Member Info for BeeJayDoubleYou

We have our annual travel insurance as an add-on to our Barclays current account for £18/month. I have type2 diabetes high bp and cholesterol, my wife asthma and high bp. We are screened annually but there is no loading for these , we have to pay extra for cruises costing more than £5k pp.

Currently on QV in a very wet Lisbon(2 days).

We love the suites on the rear so in one of those next December.

Also got Ventura booked next Feb for 35 nights - again a suite at the rear.

Oriana was our all time favourite and, until our recent QV voyages, the ship we had been on most. It was great relaxing in Andersons for pre and post dinner drinks.

Over the years we’ve probably done about 10 cruises on both P&O and Cunard and the odd one on other cruise lines but, like you, mainly stick with what we know.

Bhants, apologies if wrong, but I am assuming your question was in response to my post - not Topo.

If so, I booked a Queens Grill suite. Have been looking for a pre Xmas cruise in a QG since returning last month with no luck. Then suddenly one become available for this week which I immediately snapped up. Always go in QG when on Cunard.

Interesting you mentioned Arcadia, the other half sailed on the last ever sailing of the old Arcadia across from Barbados, from memory around 2005 but could be wrong. We both did Rio to Barbados through Panama Canal then I got off (still working in those days) and flew home. Her sister then joined her for the trip across the Atlantic. I believe Arcadia was rebranded something like Ocean Village to appeal to younger clients but it didn’t work out and after a couple of seasons was sold.

All that said, we are on the new (obviously quite old) Arcadia for the first time in December next year 16 nights to Canaries.

Hope you manage to talk the other half back into cruising. I have a similar problem with mine, she refuses to fly which is why for the past two years we have only cruised from Southampton.

I see the SP has given up it’s gains from earlier today, let’s see what happens following the US opening.

Just booked a cheeky 7 days on QV starting Friday - she is definitely our favourite ship, we were on her 18 days last month then have a mini cruise to Hamburg early Jan 4 nights.

Does anyone know if the new ceo has started or when he does?

I bought into Aviva yesterday for the first time - normally shares drop when I buy for the first time, can’t believe I am 10% up in a day!!

Thanks to both of you.

So, a 10% movement in fuel price (either way) has approx 2% impact on total costs.

No doubt someone can calculate what a 2% cost movement has on the margin.

Botbot, hope your investment at this level is rewarded.

EC,

Do you know what fuel is as a percentage of total CCL costs?

We did The Verandah once but we’re not impressed - so now keep to Queens Grill.

Just the fake chips, which keeps me going for a few nights whilst I accumulate cash chips!!

Holo, I am the opposite. I only cruise on Cunard and P&O. My last 18 night Cunard cruise started off as a potential disaster. After 14 nights I was £14k down then recovered just over £8k on the last two nights. They are not as generous as RCCL with perks. I do get free drinks all night and also get some very nice bottles of wine sent my dining table or cabin, also some luxury canapés and also the offer of speciality restaurant (which I decline as it is no better than the Queens Grill where we eat). At the end of the cruise they present me with a voucher for free casino spend on future cruises, I am currently holding two of these each for $3k. The highest I have had is $4k.

You are right - they are quite quiet and sometimes there are only two or three of us playing.

I must admit Cunard is cutting a lot of corners (I have been on 7 since the beginning of last year) and have been considering others. Saga will not be one of them as I could not go on a ship without a casino as this my main entertainment when on board. It was bad enough going to Amsterdam a couple of weeks ago when the casino was only open two of the four nights. I was on the previous cruise when it was open all of the 14 nights, so overall I was in the casino 16 of the 18 nights. I have been known to win the cost of a cruise (in Queens Grill) on more than one occasion.

Don’t hold your breath - SAGA down around 4% today after their results.

Bhants, I have been thinking for a few days that we are heading for £10.00 although I had no evidence for this. As you say, it’s just a case of will it go lower and, if so, where will it stop?

Fairly old news but isn’t as much of an issue as it sounds for most cruise lines. I have probably sailed to/from Barcelona about 8-10 times and never docked at the affected berths. Most cruise lines already use the other area which is about a 10 min shuttle trip.

I always pay for drinks as I go. About 18 months ago I had to start paying Spanish VAT on purchases within 12 miles of their coastline. I now get around this by having the drinks charged to my account the day before we get into Spanish waters, therefore nothing “going through the tills” when in Spain. I suppose when paying for a package in advance the items need to go through the tills at nil cost at the time they are served which is what generates the VAT liability.

It’s been confirmed we are docking in Amsterdam at 5:00pm today.

Much better night in the casino last night - recovered half of my losses from the past two weeks. Now two nights with casino closed (oh, what might have been!)

Just have the last night to try to get back where I started - just like CCL share price since I have been away.

Thanks Bhants.

My understanding is we will be going into Amsterdam as the ban hasn’t started yet - I guess I will find out tomorrow!

Didn’t go ashore today but we were given instructions on how to bypass the checking in process if we did. Very relaxing few hours on board with about 6 other guests.

Bots, looks like we have both had a disastrous time in the casino. Just finished 14 nights on QV and didn’t do too well in the casino. Still sat on board in Southampton staying further 4 nights to Amsterdam and back. Only consultation is the casino is only open on 2 of the 4 nights so could go either way!