mrsgoggins

I think an appropriate term here - one of my late mother's favourites - is Job's comforter 😁

I meant it quite literally when I said ‘interesting’. As in, the Captain reporting the positives whilst still urging caution around the ship when reporting that conditions will deteriorate (my word not his, he spoke of increase of swell etc). I guess he has a decision to make about how much to “share” for not wishing to worry people. I had a full lunch today thinking that it just might be the last time I leave my Iona (mid ship) cabin until Southampton! When you first reported the news about Sky Princess missing ports to dock in Southampton 2 mornings ago, I did wonder why we weren’t doing the same and said I hoped it wasn’t because of Gary Barlow being due on board. DH assured me that the Captain would not have included that in his decision making. Hmmmm 🙄 ….. 🤞

Interesting. The captain said this morning that he's made excellent progress since leaving Lisbon yesterday and we have a tail wind, so we shall see.

The standard UK travel industry's response of course. However as someone who has cruised extensively over the past 6 years, and a keen reader of CCs Princess and Celebrity boards,(as I travel with them more frequently than P&O), I don't recall any instances where I thought 'you would have done better with UK consumer protection' when things have gone wrong! Those protections didn't serve us any better during the pandemic when US customers faired in a similar way to us, ie all in good time. However, I do thank you for the insightful responses you make to these boards and the time you give, 👍

Been working on Celebrity for some years and there it is open to UK customers. I have considered it but never done it because of the location issue. I want to guarantee midship and that isn't possible. You already provide your cc details when you bid and so no negotiation over cabin as I understand it.

One laugh emoji wasn't enough 😂😂, very sharp 👍

As a poor sailor, currently in Lisbon on Iona and due back in Southampton on Saturday, I am not cheered by any of this 🤢🤢. I’ll be starting my Stugeron routine tomorrow, wish me luck!

What you describe may be happening on the current cruise also. We have opted for the smaller Opal dining room which appears to book up and disappear from the system, leaving the 2 larger venues to queue virtually. Therefore people are more likely to be turned away from the smaller dining rooms if they are fully booked. Not surprising. This evening people were prevented from entering the theatre (told they could wait if they wished) because they had a booking for the earlier show which they had missed. I can see how this is necessary on a ship the size of Iona when full, but it just isn't for us, despite having no problems ourselves. I've joined the 'prefer a smaller ship' group, but not a 'small' ship - I want big stabilisers for the Bay of Biscay challenge 😉

+1

😁 Very true, the only thing you've ever written that I disagreed with was your not liking Lindt Lindor! Thank you. I have already made a few notes with the intention of writing them up when I am home and have access to a 'proper' keyboard. I can't do thumbs alas, but if there's anything specific you'd like to ask, I'll oblige if I can.

I agree up to a point. I'm on Iona now and can see it's not a good fit for us. I'm a planner, dine early and am reasonably 'tech savvy' but I dislike not being just able to turn up at whichever time theatre performance I fancy after dinner. Even pre-booking 5.30 dining puts you in a queue, often with those who haven't understood the system. I feel really sorry for some older folk who appear bewildered when they reach the front only to be declined immediate entry due to not booking. Then there are those (passengers) aggressively asking if you've booked 'because there are plenty who haven't?'. Only day 3 for me and so it will probably settle down as those not 'in the know' become informed. It's the size of the ship and passenger numbers ultimately. Lots to like on this mega ship but it's a once and done for me! And I will barely mention the 2 thin slices of turkey, one roast potato and 2 sprouts on last night's dinner 😂. Taste was good though!

The photo of Oasis and Enchantment was reassuring for me Graham as we are on the latter later in the year out of Athens. We had a wonderful cruise on the giant (to my eyes) Anthem of the Seas in 2021 but it was only carrying around 1300 passengers. Happier with smaller. Thanks 👍

Same glorious sunshine in my part of SW Lancashire Michelle 👍 Eight years ago an elderly lady posted on a local internet site that she would like to meet new people. Six strangers turned up at the coffee shop and we all became good friends. We try to meet up weekly at each other’s homes but sometimes go out for lunch instead. Today I’m hosting. Next week, however we are returning to the coffee shop where we first met, to remember the wonderful lady who brought us together. She died suddenly one year ago at the age of 92, whilst still being fit enough to collect her morning paper and climb stairs! Despite being 20 or so years older than the rest of us, she was lively of mind, intelligent, kind and a joy to be with and we miss her. Enjoy your meal out tonight Michelle.

I’m certain that I would enjoy sharing a table with you and your wife Harry, and I agree with much of what you say, but my husband’s hearing is so very poor these days, that I find it stressful sharing, knowing he will be missing parts of the conversation. We don’t linger over meals because dining rooms are noisy places and so we save our conversation for our room. As an aside, I’m lucky enough to have really good hearing and so often I find myself overhearing conversations on neighbouring tables and wishing I could join in! I’m sure there are quite a few reasons why people would prefer not to share.

Did you try the other restaurants before settling on the Coral restaurant? Thanks for the info about not needing to book for the Glasshouse or Olive Grove.

I'm due on Iona in two weeks and I'm still trying to work things out. I've made the bookings I think I want, but hesitated about Sindhu. The reason being we tried it on Ventura last year and were not that impressed. Does the £10 pp booking fee come off the total spend or is it just that, a booking fee? Good to hear of so many positive accounts because previously I had read the lengthy cruise reports on here and they are generally less than flattering.

Unless there is another one we did not see, the small ferry we saw very close to the ship was taking people on a short tour, but I don't remember the price. We were looking for exactly what you describe but didn't see any sign of one.

Mmmmm ...... not sure about the swings and roundabouts analogy. We've docked at Pointe Seraphine twice previously (and didn't realise there was another place to dock!) but this year, on Celebrity's Equinox, we were at the dock in town whilst the much bigger Anthem of the Seas was at Pointe Seraphine. The port exit was scruffy and the nearby market itself had seen better days and had few visitors. I felt sorry for the stallholders and so made a purchase, which I rarely do. Also, this area is not easy for people with walkers or mobility issues, unlike Pointe Seraphine. A young Canadian couple we became friendly with, did do the walk to Pointe Seraphine and I think said it took them 20 minutes to do, at a good pace. We did enjoy watching the crowds of folk returning to Anthem from our balcony because the only time we had been on her, was during a covid-safe bargain week around the UK in 2021, when the ship had fewer than a third of its passenger load. That year will be forever thought of as a golden year of cruising in my mind.

My (retired) pharmacist cruiser friend recommended Stugeron to me years ago, before she became a really good friend and she definitely didn’t ask what medication I took. I think your caution is probably misplaced in this instance, although I would always read the details on/in the packet as I assume others would do the same. I’ve been grateful to Stugeron a few times and only wish I’d known about it on a Viking cruise (small ship plus North Sea) when I ‘disgraced’ myself in the theatre. Since then, I only book midship, low deck and stay away from the theatre!

I used the trains daily to Liverpool and Manchester from 1966 - 1975 for education and work, and although far from perfect, my experience is nothing like yours, I'm glad to say.

You probably remember that we also have solar panels on a feed in tariff. From DH: You are right to be very cautious. Our issue was the very weak mobile phone signal that is essential to communicate data to the provider and for the domestic device in the house. When they came to do the install we insisted that they prove the signal before commencing. Of course they found it wouldn’t work and we sent them away. Despite that they are badgering us every few weeks to secure an installation date.

Good morning Graham and welcome home. We did 19 nights on Celebrity Equinox out of Port Everglades last month. We always arrange our own itinerary around cruises, but wonder if you have RC do yours, and if so, have you found them competitive on price? We had great weather, but our friends who sailed the Caribbean a week earlier weren’t so lucky. I’m sure you’re both looking forward to your next cruise already - we are, and consider ourselves very fortunate indeed. Loved the photos by the way. I’ve been to Labadee, another of RC’s private islands in the past (but with Celebrity) but not Coco Bay. Thanks for sharing as always 👍

Anyone got any advice on what to do with old pre-decimal coins? I'm having a clear out and it's time my old mum's (died almost 40 years ago!) handbag full of old coins left the house. I know they are not worth anything and are a mix of half-crowns, two shillings, shillings and lots of copper coins. They weigh a ton and I read somewhere that charity shops accept them, but I don't want to lug them around if it's no longer true. If so, I might just as well pass them on to DH to take to the tip; I'm assuming there's a facility for disposal of scrap metal. Anyone know if charity shops do take them please? Thanks

Oh yes, given to me as a child if I were unwell. Fond memories of 'milk pobs' and 'tea pobs' (less frequently offered). White bread, with sugar, soaked in hot milk. I'm pretty sure my 42 year old son wouldn't have a clue what they were, so I obviously didn't carry this on 😉 And I was brought up in the north west, so maybe it is regional?

Oh yes Harry, do give it a chance. Often not an easy watch, as has been said, but worth it. And worth starting at the beginning for the back stories.