SALAD MUNCHER

Hi, I am trying to find out if there is a number I can give a relative to contact me on the ship in an emergency. We have a very ill relative and it's just in case the worse situation occurs. We are sailing on Iona next week.

It's not even $500 per person it's actually per suite!

Thank you very much!

Hi there, going on Grandeur in December, travelling from the UK. Just wondered if we are allowed to bring a clothes steamer aboard? Many thanks for your answers.

Over 12 months ago we booked two cruises on Scenic Eclipse paying up front one year in advance. It was to be our first try on a luxury trip, one in April this year and one in August this year too. We were very excited of course, especially as this luxury yacht has two helicopters and a submarine on board. However a month ago, just 4 weeks before we were to take our first trip, it was suddenly announced to us that rather than being on Scenic Eclipse, we were going to be on Scenic Eclipse II. We were not happy as this SEII only had it's inaugural cruise the week before ours was due and we had always said we would not go an a 'new' ship until it had proven sea time. Also we were informed that the submarine was not available as it was not ready on time. This was hugely disappointing as my hb who is an avid wildlife photographer, was looking forward to taking shots from the submarine to add to his collection. We complained to our TA, who confirmed they had always thought we were booked on SE, not SEII, and all the paperwork they, and we, had from Scenic whilst making the booking said as such. After much discussion and correspondence we managed to change our booking from this April to May 2024, agreeing to pay the extra costs involved. However we have now been informed that we are also on SEII for our trip in August and to top it off they also added in their notice that the submarine will not be available until late October 2023, two months after our trip. We are really angry as both these trips were sold to us as SE, and included having the submarine on board. We have made the decision never to book another Scenic trip ever, and certainly not recommend them to others. Has anyone else had this problem with Scenic or are we just unlucky?

This is exactly what happened to our trip, the one before yours leaving on 19th Jan. Here is what we were told by our TA: "...We were due to visit Santa Cruz De La Palma, Spain on 25th January 2023. When this itinerary was originally planned, Fred Olsen were yet to sail with guests on their new ship Borealis. Their Captains have now been sailing with her for the last year or so, and in this time have got to know the ship, the way she sails and the guest experience she offers much better. With this experience, they believe the speed required to reach this port in the planned time would mean your cruise would not be as comfortable as they would like. With that in mind, they have removed this call from your itinerary. This means Borealis can sail at a more comfortable speed to La Gomera - while you enjoy more time on board where their Captain, Officers and Crew are looking forward to welcoming you...." On the ship during a Q&A session one lady asked the Captain straight out did he genuinely give this as a reason to omit the port or was it a cost saving exercise. The Captain, along with the Entertainments officer both looked at each other and denied even knowing we were due to go to that Port! They said they didn't even know it was ever on the itinerary. This is / was obviously a fuel and port fee saving exercise. We also will not sail with FO again.

We are doing this same trip on the Grandeur in Dec 2023 to Jan 2024! Great to read all about it, thank you.

HI I am due to cruise with Cunard in October and have just been sent an email offering open dining without any explanation of how this works. Can anyone enlighten me, for example is it still in the main Britannia Restaurant, do you sit with different people every time , do you have to book your time in advance? Any info would be greatly appreciated as I am sailing solo this time and don't want to be 'alone' for dining each evening, having already opted for a table of 8 on first sitting.

Is there still a bottle of Pol Acker (or champagne) in the cabin when you board? (Who gets champagne? Just QG?) Or has that now been cancelled?