LukeJ

@Cruising Caribbean without sounding blasphemous, wouldn't it be good to have a cut out inside the bible where you can hold a canter and have a secret drink. If it saves you money, then that could be something worth while considering.

Free ice creams, and after reading about Carnival decisions on upgrading and raising prices, I think the next cruise I will over indulge on ice creams just in principle before they all start charging prices. There are loyalty benefits while cruising, and I let the wife sort that side of things and other financial stuff,and I just follow her.

Yeah I'm not a fan of sauce, much prefer the flavours that come from the actual dish. People say they don't like the taste of salt, if you can taste salt in your food, then you have over seasoned. Salt brings the flavours out, not ruin it. Most find bland food acceptable these days, and if there is a slight flavour in it, they believe it's salt not the actual flavour they can taste.

@Cruising Caribbean me and my wife tend to go for a walk as often as we can . Even for a half hour if the weather is not great. It just helps keep us fitter. Some people I know will drive to a shop that is a mile away, I personally don't see why you can't just walk there. Yeah I've tried to keep in good shape and I was used to standing all throughout the day. Since I've stopped, it hurts if I sit down too long and I need to get up and move about. I don't tend to chef much in the house, all those years have put me off I guess. I do tend to try and keep my hand in and not leave it all to my wife, but our tastes differ, and my wife prefers bland foods with no flavour, so I usually don't even participate in getting into an argument and I leave her to it.

Yeah it does grate on you after a while, and sucks your mood down. I mean we have had constant rain in this country now since October. We expect rain and grey clouds around the winter season, I mean that's given. Bit we are in April and it just will not relent.

@mikeHive Scotland is a massive place with the best people. They are so friendly and fun to be around. One of the places I love going to Scotland is Edinburgh, it's not only filled with history, but the architecture of the buildings is something else. There's plenty to do there, and I can guarantee you will have an amazing time. Same in Ireland, beautiful people. Plenty to do there, great times. My favourite is south Ireland, just stunning.

I tend to do a lot of walking these days, and I go to the gym, which is good for mental health also. I don't play sports as much anymore, body won't let me, but when the season is in, golf is my go to activity. I don't use golf carts, we will always walk. Can cover up to 15,000 steps on a good day. So if we play a couple times a week, that helps loosen me up too. I coach the rugby as I mention, and that keeps me active as I get involved in training not just stand on the side. I occasionally coach the soccer team, and get involved too with that, but not as much. I'm desperate to create memories with my son as I missed a chunk of him growing up because I was forever working as a chef, so didn't see him.

I guess different people have different opinions on loyalty, and it all comes down to which suits their needs. As long as there is some appreciation from cruise lines, then that's what people tend to accept. Personally I like P&O, I think they do try and entice you back and they do look after you aboard their ships.

A white Christmas is a fairytale, and one that most people would love to have happen on Christmas morning, opening the door to see a blanket of white with snow falling just like in the movies. Large parts of Europe have that fairytales, but the UK is a different world. It hardly snows, just horrible wet muddy sludge. The wind is biting, hits your right in your head letting off excruciating pain. It's rainy ALL the time. Just soul destroying. So even if we went to the nearest country in France and they have snow, it's just peaceful, and doesn't have that horrendous wind that hits you.

If alcohol goes up in prices, you can take it or leave it really. You know the cruise lines are making profits, it just shows you how much profit they want to make, not need to make. But water, they know people need water not just want it, they need it and will pay for it. I wouldn't trust the water that comes from the taps personally, yes you can wash in it and brush teeth but not to consume litres a day that we do. So that's why I think the cruise line is being disgraceful, they are taking advantage of the supply and demand scenario.

I did play rugby for a long time, as well as soccer, (broke a few bones with that too), as well as many other sports in my time. I coach juniors now, and been injured even doing that 😞. I love the team mentality, being one and part of something always excited me. My son prefers the isolation rather than being part of a team. So we've played golf together and began paddle boarding together, so as long as he's doing something outdoors, I don't really mind if this is his path.

These increases are absolutely disgusting in my view. Within 18 months, there is a 202% increase for a 12 pack of water. These companies should hang their heads in shame. They are playing with people, exploiting them as they know the demand for bottled water is there. Little things like that makes my blood boil. I know it's not much in the grand scheme of things, but to me it's the cruise line not giving any care whatsoever to it's guests.

There is a lot to be said for loyalty. These companies need to get back to their board room and really have a good chat amongst themselves about how to appreciate loyal customers, because if someone has your back, then that's the type of person you want on your side. If companies treat customers right, they will always come back. People want to stay loyal to one, because it's how we operate. We want the safe option, and we are creatures of habits, so if we have something we like and feel comfortable with, we tend to want to stay with that most of the time.

@Kendall James-Vargas where else would you like to go in Europe. What you find in most European destinations is that there are a load of history there. And if you love to know about historical stories, then it's perfect for you.

No I don't like the pushiness of some people either, @Cruising Caribbean. I've dealt with things like that and it puts me off. These people seem to think that they only way you can enjoy yourself is if you get really drunk. I've heard pushy people come up and try and convince us to drink and call us boring. "You should be having fun." And I say "for the record we are having fun, we've been getting on brilliantly with our friends and even been up to dance. Only now you've ruined it for us."

Everything has it's pros and cons. I can understand why people go on cruises, but land vacations are also a big thing too. I do enjoy going to different locations, and Greece is a beautiful country. We have been to many places in Greece, including a stay in Rhodes. I recommend it to anyone.

Absolutely spot on. Couldn't have put that better myself. At home, it's very rare that I would have an ice cream, it wouldn't be the first thing I would think of when wanting a treat. However when onboard, to get an ice cream as you say available to my discretion is always a perk. And to charge for that when it's always been made available to you is pretty petty. I understand that companies lost money due to pandemic, but that goes for majority of the world. And these companies aren't losing money now the world has reopened, what these companies really mean is that they are desperate to make as much profit as they can. In their think tanks, they say they want to make $200 million profit, and if they only make $150 million, then they say to the world they have lost $50 million. They haven't lost it, it's just the way the turn the words around.

When I was younger, I remember going to Greece with an ex of mine, and we stayed at this resort when a guy, full of tattoos came and was very friendly to everyone and knew the locals very well. He came over to us and we started chatting, and then realised he brought his elderly mother with him. He explained he brings his mother to that very resort every year. And he will come back to that resort every year with his mates on a different date. And if he has time, he will go to that very resort every year on his own.

@3Sistersyes it definitely is the smartest option, I've broken most bones in my body playing competitive contact sports. And now I'm feeling it as I'm getting older. My son did get involved briefly in sports, however seemed to want to spend more time playing on the screens. Your kids getting 1-2 hours a week is incredible, and you're doing well to get that low. I have to compromise with my son. He doesn't go on screens Monday, Thursday and the days he goes on he could be on them for 3-5 hours throughout the whole day but has to come off for screen free time for a few hours at least.

As long as they keep ice creams free onboard, I'm sure people will enjoy whatever they have on ships. I don't like the idea of cruise line sneaking prices on things that we indulge like the cookie gate scenario. We pay enough to be onboard, and a few perks would be appreciated.

@3Sisters me and you both. I've never heard of the term flag football before so looked it up. It looks like rugby but without the contact. I love sports, and want to get involved with them all. Even if me and the wife are walking in the park and some are playing football, I'm itching to get involved. I agree completely with kids these days and the video games, I coach junior rugby, and the struggle I get every week for numbers is disgraceful to be honest because they aren't interested and want to be on screens. Same as you I was forced out of the house by my parents and grandparents. My grandmother would kick me and my siblings and cousins out of the house in the morning and tell us that she didn't want to see us again until it was time for food around 6pm. And we would go and play or go for an adventure, we would be gone for 8 hours and more. And we would all go back just as food was being plated.

You should definitely try it. Especially as you have never been, I'm all for trying new places in the world. There is so much to see, and different cultures to absorb. I have friends that keep going to the same place, same hotels every year. I think it's because it's familiar for them, but I don't understand how you can enjoy going back to the same place. Unless it's like a reunion for them and they've become almost family to the owners of the hotel.

@3Sisters exactly right. I do love food healthy competition. I believe everyone should play some sports at some point, either individual like tennis, golf etc or a team building sport. It's good for the mind, health, anxiety. I believe sport is sometimes undervalued. It helps get confidence and builds friendship and team values.

@PaulB oh what brilliant names. I agree with you, I tend to go and use companies that have hilarious names, you get drawn to them. There used to be a food mobile called "only foods and sauces". Makes me chuckle every time

I used to work abroad in Greece so am not adverse to people having fun. It makes the vacation as you say, the more the merrier, however there are also people that are happy watching and doing nothing, so they should be left alone. I've even participated if there was a game of water polo, because I'm competitive and sporty. If there is dancing and messing around, then I'm happy to sit it out and watch.