Member Info for YoungRetiree

I guess they will still stock European brands, but there are lots of work around to penalise cruise operators. ..they could do something similar to what happens now in Spanish waters...taxes imposed on alcohol in US waters (in this case large taxes on non US brands)

Lutnick said the Trump team were unhappy that the cruise ships were serving "foreign alcohol " .

So I'm guessing they are going to be leaned on to start paying more to stock US brands. Package prices will either have to go higher, or drink margins eroded.

In tough times people are still unwilling to sacrifice their holidays....

https://travelweekly.co.uk/news/air/on-the-beach-holiday-demand-bucking-wider-consumers-trends

Https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/cruises/the-destinations-fighting-to-keep-cruise-ships-away/

Cheers Bhants

It just rings and rings. Your call is important etc. After an hour each time I give up. The lady in sales (who can see what they've done but can't change it), also said try 8.30am as the wait is 'only' around 30 mins.

The data on my profile for past cruises look fine so nothing to change. It's only when I tried to call to say i can't see my future ones I was told by sales that my date of birth at the back end has aged me 25 years! Hence nothing is tying up and was warned I could have boarding refused.

Anyway I've taken too much of people's time, I'll tuck the boss man tip away 👍

Cheers K

I did actually use my usual travel agent to book, they were fine, but unfortunately the p and o loyalty scheme department have messed up... again ... and it's not showing on their website under my login due to p and o duplicating loyalty accounts. The same has happened with my Cunard status. There's definitely something not working properly with their systems.

It took them 2 months last year to untangle me from another customers profile, and I fear it could be the same again as they have obviously left another person's date of birth on my account with them 🙄

If I do make it on board, I pity the poor person in the loyalty office when I go marching up to them 🤭

Anyway, enough of my problems...

Don't talk to me about P&O, I still can't get hold of them. They are not in my good books. Over 2 hours waiting on the phone last week, 1.5 hours today. Just look at twitter.... nobody can get through to speak to them. I've now been told that unless I speak to their loyalty team (who have f'd up my status), I may be refused boarding at my own expense as the details don't match my passport as they've put someone else's date of birth on my status when they tried to fix it last year! But you just cannot get through to them. No way to run a company. 😖😖😖😖

Rant over 😆

And breathe.....

"It's not even American.!"

Yes I've been pondering this over the last few days to myself. I wonder if the great orange one has cruising in his sights and what the worst he could possibly do to get the ships to re-domacile to ensure they pay more tax in the US...?

I think the gist is it's equally or more powerful at a the fraction of the price of US big tech offerings.

Means US tech prices could be vastly overvalued.

I guess they go down, we go down. When doesn't CCL need an excuse to not to follow the market down!😵‍💫

According to the telegraph, 1 trillion going to be wiped off usa due to china's Deepseek technology threat

Good to hear! I do worry though that increased sales are impacting on customer service. I've been trying 3 days to call p&o phoneline regarding an iona booking. Each time I've given up after 45 minutes on hold. Yes, great they are busy, but they need to invest in customer service to pick up the phones or people will take business elsewhere.

In comparison I called celebrity regarding another matter. They answered within 2 rings. Maybe that's why RCL currently have the upper hand...

IWH, I did the route recently on MSC Virtuosa. If, like others, you've done Bruges or Blankenberg numerous times I'd recommend getting a cheap tram to either Knokke (bit like a Chelsea on sea!), or a tram in the other direction to Ostend.

On the subject of old ships, anyone got any views on Oceana?(as a cruise not investment). Thinking of trying one this year, but like Ambassador, half of their ships are also pre 2000 but prices seem super super high for what are at end of the day ancient ships?

Sector news

https://www.cruiseandferry.net/articles/ambassador-cruise-line-merges-with-cfc-to-form-european-cruise-brand-targeted-at-the-no-fly-silver-market

Could it be the new HMPV virus filing hospitals in China?

I should add, Amex are currently doing £150 cashback on any NCL cruise if you spend £750

Topo

Never sailed on them, but if you have an Amex card there is a 10% off deal you can save in the Amex app applicable on any cruise if you pay with your Amex card.

I'm quiet as I'm mourning the loss of tropical fruit displays 😆

https://www.cruisemummy.co.uk/upside-down-pineapples-banned-and-then-unbanned-from-carnival-cruise-ships/

Could be an error my end, but I'm seeing S&P, Dow and FTSE all closing up not down.

Can't be worse than the Anglesey Mining tip the other month 😆