cublet

Hello, I've used 'Nordicvisitor.com' in the past and found their prices reasonable and service excellent. Regards, Cublet

Hello, third party, noun : a third person or organisation less directly involved in a matter than the main people or organisations that are involved. I think that is what you have just described? Regards, Cublet

Hello, For years I used to book direct with a named individual but she has left/retired. Regards, Cublet

Hello, Many thanks for that. I did look at The Cliff Bay but after a while didn't know what, or where, I was looking. The name is too much like a hotel I stayed in (but now closed) in Torquay. So looking afresh: Have you experienced it? I wondered whether the à la carte offering, despite the cost, is better than the table d'hôte. I see no mention of it, but do they have a dress code? I've seen it enforced a Reid's where they asked a guest to sit inside and not on the terrace. Regards, Cublet

Hello, When sailing times allow I take Tea at Reid's - direct and not by a ship's excursion. I have just booked for this September but noticed a couple of changes. Firstly the booking was taken via a third party called SEVENROOMS whose acknowledgements now require a 48 hour notice of cancellation and, secondly, the imposition of a 'penalty fee' of €50 pp if you fail to do so. Initially I thought the €50 'penalty fee' was a bit steep compared to the €39 cost of Afternoon Tea last year, but, no, that is the cost this year of Afternoon Tea (a glass of Moet is an extra €28). The increase is probably to pay the cost of employing SEVENROOMS that will probably only tell Reid's what they already know. I have pointed out that for cruise passengers, we might not have the opportunity to give 48 hours notice because of adverse weather or medical emergency diversions delaying or even cancelling our arrival and asked for a re-think or special consideration. Two such requests have gone unanswered. In the absence of Reid's response, here are two (or three) other options. The Ritz is in down-town Funchal. A BIG plus is it's on the flat and can be achieved on foot. Afternoon Tea is only €35 and includes a glass of wine (including something sparkling). The Savoy Palace (and Royal Savoy but only for Sundays) are both about halfway to Reid's and less of a hike. Afternoon Tea is €40 and a glass of Champagne is an extra €18. I have no experience of either, but if anyone does then their input would be helpful. If I *DO* hear anything more from Reid's/Belmond, I will keep you updated. Regards, Cublet.

Hello, Proof, if any was needed, that MSC has been recruiting former RCI staff wholesale. BTW, I've not seen an offer here including Wifi. Regards, Cublet

Hello, No, I would rather supplement my cruise fare by either 25% or 50%. Regards, Cublet

Hello, I know we are two nations divided by a common language but I've always looked upon a 'supplement' as an addition and not a multiplier. Regards, Cublet

Hello, I've booked the Single Special rate during the (new) 'black-out' (mid June - mid August) period but only because the muppets inputting the UK prices used the old black-out dates of (all) July & August. You just can't get the staff these days. Regards, Cublet

Hello, According to 'shoreside' it isn't necessary as long as the bookings are made as B2B. How that is don't I don't know as my TA makes the bookings. However the information doesn't always appear 'wetside' or if it is it is ignored. I speak as someone that was hounded TWICE for not lodging a credit card for my second (or third) cruise. Whilst that p*ssd me off at the time, my complaint to Miami resulted in 2 x $300 OBC on future cruises for the inconvenience. Regards, Cublet

Hello, I did once suggest to the Community Manager / Host that one would only be allowed to start a thread having sat and passed a test on how to use the 'Search' function. Regards, Cublet

Hello, Yes, yet another Royal Group IT 'enhancement'. Regards, Cublet

Hello, Theatre? It's either a Brian Rix Whitehall farce or a Greek tragedy! Regards, Cublet

Hello, Don't go giving them ideas! Regards,. Cublet

Hello, I can only speak, recently, of the Martini Bar (on Silhouette) - and it is ESPECIALLY true of them. Regards, Cublet

Hello, The answer to the question as the title of this thread is "Yes". I have been saying this for years on both X and RCI. What I have yet to decide is whether this is down to malevolent training or a lack of any training. Charge dear but serve cheap? Hmm. Do the guys serving you come from somewhere that has Champagne, Prosecco or Cava? Probably not. Without adequate training they probably think everything with bubbles is the same but with different names - including the cheap swill that is served as a 'freebie' at mass gatherings or a 'gift' in your cabin. I use my (then) Elite Plus (or RCI Pinnacle) discount to buy a bottle of what I want and have it kept at a bar of my preference (usually Passport Bar or Suite/Concierge Lounge). I'll tell you two places where this has never been a problem - Cunard and MSC. Regards, Cublet

Hello, I was on after Easter and the (new Melitta) machine had been replaced with the (old) WMF machine. Regards, Cublet

Hello, Anthem had two earlier this year but I never saw them being used. They were adjacent to a board-games area and the noise wasn't very chess-like. Regards, Cublet

Hello, The last time I saw this asked, it was followed-up with the same query on taking a microwave oven. I hope it was in jest. Regards, Cublet

Hello, Phyllis Grosskurth writing on Freud said he thought it would not be possible both to be loyal and have a mind of one's own. Sounds pretty familiar even today. However whilst I still have a mind (and before I turn into a sheep) I intend to keep using it. Regards, Cublet

Hello, So: I am RCI Pinnacle, X Elite Plus (through my own bookings but now matched to Zenith) and Diamond on MSC (again through my own bookings and not status-matched). I’m still in the ‘foot-hills’ of the P&O and Cunard loyalty schemes. I sailed in the 2000s out of Europe but for the last 10 or 12 years only out of the UK – and never to/from the US so this is from an ex-UK viewpoint. I have only ever heard announcements in multiple languages on MSC during: (a) boarding day Muster Drill; (b) Upper Tier Welcome Back cocktails – where the CD spoke fluently in five languages to everyone assembled. (And after which all the officers came around all the tables and ‘clinked’ glasses with us PAX.) Most, if not all, people that board MSC with the mind-set that the Royal/X/NCL way of delivering a cruise experience is the only - and right - way to do it will come away disappointed. If you don’t/didn’t like it then don’t go on a two week holiday staying in a 3*/4* hotel in Italy as that will be a 100% truly authentic Italian ‘experience’ compared to MSC’s (diluted) ‘Italian Flair’ (though I don’t know if they still use that expression). Just board with an open mind and acknowledge the fact that not everywhere is ‘America’. I have never found the MSC ships crowded – nothing compares with the Royal Promenade during the $10 ‘cruise essentials’ sale that makes a rugby scrum look like a vicarage tea party. I found specialty dining on MSC, especially Butchers’ Cut, first class. I would put that on a par with X’s Tuscan Grill but slightly below the level of Murano and nothing (now) comes close on Royal since the sad demise of Portofino’s. MSC’s MDR dinner experience is good - and varied - enough. Royal’s idea of ‘variety’ is 57 different ways of preparing steak. Where MSC fails miserably is over the buffet experience and the MDR breakfast experience. The former is because of the old department store cafeteria-like self-service lines that should be junked at the earliest opportunity. The latter is because the Maitre D’ back-fills tables where people have upped - and - left and waiters don’t know where to wait whereas Royal/X has a rolling programme of filling fresh tables along the length of the MDR. What MSC does not do is conflate the top loyalty scheme passengers and top accommodation passengers – there is nowhere us Diamonds can congregate if not sailing in YC (pronounced ‘Jack Club’ on Euribia in April!) unlike on Royal or X. But I am still happy to go back when not in YC. There, and no mention of ‘half-and-half’ or ‘wash-cloths’. MSC is different – get over it. My dear, late, lamented, Grandmother used to say “There’s nothing new in-under the sun”, and I think this is at least the third time I’ve written this, but this time I’m saving it as a document I can copy and paste into CC once the topic is raised again- as it surely will. Regards, Cublet

Hello, The only time I have lost weight on a cruise was on Celebrity Eclipse in Aqua Class and dining in Blu. Regards, Cublet

Hello, I agree - generally. However if the port is busy then it’s possible a ship may have to berth at the old terminal next to the bridge and a shuttle, or team of huskies, would be necessary from there. Regards, Cublet

Hello, Sorry to have missed you too. We aren’t meeting next year as you cancelled because of school holidays - yes? I hope you have a safe journey home. Regards, Cublet

Hello, Doesn’t AIG sponsor a football team? When asked why I wouldn’t give a ‘Ten’ when I offered a ‘Nine’, I replied I didn’t know what a ‘10’ would look or feel like. Sitting on my lap, cutting my food and feeding me wouldn’t do it. Regards, Cublet