uktog

When was the August delay announced? E2 still appears on new lists I was sent last week

Some people have all the luck! Whilst it used to be the case that people listened my experience of some ships more recently is either they respond extremely defensively or not at all. I felt that positive feedback is welcome negative even in a praise-improvement needed-praise sandwich is ignored. I also saw a big difference in attitude depending on who the hotel director was. What has been lost is the ability to take onboard all feedback and recognise whatever the message it is his the guest sees it

Not if I can help it. It’s a relationship that goes beyond this debacle

Our payment was to the agency which I believe is still allowed. But it looks like we suffer badly as a result. I’m going to follow up with them when I get back off my current cruise

$69 well worth it in our view

I take the view does it matter. I take what I’d wear to a smart restaurant in town. DH takes a blazer as he prefers to wear one (he travels in it). We may be dressed a little more smartly than others but we are ok with that - we are not in ball gowns! However my focus at all times is on the food and service - if others have other dress styles jeans robes etc I hardly notice never mind care. I do get upset at badly cooked or heated food and sloppy service

I think it’s a Viking thing

And a few more

What an amazing day blessed by weather that included appearances from Mr Sun! Nanortalik is a self guided walk through the village to an open air museum of houses and buildings associated with the old fishing trades including the blubber house. Some include ancient turf buildings. We spotted the little poster, the choir would sing in the church. How beautiful they were, I will try and upload a video when I’m in better Wi-Fi. You do have to look out for signs about activities ashore on these self guided walks they aren’t well published. This afternoon has been unbelievable cruising through Prins Kristiansound. I’ll let the pictures tell the story including the most remote village population 96 accessible only by sea

I have to say I’m becoming more concerned you may be right. I’ve tried to stay so positive but based on personal experiences it’s getting harder to see how the future can be positive

Let us know how it goes Might be worth a check with ABTA directly

What a beautiful morning to wake up to in Nanortalik

Be prepared for the value of any 30% “gift” to be obliterated

Unfortunately that won’t work because the airlines and hotel are not guilty of non delivery The reason my agent paid over even though Explora hadn’t reimbursed them was because S75 card claim that we have in the UK was heading for them as they were the transaction owner. In the UK many many agents are set up in a true agency relationship so when you book a cruise you pay them not the cruise line. Your money is well protected by Trade Bonds but when things go wrong like this, it’s a minefield

Dinner tonight - another lovely meal but service still spotty. Confused the system - to ensure we had our change of wine in time for main course we ordered both wines at the start. Several waiters came to check did we really want two different wines at the same time but it worked! The timbale was excellent The lobster lovely though it would have been nice if the waiter had offered to take it out of the shell The mango burst was very very intense flavour a nice end to the meal. We made it to the show Stage Door - an excellent set of favourites beautiful harmonies well sung.

Got to agree the forecast for Lerwick is under 20mph winds and it’s not a tender port. I wonder if it’s to get ahead of other systems to get to Iceland?

Couldn’t agree more Floris. Goodness knows what we will spend our vouchers on (if we ever get them back)

My agent is still to be reimbursed because of the 60 day rule but in good faith have given me my cruise fare but I am still to wait up to another 30 days for airfare, hotels and airport parking

Yet the payments for those on the cancelled inaugural are still to be made in many situations

No problem since we had a port switch a few days ago. It was very light rain at times today. Sea is pretty ok tonight

It was so lovely to achieve the reason we took this cruise. We always recognised there was a risk it would not happen but it did - we set foot in Greenland. Saturn dropped anchor by a growler and the tenders set off - it was a very smooth ride in Happy little school children keeping us amused at the pier For us it was the included tour which was a walk at your own pace through Qaqortoq. Locals posted at various points (with interpreters as required) including an Inuit singers at the Church, father and daughter. She is wearing an outfit her grandmother made for her, it took her a year to make I loved that like so many churches around the world bored kids had indulged in graffiti on the pews. There were dancers in the village hall and a kayak demo by the shore. The people were so friendly, it’s a very simple place Qaqortoq has the only fountain in Greenland! One thing we realised when they were using the Scrabble bag of history, Iceland got all the consonants but Greenland pulled the vowels and the qs 😀

Saturn got to Greenland today 🎉😀 I’m posted a full story on the live from which I am doing - fingers crossed for our second stop tomorrow

Data point Cruise cancelled by Explora 8 July Agent has refunded our cruise although not yet reimbursed by MSC Today they’ve kicked up a stink with them about the refund of our airfares and hotel costs that have to come direct to us. Been advised it will be around 30 days more though we are in the system I don’t care how fantastic the ship is, I’ve done everything I can to be positive about Explora but how they treat UK guests well - grieves me to use language like this, it stinks

Forgot this before Yesterdays sea day programme And today at our first Greenland stop (hopefully). By the way the port talk yesterday was so full they had to ask people arriving 5 minutes before the start to go and watch it in their rooms. It was a useful talk

As we rock into a misty Greenland - fingers crossed we get ashore - some pictures from last night. The food continues to be excellent, the service is “amateur” - if only they could crack that it would be five star. They graciously thank you for feedback I think often what you say is no surprise! Stupid issues last night were we ordered white wine with the starter and red with the main. They brought one glass for white and one for red. Couldn’t get them to understand we were doing a simple switch. Fixed that, then had to chase and chase the red wine so we we’re almost finished our main before it comes! Then we’d ordered a cold starter each then soup So he brings one soup and one starter because….the crab would take a long time to cook (it was a cold crab starter!!!). So you can see why I say amateurism. Let’s hope for better tonight! With all the chaos I forgot to photo the menu and the main. But the rest is here. The artichoke soufflé was lovely and I think the fruit plate is so pretty