emmas gran

I’m new to SS but would suggest that you have to book and pay for separate transport as there could be insurance coverage problems . My friend is eligible from LAX to her home but I will not share and be dropped at my overnight hotel, it puts the driver in an uncomfortable position .

4 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

Curious - how was your food experience?    We eat late and maybe the chef is not as attentive to details.  
 

One night our dinner was really slow.   Our waiter apologized that they had a problem in the kitchen.  
 

when pressed he said 2 of the chefs were getting things in the refrigerator and got locked in.   They had to get security to get them out.  

We ate earlier but service could be slow 30 minutes between courses, we tended to eat around 7 to 7.30 so you could say it was peak time.Sometimes it was as if a sauce was missed on pasta and the plate was hot but food lukewarm to cold. We would mention it to the waiter and he would rectify it, but it should not happen.

I totally agree about the staff in Luminae, our waiter for most of the 40 nights was Dev but he was occasionally taken to serve the top suites if they ate in Luminae. They were all good and friendly that served us in his absence. 

The answers you will get here will be largely from USA members. I suggest you visit FCDO.Uk ie the Foreign &  Commonwealth Office for current information.

1 hour ago, chemmo said:

Apologies for breaking into Jim’s thread but wanted to say I hope you are finding peace and solace on what must be a difficult cruise for you…

Thanks for your comment, he has been with me every step of the way as I wear his St Christopher back to back with mine. My friends have been wonderful and I am grateful for their friendship and support, I’m staying with them and flying home on Tuesday evening. Thank you again.

Just spent 40 nights on Edge in a Sky Suite, as I have posted we saw our butler 3 times and he mostly complained about having 40+ suites to look after. Our Retreat host was fine but had no time to do the little extras, probably looking elsewhere for future cruises.

There were an older from UK who do not use cruise critic that had no idea of the changes and were very disappointed. He asked us what it have cost to send an email to everyone booked when the change was implemented to avoid their disappointment.

We visited Fine Cut early last week , I also had the Dover sole which was really disappointing as Iain said. When I asked for St Francis Zinfandel the sommelier said only available by the bottle when I had been drinking it every night of the 40 nights!!

He said he would send to Luminae to rget a bottle and  I was served Layer Cake on the premise it wasn’t available.

The following evening in Luminae the chef came around the tables and asked how we enjoyed Fine Cut, I mentioned the Dover sole was very disappointing (as it was a favourite dish of my late husband was my reason for ordering). Before we left Luminae Dev our waiter asked if we would like Dover sole the following evening as the chef wanted to make amends for Fine Cut. Four of us had a fabulous meal and toasted departed loved ones

We 2 friends and myself have just got off Edge in Sydney. We had Sky suites and only saw our butler briefly 3 times in 40 days cruising. He kept telling us he was busy as he had 40+ suites to look after!! Based on our experiences he had a lot of time for higher suites as we didn’t benefit at all even though we booked 2 years ago. We would not book suites again based on this experience.

Some other butlers probably knew us more than he did and always spoke to us by name.

Currently on Edge and deck 11 , just returning to the room someone was complaining to a cabin attendant that she didn’t have the hooks she could see on the door of the room he was cleaning!!

58 minutes ago, chemmo said:

A miserable morning in the UK has just been brightened by reading your post!

 

I think some of the new staff on board must be in administration…What chaos!

It has been a bit chaotic and because people went to Retreat lounge for passports I think we had a few interlopers on the sun deck. When I went to collect passport 2 people trying to get on the sun deck via keycard entry, I politely said I couldn’t give them admission as they had blue not grey or black cards. Did look like some got in though.

On 11/5/2023 at 6:08 PM, Jim_Iain said:

 

Curious how full Retreat has been.    I know it varies by time of day but was trying to get a feel.

 

We normally go for a pre dinner drink and never more than 60% full apart when Officers and Captain are around, however Capt Matt didn’t make it due to problems with passports inspection leaving Athens.

Last night senior bartender got our drinks and everything was fine.

A little observation from Retreat lounge 4 different evenings I have ordered Belvedere and diet tonic and each time have received gin!! I know by the smell and don’t like gin.

Hoping tonight will be better but we are here till Sydney so there is hope.

I don't remember a lounge, just very officious Customs/Immigration checks. Last time there we were pulled aside and put in a room, there were other passengers there and after about 20 minutes told we could leave!! No reason or explanation given.

I think it is only the higher Suite class that have coffee machines in the rooms. We never had one in a Sky suite but have in a Royal suite.

Email received just after 8 pm in UK

I don't really understand your concern. There are thousands of us about to board Edge going through the Suez Canal to get the ship to Australia. None of us seem to have the deep rooted concern you do so maybe it is best you don't make final payment, find a "local" cruise 

3 minutes ago, CaroleSS said:

DH and I are big tippers. You really have to be bad for us to not leave 20%, but my feelings about tipping are beginning to change.

 

The reason......more and more folk are expecting a tip. I see tip jars cropping up everywhere.....at the convenience store, fast food places, I even saw one at my local bank! Tipping has gotten out of hand. Nearly anytime I pay for something, there is the option for a tip! Am I expected to tip the cashier at my grocery store.....they provided me with a service. How about the mailman, the delivery person.....the doctor? Lots of people provide me with a service. Some are paid a salary, some are hourly. How do we know who to tip and who not? I am leaning more and more to paying people a flat rate and eliminating tipping all together. Yes, I understand it is a cultural thing, but many countries have moved away from tipping and I, for one, would be agreeable to the idea.

 

Each of us has our own opinions, these are mine. I do not expect to change anyone's mind, but to simply state my feelings. I will continue to tip as that is the custom, but would welcome cruising where the fare was truly "all inclusive".

Carole I always tip the mailman and the garbage collection men every Christmas just to say Thanks

OK if you like Amarone may I give you a vineyard to try the wines if available in your neck of the woods. We love Molly Dooker wines, big heavy reds and were lucky enough to visit the vineyard when touring in Australia. When in USA we are able to get them in ABC liquor stores, even found it in Honolulu!! Our first introduction was by friends in New Jersey who found it a little heavy for them it was Two Left Feet and a mere 16.5%. I'm sure you would like the Molly range and Celebrity used to have Gigglepot at $120 per bottle that was pre Covid

Hi Charla, I need to go on holiday with you!!🥰

15 hours ago, SoloAlaska said:

Restroom attendants are one of the ones I tip but in odd times. If I’ve had a few to drink and as ladies sometimes do we start a conversation in a washroom I usually tip the staff as I leave as a form of apology. Drunk Sam is clean and polite but I feel bad for getting in the way of them doing their job so I tip. 

This made me laugh, when I travel with Australian friends as we exit dinner we have a restroom stop. Always gave the attendant a couple of $$$ . On a particular cruise she appreciated it and started calling us by name and if she saw us around the ship always smiled and said Hello.

At the moment there are lots of strikes on the railways, you need to check your dates

1 hour ago, Sparkysparky said:

So the Suez Canal cruise on October 30 has not been canceled?

No check the roll call

I don’t know where you are at the moment but we had Storm Babet yesterday. Lots of damage along the Devon coastline, fully understand the later boarding.

4 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

I keep hearing so many nice things about MSC Yacht Club.   Still working on Iain but he wants to try Silverseas, Regent or Seabourn first. 

Maybe we can talk about MSC when you join Edge in Singapore!!