Menopause Matters Forum
General Discussion => This 'n' That => Topic started by: Joyce on May 11, 2016, 11:58:04 AM
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Do you think cruises are a magnificent way to see the world? I've never been on one, no desire to either. Year we went to Dubrovnik the local hotels were petitioning holiday makers to stop cruise ships. Their reason being that the harbour ports make all the money. Passengers come off & head for nearest shops, without truly seeing the area. St Lucia & the Bahamas were perfect examples. Passengers being herded like cattle to nearest shops. Yes they have visited the countries, but they are not truly seeing them. At St Lucia we saw the ships arriving first thing, then they'd set sail at teatime.
Not wanting to start an argument, just wondering what the attraction is.
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I don't fancy a cruise either. There always seems to be outbreaks of sickness onboard too.
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My husband really wants to go on a cruise but I have told him he will need to find a companion to go with. I can't contemplate being stuck in the middle of all that ocean with no land in sight. the very thought makes me shiver! Also I am too antisocial to be stuck on a boat with all those strangers.
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Venice etc. are suffering from the 'wash' from the cruise ships too!
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I've never fancied a cruise either.
My hubby is dreadfully seasick so perhaps that's just as well.
I know people who absolutely love and bang on about how good they are, especially Disney cruises, but as a firm fan of the Disney Parks even the idea of their cruises leave me cold.
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I did suggest that we cruised to see the Northern Lights but Himself thought that he might be bored ::)
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Yes I do think cruises are a magnificent way to see the world, me and hubby have done abound twelve. We have never been herded around like cattle and never been on a cruise with an outbreak of sickness.
My DH is not the most social of people, and said he would just do one cruise, but he loved it.
We have never just stayed in the ports, in St Lucia for example, we shared a taxie with another couple and toured the whole island.
We don't personally like the big cruise ships. We have been to so many places that we would have otherwise have never seen. What a waste it would be to just stay in the ports and look round the shops..Most ports look just the same anyway...
Oh and yes I was seasick in the Bay of Biscay......But don't knock it till you have tried it is my view.
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Not knocking it Ellie, just wondered about the fascination in them. I have friends who enjoy cruises. We once considered a river cruise, but decided against it. Hubby hated school cruise, as did my brother.
I guess it maybe depends on length of cruise & how long you get to stay onshore.
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never been tempted to do a cruise but have many friends who love them. Have also been in many places abroad when cruise ships have come in and enjoyed watching them.
A relative of mine booked a couple on a 300 day cruise around the world. Don't think I'd fancy one that long but the hubby was recuperating after major surgery and the wife wanted them to relax completely. No expense spared. They were helicoptered out to the ship and had 24 Hour butler service as well as the best suite on board.
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I've read in the past of affluent OAP'S who sell up & cruise till they drop. They are fed, have medical help onboard if needed & get to visit lots of places & meet lots of people. Still, not sure I could ever do it. Maybe if the sea was calm all the time & I could see countries for more than a few hours. Longest time I've been on a boat was a day trip on the River Clyde, when the QE2 was still being built.
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I agree with Ellie, cruise ships are marvellous.
When I was in my extremely early twenties, I worked on cruise ships for a few years and went round the world 2 or 3 times (albeit on coasts), not something I would have got to do otherwise. Later on in life I had a hankering to take one as a passenger, but The Man was not so keen. He wasn't sure about being 'enclosed' and being
with people he may not like.
Finally persuaded him and we had a ball. It's like being in the finest hotel, although your actual bedroom might be quite basic to suit your budget, but the rest is fab. The standard of food is usually outstanding! And, better than a static holiday, you go to sleep at night and someone changes the scenery for you. You get to go out to a new garden/ location virtually every day. What's not to like?
Yes, it's not really "travelling" but really, how many of us can really say we immerse ourselves in a country's culture for our couple of weeks off away every year? The VFM is absolutely top notch.
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Going on our first one this year, so will report back 😎
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I don't like being on the water, so cruises wouldn't be for me. Otherwise, they sound a great way to get a taste of other countries. I know several people who have been on-board-pianists for these cruises and they all seem to have had a great time!
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Morning all, I been on a cruise and I loved it. Part. Of the joy for me was being 'at sea' yet it certainly didn't feel like that, I wasn't really aware of any movement and didn't experience sea sickness or anything like that. For us it was like being in a 5 star hotel and we enjoyed the deck sunbathing, lovely meals, spa and nightly entertainment without having to walk too far etc. The accommodation was small but we were rarely in there as lots of areas to relax on the upper decks.
We did do some port visits and yes they were commercialised and we probably didn't get a true taste of the country we were visiting, but that was ok as health restrictions prevented too much walking and exploring anyway.
We enjoyed it. The medical facilities on board are limited and with my current problems I wouldn't get insurance but we would go again if circumstances allow.
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There is no way I would contemplate a cruise! There's always a chance someone will get seasick, and you read so many reports of norovirus taking hold on cruises. Certainly not for me, thank you. I don't even do cross-Channel ferries and you're only on those for less than 2 hours - they build the Tunnel for a reason!!!
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;D Scampi. But therein lies another problem, a tunnel journey that lasts for about 30 minutes, or so I've been told. ;) UNDER all that water.
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Cubagirl - you're in the Tunnel about 20 minutes, but you really don't notice unless you purposely look out of the window (on the Shuttle, that is - it's pretty obvious on Eurostar as the windows are bigger!!). Tunnels don't worry me at all, whether they are under mountains, river beds, sea beds .... but being 'trapped' with people I don't know who have stomachs I can't predict - all the no!! (CLKD probably understands ;))
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Unpredictable Tums. :-X Seen & heard many on last transatlantic flight.
I can manage short boat trips, though have to wear my bands. Hubby goes green on shirt trips, so even if I ever managed to get on cruise ship, hubby would have to stay at home. At nearly 60, I'm happy to stick with land & air. Mind you air can be touch & go these days. Here's hoping I survive our upcoming New York trip!
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>wave< - I was born on an Island and meant to stay on it ;D
I have been across the Channel to France, one trip took 4+ hours and we sat outside all the while. I even worried about going to the Isle of Wight ::) but that was quite pleasant. Himself has been in the Chunnel (which I never agreed with, long story short) and the journey took 35 mins. all told. One can't use the Chunnel Tunnel if 1 runs a 'gas' powered vehicle.
I wouldn't go on Windermere etc. either ::) ! too many un-predictable stomachs! Why does anyone get air-sick :-\ is it the heat …….
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You don't know what you have missed until you have tried it.
Have done two sea cruises, and one river. All fantastic.
The sea cruises were on small ships so nothing Disney like about them. Very grown up, in fact on children allowed.
Cruises allow you to get a taste of a country so you can go back and explore if you want.
No packing and unpacking.
I too get seasick, but still worth it.
Life is to short not to try new things. If you try a cruise and don't like it you don't have to do it again.
Grab life by the b..ls and live a little 8)
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NOTHING is worth risking being sick for :-X :P : and that includes alcohol and food :-[
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Air sickness is due to turbulence. Last Atlantic flight was like being on a roller coaster for several hours. So much like being on a boat.
Guess there are those of us who love cruises. My neighbour went on one last year for first time around Greek islands. She said it was fantastic. I just can't get my head round it, sorry.
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Being shut in with 1000s of others leaves me cold …….. it does save flying anywhere, or driving on the wrong side of the road and if land visits are optional extras then it would suit me. Friends go with Viking for 7-10 days, i.e. down the Rhine etc.. Love it.
I would be bored on a canal holiday ::) as I can walk along the tow-paths faster ;D
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You would probably like a river cruise.
No waves so no sea sickness.
Not massives of people.
Lots of scenery.
Lots of time off the boat.
Great food.
Etc, etc.
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The smaller cruise ships like the ones we used to go on, usually held around 700 and never felt crowded.... No queues, and dining could be formal or informal...We never did the ships tours, preferring to get a taxi at the ports either on our own or sharing with shipmates. MY personal favourite cruise is to sail across the Atlantic to the Caribbean.....so very relaxing. Also cruising around the Greek islands is so beautiful.
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We did consider a river cruise many years ago, even looked up various ones online. I still have a hankering to see Norwegian Fjords. Only way I can do that is to get on a boat. ;)
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There you go. Be brave :valkyrie:
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;D Would need to give hubby a brave pill. ::)
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If you find one .......... ::)
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I love cruise holidays, before our 1st I thought all those people we will never find a seat and everywhere will be crowded and three days at sea I will go stirr crazy ;D now I know it's not like that, the ships are beautiful the staff are brilliant and we have never had problems getting a seat in the bars, restaurants or theatre.
We stay in balcony cabins and love sitting there with a glass of wine drifting along, or eating breakfast floating up a Norwegian fjord admiring the scenery.
Please don't compare a cruise ship to a ferry, I feel the movement on a ferry but a cruise ship is enormous and very stable. I don't fly any more and cruise holidays have given me the opportunity to travel. In April we arrived in Southampton port and within 15 minutes of parking the car we were holding a glass of bubbly and deciding which of the 13 restaurants we wanted to eat in that evening :)
Only 106 days until my next cruise ::)
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We stay in balcony cabins and love sitting there with a glass of wine drifting along, or eating breakfast floating up a Norwegian fjord admiring the scenery.
We are doing the Norwegian Fjords in 2 weeks time. Can't wait.
Where are you going next?
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The fjords are lovely, we were there in September a few years ago and the weather was good apart from some showers in Bergen.
This year we are off to Iberia, we haven't been to Lisbon before and that's our first port and then as far as Ibiza. We went to Ibiza about 30 years ago and enjoyed Santa Eulalia and loved a day we spent on Fomentera.
So far our favourite port has been Ajaccio in Corsica, a beautiful old town and lovely beach where the sea was so warm and clear and somewhere we really want to visit again.
What's your favourite port ?
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Does the one in a glass with lemon count ?
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Does the one in a glass with lemon count ?
lol
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We done Bahamas, Mediterranean, Alaska and The Baltics. Very hard to choose a favourite port. Think maybe it was Juneau or St Petersburg. My favourite cruise was Alaska, really beautiful scenery. Standing on the top deck early in the morning, still quite dark and cold and misty - so atmospheric. Having breakfast on deck with Mount Vesuvius in the background was nice too. And the sunsets - WOW
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Does the one in a glass with lemon count ?
;D
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We were watching a programme about a Company that arranges top-of-the-range cruises ………. 100 people, that's 98 too many for me ::)
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I'd love to visit all the places that cruises stop at, but what puts me off is a fear of being on the water. I'd rather be up in a plane. Strange - but true!
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I was born on an Island ;D. Some of the trips were costing £60,000 for 2 per week :o
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Dulciana, I'm the same! Makes me strange too! ;D
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Oh, I'd missed the posts above ………. :thankyou: for the info. about the fjords sounds lovely. I would be overwhelmed at the choice of places to eat though, I would have to ask for room service :-\
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I have a dread of being surrounded by water and not able to see land anywhere. you would not catch me on one although my husband would love the experience of a cruise.
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Himself thinks he would be bored ::)
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well you can't get off if you don't like it ::)
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that would make me feel trapped, the Isle of Wight was bad enough by the end of the week ::)
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We've just come back from a fantastic cruise to the Norway Fjords where the scenery was so awesome beyond words and also, amazingly, the weather was hot and sunny.
I didn't think we would like cruising, but just love it. I like the itineraries where you have quite a few port stops though that are interesting.
We have also been to St Petersburg and the Baltic ports and are going soon to Iceland!
We are hooked. 8)
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Going a week on saturday south sea island cruise on P@O
Bit worried as I fell and wrenched my back so fingers crossed
never been on a cruise before Been on a Royal Naval Frigate in the WRENS I was sick hehehe
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Take a collapsable bucket Suzi Q? Enjoy!
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Enjoy Suzy Q :)
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Started cruiseing in 2013 and have been hooked ever since. we like the big ships and even though there are lots of people on board you can always find a quiet spot, you can be as friendly or as isolated as you want. Never had an outbreak of D&V yet and definately don't get hearded about. We always go into the towns or do one of the tours that the cruise ships offer which can take you all over and give you a great insight of to area you are visiting. Just back from one in May and looking forward to our next one in October. Been on some rough seas especially the Bay of Biscay but the whole experience far outweighs any worries.
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I of course would avoid the Bay of Biscay at all costs :D
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Hubby has said he might consider river cruise or fjords. ::)
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cubagirl, the fjords is a good one to try first. It was our first one and it won me over.
The advantage is it is only for a week, but long enough for you to work out whether you like it or not.
A typical week is : You board on Day 1 in the afternoon, Day 2 is spent at sea, Day 3 you are in Stavanger for the day; Day 4 you are in Olden; Day 5 you are in Flam for the day; Day 6 is spent in Bergen; Day 7 is a Sea day and Day 8 you are back in Southampton and get off after breakfast.
So you have four days out in different ports.
The scenery in Norway is awesome and the best way to explore the fjords is to sail down them.
Good luck.
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Sounds lovely!
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Have sailed through the Bay of Biscay in a force 9 gale on a small Fred Olson boat.....OH what fun lol......The captain advised that we stay in our cabins, but oh no, my DH decided he was going for lunch.......10 mins later he returned, can only describe his face as pea green ;D ;D
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:o - did you go green too :-\
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No I lay on the bed and read a book.....I had also taken a travel pill....hubby didn't need one ::) :sick02: Hehe that will teach him!
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We've just come back from a fantastic cruise to the Norway Fjords where the scenery was so awesome beyond words and also, amazingly, the weather was hot and sunny.
I didn't think we would like cruising, but just love it. I like the itineraries where you have quite a few port stops though that are interesting.
We have also been to St Petersburg and the Baltic ports and are going soon to Iceland!
We are hooked. 8)
We've just come back from a fantastic cruise to the Norway Fjords where the scenery was so awesome beyond words and also, amazingly, the weather was hot and sunny.
Could I ask who you booked with and the name of the ship? I've got a bit lost looking at all the choices!
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Hi purplenanny -
We went with P&O. Our recent cruise to Norway was on Azura ( a larger family ship - about 3000 pax) but our first cruise to Norway and the next one to the Baltic was on Oriana ( an older and more traditional smaller adult only ship - about 1,900 pax.
:)
I have sent you a PM with more details in case I am not allowed to name agents on the open forum.
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One can view the various Cruise ships on their web-sites ……..
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We do have : :bounce:
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My 'cruise' was on a 30ft yacht from South Africa to S. America & the Carribean then back to the UK. Would have been more fun if I didn't get seasick (I was young & foolish). Won't forget the weather forecast 300 miles off Cornwall - 'Storm Force 10 imminent... have a peaceful night' - looking up at waves higher than the mast was NOT peaceful (change of underwear required!). I would consider a cruise for Antartica but my perfect holiday is to hire a car and travel around the country. Daughter thinks I'm slightly mad (she may be right) and we should have a 'normal' holiday sitting on a beach, but I'd get bored.
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When my anxiety is controlled I can travel for hours. Love most places across the UK, really don't have time for a cruise ::)
Your story fills me with dread :o :o - how long B4 you recovered :-\
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Took about 3 years before I could listen to the shipping forecast without an increase in heart rate!
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May I giggle! You wouln'd have liked living in our household because Dad listened to the Shipping Forecast every night ::)
I have been abroad, years ago, by Ferry. However, I was born on an Island :D
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I of course would avoid the Bay of Biscay at all costs :D
(https://s13.postimg.org/55b13qm2f/DSC_1603.jpg)
Bay of Biscay in October 2017 so calm I wish it was always like that
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Could be anywhere - did you take the 'photo? Looks like I imagine the Bahamas would be ::)
Jane MacDonald on later ;-)
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Yes I took it when we went on Independence of the seas, it was so calm it was amazing and it was really easy to see the Dolphins that day :)
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Well done you! People I talk to really enjoy going on cruises, I've never met anyone who wouldn't go again. But I think I would feel shut in ..... and Himself thinks that he would be bored.
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..... and another
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:thankyou:
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You are very welcome!
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Reading the Sat Telegraphy earlier: one can go round the World for 99 days: cost? £20,000 or more each, with almost £3,000 spending money on board. EACH ;D what happens if 1 books but really doesn't like it ......... :-\ more if a balcony suite is booked.
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My families GP left Southampton last week on an around the world cruise, he's back on April 12th. I hope the surgery had a locum until he's back :)
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Hopefully he won't decide to retire ;)
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He did retire then came back two days a week.
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;D
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Interesting article on the BBC this morning about how cruise line companies won't be getting monetary help from the US or Europe as they are registered in Panama ...... to avoid paying taxes. Which is why many Countries have refused entry to those wanting to dock to off load passengers during the Pandemic - it's a NO - go back to your registered country - 'cos you haven't paid into our economies so you aren' getting anything back.
Also, many countries don't want large liners back i.e. Venice. So a lot of super liners will be mothballed.
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P and O register their ships in Bermuda, and others in Malta, it's all for tax reasons. How many companies that register overseas for tax are now furloughing staff and getting the government to pay their wages.
The ships won't be mothballed they will find many ports desperate to get thousands of people arriving and spending money, lots of new cruise terminals are being built ready to take the ships.
I think it will be a while before ships are allowed to dock again because if the risk of re-infection from such large amounts of passengers.
I'll be back when they are sailing again :)
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The whole point Two Hoots is that recent 'research' [can't think of the word :-\] reported today is: visitors from cruise liners go armed with pre-packed lunches. They wander around in busy streets, spending little as shops are too crowded. They return to the liner for their evening meal. Venice in particular would like to see the back of visitings cruise ships because of the damage being done to the city.
Governments are not going to pay wages according to the article earlier today. Because the owners don't pay UK/US Taxes, they have no rights to apply. So although Captains have stated that many countries won't allow them to dock to discharge passengers due to C-19, it's because they haven't paid taxes so have no right of entry.
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People are not allowed to take food off the ship, but there is no need because there is food available 24/7. We rarely buy a full meal but we do stop for coffee and local cake, custard tart in Lisbon, princess cake in Stockholm, churrros in Spain and Danish in Copenhagen, then it's pizza in Italy Even if the passengers are not spending on food they do buy souvenirs, well I do ;)
Venice has so many visitors it's been stopping the biggest ships for a while now.
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Did someone say cruise? ;D
Are some of P&O ships docked at Southampton just now?
Whenever I've been to any of the ports,the cafes and pubs are chockablock, I love trying the different foods and of course lagers and wines,so I do think cruisers give a lot to the economy of certain cities,Lisbon for one,which would fall apart without cruise liners coming in
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I find those custard tarts too rich but love 'em.
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Arcadia is due in Southampton today or tomorrow from its world cruise, but they haven't been allowed to dock for a few weeks :(
I have an app that shows where ships are, P and O are in Southampton area, all the American ships are off the coast of Florida, apparently the crew that are still on board are using passenger facilities including the Buffett.
I love Portuguese custard tarts, I've been lucky to visit Lisbon twice and it's been lovely to sit outside with a coffee and tart :)
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;D any particular tart ......... :whist:
I would love one of those apps as well as 1 to track plane flights. But that's technical. ::)
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Yes I have that as well, all flights to USA go over us, really very few now! I use flight radar, its good.
I am partial to any tasty tart ;D
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I'm saying nothing :-X ;D
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So, will this put the industry's rapid expansion in recent years into reverse? The sector certainly has one major problem that means it is likely to suffer more than other parts of the tourism and travel industries such as the airline sector - it has few friends in high places.
Most cruise ships are not registered where they do business, in the USA and Europe, but offshore in places like Panama and the Bahamas.
The industry does that for two reasons - it saves a fortune in tax, and it means that they don't have to follow American or European labour laws. This allow the companies to recruit cheap workers from developing countries, pay them less, and work them harder.
Now, however, avoiding taxes and hiring cheap foreign workers doesn't look so clever - the cruise line industry was specifically not included in the US's business bailout schemes. The industry may be in dire straits, but it is crying in the dark.
And even if governments wanted to help, which they don't appear to, as Prof Muller points out: "It is hard to give a tax break if they pay no taxes".
Not only that, but many of the destinations loved by their passengers are not missing the cruise liners very much, if at all. As Prof Sheela Agarwal, from Plymouth University's department of tourism and hospitality, puts it: "No one is willing to bail them out because of their tax avoidance, but also because of the negative impacts they have at their destinations... they contribute very little to the local economy."
Cruise ships are notorious for depositing thousands of tourists in crowded cities who, Prof Agarwal says "spend very little, look around the place for five or six hours with a packed lunch, and then go back on board for dinner".
So, can the industry recover from this crisis? Well there are some good signs amidst all this gloom.
"Tourists have very short memories," says Prof Agarwal. "This is like when a terror attack affects a destination. Look at the attacks in Paris and Brussels - three months maximum [fall in visitor numbers], and they were back to normal."
Also, it is fairly obvious what the industry will do the second that travel restrictions are lifted - they will launch a huge advertising campaign and slash their prices, to get customers back. Although as Prof Muller explains, that won't be painless.
"You have to have these ships pretty full to make a profit, you can discount a lot, but you have to meet your fixed costs," he says.
So mayB we should look at apparently 'slave labour' ?
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The professor needs to go on a cruise he's so way out on anything I've experienced :sigh:
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I agree with some of it but the cruises I go on aren't to overcrowded places,they are places that would NEVER see a tourist,as the ships dock in remote non touristy spots,especially the canaries,also Norway,some of those tiny villages would never see a soul as they are so far up the fjords,sooooo,although I do agree with some,the rest is nonsense but I do have to say,cruising over the years has exploded and has now become very much Butlins at sea,which I hate,hence the reason we've changed to Cunard or stick to the smaller ships or adult only ships,P&O have just launched a new ship Iona which carries over 5000 passengers!! Not for me,it's getting ridiculous
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They are so ornate! I do hope that some of the Lines will give the NHS Front line staff free holidays when this has ended!
Will U write to him Two hoots - bearing in my we've little to do ;)
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The cruise lines already gave discounts before the virus to any emergency services worker or forces member, my FIL was in the Royal Navy and gets it. The Americans are much better at appreciating anyone who is in the forces or emergency services ive noticed, they get lots of deals and discounts maybe it's time we did it here :)
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That could be a whole new topic :o because once someone has done their Service, it's a bit like being thrown out of Prison - they are on their own. Many can't adapt as they are so conditioned to obeying immediately that they have lost the knowledge of how to think for themselves, hence many that end up on the streets :'(. As well as the Government not supporting injured personnel who then rely on the NHS and private rehabilitation centres. It is WRONG!
There, didn't need a new thread after all :-\
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Our 30th wedding anniversary cruise in June has been cancelled :( I knew it was going to happen but now it's official :-\
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Aww so sorry TH,I'm doubtful we?ll even get our Xmas and new year one
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OK here's an idea Two hoots - taken from the TV.
Get videos of cruises, get the Prosecco in, make a cake, sandwiches etc. and sit back to watch ......... ;)
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And lie on a water bed ;D
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:sick02: we had those in the Orthopaedic Wards, we had to lift the OAPs off in the night due to nausea :o but they were solid then so it was so difficult to get them off as the whole mattress swayed :-\
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I am hopeful that we we ll be able to go out on our anniversary, so we may be able to do something local instead, as long as my family and friends are still healthy that'll be another thing to celebrate :)
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I feel sorry for all the staff on board,now says Queen Victoria have 20 staff members with it.Our BRILLIANT waiter was due to go home to India in March,he was so so excited to be seeing his 1 year old son,wonder if he ever got off the ship,too sad for words :'(
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Our village Pub is doing take out, if you contact yours they may have a space for the evening Two Hoots. Worth asking?
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Cunard have now cancelled some November cruises jaypo, I will keep my fingers crossed that this is the last round of cancellations.
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Oh nooooo I know,it's getting ever closer to our December one :'( glad I booked for May now.At least they?re being responsible and making sure everything is as safe as can be
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There's a programme with Paul Atterbury on BBC4 on the history of cruising. Interesting.
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When?
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Last night - sorry, was watching and half way through I thought of you ::)
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🤣😂🤣
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Hello ladies.
Friends of ours had a Cruise cancelled but instead of a refund they were offered a replacement trip for November which they accepted. Now they are not sure that will go ahead. Things are complicated because one has Type 2 Diabetes and the other is taking immune suppressants. They like cruises for the on board medical care as well as everything else but keeping away from COVID on a ship would be very difficult.
Take care ladies.
K.
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That's the reason we now go with Cunard,they are very strict on hygiene,whereas P&O never checked anyone,people just walking into the dining hall and not using the hand sanitizer,coming back onto the ship from trips and again walking right past the sanitizer,selfish lot,whereas Cunard have staff at every point making sure EVERYONE uses it,of course that was for norovirus now there's a double whammy,not even sure if we'll get away at Xmas :'(
Oh yes,thanks a lot clkd,bit late in the day ;D
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Catch up jaypo, catch up ?
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Sorry Jaypo, I think Cunard have delayed sailings until the spring :-\
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Yes TH got the email today :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( but they're just going to use our deposit and an extra 25 percent towards our next cruise in May,which almost pays for it as we've paid the deposit for Mays too,mind you Victoria's first sailing is the 16th May but hopefully by then we should be able to go and we also have Xmas and new year booked for 2021 ;D
We're going for a week over Xmas to a 5* hotel on Skye instead :)
When is your next cruise again?
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Im waiting for a good offer on the Italian cruise we should have done this year and we moved our Celebrity cruise to the Canary islands to next September. Im glad you have something to look forward too in the new year, 5* very posh ;D
We have booked a week in Sussex in September now that France is on the quarantine list. When I started looking for somewhere in this country I couldn’t believe the prices for a week, makes cruising seem very very good value ;D
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Haha,yes yes,that's me,posh ;D it's 5* but very homely,not super posh or anything,blimey they would never let me in if they were
I don't know how cruise lines can keep going,must cost them a fortune to have all their fleet just bobbing about in the water
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How likely is 1 to feel the movement of the ship and feel :-X
We're watching Susan Calman in Norway ......... one can sail from Newcastle. There's me, can't even visit friends for a cuppa :'(
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The big huge ships are fairly stable,it really depends how rough the seas are,Bay of Biscay can be awful but then the next time nothing,it's all down to Mother Nature,Cunard ships aren't huge so you can feel them move sometimes but you soon find your sea legs,I stuff myself with stugeron,just in case.
Off tomorrow,as long as we pass our covid test at the port that is.
I saw the Susan Calman cruise,she was ok but not nearly as good as Jane McDonald,think she's taken over from her
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Too much Susan as there is in many programmes these days! with the presenter talking about the scenery as they wander around with a camera showing their own faces >:(
Keeping everything crossed for you!
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The big huge ships are fairly stable,it really depends how rough the seas are,Bay of Biscay can be awful but then the next time nothing,it's all down to Mother Nature,Cunard ships aren't huge so you can feel them move sometimes but you soon find your sea legs,I stuff myself with stugeron,just in case.
Off tomorrow,as long as we pass our covid test at the port that is.
I saw the Susan Calman cruise,she was ok but not nearly as good as Jane McDonald,think she's taken over from her
I’ll keep my fingers crossed that you get on board :) I’m sure you’ll have a fantastic time, I’ve seen photos of ships with the Christmas decorations up, it looks so pretty ;D
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Ooh I fancy a hotel on Isle of Skye! Do you mind telling me the name?
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The Isle of Skye is stunning. We stayed at a cottage near Dorney on the mainland: Kilimanjaro : don't know if it's still available for renting. 4 days we travelled over the Bridge and ran out of words to describe it. We were lucky with sunshine every day, the week after the road between the bridge and Portree was washed away :o
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Thank you TH,can't wait to get aboard.
My OH from Skye gnatty,place called Waternish,stunning place,we went there last year and stayed at the cuillin hills hotel in Portree,highly recommend it
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Thank you!
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Just booked our cruise for Xmas (sorry) and new year 2023!! Bookings opened yesterday and by 3pm all the suites had gone,glad I got in quick,now I just need to live that long ???
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;D. not the 'C' word ;D.
Packed yet ? :whist:
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If you know what you want book it :)
The balance of our May cruise is due next week, we have one overnight stop in St Petersburg unless of course Russia says no ::)
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Oh crikey .......... :-\. still, Boris went during the week and they let him out ;-)
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Have a word with Putin whilst your there TH where else are you going?
Ha,off in July back to Norway,then THIS years Xmas cruise ;D
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However, with climate change the fjords may be frozen over ;D
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I'll just sit on the ship in Southampton docks then ;D
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Or chose an ice-breaker? :D and good warm clothing :P
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Have a word with Putin whilst your there TH where else are you going?
Ha,off in July back to Norway,then THIS years Xmas cruise ;D
We did a baltic cruise a few years ago and loved it :) this year its back to Copenhagen, Stockholm, Helsinki, St Petersburg and Tallinn new will be Visby (Sweden) and Gdansk in Poland. Scandinavia is so lovely, it reminds me of fairytale towns. The fjords are lovely, I like when you can just walk off the ship and not need a shuttle bus.
How did you spend Christmas day on your cruise, it must have been good or you wouldn’t be going again ;D
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Road trip? Then you see more of the country and less of the inside of the ship ;)
I'm starting to wonder if I'm missing something here but it doesn't appeal to me at all. What's the attraction of a cruise?
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No washing up ;D
It doesn't appeal to me either, I would feel hemmed in. Plus I would be unable to leave the ship to go on a coach to get anywhere of interest :-\ ....... I felt trapped by the end of a week on the Isle of Wight :D. And it would be like me to have a week of rain ::)
I would rather stand in a field or on the top of Mam Tor looking at the view ;-)
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Hahaha yep,no washing,cooking,cleaning and every day you see a new part of a country,I'd have never have seen Norway if it wasn't for cruising,seriously Sheila,I'm not often moved to tears but the first time I was there, I opened the curtains in the morning and the beauty was indescribable (no I wasn't looking in a mirror ;D ) same as Madeira,not a place I'd ever go to and it's beautiful.
We go every year TH,it's just such a lovely atmosphere at Xmas,the ships decorations are fab and everyone is just so happy :)
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Road trip? Then you see more of the country and less of the inside of the ship ;)
I'm starting to wonder if I'm missing something here but it doesn't appeal to me at all. What's the attraction of a cruise?
It took a lot of persuading for me to go on my first cruise, I thought it would be crowded and regimented, with posh people dressed to the nines ;D its not ;D
The big appeal to me (who wont fly) is visiting places I wouldnt otherwise get to. With the baltic cruise I’m going on in May I have an excursion to the Hermitage in St Petersburg booked, I wouldnt be able to get there any other way, but the food is good, there’s entertainment if you want, films, lectures shows, singers, quizzes. Its not just the destinations, its sitting on the balcony watching the sea or scenery drifting by, deciding if I can manage afternoon tea ;)
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Yes but isn't overland more fun?
Norway - trekking in the harfangervidda out of season when they'd taken the bridges away and froze wading through rivers. Yes I did miss out on the scenery from offshore that you'd get on a ship.
And Madeira - how do you frighten the life out of DD on a ship? You need a car, a cliff side descent, road closed sign at the top but someone else had gone down first... OK it was a bit hairy and perhaps that's why she thinks I have a screw loose ;D. The Laurisilva forest is something else and the levadas great for walks. Often it's the out of the way places off the tourist routes that I enjoy most but if you only have a day they're places you wouldn't find.
Christmas would be tempting though and the Antarctic is definitely on my bucket list. The only cruise I've done was 3 days down the Nile which I enjoyed but there's always something to see and plenty of stops. Maybe I should start with a river cruise, I've seen enough ocean to last a lifetime.
I'll have the afternoon tea please :).
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I would alter that jaypo ........... (thought I wrote this earlier :-\ ) I did in the wrong thread ;D
I prefer being on land. No further away than 5 hours ........ we've had some lovely holidays in Wales, Southern England, The Borders and Scotland :-*
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Because I hate flying we do drive over in europe, as far as Spain and Italy, but the driver doesn’t see the scenery and it takes a lot of planning. On a ship you go to bed having left one port and wake up in another, no stress of driving and if you visit somewhere you really like you can always plan to return for a longer visit.
Most cruises will have sea days with no port on the first full day or two, after that its could be ports every day for days, I’m usually happy for a sea day to recover. My favourite view is leaving a port as it gets dark and the lights twinkling, this is especially good in fjords where you can see little light high in the mountains :)
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That reminded me of when I stayed in Lugano aged 18. Sitting by the Lake in August, balmy air - watching the lights switching on across the Lake to the mountains as well as the headlamps of the vehicles ......... :-*
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Oh yes,that's exactly what we like,sitting on our balcony at the back of the ship,with the noise of the water and the beautiful starry skies,just bliss,plus you can have a drink or two and not worry about finding a taxi ;D
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Surely the engine noise gets in the way :-\
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The engines are a long way down under the water, there is the sound of the wake of the ship but its a cruise not a ferry the ships dont go very fast.
We had a cabin at the back of the ship when we went to the Mediterranean a few years ago, the sunset timing was perfect, we could see Europe on our left side and North Africa on the right, its difficult to drag myself away and go to bed. If we sail near Gibraltar we always see lots of dolphins, I think its P & O that announces if there are lots of dolphins or a whale near :)
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Yep,just as TH says,no engine noise,maybe just a very low rumbling noise,TH I NEARLY saw a whale at Xmas ;D sadly it didn't surface but watched it blowing water jets about 20 feet in the air :D
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8)
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New Cunard ship.....Queen Anne :)
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...... and ;D
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Have you booked on her yet? 8)
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Haha,no not yet,think it's doing a round the world trip first,don't fancy that though,now that would be too long,I'd be about 35 stone by the end of it ;D
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Some one died on a cruise during the week and I believe there's a fire on another ship :-\
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Many people die on cruises unfortunately because lots of older people find them a good choice for their holidays :'(
I read about a fire on a ferry near Corfu and saw on tv the huge wave crash through the ferry window in Hamburg :o
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Yep,sadly a few do die on board but ships have mortuaries also :(
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Not straight overboard then ........... :-\
Not a happy outcome .........
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Lot of old folks on board,in their 80s and then some,so sadly it does happen but at least they passed whilst they were doing what they enjoyed :)
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That ship on fire is carrying high-end high performance cars ........... it's been abandoned :o
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Any one seen the photo in the 'daily telegraph' today of the latest large linear cruising to Tilbury prior to launching?
'virgin' - Valiant Lady - 1,000ft long with 17 decks. I would need a long lead so that I didn't get lost ;D
Her first major voyage will take place in March and see her sail from Portsmouth to Barcelona - which will be her main home.
She will travel around the Mediterranean and visit popular tourist hotspots such as Mallorca and Ibiza.
The Valiant Lady features an impressive 1,330 cabins and has two luxury suites that boast their own turntables and a private hot tub.
Most of the cabins come with their own balconies and sea views. (? most ? where are the other cabins :-\ )
Speaking to Virgin Voyages website last month, the firm's CEO Tom McAlpin said: “Following the success of our first lady ship, Scarlet Lady, we are so excited to debut Valiant Lady to the UK this March and begin our European tour.
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Blimey I'm lost onboard Cunard,never mind one that size :o
I had a look at their suites and they're stunning
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Oh I'll have a lookC!
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I was looking at the new Queen Anne and she is beautiful too,the work that goes in to designing these ships is amazing.
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Sorry CLKD that ship is nowhere near the biggest, Royal Caribbean Wonder of the seas has 2867 cabins and 20 restaurants, shes 1188 feet long and has 2,300 crew, now thats a big girl ;D
I was due to go to Russia in May, no surprise we’ve changes our itinerary ::)
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Why would anyone want to be crammed on a ship with 2000 people? I can't imagine anything worse.
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Honestly the ships feel empty except around the pools if the weather is good, it was my biggest worry that everywhere would be busy, no seats and queues but its not like that even on sea days :)
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I can sheila99 - being stuck in a metal Smartie Tube with 100s of other farting, sneezing, snoring travellers ;D Apparently 1 can hear the engine noises :o
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Excuse me clkd are you calling me a farting sneezy snorer??
How did you know? ;D ;D
Like TH says,these ships are so vast,you rarely feel crammed in anywhere but I prefer the smaller ships,the old style cruising,nothing would get me on to these Butlins at sea ships
Oh TH,what's happening with your cruise now?
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Upgraded free from deluxe balcony to mini suite because of the lost ports but we have been to St Petersburg before so its not like we haven’t been. The added port of Wernamunde is nice, DH and DS went to Berlin last time and will probably again although its 2 hours by bus ::) we also stay overnight in Copenhagen, we have been there s couple of times, its a nice city :)
I dont know if ships are sailing at full capacity again yet but when we looked at changing to an around Britain cruise some where fully booked for end of June and August :o
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Criky that's a bit of a trek Two hoots :o
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Haha,all suites at the back of Queen Victoria have gone for Christmas 2023!!
When is it you're away again TH? And which ship? Sorry,can't be bothered scrolling all the way back ;D
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Going in May with Princess, we have only been with Princess once but because we have been lots with P & O we are Platinum loyalty any my mum is Elite, she probably wont mix with us lowly Platinums ;D
We usually book a year in advance but Christmas 2023 :o
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Any1 planning on travelling this week? How can a Company suddenly sack over 800 workers under UK Law. There has to be a period of consultation which includes writing CVs, finding jobs, working out how much redundancy is available. However, a Company can not make workers redundant then find workers to fill those jobs. Redundancy is for those jobs that have disappeared.
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P & O ferries is nothing to do with P & O cruises its a completely different company.
What the ferry company has done is awful, Irish ferries did exactly the same thing a few years ago >:(
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Noticed that you’re going with Princess in May, Two Hoots. We’re heading to the Fjords on Sky Princess in June - can’t wait :hapij: Soooooooo needing my cruise fix. This is our 55th cruise :parti:
I seriously think hubby and I are needing therapy! Scared to do any other type of holiday after nearly 30 years of cruising :rofl:
We should really get a job entertaining onboard. Played in a band for years - CV at the ready :gym:
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Noticed that you’re going with Princess in May, Two Hoots. We’re heading to the Fjords on Sky Princess in June - can’t wait :hapij: Soooooooo needing my cruise fix. This is our 55th cruise :parti:
I seriously think hubby and I are needing therapy! Scared to do any other type of holiday after nearly 30 years of cruising :rofl:
We should really get a job entertaining onboard. Played in a band for years - CV at the ready :gym:
55th cruise Songbird :yipi:
It’ll be our 2nd with Princess but also been with P&O, Celebrity, Royal Caribbean (outside if school holidays) 😉 and did MSC around Britain last year. We have been twice to the fjords, the scenery is beautiful and the villages are lovely to stroll around, we have been lucky and the weather has been good. We had an email today about covid testing before boarding, I’ll be watching Facebook to see what the passengers on the first sailings have to say about it.
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The fjords are beautiful for sure.
We did a week on Princess last year (France and Spain) and did the "around Britain" on Celebrity.
Would appreciate if you could post when you return from your May cruise, so we know what to expect in June) :D x
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If you want me to investigate something in particular let me know, especially if its a cocktail ;D
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;D
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Well Two Hoots
My sister in law and I are partial to a cheeky wee cosmopolitan so you could check out the quality for us ;D
Let's hope there's no mask wearing on the ships this year ???
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:o. masks with nowt else on :o
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Well Two Hoots
My sister in law and I are partial to a cheeky wee cosmopolitan so you could check out the quality for us ;D
Let's hope there's no mask wearing on the ships this year ???
The funny thing is I hardly drink, the occasional glass of wine, but the sea air makes me want to drink cocktails ;D of course I’ll research a cosmopolitan for you Songbird as well as a Moscow Mule (they might have changed the name :o ) and a porn star martini my favourites ;D
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Oh that's my tipple onboard,a cosmopolitan, I love watching them not spill a drop,even in rough seas ;D we're off to the fjords the end of June too,been many times but never get sick of the scenery
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CLKD
Yep, I’ve got my polka dot mask looked out to go with my polka dot bikini (mind you, I appear to have developed a rather flat “granny bum” since the last time I cruised >:(. Blinkin oestrogen again!
Two Hoots
I reckon we need to be renaming the Moscow Mule to Kyiv Mule (no more Baltic cruises for me :'( )
Jaypo
Enjoy beautiful Norway and the fab cosmos. Let’s pray for good weather :sunny:
:bighug:
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Now I've got an ear worm ;D
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;D
OK you ladies. What exercises can I do to lift my flat granny butt? 10 weeks until my next cruise - aiming for a pert behind (or the polka dot bikini will be staying in the case) :o
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I don’t know Songbird but if you find out can you let me know
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;D…..
Will do Littleminnie ;)
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Stop worrying about what others might be thinking ............ or walk with butt to the wall ;-)
Be proud of who you are 8)
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Do bridges,they work or just stick two cushions down your knickyknackynoos ;D
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TBH the thought of exercises fills me with dread. I walk a cockapoo twice a day already. That's enough for anyone ;).....
I like the sound of the 2 cushions down my knickers, Jaypo - I'm heading out to Dunelm Mill to buy a couple ;D
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I LOVE people watching and on a cruise there is plenty of opportunity, I’ve seen some absolutely gorgeous dresses, including some Chinese ladies who looked beautiful in traditional dress, but I’ve also seen some sights I’d rather not have ;D
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I know what you mean Two Hoots. I'm the same. Love to see what people are wearing.
I'll tell you what I miss - the formal nights :(
When we started cruising in 1993, everyone dressed up👗. It was fab. Nowadays it's the norm to see shorts and tee-shirts in the dining room :-\
I must be getting old ;D
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I know what you mean Two Hoots. I'm the same. Love to see what people are wearing.
I'll tell you what I miss - the formal nights :(
When we started cruising in 1993, everyone dressed up👗. It was fab. Nowadays it's the norm to see shorts and tee-shirts in the dining room :-\
I must be getting old ;D
THE best night for people watching is formal night, we always make an effort but sometimes I do change into comfy shoes ;D there are some cruise ships that get a whiff of moth balls on formal nights ::)
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Hahaha,so if I see a big bottomed lady on my next cruise, I know it's you songbird ;D
Still formal nights on Cunard and ALWAYS smartly dressed EVERY night,that's why I stick with them,they're the old fashioned style of cruising but I get,it's not for everyone
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;D……yep, that’ll be me, Jaypo with my cushions in situ!! Mind you my natural bum isn’t so much big as flat like a continuation of my back ;D
I think I’ll invent an “uplift bra” item of clothing for post menopausal Granny butt :rofl:
Never been on Cunard actually. I like the formal aspect. Is the dining and entertainment pretty good?
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I'm a jeans and T-shirt Girl :whist:
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You'd be made to walk the plank clkd ;D
Oh yes songbird and go on dragons den with you uplifting bum bra ;D ;D
The food on Cunard is fab,don't think I've ever had a bad meal,they will basically make anything for you,being a gf veggie isn't even a problem for them,the entertainment is ok,they have a theatre for the big shows,then your usual singers about the ship
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Singing about the ship ???
That'll B shanties mayB?
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Jeans and t-shirt, CLKD? I can recommend wearing my uplifting bum thingy with your jeans ;D
Deborah Meaden from Dragon’s Den has backed me Jaypo :o. :bighug: to both of you…
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Hahaha ok ok AROUND and about the ship ;D
Great songbird I look forward to seeing on the tv soon,wearing said bum bra ;D
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I hate tights
I hate posh shoes
I hate skirts
Naked - that'll do fine 8)
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Songbird you are on Princess before us now, we have cancelled the Baltic and opted for Iceland in July
instead :)
I hope I can rely on you to do detailed cocktail research ;D
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;D
OK you ladies. What exercises can I do to lift my flat granny butt? 10 weeks until my next cruise - aiming for a pert behind (or the polka dot bikini will be staying in the case) :o
maybe these https://curvqueen.com/products/kendall-nude (https://curvqueen.com/products/kendall-nude)
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Thank you so much for the link getting old I’ve ordered two pairs ;D I hope I don’t float bottom up in the pool tho ::)
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My butt is like that BEFORE those tights ;D ;D
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Two Hoots,
You can rely on me to do a full cocktail review ;)
Getting Old,
I've had such a laugh at the link. I think I'll get myself a pair (geez, I'm likely to get my butt wedged in the aeroplane seat mind you ;D )
Jaypo,
Lucky you with your shapely botty :o
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Two Hoots,
You can rely on me to do a full cocktail review ;)
Getting Old,
I've had such a laugh at the link. I think I'll get myself a pair (geez, I'm likely to get my butt wedged in the aeroplane seat mind you ;D )
Jaypo,
Lucky you with your shapely botty :o
More like a very comfy booster cushion ;)
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We're all going to recognise each other on cruises now ;D is it the tellytubby look we're going for here?
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I sadly, have a very flat bum.
I’d need two of those knickers to make any difference. ;D
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But then you'd be sticking out front AND back Jill ;D
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Sounds like it jaypo. :yes:
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Hi Ladies
I am just back from a fantastic cruise on P&O 8)
There was a cocktail and Mocktail of the day everyday! I'm a mocktail girl and I must say they were gorgeous!
Have a fabulous time everyone!
Cookie
Xxxxx
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Do tell us more: where from/to, what did you see: any on-shore trips ............
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Which ship Cookie? I'm away on the 23rd back to Norway :D
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Hi Ladies
I was on Britannia - very fitting for the jubilee weekend! We had a marvellous 2 weeks of Spanish & French ports one of which was an overnight stop in Barcelona.
The weather was lovely and only too hot maybe one or two days for me. Glad I didn't get it too hot as in ports it makes it too tiring for me to explore.
We didn't do any of the planned excursions but just did our own thing.
It was fabulous!
Xxxxx
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:thankyou:
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Not that we're nosey or anything cookie ;D
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What. Moi :D I like hearing about trips as my anxiety means I can't go anywhere. Which is why I love watching le Tour, as the French coverage of the countryside is really good from the helicopters :-*
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Has anyone been on a Celebrity Cruise recently?
We've done a few in the past and we're going on Apex in 11 weeks. I'm hearing that booking seats at entertainment venues seems to be the norm now?! We were on a Princess ship a few weeks ago. It wasn't required on that ship. All the tours, however, were fully booked 😲 so we had to do our own thing! Have made sure all tours are booked for this next one :o
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Why would any1 go on a Celebrity Cruise and not attend the venues? I would expect to book 'slots' to listen to the Lectures so that 1 doesn't miss out.
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Why would any1 go on a Celebrity Cruise and not attend the venues? I would expect to book 'slots' to listen to the Lectures so that 1 doesn't miss out.
Ooh nooo CLKD! Lectures and enrichment talks are not for me! ;). - get enough of that at home ;D
I’m talking about the various lounges dotted over the ships, providing entertainment such as vocal duos, bands etc. In the 30 years of cruising, we haven’t had to “book”…
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1 can go to folk clubs every night across England without needing to leave land ;D
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1 can go to folk clubs every night across England without needing to leave land ;D
;D. True enough CLKD. You can't chat up the Captain at your local folk club though ::)
And who wouldn't want to tackle a climbing wall or flow rider ;) 🏄♀️🧗♂️
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Me ;D although I do fancy a climbing wall ........
what's a flow rider ?
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Me ;D although I do fancy a climbing wall ........
what's a flow rider ?
It's kind of like a surf simulator - in truth, I haven't tried it! Hubby has had a go.
The putting green is exciting enough for me ;D
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Sorry songbird do you mean you have to book just to see the entertainment in bars etc? We've never had to do that on Cunard.
We do find doing our own thing at ports better AND cheaper,cruise lines cost a fortune although first time to Norway we did lots of trips and it was well worth it,loved seeing the fjords and that blue ice.
Off on the 23rd wooohooo no cooking for a week yeehaaaa ;D
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Sorry songbird do you mean you have to book just to see the entertainment in bars etc? We've never had to do that on Cunard.
We do find doing our own thing at ports better AND cheaper,cruise lines cost a fortune although first time to Norway we did lots of trips and it was well worth it,loved seeing the fjords and that blue ice.
Off on the 23rd wooohooo no cooking for a week yeehaaaa ;D
Yep. My brother seemed to think that booking was required. I bloomin hope not! He may be talking rubbish. It wouldn't be the first time ;D
We do our own thing sometimes but it was my sis in law's 1st time in Fjords a few weeks ago and we couldn't get her to a glacier :-\
Not to worry, on to the next one in Sept ;)
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Check against your ship as to whether you need to book?
There's been a tragedy when a glacier slipped, triggering an avalanche ....... Italian Marmolada. :'(
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No, I don't think you'd have to book for the duo's etc but probably you'll have to book for the big shows. A man talking rubbish? Surely that can't be true ;D
Is there no glaciers in Florida?? ;D I pm'd you songbird with a question about Covid testing.
Clkd,we went on a trip in Norway where they took us to where a glacier crashed into the water and obliterated the village below,so sad :(
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:o
Glaciers move from underneath I believe as the snow/ice melts, which causes momentum. I would love to see that blue ice ......
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I must try and find the pix,think they're on the PC,I'll TRY and remember clkd and send them to you..........please note the word TRY ;D
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Just had an email from Cunard,no negative Covid certificate needed,which has made my day,Lloyds charging £79 EACH for a lateral flow and a measly certificate,they do ask that you do your own test 24/48 hours prior to boarding,which,to me,is completely pointless as you could test positive the day you board,oh well,at least I can look forward to my holiday now :D
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It's whether passengers carry bugs onto the ships ::)
Enjoy!
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Just back from a 2 week cruise ladies. Not going to lie, I was ready to come home after, maybe, 10 nights. It was good don’t get me wrong but the overeating and drinking too many cocktails make me crave simple food and a cup of tea ;D. Dearie me, I’ve put about 5 pounds on :oops:
It was our first time in Israel. I’m not religious at all but a tour around Jerusalem’s old city was fascinating I have to say.
Right - I’m off to make beans on toast for my supper ;D
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Ha,good to hear from you,we were wondering when you were back,You know something? That's exactly what I say,at Xmas when we're away for 15 nights,I'll be ready to come home way before then,the food is amazing but like you, I crave "normal " food and get sick of the sight of alcohol,yep, I said it ;D enjoy your beans on toast :D
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7 days away is never enough, 10 is far too long ;D
Did U feel safe in Israel?
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I felt absolutely fine in Israel, CLKD. Didn't feel threatened at all. The 4 "quarters" in the old city, including the Wailing Wall, were fascinating to me.
It was strange to see jet skis on the Sea of Galilee :o and the huge queue of people waiting to be baptised (or dunked) in the River Jordan.
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A clash of cultures then.
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Yep. I’ve never been anywhere like it :o
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Not fancy getting dunked then songbird?
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No way Jaypo :o.. Everything was strange to me..they were all dressed in white (some, clearly taking a lot of care with their hair and makeup), only to be dunked - hair and makeup ruined! Not for Songbird ;D
The weirdest thing was seeing people having fun on jet skis in the middle of the Sea of Galilee (at the same time as a nun having a paddle at the shallow bit) :o
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Would’ve looked even weirder if you saw a nun on the jet ski. ;D
I’d love to go there, but OH wouldn’t. 🤷🏼♀️
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My dh won't go near a cruise ship. The thought of being surrounded by all that water freaks him out.
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Would’ve looked even weirder if you saw a nun on the jet ski. ;D
I’d love to go there, but OH wouldn’t. 🤷🏼♀️
I'd love to have seen that Jilly :rofl:
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Mine thinks that he would be bored ::)
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Yeah, I’m the same, all that sea around me, scares me to death, I won’t even swim in the sea, not out deep anyway. 🙀
Haha, the nun on a jet ski singing, ‘The Sea Is Alive, With The Sound Of Jet Ski’s.’ ;D
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:rofl:
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But I'd rather be on the sea,at least I can swim but in an aeroplane? Now that is something I CANNOT do :'(
There MUST be a joke about a nun on a jet ski somewhere ;D
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There surely must be, Jaypo :rofl:
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Nuns on the Run .........
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OH just booked a cruise for July (my 60th 😩😩😩😩😩😩) back to Norway but places we haven't been before,well,apart from Bergen
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Faaaabulousss, Jaypo. Good for you. I love Norway. You’ll have a great time.
We’ve booked a week’s cruise in March (the Canaries) and then, in July, having a couple of nights in Vancouver and an 11 night cruise in Alaska.
Going to have to sell stuff on Vinted to pay for it :rofl:
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When are you coming on Cunard songbird? I'm sure we'd have a blast ;D I'm sure you'd still get a cabin for Xmas :D
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When are you coming on Cunard songbird? I'm sure we'd have a blast ;D I'm sure you'd still get a cabin for Xmas :D
Now that would be lovely ;)....A cruise over Xmas and New Year - fab. ::)
Told hubby if he would only consider selling his body, we could afford it :rofl:
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And will he? 🤣 Alaska is definitely somewhere I'd love to go but no flying for me :(
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Ooh, doubt it Jaypo. Now, if he only would I reckon it would pay for our bacon rolls at Glasgow Airport ;D ....
Not going to lie, I'm not overly keen on flying but I'll pop my ear buds in and watch a couple of films to pass the time 👍
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A holiday cruise ship carrying about 800 passengers with Covid-19 has docked in Sydney, Australia.
The Majestic Princess cruise ship arrived at Circular Quay, having sailed from New Zealand.
About 4,600 passengers and crew were aboard the ship when it docked - meaning around one in five had Covid.
The outbreak is reminiscent of the Ruby Princess cruise ship Covid outbreak of early 2020, where at least 900 people tested positive and 28 died.
Marguerite Fitzgerald, the president of cruise operator Carnival Australia, said a large number of cases started to be detected about halfway through the 12-day voyage.
All cases were either asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic, she said.
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Saw this too CLKD.
Happy to say I'm still looking forward to the two I've got booked for next year ::)
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Wearing a double layer of masks then :-\
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Canaries and Alaska, here I come. If masks are needed again, I shall comply ;)
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Still looking forward to Xmas and new year on Cunard too,thing is,you're just going to have to live with Covid now,you can catch it at Tesco,if Cunard wants us to wear a mask,I have my lovely sequinned ones,different colours to match different outfits......classy bird me ;D
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Totally agree Jaypo. I'm going to have to get myself some blingy masks :rofl:
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I have two masks, suitable for the Festive Season ;-).
That's as well as 1 for the Autumn and others to match/clash with my colours of choice each day :D
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Mine match my sequinned boob tube and mini skirt ;D
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What no knickers :o ;D
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I have sparkly knickers ;D
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I could say something very rude but I'll refrain ;D ;D
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OH! go on ;D
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;D ;D
Every lady over 50 should own at least one pair of sparkly knickers :rofl:
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Noooo clkd,you know how shy and retiring I am 🤥 ;D
Hope you don't flash them on the dance floor songbird 💃
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With frills on ? Handy when walking down stair cases on Cruise ships ?
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Noooo clkd,you know how shy and retiring I am 🤥 ;D
Hope you don't flash them on the dance floor songbird 💃
Only when I’m limbo dancing Jaypo ;D
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With frills on ? Handy when walking down stair cases on Cruise ships ?
You mean like the ones we had as kids with lacy frills on the back?
Friends just got back from a cruise in the med and said everyone on the boat got covid, including the staff.
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Think I'd rather get Covid than the norovirus,have you ever caught that onboard songbird?
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Think I'd rather get Covid than the norovirus,have you ever caught that onboard songbird?
No Jaypo I've never contracted norovirus. 🤞That is nasty I have to say. 30 years of cruising - 55 cruises in all and have remained relatively healthy :gym: . Covid and/or norovirus won't stop me cruising at this stage ;)
What do you reckon Jaypo?
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Nope,not much will stop me either songbird,unless the ships stopped serving alcohol ;D ;D
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;D ;D
Now that would be awful :drunklaf:
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Well tomorrow at exactly 1pm I'll be on the phone to Cunard,Xmas and new year 2024 on sale aboard the new ship Queen Ann,now I just need to stay alive til then ;D
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Quite right Jaypo. Go for it :party:
My brother phoned me today saying that he received an email today from P and O stating that their 14 night June 2023 cruise in the Baltic has been cancelled! No reason given. Just that they will be advised further on Friday. He is raging :( . Dog is booked into kennels too! I know that they would "swerve" Russia but can't think of a reason for the cancellation 🤔
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Oh no,that's awful,my sisters cruise to the Baltic was cancelled also,Fred Olsen,apparently not full to capacity but surely if it's not til next year there would be time to fill cabins?
Which ship was he going to be on?
Quite excited about going on Queen Anne,might take a shorter trip on her before then,apparently the size of Azura :)
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It was Britania he was going on Jaypo. It'll be fine if they come up with a suitable alternative itinerary. Problem will come if they have to change dates too (the boarding kennel is now full for the whole of next summer 😲).
Queen Ann will be lovely - a really nice size of ship too..We're going on Azura in March around the Canaries. It's Princess for us going into Alaska. Cannot wait :D
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They offered my sister a cruise round the U.K. 😳 which they turned down,just got a refund,wonder if in fact it is anything to do with Russia at the moment,they were told St.Petersburg was being changed to Poland I think she said but then the next email.....cancelled,so who knows.
I used to LOVE Azura,is that the one that has the glass house eatery? Or something similar,the food was phenomenal in there,really nice place to sit for a drink too.
Alaska is where I'd love to go but what with me not flying :'(
Just looked at Queen Anne suites,they look beautiful,more modern,wish me luck for 1pm 🤞
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Good luck Jaypo ;). Something lovely to look forward to..
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All booked 😃🥳🥳 got the suite we wanted as well
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Fantastic 👍. And a lovely suite too - heaven :)
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Criky!
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Yep, I know clkd but you HAVE to book early,especially as it's a new ship AND you know the cabin you want,they go so quickly.
Come on songbird give Queen Anne a go for me,tell me what you think of her
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;D. packed yet ;D
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I've not even packed for this years one ::)
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:rofl:
I'll have to sweet talk hubby for a Queen Anne cruise in 2024 ;)
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What, not laid out on the bed in order of packing :D
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Nope,mad panic the day before ;D
No sweet talking songbird just TELL HIM ;D
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Just in case I forget tomorrow, Jaypo, have a faaaaabuuuulous festive cruise 🛳 😎.
We'll hear all about it when you get back...
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I bet jaypo won't wait until she gets back, I expect photos ;D
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Aww thank you songbird and yes clkd,I'll send you a picture ;D A sober one.........maybe ;D
My last day of cooking tomorrow for two weeks 🥳
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What's cooking :whist:
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Yeah yeah,you lucky thing you ;)
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:lol:
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How was the cruise Jaypo? :)
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Was fab songbird,bay of Biscay choppy on way down but surprisingly calm on the way back,supposed to arrive in Southampton at 7am but the captain announced that we'd be arriving at 2am to avoid a force 10 gale,glad we missed that. Service amazing,food amazing (a little too amazing lol) but glad to be home nonetheless,missed my doggies 🥰
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Good stuff. Welcome back. Your doggies will be delighted to see you :scottie:
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We've booked for Queen Anne,Xmas 2024 :o
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:rofl: Quite right Jaypo. And 2023??
We're away in about 8 weeks for a cheeky 7 nights cruising the Canaries.
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Oh come on songbird,2023 was booked two years ago ;D ;D
Who are you going with again?
We didn't get into Lanzarote because of the weather,sea was rough but the captain managed to get to Gran Canaria ,was just glad we weren't stuck on the ship.
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;D ;D
Going with P and O in March and Princess for Alaska in July Jaypo. Cannot wait :parti:
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Has anyone been watching “The Cruise”, featuring the Virgin ship?! Oh dear Lord, you could not pay me to go on that. It’s like Magaluf at sea (and it ain’t cheap!)……
Passengers are know as “sailors” or “rock stars” depending on cabin grade! :o
We’re having a cheeky week cruising the canaries in 4 weeks time and I can safely say it’s not on the Valiant Lady!!
Have been practicing my version of Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On” to frighten the bejesus out of my fellow passengers :rofl:………joking!
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I watched the first few episodes but omg,what the hell has cruising come to? It looked like a 18 -30 p**s up in Benidorm,think I'll stick to Cunard,the old style cruising.
Have you and your hubby done the "Jack,Jack" whilst holding your arms out songbird?😆 I definitely have,many times ;D
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I hate ostentation, those modern cruise ships are certainly OTT! with passenger prices to match. Same with hotels - I like cosy and homely, not too much bling. Years ago we stayed in a guest house which had really dark patterned paper as well as 'collectable' plates hung everywhere! ::)
The bathroom is the most important place, if it ain't 'right' it aint for me ;-)
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I watched the first few episodes but omg,what the hell has cruising come to? It looked like a 18 -30 p**s up in Benidorm,think I'll stick to Cunard,the old style cruising.
Have you and your hubby done the "Jack,Jack" whilst holding your arms out songbird?😆 I definitely have,many times ;D
;D. He’s a wee stick in the mud, Jaypo. He won’t do the “arms out flying” >:(..I’ll just have to grab the Captain and see if he’ll oblige and play the “Jack” part…Ooh, hold on, Captain Jack - Depp again ;D…..
I must say I don’t like ships that are big and ostentatious- there are still nice, stylish options 👍
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Oh blimey if Depp was the captain, I wouldn't care which cruise ship it was I'd be on it 365 days a year ;D
Cunards new ship looks lovely,a lot more modern than the other Queens but it will still retain the old style cruising.
Aww he MUST do the Jack,I'm flying Jack 😆
Yep,way too OTT for me clkd,if I wanted that,I'd go to Blackpool
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:rofl:……
I have to say, I do like the look of the Queen Anne, Jaypo. Need to butter up hubby. Better make a nice sauce for that dodgy pheasant! ;D
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Better still, find that shot and throw in his direction ;-).
Why the need for ostentation :-\ ::) ............. more stuff to dust !
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I'm not sure it's so much ostentation on these huge ships,it's more tacky than anything but with the older ships,the atriums especially are stunning,with Cunard it's all wooden,the stairs etc really beautiful.
Yep songbird but it's the pheasant that needs buttered remember,not your hubby,well,unless that's your thing of course,then please carry on ;D ;D
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:rofl:
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:o :na: :bed:
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Not long now songbird?
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Is Songbird off somewhere :-\ ;D
I was trying to look on-line at a holiday suggestion in the Sat Telegraph but the photos of the shepherd's huts with bath on the patio ??? :o [In the Lakes] kept moving ...... far too busy for me!
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Not long now songbird?
We're off on Saturday Jaypo. Honestly can't wait this time. Feel we really need this break - just the two of us - aww dead romantic ;D...
Weather's looking promising 8)
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I'm soooooo jealous,you'll have a wonderful time with Mr songbird 🥰 my OH proposed to me aboard Azura,so she has a special place in my heart ❤️
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Oh that's so nice 💖. We'll toast you and Mr Jaypo with a scrummy cocktail 🍸 ...
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Just one? ;D
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:drunklaf:
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Have a great time Songbird. :party:
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Will do. You too 8)🍹
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👍 🙋🏼♀️
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Will any1 be left to chat with when they are sailing :D
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;D ;D
Think it's just me actually sailing, CLKD 🤔
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Phew! Thought that jillydoll was going somewhere .........
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I am, Saturday CLKD.
But I’m flying. 🙀 ;D
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:o ........ masks required in flight?
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I don’t think you can sail to Florida ;D
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Jet ski littleminnie? ;D
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I’ll be like Del Boy on a jet ski. :rofl:
No masks required now. 😷
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That was a hilarious episode Jilly ;D ;D
I was wondering re masks on planes now. Glad we won't have to wear one on Saturday ;)
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Haha,just watch you disappearing into the distance Jill ;D
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When's the next one songbird?
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Someone fell from a virgin ship,landed on the balcony below and was pronounced dead.It beggers belief how this ever happens,don't think they were attempting suicide or anything so 🤷♀️
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Omg, hope it wasn’t anyone from my flight, a few were off on a virgin cruise after they’d landed in Florida. 🙀
Thinking of going back in January. Just thinking about it….you understand! ;D
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Could the passenger have been dead B4 he hit the deck?
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Yeah yeah jill......thinking ;D
I don't know clkd,thing is,the railings are high on balconies so not sure how you'd tip over
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No doubt there will be a PM :-\. Awful for everyone !
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These mega huge party ships are a huge accident waiting to happen,lots of drunk people thinking it's clever to hang off their balcony to get photos taken etc
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Absolutely Jaypo. It’s absolutely tragic. :'(
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Did you see the picture of a young woman getting her photo taken by her boyfriend who was situated further down the ship to get a "good photo " she was standing on top of her balcony railing,hanging on with one hand,beggers belief but that's the sort that these huge cruise ships are advertising to these days 🤷♀️
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😲 what? I didn't see that one :o
I'll be steering well clear of those kind of ships for sure!
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When are you away next songbird?
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It's 11th July Jaypo. 2 nights Vancouver and 11 nights in Alaska. Blinkin insurance is expensive this time. Maybe because hubby is 70 now (and it is America and Canada) :o
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Yep, our insurance was super expensive for America.
He wouldn’t even tell me how much it was, it was that expensive. 🤷🏼♀️
He knows me so well. ;D
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One needs good cover the older we get, including fly home cover on an incase basis.
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Aww I'm sooooo jealous,I'd LOVE to go to Alaska,tell me if you see whales 😃
No Jill,your insurance was high coz they knew what a liability you are ;D
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;D Aww Jill 🥴
I'll tell you what, I'm paranoid about ensuring we declare everything, after my mum had a major stroke whilst on a cruise with us (apologies if I've mentioned this b4 - brain fog :o)......
Offloaded at Cadiz for a fortnight in hospital. I omitted one BP med when sorting her travel insurance b4 she travelled and they deducted £400 from the final claim 🙄....overall cost was £10k 😲
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No compassion there then! :-\
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Our insurance went up because I had a colonoscopy 😳😳😳🤷♀️🤷♀️🤷♀️
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By much jaypo?
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Our insurance went up because I had a colonoscopy 😳😳😳🤷♀️🤷♀️🤷♀️
Unbelievable! >:(
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Another reason to holiday in the UK ;-). I'm never more than 5 hours away from home in case I need to drive :o
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Yep,how could a colonoscopy be of a high risk to an insurance company 🤬🤬 went up roughly £50 clkd