Southendweather

8 hours ago, Margaret Rees said:

We have had good weather throughout ,no bad days or heavy rain .

That's what we want to hear 🌡️😀🌞

Interesting though as I think you were in Kuala Lumpur on the 19th.

I can see you are off the west coast of Ko Samui today.

Keith (Southend)

A storm in Kuala Lumpur producing over 2 inches of rain. From what I can see from the animated satellite images they seem to form late afternoon and hit in the evening along the west coast of the Malaysian penisular, I don't whether Margaret has noticed that?

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

However, don't those temperatures look devine. 🌡️🌏🏝️☀️

Keith (Southend)

1 hour ago, Margaret Rees said:

Apparently we are going at 16.7 kts and the Captain expects us to be ready to start tendering in Koh Samui tomorrow at 9 am .

Looks good from a frosty morning here in the UK.

Keith (Southend)

I notice looking at the ship time on the tracking site they are now on Thailand time which is 7 hours in front of us, unlike Malaysia and Singapore 8 hours.

Keith (Southend)

Thought I'd share this with you all, what my lovely daughter made for my party yesterday. 🌞🌏🏝️✈️🛳️

Keith (Southend)

I've now booked excursions for all port stops apart from Koh Samui, which has had them all sold out online since I started looking, and Malacca.

Assuming we do stop at Koh Sumui does anyone know where abouts on the island the ship tenders to, as I was looking at some the beaches around the island:

http://www.kosamui.com/chaweng-beach/

Definately one to dash to the excursion booths as soon as we get on board.

Are there any must sees here I ask? Or maybe this answers my qustion:

http://www.kosamui.com/top10-attractions.htm

Malacca, which now seems the most like one that might be missed none of the on-line excursions set me a light so probably if we were going to miss a port this one would be the one. But saying that, if we are lucky enough to stop here I'm sure we'll find something nice to do, in fact the dutch houses on the river look nice.

Keith (Southend)

18 minutes ago, MrSilversurf said:

TUI Mein Schiff 6 is only 2 years old and Mein Schiff 7 is due to be launched in 2023. Both cost in the region of half billion $. TUI bought out Thomson airline and hotels and recently, Thomas Cook ditto airlines and hotels. In contrast, the costs incurred in fixing Discovery may be considered 'Loose change'. Lets hope it's not the 'last straw'. Dig deep into your pockets Marella, it's time to help out your 'Poor Relation'. Lol 🙂

I'd imagine cost isn't the issue here as they need the ship working fully asap, it is more likely manufacturing the new part(s) and getting them shipped out, probably from Germany and on the first available container ship as the part would probably be to large to fly out. This would take at least two months, but I'm just guessing.

Keith (Southend)

12 hours ago, ekco said:

Koh Samui? Really!  Wow!  It’s difficult to cope with all of these changes.  Hope you don’t have to wait as long for the refund as we are.  We will definitely give the hotel a try.  There’s a hotel right on the dockside in Roseau, Dominica called the Fort Young Hotel, overlooking the jetty the ship ties up at and is a lovely spot to sit overlooking the sea and the ship.  A chance to have a quiet drink away from the crowds and a five minute walk to the ship.

I know it's the Express, so you have read with a pinch of salt, but does seem to mirror what is happening atm:

https://www.express.co.uk/travel/cruise/1229384/tui-cruise-ship-marella-discovery-cruises-refund-itinerary-asia-holidays-news-latest

<snip>

TUI says it has contacted all customers due to travel up to 6 February 2020 and it will offer all passengers £250 in compensation.

For passengers booked to travel in February, this sum has been slashed to £100 per person as TUI hopes to reinstate the call at Koh Samui by this date.

TUI has said is also refunding the cost of any excursions affected.

<snip>

Keith (Southend)

To get an indication of 'haze' you can see it's nothing to worry about from the webcam on TUI's Mein Schiff 6:

https://www.tuicruises.com/mein-schiff-6

Currently in Kuala Lumpur. Scroll down the page and you should see the front of the ship.

Keith (Southend)

26 minutes ago, Margaret Rees said:

The Captain announced this evening that we are now going to Koh Samui on Wednesday. The weeks schedule has now been revised with 8 am arrival in Singapore departing at 19.00. We all got a letter saying we will still be getting £250 each even though we will only be missing Malacca this cruise. Really pleased with this news .

The hotel in Langkawi couldnt be easier it is between the ship and the taxis.

Excellent news Margaret, you've made my 60th birthday even better 😀 Currently we haven't heard anything from TUI and on the tracker website no change, but still plenty of time to change yet. I'm happy for everyone if this is the case.

1 hour ago, Pensioncruiser said:

Don't forget Keith they hold back a quantity of the excursions to sell onboard just be on the ball when you first arrive😉 do it before you get that first drink🍻

Oh yes, we did that on the Cuban Fusion cruise in 2018, I just like to have a plan B. I actually fancy the cable car, but that was sold out the first time I looked on line, so that's what I will look for as soonas we're on board.

1 hour ago, idh2019 said:

 

 

Ship will be in Langkawi on Friday waiting for Manchester flight to arrive - check the itinerary = 2 days (or parts of!) at Langkawi.

 

Currently 3 x TUI Dreamliiners over Central Asia. From left to right:

 

Langkawi to Birmingham

Manchester to Langkawi

Langkawi to Gatwick

 

 

Ah yes, she doesn't leave until 22:00 17th... an interesting route of Country's they fly 😨

As I type she's still in port at Langkawi and it's 4 in the morning of the 17th January?

On-line all the excursions have gone for our first day at Langkawi for us, plus not really sure how long we may have there, so I did a search for beaches at Langkawi and found Pantai Tengha. It looks stunning and no more than about 5 miles away from where this ship is. Maybe a good idea, but better not fall asleep in the sun on the first day 😎🌞🌡️

http://www.langkawi-info.com/pantai-tengah/

Keith (Southend)

1 minute ago, Margaret Rees said:

We were told about missing Malacca and Koh Samui on Friday December 20 . No further mention of Malacca on board but revised arrival time in Langkawi notified by Captain very early in the cruise .

Thanks Margaret, I get muddled with different people going at different times. So you were notified about 3 weeks prior to departure, I'm still 4 weeks yet.

10 minutes ago, ekco said:

That’s good news about Langkawi, I hope we get there at that time.  We would 

like to do the mangrove trip but not sure if we should book it or not.  On that point, we were specifically told on the phone on Sunday that there is no excursion booking online.  Well, we used the link posted on this thread, as the one from the account doesn’t work, and booked two more trips as we can always cancel later.  That just leaves Penang and Langkawi to buy onboard if possible.  Interesting to hear you need something on your arms on the balcony.

 

Keith, you need to phone and find out on this number 0203451 2688 quoting your reference number.

 

 

Thanks for the contact number ekco, I'll save that on my holiday spreadsheet. I'll wait until either nearer the time (28 days still to go) or when/if I get another email from TUI as I don't think they will tell me anymore than what I already know and probably just read from the script. I still think they are hoping the problem maybe fixed but are not certain precisely when for numerous logistical reasons. Whatever happens, there's nothing we can do about it. It does seem to me they are changing the itinerary on the hoof, I'd be interested to know when Margaret was told about missing Malacca?

I just logged into my account and noticed the outbound flight is now 01:45 on the 13th February landing at 21:00 13th February. That's an hour later than the email they sent on the 2nd January. Not had an email yet of this change, I get a feeling there's one coming soon 😞

Keith (Southend)

7 minutes ago, Margaret Rees said:

The Captain says we will be alongside in Langkawi at 8am tomorrow Thursday.

It is not hot on the balcony at night you need a fleece/sweater so hot air is not rushing into cabin . At night it is quite chilly in cabin so we turn the aircon as low as possible.

Does anyone know what the normal speed that Discovery does when everything is working okay? I've also been tracking Discovery 2 in the Caribbean and I haven't yet seen it as fast as our one. e.g. Discovery currently doing 19 knots, Discover 2 18 knots with a day at sea ahead, mindyou the Caribbean is a bit rough atm with a 2.8m swell. I just wonder where it's losing it's time and missing ports. From Wikipedea:

But I don't think they ever plan to go at full speed as it's not economical with fuel.

Keith (Southend)

7 minutes ago, ekco said:

I’m just hoping they get to Langkawi before noon as my revised itinerary states 18.00 which would be useless.  It would be a rush just having the afternoon as we have to pack that evening before leaving the next morning for the airport but better than arriving late.

It all seems a bit strange to me.

1. The ship has been travelling at a fair speed 18/19 and now 20 knots.

2. As Margaret has said they have found time at some of the ports they didn't think they had, Pattaya/Thailand for one.

3. Still not heard anything from TUI about any changes to our itinerary, still plenty of time of course.

I'm still hopefull the problem maybe fixed sooner rather than later with the ship, for both of us. I've got everything crossed.

1 minute ago, ekco said:

Keith, see Margaret’s post earlier today.  They are not going to Malacca.  Never mind.

Don't understand why atm. I guess being 304 nm from Malacca to Langkawi it makes them late getting to the turnaround stop...