little britain

On 3/4/2024 at 11:48 AM, YORKI1 said:

I have enjoyed reading your reports when planning our trip to Japan. Sadly we are on the Millennium 15 March 2025 cruise, it would have great to meet up and buy you a drink. I am amazed that you are doing a 4th Japan cruise.

We are on the same date. We plan on going over to the island. 

my friend who did this cruise recently advised…

Docked miles away and had an hour long queue to get through immigration.  The free shuttle takes you to waterfront (30mins journey - best free shuttle ever).  We caught the ferry to Sakurajima island Y200 pp each way.  Ferries every 15 mins.  Then took the tourist bus round to an observation point - hop on off type bus but was packed so we only got off once. Try out the hot thermal foot spa by the tourist info centre and there’s an exhibition there too.  Back onboard fabulous sail away with the sunset and volcano and the city.

Ferry is about 5 mins walk from waterfront where the shuttle drops you off - really easy get it. Ferry and pay the other end

We also arrive in from Jeju so there were very lengthy queues because they were reentering Japan - need to build this into any itinerary planning! 

my Nagasaki research shows:
 

Take the first green line tram, from stop number 48, Ourakaigan-Dori; on the left as you leave terminal.  
Take green line 5, to Tsuki-Machi to switch trams. Stop number 31. Only costs 120 yen ($1.20 each way).

Then take the blue line from there, (stop 31 Tsuki-Machi) to stop 20 Hamaguchi-Machi. This is the stop for the Atomic Bomb Museum, and is right next to the Memorial Hall and Peace Park too.

1 minute ago, island lady said:

 

Shhhh...don't tell anyone.  😉   

 

On Odyssey, the bartender at Giovanni's wine bar taught me that trick, but he swore me to secrecy, due to not really being allowed to do that.  He charged me 5 vouchers for a bottle of Kim Crawford SB that they normally get the usual 5 servings out of.  🤭  He knew I wanted to have an extra bottle in the cabin.  

The bartenders at Vintages on Brilliance did the same 🤫🤐

1 hour ago, George C said:

No vouchers if you are diamond plus.

Yes of course you need vouchers, as you “redeem” one of the vouchers to get the discount off the bottle of wine! 
An Emerald member, with no vouchers, couldn’t do this! 

14 hours ago, Minorhawk said:

I know most of the TA's are in the late fall, but there are two in August 2024 and one (posted, so far) for August 2025. Hoping there will be one in 2026 as well.

 

Thanks Agian

Given that RCI have abandoned the Norway/ Arctic itineraries in 2025 I wouldn’t hold your breath for 2026. Brilliance is only doing the northern route crossing because she is over here for a short eclectic Med season after her dry dock. Unless they bring another Radiance class over here for drydock in 2026 I wouldn’t expect any August TAs 

1 hour ago, Tlbecker1 said:

We are also going to go on Spectrum March/April.  I am really excited to go on this ship.  I hope you have a wonderful cruise.  

I did a live review last month.. hope it helps

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2991081-a-cruise-from-singapore-🇸🇬/

17 hours ago, thefog said:

they will be on quantum of the seas.

Expect deck 6 with obstructed view- anything else will be a bonus. They can alway try and Up too 

17 hours ago, Frejnogg said:

 and cryptic words like 'Weybridge' …

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weybridge
 

It’s one of the most affluent areas of England. RCI used to have their call centre near there before they outsourced it to Guatemala.  I guess they kept the “cryptic word” instead of changing it to Guatemala as that really would spook some people !! 🤷‍♀️

Those on the following 5n to Hobart which is now cancelled receive 100% refund and a 60% FCC.

The current cruise has been cut short by 4n and with the next 5n cancelled means pax have to find hotel accommodation for up to 9n in Sydney at short notice. 

Compensation is 

*50% of fare as FCC

*50% of fare as refundable OBC

*Wifi and phone lines opened. If you have bought VOOM prorated refund for remaining days 

*Most importantly for Australians (!) all drinks at 50% off, and if you have bought the beverage package you’ll get 50% refund for days remaining as OBC 

Latest update is she is cruising at 12kn but rumours of further delays 

This is available on Anthem from Southampton.  Not showing on my cruise ending in Spain (yet?)
 

Not ready to say goodbye? Neither are we. Join the Stay Awhile Program so you can extend the last day of your cruise, remain onboard and continue to enjoy everything the ship has to offer. We'll handle your luggage while you enjoy a late breakfast or lunch at Windjammer Café or relax on the pool deck. The ship is yours. So, relax, kick back, and stay awhile.

£38.87pp which is $49

4 hours ago, Minuet888 said:

So I've sailed once on Carnival and I'm not sure if Royal works the same way, but how do you use money once on board the ship.  Do I have to set up a card in advance or do I have to put down a certain amount of money then once that is used up add more?

We typically do NOT use credit cards we are debit/cash only people.  Does that change anything.

We are sailing on Symphony on May 31st-June 7th, is this something we have to set up before getting on board?

Either. When you do your online checkin you elect to pay by card or cash. If it’s cash they allow you to spend $500 and then you will get a call to come and pay off your debts. 
Even if you elect to pay by card you can still go to pay off the balance with cash 

4 hours ago, Minuet888 said:

Looking on amazon for cruise things and saw a lot of "light cards"  They look like credit cards and say they are for the light switch??

I'm confused.

It’s just like a hotel where you have to put your room key into a slot to get the lights working. The idea is to be more environmentally conscious and ensures power is not wasted to a room that is empty. Why would you leave the lights on in a room that you are not in? 

Oasis has an unusual plug set up!

There are 3 USA on the desk, and 1 USA and 1 European under the desk and a USA by the bed. She has no usb and no UK plugs.

6 minutes ago, sgmn said:

Diamond Lounge also pretty empty on Spectrum ,  and this was in a cruise with over 5000 on board. Maybe half a dozen at most. They did have sandwiches and pastries there all day as well as breakfast and pre dinner snacks but still not enough to entice people to stay 

Looks like we sailed on her just in time ! 

2 hours ago, Sacruiser62 said:

So, I have a 5 night Bermuda from NJ in 2007.  I got 8 points as that is only one before change!  Their math is always been a mystery to.me.  

Until Jan 1, 2003 it was 1 credit per cruise no matter the stateroom category or length of cruise.

After Jan 1, 2003, an extra credit was given for cruises of 12 days or longer.

After Jan 1, 2004, an extra credit was given for cruises in a JS or better.

Conversion 21.01.11

Conversion from old cruise credits to cruise points:

If credits were 1-4, points = credits * 7 + 1

If credits were 5-7, points = credits * 7 + 3

If credits were > 7, points = credits * 7 + 13
 

so your 1 credit * 7 + 1 = 8. 
 

10 hours ago, twangster said:

Interesting that pinnacle are booted from the golden and silver dining on Spectrum.  
 

 

That is madness as when I was on Spectrum last month the silver lounge, the silver dining and the gold dining were always empty!!!

Why does the email refer to “star/sky/sea” lounge as there is no such venue in Spectrum??!!

Adventure is coming over to Europe in October for her drydock then going back at the end of November. Very unusual to have an East bound Transatlantic in October! 

15 hours ago, firefly333 said:

TAs are almost always cheaper. I got voyager booked from PC to spain. And it's a lot less than for the next legs onboard once it's a regular sailing. I think the cost of the one way flight is daunting and why more people dont book TAs. 

There is a newish low cost airline called Norse which flies to many USA destinations from London. We paid £369pp including hold luggage ($472pp) for LHR MCO

If you want to return from Europe check out TAP - Portuguese national carrier for good one way prices. 
 

Yes 4th July

@Mum2Mercury OP is on Anthem from Southampton. There is no 18% added. It is built into the price fyi 

5 minutes ago, Shand9219 said:

Thank you are you sure? Someone on the fb group told me my side is the smoking section? I really don't want to move if I don't have to...as I really don't want to get any higher up. 

I have been on all Q ships and cannot remember the smoking area being on the opposite side on Odyssey. It certainly isn’t in Spectrum. … but if someone who smokes says it is port side then I’ll admit I am incorrect! Sorry! 

32 minutes ago, Shand9219 said:

Hi everyone. I'm a newbie cruiser booked on Odyssey for 12 nights. And im a tad confused. I wanted to be low down to the water and chose cabin 6246 on the bump out, thinking this was a good option. (Cannot find any photos or videos of this room anywhere) 

 

Can anyone tell me if the deck 5 smoking section is below this? Or if there's one on the opposite side in the same cabin? 

 

Ship is almost sold out with deck 10 and 13 the only other rooms left and tbh I've no idea which to pick now. Help would be greatly appreciated. For 12 nights I just want a nice peaceful room, the extra bump out bit would have been nice too. Any help is appreciated!

6246 is on the OPPOSITE side of the ship to the bus shelter smoking area. Do Not move as it’s a great location with bigger balcony! 

5 minutes ago, Another_Critic said:

 

Assuming you are a member in each program, the reciprocal match is automatically updated as your tier changes in either program.

 

For example, my daughter was Platinum on RCI and matched to Select on Celebrity (she cruised once on Celebrity).  When she reached Diamond on RCI, her Celebrity tier automatically changed to Elite.

But there is no marching higher than that (currently), so as a Pinnacle on RCI I will still be Elite on X. 
 

As @gerif says, the perks are not very good when compared to RCI.  The drinks benefit is useless as only in certain bars, during a very small window, when we are usually getting dressed for dinner so don't have our first drink until around 7pm.

There is a 1-category upgrade when you book which could save you about $20 🤷‍♀️