LukeJ

It all depends on how you look at it, taking the car does have its perks, as it's safe in the knowledge that you have transport guaranteed and you are safe that you are in your vehicle. We always tend to drive up the day before and stay in a hotel closer to the port. Saves any nasty surprises the next day in case we get stuck in traffic and panic about reaching the cruise or the ferry, so staying the night before relaxes everyone. Sure the financial implications are.more, but for peace and mind I believe it's totally worth it. Yes we do tend to sail from Southampton if we can, it's just familiar and we are happy to use the same ships.

Yeah the conversations are one sided, so I do try to cut her short. I'm not one for talking on pho es, I'd much rather a one on one face to face conversation, and you can react to each others facial expressions. I do enjoy selling, as I used to have my own business, and selling was a key part of that. I don't count myself as very confident, but if I'm selling myself and I'm comfortable in talking about something I'm passionate about, then I'm guessing that's enough.

@3Sisters it is mad how conversations can stem from another conversation. I must get that from my mother, she can start talking about a subject, and just drift off some places far and wide, and we end up talking about something far removed from the original subject and I never get to hear what she was talking about in the first place. Nor do I plan to go back and revisit that conversation anyway. But a nice shop onboard would suit me just fine.

No I totally agree with you. Trying to go environmentally friendly but it ends up costing so much money, that you end up bitter towards it. The government in my view simply do not have a clue how to go about it, and listen again to minority and come up with something, just to show they are coming up with ideas, so hair brained, they simply do not work.

@Kendall James-VargasThe simple drive over goes from Dover, yet the longer ferry will go from Southampton or Portsmouth and travel further down France and come out at St. Malo, which is roughly a 10 hour voyage. But it is worth it, as St. Malo is a beautiful town. I love visiting there, with so much to do there, and the food is unbelievable. Highly recommend if you ever wish to go. 

No it doesn't make any sense at all. It's very annoying when minority of people win, or listened to. It shouldn't be like that. However some restaurant owners or managers simply don't have the mind to run a successful business, and just like the idea of running a business to show off to their family and friends. Most are simply bizarre and the ideas they come up with are ridiculously pathetic. As a whole, staff do cover their basis when it comes to paperwork, safety records, cleanliness, and as you say, someone falls, (which people do these days), and the restaurant gets sued and win. For what reason, it was nothing that the restaurant had done for most of the time, sometimes it was the person's fault, wrong footwear, drunk, not concentrating, but it will always go towards the customers no matter what.

France isn't all that far in comparison. About four hour drive to the port, and jump on a ferry for the crossing, which takes an hour and a bit if on the direct crossing and you're in France. The last couple of occasions we've been on the boat to France has been an all night crossing, which confuses me and makes me laugh every time. How can an hour crossing take all night? I keep imagining them turning the engine off and letting us drift to France instead.

@Kendall James-Vargas I did get government assistance, but it was paid to the company that were supposed to pay me in my wage. I didn't receive it. So I began legal proceedings. And the hassle that I had to even try and receive what was owed to me made me ill. It was as if I was guilty of something. It was such a hard long ordeal, and that's what makes me mad about the law, particularly in the UK. It says one thing and then turns it on it's head, and everything then becomes a grey area rather than a simple black and white society we should live in. They cheated me, so they should pay me. Very simple. However, it was all, yes I can see what you're saying, but...., total nonsense so I just moved on and left it.

@Cruising Caribbean that's a good idea, something suitable for myself too. You really wouldn't want to see me dance. I have no rhythm, timing or any inclination of anything you need to even look like I'm dancing. I just look like I'm in a queue for the toilet. So maybe customer service or the shops onboard would suit my talents instead. 

It's a terrible situation we find ourselves in. We can only pray that we can turn it around, even if it's a slower process, as long as it's in the right direction. As countries start to turn on each other, I understand people striking, as the cost of living is going higher, and unfortunately our salaries are not, some sectors do deserve pay rises, but some that are striking baffles me the extent they are going because they are already on a high wage and in the top 10% of the best salary in the land.

It's why cruising is getting popular as people need that time away from the everyday toils of life. Costs in the UK are rising all the time, it's endless. There's hardly anything to smile about. Unemployed is high, and the ones that are in work either are on strike constantly or on long term sick. It's frustrating to see. Food prices are ridiculous now and it's a struggle to feed a family, so going out for a meal is a privileged treat, which in turn is affecting the hospitality trade. 

Yes I a green, it is very cut throat, you either fit into a place or you don't. Ive never really had that much of an issue in each kitchen I worked, as I got on with most people, but I have seen people come and go because they couldn't settle in with the ethics of the kitchen. I guess that's why most places struggle for consistency, because there are different chefs all the time. And I mean this in the nicest way, but if you notice that there a different chefs in a place constantly, it's mainly down to working conditions and being treated unfairly by management or owners.

It's definitely a worthy consideration. I'd love to have had the opportunity to work on a cruise ship. I don't know in what capacity, obviously a chef would probably be the obvious choice, but I would have liked to think I could have done something else onboard. Something different nobody would expect of me. And it wouldn't be a dancer.

I have resigned the fact that I will stay in the UK until my days are gone. I would have liked to have lived abroad for some period just to have that option. Yes the weather is disgusting, and it feels like cabin fever at times at home because you simply can't leave. But we certainly make the most of it when the sun comes out. The schools do have time off every 6-7 weeks, there is something. I believe, correct me I'm wrong, but there are 14 weeks in a year in total that the schools are closed.

It's fantastic id you have the sickness and healthcare covered in that as well. That's not only a perk but a life dependant in today's age. I got injured a few years back and was off work for 3 months because the doctors wouldn't allow me back due to safety. I didn't get a penny (dime?) for the whole time I was off. I rushed back early in order to get back into the swing of things and earn again, only for the restaurant to stab me in the back with no hours because it went quiet 

@3Sisters so it's heartbreak for the poor husbands all round then 😭. Its a hard decision to become a priest, there is so much to learn and sacrifice. The commitment level is vast I would have thought in order to remain loyal in that position.

Please don't offer that option to my wife, I totally understand what path she will take, and I will be waving her goodbye on her world cruise no doubt. It will be a new adventure for both of us in no uncertain terms. I am intrigued in what age you can be a priest, as I would have thought there is at least a few years training in bible college etc.. so I would say at least 20 years old as a minimum age.

I see what you're saying now. My fault, should have realised the present is probably as not as advanced like any sci-fi movies we watch nowadays. In time, we will be paying via facial recognition or a chip in the arm or some style. 

@Kendall James-Vargas personally I would get rid of all straws anyhow. It can be convenient for some, but just get rid. Start again. I love the idea of paying with facial recognition onboard, that would be a great idea. However I can see how that could cause some issues, getting charged for things you never ordered. What if your doppelganger was on the same ship ha ha

You're right it is totally dependent on the field of work you're in. I know some people that are/were on salary, and if they worked over the agreed 40 hours, they still got a bonus for the extra hours. Unfortunately, life isn't always fair. In the hospitality industry, we just get rinsed and expect to just do as many hours as you possibly can and still get the same wage no matter what. Some places won't even give the chefs tips either. (Which we already covered in here)

I have lived here my whole life. It's a beautiful country when the sun is out, unfortunately it's very rare. We go in vacation a lot to France, especially the northern part, it's a stunning place and I would love to move there, unfortunately my wife would never do that. She could never leave her family behind. The winter season is horrendous here, and it really gets me down. The rain is bad enough, but the wind is horrendous. Really sharp and hurts you. We've had constant rain since November, with only about two days in between that has been dry, yet the cold wind still persists. 

@Kendall James-Vargas ha ha, that's what my wife does, leaves extra shoes in the car just in case. It's ridiculous when you think about it, the weather is something that brings me down about living in the UK. It's disheartening when you get up and just see rain and grey skies all the time. Once the sun is out, you can see everything change. People's attitudes and temperament suddenly become positive, and things seem a lot better.

@3Sisters oh please do, I love hearing about people's culinary experiences. Fresh is always king in my eyes, however I myself still would use bottled variants if needed. I find it does add another layer to tastes and I'm all for that myself 

It's as if some don't think things through. They just think we need to use recycling products as everyone is all environmentally minded, but don't put any thought in the actual product itself. Yes it's better for the planet, but not for us the consumer as an actual credible functioning product. If they want to do better saving the planet, let's not have waste. Ask Amazon not to pack a small tiny product in packages that could cover a car. 

I personally hate salary jobs. It's totally unfair. If I work 70 hours a week, then I want to get paid 70 hours. The old BS about being swings and roundabouts, that you earn the same wage when you do less hours that you should is a total lie. Management will not let you work less hours than is agreed because you are on salary. They will get everything they can put of you, and won't let a silly little thing like you needing a break get in their way.