Southendweather

4 minutes ago, idh2019 said:

Tenders at Malacca and Koh Samui - interestingly the two they dropped from the itinerary.

 

 

 

 

 

I think it's more of a coincidence as the slower speed of the ship has the biggest problem on the longer distances, namely Singapore to Koh Samui>Bangkok then Malacca back to Langkawi, some of the other stops are relatively short distances that wouldn't be a problem.

19 minutes ago, brian1 said:

On the P&O Aurora a few years ago,there was a stand off with the locals insisting on using their tenders.A 50-50 compromise was reached, but resulted in a 1 hr delay.The immediate area was pants,would recommend reseach in tours a little more away from there.

I did wonder, so it's Tenders at Malacca?

28 minutes ago, Pensioncruiser said:

Have a good one ekco, our friends returned last week and had a fantastic time, just one port changed, they said worst thing was the journey home with a head wind which put an extra hour on the flight. 😎

Looks like tomorrow you will have a nice 100knot (115mph) tail wind for part of your flight, you shoulkd get in a least half hour early.

Keith (Southend)

19 minutes ago, ekco said:

All loaded up and ready to travel to the airport in the morning.  Not looking forward to the airport or the long flight but needs must.  Have a good time Keith, hopefully no problems for you.  No refund yet.

Those long flights are hard, but we have to do them, I just love the heat when you step off the plane. Have a great time, I'm quietly confident the ship maybe getting fixed soon, fingers crossed you get Malacca back. 🤞

27th - hottest maximum location in my spreadsheet was:

48463, Laem Chabang(81m), Thailand 36.8°C

27th - hottest minimum location:

48478,97900, Rayong(3m) & Saumlaki(24m)    ,Thailand & Maluka both 27.6°C

Keith (Southend)

I'm still surprised we haven't heard anything from TUI regarding itinerary changes. Everything still says we are going to ALL ports as originally listed. I would be interested if anyone has noticed or notices a large amount of metalwork being taken on board ship at either Langkawi or Laem Chabang (Bangkok). It will be two weeks tomorrow evening we head to Gatwick and checkin/etickets should be available this Thursday.

Cruise Date: 13th February 2020

Keith (Southend)

35 minutes ago, ekco said:

They are disinfecting planes in Thailand, 14 cases up to now.

We will be on chartered flights to and from the UK purely for cruising on Marella Discovery so less risk than other sheduled flights. We are on the ship most of the time and on the whole when visiting these Country's, out in the warm air, not in a stuffy heated crowded room on a winteres day. I really wouldn't worry to much about it.

I think you are off tomorrow evening from Manchester ecko, have a great time 😎🏝️☀️🌏🌡️

A couple of snippits from my latest spreadsheet.

The highest Maximum temperature on the 26th January 2020 for my *Asia* spreadsheet was:

48450 Kanchanaburi(29m) Thailand 37.0°C

The highest Minimum temperature on the 26th January 2020 for my *Asia* spreadsheet was:

48457,48478, Bangkok Pilot(14m),Rayong(3m),both Thailand, 27.6°C

Humidity of 68% at Bangkok Pilot at mid day as well.

Keith (Southend)

http://www.southendweather.net/

5 hours ago, Margaret Rees said:

Sihanoukville is worth getting off ship for . Take a taxi to the temple and see the destruction the Chinese have caused then head to the Sokha beach resort for a few hours.

Hi Margaret, I'm still wondering what currenies to take on this trip as I can't see us spending much, what would you advise? Thanks Keith (Southend)

We are doing the Sihanoukville Grand Tour Excursion which ends up at Socha beach resort, looks like we picked a good one.

The link from my booking account to the book excursions site now works, I just tried it. Upto now I have just had that page bookmarked as the link just sent me to generic page. All locations are listed still on our itinerary with17 days to go.

Keith (Southend)

SST's 24/1/2020

This is what keeps the night time minimums high. Sea Surface Temperature's of 27 - 29°C, like a warm bath 🌡️☀️🏝️🌏

Keith (Southend)

http://www.weather.gov.sg/weather-satellite-geo-stationary/

I've been looking at this daily and it's interesting how the ICCZ (Inter Continental Convergence Zone) has slipped south further, as it should this time of year, this is basically the active equatorial band of weather around the globe, as generally February is the driest month of the year around these parts (It still rains, but not as much).

Keith (Southend)

3 minutes ago, ekco said:

Just packing ready to leave on a Thursday.  Difficult to get into light clothes mode and having to think about dressing for meals on the ship, trips, temples, beach, evening wear, etc.  Then there’s the shoes, what goes with what outfit.  It’sactually easier packing for the Arctic Sun cruise.  It’s all your fault Keith posting all of those scorching temperatures. Tried to check in on Thursday, dead on time but already closed.  They must have reached 80% so check in at the airport then, saves printing out the boarding cards.  First Defence nasal spray bought and face masks ordered and in the post just in case, you never know.  Better to be safe than sorry, anyone sneezing near me on the plane and the mask goes on.  I speak from experience, on a trip in Tenerife a woman behind and across the aisle sneezed constantly out in the open air and even though I covered my face with a scarf I caught it and was really ill for a month, thanks a lot whoever you were and take a tissue next time.

Yes, it's getting closer now, especially for you, I guess we will pass on the 13th February as you disembark while we arrive. The dressing up is easy for us men, the tucs get packed and that does for the formal/dress to impress nights, it must be a nightmare for you ladies. 🤔

Regarding those temperatures we normally head to the Caribbean and it is hotter and more humid for this cruise, but then we are on or close to the equator this time.

Just checked my account online and our check-in is 30th January, my 2nd grandsons birthday, so I won't forget.

M Wife came back today with the mozzi repellents today and much more. I can remember coming back (yes coming back) from the Caribbean and the plane was like the ENT ward at the hospital, some terrible coughs and yes I had the following week! Hopefully this Chinese virus won't cause any problems, but I guess we are probably safer on the ship in many ways. 🤣

As yet, we have had no emails from TUI, so apart from the 6 hours later than previously advertised flight, nothing has changed - yet - All the ports are still listed on both my account and excursions.

I really hope you get ALL yours reistated, I'm sure they are trying their best to do so and with Captain Chris hw will go the extra mile, albeit a nautical one.

Keith (Southend)

Anyone getting fed up with this cloudy dull raw damp cold weather here in the UK atm?

Yes, we did the Panama Canal trip and was a great excursion. Columbia, from Santa Marta we finally got on the Tayrona National Park excursion, excellent day it was.

Keith (Southend)

7 hours ago, Margaret Rees said:

We have now arrived back at Laem Chabang on time. Captain Chris has been fantastic. Very friendly and visible around ship and got us to all the ports except Mallacca. He is on until end of March but has a week or two off sometime before then to attend a court case as a witness for a murder on a ship 10 years ago !
 

Captain Chris, we had him on Discovery 2 in 2018 for our Cuban Fusion and Panama cruise. We had a couple laughs with him, very approachable and always around the ship. Hopefully we won't miss him.

Keith (Southend)

14 minutes ago, ekco said:

How nice, glad you had a lovely day.  We might just do what you did as the ship excursions aren’t doing it for me, the big Buddha seems to loom large if you’ll forgive the pun.  The posh hotel trip is sold out but at £80 plus is a bit steep for a day out there and just one cocktail. How much did you pay for the taxi to Niki Beach?  Thanks for all the updates the last two weeks, they have been more helpful than you’ll ever know. Have a good trip home.

Yes, I'll mirror that, thankyou for the updates.

Keith (Southend)

In fact Ko Samui narrowly missed rain today that passed east to west from the north.

https://weather.tmd.go.th/srtLoop.php

On a late today hence playing on the computer this morning.😁

Discovery just heading off north from Ko Samui.

The Thailand weather office has quite a lot of information on it:

https://www.tmd.go.th/en/

Scroll over 'Home' and there is the rainfall radar for the Bangkok area.

Scroll over 'Weather' then area 'Southeast coast' in this case, scroll over that and Ko Samui is listed with the decoded synop report listed that I previously reported.

AAXX 22094 48550 21558 61108 10290 20252 30114 40121 57024 71022 81246
                   333 59017 60007=

9am (gmt) 4pm local time, synop shows an air temperature at Ko Samui of  29.0°C and reporting mist (haze I should imagine).

Reports from Ko Sumui Airport on the eastern side of the Island, ship is anchored off the west side.

😀