Harry Peterson

We’ve been discussing this move away from the rigid dress codes for years, arguments on both sides as to whether it would or should change. It was inevitable, it’s happened, and I suspect it will soon be completely forgotten, just like all the other changes over recent years. It was always a cynical ploy by P&O to glamourise the rather ordinary, but they can’t really get away with that one any more!

That looks to be a very tricky one, and the answer, as always, will depend on the terms and conditions. You’ll have been bound by the original terms, and it’s possible they cover this situation, but did you agree to any new terms, verbally or in writing, when you made the second ‘free’ booking?

Enjoy your long cruise too. What a great time to escape our weather. Good tip of yours about buying an internet package to download the newspapers - we’ve got subscriptions to the Times and Telegraph, along with a subscription to Magzter which pulls in the Guardian/Observer and the Independent as well, along with hundreds of magazines that we never find time to read. On a long cruise with the possibility of only a small number of good lecturers that would keep my wife and me very happy on uneventful sea days!

Sounds like an incredible cruise - made even better by its being an incredible bargain! I hope you get some good speakers (we share a common interest in that, along with a dislike of potentially boring sea days without them) and the dining arrangements you're hoping for - with some interesting dining companions too if sharing a table. Have a really great holiday!

I’m guessing you get some of this in Salcombe, Jean!

Absolutely, but they’re primarily day trippers, like cruise passengers, and don’t bring enough into Venice to compensate for the damage caused by overtourism.

Hardly. It’s grossly overtouristed, just as parts of Spain used to be, and they can well afford to be more selective. Cruise passengers bring very little money to a place compared with those who actually stay there for a few days. Amsterdam has a similar approach.

Avril, we're all with you. And hoping you get some positive news and progress today. Harry & Mrs Harry xxx

Avril, my wife and I have just read this. We’re so very sorry to hear what you’re both going through. We both hope you managed to get some sleep to refresh you a bit for what’s obviously a very difficult time. At least he’s in the right place, and quickly too, so with luck - and a lot of love from you, which will make a huge difference - you’ll have him back in bed again with you very soon. Harry and Mrs Harry xxx

Highspot of Christmas TV for us was 4 incredible episodes of the new, revamped, partially Disney funded, very high budget, Russell T Davies led and written, Doctor Who. Been watching it since the very first episode in 1963, but this is way, way beyond anything it’s ever managed before. Our daughter hasn’t watched it since Sylvester McCoy, but their whole family are converts now. David Tennant is a remarkable actor, but the new guy’s made an excellent start. Guess I’m in a tiny minority here?

Our end of life plans both very much potentially involve Dignitas and Switzerland unless the law changes. Might include the Lindt factory on the way! 😉

That’s the old packaging though, Kalos, complete with bear on mountain. I recall reading that it had been redesigned out, and just wondered if they’d gone ahead with it. Check your Toblerones, guys………..look for the bear! 🙂

Have they done away with the bear in the logo now?

Awful - and so frustrating. Hope you get that sorted out quickly.

A belated Happy Christmas (and an early Gelukkig Nieuwjaar) to everyone. Delighted to see that there’s a serious conversation going on - about chocolate! A subject dear to the heart of the man dubbed ‘Chocolate Grandpa’ because of the number of Amazon and Thornton’s parcels that used to arrive on grandchildren’s doorsteps. The best though was the ‘Wall of Easter Eggs’ one year when Thornton’s had a particularly good post-Easter online sale. Lindt for me too, thanks, except Lindor (sorry @mrsgoggins) - too sickly for me. Bored with Hotel Chocolat, but oddly never bored with Cadbury’s, aside from their weird flavours. Leonidas from Belgium still the absolute favourite, but that would get boring too - though unlikely at UK prices! Which takes me back to Gelukkig Nieuwjaar……..Happy New Year in Dutch, and a reminder of all the incredible holidays we used to have with the children every single year in Amsterdam from Boxing Day to 3 January - just to escape the onslaught of relatives descending and expecting to be fed and entertained! And a branch of Leonidas selling at Belgian prices too! New Year’s Day 2000 saw us all in Dam Square with a bottle of Champagne which was almost impossible to open because of the crush, and awake half the night in our central Amsterdam apartment because of the noise of the fireworks!

Absolutely reported - along with a few other issues. Currently awaiting response.

That’s very much my feeling. If you’re happy without alcohol and the very basic ‘excursions’ included, you’re left with the transport from home to port. And after the recent changes involving Uber drivers (friends of ours sitting terrified in the car with a dangerous driver who spoke no English) I’m not sure that’s a plus! The quality of the restaurants and the food is important to us, and I’m disappointed that that’s going downhill to cut costs.

“All the reviews are one star.”

The more you weigh, the harder you are to kidnap. Stay safe: eat cake. ………..sign outside a bakery in Berwick.

I’d be interested too. I’m looking for an alternative to P&O, and it was until recently going to be Saga.

Almost certainly so, and definitely in the case of Carnival. And it’s reflected in the share prices of course. Carnival down 69% in the last 5 years, and Saga 91%.

Well they would, wouldn't they? Saga staff, junior or senior, will naturally always talk up the company. They're never, ever going to talk about the biggest problem they face - the huge debts.

The change seems to be fairly recent. Local friends of ours moved to Saga from P&O some time ago and until recently have always spoken well of it. Their last journey back however was horrendous, with a driver who spoke no English and had no idea of the route. All three passengers were terrified because of what can only be described as dangerous driving, with the driver constantly looking at and holding his phone to know where to go. My friend ended up giving him directions via Google Translate.

A quick Google with the key words will find them - various news reports majoring on the debt problems. Sir Roger de Haan, Chairman, may be involved in negotiations, and I have to say it was a very different company when he owned and ran it. He marketed those broken life memberships, and I’m absolutely certain he wouldn’t have ditched all the commitments Saga signed up to. I wonder how much business that decision cost - anyone prepared to buy life memberships wasn’t exactly going to be short of available spending capacity.

It wouldn't be, would it? 😉 All good news in there - has the departure of the CEO featured yet? And why? He's the one who ditched all their life membership commitments to save money. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2023/11/30/inside-scramble-save-saga-debt-mountain-euan-sutherland/ "The scramble to save Saga from sinking under a mountain of debt - Chief executive Euan Sutherland’s departure comes at a crucial juncture for the business"