KeithJenner

I’ve posted this before on these boards, but it’s very relevant. We are cruising on the Dawn in September, embarking on a Thursday. If current rules apply then we will most likely test during the day on Monday. After that we will probably go to the pub Monday night. On Tuesday we will travel to London (2 trains and an underground). We will do something in London in the afternoon and then go to a pub for dinner. We will stay in a hotel that night and then the following morning will travel (2 more trains) to the airport and fly to Amsterdam. Another train into the city and another hotel stay. Add some more time in Amsterdam, get food somewhere and then most likely another bar or two. When we board on Thursday we will have a test result that will allow us to board. At that point it will say very little about whether we have covid or not.

Yeah, there is lots of potential value to P+. We upgraded last time and have already done so for our next cruise. I have one or two coffees a day, my wife drinks sparkling water (and I sometimes do) and it’s a great excuse to drink Champagne all week. Just not worth it for coffee alone unless you drink an exceptional amount.

You would have to drink a massive amount of coffee to make it worth upgrading just for the coffee (around 10 drinks every single day of the cruise).

No, they removed the kids clubs during the renovation in early 2020.

All free at sea offers reflect what applied when booking, not when sailing. The only issue is, as mentioned above, if you made any changes to your booking which make it a rebooking.

There used to be, but it stopped a few years ago.

You get one set of vouchers per cabin, regardless of whether there are one or two platinum guests in the room. That pack has two vouchers for a meal for two. So, you will have two meals for two between you. Per the FAQ's (this is reflected by real-life experience): I am travelling with other Platinum, Sapphire, Diamond or Ambassador guests in the same stateroom. Do we each get a voucher? No. If there are 2 Platinum, Sapphire, Diamond, or Ambassador members in one stateroom, only one Welcome Back Card will be delivered. This gives the correct number of Dinner for Two vouchers the guests are entitled to.

Yes, it was certainly Cagneys whenever we've been on (last time was Christmas 2019). I can't see any reason why they would move it from there.

No self service laundry, but there are by the bag promos. I don't know the cost though. I'm sure someone will be able to help on that.

I have just received the credit. Paid £500 off our Amsterdam-Southampton cruise on Tuesday and credit has hit today. 🙂

If you are in central London and need to get back out to either Heathrow or Gatwick for your transfer I would seriously consider just going direct to Southampton instead.

Not corrected. Your answer was more correct than mine.

True, although my opinion is swayed a bit by the fact that it wouldn't just be a loan for me. There are many reasons to book early, but free at sea isn't one of them (although there is still some scope for the offers to be reduced I suppose)

You are totally making it up. 🙂

No, the free at sea perks stay the same.

Free at sea has been around for years. There is no sign that it is going away. I wouldn't rush to book because of that.

When reserving restaurants do the ones that have a cover charge first.

Reservations have been offered (and sometimes required) for the main theatre shows on the newer ships (since Epic) for many years now (since the Epic was launched I believe). Since covid they haven't been necessary, or even offered on some ships I believe.

The Asian restaurants have a very similar menu across the fleet. I haven’t been on whichever ship Chin Chin is on, but if you were to find a menu for Bamboo (Dawn), Jasmine Garden (Jade) or any of the other similar restaurants in the same location then that will very likely be the same as what you will find in Chin Chin. I’ve eaten many times in these places and really enjoy them. The service is quick, so it tends to be a quick meal.

It’s Bamboo on the Dawn. I think Chin Chin is what it’s called on one of the Jewel ships, can’t recall which.

Aah, ok, yes that is as expected. I thought that you were saying they were back to the no bar service thing. 🙂

The Jade is doing various itineraries through the year. The cruises either side of ours were different.

Did you have the beverage package?

I can’t see how Amex could know that level of detail. As ziggyuk says, they rarely manage to pick those sort of things out regardless of what the T&Cs say. My guess is that they mean that it must be paid via the UK site/office. I think that person who writes the T&Cs also helps out with the NCL ones, as they are of similar quality. 🙂

Yeah, but as we will be buying the package anyway (and it will cost just over £500) it’s easier to do that instead. Just checked and she has the offer. £200 off is very handy, especially as our upgrade to an aft penthouse cost almost exactly that amount. 🙂