Cruising is back

[Mervyn and Trish]

MSC Virtuosa is at this moment leaving Southampton on her Maiden Voyage, the first cruise to depart the UK since the pandemic started last year. Another step towards normality.

[oldbluefox]

Saw it tonight on the One Show and I must admit it looked very nice.

[Kendhni]

About frickin time .... go the mighty cruise companies

Good luck to all onboard

[Mervyn and Trish]

We got a step nearer to cruising when I booked CPS car parking for next year. Boy that felt good.

[Manoverboard]

A couple of weeks in a Car Park sounds really cool

[Kendhni]

A couple of weeks in a Car Park sounds really cool

If you decide to cruise the carparks then that is your choice

[Esprit]

The car parking is free with our Celebrity Silhouette cruse this July!

[Mervyn and Trish]

The car parking is free with our Celebrity Silhouette cruse this July!

It would have been free with the P&O and Cunard cruises we are going on but we opted for other benefits worth more to us.

[Ray B]

It will be nice to have cruise posts to read and respond to which are sailing, or building up to going on and coming off a cruise.
The forum has done well to find topics to keep us all going during this lack of cruises.
I have still a 8 month wait, may follow Merv and book some parking at the terminal soon.

[Esprit]

The car parking is free with our Celebrity Silhouette cruse this July!

It would have been free with the P&O and Cunard cruises we are going on but we opted for other benefits worth more to us.

[Jan Rosser]

Just been watching the passengers boarding the ship - only 1000 instead of the full capacity of 6000 so hopefully plenty of room to distance themselves. Looking forward to hearing how they get on.

I've just booked a family cruise next Easter on Britannia so have two booked for next year now - something to look forward to

[Ray B]

I think that's the bid thing Jan, something to look forward to after last year.

[Jan Rosser]

I think that's the bid thing Jan, something to look forward to after last year.

You are so right Ray - cancelled four last year - my bank balance has never looked so good

[Happydays]

!well our bank balance could have looked good but got a new kitchen, new boiler and we've just bought a new car

[Meg 50]

will they be allowed to get off if not on a trip?

[Stephen]

!well our bank balance could have looked good but got a new kitchen, new boiler and we've just bought a new car

Lend us a tenner guv

[Kendhni]

!well our bank balance could have looked good but got a new kitchen, new boiler and we've just bought a new car

Much the same except that I just received the vets bill for one of our dogs today - that is one holiday gone

[Happydays]

Oh I'm sorry to hear that, I know about vets bills but that's a priority. I absolutely hate it when anything is with our dog (and the one before)
Hope they're ok now

[Stephen]

Yes, they certainly know how to charge. You can kiss goodbye to over a hundred pound for just a quick examination, antibiotic injection and a short course of tablets. But we never hesitate to pay it. At the end of the day any pet you have is part of the family.

[Jan Rosser]

Post on Facebook from a passenger on MSC Virtuoso - he’s on an excursion near Portland Dorset. Well at least there’s only a 1000 to go ashore

[Manoverboard]

Post on Facebook from a passenger on MSC Virtuoso - he’s on an excursion near Portland Dorset. Well at least there’s only a 1000 to go ashore

There's a prison on Portland so maybe they'll be put in there ?

[Mervyn and Trish]

I also notice on Facebook some gripes about the entertainment. Having gone on circles off the French coast all day on Saturday to avoid the worst of the weather in the Channel they may get a little jaded! The One Show sent a reporter on the cruise so it'll be interesting to see what they made of it when they report back.

[Kendhni]

Be fair it must be difficult to sing through a mask

[Mervyn and Trish]

Be fair it must be difficult to sing through a mask

When we went to our favourite bar/cafe/restaurant this week for our first coffee indoors out of our house for several months I discovered it's pretty hard to drink a latte wearing one too! Very nearly very messy!

[Ray B]

I also notice on Facebook some gripes about the entertainment. Having gone on circles off the French coast all day on Saturday to avoid the worst of the weather in the Channel they may get a little jaded!

Ahh, yes, cruising is back.

[Kendhni]

When we went to our favourite bar/cafe/restaurant this week for our first coffee indoors out of our house for several months I discovered it's pretty hard to drink a latte wearing one too! Very nearly very messy!

A few weeks ago I watched a man pull a handkerchief from his pocket and loudly blow his nose ... it was about that time he realised he was still wearing his mask.

[Kendhni]

Royal Caribbean insisting that all guests are vaccinated. The hope to be back by mid summer
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-57202890

[david63]

Royal Caribbean insisting that all guests are vaccinated. The hope to be back by mid summer
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-57202890

There is a caveat to that

we expect all of our guests who are eligible for a vaccine to have it

[Manoverboard]

Royal Caribbean insisting that all guests are vaccinated. The hope to be back by mid summer
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-57202890

There is a caveat to that

we expect all of our guests who are eligible for a vaccine to have it

I would add that if they haven't had it for any reason at all then they cannot board ... full stop.

[Stephen]

Royal Caribbean insisting that all guests are vaccinated. The hope to be back by mid summer
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-57202890

There is a caveat to that

we expect all of our guests who are eligible for a vaccine to have it

I would add that if they haven't had it for any reason at all then they cannot board ... full stop.

I would also add to your add that they should provide proof of double vaccination before they either pay the final balance or before day of travel.