ceeceeDee

Those collapsible laundry hampers are a great idea. However, I just take along a pillowcase and hang it from a trouser hanger in the cabin wardrobe and put soiled clothes in that. Find it works a treat and if I don't get around to washing everything for disembarkation, I have something to segregate the soiled clothes from the clean ones in the suitcase.

What a wonderful idea!

Especially if you have the misfortune to be a crew member on a cruise ship😟

At most I take evening shoes (dance pumps, so light and comfortable), 1 pair of joggers, 1 pair of wedge sandals,1 pair of thongs and on occasion 1 pair of ballet flats (sometimes I don't bother with these, depends on the time of year) regardless of the length of the cruise.

Was she a centipede?

Yep, we're not into oneupmanship (or should that be onepersonship?🙄)

Whilst chasing the ambulance😒

Ain't that the truth?! The motto seems to be 'Don't hesitate, litigate'☹️

I think I read a post a while back that Princess removed the tub chairs because an American passenger tripped over one in the cabin. Seriously? Whatever happened to look where you're going? The cabins aren't all THAT compact and I'm pretty sure the tub wouldn't have leapt out and deliberately put out a leg to trip up the passenger.🥴

I have a lace cocktail dress which is my 'go to'. It's very light weight and can be rolled up to a compact shape for packing and doesn't crease. I'm thinking of buying a couple more in different colours.

Couldn't believe it when I first came across this 'trend' (some people were promoting it as a hack). a) Very unhygenic b) A lot of effort to wrestle off the beds and maneuver through the balcony doors c) They'd get very damp in the sea air d) Highly likely to p-off the poor cabin steward

What really tickled us (ok boasting about the free suite may have irked us just a little), was they also said that they nearly were denied boarding because the wife mislaid her proof of Covid vaccination and they had to contact their doctor and get another copy emailed post haste. Wouldn't that just make you rip your nightie when you were getting a 'freebie' cruise?!😂

Never a truer word, Mic! We were at breakfast on a cruise once and the couple at the next table were chatting to us. Wasn't long before they mentioned they were in a suite and to rub salt into the wound, they got it for free (!!) because of players' club or some such. Mind you, we didn't really care, they probably paid for it with their losses to the house in the Casino over time.🙂

Agree, I've seen plenty of rude passengers. Wish they would take their superior attitude and air of condescension somewhere other than the cruise I happen to be on. I find them incredibly embarrassing to be around. Misery might crave company, but they won't be having mine!

Yes, I think the days of a free upgrade are, if not dead at the very least moribund now that a lot of cruise lines have adopted the bid for an upgrade routine.

Absolutely. I've often read reviews of a particular cruise we took and couldn't believe we were on the same ship at the same time as the reviewer. I have to admit that the reviews were mainly a negative whinge about certain aspects. Whilst some had valid points, others made sweeping statements, such as 'All the crew were rude!'. Seriously? You interacted with ALL the crew? And without fail they were rude to you? In that case, I would question the reviewers' attitude and expectations towards the crew. I can confidently say that over our years of cruising on various cruise lines we have never been confronted by a rude crew member (slightly distracted, maybe, but never rude). Are we just lucky or do we (shock, horror) treat crew with respect?

I'm surprised they don't advertise the chute as an adventure activity! 😂

Our's is Campbell 😂

We're paying around $250 pp per night for a Byron mini suite (M1 grade) on Encounter for 10 nights at Christmas (with $200 OBC). Given that it is school holidays, I think that is not a bad price. $250 is the 'base rate', we have a plus package on top of that so spending a bit more. Our original booking price (18 months out) was considerably more, but after about 6 weeks P&O advertised a 'sale' so we cancelled and re-booked for the exact same cabin. Lost our deposit (a whole $2 and the OBC was reduced from $400 to $200) but we saved over $1000 on the original price for the two of us. So much for booking early to get the best deal!!!🙄 Although, I must say that the latest advertised price for that cruise is a couple of thousand more than either our original price or the one we now have.

If you go to Kirkcudbright, there are kookaburras! It's surmised they escaped from a wildlife park somewhere in Scotland.

For once, we are coming out in front. 😉 For our upcoming Encounter cruise we booked value plus fair which included the Premium drink package (booked ages ago but I think the drinks package was $105 per day at the time). Received an email from P&O yesterday advising the change in drink packages and that because we were booked on a value plus fare, our drinks packages would be upgraded to P&O Drinks Plus at no extra cost (which includes specialty coffee, energy drinks and a higher 'up to' value on alcohol (cocktails up to the value of $20 for example. The old Premium package was capped at $16 and didn't include barista coffee, etc). So we're 'saving' around $14 per day. However, one would imagine that the price of individual drinks will have risen accordingly. Not being one to look a gift horse in the mouth, I'm pleased about the upgrade and the barista coffee is a much appreciated bonus (I'll get my money's worth on that alone.😂) Have to admit it irked me to have to pay for it on our last cruise with P&O particularly when the 'free' coffee was absolutely woeful and almost undrinkable.

No, it doesn't affect my enjoyment of the food and I am capable of ignoring it, but I do find it just a tad disrespectful. Maybe I'm old fashioned, but how hard is it to at least go smart casual and remove the ubiquitous baseball cap?! According to the P&O website: If it’s after 5:30pm, smart casual clothing is required in the public lounges and restaurants. However, as I said, each to their own.

🙄 Each to their own, I suppose. However, I assume you were seated in the MDR, not the local McDonalds? Whatever happened to removing hats at the table, particularly in a restaurant?

Yep, there's nothing 'flash' about their 'sale'!

Absolutely, Leigh. My son has been gone for six years and not a day goes by that I don't miss him dreadfully. Hope you recover soon, Lyle. Please give Lynne my best. CeeCee