Convoys and the Long Way Home

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After the coughtail party we had dinner with the guest relations manager and 2 American couples.Once again a very enjoyable evening with smiles and laughter all night.We had to finish around 10pm as it was the crew show night.
The MC of the show was the wonderful Simona who we have sailed with before.The last time was on the Explorer in October when she was a waitress.Now she is an International Hostess and once again a real hit.She also shows that your voyage questionnaires do mean something.She got an excellent rating from us as well as many others and is now going up the ladder.So to the show starting off with the wonderful MC and then the Cloud's John Denver-
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Once again the MC-note the change-and the housekeeping dancers-
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Once again our everchanging MC and then Silverseas Elvis-
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Now our MC introduces the big voice of Tom Jones-OK Silverseas version-
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And then a talented guitarist-
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The very talented pianist for this cruise Remon and then Silverseas version of the English invasion-
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Then a well deserved applause for all the entertainers-
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To wind up the irrepressible CD Alan King-
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They may not be the best impersonators around but the Filipinos are talented.They are not rehearsing all the time they are too busy with their duties.I appreciate their talents.
By the time of the midnight sail away the fog had virtually disappeared.Even at midnight the scenery was majestic-
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Last of the sail away-
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Monday was a sea day.The roughest seas and highest winds of the cruise.However the swell was only 1-2 metres and the swell and wind was from the stern so no great problem.At night dinner again with our new Scot's friends and yet another couple from Florida.
An early arrival into Copenhagen docking at 6am.At this time no tourists out and about-
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The bus for a certain group of Aussies-
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And the next morning the plane that has come to take us away-
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Just the trip home to come.
 
Hate sailaway parties though. I like to stand with a glass of something appropriate and watch as we gently set sail.

Yes especially when fancy dress is worn - groan. I think our sailaway is up in the air tomorrow.
 
After docking in Copenhagen we had to wait until 0930 to disembark.No problems as it allowed us to have a relaxed breakfast.Got a taxi to the Hilton-there was a bit of a wait.So arrived at the Hilton ~ 1100.The taxi to the airport did go a scenic way but cost us 100 DKK less than the one from the Hilton to the ship.We then had to wait until 1200 to get a room.Down 2 floors from our first stay and got standard internet when on the first stay got premium internet.Once again had dinner at the Hilton-the dinner buffet is quite good.

Wednesday we wake early.Down to breakfast when it starts at 0530.Then walk to T2 at CPH.You have to go through T3 used by SAS predominantly.The bag drop line is incredible.Winds round and round and then all the way to T2 and virtually the length of T2.So if you have an early SAS flight out of CPH and have bags to check give yourself a lot of time.
A short wait until AY checkin opens.Once checked in it is back to get all our EU VAT back.Fortunately we just beat the rush to security.Naturally I get a pat down.This time by a woman.Puts her hand down my pants but doesn't find anything :shock::lol::oops:.Then to the Duty Free where mrsdrron is able to dispose of most of our DKKs.

By now it is only about 30 minutes to boarding and we are at the furthest gate so no point going to a lounge.We arrive at the gate about 15 minutes before boarding is to start and no plane.It arrives at the advertised boarding time.However they manage a really quick turn around even with the large Chinese tour group.Seems that AY have a good Chinese business.

AY622. CPH-HEL. ETD-0855. Push back-0900. Take off-0912. Seats 2A,C. A321.
ETA-1125. Land-1117. At gate-1120.

Brekkie served as soon as seat belt sign goes off.Only 1 other pax in J.Offerred champagne but turned it down.As soon as brekkie was cleared I dozed off and awoke when we hit the runway.
The tunnel/bridge from CPH-Sweden-
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Breakfast-
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Making our way from the Schengen to the non-Schengen terminal at HEL we passed the Marimekko shop.They had that terrible 4 letter word plastered outside.This ended up making mrsdrron very happy.
Continued on to Immigration.Now Aussies can use the E-gates but only between 1300-1700.So we line up.A young woman who fitted the profile of a Scandinavian walked up to the front of 1 line with her Rastafarian partner.Didn'tthem any good as he was still being questioned by the Officer when I got to the desk beside him.As I arrived he was being told 18 months isn't nothing so please go over there and wait for the police.His passport is held.

No troubles for us and off to the AY lounge.We are pointed to the business lounge first.We have been here before and enjoyed it.It still has better viewing for plane spotters but very little food and wines not out.It has gone downhill.So we went to the premium lounge-not challenged by the women on the desk.It was much better.
A good selection of wines with Nicolas feulliette champagne,a German reisling,South African viognier,Californian pinot noir and a Crozes-hermitage.Enjoyed a couple of glasses of champagne,a glass of pinot noir and then stuck with the Crozes-we were there for nearly 5 hours.The food was also good-yakitori was nice and very popular so it eventually ran out.I also enjoyed the hot smoked salmon and the juniper marinated herrings.

Off to the gate at first call.Once again only a few minutes wait.A few wheelchair pax are boarded first.That was taken as a sign by those with the red passports to board.A bit of a shambles but they are firmly refused.

AY089. HEL-BKK. ETD-1720. Push back-1710. Take off-1724. Seats 3A,C. A343.
ETA-0715. Land-0639. At gate-0647.
Jacket taken as soon as I boarded.A glass of champagne in my hand 2 minutes later.Heavy rain when we take off so no great views and a little bumpy.
So pictures of the seats and then the menu and part of the wine list-
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So the rest of the wine list.I appreciated the pictures of each wine-
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Mrsdrron was happy with her SB.I started with the Rioga.If it was good enough for the king it was good enough for me.But I enjoyed the French wine more and stuck to that.I had the ice wine with dessert and enjoyed it.Then the port with cheese and it was good but not brilliant.
The rest of the flight next.
 
Soon after takeoff dinner was served.The salmon entrée was good as you would expect in Scandinavia.The main courses though weren't that good.Mrsdrron had the guinea fowl which was dry,I had the lamb.The piece of lamb was good but the rest of the dish spoilt it.fter the ice cream and the cheese we were expecting the choccies to be brought around as on the menu.They never appeared.So the pics-
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But worse was to come.Although mrsdrron could get a picture on the screen her controller didn't work nor the touch control for volume.The only spare seats were in the middle.Not helped by the attitude of the crew.
I also found the seat too narrow to really be comfortable so only poor sleep.Finally time for breakfast-
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Only ate a little as really not satisfying.
The best part of the flight was sunrise over Myanmar.And you know how I like sunsets and sunrise-
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Bangkok next.
 
Arrived at BKK early.As always now we get the hotel limo.Traffic was really heavy so a longer than normal trip to the SGS.Arrived there at 0830.Had to wait a full 30 minutes before being taken to our suite.Another successful upgrade.This was our 15th stay so as well as all the usual goodies we received a leather travel wallet.The staff as always are excellent.
One of the things we love is having happy hour in the Living Room.Free flow of wine,some jazz and we usually just snack for dinner either dishes from their Thai restaurant or the Italian restaurant.
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But what we really love the place as we are always welcomed back,never have to give our room number or say what we want to drink-it appears automatically
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Bangkok is drought affected at present.One night it looked like breaking-
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And the day time view.With my zoom I can see for miles and miles-
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We spent the time shopping-mrsdrron bought the material for our new drapes at the Jim Thompson outlet-and eating out for lunch.Mostly at Terminal 21 food court.Though with the dollar dropping our oyster omelettes have shot up to $1.67!
Basically it is our way of winding down from a long trip and the SGS has become our second home.Going back to the airport we even had our limo upgraded to the bigger Mercedes.

Next-a different way home via HKG.
 
Very disappointing to hear of the AY J experience. Has to happen sometime I suppose...

(Well, no, it doesn't, on reflection.)
 
Very disappointing to hear of the AY J experience. Has to happen sometime I suppose...

(Well, no, it doesn't, on reflection.)

Yes, not good. I am batting 100% good from my small sample of two long-haul flights in J with AY this year, but it does seem too many airlines serve up a very variable experience.
 
Sorry for the delay but the computer didn't want to cooperate tonight so I have had to find a completely new way to post photos.
On arrival at BKK we had first to organise our VAT refund.Then an easy checkin.Through security with the usual patdown.Then to the CX lounge which has had a refurb.First the casual eating area-

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Then the bar and seating area-
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Last the restaurant-

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Certianly a big improvement.
Next the flights.
 
CX712 BKK-HKG. ETD-1610. Push back-1608. Take off-1621. A330. Seats-14D,G.
ETA 1955. Land-1946 At Gate-1951

So rather than fly back via SYD we decided to come back via HKG so spending a night in an hotel rather than on a plane.The captain was a women and she was very good informing pax of the details of the flight.The crew though were not one of CX's best.The CSM walked up and down giving greetings one at a time retreating to the galley between each.Though she walked past Mrsdrron 3 times Mrsdrron didn't get a greeting.The fellow in front of me with a QF WP tag on his bag was greeted.I got my champagne a couple of minutes before pushback.
When we took off I witnessed a first-Miss 12K was sqatting though she did have her seat belt on.Very soon it was lunch.The wine and lunch menu-
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No pics of food as CX presentation really isn't great.I had the duck curry washed down with the French red.Both were good.Mrsdrron had the pork and thought it just average.I spent the rest of the flight watching Still Open All Hours.Enjoyed it.
At BKK we had our bags checked through to BNE and issued the BPs for the BNE flight so it was straight through to Immigration then to the Novotel Citygate shuttle.It was obviously virtually full as a sign at checkin with the room rate 6000HKD.We paid 1200.Internet was $A8 per hour so it was straight to sleep.
 
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