terrierjohn

NW is still a mutual and owned by its members, but it will certainly be a big one after it absorbs Virgin, and if we are to believe its management, it intends to remain a mutual and not follow Halifax's fateful transformation to a bank.

That's a rather unnecessary post, my reading of MBs post was that newer cruises will possibly be unaware of the way that cruise lines place these holds, and the difference this can have when using a debit card or a credit card, and since the newer cruisers are likely to be younger families then they are more likely to need to budget carefully with holiday spending money.

Avril, why not ring the NW travel line and get a quote now which if opened before the end of April will be under the current UK Inurance underwriters, I doubt their quote will be higher than the Aviva underwritten one which will start with accounts opened from 1st May. You will then benefit from

I think we have always known that insurance underwriting is a dark art, but since having the correct cover and declaring everything is essential, it is something we have to put up with. However shopping around to find an acceptable product can be very time consuming, and as the underwriting pool becomes smaller insurance is going to become ever more expensive.

Well that was the excuse the officer made for them not adopting the Princess, and other lines, system of issuing new disembarcation labels with a disembarcation time, and the baggage arranged in the timed slots. Which even if they don't allow passengers into the baggage hall until all the baggage is in the hall, always seemed a faster and slicker system than P&O arranging the baggage by floor.

We were on the same cruise and, weather apart, we were happy with the food, service and the entertainment, the bits we saw, and enjoyed some really interesting dinner companions.

According to the senior officer in charge of Iona's disembarcation on Easter Saturday, the port require that all luggage is offloaded and in the baggage hall before they allow passenger to enter the baggage hall; and this applies to all cruise lines.

I dont think any of us know what the medical cover the new underwriter will be offering, I am fairly certain that UK Insurance offer a much better deal to NW customers than they do on most of the companies within their own group. So I am hoping Aviva will follow suit.

I do note that the questionnaires we are urged to do on line do not have any parts where the quality taste or choice of the food provided on the ship is highlighted. Which IMO seems to indicate that P&O don't want to have discussions about this topic whether its veggie, vegan or bog standard omnivorian.

We always ask our steward if its OK to leave our hand luggage and coats in the wardrobe while we go for breakfast and never had a refusal. It makes it far easier in the buffet and the lifts, especially as I am pushing a wheelchair

7 deg C and dry but only a gentle breeze at present.

You could try Princess, they do 7 or even 8 ports on their Baltic cruises.

I believe that even Princess have now succumbed to water slides, and their new Sun Princess has them. I imagine that any new monster P&O order will likely have water slides and a much fancier water park for the kids.

And of course any major mechanical improvements.

Have the Roman's finished the Coliseum yet, not much.point going if it's still unfinished!

I thought all room service now had a delivery charge?

I wonder how may cancers are found incidentally, my wifes breat cancer was found following a CT scan checking for a possible stomach ulcer, which happened to be negative.

Agreed but I doubt the wine only sold by the bottle is worth the extra hassle of carrying back and forth to your cabin for every dinner.

What is wrong with buying wine by the glass, it's no more expensive , especially if you buy the large 250 mile glass,

Knowing that cabins are built off site as complete modules, and then rolled into place, I am left wondering how they manage to keep those poles in the middle of the cabin. The poles are presumably what supports each deck, so can they remove a section so that the accessible module can be rolled into place, and then reconnect them afterwards?

Since it appears that vegan/veggie offerings are here to stay on P&O, maybe we could ask passengers regularly eating these to start a stickie advising us carnivores which dishes they think we would enjoy. I have tried only one, which to be fair was reasonably enjoyable, but reading the ingredients for many dishes is rather off putting, so I am probably missing some tasty gems.

I guess the hexagon shape will save quite a bit in storage space as well.

Maybe it was 5 for £100?

Bear in mind that P&O are part of Carnival, and Princess, Holland America and Carnival itself, as well as Costa and AIDA, all do Med fly cruises, so adding extra P&O med fly cruises would simply increase competition and put pressure on prices.

There are many people who do cruise for the itinerary, or at least they express that view. Like you we cruise because it is the best way to take a sunshine holiday when you dont fly, and I agree the 2 new ships do have much more facilities to entertain us.