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Rulocal
Rulocal

Rulocal

A really nice guy who is working relentlessly for world peace (when sober) Read more🇬🇧Ashton-in-Makerfield
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  • Rulocal2016 Splendour Dubai B2B MarchRulocal

    The friendliest ship ever

    March 11, 2016 in Oman ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    Peter Dimitrov the hotel director came to say hello to the four of us at breakfast yesterday and invited Sheila and I to the afternoon galley tour and brunch.
    Being the highest cruisers Maz and Sue already had their invite, as did the other two pinnacles Steve and Barbara, but as Peter said Maz, Sue, Sheila and I are a group so the invitation was extended to us also.
    We had a great tour of the galley and a brilliant meal after.
    Also as Sheila and I are on the next cruise also, Peter said we'll be invited to an event next week too, he's not sure what his going to do but it will definitely be something off the ship.
    Last trip he took his guests to the Al Bustan, which is the best hotel in Muscat, for afternoon tea, the trip before he took them to the local fish market and they picked their fish and it was brought back to the ship and cooked especially for them.
    Apparently Peter likes to mix things up and do something different for the pinnacles and high point guests, just to show appreciation for their loyalty.
    We've never had anything close to this on other ships, and it's sad that this ship is being sold to Thomson cruises and this brilliant staff is being broken up and going to different ships.
    Because seriously every one of them have been brilliant, from our bar waiters, to Gisleni the concierge, to Andre and Elaine on guest services, to Gordon, bar services manager, to Peter and many
    more I've not named.    Read more

  • Rulocal2016 Splendour Dubai B2B MarchRulocal

    Muscat

    March 10, 2016 in Oman ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    Yesterday after breakfast, Maz and Sue's eldest daughter, Reima picked us up from the port to take us on a tour of Muscat.
    We had to slum it in a brand new 550CL Mercedes-Benz, but such is life LOL.
    We started with a Starbucks on the Corniche, which had a fabulous sea view.
    Then off we went for a tour of the city.
    One of the interesting things was to see the private residences of the royal family and the top government officials, only from the outside of course, lol.
    Then we had a ride to Reimas house where we met her four adorable children, who we'd seen many pictures of on Facebook but never in the flesh.
    Then we called in to see Hussam, Reimas husband, at his car detailing garage, car detailing for the uninitiated is sort of very expensive and expert car valeting.
    It includes special processes on the car body, to bring the paintwork back to, better than showroom quality.
    The average price is about £500, so you can imagine the type of cars his staff get to work on, when we went in there were a couple of Range Rovers, a huge Jeep thing, a couple of BMWs, an Audi, all top of the range, also one beautiful Ferrari, which I sat in for a photo, and then struggled to get out of. So I've decided not to buy one lol.    Read more

  • Rulocal2016 Splendour Dubai B2B MarchRulocal

    Khasab

    March 9, 2016 in Oman ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    We docked at Khasab today but none of us fancied getting off the ship, which was great for me as it gave me the chance of another sleep, to help get over the hangover before the Captains table tonight.....
    Anyway the meal was with the staff captain, Matthias Sebom, who is from Sweden and a really nice guy.
    There were only six guests and funnily enough all of us are from Wigan, there was Barbara and Steve, Maz and Sue, and Sheila and I, so it was easy having conversations with everyone, which made a nice change.
    The food was excellent and the wines top notch as usual, no Chateau de Sainsbury on the captains table, lol.    Read more

  • Rulocal2016 Splendour Dubai B2B MarchRulocal

    The morning after the night before

    March 8, 2016 in the United Arab Emirates ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    Bloody hell, why do I do it? Lol.
    Did my usual first night thing last night and got drunk.
    Not that I caused any problems, unless you call keeping Sheila awake with my snoring a problem, lol.
    But I do feel rough this morning. I've promised myself that I won't do it again, but that's probably a promise I'll not keep.Read more

  • Rulocal2016 Splendour Dubai B2B MarchRulocal

    Dubai

    March 7, 2016 in the United Arab Emirates ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    The flight out was quite good if a little cramped, as the plane was a 777 and not the usual A380. But it was Emirates and the food and service was excellent as usual. We arrived at the cruise terminal about 11am, and who should spot us all but the hotel director, Peter Dimitrov.
    He welcomed us back like long lost friends, which was lovely.
    It's amazing how many of the staff on board have recognised us and said hello, Maria the breakfast waitress even remembered all our names and even what we usually had for breakfast.
    Also the beautiful Gisleni the concierge came down especially to escort us on board.
    In fact we've all 4 of us been treated like royalty since we got on board, and to top it all off we've all been invited to the Captain's table.    Read more

  • Rulocal2015 Splendour Dubai DecRulocal

    Conclusions

    December 21, 2015 in the United Arab Emirates ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    One of our better trips, despite the fall out with the Germans. (remember the cabin upgrade)
    The ship although old and small by today's standards, was excellent, well kept and had very friendly staff, in particular, Gisleni, the suites concierge.
    But I think the main reason for the trip being one of the best, was the people who we travelled with.
    On the first part of the cruise we where with a lot of people who we knew from previous cruises, and we had a ball, every night.
    The company was large, noisy and nearly all Brits.
    The last part of the cruise we were on our own at first as everyone else in the company went home.
    But being alone didn't last very long, in the first night we made a number of new friends, and although the company was not as large or as noisy, we still had a ball.
    We were both sad to leave everyone at the end of the cruise, but on the plus side we've got a number of new cruise friends, that we will no doubt see on future cruises.    Read more

  • Rulocal2015 Splendour Dubai DecRulocal

    Done very well this time

    December 21, 2015 in the United Arab Emirates ⋅ 🌙 22 °C

    What started out as just another Suez / middle east trip has worked out very nicely.
    Firstly our cabin for the first part of the cruise was brilliant, it did not have a balcony, but it was massive and instead of just the normal square window, the whole wall at the end of the cabin was a floor to ceiling window wall.
    Then on the second part of the cruise, Gisleni the concierge upgrades us to a Grand Suite, as well as putting us on the list for Captains Table.
    To add to that Peter Dimitrov the hotel director invites us to Chef's Table, and also to the VIP galley tour and brunch.
    I would call all that a result.    Read more

  • Rulocal2015 Splendour Dubai DecRulocal

    Captains Table and me hung over! (again)

    December 19, 2015 in Oman ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    It all started the night before.
    We'd all had another great night in the concierge lounge, and about 9 o'clock there were five of us left just finishing off our drinks and chatting.
    Sheila and I, along with Colin and Julie, and the only pinnacle in the village Reinhold.
    Well Reinhold had a magnum of Moet & Chandon that he'd been given for being the highest cruiser.
    So he says let's get some ice and some glasses and we'll finish the night in style.
    We where about 3/4 finished with the champers when Colin disappears and 10 minutes later returns with another magnum of M&C.
    Well it seemed like a good idea at the time, so we finished this bottle as well.
    Cut a long story short, the next day I have the mother of all hangovers.
    After spending most of the day alternating between drinking water and sleeping.
    About lunch time, I'm planning a quick bite to eat and then a very early night.
    When under the cabin door is pushed an envelope containing an invitation to dinner with the Staff Captain that evening!
    Anyway we had a beautiful meal and great company, but captains table as usual is served the best wine on the ship, and I managed half a bloody glass.!
    Will I ever learn? Probably not. Lol    Read more

  • Rulocal2015 Splendour Dubai DecRulocal

    Very Cosmopolitan

    December 17, 2015 in Oman ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    This cruise as opposed to the last, our evening company only contains one couple that we've met before, that is Colin and Julie.
    The rest are a mix of Brits, that's Peter and Chris, from Wolverhampton, Terry and Jill from Ascot, and mother and daughter, Monica and Phoebe from Grimsby, who are a really fun couple and remind me of the Ab Fab characters Patsy and Saffi.
    Monica the mother is Patsy always up for a laugh and a good time, and Phoebe is Saffi, quiet and reserved and always trying to reign Monica in, and mostly failing miserably LOL.
    An American lady called Barbara, a Norwegian couple, Morten and Ida, and finally a German guy called Reinhold who happens to be the only pinnacle on board.
    So luckily enough it's another good lounge, not quite as noisy as last cruise, but still great fun.
    Oh yes this afternoon we did the VIP galley tour and brunch which was very interesting, one of the unusual things about it was that for each course you went into the galley and got it yourself.
    The starters and the desserts were laid out in the galley buffet style, but with the main course you went in to the galley ordered your main meal from the executive chef who then did a Gordon Ramsey thing and shouted your order to the sous chefs, who prepared your meal in front of you, which was quite cool.    Read more

  • Rulocal2015 Splendour Dubai DecRulocal

    And it gets better

    December 16, 2015 in Oman ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    While we where having our usual evening drinks in the lounge last night, Peter the hotel director comes in and comes directly to to Sheila and I and starts chatting, then does no more than ask us to lunch on the next sea day, and said to bring the friends we were chatting to also.
    He tells us to give Gisleni our cabin numbers so that the invitations can be sent.
    So after he left I'm giving Gisleni the cabin numbers when she tells me that Sheila and I are on the list for Captains table later on in the cruise!
    Things are definitely looking up.    Read more

  • Rulocal2015 Splendour Dubai DecRulocal

    Had the last laugh

    December 15, 2015 in Oman ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    I spoke to Gisleni the concierge, and told her how disappointed I was at not getting the upgrade, especially as the couple I mentioned to you in the last blog post did get an upgrade, not only did they get the upgrade but they went from an inside cabin on deck 3 to a junior suite on deck 8.
    That's a 4 step upgrade, when you are only supposed to get a one step upgrade.
    Anyway when I told Gisleni about being disappointed especially as I had offered to pay, and she tells me she had recommended that we get the upgrade as we were willing to pay, but she was overruled by the hotel director.
    She also tells me that she has the same opinion as me concerning this particular couple, as they had been rude to her, and even after getting the upgrade they where at guest services complaining about something else and being rude there also.
    The upshot is Gisleni says she will see what she can do and while I was there at her desk made a couple of phone calls and fired off three emails to different people, then tells me to come back later on in the morning.
    To cut a long story a bit shorter, she not only got me an upgrade to a Grand Suite, but got it for free!
    Needless to say Sheila is now a very happy bunny.    Read more

  • Rulocal2015 Splendour Venice to DubaiRulocal

    some people are just naturally stupid!!

    December 14, 2015 in the United Arab Emirates ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    I'll explain this as best I can, but you really needed to be there.
    Sheila and I went to the consecutive cruisers meeting, so we could find out the ship's procedure for ending this cruise and starting the next.
    Along with getting your new sea pass cards, and what to do if you are going ashore in Dubai to see the sights etc.
    It's explained to us that we would receive our new sea passes the night before the end of the cruise.
    So on the final day of this cruise, which after 8.30am becomes the first day of the next cruise.
    If you want to leave the ship BEFORE 8.30am you just go to the gangway and check off the ship with your old sea pass, and when you return you check back in with your new sea pass.
    But if you want to leave the ship anytime AFTER 8.30am you must go to the Schooner Bar AT 8.30AM and have your old sea pass cancelled and your new pass validated.
    Then you can leave the ship anytime you want.
    Now that might sound a bit complicated but believe me it isn't.
    The officer asks are there any questions?
    One guy who had to be American, pipes up, what if I want to leave the ship at say 8.27am or 8.44am?
    Well sir as one time is before 8.30am and one time after 8.30am, just follow the previously explained procedure.
    SOME PEOPLE!    Read more

  • Rulocal2015 Splendour Dubai DecRulocal

    Upgrade problem !

    December 14, 2015 in the United Arab Emirates ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    We asked Gisleni the concierge about an upgrade to a suite, and stressed that we didn't want it for free, we where willing to pay.
    That might sound silly, but with a free upgrade you don’t get the extra suite points.
    Anyway she tells us that there are two other couples who want the upgrade also, but that they wanted it for free, so we stood a chance.
    Well we didn't get the upgrade the other couples did.
    The galling thing is that one of them we know and also know that they never ever pay for upgrades, and moan and complain about everything on all their cruises.
    Also they are on a back to back cruise and got a free upgrade last cruise too.
    But que sera sera, such is life, what goes round comes round, I'll have the last laugh, and any other saying that you can think of.
    Watch this space, this isn't over! Lmao.    Read more

  • Rulocal2015 Splendour Dubai DecRulocal

    Splendour Dubai Dec 2015

    December 14, 2015 in the United Arab Emirates ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    Today we started the new cruise, and we've moved from an outside cabin with a window, to a balcony cabin.
    Now on the face of it, that sounds good.
    But the balcony cabin turns out to be the size of a shoebox, a shoebox with a balcony I grant you.
    But still a shoebox.
    We're going to see Gisleni the concierge to ask if there are any upgrades we can pay for.
    Watch this space!    Read more

  • Rulocal2015 Splendour Venice to DubaiRulocal

    Salalah, Oman

    December 12, 2015 in Oman ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    What can I say about Salalah?
    Not much it's crap, we actually did a ships tour to "The Souk" my god it was basically just a row of tatty shops, and we were supposed to spend 3 hours there.
    Not a chance Sue, Maz and myself jumped a taxi back to the ship after 30 minutes!!Read more

  • Rulocal2015 Splendour Venice to DubaiRulocal

    No news is good news I suppose?

    December 11, 2015, Gulf of Aden ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    Since we came out of the Suez Canal all the news channels have mysteriously disappeared from the TV.
    This could be due to the loss of the satellite signal, but, the more cynical amongst us, me included reckon that the ship has blocked them, due to all the bad terrorism news we've had recently.
    This part of the trip, from the end of the Red Sea, into the Gulf of Aden is where the possibility of pirate attacks is, so the ship has armed security, a night time blackout and an open deck lockdown, where passengers are not allowed on the open decks during the hours of darkness.
    This is the norm on Suez Canal trips, so those of us who have done it before are not overly worried.
    But there are a few passengers who are quite scared, and a bit worried.
    So I suppose seeing news about terrorists etc would not help.
    Ergo the lack of news channels.
    That's my theory anyway.    Read more

  • Rulocal2015 Splendour Venice to DubaiRulocal

    Meal with an officer

    December 10, 2015 in Egypt ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    Yesterday we had the usual invitation to have a meal with an officer.
    This usually means that you sit on a table for six or so people, and have a set menu meal with wine.
    This is just another of the little perks for being diamond plus.
    This time we were told that it was going to be a buffet style meal, same sort of no arrangement, but no set menu.
    To be honest I didn't really fancy going, what with it just being a buffet which I didn't think would be much good.
    But Sheila wanted to go so we did.
    How wrong was I, it was brilliant, in fact it was probably the best meal with an officer I've ever been to.
    The food was fantastic, the wine flowed, and the two young officers we had on our table where great company.
    It turned out that they were the casino manager and his assistant, and at the end of the meal they made a note of all of our cabin numbers and loaded $5 on each of our sea passes to play the casino slots.
    Now he cynics among us will say that they only did that to entice us to spend money in the casino.
    But I personally think that it was a nice thing to do, and at the same time great PR for the company.
    Btw only our table got that, no one else did.    Read more

  • Rulocal2015 Splendour Venice to DubaiRulocal

    Suez canal

    December 9, 2015 in Egypt ⋅ 🌙 16 °C

    After hearing about the terrible machete attack at the Leytonstone tube station, where a guy apparently attacked three innocent people with a machete because of the Syrian bombings.
    We now have heard about the governor of Aden being blown up by so called Islamic terrorists.
    If this was being done in the name of the Islamic religion, why are they killing other Muslims?
    IMHO, It's got nothing at all to do with religion, they are just political nut cases.
    The big problem is that as the attacks increase, people will believe more and more the anti- Muslim propaganda, driving a wedge deeper and deeper between our respective communities.
    Omg, that's a rather deep subject for a cruise blog!
    So I'll stop.    Read more

  • Rulocal2015 Splendour Venice to DubaiRulocal

    Ashdod another industrial port !

    December 7, 2015 in Israel ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    Why do these cruise lines insist on docking at industrial ports?
    It's a rhetorical question really because I already know the answer.
    It's cost, I understand that it costs less to dock in industrial ports ; that's fair enough, I get the fact that the company needs to save money.
    But when you are in an industrial port, you are not allowed to walk around the port or even walk to the port gate.
    Fine I get that too, it's all to do with safety, but why do the cruise company insist on charging $12 or $15 for the shuttle?
    It was their choice to dock there, but if we want to visit the town we do not have the option of making our own way.
    Take Ashdodl as an example, the cruise compass leaflet tells you how nice the town is, but if you want to get out of the port to visit it, it will cost you $15, if you had the option of either walking or getting the shuttle that's fine, but you don't have the option.
    The cruise line as usual has you by the balls.
    Rant over! Lol    Read more

  • Rulocal2015 Splendour Venice to DubaiRulocal

    What a lovely surprise

    December 5, 2015 in Israel ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

    We got an unexpected invitation from Peter Dimitrov the hotel director, to go to the Chef's Table, which normally costs $80.
    It was a brilliant night with superb food and various wines to match each dish.
    The other evenings this week have been good to, with our company growing in size as the cruise has gone on.    Read more

  • Rulocal2015 Splendour Venice to DubaiRulocal

    Haifa, Baha'i temple

    December 3, 2015 in Israel ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    One really good thing to see in Haifa, is the Baha'i temple.
    It's a bit of a hike up on the hillside on the edge of town,but it is a really beautiful place, with fantastic views over the town.
    I'm not at all religious, but the feeling of relaxed calm in the place was wonderful.Read more

  • Rulocal2015 Splendour Venice to DubaiRulocal

    Haifa, Israel Rccl warning !!

    December 3, 2015 in Israel ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    Well it's Haifa, Israel today, and we all received a letter in our cabins warning us of the dangers of travelling around Israel.
    Recommending that we don't travel down this road and that road, for fear of attacks.
    Funny thing is that all their tours from the ship are all going ahead.
    Maybe RCI have special dispensation from the terrorists?
    But my typically cynical view is that they are trying to scare passengers in to not doing private tours and booking the ship's tours.
    It was the same a couple of years ago when we visited Haifa, and had the same kind of warning from the cruise line.
    But Sheila and I along with Ken and Denise, jumped on the local bus service to Bethlehem, I think the cost was about £2 return as opposed to the ship's price of about $150.
    So go figure!    Read more

  • Rulocal2015 Splendour Venice to DubaiRulocal

    The Splendour is splendid

    December 1, 2015 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 6 °C

    This is day three or four, I'm not quite sure.
    But one thing I do know is that this is a great ship.
    She is a bit tired, after all she's twenty years old and being sold off to Thomsons next April.
    But she's still a beautiful ship, with very tasteful and classy decor.
    All the staff seem happy (which is quite unusual) and therefore very friendly and helpful.
    Another plus point on this cruise is as well as our usual travelling companions, Maz and Sue, we know about twelve or fifteen others in the concierge lounge, so every evening we have a great big group all sitting together.
    Apparently the Americans have nicknamed us the British wagon train circle, because that's how we end up as friends of friends join the company.
    I'm not sure if this is a nice or nasty nickname?
    But hey how, we're doing no harm to anyone and we're all enjoying ourselves.
    Besides anyone is more than welcome to join us, in fact the more the merrier.    Read more

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