cublet

Hello, From somewhere I've picked-up the idea that English speakers of English cannot teach that in America to children under teen-age. Fact or fiction? Regards, Cublet

Hello, When I ask for Prosecco on MSC, I get Prosecco - unlike on Royal Caribbean or Celebrity. Regards, Cublet

Hello, When it come to spelling and grammar, my biggest surprise and disappointment was on Cunard's QV. The printed dining room menu had Lamb Curry and Poppadom's. (Sigh.) Regards, Cublet

Hello, I'm with Ernest Hemingway: One Martini is enough, two Martinis are too many, three Martinis are not enough. Regards. Cublet

Hello, This is another case of two countries divided by a common language. The Royal Group seems to be of the view that a 'supplement' is a multiplier not an additive unlike the rest of us. Regards, Cublet

Hello, I hope you shared them! Regards, Cublet

Hello, This appears to be the case particularly when the CEO or COO is a bean counter who, armed with a spreadsheet, cannot see the need for anything more sophisticated. Regards, Cublet

Hello, Thank you for your assurance. However looking how things seem to be going with our grasping penny-pinching new CEO, I would not have been surprised if these benefits, and any others, had been removed. Regards, Cublet

Hello, When I came to book 2025 Indy out of Southampton, the DP340 Single Special prices had not been loaded so someone had to work them out manually. Being in possession of a (misplaced) sense of helpfulness, I worked out the SS price and forwarded it. But the agent ignored it and worked it out herself. She divided the couple's price by two and that was my SS price. There really is no hope for some people. Regards, Cublet

Hello, Do Pins on their 'free' Pin cruise still get their (1) Free 6 dinks per day, and (2) their three free 'amenities' (aka bottles of wine)? It wouldn't surprise me either way. Regards, Cublet

Hello, This is horrendously off-topic, but is a response to your posting. A certain UK television motoring programme stripped a car of all its identifying marks, or marques, stuck it in a town centre parking-lot and asked people to decide what it was. The vast majority said it was a BMW. It was a Honda: And I have driven them for over 20 years and the only thing that stopped me last year is that they no longer have a saloon (or sedan - as you call them). Regards, Cublet

Hello, Royal is now run by an accountant. His principle seems to be to charge as much as he can get away with. MSC is effectively family owned and run - it *MAY* be being subsidised by the container operations but I have no way of knowing. Regards, Cublet

Hello, My experience is that Royal *APPEARED* to have lots of different excursions at the ports of call. However if you read the various texts word for word, you would find that you went to all the same sites but in a different order on one excursion compared to another. OK, there was some slight difference in the verbiage but the substance was the same. Yes/maybe some more excursions may be posted closer to sailing date. Regards, Cublet

Hello, I remember on one cruise, the passenger in font of me at security post shore trip had his bottle of something inspected by the security lady. She asked what it was, the passenger replied (and I cannot remember what he said). The security lady turned to her colleagues and asked 'do we sell this in any of the bars' and when she got the answer 'no' she handed the bottle back to the passenger. Whether that is the determining criterion I don't know but it's not unreasonable. Regards, Cublet

Hello, Many years ago I was on Constellation for what was called an "Extensive Wine and Food Cruise" out of Southampton - covering France, Spain and Portugal. We were allowed to bring on board two bottles of local wine from each of our ports of call for consumption on board including MDR without corkage. Regards, Cublet

Hello, And that's exactly why I use a TA - let him have all the aggravation. Regards, Cublet.

Hello, I don't want to show my age (you'll have to cut-off one of my legs and count the rings to do that), but this looks very much like 'Bill Cotton's Band Show' and 'The Television Toppers' dance troupe! Regards, Cublet

Hello, It looks like Bristol's Banksy gets everywhere: I've been following your travels - are you setting out to be a tax exile with all the time away you're having? Regards, Cublet

Hello, I'm sure most of the complainers are either American or used (exclusively) to American cruise lines. MSC is, sort of, Italian (too complicated to go into). There are several things that are different but are raised time and time again on this forum - proof, if any was needed, that not many read these pages before they post. On my last Virtuosa cruise I sat next, or close to, an American complaining there was no 'Lobster night' or 'Filet Mignon' night - neither are 'big' in Italy. There is also no dishwater masquerading as 'coffee' or something called 'half and half' to disguise the vile liquid further. As most milk is 'foamed' in Italy before it is put in coffee, I don't know how 'half and half' would fare when subjected to a steam wand. Don't get me started on 'wash cloths' either - they must be important to many as three threads on their availability were running here concurrently a couple of months ago. Don't ask for a 'Pepperoni' or 'Hawaiian' pizza unless you want to be laughed/snarled at as they are not 'Italian'. A 'positive' for me, is when I ask either for Champagne or Prosecco on MSC that's what I get; on Royal or Celebrity I am initially served some sparkling swill that I reject, quite forcefully, every time. On the subject of 'manners', I think that few of the complainers will have visited Italy itself either. If they had, they would have discovered the Italians (and Spanish) to not embellish their speech with 'please' or 'thank you' as much as we Brits and Americans always do - it is not 'ignorance', it's just the way the language is - one 'bene' (or 'vale') might be all you get. Regards, Cublet

Hello, The ban is wider than just alcohol: - 11.7 In order to ensure safety and security standards, it is strictly forbidden to bring food and beverage onboard the Vessels. In compliance with this/her regulation and in order to guarantee the above standards, during embarkation a careful check control will be carried out through all passengers luggage. The items that are allowed are: personal hygiene products, cleansing products, lotions, fluid medications for therapeutic use, baby gear and baby food items, dietary items prescribed by a physician. Any local or “typical“ food item purchased during the cruise in any port of call will be collected and returned at the end of the cruise. Regards, Cublet

Hello, You would only be charged for one. However that isn't the best way to do it, though a bit late for now - but remember in future. Today, 04/02/24, the cost of purchasing the Premium Plus DP post booking is £704 for the 11night 12th April Euribia sailing. If I was to book the same sailing today AND select the 'with drinks' option price that would only cost an extra £580 over the 'cruise only' price - and that includes gratuities of approx £114 for this cruise bringing the DP price down to £466. Regards, Cublet

Hello, The general code for 2024 & 2025 10% discount is PARK2024. The code is valid until May 2024. Regards, Cublet

Hello, A minor point but we have a difference in terminology. Here a 'Tasting Menu' is a meal of a dozen or so courses each so miniscule that together they would probably only fill an egg cup. What the Diamond deal is at Butcher's Cut is the 'Dining Experience' see #3 above. What you must do is book as soon as you get on board - and that's where the difficulty may arise. Once upon a time you could book at, say, Butcher's Cut for Butcher's Cut, but not for me on the last two occasions. A 'central booking desk for specialty dining' was set-up next to Guest Relations on one cruise, another time it was set up outside the Indochine Restaurant on Deck 6. I would advise you to ask directions from Guest Relations ASAP. Regards, Cublet

Hello, Yes I *DO* know that, I am only posting for any non American prospective PAX on this site that don't know that. Regards, Cublet

Hello, We've only got two days! Regards, Cublet