Hi all back from our holiday of a lifetime

[kpnuts]

Hi all back from the holiday of a lifetime.

We had a fortnight on the Marella Explorer a TUI ship, all inclusive (including tips) we upgraded to the full drinks package (well worth the money 50 quid pppw) also since it was a 9 hr flight we also went premium  on the flight (oh, my, god, (took 2 yrs to save for this holiday though) money well spent) we had complimentary champagne on boarding the flight (in fact it turned out all drinks were free, and boy they kept coming) we were quite tipsy when we got off the plane, i couldn't believe the leg room, also a pillow and blankets (posh voice on here) "it really is the only way to travel" (shame we probably won't be able to afford it again very soon) here are some pics of the ship.

We went to one of their specialty restaurants for a meal

Incredible food.

Here's a little tip for anyone going on a cruise with an inside cabin, get a little led  tea light (I got a packet of 12 from the pound shop a few years ago for modelling purposes) and use it for finding your way to the loo without turning the light on and waking the missus, once you turn the light off you can't see a hand in front of your face.

I can't speak for other cruises but this one had they had 3 specialty restaurants on this ship, Surf and Turf, Kora La and Diners Club you can book them separately but if you book all 3 you get a special discount and it only costs 75 quid per person for all 3 our first meal at the Surf and Turf cost 58 quid so you can see it's a considerable discount to book all 3. If you are going to do this you need to do it very quickly as they get fully booked up very quickly, i would suggest within the first 2 days.

The staff were incredible they made you feel like nothing was too much trouble. My missus didn't like the way round the bed was so we moved the pillows and laid across the bed (we tried moving the bed and the bedside cabinet but they were fixed) so we left a note asking for the bed to be made the other way round when we came back to our cabin the bed and cabinet had been moved and a note left that the electrician would be in in the morning to rewire the bedside lamp now I call that going the extra 2 miles.

 

Here's something else I recommend an excursion called the rhum runner (yes that is spelt right) we have never had such fun you go on a boat with a steel drum band an entertaining guide the rum punch flows freely (and boy does it flow) a really enjoyable time had by all.

Here's a couple of me and the missus.

We have loads of pics of the holiday so if anyone is interested I can post more.

 

[HSM]

Looks like lots of fun! I live directly in the middle of North America so not much cruise activity for me unless I first fly to a port. I am intrigued by this though, and maybe some day will try it out. If you wouldn't mind I would like to see your photos and stories...

[lmagna]

You can't be that much further from the cruise than KP is HSM. He had to take a nine hour flight just to get to the ship! You can almost fly half way around the world in nine hours!

[BETAQDAVE]

On 2/4/2019 at 11:20 AM, kpnuts said:

it was a 9 hr flight we also went premium 

    I know just what you mean about that.  Our flights to Maui were ten hours of flying time.  While going coach, the flights seemed to take forever!  No leg room, narrow uncomfortable seats, limited refreshments, and a waiting line to the johns.  Could never get comfortable enough to actually sleep, the best I could do was to doze off till I cramped up and needed to shift positions or get up and walk in the aisles.  Then we were lucky enough to be upgraded to first class one time and it seemed like the flight was over way too soon!

[kpnuts]

Hi HMS I went to Canada once (a million yrs ago ) that was an 11 hr flight (again lucky enough I was upgraded to first class (as it was called then) no where near as good as this time but we did have more leg room and the planes were much smaller then)

Here are a few more pics.

[lmagna]

Hi KP

At picture #7 you may have considered cutting back on the free drinks a little!  After all the last picture shows that you can do much better.

[kpnuts]

That was my missus idea (maybe to make her look like a better catch)

[lmagna]

11 hours ago, kpnuts said:

(maybe to make her look like a better catch)

Tell her that she has nothing to worry about. Some of us are lucky and were able to marry above our status level. If I was to take a picture like that it would have to be of my better half kissing a frog! Hoping that it would turn into a prince!  Not much hope for me anymore, (If there ever was) I will forever be pretty much a toad, and she will still be a princess. 

[kpnuts]

I keep telling her she's married an Adonis and how lucky she is, but she dosnt seem to believe me, i can't understand why. I mean one look at my one pack usually has women swooning not to mention my 6 inch biceps, some women don't know a good thing when they see it.