cublet

Hello, This side of the pond, the DP340 code produced 'Not applicable' until a week or so ago for all weeks inside or outside the 'blackout dates'. Now the code is recognised and produces a message that the discounts will be applied at checkout but when you get there the discount is a nice round Zero. Regards, Cublet

Hello, I went into a pretentious cocktail bar in Bristol and ordered a vodka martini - shaken not stirred. The barman refused saying he could not do it as shaking would 'bruise the alcohol'. My friend, a university scientist and 'President of the Academic Board', near collapsed in a fit of laughter. Being less demonstrative, I just shook my head in disbelief. Regards, Cublet

Hello, There used to be a cargo line that had both a sea-going captain and a port captain. The port captain was a retired sea-going captain and lived ashore. When the ship arrived in port, the sea-going captain left for whatever jollies sea-going captains enjoy and the port captain boarded, along with wife and a short-haired terrier dog that I remember was called 'Mandy.' I cannot remember any formal procedure, if any, that had to be gone through to accommodate the dog. On the day the ship was to sail, the above reversed. Regards Cublet

Hello, When Eclipse first arrived in Southampton, Cafe al Bacio served 'finger' sandwiches and filled savoury croissants in the mornings and cakes/sweet items not until the afternoons. Biscuits were always available. Regards, Cublet

Hello, I agree with you - but sadly Royal does not. I posted somewhere this week that training, if any, of new recruits post-covid has been pitiful and this is a prime example. The knowledge of the difference and the reason for the difference seems to have been lost and no amount of arguing will shift them.What it needs, if anyone has it, is a print of the C&A Benefits that shows the difference for UK sailings. Regards, Cublet

Hello, The only time I've ever seen Senior's Discount is when we had covid restricted home waters cruising a couple of years ago. Regards, Cublet

Hello, I'm afraid this confirms what I have said for months: The training, if any, post covid has been pitiful. If full T&Cs are not documented fully then 'word-of-mouth'/opinions will fill the vacuum and things will get lost. Regards, Cublet

Hello, Me too. What annoys me additionally is there is only one ex Southampton cruise in 2025 longer than 10 nights so the opportunity to max-out my OBC from my 2 x NCC is sadly diminished. I might only buy one next year and not two. Regards, Cublet

Hello, The maths of it doesn't make economic sense to be either - I've just used it! The principle is this: You use one of your Diamond/D+/P vouchers worth $14 towards a bottle of wine to get 40% off the price. So any bottle of wine over $35 will make you a 'winner'. I've used it, as regular readers of this forum will know, to buy genuine Prosecco unlike the swill that is served as such in the bars. I could NOT pay an up-charge as this product was not available to buy 'by the glass'. Regards, Cublet

Hello, The rules are that it is a 'once only' benefit. Lose the matched status and start from zero with no further opportunity to 'match'. Regards, Cublet

Hello, The good news is that my single special bookings' prices for 2025 were eventually correct by day three - even though I sent them the workings on day one. The bad news is that the bookings are not showing the NextCruise Certificate's OBC. Why am I not surprised? Regards, Cublet

Hello, Yes, I read that article too. What Royal needs to do is decide whether they are cruise line operators or amusement park operators. Regards, Cublet

Hello, Does not appear to be available to UK pax. Regards, Cublet

Hello, Presuming you survive the trek from the ship to Haugesund town (unless you brought a team of huskies or an electric mobility scooter), apart from shops there is not much to see. Regards, Cublet

Hello, Just a small 'nit-pick' - Indy does not have a CK, so it's only SL that rations its space. The SL was two rooms, a Card Room and something else, and when the dividing doors were opened produced a long strange shaped room. It was sometimes used as an overflow for the Diamond (now Crown) Lounge. Q for any recent cruisers - Does it still have the grand piano? I wept when I saw it being used to mount the chaffing dishes at night. I'll be there once RCI sharpens its pencil to produce the solo prices that currently aren't loaded. Regards, Cublet

Hello, I think that folks on the 2 & 3 night itineraries looked upon the drinks package as less of an opportunity and more of a challenge! And another good thing about the drinks on MSC (no, not what I usually say) it's easy to get freshly squeezed orange juice - almost every bar on pool decks make it and serve it. What can we wish for in 2026 given the Indy and its 2025 itineraries make a week-end in Bognor look exciting? Regards, Cublet

Hello, And (and not the first time for saying this) on board MSC if you ask for Prosecco, you get Prosecco and not the swill that is served in Royal's bars. Regards, Cublet

Hello, The iceberg rate for balcony is only 'guarantee'. Regards, Cublet

Hello, And another thing: If we want to create a longer cruise, too many itineraries are repeated either consecutively or in short order thus cutting down on variety. I foresee changes to the itineraries as time goes on. Regards, Cublet

Hello, Yes, you can order from a waiter whilst seated (this year on Silhouette). But Il Segundo serves its coffee in a mug not cup and saucer like Il Prima. Regards, Cublet

Hello, I'm struggling to summon-up even indifference to the posted itineraries. If you/I want a longer cruise then it will be a case of booking B2B cruises consequently making Southampton a major port of call on the holiday and I generally see quite enough of it on embarkation and disembarkation days. MSC puts on excursions on 'Southampton' days returning to the ship and not just acting as a feeder coach to the airports/coach station for departees. Regards, Cublet

Hello, So I was on a P&O something. I was at the excursions desk making bookings and I said to the girl behind the desk "I'm surprised that you aren't offering excursions to Granada". Girls says "Why do you think we are going to Grenada, Grenada is in the Caribbean?" "I know, I never said Grenada", I said, "I said G.r.a.n.a.d.a - all letter 'A's. "Where's that?" the girl asks, "Just north west of here" I reply - we were in Malaga at the time. Regards, Cublet

Hello, I worked for two American petro-chemical companies years ago. The yanks looked enviously at our 4 weeks plus annual holidays (and plus public holidays). However whilst we would book a half-day holiday from our entitlement on a Friday for a get-away, taking a half day on a Friday in the US was an accepted norm and did not come from their holiday entitlement. Regards, Cublet

Hello, I was once, and only once, called by X to ask if I would be prepared to change my booking from Royal to X - with a number of added benefits for so doing. This was pre almost everything including the movement of back-office staff from the UK (in my case) to Guatemala so I think there is even less joined-up admin now and opportunities than there was. Regards, Cublet

Hello, Personally I'm quite partial to Lanson Black Label - the favourite of our late dear Queen. But I'm sure whatever Champagne Murano serves, it will be the 'real thing' and not the swill served as 'champagne' in the bars. Regards, Cublet