Windsurfboy

Looking at price Amazara are more often cheaper than Saga. As to bubble and squeak, I've had it at Michelin star restaurants. However what you may be referring to is Saga having a one dish as what they call simple fare on the menu each night. After 3 weeks , one night I had a simple macaroni cheese for a change. Saga furniture is modern simple, by one of the top designers. Saga ships are certainly much more spacious, much better passenger space ratio.

I see Azamara and Oceana as actually downmarket to Saga , based on their cheapest cabins being cheaper than Saga, and their much smaller passenger space ratios. They are more casual and don't have formal nights. Viking is a bit more up market and again is smart casual , but no formal nights Seabourn, Silversea, Regent at the most up markeyhave the same dress code as Saga and formal nights. No cruise line insists on Jackets on non Formal nights. All in all, there seems to be very little correlation between up and down market and dress code. Except that the party lines are very casual. Yet Tui is relatively cheap , and Virgin expensive

Because you said people who want to wear jeans and shorts for BREAKFAST , should go on NCL or MSC. Where as I believe they should be wellcomed on Saga. Having a stricter dress code for BREAKFAST would be completely wrong and really harm Saga.

By the more up market , more expensive lines, presume you must mean Seabourn, Silversea and Regent. They have identical dress codes to Saga at night including formal nights. Their codes are not more relaxed than Saga , maybe more lax in enforcement. Even the very small ships, e.g. Noble Caledonia and Ponant don't allow shorts and T shirt at night. So Saga is not significantly different to more expensive lines. Let's hope Saga stays as it is.

I completely disagree, as someone who would be very happily wear a tuxedo most nights, I am a strong believer in proper dress at dinner and in the evening. However shorts and T shirt at breakfast or lunch are completely acceptable not only by the Saga dress code , but also by most passengers. If Saga banned these then there would be a rush for other lines. A shirt and tie at breakfast went out 50 years ago, and rightly so.

On ours they were purely panoramic, which means 2 to 3 hours in coach couple of photo stops and a loo break, coaches were pretty full. We gave them a miss after second , which promised some walking but it was purely coach. If this type of excursion is your thing fine. If not then Saga's attitude is go on paid trip or do it yourself. This is the only part of a Saga cruise that for us let's it down. I 're iterate , everything else on Saga cruise is excellent

Good idea in theory, not sure it's having any affect

No cruise ships. But if you go 50 miles upstream to the Chobe a tributary of the Zambezi you can go on a houseboat. Had the pleasure of seeing elephants swimming across using trunks as snorkels , with the matriarchs acting as guards keeping crocs away from baby elephants.

It's not for me , just thought it coincidence this was published at same times as this thread.

You will perhaps remember before covid a thread that pointed out for the the Germans Cunard were not allowed to automatically add gratuities, they had to put a letter in their cabin inviting them if they wanted to subscribe to automatic gratuities. I forget the exact wording, it was a nicely written invitation to use this method to ensure all the staff were included. I commented on the thread that I thought it wrong that us Brits were forced to opt out. Not that I ever did. So on my next cruise to South Africa just before covid, I went to Pursers office opted out but asked for the nice German letter to opt back in just to make a point of principle. They understood but didn't have the invitation letter to hand said they find it. They did find it a few days later and I opted back in, my argument was with Cunard not the hard working staff. This took a few days before we opted back in for whole trip In the meantime we'd opted for a table of 6, we were on one of the fixed big tables for 8, but ended up with only 4 , two lovely ladies. This massive table didn't work so I asked Maitre D (QG) if the 4 of us could move to a table of 4. He said something like I'll try to make space, but might mean moving people along one and then mumbled someting like they've paid their tips. So the Maitre D knows who opts out.

Mediba thanks , good reading , a fine selection of included drinks. I see their premium wines are still excellent value. The most expensive red is actually slightly cheaper than UK retail.

This popped up on Google https://www.cruisemummy.co.uk/warner-leisure-heythrop-park-hotel-review/

Draught beers in bars plus some bottles, special coffees, premium spirits eg single malt whisky, good cocktails are all included . OK wine, plus a good British bubbly included Only if you want premium wine will you need to put hand in pocket

That is the issue the passengers still get 15% added on , but it doesn't go to waiters. It would be more transparent if 15% was added to price lists.

This reminds me we once decided to drive along blue ridge parkway, couldn't see anythingfor the trees. Must have been magnificent view back when it was first built.

The sooner the better, if as you say as long as staff don't lose out.

Are you talking about wine waiters and bar staff. They have never been part of automatic gratuities service charge, this goes to all other hotel staff. So what you report is not a reason to stop auto gratuities if you believe the dishwasher deserves a tip as much as the waiter As you have said the drinks staff including sommeliers hhistorically relied on the % added to drinks. It is a shame this is not passed on to them, and it is dishonest to call it a service charge. As you say this would also be illegal in UK. One can only keep challenging it.

If ballroom dancing is the central reason for a holiday, yes of course a land based dancing holiday may suit you better. But a cruise is not a dancing holiday. It is a multifaceted holiday, offering something for everyone, lectures , entertainment , food and much more. Plus of course a new vista every day. There is nothing comparable on land. There are of course many fantastic land holidays.

I'm glad I didn't have to move into that room. No way could it be cleaned properly by just the normal team who would have many other rooms to do as well. If Cunard do not allocate the right resources for a really deep clean after a dog has been in a cabin, then they should not allow dogs.

Look at Cunard T&Cs to find out how much you pay depending on exactly how many days notice. Any good insurance should pay the rest minus excess. You will have to get doctors note which you will have to pay for. Alternatively ask Cunard if you can move money to your future cruise

Did they have to call in extra staff to deep clean the room it must be a mammoth job. Clearly couldn't be done with normal staff and turn over time.

I can't really see any increase in cruiser angst over years, there have always been problems raised real or imaginary nothing's changed. You will get the same in land based forums. The only potential problem I may envisage is if ships keep getting bigger, then embarkation becomes much more of a hassle.

If we ignore for the moment of a cruise taking you to new places whilst you sleep. I don't know of any land based "resorts" in UK that match up to a cruise. Yes there are some very nice hotels some of which at the top end have service and food that one may argue beats even QG. None have the integral entertainment and lectures of a cruise Yes there are some superb land based actual resorts abroad, especially Indian ocean, that have food and service of the highest level, surpassing QG. These come for a price similiar to QG, but then you have to add on a significant airfare assuming you turn left. If you are into water sports like me then that's the day time entertainment sorted, but night time is low key. Of course the other option is a city land based holiday, which can have great hotels, food and activities / culture 24 hrs a day. It's a personal choice. If you are lucky and can afford it , do all three.

My details have been temporary unavailable for getting on for a year. Now they have removed my concierge, except for booking excursions, everything else needs a phone call or email , my saga is a bit of a waste

Amazing how this thread drifted from dress to dogs. Back to dress, was this dog wearing the normal florescent / reflective 4 point harness seen on many assistance dogs, or a pretty collar.