MBP&O2/O

Same for me. I declared a heart condition that had been treated by surgery ... all is well, no meds, no follow ups etc, NW had no problem with that. Similar scenarios with other quotes. Using the same information as given to NW .... it was cheaper to buy Annual rather than Single Trip, and quotes given ranged from £800 to £3000. The phrase "rip off" springs to mind. Just a little bit of research was required ...

One way you are flying the same way as the earth rotates and one way the opposite so you cover the same longitudinal distance quicker.

With respect, there are five other threads of a similar nature on this page alone. All give pro's and cons for style budget and location.

What about places like Alaska where many excursions are small boat based and the ship is in the middle of a fjord away from land? Or do they use shore based companies to supply the kayaks and zodiacs?

I have no interest whatsoever in a sailaway ..... if I am free I may amble out onto the balcony but thereagain I might not. A late sailaway is a good time for dining ... loads of people outside and minimal people in the restaurants.... 🙂

Perth Pink was one MP recommended? aka Chateau 'Pee de la chat'? 🐈‍⬛🤪 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbOZccv9ym8 Decidley politically uncorrected now ..

Asda might have a £10 for two meal deal in the cafe? The booze might not be unlimited but there might be a limit as to how much you wanted to drink 😁 Remember the old Monty Pyton sketch about Australian wines ...😵‍💫

For me, a waste of a butler. I am very low maintenance and quite capable of looking after myself. I found one to be over intrusive and rearranging things that he need not / shouldn't have touched in the first place. He cleaned shoes that hadn't been worn since he last cleaned them. Within days I asked him - nicely - to leave us alone and that we would call him if needed To the original point .. I could see SS dropping the butler from 'normal' verandah suites, (keeping the price constant) and offering them to the higher suites with a suitable price increase of course 😏

We had the same issue. Kicked off the ship at 9am, airport by 10am, sat thumb twiddling until 3:30pm check in. No left luggage facilities and minimal seating. Nightmare! Awful place.

We too have the Nationwide cover. I paid £106 extra for age cover, worldwide cruise cover and declared medical issues. At £13 per month it is a no brainer, considering the other perks offered for that account.

Personally I dislike most of the "Island' whisky varieties, much preferring Speyside or Highland ..... neat and at room temperature and then allow them to breathe. My current favourites being North British and Compass Box 'Hedonism .. both essentially Grain whisky. I went to a distillery tasting some time ago and someone asked for ice ..... not a popular request to a distiller. 🙂

Obviously a pro-forma email. That is exactly the same mail they sent to me? I just posted an extract. Not impressed.

Sorry, the 'normal ' season ... technically the official hurricane season runs between 1 June and 30 November but the period of highest concern is just between mid-August and early October. IMHO you'll be unlucky there is anything about so late. TRS .... Tropical Revolving Storm. Cyclone, Hurricane, Typhoon, Willie Willie .. all local nicknames for a TRS.

The Scotch range, if memory serves me correctly is pretty much bog standard, sub £30 from a supermarket. The prices they were charging for the 'premium' brands were expensive. My two favourites .. at home ... retail around £65 a bottle ... there are SS equivalents of a similar price range, but no way would I pay $15 per 30ml .That works out at a phenomenal price.

You are out of the official TRS season, and yes they get plenty of warning of any 'Oh Nasty weather, and yes the information will be passed on to the passengers, As for 'weather' ... multiple variables ... look out of the window is the best bet

Different strokes etc. All things that I would go out of my way to avoid 🙂

Agree ... disappointing. I was surprised that given the marketing description, the tables were so uncomfortably close to each other. This especially so when the number of customers is purposley imited, so really, IMHO, the number of tables (furniture wise) could be reduced leaving a less 'cramped atmosphere. Last time I ate there I thought the food was average ... certainly not worth the upcharge.

I contacted SS about removing my data from their system, as the 'auto requesti' form on the website didn't work. I explained reason for the request. They replied saying .... "The issue is being investigated internally and I am informed that the issue has been contained." Doesn't sound like a system glitch to me 🤔

I was trying to see if there was a hidden TA hint in there somewhere ... but failed😏 I was Reading too much into it.

I have just emailed SS expressing my concerns, and I asked how I can remove all my details from their system?

The current scenario looks like fun to me 🙂 Wave heights.

I can understand why people who have had a working life in suits now want a change. I too want a change for exactly the opposite reasons. When at sea, we kept 4 hrs on, 8 hrs off watches. There was plenty of 'admin' to do in your 'off' time. Meals were NEVER a relaxed affair. You had no choice about what to wear, and no choice about when to eat, or where to sit. Taking as long as twenty minutes for a meal was frowned upon. When in port, 6 hrs on, 6 hrs off. Same principle but no dining saloon as you were in working gear. Meals were frequently sat on a bollard eating off the plate on your knee, which was handy with Indian crews as you got a proper curry made by an Indian who was cooking what Indians wanted, as opposed to the Goanese cook who was cooking what he thought the Europeans wanted. Meals were frequently missed altogether. To be at sea, on a ship with a smart dress code and being allowed to have a relaxed meal at a time of my choosing and in pleasant surroundings is spot on. If the dining room has the courtesy to have decent tables ( cutlery, glasses, table cloth etc), with smart livered staff, then to me it is common courtesy to dress to those standards. Many will disagree but those people can do what they want, and I will do what I want🙂 I'm on holiday too. All hypothetical now as I have given up with SS, which is a shame as the onboard experience was usually quite good. Corporate management and policy's have turned me off.

Just used the link. Somewhat out of date results and some very dodgy companies mentioned .... least wise 'dodgy' by the number of negative issues raised on the Tripadvisor Cruise forum.

Could you define "Seriously Choppy"? Are we talking rolling through an arc of 60+ degrees or pitching that gets big green ones over the bow? I have been in F8 / F9 in the BoB, and have encountered some really really nasty weather in the Med. Different movement / motion but thoroughly unpleasant. Asia and the typhoon season? Could be rough and TRS's do not read the manuals and are not limited by the official season as defined in the those books. We once caught the back end of a typhoon of Japan, and we were rolling 40 degrees each way for two days ... and that on a laden oil tanker that was not prone to excessive movement. Challenging😵‍💫

"Took BA once in business and won't do that again. Old and tired would be the description for the cabin and just tired for the attendants. Service was marginal and food was dismal (well, it is British 😉)." So BA is getting better then. I agree it is a dire product. When I was at sea we used to fly here there and everywhere to join a ship. They used to give us a minimum of one night in a hotel for mid range flights...6/7 hrs, and two nights for long haul to Aus or NZ. The boffins said that was enough time to recover. They had never flown MEA via Beirut! Or gone onto 4 on 8 off watchkeeping! Also bear in mind that London is horrendously expensive as far as touristy thind are concerned.