cublet

Hello, I hope I'm not reopening an old sore, but can I ask how you got on at check-in with your vaccination exemption certificate / Dr's letter? Regards, Cublet

Hello, I use a TA and *DO* also get the X booking confirmation. Regards, Cublet

Of course. Cublet

Hello, I am speaking only for UK pricing - it may be the same or different for others but I do not know either way. As a very retired accountant that loves his spreadsheets (anyone here remember Lotus 123, or SuperCalc or Smartware?), I expected there to be a number of formulae working in the background on the 'headline' cruise price to produce individual prices based on multiple input criteria. Not so in the UK. Each sub price, input criterion dependant, is worked-out manually and input individually - and very often in arrears. Whether some of the expertise/experience in doing this was let go as part of the covid crisis is quite likely. Regards, Cublet

Hello, Here it is for me: This is for just little me, senior and over 340 points. The only thing that looks right about it is paying one lot of PF&T on the solo booking. If your TA is not available and whoever you called at Royal was no help then my next suggestion would be to contact the C&A desk. I know whom I would contact in the UK but the US is foreign territory. Regards, Cublet

Hello, I needed ear plugs on Virtuosa earlier this year because of creaking, rubbing or flexing. The noise specifically came from around the door/window unit between the cabin and the balcony or hole in the ship's side through which the cabin is inserted. Regards, Cublet

Hello, I think you are crediting the marking team with too much intelligence to dream-up (unfair) ways of extracting more money from solo cruisers. I think they dream-up clever ideas, apply it to couples, and don't even think about solo cruises. When challenged, they have to say something along the lines of 'Of course that's what is intended' and not 'Oh dear, we didn't think of that'. Re LHB & family cruising: I'm sure someone somewhere has got the number of 'families per berth' for US cruisers. I think that the couples with kiddos booking a cruise will be doing so more as a 'celebratory' cruise than one of a flow of bookings and so after a while the pool of 'celebrants' will become exhausted whereas us seasoned regular cruisers will book, book and book aqain. Possible good news for anyone (in the UK) that missed it, Jo Rzymowska has joined Hays Travel as a non-executive director. Regards, Cublet

Hello, I don't think that was off-topic at all when it comes to the principle. My favourite example of this comes from the film Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Roy Neary (Richard Dreyfuss) says of Claude Lacombe (Francois Traffaut) 'How can he be in charge - he's not even American?' Regards, Cublet

Hello, Speaking for the UK, not all DP340 prices have been loaded! And some that have are still using the 1st July to 31st August blackout dates!! The less than 365 day old ship exclusion is for the 'Pinnacle' free cruise(s) but being the poor relation, it's very rare for us in the UK to get a new ship (unless we book with MSC!). Hot foot from the Celebrity site, their '30% off' offer was not for solo bookings. Regards, Cublet

Hello, If it was me, I'd keep the Dr.'s letter in reserve, but my first line of argument would be to present a print of the small print found on their website. That having been done, I forecast much confusion and discussion between members of the check-in team and the probable statement that 'that information is out of date but the website hasn't been updated'. But you don't need me to tell you that these check-in agents work, probably, for Intercruises (not P&O) and so have checked-in passengers for numerous lines whose requirements are more rational so may not bat a eye-lid. Regards, Cublet

Hello, I think what is happening is something more broadly that I experienced, and named, when I worked for a couple of US companies years ago. It's called, by me, The Not Invented Here Syndrome. If this booklet had been issued by the CDC or CLIA for example, then it would have been fine. But, horror of horrors, it was published by FOREIGNERS and so cannot be trusted or taken seriously. Regards, Cublet

Hello, On Virtuosa this year I was on a table for Solo travellers. Numbers went up and down over the two weeks but the majority were either US & UK pax and two Norwegians. Needless to say the Norwegians spoke perfect, accent-less, English. Both UK & US bookings included Hot Drinks and water as standard, not so for Norwegian. For four or five days dinner went without issue as mineral water was served as an when required throughout dinner. Then one night the waiter discovered the identity of the two Norwegians. They were told that they could not sit and this table, they would have to sit elsewhere but (generously) they would not be charged for the water previously consumed. This was their first MSC cruise and I'm prepared to guess it would also be their last. Regards, Cublet

Hello, Anyone joining me for a quickie? The 'longie' follows on 4th October - there's already a roll call for that one. Regards, Cublet

Hello, This is just an opinion and not based on experience but I've always thought Tuktuks were labouring on the flat never mind on how they would manage the hill to Reid's! At one port of call they were advertised as having a weight limit and that tells you something. Regards, Cublet

Hello, This generates more questions than it does answers. I had already booked one MSC cruise's car parking but subsequently booked a second, B2B, cruise. I contacted ABP Parking to change my already booked parking to a B2B booking and to book the parking for the latest booking and get my 25% B2B discount on both. "Not any more" I was told. "You get 10% off the first booking and 25% only off the second". First & second in terms of chronology of sailing or booking? If the sailings are of vastly different durations then so too will be the parking charges AND MSC's 'routine' discount is currently at 15% which, if my 'O' Level Maths from 52 years ago still applies, is already more than 10%. I've got three more B2B parking (six cruises) bookings to make. It's time for a lie down and perhaps afterwards work out whether it's worth it in future. Regards, Cublet

Hello, Re "Unless you are of 'mountain goat' heritage, you will want to take a taxi TO the hotel but can walk back as gravity will be on your side" above - the journey back can be only about 50% of the journey to Reid's BUT should NOT be attempted if any of the party is in a wheelchair or electric scooter as it will sorely test the gears and/or brakes. The route is exit right from Reid's and follow the road 'Estrada Monumental' through the dual carriageway system until the lanes rejoin at 'Avenida do Infante', and after about 200 metres turn RIGHT down 'Rua Carvalho Araujo' - a one-way street and steep hill. At the end you will be at the roundabout at the entrance to the port. I probably over-dress with a jacket and tie but the most recent booking confirmation said "our recommended dress code is smart casual (to preserve the timeless glamour of the afternoon tea experience, sport attire is not permitted: including t-shirts, man sandals and flip flops of any kind)" Regards, Cublet

Hello, I'm afraid that I'm a bit late to this party. I always book independently. I ask for a table 'On the Terrace' that overlooks the gardens and (hopefully) the ship berthed in the distance! It is open air, unlike the inside room that is given to ships' excursion parties where everyone eats together at trestle tables. There are two 'sittings' - one at 3.00pm and the second at either 4.00 or 4.30pm (I've only ever done 3.00pm myself). Unless you are of 'mountain goat' heritage, you will want to take a taxi TO the hotel but can walk back as gravity will be on your side. The cheapest way to do this is take a ship's shuttle bus to the city's drop-off point and take a taxi from there to the hotel this avoiding the 'entering port area' surcharge on the taxi charge. Depending on the day, phases of the moon or anything else, expect to pay between 10 and 15 Euro one way. If you avail yourself of all the offered 'reloads & refills' you will not want to book any specialty restaurants that night and even MDR may be a course too far. As a further memento, there is a gift shop next floor down that sells Reid's branded goods. Regards, Cublet

Hello, That worked perfectly for both 2024 & 2025. Thank you. Regards, Cublet

Hello, Thank you. Might you have got your P and B the wrong way round? Either way both ways are coming up as 'invalid'. I have to book some B2Bs so I'll gently enquire then if there is a current offer. Regards, Cublet

Hello, I was talking about 'current' - or at least June this year. I was writing countering the statement "....with the exception of the first night of the cruise and the night of the senior offers gathering" as my experience in June was that the night of the senior officers' gathering was not an exception. Regards, Cublet

Hello, Does anyone have a current discount code for MSC & RCI/X parking with ABP at Southampton for 2024 & 2025? I have one covering 2024 but it says to be used by end July 2023. Regards, Cublet

Hello, Does anyone have a current discount code to book MSC parking at Southampton for 2024 & 2025? I did a search but the results don't state the year and having put a time frame of 'within the last six months' and got some results from 2018 (!), I decided a simpler approach was in order. Regards, Cublet

Hello, I was told on Silhouette that the CC HH is every day apart from the first - ie includes the night of the senior officers bash. I made use of that fact twice in the Passport Bar. Regards, Cublet

Hello, I am only theorising as I have no first hand knowledge, but my theory is this. You have Elite status on X and therefore Diamond status on Royal but whilst you have the STATUS you don't have the POINTS. The on-line booking system is looking at the C&A points to apply the discounts, but as you don't have the points it is not applying the discounts. But as I said, this is only my theory and others may know more. But whether right or not, best you contact Royal or use a good TA. Regards, Cublet

Hello, Based on experience, I very much doubt they would put (genuine) Prosecco in a mimosa - or anything else for that matter. Again, based on experience, the only way you can be guaranteed being served Prosecco and not the cheap swill they serve as such, is to buy it by the bottle and have in kept in your preferred bar. The motto of both X and Royal is 'serve cheap, charge dear'. This is a problem I never have on MSC. Regards, Cublet