gumshoe958

I just looked at the current Symphony itinerary on the app, and brunch is the only option on all four sea days. On Jewel and Anthem though, breakfast and lunch are still separate. So maybe it’s just an Oasis class thing. For now.

They don’t make it easy but it can be done. At least it can on Symphony - I assume it’s the same on Wonder. There are videos on YouTube showing how to do it.

Presumably the thinking is that people want a lie-in on sea days and are happy to eat later. Rather like weekends at hotels where the breakfast rush is later than on weekdays. But I imagine the real reason is that offering one meal service is cheaper than two.

I wonder if @andreasfcb may be from Germany where debt is still widely regarded as shameful and credit cards are not very popular (although it’s slowly changing). In fact the German word for debt, ‘schuld’, also means guilt. Cash is still king there.

Definitely a cautionary tale, and a good reminder that it’s always sensible to note down the port agent’s number so you can let them know if there’s a problem. That could have ended very badly if they hadn’t been able to contact you. But good on you for doing your own thing. Ignore the inevitable “that’s why we only take ship tours” comments. Life’s too short to be ripped off for dull, sanitised bus tours.

Yes, it’s now a hybrid brunch menu on sea days served (on the current Odyssey sailing at least) between 8:30 and noon. The full, separate breakfast & lunch selections are still available in the Windjammer.

This company is often recommended: https://www.internationalfriends.co.uk But I don’t know whether any of their tours will get you to LHR in time for a 4pm flight, you’ll have to check.

Jump in a cab outside the terminal, it shouldn’t take more than 5-10 minutes. You should book the National Express in advance as they can and do sell out. Should be cheaper as well.

That should be fine as long as you’re off the ship fairly promptly. A taxi or private car transfer should take between 90 minutes and 2 hours. Or the cheaper alternative is the hourly train from Southampton Central which takes just over 2 hours with one simple transfer en route.

Bring it on. Can’t stand small ships, so dull.

You’re assuming they care. When the WC was announced, Richard Fain was still at the helm. I’d be prepared to bet Jason Liberty wouldn’t have done it, isn’t fully behind it and would rather it isn’t happening, but is stuck with it.

In no way is it right, but Royal’s logic will be that people who book guarantees are more price conscious and less likely to spend $$$ on board so are more easily dispensable. Put simply, Royal is happy to live without them if, quite reasonably, they decide to take their business elsewhere. Money talks.

I wonder if they expected the entire WC and the quarters to sell out quickly but when they didn’t they had to come up with a Plan B - the shorter segments. But by then it was too late. Regardless, I suspect it’s a mistake they won’t be repeating.

You’d think, given that it’s not even sold out when virtually every other ship is sailing full. For a mass market cruise line it’s as niche a market as you can possibly get.

Around May 1st, maybe a few days either side.

There’s a chance that it might lead to that, yes. But it’s equally likely that it won’t.

You kind of asked for that, sailing in August.

Again, it does NOT mean abandon ship.

It doesn’t mean abandon ship.

Because some schools have their break from the 11th-21st and some have theirs from the 18th-28th.

There are USB ports and a US & European outlet by the bed in my solo cabin on 3L, but I suspect they were there before.

I couldn’t see any that were obviously out of order.

Illuminations seating

Chart Room carpet & furniture

Grills lounge furniture