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[Rangie]

Like I said, some people won't be seeing 2024, especially if your family tend to disagree on Christmas Day 

Florida shooting: Mum fatally shot over Christmas present row https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-67825635

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Moral of that story is to always ensure your firearms are safely locked away at Christmas family gatherings just in case the socks aren't to your liking..👍

[YZ250]

Stop moaning you lot, there are some people who won't make it as far as 2024

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Got lots planned for 2024 starting with a Carribbean cruise in March so got to make it as its all paid for now. 😁

We got back from the Canary Islands two weeks before Christmas. It seemed weird being on a beach with temperatures of 29 degrees when it was so cold in the UK. We were caught in a Force 12 hurricane on the last two days of sailing, which was ………. interesting.

[YZ250]

Stop moaning you lot, there are some people who won't make it as far as 2024

A couple of our Christmas gifts from family are theatre tickets for shows in 2025.  I’m thinking that given my age and health issues the bookings could be a tad optimistic. 
Positive head on, I’ll still be here and moaning about the shows.

[countrywoman]

Found out why they call it Bubble and Squeak (parp)

[Rangie]

Stop moaning you lot, there are some people who won't make it as far as 2024

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Got lots planned for 2024 starting with a Carribbean cruise in March so got to make it as its all paid for now. 😁

We got back from the Canary Islands two weeks before Christmas. It seemed weird being on a beach with temperatures of 29 degrees when it was so cold in the UK. We were caught in a Force 12 hurricane on the last two days of sailing, which was ………. interesting.

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We booked the Carribbean while we were on the Canaries cruise in February this year, got to have something to look forward to,then taking all the family to Crete in May something we said we must do before we get too old to enjoy it..🌞🌞🌞

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Some ol' crap about 12th night, blah blah...

If the 12th night superstition is anything to go by, I’ll agree with you on this occasion. I’ve had enough shit luck the last couple of years so I’m happy for you not to tempt fate ….. leave them be. 

Yeah, I'll be equally glad to put 2023 behind me.  What a shitty year, although I'm thankful I've not even been near a hospital this year.  Probably just as well, as you've hogged the beds 

This time last year we hoped that 2023 would be better. But it started badly, and got worse.


Maybe 2024 will manage it, but the signs aren't good

We have Trump/Biden 2.....the battle of the geriatrics.

We will also have a new PM in this country.

Bit of a clusterf*uck really.

[Nick W]

I was thinking a lot closer to home than the US....

[ronnyd]

Stop moaning you lot, there are some people who won't make it as far as 2024

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Got lots planned for 2024 starting with a Carribbean cruise in March so got to make it as its all paid for now. 😁

We got back from the Canary Islands two weeks before Christmas. It seemed weird being on a beach with temperatures of 29 degrees when it was so cold in the UK. We were caught in a Force 12 hurricane on the last two days of sailing, which was ………. interesting.

.

We booked the Carribbean while we were on the Canaries cruise in February this year, got to have something to look forward to,then taking all the family to Crete in May something we said we must do before we get too old to enjoy it..🌞🌞🌞

I was talking to my grandson and his girlfriend yesterday and they both agreed that it was very odd having a chrismas when it's close on 40 deg C. They also said that some Aussies have another christmas in June, when it's a bit cooler.

[Doctor Gollum]

The Canaries are hard to beat for a blast of sunshine, but I would suggest that a boat in the North Atlantic in the Winter is a bad idea... It's bumpy enough flying across it

Note to self to avoid Barbs and Nassau in March

[Viral_Jim]

Got lots planned for 2024 starting with a Carribbean cruise in March so got to make it as its all paid for now. 😁

Very nice! Mind if I ask where to and who with? We'd always gone RCCL but with most wanting to charge kids full fare, even for our under 1y.o.  we've been with MSC the last couple of times and been fairly impressed. 

[Rangie]

I won't say who with because the slagging off will start by certain members who  assume they know better. We will be visiting, Barbados Curacao Bonaire St.Vincent Grenada St.Lucia St.Kitts Antigua St.Maarten. I always didn't fancy cruising but we were asked to go by some friends who go most years & it was absolutely brilliant we couldn't fault anything, they have used many different companies but now wouldn't use any other than the one recommended to us. Please feel free to message me for any more information if required.
Mick.

[TheBoy]

I always didn't fancy cruising but we were asked to go by some friends who go most years

I'm in the same boat.(pardon the pun), never fancied the idea of a cruise, but our holiday buddies are keen we join them on one at some point. They assure me that I will love it.

My mentality is that it's like a large hotel, and you get dumped in various ports for day trips?  I really don't like hotels much, particularly all-inclusive hotels, and all ports are universally grim and usually in the cities.

Help try to convince me I should go with them , or do you think it simply isn't for everyone.  Generally when we go away, we like to get a car (or just drive our own if its viable, like France etc), and go our exploring and seeing the sites.  I'm not really one of those that gets a train to a destination and stay there the whole week, I find that boredom central.


(I've done a river cruise up the Nile, and a shitty Fred Olsen one over to Norway and Denmark - enjoyed the Nile one, despite a lot of illness, hated the Fred Olsen one)

[Rangie]

The only way to find out is to go , just try a 7 day one would be my advice you  will soon discover if you like it or not,as for trips entirely up to the individual, personally I don't like travelling around on mini buses/coaches there's plenty of experience on board the ship to offer advice & there's plenty of things on offer if you  just want to stay on board . Our first one this year was only £1200 for both of us including flights, terrific value for money.

[TheBoy]

The only way to find out is to go , just try a 7 day one would be my advice you  will soon discover if you like it or not,as for trips entirely up to the individual, personally I don't like travelling around on mini buses/coaches there's plenty of experience on board the ship to offer advice & there's plenty of things on offer if you  just want to stay on board . Our first one this year was only £1200 for both of us including flights, terrific value for money.

I'm the same with coaches and mini buses - OK if it's just for 20 minutes or so, but tiresome if it's 2hrs each way.  And as I said, ports a grim places*, so generally nothing to look around within walking distance.

I think you're right, I am going to have to just bite the bullet and try, though I am anxious that I'll be bored shitless within a day - a weekend in a hotel without going out visiting drives me insane.

Aside from casinos, arcades, pool, cinemas and "entertainment" what else can I expect to find onboard?


*possibly not some of the historic ports/cities, where the port is in the middle of an historic city.

[YZ250]

The only way to find out is to go , just try a 7 day one would be my advice you  will soon discover if you like it or not,as for trips entirely up to the individual, personally I don't like travelling around on mini buses/coaches there's plenty of experience on board the ship to offer advice & there's plenty of things on offer if you  just want to stay on board . Our first one this year was only £1200 for both of us including flights, terrific value for money.

I'm the same with coaches and mini buses - OK if it's just for 20 minutes or so, but tiresome if it's 2hrs each way.  And as I said, ports a grim places*, so generally nothing to look around within walking distance.
…………

Most cruise lines organise Shuttle Buses to the towns so you just walk off the ship, get on a bus and fifteen/twenty minutes later you get off at the drop off points. Some Ports you can walk to the town but for sightseeing such as ruins/volcanos etc you’re probably better off on an organised excursion from the ship. If you are on a ship organised excursion you know that the ship will not leave port without you if the tour coach is late returning, as it’s their tour so their responsibility.  Also, some people like to stay on board at Ports as there will be less people onboard around the pools etc.
What to do onboard is down to the individual preference, I mean, what do people normally do?. We started on RCCL (Royal Caribbean Cruise Line) and they have theatres, ice skating shows, pools, flo-rider surfing, rock climbing, jacuzzi’s, games rooms, gymnasiums, casinos and various clubs to entertain. P & O have most of that, apart from the ice skating, but is less glitzy.  We started cruising years ago and I honestly thought my Mrs would hate it (it was her choice not mine), as she doesn’t even like sitting on a beach for more than half an hour, but she loves it.
We always, always, always book a balcony room and if we couldn’t get one we wouldn’t book. As you say, it’s not for everyone, but I certainly wouldn’t class it as a floating hotel.
The Embarkation and Disembarkation (sail only) is so much easier when compared to flying as once you are on board your holiday has started.