little britain

On 8/17/2024 at 10:46 PM, villauk said:

 

Just like the buses: nothing for ages and then they all come together 😁. Welcome aboard 😉. I think I’m being a little optimistic when I stated ‘live(ish)’, so be prepared for sporadic posts 🤣. 

Yeah! Settling down for an enjoyable read!! We don’t go till next March but am a compulsive over planner too! 

We also use indirect flights so we can travel in business. For Japan we are going from LHR via ZRH on 🇨🇭 Swiss. Two people in business class for the same price as one on BA direct!! I’ll take that for the inconvenience of 90 mins layover in ZRH changing planes to save over £5000!! 

I digress. Back to reading 📖…

15 minutes ago, lumofny said:

 

How do you do that?

in app click on head

Upcoming cruises/ view All

scroll down 

Don’t see your cruise; add it now

Browse our ships

select the same ship and this/next weeks sailing date
 

5 hours ago, SEA DOGY said:

Ok.   How about. Southampton any information about this port?    TIA 

Large terminal, have never seen arrival appointments checked. Lots of seating inside if they do stagger boarding times. 

On 8/23/2024 at 5:23 PM, deltahog said:

We board Monday on Voyager of the Seas from Athens.  Just received this email.  Is this true?

 

It's extremely important to arrive during your pre-selected arrival time on boarding day. Space in the terminal can only accommodate a specific amount of guests, so it's critical that you adhere to your arrival time! Those who arrive sooner will be turned away to avoid overcrowding at the terminal and asked to return during their scheduled time.

Athens is a tent, it’s very stuffy with a few fans. Not a lot of seating, and if no room inside you queue outside in the sun.  I wouldn’t rush to board. 

Their instructions don’t work! 
So you have to call. 
I think I’m booked as something appears in my booking but there has been no confirmation by email and no adjustment to my OBC amount. 
 

Existing thread: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/3023412-using-on-board-excursion-credit/#comment-67802208

8 minutes ago, Another_Critic said:

 

Similar situation on Quantum's first revenue sailing (TA from Southampton to Cape Liberty) on Nov 2, 2014.  We got an FCC, but I don't recall the amount.

I was on that one too! I sense a theme! 

Yes, it was a chunk of refundable FCC and I remember going up to the RCI lady that was in charge ( who was getting a really tough time from other guests) to thank her and say I was specifically going to buy a handbag with the cash to remember the cruise with. She was practically in tears with her thanks and hugged me, as she had got nothing but grief and abuse for days. 

1 hour ago, Southern Dan said:

I thought Oasis/Icon ships don't do tender ports?  Have they ever? 

 

Mykonos and Santorini are both tender ports so that sounds unlikely...

Mykonos is both dock or tender. 
 

I can imagine an itinerary with Naples / Chania / Rhodes / Kusadasi / Athens ports to dock at. 

I’m in! 

11 hours ago, CountryStyleMe said:

Jason Liberty already explained over 3 years ago that due to Harmony Of The Sea's getting bad reviews from the UK Press and Media that is why they never sent over Symphony Of The Seas, Wonder Of The Seas and why they won't send over Icon Of The Seas, Icon Of The Seas 3, Star Of The Seas to the UK. 

Possibly because Harmony was not finished when she arrived in Southampton for those first sailings… it was a PR disaster. Wires hanging out everywhere, water flooding through ceilings, workmen drilling at all hours, shows not ready and … glass panel missing from pool deck leaving sheer drop to Central Park below. I was on those first 2 sailings. We got 50% refund for the first cruise and 25% for the second.
RCI  then lied and tried to mitigate the disaster by saying they were “shakedown” cruises as an excuse for things not being finished.. but strangely no one had any prior paperwork stating this! 

3 hours ago, Saab4444 said:

And Wonder as well.

Didn’t Wonder sail briefly in the USA first before returning to Barcelona? 

On 8/23/2024 at 8:06 PM, nursemom2 said:

The Allure of the seas has a cruise that is starting out in Barcelona June 8,2025, then stopping in Rome June 12 and picking up new passengers, continuing on to Barcelona, unloading the June 8 passengers and continuing on to Rome to drop off the June 12 passengers. 2 overlapping cruises. I’ve been cruising with Royal for over 15 years and never seen this happen! I was confused when I met a person who was doing the June 8, 7 day cruise. Thought I had my dates wrong 😱 hope I’m making sense!!

Not new. They have inter ported in Europe for about 10 years… 

17 minutes ago, Another_Critic said:

You got Anthem fresh out of the oven.

Lol… in 2015… I guess asking for a new one every 11 years is being plain greedy! 

1 hour ago, Southern Dan said:

Aware of that thread but was curious if anyone would know off the top of their head without me digging through it all.  Guess I'll look to see.

 

Update, so yes a post from Oct '23 someone said 2.5 years until Icon III delivery which would put delivery at Apr '26 that would fit in nicely with it starting in Europe before a TA in Oct '26.

Or they send her straight to the USA ‘cos we never get anything new in Europe!! Nice thought but I’m not holding my breath! 

I am DBE but DH is not. Will he be allowed to board at the same time as me? 

7 hours ago, island lady said:

 

Must be nice.  As a Pinnacle we don't get anything...even when I asked.  Only when we are in a GS and above...which is most of the time.    But when I can't get a suite...the "all in one caustic body wash" is all you get.  

 

Now I always bring my own...even in a suite (don't like the new products in those either).   Though the lotion is nice still.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Strange. We always get the 4 separate little tubes. Sometimes they are even there waiting for us. 

2 minutes ago, FionaMG said:

 

If it's just a standard mandatory dry dock it's probably about two weeks so I'd guess sailings could start as early as mid-April.

 

I have sailed on Harmony twice in the Med, the first time in 2016, which was the inaugural season (still have the t-shirt! 😂) and the second time was in 2021, one of the very first sailings after Covid with about 1,000 passengers. That was so weird.

 

Guess I should make a habit of it and book for 2026 too. 😁

I did Harmony’s very first two sailings from England - The Ones Where She Wasn’t Finished —-! We got 50% back on the first and 25% on the second! I guess I should really see her when she is finished and there isn’t water pouring through the ceiling and glass around the edges missing! lol! 

1 hour ago, riandei said:

We have booked the EXMO package with a generous ship credit.

 

if I book shore excursions now, will they be charged to the $300 ship credit thats given with EXMO or do I need to do something to make that happen?

 

thank you

You have to call. The UK office dealt with this promptly today.  We should still have some OBC remaining but this isn’t showing yet.

I had sent a message via Twitter last week asking how to book as their FAQ instructions ( posted ^^ earlier) don’t work and what to do, but am still waiting for acknowledgment of message and a response 🤷‍♀️

Personally, my hair loves the gloop and it has never looked so bouncy!  I try to use the gloop alternating with the stuff in the little tubes and I think gloop days are better. 
The brand is Salt & Breeze. 

2 hours ago, cublet said:

Hello,

 

I think Michael Bayley has 'gone native'.

 

Regards,

 

Cublet

Did you watch the Icon programme on Ch4 on Sunday night? I’m still undecided! 

8 hours ago, not-enough-cruising said:

It's a funny thing about Royal isn't it.

 

Harmony in July, Adventure in May, Odyssey in February; none had alcohol at the top tier event.  

Brilliance in January

Ovation in January 

Spectrum in February 

Oasis in April

Anthem in June 

… all served cheap bubbles at the top tier event. I always have the non alcoholic punch which is very nice 

12 minutes ago, artvlay said:

How do you book the Ravenna to pier shuttle?

I believe you just turn up at Ravenna train station and are directed to the bus and they take payment ( or charge it up your room). Have never done it. 

One of the best Plaka restaurants 

https://psaras-taverna.gr/

The cheese in filo with honey 🍯 is delicious and worth the trip there alone. Stunning setting on the steps 

2 hours ago, chemmo said:

Cruises that have significant changes to itinerary can be a bargain. For example, Infinity in the Mediterranean as the Israel/Egypt stops were cancelled. If you simply wanted a Mediterranean break at a good price….I know several UK cruisers have picked up on these, especially if you are not ‘room faddy’. Suite prices haven’t particularly fallen nor have Aqua but verandas and below have.

I don’t think a balcony in the Med in Feb would get a lot of use! 🌧️ 💨 🌊 

You’re not kidding about the tiny and I mean teensy tiny $ sign next to the lobster!!! 🦞 Wow! Need to keep an eye out for that! 

24 minutes ago, Andy_P said:

Some very thoughtful and interesting points - thanks. 

Infinity in the Med over this winter is as cheap as chips. 
On our November cruise we have had over $1200 in price drops; and we’re paying $1486 for 11n in Feb in OV. $81.28pppn

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