Denarius

Not sure about specifically for solo travelers, but Saga, P&O and Star Clippers certainly operate communal tables in their open seating restaurants. On entering the restaurant you will be asked if you are happy to share. Answer yes and you will be taken to a communal table occupied by others of a similar mind, usually a mixture of solo travellers and gregarious couples. You will be seated with different people most days, which is a good way of meeting new people.

I am quite honestly amazed. I have sailed with P&O for many years and they have always had hand sanitizing stations at the restaurant and buffet entrances. This practice well predated covid and was I understand a precaution agains Norovirus, which is still exists. All other lines with which I have sailed have taken similar precautions. It beggars belief that P&O would discontinue this practice.

Thank you all for your very helpful comments. Whilst I have been to Germany on several occasions I have never been at the height of Summer. And whilst I knew that German men often wore shorts on holiday I did not know whether they did so in town at home. I did not wish inadvertently to cause offence by breaching local dress etiquette in wearing them. Your replies have reassured me that I will not. My itinerary is Cologne, Koblenz, Boppard, Rudesheim, Mainz, Miltenberg, Wertheim, Warsburg, Bamberg, Nuremberg, Regensberg, Passau, Melk, Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest. The cruise line is Riviera Travel.

On page 13 of the current 2024 "Boutique Cruises" brochure in the Dining Room section it clearly states that "Here, open seating is standard, so you can arrive and dine whenever you like. Or book a "fixed" table if you'd prefer the same one for the duration of your cruise" So the information is there for anyone who cares to read the brochure.

Never been to Santander or Porto. You are correct that Guernsey is a tender port. Ships have to tender in from a fair distance from shore which unfortunately can lead to the port being cancelled if conditions are bad. The ship docks right in the centre of Vigo at the cruise terminal, no shuttle bus is needed or provided. In Lisbon the ship usually ties up at the new cruise terminal about a 15 minute walk from "black horse square" and the city centre. A shuttle bus is provided but this takes you to the far side of the city centre and you may well find that the places you want to visit - particularly St George's Castle and the cathedral - are closer to the ship than the shuttle bus drop off! There is no charge for the shuttle bus if you book select.

Another line with which I sail makes it clear that should facemasks be required for any reason they will be provided free of charge. P&O should follow suite.

I am shortly to go on a river cruise from Cologne to Budapest via the Rhine, Main and Danube. Whilst in Britain nowadays all it needs is a glimmer of sunshine for men to wear shorts I am conscious that this may not be the case in other countries, at least outside the main tourist areas and beach resorts. Would it be considered normal for men to wear shorts in town along the Rhine, Main and Danube or would this shout out "tourist" or even be frowned upon? Has anyone got experience of this?

Very true. Whilst I always research a cruise line before booking with them I suspect that many don't, especially nowadays when people book online without access to a printed brochure. Having said that, like many things in life choosing a cruise line is usually a compromise. You are unlikely to find one which is perfect for you, there will be things that you like and things that you don't and you will have to accept the latter to get the former. Having accepted them, you should comply even if you would rather not. But that does not preclude you from arguing that rules should be changed even whilst complying with them.

In recent years many (most?) lines have relaxed their dress codes, often making formal dress optional or removing formal nights altogether. Some like Viking, Oceania and Azamara never had them. You may find the following link from this site useful. https://www.cruisecritic.co.uk/articles/what-should-i-wear-on-a-cruise-a-guide-to-cruise-line-dress-codes?stay=1&posfrom=1

But what would they wear on formal nights? Gentlemen their bow ties, and ladies their pearls?

Saga do it on their ships. They have two main restaurants; The Dining Room - which is always full waiter service - and The Grill - which operates as a buffet at breakfast and lunch and offers full waiter service with the same menu as The Dining Room at dinner. On formal nights jacket and tie are required in The Dining Room but smart casual is acceptable in The Grill. It works.

Slightly off topic, but Blankenburg is a small seaside resort in which you can spend a pleasant afternoon if you do not want to go to Bruges.

Or more logically allow smart casual dress in one of the (freedom dining) MDRs.

Coach drivers are all given a target time to arrive at the ship. Coach passengers are then embarked as a group, I recall that someone from P&O came onto the coach and gave everyone numbered cards.

As I now understand it - it appears to have changed slightly of late - on formal nights men need to wear jacket and tie to dine in The Dining Room and the speciality restaurants, and (somewhat incongruously imo) to go to the theatre. It does not need to be a dinner suit, a lounge suit will suffice. Smart casual is acceptable in The Grill, which offers the same waiter served menu as the dining Room, and in all other areas of the ship including the bars and Britannia Lounge.

Whilst I accept that there are some people who pay higher prices purely to be seen to have something beyond the reach of the majority, most do so in the expectation of higher quality. In the particular case of cruising, people pay more to sail with upmarket lines like Saga and Viking rather than mid market lines like P&O in the belief that (for them personally) the higher standards of food, service etc are worth the extra cost.

But if you restrict the number or MDR places available then some passengers who wished to dine there will be bounced into the buffet or into pay extra restaurants or cabin service, increasing Carnival's profit. A nice little earner!

AllClear are generally good where existing health conditions are concerned as this is their speciality.

Correct. On my 3 Saga cruises (all post pandemic) I have always been offered and booked shared transport, but on the first two occasions this was upgraded to private for health & safety reasons at no extra cost. On the most recent occasion I got shared transport as booked and paid for, as Saga returned to normality.

For most passengers I doubt whether the quality of the coffee would be a make or break or even a significant factor in deciding whether or not to sail with Saga.

But on the downside, if you use Saga's included service it is their responsibility to get you to the ship on time. If you drive yourself the responsibility is your own. Not a great consideration if you live close to the port, but a significant one if you live at some distance.

Must be very frustrating, but I suspect that Saga were only repeating what they had been told. I have sailed with different lines and have been struck by how the same excursions are usually offered by them. I believe that the excursions themselves are designed by local firms who have the knowledge and connections, and are run by them for the cruise lines. The cruise lines have no detailed knowledge of the excursions other than what they have been told by the organisers.

Thank you for the info.

Is formal attire required in the speciality restaurants on formal nights, or is smart casual acceptable as in The Grill?

Saga state that it is their intention that all passengers should have the opportunity to dine in the speciality restaurants but do not say how they seek to achieve this. It has been suggested (but not confirmed) that they operate an informal rationing sysyem during the first few days of the cruise during which only one reservation (per restaurant?) per cabin is accepted to prevent the sharp elbowed from placing multiple bookings as soon as they get onboard. So I sugest that you put in a booking during this period before open season is declared.