cublet

Hello,

Many years ago I was on Constellation for what was called an "Extensive Wine and Food Cruise" out of Southampton - covering France, Spain and Portugal.

We were allowed to bring on board two bottles of local wine from each of our ports of call for consumption on board including MDR without corkage.

Regards,

Cublet

18 hours ago, islandchicklet said:

Yeah, I hate calling but I guess I have no choice.  And of course, I will have to call 12 times to get 2 answers that seem similar.

 

THANKS for your input!

Hello,

And that's exactly why I use a TA - let him have all the aggravation.

Regards,

Cublet.

4 hours ago, little britain said:

A bit out of sequence- last night’s show was Showgirls. I’m not sure if it is the same as the version on Odyssey, but it was similar. Lots of lovely leggy ladies and feathers!

 

We don’t think Spectrum has a live orchestra 🤷‍♀️? There was certainly no sign of one at the show, no mention of one when Bonnie (CD) came on at the end to thank lighting engineers etc etc; and no band at the Top Tier event.

 

 

 

 

 

Hello,

I don't want to show my age (you'll have to cut-off one of my legs and count the rings to do that), but this looks very much like 'Bill Cotton's Band Show' and 'The Television Toppers' dance troupe!

Regards,

Cublet

2 hours ago, little britain said:

Today we are in Penang. A gorgeous place. You dock right in town. 
Full of beautiful shophouses and a new street art trail

shophouses

 

 

streetart

 

 

After 10,000 steps we ended at the E&O for lunch.

Hello,

It looks like Bristol's Banksy gets everywhere:

I've been following your travels - are you setting out to be a tax exile with all the time away you're having?

Regards,

Cublet

Hello,

I'm sure most of the complainers are either American or used (exclusively) to American cruise lines. MSC is, sort of, Italian (too complicated to go into).

There are several things that are different but are raised time and time again on this forum - proof, if any was needed, that not many read these pages before they post. On my last Virtuosa cruise I sat next, or close to, an American complaining there was no 'Lobster night' or 'Filet Mignon' night - neither are 'big' in Italy. There is also no dishwater masquerading as 'coffee' or something called 'half and half' to disguise the vile liquid further. As most milk is 'foamed' in Italy before it is put in coffee, I don't know how 'half and half' would fare when subjected to a steam wand. Don't get me started on 'wash cloths' either - they must be important to many as three threads on their availability were running here concurrently a couple of months ago. Don't ask for a 'Pepperoni' or 'Hawaiian' pizza unless you want to be laughed/snarled at as they are not 'Italian'. A 'positive' for me, is when I ask either for Champagne or Prosecco on MSC that's what I get; on Royal or Celebrity I am initially served some sparkling swill that I reject, quite forcefully, every time.

On the subject of 'manners', I think that few of the complainers will have visited Italy itself either. If they had, they would have discovered the Italians (and Spanish) to not embellish their speech with 'please' or 'thank you' as much as we Brits and Americans always do - it is not 'ignorance', it's just the way the language is - one 'bene' (or 'vale') might be all you get.

Regards,

Cublet

On 2/4/2024 at 12:17 PM, Mark_T said:

That would be a 'no'..

 

"13.1 Alcoholic drinks, including wines, spirits, beer or other liqueurs are available for purchase onboard the Vessel at fixed prices. Passengers are not permitted to bring onboard any such drinks for use during the voyage, whether for consumption in their own cabins or otherwise. ".

Hello,

The ban is wider than just alcohol:

5 hours ago, SeaNStars4Me said:

I'm going SOLO on MSC in April. If I buy a Drink Pkg. it says "Per Adult" for the price. Same for internet access and spa services. Does anyone know if it would just charge me for *1* or would it automatically charge for 2 people (double the price) since prices quoted are typically based on double occupancy. I'll probably call MSC to ask but just wanted to see if anyone here knew or had this experience. Thanks!  

Hello,

You would only be charged for one.

However that isn't the best way to do it, though a bit late for now - but remember in future. Today, 04/02/24, the cost of purchasing the Premium Plus DP post booking is £704 for the 11night 12th April Euribia sailing. If I was to book the same sailing today AND select the 'with drinks' option price that would only cost an extra £580 over the 'cruise only' price - and that includes gratuities of approx £114 for this cruise bringing the DP price down to £466.

Regards,

Cublet

Hello,

The general code for 2024 & 2025 10% discount is PARK2024.

The code is valid until May 2024.

Regards,

Cublet

Hello,

A minor point but we have a difference in terminology. Here a 'Tasting Menu' is a meal of a dozen or so courses each so miniscule that together they would probably only fill an egg cup. What the Diamond deal is at Butcher's Cut is the 'Dining Experience' see #3 above.

What you must do is book as soon as you get on board - and that's where the difficulty may arise. Once upon a time you could book at, say, Butcher's Cut for Butcher's Cut, but not for me on the last two occasions. A 'central booking desk for specialty dining' was set-up next to Guest Relations on one cruise, another time it was set up outside the Indochine Restaurant on Deck 6.

I would advise you to ask directions from Guest Relations ASAP.

Regards,

Cublet

4 hours ago, Ourusualbeach said:

I am quoting North American rules.

Hello,

Yes I *DO* know that, I am only posting for any non American prospective PAX on this site that don't know that.

Regards,

Cublet

10 hours ago, Ourusualbeach said:

You have 30 days to transfer to an agent.  Your agent will guide you through the process.  

Hello,

We've only got two days!

Regards,

Cublet

1 hour ago, FamilyCruiserUK said:

Be a pain to carry that around all day.....😂

Hello,

But a bargain if filled to the brim with the drink ordered.

Regards,

Cublet

8 hours ago, Northern Aurora said:

Am I missing something?  Why can't you just leave with the folks doing self-disembarkation?  You will receive a transit pass and may have to pick up your new sea pass card (you will receive a new card even if you are staying in the same stateroom) from the pier coordinator.

Hello,

Yes, but the change of cards + Transit pass are usually dispensed circa 0800. I suggest you try to make contact with whoever is dealing with the B2Bers beforehand to see what is possible. From experience, as a viewer, you will not be popular if you do ashore with the departees without having 'changed-over'.

Regards,

Cublet

Hello,

None of my paperwork issued at the time of booking shows my €50.00 OBC, but it does appear on line on 'My Cruise > Booking details'.

Regards,

Cublet

Hello,

I think that was fulfilling a promise made a couple of years ago that the RC Group would go 'plastic free'.

Regards,

Cublet

2 hours ago, Chiliburn said:

I don’t wear a lanyard !!

If I did it would be a Princess one just annoy the pineapples . LOL

Hello,

I have a full suite of major UK banks' and insurance companies' ties. Whoever I was meeting on any particular day, I always wore the tie of a rival.

Regards,

Cublet

21 hours ago, rollie said:

Looks as if Celebrity has reversed it's decision to overcharge cabins for solo cruisers.  They got a lot of negative press.

 

Rollie

Hello,

Looks where?

Regards,

Cublet

Hello,

You need to see the LA on your first leg and tell the story.

Your card for the second leg will, more likely than not, already be printed so don't be alarmed if it shows your Elite status.

The LA will have asked you to visit the office some time on change-over day, probably just after 9.30.

9.30 is roughly the time when the ship's on-board computers switch over from 'previous' cruise to 'current' cruise and print a new card.

Your steward will be blissfully unaware of this and will have left paperwork for your Elite status - don't worry - the LA will give you new E+ paperwork and off you go.

It doesn't matter if this happens before or after the disembarking/embarking exercise.

Regards,

Cublet

Hello,

I lived in Australia for a year and went back countless times thereafter. In all that time I only ever heard  Foster's ordered twice - and that was the same guy on one night.

If LB reminds me next year, I'll tell a funny true story about Toohey's beer!

Regards,

Cublet

Hello,

Very many years ago, X did an 'Extensive Wine and Food cruise' along the French and Spanish coasts. We were allowed to bring on board, and drink, wine bought at the ports of call without paying corkage. I have not seen that repeated.

On Independence at Le Havre (France) I brought on board a chef's blow torch and canister of gas and no-one batted an eyelid. One of life's mysteries?!

Regards,

Cublet

4 hours ago, little britain said:

We took the Ashes 🏏 off him ( apparently!!) so good to see he has a second career!!  lol! 
 

 

Hello,

So has (Lord) Ian Botham with a selection of Reds in Costco!

Regards,

Cublet

PS: So too Gary Barlow but the least said about that the better.

Hello,

Since the loss of Portofino's there is no specialty restaurant I would pay extra for.

Regards,

Cublet

Hello,

In these times it is dangerous to say anything with any certainty. But my experience as recently as October is: Sorbet is not available from self serve machines on deck; it's not, or very rarely, to be found in the WJ but *might* be found in the backrooms if requested; it is available in the MDR but you need to be careful that the waiter serves what you ordered.

Regards,

Cublet

7 hours ago, little britain said:

Top tier event at 10:30 on the first sea day. Very very low turn out, so a lot of new and first time to Royal cruisers on board 

 

Surprisingly we were top cruisers and we are very lowly Pinnacles !!

Hello,

I would be interested to know what bottle of 'pop' was given to you as the reward for being the top cruiser. A bottle of Lindauer (from NZ) would have been more than acceptable!

Regards,

Cublet

59 minutes ago, LXA350 said:

If RCL wants to gain back marketshare in europe lost to MSC and co they have to increase their media presence there. Not to mention they will need to bring back more ships and more creative itinararies on top of that to compete.

Hello,

And I think selling their on-line TA was a mistake.

Regards,

Cublet