pete14

Do you mean that 100 have been spotted or one has been spotted 100 times?

I am not suggesting anybody tries this but years ago, we were on an excursion coach with an eccentric guide. She was very meticulous with her counting to ensure everybody had got back on the coach after a stop. She did get rather confused though when a gentleman on the back seat (not me), put his hat on a walking stick so it was visible and ‘eligible’ to be counted. I am not sure she found it as funny as many of us did.

There is hardly any point going at 20 knots and docking at the next port in the early hours of the morning.

What a relief. I couldn’t bear the thought that such things happened in Stoke.

Not here in Stoke on Trent surely 😉

I can well understand that about 15 formal nights on a 55 night cruise (based on 2 per week) would become a chore and lose the feeling of being special rather quickly. However, I think reducing formal nights on all cruises to 1 per week would sound the death knell for the formal night. How many would pack suits and sparkly dresses for one formal night on a 7 night cruise, or even two formals on a 12-14 nighter?

‘Named and shamed’? What better way is there to check that people are back on board before departure than using the ship’s communication systems? My wife was ‘called’ in this way some years ago. She was on the ship so she rang the number they gave and told them so. No problem. How on earth could she be ‘shamed’ when only a small handful of people onboard knew who she was. It is just a name that means nothing to anybody else. Far better this way, than sailing on schedule and the captain not being certain that everybody is back onboard, or if not, who is missing.

Just the thing for attracting the over 60’s to have their booster!

Intelligent, good looks, air of excitement and cute humour. Sounds like a few who post on here! No suggestions please, I don’t want to be overwhelmed with compliments. 🥴🫣

Not the Norwegian green, closely related to the Norwegian blue that spends it’s time pining for the fjords and falling off it’s perch, especially when ‘shagged out’ after an especially long squawk?

I presume the dark blue jeans were not noticeably jeans and did not have holes in the knees and slashes on the legs as seems to be essential for some people these days, prepared to pay extra for the ‘mutilation’ of their clothes.

On my last cruise couple of years ago, I forgot to pack my jacket. I had my smart trousers, a couple of dress shirts and bow ties but no jacket. I went to see the maitre d / head waiter and told him of my predicament. He told me not to worry because he could lend me a black jacket for the duration of the cruise. They keep a limited stock for such occasions. Not the ideal solution but it did mean that on formal nights I could use the MDR. My jacket will have pride of place in my suitcase when we join Ventura at the end of this month.

I now know why we chose metal poles for the feeders. An old broom handle wouldn’t last 5 minutes with William the posh seagull around. Funnily enough, I did forensically question him about his identity, his location and his appearance. He wasn’t very communicative but I think he said he thought it was a formal night because he was all dressed up. 😇😇

Had an unexpected but welcome visitor in Wales yesterday.

Sorry, I assumed it was a late booking for 2022

Some of the aft cabins may be being used as isolation cabins as they are on Ventura. Those who have booked them will be relocated.

The main dealer who changed mine charged £10 to supply the correct batteries and fit them in each key. I considered this to be very reasonable, especially for the knowledge that it had all been done properly and without the need for video instructions. I don’t get the idea of spending many thousands of pounds on a car and trying to save a couple of quid on batteries needed to actually use it.

Booking excursions online prior to the cruise is often a little cheaper than booking onboard. I am sure you won’t have too much difficulty spending OBC. The spa will be only too happy to help you to spend it.

If your key fob has stopped working because the battery has run down, be prepared to have it replaced in both key fobs because apparently, they ‘talk to each other’ electronically even if they are not both being used. At least the ones for my Honda do.

Perhaps they see the information as too important to trust a third party to deal with. If so, very creditable.

On 14th September, I received an email relating to our Ventura cruise at the end of this month. It outlined the revised vaccination and testing requirements which are still on force at the moment. It made it very clear that full vaccination was a requirement but that testing was no longer compulsory but strongly recommended. This came by email because that is my selected line of communication. I presume that those who choose to be notified by post, received a letter. I agree though that it would be good practice to tell those booking late that the protocols have changed. That said, if you book by phone, there is recorded notification of the policy as you wait to be put through to an agent and if booking online (something I would never do apart from a dummy booking to check availability and accurate pricing), you cannot proceed to book without ‘checking the box’ to notify them that you have read the vaccination and testing policies that appear on screen. Personally, if booking well in advance, I see no point outlining the protocols when booking or on the booking confirmation because they are likely to change but an update such as the one we received a few weeks before the cruise departs seems to be good practice. Presumably those who use an agent to handle their booking have to rely on their agent passing the information on to their client.

Having given them details many years ago, I just email the request. I actually use an old request, change the cruise details and resend it. Never had a problem.

The text system informed me this morning, that due to staff illness, possibly to Dr F Clinic himself, that my appointment has been rescheduled for tomorrow. The text system clearly works.

Our surgery makes full use of automatic text messaging to remind about appointments and it works well and is not as intrusive as a phone call. We have had a couple of reminders about the flu jab appointment we have tonight. The appointment is with Dr. F Clinic.

Apart from a long wait at some peak times, there is nothing painful about phoning P&O to book. Everyone I have ever dealt with has been polite, friendly and helpful. However, as you chose to hand your booking to an agent, it is they who should be pursuing this on your behalf.