ConnieTact

The announcements started at 6.45 am so I am sure you will have time to get to the airport and check in, with good time to spare. You can make sure the ship knows you want an early start. If you take all your luggage with you, you can get off first.

I wonder which MSC cruise ship you sailed on and which itinerary? We have found other guests vary from where they are from. Also a newer ship is usually won’t look old. we’ve tried P&O before but didn’t like the clientele and moved on. It’s great there is a good choice out there so, something for everyone!

Thanks for your positive words. the tender process works by the night before, everyone who wants to disembark the next day, goes to the Bliss lounge and just outside the entrance there is a table giving out tickets with numbers to guests. I guess the later you go along, the higher the number. Anyone who is gold status and above doesn’t need a tender ticket. They just work their way to exit and board the tender.p when they are ready. (see post #67 for letter that explains it.) We often went off after the rush even though we have Sapphire status. We just prefer it less busy and like a leisurely start to our days. I hope this helps. Have a fabulous cruise!

Thanks for your kind words. See post #96 and post #105. We got off later in the day in the early afternoon and got straight onto a tender. On the way back there was a queue and we waited 23 minutes to get on a tender. I think the crossing was only around 10-15 minutes. You can just see the ship in the distance from the port. I hope this helps! Also, alcohol issue is all sorted now so have no fears- you will be able to have a toast as you sail out from Southampton! 🥂

GLWN05 THE BURREN AND THE AILLWEE CAVES from Galway. It was the lack of time at the actual caves or Burren mainly. Most of the time we were in the coach. Also, the owner of the coach company stood in, (I think!), and the commentary was the worst we have ever heard! On the way, we mostly didn’t hear him as he kept putting the microphone between his knees as he sat down so it wasn’t picking up sound! I yelled down the coach a few times ‘We can’t hear you,’ but he couldn’t hear me either! 😂 We were also freezing in the coach. When we got to the destination, after 90 minutes, I told him we were freezing and he just said, ‘why didn’t you tell me?!’ 😅 The caves were worth the visit and the guide was very good. We were only there for 45 minutes and stood outside the coach for another 15 waiting to get in. The cave gift shop was closed so there was no access to water, food or gifts. The trip was 3 3/4hrs, but if you are up to it, I would recommend another private tour that is longer. We had friends who did this and they enjoyed it.

Thanks Hallux. Hopefully someone from U.K. may be along with some advice. I was very happy to receive the FCC after full payment on my last cruise but just wondered how likely this is to happen if I booked in a non direct way. I know the phone lines say if you booked through a TA you need to go through them. Whereas I got through straight away on the phone, when I booked directly. they said they would have to write a request to the correct department and I would hear the result in around a week. I did hear from the EU Helpdesk, just a few days later.

I am about to book another NCL cruise, partly because I have the FCC to spend! I wonder if anyone has been successful in asking for price drop difference, if they booked through a travel agent and not directly with NCL? I am quite keen on what my travel agent has on offer, in the way of a package, and they have agreed to ask NCL once regarding this but I just wanted to check if anyone has experience of this and what the outcome was.

I couldn’t agree more. I can’t bear to look at them! The thought someone could buy one not knowing they can never get it serviced by Rolex or an accredited watchmaker makes me sick! I have to say though, I have never seen the written disclaimer before so that is some improvement. At least someone may notice before they buy!

At least Norwegian now has a notice explaining the service is not with Rolex. I noticed this on my recent cruise on The Star. I feel this is more honest. It used to bug me before that people didn’t know what they were buying.

We were on the Spirit in November 2016. in Feb 2020 we wee enjoying the brand new MSC Grandiosa! The Spirit was a friendly ship & I remember there were awful fires in Haifa at the time and we saw some from the ship! I was surprised we were allowed off for our excursion but we were!

Thanks Bluesea! We have actually booked Spirit 3 times but only sailed her once! Two sailings were cancelled due to covid and a family bereavement.n We went to Haifa on her and enjoyed that cruise a lot. I agree a big ship for sea days and transatlantic crossings and smaller for the port intensive. Smaller older ships are often offer bargains too! Enjoy your cruises too and thanks for following along!

I hope you enjoy a few more sunny days in London. Safe journeys. 🌸

As I draw this thread to an end, I guess I’d better answer my question. Was this sailing my last time on a smaller ship? while I think I prefer larger ships, I have to say I have enjoyed the size of the Star. It is easier to navigate around but the quality of entertainment meant we didn’t need lots of choice. I have been on large ships that cannot accommodate us sitting in a music venue at night (Norwegian Prima) but we found seats every time we wanted them in Gatsbys and The Bliss Lounge. It was easy to bump into our friends and the ship had a friendly feel and maybe that is because it was smaller. The majority of people onboard were from U.K. or USA. Sometimes we have been on sailings with lots of German or Italians and I wonder if the lack of a shared language made those sailings feel less friendly. This itinerary was a special one and ‘for sure’ a ‘grand’ one we won’t forget. I think it could only do a lot of these ports because of the smaller sized ship so that is a consideration too. In conclusion, I would and actually probably will, book a cruise on a smaller ship but we have another couple of cruises coming up soon. Both on larger, newer, MSC ships. Having said that, the stellar light of this Star is well worth following!

….and we’re back home. MrCT taking all the burden of the luggage to save me any discomfort. We’ve been on the Star for 10 wonderful days but I’ve taken the real star home! 😍⭐️

Got as far as Bath station. Sat with three American women from South Carolina who were schoolgirl friends and now travelling together some 60 years later! They just got off fir a day in Bath.

Look away if you dont like cats! 😅 I had a lovely message from morning cat carer today! Had a cute photo from the evening carer too! We are blessed with fabulous cat living neighbours and close by family too.

Got off ship with ease, having dropped off my ‘Vacation Hero’ cards at Customer Service desk. I always like to highlight great service from team members, and hope it’s rewarded and recognised accordingly. We got taxi easily outside the exit and taxi drive helped us with our luggage too. Grabbed a takeaway coffee from the cafe at the station for MrCT and got my refillable mug of hot water. I always carry a Lady Grey T bag with me! we’re now on the train and I was happy we have a five coach one so we are not too congested onboard! Sometimes it’s a three coach train and as there was a strike yesterday, perhaps GWR had the foresight to know there would be a huge demand today as a result. There’s a luggage rack so we have used that and are sitting close by.

This morning announcements started at 6.45 (I think!) We finished our last packing and are now on Garden Cafe for last light breakfast. It’s a clear and sunny day here in Southampton and I just had the pleasure of meeting Susan and her husband, who sadly missed our Galway trip.

There is a piano in The main dining room but we didn’t hear it played when we dined there. There was music in O’Sheehan’s though.

Excel band were great for last time. People cheered for one more and they obliged! I hid another a couple more ducks! Then bed!

We went back to pack some bags ready for today’s departure. Then went to a Gatsby’s for a drink before dinner. The band were great. Then it was on to a Cagney’s for a final dinner. food was delicious, apart from something was up with the crème brûlée. The crème was an idd texture and tasted wrong so two of us left it. Had ice cream instead. The service was good.

Next we hid 15 more ducks. Can you spot them?!

Yesterday was a sea day and we lazed in our room watching films in bed in the morning. Had lunch at O’Sheehan’s. Then we met friends for quiz and a few games of a Left Right Centre.

We met our friends in the Bliss lounge and enjoyed the Glow party. We had a laugh and danced a lot. It was well done and an enjoyable and entertaining experience.

Our 8pm, our second Le bistro dine started badly as it was cold. The air con was above our table and we asked if anything could be done but we’re told it couldn’t. So Mr CT kindly went and got us jackets from our room. While we were there it started at 50% full and by the end only about 10% and service was slow. After 15 minutes with no drinks service, nor anyone asking for our orders, I got someone’s attention. Immediately, assistant Maitre’D Nelson, took our drinks orders dnd served us. Just before our mains, we were sat with empty glasses and I indicated we needed drinks service and again he met our request. All the food was delicious but service fell down when I was asked on leaving the restaurant “What do you want done with ‘this cake’?!?!” I resisted saying “I want it served with the meal we just finished!”🤪 This was a result of handing the maitre ‘d the little card left in my room that asked me to ‘et us know you are celebrating your birthday!’ I replied, “Please bring to room, we’re meeting friends now!” It was delivered by the time we got ‘home’. It made for a delicious breakfast in bed!