Change of itinerary

[Mervyn and Trish]

This morning we got the dreaded "notice re change of itinerary" email for our Queen Victoria British Isles cruise later this month.

I opened it with trepidation dreading which port we might have lost

Imagine my delight when it was to announce they'd actually added an extra port to replace a sea day! I'll take that.

[Stephen]

Result

[david63]

But is it somewhere that you want to go?

[towny44]

But is it somewhere that you want to go?

As long as the ports have level promenades with sunshine and sidewalk cafes, that is sufficient for us. If at nearly 80, you haven't seen enough Cathedrals, Castles and wonders of the world, then you ain't lived.

[Ray B]

Well come on Merv, we are all waiting for you to reveal the additional port.

[oldbluefox]

Wigan Pier?

[Stephen]

Hull fish market

[Chalgrave4]

Aberdeen, as its now open ?

[oldbluefox]

Aberdeen, as its now open ?

I saw Aida was paying a visit this week.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Well come on Merv, we are all waiting for you to reveal the additional port.

Dun Laoghaire, which I understand is quite pleasant for a wander round. Beats an extra
24 hours at sea doing a trip the ferry does in under 8 hours!

I can't help wondering if with fuel prices rising it's now cheaper to pay a day's port fees than burn oil cruising in circles.

[Stephen]

A nice pint of the black stuff should be in order

https://www.visitdublin.com/guides/thin ... -laoghaire

[david63]

Dun Laoghaire

Never heard of it - are you sure it exists?

Bet there won't be a lot of other cruise ships in that month week day

[Mervyn and Trish]

Shame on you! Only been there 450 years!

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/D%C3%BAn_Laoghaire

[Gill W]

My friends are on that cruise

[Manoverboard]

DL is a nice enough place and only a short train ride to Bray or Greystones else do a tour of the Wicklow Mountains.

[Mervyn and Trish]

DL is a nice enough place and only a short train ride to Bray or Greystones else do a tour of the Wicklow Mountains.

We'll be happy enough to have a little wander and return to the sumptuous Princess Grills surroundings. Can't spend all that loot and miss the super sunbeds and lunch sight-seeing!

My friends are on that cruise

It started off as a Transatlantic QM2 in 2020, cancelled due to Covid. Rebooked as Transatlantic QM2 in 2021, cancelled due to Covid. Rebooked as Round Britain on QV in 2022, upgrading to Princess Grills as we'd saved a fortune on cancelled cruises by then, cancelled due to ship being late returning from hospital/quarantine duties in the Caribbean. Rebooked to near identical cruise at almost the same date, and exactly the same cabin and price, with a few quid compo banked as Future Cruise Credit, in 2023. Hoping we might actually get there this time!

[Ray B]

On a fishing holiday 50 years ago to Loch Lomond then Ireland, we returned home via Dun Laoghaire ferry to Liverpool. All I can remember of Dun Laoghaire is the ferry port car park, I'm sure it may be a nice place to visit. Enjoy the stop off Merv.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Love a nice car park

[oldbluefox]

They say it is modelled on the old St Petersburg port....just saying

[Stephen]

He’d better take his tin hat then in case of drone attacks

[Mervyn and Trish]

I'll have my sun hat

[poole boy]

Mervyn and Trish hope you have a lovely time on queen victoria we first booked this cruise 2 years ago so its been a long wait we are with the peasants on A deck but in the middle of the ship the wife had our cabin before and liked it so you never know we might bump into you both onboard the ship

[Mervyn and Trish]

We're happy to mix with steerage. You'll be able to spot me. I'm the good looking one with a combination lock on my wallet.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Reading through the FAQs yesterday I spotted what I suspect is an ulterior motive for the extra port, Dun Laoghaire. Apparently if a cruise only includes UK ports they're not legally allowed to open the Casino. If, however, they call at a non UK port they can. And rake in a lot of cash.

Looks like the same dodge where they used to call at a non EU port on European cruises so they could flog duty free.

[Stephen]

Mervyn and Trish hope you have a lovely time on queen victoria we first booked this cruise 2 years ago so its been a long wait we are with the peasants on A deck but in the middle of the ship the wife had our cabin before and liked it so you never know we might bump into you both onboard the ship

Make sure you have a fast exposure on your camera in case Merv shows his boarding card in the bar. I need to see the evidence and a good laugh