A Diamond in the rough.

[TomVexille]

Gosh the Q lounge in Singapore has lost the appeal factor. Food range not appealing. Had planned to sleep on plane and avoid dinner service.

I found it incredibly underwhelming last Wednesday. It was an absolute zoo. By comparison the BA lounge next door was a haven of peace.

 

[Pushka]

Thats really awful to hear. We have never experienced anything like that. Have always had passports returned the evening before by the cabin steward.

Agreed. Many Princess regulars were very disappointed in the food also. It was our first major Princess cruise so hard to compare.

Good grief the kids are kicking up such a racket in the Q lounge. Parents completely ignoring them. Lots of pissed off adults.

 

[Pushka]

I found it incredibly underwhelming last Wednesday. It was an absolute zoo. By comparison the BA lounge next door was a haven of peace.

Oh TomV. Wish you were here right now. We'd get the kids to shut up.

 

[TomVexille]

Good grief the kids are kicking up such a racket in the Q lounge. Parents completely ignoring them. Lots of pissed off adults.

Oh TomV. Wish you were here right now. We'd get the kids to shut up.

Sounds exactly like last week.

 

[Pushka]

Sounds exactly like last week.

Just telling MrP. This is like a chat function! .

 

[TomVexille]

Just telling MrP. This is like a chat function! .

If you haven't already, check your PMs

 

[Pushka]

If you haven't already, check your PMs

At least the wifi is fast. Will look at moving

 

[TomVexille]

Worst case you just head back to QF

 

[love_the_life]

And no dinner service on QF - this is one of the supper flights which I dislike. Eat up before you board!

 

[Pushka]

And no dinner service on QF - this is one of the supper flights which I dislike. Eat up before you board!

But the meal in the QP was rubbish for me. Prawns. I had some lemony chicken that wasn't crispy so stretchy skin. But looking at the menu - Could I have breakfast now?

 

[Pushka]

A first for me. MrP just changed into jammies before take off. Good enuf for me too. Should hit SG just over Darwin.

 

[Pushka]

Note to self: do not take so many clothes next trip. What a pain unpacking is.

Came home to some storm damage in the kitchen this time from the post Christmas Day storm. Really just water dampness down the kitchen wall. It was an excessive storm so will just let it dry out and repaint. No 2 son who scored the whiskey - Glenfiddich 19 year old single malt - had done a great job and even mowed the lawns!

Flight back was uneventful and very smooth and on time. Didn't worry about dinner so watched a movie for about an hour (great movie - true story - Fair Game ) then settled down for sleep. Roused properly about an hour to go so had breakfast and finished off the movie with 10 minutes to spare. Sweet.

Service was a bit haphazard. One crew member a little hazy? And the senior crew member continually seemed to play catch up. Never offered a pre dinner drink. MrP was but it never arrived. Had to ask for PJ's while other side was getting them - ours just randomly gave them out then moved on to something else. Forgot the amenity kits. Etc. first world issues I guess. She gave me XXL and MrP M. I had not put on that much weight.

Flight early and realized MrP did not have a priority tag on his bag so took forever. The WP check in person also tried to get our seats changed to the middle seats - NO - we both said. 2A and 4A were what we wanted.

An hour or so in J QP and on our way. The complete first row in business was 1 couple with 3 kids under I'd say, 3. The kids were pretty good but crew had to spend a lot of time managing them as baby looked to be about 6 weeks, plus an 18 monther and maybe a 3 year old. Lots of pfaffing around. And then of course everyone held back disembarking as they put the baby in a sling, numerous nappy bags, an asleep toddler etc

Back home and washing machine going but all unpacked.

Now, April is next on QM2, Singapore and Dubai with the other Dame, love_the_life. Just need to start packing......

 

[TomVexille]

Flight early and realized MrP did not have a priority tag on his bag so took forever. The WP check in person also tried to get our seats changed to the middle seats - NO - we both said. 2A and 4A were what we wanted.

Lady at SYD Domestic Transfer Desk tried to do the same thing to us last week

 

[Pushka]

Lady at SYD Domestic Transfer Desk tried to do the same thing to us last week

Annoying isn't it but I guess they don't know the configurations of the planes. And assumes we don't either. She started clicking before we could stop her but thankfully all middle seats taken (full cabin). A quick 'are you happy with your seats?' might be in order. And on our flight the fixed divider makes the question irrelevant anyway.

 

[Timtammi]

Really enjoying the TV Pushka. Must say Princess does not sound appealing. I Hate it when check in agents take it upon themselves to change your carefully chosen seats because they assume you want to sit together. Totally agree they should ask first!

 

[amaroo]

Agreed. Many Princess regulars were very disappointed in the food also. It was our first major Princess cruise so hard to compare.

Good grief the kids are kicking up such a racket in the Q lounge. Parents completely ignoring them. Lots of pissed off adults.

Enjoyed your TR... has confirmed my thoughts on cruises.

Currently enjoying the BA Concorde Bar - no way I'm sticking a foot in the zoo.

 

[drron]

Partaking of Mr.Hancock's claret are we?

 

[Pushka]

Enjoyed your TR... has confirmed my thoughts on cruises.

Not at all. It has indicated to me that some cruises are not managed well. And that larger ships are more at risk of that. We are both very much looking forward to a Baltic cruise on Celebrity silhouette in July and we will not be disappointed.

I was a little wary about Princess from the get go but have been on two Celebrity cruises and they were fabulous. Then there are the specialist and luxury lines - go ask the drrons! It's a bit of a shame really as I own Princess (Carnival) shares in the US and get OBC. At least Cunard is in the Carnival group I guess.

 

[Major]

Not at all. It has indicated to me that some cruises are not managed well. And that larger ships are more at risk of that. We are both very much looking forward to a Baltic cruise on Celebrity silhouette in July and we will not be disappointed.

I was a little wary about Princess from the get go but have been on two Celebrity cruises and they were fabulous. Then there are the specialist and luxury lines - go ask the drrons! It's a bit of a shame really as I own Princess (Carnival) shares in the US and get OBC. At least Cunard is in the Carnival group I guess.

The Carnival group is huge

Carnival Corporation & plc is a global cruise company and one of the largest vacation companies in the world. Our portfolio of leading cruise brands includes Carnival Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises and Seabourn in North America; P&O Cruises and Cunard in the United Kingdom; AIDA Cruises in Germany; Costa Cruises in Southern Europe; and P&O Cruises in Australia.

 

[Pushka]

Sure. Carnival is huge. Unfortunately the lines in the group I'd cruise on is Cunard and Seabourne. I'd look at one of the newer Princess Ships, and only P&O UK.

But the shares are doing nicely in their own right esp if the AUD remains suppressed. Divs are acceptable too.

But cruising is a big thing in tourism right now.