swan

I have heard useing a tug costs £1000 a go ,so I think unless it is absolutely necessary for them to be used shipping companies wouldn,t use them in this time of difficult tradeing conditions.

neil

As they used tugs for berthing at three ports in the last week, if the side thrusters are not working correctly it is cheaper to have assistance from a tug.

I do not expect they want to bang against the quays and put any more dents in her hull which could lead to leaks and a big repair bill !

tinkerbell

Hi

Engine problems seem fine now.

As to using tugs I think in some of the ports it has been practically compulsory!

Still in Sochi today, sunny day yesterday but today is cloudy and a bit of rain earlier on.

Speeds have been slow through some areas deliberately, we had a memorial service near the Gallipoli memorials so made slow time through the Dardanelles so we could see the coastline.

Ship is tired though our water is still brown when the taps are first turned on for example.

This week we have a cruise director which does make a difference. Much more info about what is going on, and because so many people have stayed on board today extra activities have been arranged.

neil

Hi tinkerbell

Pleased to hear things are running ok.

Regarding the hire of tugs, it is often done after a discussion between the ships captain and the pilot unless the captain is licensed to enter the port without a pilot.

I doubt if the company or the ships captain would hire tugs if it could be avoided !

bandos

I've been told from a passenger who goes on board regually with the Maritime Memories group that go on Discovery a lot, that the 4th engine had trials in Venice and has been used since then, the slow speeds lately have been down to the distances between ports.

neil

I am of the opinion that she is running Ok at present.

I do wonder though if fitting a new part into an old engine could give problems !

Abteilung

Hi There and greetings from Yalta. I haven't been on shore yet, had a bit too much to drink last night and took a while to get up!!

I must say that I'm having a great time and would hope that any readers of this long thread aren't put off travelling on mv Discovery. The mainly Fillipino crew are excellent, food is abundant and pretty good and the weather has been very good.

The only slight gripe is that I'm probably about the youngest passenger on board and I'm 44, it hasn't impacted too much on the trip, we were pretty much forced to do the excursions in Sochi due to visa restrictions and so the 'crumblies' do hold you up a bit.

Anyway must go.

Abteilung

tinkerbell

Hi

We have actually talked to an engineer today the engine is fine and no probs with the thrusters.

VoD have a very strong fan base on here who HATE the big ships which does make me stick up for them just to be contrary. But if you want a small ship that is elderly this is the one for you.

The Filipino staff are wonderful, middle management less so but it all works and if this style suits you you will enjoy it.

Not sure that Abteilung isn't lying about their age we've seen no one that young!! :-) Only joking there are a few!

Hoagy

How to win friends on a cruisers board.

Ally

It's great to see that the engine is finally fixed at last....shouldn't have taken them 7 months and media involvement, but there ya go..it did and there's nowt anyone can do about it now

Hopefully VoD have learnt an expensive lesson in all this....especially that keeping important information, such as serious mechanical issues, from guests that will impact their holiday is a very very big mistake

All that can be hoped now that the ship remains fully serviceable for the duration of it's current and next seasons and there is no repeat of the mismanagement seen thusfar from David Yellow. An apology from him on the website would be nice, but I guess that would be asking for too much at this stage really

__________________
Ally - CruisingTalk Administrator

1965 - Cunard Queen Mary
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10/10/2009 - Costa Classica - Grand Oriental Cruise - Shanghai, Nagasaki, Tokyo, Kobe, Naha, Keelung and Hong Kong - 16 Nights Cruising in: 311 day(s), 20 hour(s), 48 minute(s)