Brummijam

4 hours ago, paulatsea said:

Thanks for your comments shipmates.

I wish they went to Southampton now - it would make things much easier.

 

Are the passengers on these cruises older or different to the ones on the usual Mediterranean type Marella cruises ?

 

The reason I ask is that we don’t like a too much noise and rowdiness !! I expect being adults only helps a lot ?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our trip disembarked At Southampton as it was the starting point for the” Around Britain” itinerary.

We flew from Birmingham so had to get a coach from Southampton back to Brum.

The passenger demographic was fifties plus I would say, ( lots of working age people can’t do the longer trips due to allowed holiday days) Certainly no rowdiness in our experience.

We think that they are value for money.  Lots of sea days which are for us very relaxing, Go for it.😉

We did that trip 2019 on Explorer and really enjoyed it,  three carribean islands then on to Cape Verde for two days, lots of sea days and then onto zebrugge and Southampton.

Ironically our cabin was on deck 9 opposite the kids club, not a peep.😂

Thank you for the prompt answer.😉👍🏻

Was your trip before or after the last refurbishment? 
(I think that was a couple of years ago)

I have put this question on this thread to save opening another one regarding Discovery so here goes.

We are on Discovery during June this year, could anyone tell me if deck nine balcony cabin bathrooms have a glass door or is it the dreaded shower curtain.?

We were on the spirit of adventure over the Xmas / new year period which was a Canaries itinerary and inside the ship the temperature was always pleasant. We felt no need to put  on jumpers etc. Tee shirts during the day and short sleeved shirts during the evening.

3 hours ago, suenneil said:

Please can anyone tell me if there are bathrobes in the cabins on Voyager

In the suite’s only on the other ships.

You have to be out of your cabin at 08:00 regardless. In our experience we have always had time for breakfast and then a leisurely coffee or two, as Jim says it’s usually between 11:00 and midday.👍🏻

Looks like it’s done an about turn.

13 minutes ago, paulatsea said:

You are right - it’s pathetic - but I am addicted ! 
At least I stopped smoking cigarettes.

Well done for kicking it.

 

Hi Paul.

l would never call anyone who smokes pathetic, it’s just a crazy thing how it gets a hold on us, Vapes are allegedly better for you than cigarettes so well done to you.👏🏻

Keep well mate.😉

1 hour ago, Jim The Scot said:

Also smoked for nigh on 5 decades but stopped over 10 years ago and have no issues mixing with smokers as it doesn,t bother me in the slightest.However I am a vaper so like paul wouldn,t go anywhere that bans it

 

Dont find it strange how a habit controls a person and surprised you B  having smoked for 40 years think that way.Every chance if you hadn,t required an op you would be still reekin like a lum 😅

 

Hope your well B

Hi Jim.

As you say other people smoking doesn’t bother me at all, each to their own.

And you are most probably right about my surgery trumping my smoking.😂

What I am saying as a non smoker is I now see how it affects decisions that people make.

We had a trip recently and shared a car to the docks with another couple, the gent was a smoker and after an hour and half into the journey he was getting proper edgy, When we stopped at the services he had a cigarette in his mouth before the car door was open.😄

I was probably that man ten years ago.🤷🏻‍♂️

Anyway alls well here and hoping you and yours are all in good health.👍🏻

Belated Happy new year to you all.

3 hours ago, paulatsea said:

Decided - I’m not going anywhere that bans vaping/e-cigs  - I use IQOS heated tobacco which is also banned - so sod em all !

Not having a go at you Paul but it’s amazing how a smoking habit can determine where you can / can’t go on holiday?
I smoked for fourty years and to be truthful I was in the same mindset.

I stopped ten years ago, Basically I needed an operation and they weren’t prepared to do it if I was still a smoker. These days I truly don’t even think about cigs. I just find it strange now how a habit can control a person.

Not judging you at all mate.

Keep well.😉

1 hour ago, JMMKUK said:

I've been known to say that it isn't fit for purpose. I nearly threw my iPad across the cabin when it failed to submit the end of cruise survey in October.

Having read other posts about it I've got to wondering if it is a compatability issue. What device(s) were you using? I was using an iPad & iPhone that are both stuck on IOS 15 so need replacing.

My iPad is a newer model and I am using an iphone12 both with the latest updates, seemed to really struggle especially when at sea.🤷🏻‍♂️
The ship was at full capacity so I was thinking it may be a bandwidth problem ( too many people online at the same time) but even on the days that we were in port and many passengers were ashore there wasn’t much of an improvement. Can’t really complain about it though because on other lines you would have to pay for a similar poor connection.

Hi Jm.

There is a thread lower down regarding Wi-fi on board.

It wasn’t that good in my experience.🤷🏻‍♂️

1 hour ago, LondonLad60 said:

I've never had any problem accessing any venue when wearing a lounge suit and tie on formal nights

Exactly this on the recent  Xmas/ new year cruise.

3 hours ago, Ladycommonsense said:

I would suggest that if someone needs to be told which side of the road to cycle on, they shouldn’t really be on a cycle.

On 1/15/2024 at 9:14 AM, Kohima said:

You need a safety briefing, involving watching a video, before taking out an e bike. We booked e bikes in Funchal, having been told by Explore Ashore that there was a cycle path. However, investigating on foot in advance, we couldn’t see clear evidence of a cycle path on either the busy road or pavement, so decided against taking out the bikes. 
It would be helpful if the ships developed a safe cycling guide to suitable ports. Cycling on busy roads on the “wrong side”  of the road doesn’t seem like a good idea.

I can’t see where the poster Kohima was was asking which side of the road to cycle on.🤷🏻‍♂️

3 hours ago, Whiteduck1 said:

Thanks for your replys.. I'll try and get some practice in using one before April.. 

Also I don’t think that you hire them as I believe that they are free to use.

you may have to book them.

https://newsroom.saga.co.uk/news/saga-to-offer-guests-mate-x-e-bikes-to-explore-destinations

On our recent Xmas trip there was always at least three bikes not being used at the gang plank. A couple that we met on board used the bikes at most ports and recommended them.

4 hours ago, Pensioncruiser said:

Off topic but all ok here BJ .Think someone 😁 complained about that other post and it's gone 👍

 

👍

5 hours ago, beaujolais said:

 

Just off, today, the SoA after Xmas cruise and the WiFi was fine

 

Me thinks you knock Saga at the slightest excuse

We are just back from that trip, The onboard was Wi Fi system was Star link and in my experience it was poor, Ok for WhatsApp etc but no chance of downloading you tube or even Apple Music. Not really complaining as it was included in the price whereas other cruise lines would charge a fortune for the same poor service.We need to remember that any connections at sea are not going to be comparable to land but I was expecting more from Star link as it is a satellite connection.

👍🏻

On 12/27/2023 at 9:34 PM, Pensioncruiser said:

Sorry it's probably just us we do miss our cruises, just enjoy yours. Have a great new year.

Hi PC.

Hoping you and mrs PC  are keeping well.

Raise a glass with us tonight, and here’s wishing you both a happy healthy new year.

22 hours ago, Ladycommonsense said:

What on earth had that got to do with it? I am asking what the quality of the onboard laundry service is like🙄

If you or hubby do them at home and you find that the ships laundry service isn’t up to your standards there are onbord laundromats so you can do them yourself.🤷🏻‍♂️

Or take your butler.😘

What date / time and departure airport is  it ?

If you do an online dummy booking usually the flight number shows on it.

This is not having a pop at you but what were you expecting from TUI  when you put in your official complaint..? 
From an outsider looking in you haven’t got anything that you wanted from TUI so you are venting your spleen on here.  If they had refunded the cost of your holiday because of your gripes would you have left such a damning review……….. I doubt it.

We did a trip on Explorer 2 earlier this year and it wasn’t the best regarding food,service, experience but at the end of the day you get what you pay for and you shouldn’t expect gold service for a brass fare. As you say “ there are plenty of other lines “ so it’s up to you where you spend your money.

7 hours ago, Ladycommonsense said:

I would be interested to know what your feelings are about the standard of service provided by the laundry on both ships. I’m thinking particularly about my husband’s shirts. He has some rather nice bespoke shirts and is rather particular about the way they are finished and ironed. Everything else about Saga ticks all our boxes but I  just wonder what you seasoned travellers think of the laundry service. Thank you in advance of your answers.

Who does them when you are not on a cruise.?