Ergates The Ant

Is there anything resembling a prom deck on Apex, or are the only opportunities to take a walk outside on the top deck jogging track? 

My guess is that they have sold quite a few guarantee cabins. Rather than upgrade those passengers free of charge, it would make sense to offer any of the higher grades to passengers willing to pay for an upgrade.

I suspect many of those who remove the auto gratuity might be from the UK. For most services here, the price we pay includes paying all the staff involved, including the behind the scenes ones. Tips are an extra thank you for going above and beyond the service paid for. It can be very confusing for us, especially as it’s illegal in the UK to price a product without including any compulsory extras. If the autogratuities are labelled as an extra and not included in the price of the cruise,  they are seen as optional and can be treated as such.

You will certainly find some charity shops in Southampton, plus it’s worth looking in TKMaxx for discounted new clothing, including good brands. Also there will be branches of stores like Mountain Warehouse which may have a bargain rail.

That’s helpful, thanks. Wish cruise lines would realise that information like this can be very important to some of us when choosing a cabin. Clear information and consistent rules would be very useful.

Any update for 2023 as to which side of the Promenade deck is smoking allowed on? Many thanks

She was on our first cruise, and I wasn’t overly impressed - I prefer to decide myself whether an act is fantastic, rather than be emphatically told beforehand by the CD. However, it wasn’t until we had done a few more cruises that I realised what an asset she was. She was the only CD who would be on the quay to see you off for the day, and there to welcome you back. Around the ship all day, and highly visible. We’ve certainly seen a lot worse.

Most sea days, you won’t be seeing any land from either side. If you go into the fjords, what you don’t see on the way in, you’ll see on the way out!

We tend to book our cabins based on which side might be affected by smoking areas on the promenade deck.

That’s excellent news, Solentsam. Thank you. Always a worry trying to work out which side of the ship to avoid. I hope they stick to that arrangement.

Does anyone have any current information on where the smoking areas are on the Iona Promenade deck? It appeared that they are right at the back of the Port side, but are there any towards the mid / forward part of the promenade deck, that might affect cabins above?

Thanks in advance.

New to this thread, and only read back a few pages so far! I have had a Ninja dual zone air fryer for well over a year now, and hardly put the oven on any more. Re the jacket potatoes, I give them a blast in the microwave first, about 9 minutes for two potatoes, then into the air fryer on a high temperature for another 20 minutes, often less, for lovely crunchy skins.

re the injections, many people do their own, diabetics for instance, easy to learn if it’s just into muscle. It’s the insurer that probably needs to be convinced that they are happy with the arrangements.

Thanks, 77red96. I was aware of the EHIC / GHIC cards, and in fact, most UK insurers specify that we should have them as well as insurance, presumably to reduce some of the costs they might otherwise have to pay out for. 

However, that was a very timely reminder! I got ours out in case needed, very pleased to see I had already renewed them, and will be valid for another two years.

thanks again

Travel insurance for UK cruisers is an essential. The NHS does not cover us for any medical treatment outside the country, or on a cruise ship. I’ve always wondered whether the medical cover that US citizens take out to cover their medical costs at home can be claimed on even if the treatment is needed overseas? Is that why so many say they cruise without insurance, because they do already have cover for medical emergencies? Obviously not for emergency evacuation though!

When in the USA, and on cruises which run to the US system, I do tip at the recommended amount. This is because I know that in these cases, the ‘tip’ is not an extra thank you for going beyond what was required, but part of the service staff wages. I do feel so guilty though that they have to grovel for a living wage, and are not treated with the respect that earning decent and fairly agreed compensation should bring.

Once again, those who don’t support a ‘tipping’ means of paying service staff are considered mean. I consider by having the service charges included in the price of meals out etc means that I am contributing to the staff wages, and their contribution to pension, healthcare, and other benefits, which their employer is also obliged to contribute towards. 

Both MSC and P and O include these costs into the price of the cruise, so that all staff are fairly remunerated. 

So no, we are not mean, we are very fair and socially minded. 

We enjoyed a couple of visits to Stavanger. The old town by the cruise terminal is lovely to stroll around, and the walk up to the Tower in town is also worth it.

To be truthful, the main draw for me is cruising down the magnificent fjords. Just such a shame they do it during the night, no doubt so that they can sell expensive tours when they dock at the end of the fjord. We always book balcony cabins, and try to wake up when we enter the fjord.  Spend the early hours well wrapped up on the balcony with a hot cup of something, and enjoy the breathtaking scenery. Then have a sleep in before a stroll ashore. Never book a speciality restaurant for a sail away on a fjord day, but head to the buffet, or anywhere with a view. The views of the fjords from the water are truly amazing, and the best way to enjoy them.

Oh dear. Certainly has put me off booking a connecting cabin. Would be truly horrid to be stuck next door to a bunch of drunks with no manners and an overinflated sense of entitlement.

I suppose of course it wouldn’t be much fun to be next to me in these circumstances, as I would certainly be up and active at 6 am. And if I was woken at 4 am, I’d probably need to watch the tv for a couple of hours until I could get back to sleep myself.

23 hours ago, mscdivina2016 said:

Our neighbors complained to us that we we're interfering with their sleeping with our TV on or sitting out on the balcony or even opening and closing the balcony door. They say it's through the connecting door.

Out of interest, did your neighbours seek assistance from guest services or security, and what was the response?

Thats a bit of a dealbreaker for me! I wasn’t necessarily expecting a huge range of English language stuff, being a very multilingual ship, but it sounds as if a relaxing evening in the cabin is going to be very dull. And I didn’t see a library, so will need to bring and download some reading matter for when I want to escape the crowds.

I do like to relax in the cabin after a busy day. Are there tv programmes or movies available on the tv?

That’s very helpful, thanks. I’m hoping, as we are outside school holidays, there hopefully won’t be too much noise next door. And we are pretty quiet ourselves so hopefully won’t wake up any little ones!

Anyone have any experience of this? Wouldn’t usually book a connecting cabin, but not much choice where I want to be, deck wise. Thanks.

Eglesbrech, I’ve been looking at Yacht Club cabins on Virtuosa, but rather worried that being right at the front of the ship and high up, there might be a lot more movement and possibility of seasickness, especially in some of the forward facing cabins. How did you find it?

We are considering a cruise on Virtuosa from Southampton,. The only cabins left on the itinerary we like are connecting cabins on deck 13. Wouldn’t hesitate to book a connecting cabin on Celebrity Silhouette as the doors are sort of outside the cabin, and no noise at all. What is the situation on Virtuosa?

Also keen to avoid any smoking areas, do they allow smoking in the casino out of Southampton?

Any other useful hints would be welcomed. We have enjoyed both Celebrity and Royal Caribbean, and had mixed experiences on Princess, P and O, and NCL. 

I looked at Yacht Club cabins, but worried about being so high up at the front of the ship! Is seasickness more likely to be a problem?

I was also wondering about this.

I e mailed Captains Club about another matter, and they gave me this freephone number, which may be useful to you. ( as a UK resident)

0800 441 4053