nosapphire

Although I will always comply with whatever dress code is expected my personal opinion is that as long as you look as if you have made a bit of an effort - i.e, been to the cabin for a shower and change to tidy clothes, not arrived straight from the gym/sunlounger -then nowadays it should be acceptable attire in the MDR.

It seems to be called Norovirus when reported on cruise ships, but "the vomiting bug" when talking about schools (especially infant and nursery) or hospitals. As far as I am aware, the "bug" is one that constantly changes, so nobody ever builds up a specific immunity, just that some bodies cope with it in a dramatic way, some more or less ignore it. It can be dangerous for people who are generally frail because of the stress of constant vomiting and the risk of dehydration. It has to be taken seriously in places that cannot simply be closed down, such as cruise ships, not least because the symptoms are almost identical to some other much nastier causes (e.coli, anybody?) so suspected Noro passengers get tested (good news if told "you've just eaten/drunk too much....)to make sure it is Noro. Then, of course, the reports go out about cruise from hell...

When you go on board, there will be a programme already in your cabin ("Today") and the front page will list the planned dates for formal nights. As above, they normally try to have them on sea days, or if on port days, ports with early sailing times. Each evening you get a programme for the following day, which will remind you of the expected dress code. I have known planned formal nights to change date, usually because of potential bad weather.

Important - no. Interesting - yes.

Maybe it was a straighftorward mistype? The bar service charge is 15%, the added gratuity charge for QG is $18 pppd. Personal opinions and reviews are always helpful, and equally helpful to have incorrect facts pointed out. But I fail to see how one incorrect fact can make the entire review - clearly stated as a personal opinion - "lose credibility".

The Saga AGM is today, and the trading update this morning says they "are continuing to explore partnership opportunities for ...ocean cruise and insurance ...". Which translates to me as "no acceptable offers yet". (I am not a shareholder, but much information is publicly available online).

Spirit of Discovery does NOT, according to the brochure deck plans and symbols, have any cabins with a shower over the bath.( It does have some with a separate bath and shower, but think these are suites only. Outside my price range). Spirit of Adventure - looks as if it is only some of the deluxe cabins with shower over bath. Single deluxe: D026. Twin deluxe: A020, A521,B022,B521, C037, C536, D525, E024, E523. Cannot see any standard cabins marked as shower over bath.

I've been reading this thread with interest, and my personal opinion (the later discussions about need or not) is that you are all correct. There are most definitely people who will take advantage in any situation - I've heard them later bragging about how they manage to beat the queues by claiming this,that or the other - and I lump them in the same category as those who also brag about how many items they can get for free when "accidentally forgetting" to scan at the self service checkout, or who think it acceptable to leave all their empty cans and cartons on the train seats. Then there are also many people, with or without any form of disablility or handicap, who do need a bit of extra help, whether it si always or just sometimes. The big difference is the "scammers" are trying to get a priority advantage, the genuine are just asking for assistance. If we forget the word "disability" and accept that in a majority of cases there is a valid reason for the request, and stop tutting - we may all be a bit less stressed. As an example - there are many reasons (some temporary, some permanent) why needing a toilet can be a very, very urgent need, and if the nearest available is a disabled toilet then that gets used. I have seen people do this, and if they come out and find somebody in a wheelchair waiting to go in, they are absolutely mortified - there was no doubt in my mind that they used the disabled toilet because they had to, not simply because they were being selfish. People do not have to have a "recognised disability" (visible or not) to sometimes need a bit of help, a bit of patience from those waiting behind, or sometimes just a kind offer of "would you like to go first?".

It will do. Don't think there are any cabins to be really avoided on their new ships.

Bit of a thread drift, but the most memorable safety talk I heard was many years ago on a Virgin Atlantic flight. The attendant maybe wanted to see how many people were actually listening. It finished the description of the life vest with: "... a light to attract the sharks, and a whistle in case they are looking the other way".

Fortunately, not. But as you (happily) do not mention having to use the lifeboats, it sounds as if this was one of the precautionary situations - i.e, "let's make sure everybody is ready in case we cannot get the situation under control." Your final comment sums up the need to get people ready earlier rather than later....surprising how many people do not bother to read the safety notice on ship, plane or hotel. Could be that, in most situations, there is time to go to the cabin, which would save crew time doling them out. Or could simply be a hangover from the "old days". I have a photo somewhere of everybody trying to leave an embarkation muster drill still wearing old-style lifejackets.. we looked like a lot of bright orange pumpkins wedged together in the doorway.

Plus any medication and warm clothing. BUT if you cannot - for any reason at all - return to your cabin, there are sufficient life jackets in the bins by the lifeboats for everybody. The only time a lifejacket would be really needed would be in the event of having to abandon ship. Instructions to return to cabin, collect lifejacket etc and go to muster are so that everybody is ready in case of need, but the likelihood of such need is vanishingly rare. The ship itself is the biggest and safest lifeboat there is, and the one thing that a ship - any ship - really, really, really wants to do is float. Passenger ships take evasive action for weather more often than any other type, simply because they have passengers, not because the ship itself will have any problems. I have seen photos and read reports from cargo ships that arrived in port very late, very battered, and minus quite a lot of cargo after battling through seriously bad weather it has made me aware of just how well a ship can cope.

They are also stored on deck by the liferafts. There are large boxes containing lifejackets - I was told that there are sufficient for all persons on board. I recall one sea day (Saga Ruby, I think) with a crew exercise and passengers were invited to join in (if they wished.) In those days, our muster station was at our life raft, those of us who had gone straight to the muster were issued with life jackets from the lockers.

What's the betting that those who avoid the hand-washing stations (including those who simply wiggle 2 fingertips under the tap as a token gesture) would, if they went down with any form of gastro-enteritis, be the first ones off to the tabloids to tell of their "cruise from hell" experience. Noro and similar are so common, have been common for years, and places where people are in close proximity for extended periods (such as cruise ships) are perfect breeding grounds. It is sad/annoying/inexplicable (take your pick) that otherwise sensible, educated adults have to be constantly reminded about basic hygene when using shared facilities.

Maybe the "please wash your hands" should place more emphasis on the fact that by doing so you are protecting yourself. At one restaurant (Saga) there was a queue for the handwashing sink (enforced by staff) and the person behind me said plaintively, "but I already washed my hands before leaving the cabin". I asked him "and what did you touch on the way to dinner? Maybe somebody who had NOT washed their hands touched it before you."