howmuch!

I hope thats not the quote that the captain of the Costa Concordia said? 😂

It was originally the Celebrity Mercury, then passed to TUi and sailed as the Mein Schiff Hertz, so perhaps check what people previously said regarding aft cabins. The decor will have changed but the basic construction could be largely as built, so their views could still be valid,

As you say, can't see mention of a screen on the pool deck, but would be surprised if there wasn't one.

The bills can run up very quickly. In about 2014 (can't remember exactly), OH who is type 1 diabetic quickly developed a cough/chest infection overnight. At home we would have expected her doctor to offer a course of antibiotics, but as it was a 'sea day', we went down to the Medical room, on the Majesty, expecting something similar.

She received several tests, and a coupe of 'one hour drip sessions', administered by the nurse, to help her recover more quickly, but meanwhile could continue her cruise as normal. They reassured me not to worry (about the bill that was), as they would contact the insurance, once I gave them the details.

At the end of the cruise, our on-board account only had the 'insurance excess' added, as treatment had been cleared by LV - all £1800 worth.

Following month, OH attends diabetic appointment at hospital, and took the detailed bill along in case it had any relevance to her condition. Quote from consultant - 'Did they really do all this'?

3 hours ago, davecttr said:

I think it is two doors back to back each with its own lock so you can't open the door in the other cabin.

Dave, Thanks for the information. Just wondered in case we booked a last minute cruise (so no individual cabin choice)

Could perhaps pack a roll of stick on draught excluder - just in case I suppose 😀

Deck plans for Marella inside cabins, show a few as being inter-connectes there a door on the internal wall between the 2 cabins?

15 minutes ago, gsmt47471015 said:

To be perfectly honest we have never bothered to claim on any missed ports down the years, but after the last two cruises and the late notification of changes we may have to rethink our attitude

I think you should. LV have paid us one or two times in the past, even with substitute ports. You've paid for insurance, so use it.

Jim - Thanks for the info. Lets hope the virus doesn't mutate to something more significant than BA4 and BA5, and everything eventually becomes nearer to 'normal' pre Covid life, even in winter.

Ideally, I'd like my Sept/Oct booster before next cruise (missed the spring one as only 74)

On 7/14/2022 at 2:58 PM, Jim The Scot said:

Thanks P

 

Yes theres no restriction on flying like there was no restriction on us in the resort/hotel or even on the coach transfer from the port to our hotel 🤔so hardly surprising infection rates are high

 

There were many coughing and spluttering on the ship and coach transfer as well as on the flight home

 

Still testing positive today although 2nd line is fainter

 

Hope you get well soon P

Jim, I hope you and your wife are now well on the way to being fully recovered. I was very surprised by how you were dealt with, compared to what happened to passengers 6 months ago (offloading to quarantine hotel until testing negative, at ones own expense) -  Did anyone on Marella confirm Is that the 'new normal' when dealing with Covid cases onboard?

On 7/5/2022 at 7:32 AM, Rebel Rouser said:

Marella Dream at the Final resting place. Been through 4 ships now which have been scrapped.

Island Escape

Spirit

Celebrity 

 

Am I jinxed 😆

RR - not unless you were on the Costa Concordia 😀

We cruised in Aug 2021 (Staycation) and March this year on the Explorer, and enjoyed it as much as our previous 10 or so cruises. Economies have been made, even though prices have risen quite a bit.

As with seat reservations on planes, Tui/Marella have successfully upsold Premium drinks, and I have the feeling less courses and smaller portion sizes served in the MDR, may be a ploy to encourage dining in alternative venues at a cost.

However, if the price is right, we will still be booking, as the crew are great.

1 hour ago, davecttr said:

Suits me fine having just bought premium all inclusive at £10 per day 😁

If we were coffee drinkers, we would probably be doing the same, as premium also avoids the water fountains that people still insist on filling bottles from, rather than using the carafe provided.

If its before the school holidays in July, I'm sure you should be fine.

I'm sure it will be the first of many future cruises - hope you enjoy it as much as when we first cruised.

On 5/30/2022 at 7:49 AM, davecttr said:

I notice the Marella site does not have any deck plans for decks 6 and 11 on Explorer and Explorer 2, both entertainment decks.  Paranoia kicks in or is it just 'normal' web site behaviour?

Could be filling the pool in as its doesn't generate extra revenue, and turning it into sunken themed restaurant, with turnstiles being added to entrances of the main bar on deck 6, to allow only premium all inclusive guests in.😂

I have to agree. We did a west coast staycation cruise last August from Southampton, and it was excellent, primarily due to the crew/passenger ratio being higher. The difference in service was massive compared to our Canaries cruise this March.

Due to current Marella prices, will not be booking more than 3 weeks in advance, in an effort to obtain better value, or we will look at other companies, who are now in a similar price bracket.

23 hours ago, davecttr said:

My shaver featured on antiques roadshow last year 

Must be like 'Trigger's sweeping brush', 5 new heads and 3 new handles.😂

I can only comment from a male perspective, but my observations on 'personal hygiene' in toilets on cruise ships, (even during Covid times) confirms to me that smartness of appearance and hygiene aren't directly linked, so perhaps the 'great unwashed' aren't who we thought they were.

Marella are attracting younger passengers with different views on what constitutes 'smart' and we either accept that times have changed, or move to other operators. The comments I have seen on forums from 'new cruisers' is that they loved it, so its unlikely to return to 'the old days'.

Suitcases will usually fit under the bed.

3 hours ago, terrierjohn said:

You people are weird, once I close my eyes any light there is disappears.😁

I need some light to see the bathroom door!

18 hours ago, Pensioncruiser said:

Topcashback don't always pay out☹️

True, and same with Quidco, but its just an added bonus when it pays. I would never buy anything based purely on the cashback.

I've been with both sites for several years, and Tui have been virtually 100% payers. If I've been browsing holidays to find what suits us, I always clear cookies and restart computer before using them though.

All the codes are on the website. The £400 ones are for a small number of relocation cruises, where the ship is moving from one cruise area to another (Adriatic to Canaries in that case)

If you use Topcashback or Quidco, they usually offer a small discount by booking via their website (usually 1%)

Price obviously will depend on which cruise you are interested in. If booking online, be careful to try different combinations. I originally tried a booking with 4 people in 2 cabins, and it gave a price where one cabin was an inside on deck 4/5 and the other was on deck 8/9. You can obviously change that selection as you book.

Also some cruises have discounts, which are usually per booking rather than per person, so 2 separate bookings has the advantage of gaining a discount on each.

We always choose a cabin, so £50 extra, but if you wanted 2 cabins together, check what cabins are available in a dummy booking before the actual booking.

You have probably realised by now,  why I selected my 'handle' - Howmuch!

Before choosing a balcony, I would examine the prices for 2 separate cabins vs all squeezing into 1 cabin, as showering/getting ready for evening meal, sleeping/rising at separate times could spoil the cruise experience.

I just tried a dummy booking for the 3 seas explorer cruise in October. 4 in one cabin was £1001 each, whereas 2 cabins with 2 in each was £1073 each.

Those prices don't include the £400 discount, which for that particular cruise, you would make 2 separate bookings, in order to benefit from £400 off each booking

3 hours ago, Mrs applehead said:

Have a great time.

If you get the chance could you check out the allergy section in the buffet please? Particularly interested in dairy free items.

Thank you

and Gluten Free please - have a great time

31 minutes ago, terrierjohn said:

It's unfair on those not vaccinated either, but the remedy in both cases is with the passenger. I always said I did not want a smart phone, but after taking the plunge 2/3 years ago I would not want to be without one now, I use it for virtually all my online activity.

When you think back to the seventies, programming a video recorder was infinitely more difficult than operating a smart phone today - and in comparison terms, infinitely more expensive to purchase (Apple being a possible exception)