Victoria '82

Why worry about something that's not due to happen for another 2 years. You'll worry yourself into an early grave. lol

 

Brian

Thanks for your terrific advice and deep thought!!! By the way, just to get the maths right, 2017 is just over a year away. lol

Vicky

Gosh, all this business in Sharm el-Sheikh makes me wonder what might happen to the 2017 World Cruise itineraries and will P&O change them to avoid the area. Aurora is actually scheduled to make a call at Sharm el-Sheikh and Arcadia, which we are booked will be transiting the Suez Canal. Fortunately neither of the ships are heading that way for the 2016 Worldies.

I guess we sort of feel safe on the ships, certainly more so than flying BUT it is nonetheless a heck of a target with a whole lot of Brits or indeed Americans all in one place. Sorry don't mean to frighten anyone.

A day or two following the 9/11 tragedy, we were on the old Arcadia moored in Gibraltar, those of you have been there will know the airport runway is adjacent to the port. Well we, along with a lot of other passengers were lounging on deck when an aircraft literally flew over the deck to land at the airport. You have never seen so many folk jump out of their loungers as the aircraft descended in its approach towards us, it was really frightening.

I for one hope P&O change the route via South Africa. Any other views.

Vicky

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114 P&O cruises, 10 in the pipeline

Frankly a lot depends on your butler. I have had to play tug and war with mine once as he wanted to take our towels up and find a sunbed for us, i thought that was a bit much, can you imagine trawling around the sun deck with butler leading the way! Another time we decided to get a tray in the grab and go, butler said I will come with you and hold the tray, can you imagine the other passengers faces in the queue! On another occasion on arrival in Barbados where you have to queue to go through immigration, Butler said he would queue and when I arrived at the designated time he was waiting at the head of the queue and I just took his place.

I could go on, but as I said it really does depend on the butler.

Vicky

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114 P&O cruises, 10 in pipeline

...... No real steamers or loungers anymore.

Can't think of anything else. Enjoy your trip

Val

I actually depends on which P&O ship and, location you have a suite Val. All P&O ships with stern balconies have loungers and, Azura and Ventura also have them midships. Not sure about Arcadia midships as have only been on the stern.

Take your point about being hooked on suites, once you go down that direction it is difficult to downsize to a cabin.

Oh! a good tip, as far as knowing when the butler is going to drop in on you, especially if one is in a state of undress, is him to ring beforehand. This works especially on Arcadia, because when the enter the suite the first thing they see in front of them is the bathroom and if the door is open!!!!!

Vicky

I think Joan has covered most points of what to expect from your butler. Like Joan we only have suites as they have so much more space and the Stern suites, particularly on Ventura, Azura, Arcadia and Oceana have much bigger balconies on which to relax. Choose wisely though as some balconies are smaller than others and on V&Az there are obstructions on some.

Priority disembarkation is still available to suite passengers.

On the whole we have had some terrifically obliging butlers and the more they get to know you, the better the experience.

Although the butlers gratuity is included in the 'Tips' we always give ours a nice 'bung' at the end of the cruise, as we do the bedroom steward.

If a suite is in your budget I would certainly recommend it, it is your own sanctuary to relax in and often a private place to sunbathe if you wish and of course if the sun is right direction, perfect when going north.

Have a terrific time Carleen and James.

Vicky

Our son, 8 years, spent nearly 6 months flat on his back in hospital over last autumn/Christmas with some pretty serious spinal surgery and subsequent complications. He's recovered reasonably well now and we're embarking Aurora on 5th Dec for a couple of weeks.

 

Although I am more than willing to accept that nothing will come of it, I would at least like to make the effort to get a message to the captain (or at least someone senior on board) to see if there is anything they can do for him - e.g. a visit to the bridge or something.

 

He's also a reasonably seasoned P&O passenger for an 8 year old, with 49 nights under his belt :rolleyes:

 

I know it is possible to write to the ship via P&O's office at Southampton - is that the best way? Or is there an email address?

So sorry to hear this, try aucap@pocruises.com it used to work some years ago. Good luck.

Vicky

Thanks folks for all your advice. What bugs me is that I don't know what I am supposed to have done wrong. The Parking Charge Notice says I have not bought the appropriate time or I have stayed longer than permitted. Thing is, I paid what the machine asked for - £3, which I guess is not a lot but that is what was billed using my registration details! My appeal was turned down without any reference to the actual 'crime', so am in the dark so to speak.

Well I have taken it to the next stage which is appealing to POPLA but in so doing have lost the right to pay a reduced 'fine' of £60 so if POPLA go against me I either pay £100, ignore further demands and or go to court to defend my position.

It is all very complex and really, its not the money, its the not knowing what I am supposed to have done wrong.

Vicky

Thanks Scriv, I had seen this but they had left without paying which is different to us, we did!

Vicky

Recently visited the Britannia in the Ocean Dock, Southampton. Parked in the short stay car park adjacent to the terminal. Returned to the car a little over 4 hours later with the P&O guide, went to the pay machine and plumbed in car registration number which calculated the cost (camera entrance and exit) paid the charge which I thought was extremely reasonable at £3 and left the car park within 4 minutes of paying. A week or so later I received a penalty notice from Parking Eye for £100 saying that I had not paid sufficient for my car park stay! The letter showed a pic of my car arriving along with the time of entry and a pic with the time of exit. No more information other than pay within 28 days and the charge will only be £60! Fortunately I retained the car park receipt but on appeal Parking Eye has rejected my summary of the event and have continued to push for the £100.

Has anyone else encountered this? I appreciate £3 was a very small charge but that is what the pay machine generated. Could I have overstayed the time limit which was certainly not drawn to my attention! That said I did not read the detail on the signage in detail as I just assumed it was a 'car park' used for ships visits and would need to pay for the time stayed.

Interested in your thoughts and experiences.

Vicky

Out of curiosity, what about after Christmas?

 

Will Britannia still be decorated when we board B601 on New Year's Day?

 

 

MARK

Yes, the decorations will be up for several days into the New Year, after which they will be taken down and stored for disembarkation at the end of the cruise.

Vicky

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113 P&O cruises - 10 in the pipeline

Wow lucky you. We have a stern balcony on B deck.

 

I have started a roll call for this. Hope we get lots of pax joining as the cruise gets closer to swap ideas for trips etc.

 

Sue

A deck port side - does that mean we'll look down on you - smiles. Soooo looking forward to it but don't lets rush it on, lots to do in the meantime. Ventura this Sunday.

Vicky

Yes, Full World on the Arcadia - stern suite - Yes!!

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112 P&O cruises - 11 in the pipeline

So let me get this straight - I can get a bluelight card as a veteran of the Royal Navy and get 5% off a booking ( full fare I presume) and get an OBC as well? ( I should have OBC with my next cruise asked for it and taking my discharge paper as proof). I need to show this when we book in or at reception on-board?

I was told by P&O that I could no claim for being an RAF veteran i.e. OBS and the 5% discount being former NHS (25 years) I decided just to have the 5%.

Are folks getting both, would be really interested if they are.

Thanks

We leave auto tips and often pass extra across at the end of the cruise - particularly to the Butler and Cabin Steward. However, we have some cruising chums who prefer to remove the auto tips and tip directly.

During a recent cruise we shared the same Steward as this other couple and I asked said Steward if she was made aware that some of her passengers had removed the auto tips and, and then asked to hand that money into the pool. Her response was clear, she is never made aware of any passengers having removed tips and was not required to hand any tips received back to P&O.

The Steward went to great lengths to explain that the most important thing was the Q&A at the cruise end - this determined whether she received the enhanced payment or not. Effectively this was all she was concerned about.

Guess what I am asking is, those on the forum who say the staff are made aware of non tippers and, that they have to pay any they they receive from said pax back to 'the' pool, can they substantiate these statements as it seems to fly in the wind to what I have been told.

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112 P&O cruises, 10 in the pipeline

Thanks folks. Shame really, much as we enjoy breakfast in the suite, popping up to the Epicurean has been so civilised. Guess as it is a fairly new concept it might be rolled out onto the Arcadia by the time we sail on her again. Fingers crossed eh!

Trying to establish where suite passengers have breakfast on the Arcadia. It's excellent on the Azura, Ventura and Britannia as it is in the Epicurean Restaurant but, while the P&O site gives the venue for all of the other ships, it is silent about the Arcadia. We haven't been on her since 2011 and then it was in the suite, MDR or scrum. I wonder if it might be the grill?

I heard that some Southampton home owners offer parking on their drive, for a fee, while the car owner is off on a cruise. Any comments and suggestions along with possible costs would be appreciated. Also transfers to the terminal - taxi ?

If you are current or former NHS staff you cannot combine with the Military credit you may have gained while serving in the forces in your earlier years. Guess this applies to all schemes where you can obtain a 5% discount off your P&O cruise.

Thanks Pat .. yes, you are right, Simon was on for several of our cruises and is a terrific butler. Last time in June he was talking about going home shortly - good for him - thing is some of these guys really go the extra mile and others, ummm.

Hopefully someone coming off Ventura recently will know, but in the final analysis it won't wreck our cruise :).

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111 P&O cruises - 12 in the pipeline

We also leave the tips in place but do give extra where the service is teriffic.

Thing is, as so many folk do remove the tips, how do the waiters/stewards know if you are a remover or not. I also understand that even if they are removed, P&O still pay them provided they do not get several, less than excellent's on the questionnaire.

Personally I prefer the old way of tipping, that way we all knew where we stood. I also think that in some cases the service in the MDR has suffered, though to be fair have never noticed that with the bedroom stewards.

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111 P&O cruises - 12 in the pipeline

Thought I'd raise this again in case a 'suite' :) person missed my question.

Can anyone tell me who the butlers are that are currently on the good ship Ventura.

Ahhhh - in the old days circa late 80's early 90's - maybe not so long ago eh! it was common to be invited up to the bridge, even transited the whole Panama Canal once from that vantage point. In those days the Captain would hold parties in his cabin, as would the Chief Engineer, the Purser and Cruise Director. Had the distinct pleasure of actually going into the engine room of the old Victoria, not just the control centre, which was terrific. Those were the days, but you know what, we still love the P&O experience - off again soon!! Such fun.

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111 P&O cruises - 12 in the pipeline

I have to confess this happened to me a few weeks ago - fortunately I checked my bank statement on-line shortly after the transaction. A quick call to P&O sorted it out and my account credited accordingly. Ummmm I thought this was a one-off! The email address you require is: christopher.edgington@carnivalukgroup.com

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111 P&O cruises - 12 in the pipeline

What you have to be aware of is not so much the pool but the area surrounding which is directly above the cabins. This is the outdoor eating area and smoking area(starboard side) and from 7am, maybe even earlier, folk are moving seats around their tables and this noise can be heard quite clearly if you are still in slumber. Not a good position.

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111 P&O cruises - 12 in the pipeline