gadabout60

5 hours ago, indiana123 said:

Hope you are ok with it, and it is a mild one.  Same thing happened to me in September.

 

Take care.

 

 

Thank you - I have had a rough few days and the cough is really nasty

So very sorry and sad to hear your news Josy. 
I was feeling very sorry for myself as I have just returned from a cruise with you know what, but this puts everything into perspective. Those poor children. Sending you love

Thanks for that Graham. The receptionist implied that the staff get nothing at all. I will do as you suggest

Can I ask a quick question of you knowledgeable folk. I don’t want to start a new thread and I can’t see a recent thread.

I'm finishing up a cruise on Britannia. I understood that gratuities were now part of the fare but wanted to give a little something to my cabin steward and waiter. I went down to  reception to get a couple of envelopes and asked to confirm that tips were automatically included. The girl on reception said there are no tips and staff don’t get anything. Is that right? I have tried googling but can’t see anything useful. I don’t know now whether leaving a smaller tip is offensive or if I should be leaving a much larger one.

8 hours ago, Megabear2 said:

Was quite a shock.  At least the tickets were only £57.50 each so a bargain there and the flights were only £80 each as well.  Been an expensive concert/hotel week for me.  Elbow in May at the O2 bought on Thursday in the fan presale and now this one, the hotel in London was cheaper than Edinburgh and that's a Marriot!

As a Glaswegian I would say stay in Glasgow!  Very regular train  (and coach ) service between the 2 cities

50 minutes ago, lincslady said:

Awake again at 3 - serves me right for boasting that I sleep better nowadays, which most nights I do. 

 

Although not at all a football fan, I admit to being thrilled about the Lionesses'  progress, and hope it continues.  And still thrilled about the Test matches.  It makes up for the current boredom in Formula 1, which I used to enjoy, as it is just too predicable, and sadly I can't take to Verstappen at all.  I suppose showing an interest in the personalities is perhaps a bit of a 'woman' thing?

 

I have been awake since 2.30 ☹️

9 hours ago, Megabear2 said:

When dining solo in Epicurean I was asked to join two people when I arrived on my recent Arvia cruise but the restaurant refused stating tables had been allocated as per reservations.  There had been a table for 2 next to the mum and her daughter who asked me to join them but according to the restaurant manager it would mess up his table allocation going forward.

 

Based on this I'd say if you want to join someone it is best to arrange in advance.

That seems really inflexible- am sure they could have managed as after all your table would then be free 

3 hours ago, Purdey16 said:

Been another lovely sunny day today , been sorting some of my clothes out for my forthcoming cruise and sorting a kitchen cupboard out and I came across my old gala plate that was gifted to me on our very first cruise 20 years ago, and looking at the menu what choices we used to get to compared to now I think there is some differences 🤔 but thought you’d all like to see how it’s changed now.

No green beans!

It seems to me that P&O need a list of those noisy cabins and declare the problem at point of sale like they do with obstructed views. Then sell at a discount and as someone said above party animals could book them knowing the issues and knowing they are unlikely to be too bothered by the noise - with the discount being a sweetener.

I just saw Debra’s blog and am going to start on it next weekend

2 hours ago, Hogladyrider said:

@The-Inside-Cabin....Pete I have to comment that you and your fellow cruisers have certainly seemed to make the "best" of the changes that have happened to cruising post covid.

 

I am following several other reviews on this cruise line and I am really surprised at the negativity.

 

For me any day I can be on a ship is better than not being on a ship.  

 

I am surprised that folks do not realize that our entire society and world has changed since COVID. 

 

When we cruise in January I do not expect our experience to be the same a pre Covid, but we will have a great time because we are cruising.

 

Your review has been very informative and refreshing and it give cruising a look at the "glass half full" outlook which unfortunately many are viewing it the other way.

 

All businesses have changed and had to regroup.  Thank you for all you have done in providing us with a FABULOUS review of your world cruise.  I am sorry to see it come to an end.  Safe travels home.

I totally agree with this.  You really seem to make the most of every day - both in port and at sea. I love how you embrace the local culture and get a feel for your ports by trying to meet locals and eating the local food etc

Other cruisers do seem stuck in the past and reflect too much on little changes or lack of  pillow gifts. I don’t think they understand how much debt some cruise lines have.

Thank you for your blogs and your positive attitude 

4 hours ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

Which events out of curiosity? Mariners lunches are pretty much given to everyone.  Tiles are useless to me and they’ve been pretty much out of them lately.  I don’t decorate my house or moon over them. Getting invited for a free drink is meaningless if you have a drink package.  I’d love to see big discounts on cruises or the free ones they hand out liberally.  That would show appreciation to me. Yes, agree to disagree.

The point I was making is that I don’t value a mention at a corporate seminar - seems meaningless to me. Regardless of status with any cruise line I don’t look to be mentioned 

Not worthy of a debate though -if a mention floats your boat go for it 

15 hours ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

So you’re good with spending 100’s of 1000’s of dollars without so much as a thank you or we appreciate your business?  I know I’m not ok with that.

I’m sure they appreciate everyone’s business - or should . There are other events for cruisers with loyalty. Maybe have to agree to disagree on this one 

To be honest when I read your post setting out what the day was going to entail I thought it sounded dull and wondered why anyone would want to spend a port day doing that drive for a PR reception. I’m not sure why recognition mattered though?

Thanks for kind thoughts @lincslady and @Beckett

Finally fell asleep at about 3 until close to 7. Feel tired now and I know I have time to fit in a nap this afternoon but that will have consequences tonight!

Anyone in the wide awake club about?

can’t seem to drop off tonight and small problems are magnified at this time of the morning

Other good thing about York is a day at the racecourse if you get your timing right

3 minutes ago, yorkshirephil said:

Emma (CCPM) has been around recently.

Glad to hear it 

I am mostly a lurker but the person who I haven’t heard of in ages is Emma with the “low riders” I do hope she is ok as she often mentioned she has health issues

Gail 

I think I probably misunderstood MaryAnn’s post - I took it to mean they would book back to back weeks in the Caribbean rather than a GV to get perks 

14 minutes ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

If you have been to most locations in the world I imagine perks do matter.  I know they do to me. Do you turn down perks when you go to interesting places?

I’m not saying anyone would turn down perks- what I am saying is I would not choose any holiday based on the perks. the destinations would come first for me.

53 minutes ago, zap99 said:

 Same as farmers markets,  cut out the middleman and charge the punters more money . Ooo, arrr those townies won't notice we are conning them. I have seen chickens going cheep.

When I lived in Buckinghamshire I was always amazed at the high prices charged by (presumably farmers) selling fruit  in lay-bys. Virtually no overheads but much more expensive then supermarkets and greengrocers 

I am interested in your comment about back to back cruises yielding more perks. Do the perks matter that much? I appreciate you have cruised to most places but personally  I’d rather have interesting destinations than perks 

Well you missed out. Was more than a reality show

I almost gave up after the first episode but glad I stuck with it - by the 3rd episode I was hooked too!