meal at Ennio's, an Italian within walking distance of the PI. Town Quay I believe? Bookings suggested.
  11. Possibly via a TA who hasn't sold their 'allocation ' ?
  12. Not as busy on that day 🙂 Just three others, a Carnival, a Princess, and Silversea.
  13. It will be an interesting day for you. Also scheduled to be in port the same day ..3 June 2024 Celebrity Edge Discovery Princess Eurodam Koningsdam Norwegian Sun The town could be heaving.
  14. MBP&O2/O

    SS/SB

    My last cruise was SB. One night a guy came into the MDR wearing jeans and a faded round neck tee shirt with the obligatory logo. He then complained he was cold so staff fetched him a blanket to wrap around his shoulders. Encouragement not enforcement? I understand questions were asked at the time but ..... Having said that, imho, the whole F&B department was shocking in its management....
  15. We paid $50pp for a UK deviation. We requested specific flights ... KLM .... NCL AMS FCO on the day before the cruise. No problem. TA sorted it. Obviously lost all transfers etc. Wouldn't touch Blackstone. Too many comments about last minute cancellations and I suspect the 'base car' has a very restricted luggage allowance which they enforce and they then invite you to upgrade to a larger vehicle.
  16. I had an issue with 'MySilversea' some time ago. They merged my account with the Memsahibs. I contacted a help line who said that they will only deal with post cruise problems. Please contact your PCC. Really? I contacted said PCC who told me in no uncertain terms that it was nothing to do with her and any queries should come via my TA. Customer services at its best ..... not🥴
  17. I lied ... it was just under six months ... I forgot the time in drydock🙄 so when you factor in the long haul around the Cape, it all adds up. In those five and a half months we managed .... From To Falmouth (Drydock) Port Said Suez Canal Southbound Transit Suez Mina Al Ahmadi Mina Al Ahmadi Suez Suez Canal Northbound Transit Port Said Puerto Foxi, Sardinia Puerto Foxi, Sardinia Port Said Suez Canal Southbound Transit Suez Mina Al Ahmadi Mina Al Ahmadi Suez Suez Canal Northbound Transit Port Said La Spezia La Spezia Port Said Suez Canal Southbound Transit Suez Mina Al Ahmadi Mina Al Ahmadi Suez Suez Canal Northbound Transit Port Said La Spezia La Spezia Port Said Suez Canal Southbound Transit Suez Das Island Das Island Jebel Dhanna Jebel Dhanna Suez Suez Canal Northbound Transit Port Said Genoa Genoa Port Said Suez Canal Southbound Transit Suez Das Island Das Island Jebel Dhanna Jebel Dhanna Suez Suez Canal Northbound Transit Port Said Genoa Suez Canal Transits x 10 Total Mileage 47704
  18. They don't 'have to' of course .... but if they want the Suez Canal then yes ... The incident I mentioned .. on a six month trip we went UK to the Gulf, then four round trips Gulf to Italy and a half trip back to Italy when Ieft. When the canal was closed it worked out at roughly at a month each way .. Gulf to Italy to Gulf. Big difference in money / time.
  19. FWIW .. i have just come back from Florence. In early March the crowds and queues were horrendous. Unless pre-booked, expect at least an hours queue for the museums and once inside be prepared for more crowds and very limited viewing. Our hotel staff said it will get a lot more crowded If you want a reasonable hotel near to the train station, we stayed at the Grand Hotel Baglioni. It is a 10 min walk to the Duomo area and there are some decent eateries in the area. Less than a 5min walk from the station. Ten mins to the Accadami and twenty to the Uffizi.
  20. Not a particularly nice trip for the officers and crew of the Merchant Ships that do have to transit that area. I once did a Suez Canal Transit on a fully laden oil tanker ... 50,000 tons of oil ... whilst the Egyptian and Israeli chaps were sniping at each other ... one stray bullet, one spark, and who knows what could have happened?
  21. I can sympathise... last year we did Newcastle to Vancouver via Amsterdam. First flight was 0900 ...which meant be at the airport for 0700 which meant getting up at 0500 and arriving YVR at 1600 plus clocks ... ie 0100🤪. Arrived at the hotel around 0200 body clock time. Didn't know it is was Tuesday or Easter🙃. We just had a quick meal and dragged out bedtime as best we could but still woke up at 0600. Unfortunately it was a case of 'live with it' for the rest of the day. We booked 2 nights pre-cruise because of the jet lag. I will not use drugs for sleep etc.
  22. The use of abbreviations doesn't bother me ... most are self explanatory and those that aren't can be researched on Google ... if it is that necessary. Two things cause me the odd raised eyebrow. One is when people put a 'part' name of a ship and expect everyone to know which ship they mean. Odyssey was a well used one. More than one ship has/had Odyssey as part of its name. As stated, a couple of extra seconds? The second is a personal gripe ...people who misspell the name of a place they are visiting. I would give an example of " carribbean " .... without even a capital letter? I am getting grumpy in my old age 🤨
  23. AFAIK 😄 It is an abbreviation that is used in the industry so why not on a forum? There are numerous others in use ... a lot of which are not understood by different nationalities. Where do you draw the line on what is and is not an acceptable abbreviation?
  24. On our ships, with European crews, the officers and the crew dined separately. ALL food was cooked in the same place and quality was equal across the board. Perks for us? Meals were NEVER a relaxed affair. You had no choice about what to wear, and no choice about when to eat, or where to sit. Taking as long as twenty minutes for a meal was frowned upon. Meals were frequently missed altogether if operational requirements deemed it necessary. When in port, 6 hrs on, 6 hrs off. Same principle but no dining saloon as you were in working gear. Swings and roundabouts?
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