wineoclock

Yes but at those prices there shouldn’t be disappointments imo. Will judge E class retreat soon. Pretty sure it will wow me.

Wonder how well the PH are selling on E class compared to M and S class? Personally no chance I’d go PH on E unless the itinerary wasn’t available on S or M.

I like the idea of Go Green but I’m on holiday so I do quite like having the cabin done again. Will think about it.

Yes definitely no need to tip in Southampton.

Watched it all abroad on BBC. Everyone did you proud Ma’am.

Good tips above. If you can time your stay in Venice with the Redentore Festival I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. But prices for the hotels (that I looked at) in Venice over that period were at least 3 times what they usually are.

You are welcome. If you can afford it book private tours. Go to your roll call & see if you can join some - easier on the pocket & smaller groups. Far more manageable. You’ll get used to the heat.

Love sailaway from my balcony with G&T in hand. Bliss.

I’m not keen on smaller ships. So I prefer being in a suite on a larger one. Horses for courses. If everyone liked the same it would be a boring world.

The Europe boards https://boards.cruisecritic.co.uk/forum/472-mediterranean-eastern-western/

Oh that’s a shame The redentore here https://www.venetoinside.com/events-in-veneto/great-events/venice-redentore-festival/

Also I’d hazard a guess that a European sailing later would be more popular. We were in Spain recently & a lot of restaurants in the evening where we were did not open till 8.30. We were asked to wait in the bar of one having arrived at 8.20pm.

Try & stay in Venice to see the Redentore festival & fireworks if you can. Going to Olympia on my next cruise. Santorini try to do Oia or Akrotiri. The island is spectacular & Oia is known to have one of the best sunsets in the world. Ephesus you want to do the biblical sites as well if you can or a best of Ephesus. Mykonos - we just went to a beach. Athens - well you can’t not see the Acropolis. Plaka, Monisteraki. So much to see. Chania- I would see what excursions are offered. Knossos, the 15km gorge, Spinalonga just off the top of my head. Zakynthos- also know as Zante. I’ve not been. Also look on the port of call boards.

I’ve been on Connie once. Nice ship but limited for me a bit compared to S class. Good itineraries though. Where are you sailing to? And maybe someone can help if you put a photo of where you are going.

An advantage to me of being on a private tour is that i can say I’ve had enough or I’d rather have lunch in a different restaurant. The only ship excursions I do are either in difficult locations (unusual) or if the local operators are booked or to use OBC.

We have tipped at the end unless we have held a party in which case we tipped after the party.

We were on a Disney cruise several years ago. Every single tour in Corsica was delayed private & ship. I never worried after that excursion. All tours are trying to get back at the same time. One is delayed? I can pretty tell all are.

Actually do you know I think I am wrong about the return of the food & way it looks. It would be served that way in the modern establishments but not in the more traditional fish tavernas.

That does look nice. I look forward to trying it. However if that was served to a Cypriot in Cyprus it would be sent back without trying. It’s not how the Cypriots would serve or eat their fish. The whole fish (including the head) would be cooked on the barbecue & served very simply With parsley, onion, lemon & olive oil.

We like a balcony. Hot tub on our balcony. With the kids that (at the time) I could keep an eye on & not worry about where they were. Also I’m limited mobility- I’d never catch them up if they scarpered! Im paying all that money I want to be able to enjoy my balcony & not feel cramped. As above breakfast on balcony, sunbathing, coffee first thing. Life has some pleasures & I want to enjoy what suits me as much as I can. Id not pay for PH on E class but I would on M or S. Everyone is different.

That’s what we aim for. Show first dinner after. Then casino.

5pm is very early for dinner. I’d be wanting another meal later if I ate that early!

I don’t understand the how the PH balcony have been designed on E class. Not everyone wants to use a shared sun deck no matter how good the retreat. The PH balcony on S class is good but on M class we were blown away. I don’t think I’d bother with PH on E class as the balcony is important to me.

It’s a magical place Lapland. Maybe because the kids were little & so excited to meet the ‘real Father Christmas’ but a great holiday. We did 4 nights & only saw the lights on one of them on a trip into the forest on sledges. If you get the chance take it. You won’t regret it.

There is a sticky here but not as comprehensive as M or S class sticky I think the person starting them passed away or simply because not enough info yet. Someone more knowledgeable will be along I’m sure.