Tothesunset

Potato farls? Soda bread? Colcannon? Champ? Where I grew up in Belfast, food was only food if it was deep-fried and contained absolutely no nutritional benefit other than fats! Oh. Edit to add: Don't forget Mars Bar sandwiches or sugar sandwiches. Yum. Dentist's delight.

And Norn Iron

Why not? The pigeons do.

One thing to be aware of is that consumer protection rules in the UK would not apply to a cruise bought in the US. The UK protections are vastly more comprehensive than those in the US.

It is if you charge $200 for it with 3 peas and a single French fry in a posh restaurant.

I don't know. I'm sitting in my comfy chair, mid-sixties and healthy with children and grandchildren who have never been exposed to fatal disease nor felt hunger or want. We can travel the world, the continent or the country without needing permission; we are never too hot or too cold; we have a choice of foods and cuisines unknown a generation ago. My life expectancy is it 30 years more than it would have been 100 years ago. I haven't fought in a world war.

It makes one's heart sing to see you all having such a good time.

Political speech writer?

You've met my wife?

Mind her labrador. And white stick.

A letter to the hotel director naming exceptional staff is communicated forward to those named and can positively influence their futures. More immediately, Silversea operates a Crew Welfare Fund into which passengers can donate a cash sum which then provides amenities for all the crew. So the engineer, laundryman, deckhand etc that would normally not be seen (but without whom the cruise couldn't operate) are rewarded. Finally, you can, of course, reward individuals with personal tips.

A also heard a rumour that Elvis is buying it.

You're in my homeland there, RJC. Take good care of it!

Sounds like you'll have a different sort of bubble and squeak in the morning.

Call the reservations number as soon as you get to your cabin. In May on a 7 day full SoA we were only allowed one speciality booking.

The different ships have their different characters; we are inclined to the Wind (pre-exped), Whisper and Shadow. Each to their own.

When we lived in France we had a 1.5 metre grass snake that used to bask on the concrete rim of a raised flower bed. At first it would slither away when we got near but eventually got used to our presence. Even the dog, curious at first, eventually paid it no attention.

"Did you order a code red!"

Isn't she lost and gone forever?

We don't need that sort of language here, thank you very much.

I'd rather we did.

And are their descendants Clementines?

And Francis

We've had a veranda on 3 occasions on SS but otherwise Vistas. However, even when we've had a veranda we've rarely used it and that includes on fine weather sea days. Like yourself we question the value given the price difference. To my mind I'd rather spend the £s or $s on something less ephemeral.

You must come back to us with your impressions of SS v Saga. We are SS regulars but our latest 2 cruises were with Saga. Yes, SS is a step above Saga in many (most?) ways but I'm not sure that it is better enough to justify the stiffer fares. Love to hear what you think.