kevboy

Interesting that despite all this critisism aimed at inconsiderate lift users that nobody posts anything in their defence or gives an explanation for their behaviour .  C`mon you that are accused, say something.There are enough of you so some of you must be reading this. 

I have spoken about this issue of lift useage and behaviour previously. Unfortunately, it makes very little difference. Until people stop jumping into a lift irrespective of whether it is going up or down nothing will change. Some are unaware of the illuminated up or down direction of travel indicators. I have heard lift users joking that they are happy to ride the lift up and down until it eventually reaches the floor they want. From my experience, mamy of these lift abusers are able bodied and completely inconsiderate of those who actually need to use lifts. Often, the problem is further excacerbated by refusing to move back into the lift and congregating just inside the doorway thus preventing others from entering. I am now wondering how long it will be before the rule of 4 will be ignored by selfish people.

Just received email from P&O regarding their change in vaccination/ testing protocol prior to cruising September through December.

All adults 18+ must have total vaccines and children must have PCR test 72 hours before embarkation. All testing is complimentary.  I dont have a problem with this but I am concerned that PCR results might not be delivered on time and my whole family will be in a mess at the terminal with very upset grandchildren. 

Who will do the PCR test on children and what happens if results are not delivered on time?

FamilyCruiserUk asks about statistics. I recently read that although hospitalisations are coming down, 95% of patients in hospital have not been vaccinated.  I live in the Bolton area and today ( 18th May) the infection rate is 10 times higher than the national average. What is truly significant is that most of these infected persons are in the age range 30 - 50. What is staggering to find is that almost none had been vaccinated !!!!!!!!!!!!!!   THE EVIDENCE IS CLEAR.  HOW CAN PEOPLE CONTINUE TO BE IN DENIAL ? 

AS you sow, so you will reap.

I am so looking forward to my next cruise ( hopefully in October) but If my understanding is correct,whilst there is no need to prove you have been vaccinated  for these dates, returning to the UK from a Green list country still requires a pre entry covid test.  Providing a lateral flow test should be reasonably straightfoward and could be taken the on the last evening aboard and presented to custom officials at airports or  arrival ports. ( proving that the result is actually yours could be a problem ) However, what would happen if PCR tests are required 72 hours before arriving home. It would be a nightmare scenario - even if P&O did it on board it would take 3-4 days and the samples would need to go to a Laboratory for analysis in a different country.  I dont believe airports would be equiped to deal with hundreds of cruise passengers flying in from abroad and needing testing.  It seems to me that only lateral flow tests could provide a solution but will those in authority agree to that. Am I  overstating the size of the problem or  does anyone else have any different ideas. 

Many thanks for your help on this topic. I think Sandypow has hit the nail on the head. Presumably the equivalent of a full plane load would be need about - about 10 coaches. The coach station is the only feasable option to facilitate this. Stupid me thought I might be the only one doing this this journey!

Thank you for your comments. I have asked P&O but they are unable to tell me anything except I will be notified 30 days before. This will probably be too late to book overnight hotel stay. The coach company now being used by P&O is intercruises but they have ignored my request for information. I have even asked the coach station at the airport if P&O coaches use it but they didnt know either. I was just hoping that someone having done the transatlantic from Manchester could help.

Hi all, Can anyone tell me where I join the coach at Manchester airport for the drive to Southampton for the transatlantic crossing in October B124 ( Hopefully). For ambulatory reasons I am trying to establish my best overnight hotel stay versus Taxi drop off. Any advice appreciated, thank you

Help required please. Can anyone clarify just what the situation is regarding unvaccinated children on future cruises. I have FCC and want to take grandchildren on my next cruise. Is P&O saying that future cruises cannot be booked for children or are they saying bookings can be made but may have to be cancelled if the rules are not relaxed? Who`s rules are these? P&O or the Government?  Are P&O taking bookings for children or not?   I am of course referring to October onwards cruises.

The present rule insisting on total vaccination ie two jabs applies to the cruises around the UK but what about Cruises after that?

I have always been intrigued with regard to providing proof that you do indeed have the necessary travel insurance. As you know, the pre cruise reguests who you are insured with and who provides emergency cover. Do P&O then contact these insurance companies to check that you are telling the truth. I very much doubt it. For a start they dont have policy numbers or addresses / phone numbers of the companies. It would take P&O Staff and Insurance companies far too long to deal with each passenger. I have always suspected that P&O simply trust you even though it is allegedly a condition of sailing.  Many people go on holiday without travel insurance - particularly when we were in the EU. Even though it would be stupid, I suspect many cruisers have lied about being insured and got away with it.

Wether or not embarkation checks of your policy are carried out remains to be seen. I personally would prefer to see proof of vaccination because that affords everyone greater insurance. I suppose my comments will be opposed by some but at least we all get to air our views. keep safe everyone.

Thank you for your replies. Particularly grateful to Joeecco for being so chivalrous on my behalf. I am a pensioner in my eighties and have never taken out water activity cover before because I didnt need it. I was past swimming when I started cruising. I ask because I am taking my whole family on a cruise and my grandchildren might need to be covered.  And to Mercury 7289 you were being rude and most definately not stating the obvious. 

Hi can anyone tell me roughly how much insurance companies charge to cover for activities on holiday? Is it worth paying it or forsaking any water sports activities whilst on holiday.?  Am particularly interested in Caribbean water sport activity.  thank you

Please can anyone tell me what the procedure is regarding kids on board credit? My Daughter and her 10 year old daughter are sharing a double cabin. They have paid 2 adult fares and each has £180 to spend on board. Obviously, my Grandaughter cannot use her ships card to purchase alcohol  but it would be hard work for her to spend this amount on kids stuff. Does the cabin therefore have a total credit of £360 irrespective of which of them spends it? What if my Daughter exceeds her £180 , does she get the childs credit? Can the kids card be used to buy excursions?  Any help appreciated

thank you 

When flying to Malta and back, what is the procedure regarding luggage? Do P&O operate a similar scheme to the one on Barbados flights where your baggage is automatically  transferred to and from the ship?

I thought that the most interesting point raised in the programme was in regard to the crew. As we know, they live in very close contact with each other with presumably no social distancing concept at the time. Passengers were afforded some protection by being cabin confined  but the crew were not and were thus able to spread it throughout crew quarters and ultimately throughout the ship. Everybody is going to learn from this ( well, most sensible people will, Idiots will still be selfish and inconsiderate) Cruise ships are excellent at dealing with Noravirus outbreaks onboard but we have all seen those passengers that ignore the precautionary protocols. In the future, Cruise life may be a little different but necessary for our protection. We should all be more appreciative of the steps taken by the crew to protect us and if we all totally cooperate then we will remain safe.

Hi everyone, in anticipation of Brittania going to Caribbean in late October,  what is the weather like during the crossing? when does it start to warm up ? 

Perhaps a more interesting question is - Since Brittania is scheduled to cross to Caribbean from October onwards, what if it is December before she sails? How would P&O try and fill her up for the crossing or would she sail empty?  

Has anyone paid for seat selection prior to having their cruise cancelled and been refunded for it? I am informed that any FCC does not extend to the £35 per seat booking ( premium) that I had paid for before cruise was cancelled. Who owes me this refund? How do I get it refunded? My TA says I should contact P&O but at the moment that is impossible. I have also been told that it is a matter between me and TUI because P&O only contract to provide me with an economy seat. Surely, if my invoice came from P&O then it must be them that refund me.

Has anyone paid for seat selection prior to having their cruise cancelled and been refunded for it? I am informed that any FCC does not extend to the £35 per seat booking ( premium) that I had paid for before cruise was cancelled. Who owes me this refund? How do I get it refunded? My TA says I should contact P&O but at the moment that is impossible. I have also been told that it is a matter between me and TUI because P&O only contract to provide me with an economy seat. Surely, if my invoice came from P&O then it must be them that refund me.

Further to my post. My next October cruise is a family cruise where I have booked 3 select cabins. my booking is subject to FCC but my children are not. They have each received official notification from P&O and their cruise personalisers show cabins decks etc. I am wondering if  new ( non FCC ) cruises are being dealt with in preference to those of us that have accepted FCC and transferred dates .?

My problem is further compounded by having 2 future cruises, the first of which  was cancelled 1 week before sailing last March and was therefore paid up in full. I transferred to next March but I wont spend the 125% FCC which has to be further carried over to my October  booking. 

Hi All, just a general question. Can I go onto a beach for an hour and just lie on my towel without being charged. I wanted to do this at Harbour lights but the beach attendants insisted that I had to hire a lounger/ umbrella. Are beaches free to use or are some private access incurring a charge. many thanks 

I transferred my cancelled cruise from last  March to next March ( 2021) but have still had no confirmation from P&O. My TA have confirmed that there is nothing to worry about. Cruise personaliser is of no help either. It shows the cruise and cabin type and bed configuration but not the Cabin. It is a select fare booking. No point trying to contact P&O because they just refer me back to the TA. In May I also cancelled an October cruise and rebooked that for next year but still no confirmation from P&O. They really do need to get their act together. I know they will be suffering massive backlogs but why are they not working nights and weekends to catch up?.

Can anyone tell me if the soft drinks package can be bought on a daily basis or must it be for duration of the cruise? How does it work and where do you purchase it? Also, are the number of drinks unlimited or is there a maximum per day?

Most definitely you should use a  specialised cruise consultant. Mine even gives cheaper price than dealing with P&O  yourself. Ring them up and they will do everything over the phone for you including linking all cabin bookings together . I have booked multiple cabins several times and we have always been allocated the same dining table together as we requested.  The other benefit is that your cruise consultant will advise you on types of cabins, locations, deck position and pro`s and con`s in much more detail than P&O do. I have booked 4 cabins for this October without a hitch.

Thanks for reply. Have spoken to P&O already but they cannot help. They can book for me after the sale date. I assume that if the CP is still not working then everyone would be in the same situation so there could be very busy phone lines. I wondered what is happening presently? Surely those wanting to book seats now are in the same predicament. How are they booking their seats?

Getting very panicky now. I am a very bad flyer and need tranquillisers before flights. I will need to book my seats very soon for caribbean cruise. It is essential that my wife and I are able to sit together. Given that the cruise personaliser is not not working ( not even directing to old personaliser) I don`t know how booking seats is possible. Have booked PE seats but since there are only 47 of them I am anxious that they dont all go earlier by some means. Would either P&O or my Agent ( Bolsover) be able to select seats for me. Can anyone advise me please?