Harters

Yes. I say that based on the argument that developed at a family gathering only last week. There were the proponents of the " protest now urging something must be done" point of view, and others of the "protest is not legitimate about this" view. It got heated.

Our upcoming cruise is on Nautica and, like the OP, I'd looked at deck plans without success. So, thanks for the posts, I've found it now. We're in a PH so have the three "free" bags of laundry, which will be fine, but I understand these come back folded but not pressed, so I'll be needing that iron & board. Any suggested times when it's likely to be not too crowded?

A good rule. We generally adopt that unofficially even for any family gatherings (let alone a wider circle). But, from time to time, issues get mentioned. There are family members who have a very conservative political outlook and others have a very progressive outlook. It never ends well.

Me too, Di. We tried this afternoon but it was a right bloody faff, so gave up. And, Joe - thanks for the design of the luggage tags. Just reworded it to suit and printed off. And have found a couple of plastic tags on Amazon (UK). John

Just completed our online check which was very clear that we could upload a photo now or wait and have it done at embarcation. So, we've faffed about for a goodly while this afternoon and failed to get a successful upload. Given up and will wait till boarding and let them do it. Been able to print the boarding pass with no problem. Thanks for all the advice.

So, for clarity for novices like the OP and me, what's the actual situation? Everyone gets a call that it's on the way, as noted by the usually reliable Flatbush. Or that you don't get a call, as noted by the usually reliable PhD & pinot?

No.

I left school in 1966, aged 16 , and went to work as a clerk at the local town hall. My annual salary was £320. I continued to work there and, later, for the local probation service in similar administrative jobs until I took early retirement when I was 53. Salary then was just over £25k.

Barcelona is well used to tourists. It's a favourite "long weekend city break" destination for Europeans. I doubt whether cruise passengers make up a significant proportion of a day's visitors. The risk of pickpockets is probably the same as in any crowded major city, particularly those which attract tourists who often to leave their usual common sense at home, because they are relaxed and on holiday. Don't take all your valuables out with you so that, if you become a victim, you have not lost everything . And be careful where you keep things - like don't keep your mobile phone in the back pocket of your jeans. By the by, the only time we've been a victim of pickpockets was in the Spanish resort that we visit annually. Not in a crowded area and very skilfully done when we looked back on it. Lost a couple of hundred Euros - annoying but not a disaster

Certainly resolved without there being any possible unpleasantness.

In the last couple of days, I received the email from O advising about completing online check-in. It noted we would need a camera enabled device. I posted asking about it here: https://boards.cruisecritic.co.uk/topic/2939817-online-check-in-query/#comment-65430576

This is the sort of issue that needs some form of resolution. We had a similar experience in a Michelin starred restaurant some months back. The two couples on the next table were incredibly loud. Not rowdy but all four of them had those voices that are just loud and piercing (by co-incidence, they were talking about cruising). Literally, we could not hear each other speak. We were about to ask a member of staff if we could move when the manager came over and asked if we "were OK". To which we were able to reply that we were not. We were invited to another table on the other side of the room, which fortunately they had available. You could still hear the party from there but it was now tolerable - the folk on the table now adjacent to us mentioned that they'd been wondering how long we were going to put up with it.. So, positive intervention by the member of staff saved our evening without needing to directly confront the other diners who, almost certainly, did not know how disruptive they were being.

GPSmy city is an excellent resource. I've planned a couple of walking tours for cities we're visiting on our upcoming cruise.

My companion in life is a tennis fan. I'm not. So I always reckon that Wimbledon is a good time to get out of the house, leaving them to watch it on TV, and visit the local Pick Your Own place. No gooseberries yet, either.

Knickerbocker Glory. Classic. My favourite Indian restaurant combines two traditonal desserts into a sundae. Kulfi and falooda. It's a bit gloopy in texture from the vermicelli but it tastes great.

I had the first natives this morning, with my breakfast yoghurt. I presume that, this early, they were grown under glass. They werent at all tasty. Juicy but no flavour.

The season here is approx. June to October I'm happy to avoid imported raspberries outside this period.

Everyone has to go through the immigration process, regardless of reason why they are entering the country. Although we visit Spain annually, it's some years since I've visted Barcelona (and, at that time, the UK was part of the EU so process was minimal). That said, the process for non-EU citizens has been pretty minimal on our last two trips to Spain - the National Police officer at the border actually looking at my passport and stamping it for entry, rather than just waving me through. Certainly the process has been much quicker/easier than on any of my various visits to America over the last 40+ years. I would reckon that, if all goes well, you should be fine for your 16.00 departure. But it could be a fairly close call if you have flight delays, lots of people in the non-EU/Schengen queue at passport control, baggage delays, etc. By the by,my upcoming cruise is also from Barca. We had planned to arrive the day before, to avoid exactly these sort of issues. But, in fact, the flight time that day was also problematical - arriving late evening, so no scope for a reaarneged flight if the booke done was cancelled. So, we're now going two days early and we'll have a nice relaxed day in the city.

Possibly excluding any sea days between Schengen country visits, or non-Schengen ports, say, in the middle of a cruise. But, to be on the safe side, I'd go with your view.

Probably worth you looking at the "France ports" forum to see what's been posted. Or post your query there as well, where it will be seen by cruisers from other nationalities.

After some 40 years visiting the States, I know this is just how it is and know not to order bacon with breakfast. Crispy streaky bacon is just not at all to my taste - but then I don't like any meat "well done".

If not, definitely try their chocolate. It really is good. Minimum 70% cocoa solids and organic as well.

Thanks both. Makes sense now - I recalled on our last cruise (2017) the photo was taken when boarding. If we can upload a photo direct from the PC that'll be fine. As for QR codes, yes, I've had that a couple of times during Covid but places can usually find a printed menu. Only been once when they didnt have one and I had to leave. Their loss.

One of its two founders is American (but a long time UK resident). I don't know about whether the company claimed to be from the English part of the UK. It's been owned for some time by an American company, Mondelez (formerly Kraft). According to its Wikipedia entry, the company's main manufacturing sites are in Canada, Poland and Italy. It sells chocolate bars in the States through Walgreens and Whole Foods.

Pistachio or fruits of the forest. Although you can't go wrong with a good quality vanilla, IMO. Such as Green & Black's Organic Vanilla.