peteukmcr

It works OK for me but I will try and post here, but it will take time as it is many pages long.

1 hour ago, Izzywiz said:

Thank you for posting a very comprehensive, interesting and useful review. We have sailed on Marcella/Thomson ships several times and have enjoyed the product. It seems as if the cruise line is well prepared for these sailings. We are doing a 5 day Fred Olsen cruise, starting on Saturday and expect the 'covid' experience to be very similar.

The one thing that you didn’t say was what your friends thought of the experience! 
Thank you again.

Our friends think that they would enjoy cruising but the quality of food on Marella needs to improve dramatically as it was awful in the Market Place, Snack Shack and Beach Cove. Breakfast in Latitudes was a big disappointment for them too. No offer of rolls/pastries, only 1 cup of coffee offered and rock hard poached eggs after a very ling wait.

Bit of background, we’re from Manchester and had not sailed Marella so jumped at the chance of a couple of nights away being wined and dined on a ship, even it was a cruise to ‘nowhere’. 
 

Here’s my review

Marella Explorer 2.pdf

Had this weekend on Explorer 2

Here’s day 3 vlog

Day 2

We also have a series of vlogs that are being published

Day 1 

After our cruise was confirmed that it wasn’t cancelled due to overbooking, we sailed on MSC’s flagship from Liverpool on 24th June. 
 

Attached is my written review. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask. 

mscvirtuosaJune2021.pdf

We were on the same sailing but were one of the unfortunate people whose check process took nearly 3.5 hours from arriving at the Liverpool arena to setting foot on board. 

mscvirtuosaJune2021.pdf

Just back from our 5 nights on MSC Virtuosa and thought you might like to see these from when we were in Southampton on Saturday 

On 6/20/2021 at 7:18 PM, July morning said:

I know this is a bit cheeky but was wondering if anyone has recommendations for cruise parking at Liverpool?

We're going from there in August on FO.  I have asked one the FO site but it's rather quiet so was hoping someone could help on here.

thanks😁

We are sailing from Liverpool on MSC Virtuosa on 24th June and have used Yourparkingspace.co.uk to get 6 days parking for £38 at the Hampton by Hilton which is handy for the Liverpool Arena which is where most check ins are taking place this year. Not sure if you’ve been advised but all checkins for FO will also be at the Arena

https://www.cruise-liverpool.com/borealis-passengers/

Not been able to catch up with all the posts since the last time I posted, so I hope everyone is well. It’s been a very busy 2 weeks. 

I went back to work after being on furlough for 4 months and it was a shock to the system. Systems being the operative word. So many changes my head is still spinning and I’ve been back working for 8 days (still enforced part time so only doing a 4 day week with the corresponding reduction in salary). So busy, but that’s good for business. More coming back next week too. 
 

In that short time it’s been also been a fast moving time in our cruising world. Yet another cancellation citing Covid and Foreign Office advice (Marella from Muscat) for April 2022. Deposit refunded in 4 working days though!
 

So we’ve booked Iona to the Norwegian fjords instead. 
 

Then this week we had the uncertainty of whether we would be sailing on MSC Virtuosa next week on 24th  due the postponement of the relaxation of restrictions from 21st June to  19th July. Apparently, despite assurances that MSC had not sold more than 1000 berths (government imposed limit), they had done so for sailings departing after 21st June (as have P&O, RCI and others). So there have been many cancellations. That is on top of the problem MSC had already experienced in that they are no longer allowed to dock and embark guests in Greenock. We have just had it confirmed that our booking has not been cancelled!

Although friends due to board in Greenock had their cruise cancelled for 23rd so we won’t be meeting up. Another couple of friends should be boarding when we reach Southampton on 26th, but they don’t know yet. 
 

4 hours ago, bobstheboy said:

It is on Tuesday 8th June and the email I received this morning was from cruise 1st. Whether it's still available I don't know.

I saw 8th June but not available on MSC website. 

31 minutes ago, bobstheboy said:

I do, my wife is nervous because MSC do not require all passengers to be vaccinated, just tested. 

 

It is a very good deal, and fairly easy to get to Liverpool from us. I'm keeping quiet, I know she is tempted !

Ideal time at the moment as capacity is restricted to 1000 guests. When we go it is reported she could be at 80% capacity, so far more than 1000. 

3 hours ago, bobstheboy said:

Very tempted. Not P&O, MSC Virtuosa, this weekend from Liverpool, 7 nights, balcony, grats, premium drinks, £599. Liverpool, Greenock, Southampton, Portland and Liverpool. Hmmm !

We’re on the 24th sailing from Liverpool. Couldn’t see one for this weekend otherwise we’d have done that, can only see Virtuosa calling into Liverpool on 8th June but nothing available on the MSC site.

Well, finally got to see the 2 engravings my donations to the British Heart Foundation paid for on the "Heart of Steel" in Meadowhall, Sheffield. One was for a lifelong friend who died from a heart attack at the age of 57 4 years ago and who ironically, was a regular shopper at the British Heart Foundation charity shops. The other for Patrick following his heart attack last year. You need a magnifying glass to see them with the naked eye!

BTW upon return our conservatory is showing a temperature of 31 degrees, ouch!

Hope you all had a great bank holiday. I did my final shift on Test and Trace (much to my annoyance after being summoned back from furlough) but was pleased to see that there are many people prepared to be tested to try ensure we are kept safe. 

34 minutes ago, bobstheboy said:

I wanted opinions on the Southampton Harbour Hotel. I have stayed in others.

Sorry, was just trying to be helpful. I deal with the Harbour Hotels group as part of my job. 

3 minutes ago, bobstheboy said:

A lovely day and more to follow.

 

A question that I am sure has been asked before, but I would like any views from this community.

Southampton hotels. I have been looking at the Southampton Harbour Hotel and been quoted £266 for bed and breakfast. Is it worth the money ? My wife being a canny Yorkshire lass thinks it is too expensive, I like the look of it so if any of you have stayed there, I would appreciate your views.

The Harbour Hotel is a 5 star property and the price reflects this, often confused with the Leonardo Grand Harbour Hotel which should be less expensive. There are many hotels in Southampton and it depends which terminal you are sailing from. We’ve mostly departed from City Terminal so our preferred location is the Holiday Inn on Herbert Walker Ave, or the Premier Inn West Quay mainly for location and close proximity to City Terminal and the West Quay shopping complex which now has a ‘new’ section for dining opportunities. The Leonardo Grand Harbour hotel has been renovated since Leonardo took ownership (Jurys Inn is in the same group). Newer is the Moxy Hotel which basically adjoins the Premier Inn West Quay. 
 

Having said that, there are various hotels to suit all tastes and budget. 

Good afternoon all. Hope everyone is recovering from their illnesses and injuries.

I was going to post earlier but have been reorganising my life as my main job wants me back off furlough. So need to sort out my temp job (hate letting people down at short notice), rearranging plans in the pipeline (only yesterday we were told to plan to the date on our letter confirming furlough, which was 30th Sept!).

Not too happy really as still on enforced part time and reduced pay until July, that's when I wanted to go back. But beggars can't be choosers.

Only highlight is that we are sailing on Marella Explorer 2 at a colleagues concession rate (they work for TUI) in July. Will be nice to see what the old Celebrity Century ship is like now.

Right better go rearrange something else as this coming weekend will be my last on the Covid Mobile Testing Unit.

Morning all, just waiting to see if we're going to sail from the Port of Tyne on Marella Explorer 2 for a 'taster' sailing. Ideal for us, just a Saturday and Sunday night away (although we will travel to Newcastle on Friday evening). Several mandatory training sessions and zoom calls to attend today

HI Andy, glad Michelle is feeling better and continues to improve.

9 minutes ago, kalos said:

Thank you for all your kind sentiments guys It really took it out of me yesterday

but enough about me I just need to rest, I will get there .

 Any update from @AndyMichelle ? I hope Michelle has made a good recovery ? 

Sorry to read about your experience yesterday. As you say, rest will help.

41 minutes ago, Splice the mainbrace said:

The councils weren't told and they should have been but really does it need telling? If you live in an area with high levels of COVID it should just be second nature now to modify your behaviour to step 2 type levels.

The government don't want to impose local restrictions again but people need to be sensible and if their area is at pandemic levels again then they need to act accordingly.

But the issue is that people will not modify their behaviour. A lot of the cases (due to the high level of vaccination in the older cohorts) are now in the younger generation. They were fed the information that they are not as susceptible to having a bad case of the disease, only mild symptoms, despite being able to transmit it to others.

So, they

a) are unwilling to take a test (I can vouch for that),

b) unwilling to isolate even if they do get a positive result due to their need to provide for their family c) unwilling to curtail their behaviour i.e. mixing with others as they may only experience a mild form of the illness

d) only want to get the vaccine which will take time to have any effect

Today we were all expected to work overtime (we are now on our 4 day off deployment) but I can't as I have mandatory training for the next 3 days for my 'normal' job. They have several mobile units in 1 place near Manchester (some even coming from the Liverpool regional testing unit), but 1 colleague who has elected to work overtime has reported that it is very quiet and people are not coming forward for testing.

30 minutes ago, wowzz said:

I did a quick check, and I think the flights tend to be late afternoon. OK for flying down the day before the cruise, but not great when you return.

Yes, that's what I remembered when I checked again.