jh1809

Last year I booked a cruise sailing in November, with the payment of the balance being due on the 13th of this month (so in 5 days time). When I booked, I specified "auto" payment of the balance using a credit card that was due to expire at the end of this month. What I'd forgotten is that my bank sends out my replacement card about a month before the old one is due to expire. So my card, though it still has the same number, now has an expiry date of Aug 2025 instead of Aug 2022, and the 3-digit security number has also changed. Presumably that will mean that the auto payment would no longer go through, and that I need to pay "manually" using my new card prior to the auto payment becoming due? If I do that, would I be safe in assuming that P&O won't still try to take the auto payment as well?

They're giving me "up to £200", but "up to" could mean that I'll actually get £10 . They could equally truthfully have said "up to £5,000".

Yes, I suspect that now most people have smartphones P&O may have decided that ships' photographers no longer pay their way.

It may not necessarily mean that they aren't operating yet. I wasn't able to book Sindhu in advance for my April cruise on Aurora, but when I got on board found that it was operating normally, including the "tiffin" lunches in the second half of the cruise, which have always been a favourite of mine.

Thanks. I booked via a travel agent, which means I can't use MySaga (unlike with P&O where, even if you booked through an agent, you can still access their equivalent). But all is well, as the mailing arrived this morning. It contained less information about the embarkation process than I was expecting, but included the essentials.

How long before the start of a cruise does one normally receive the final mailing with info on such things as what time the taxi will be picking you up, and one's ticket and luggage labels? My cruise is the SoD one to Iceland and Greenland departing Dover on 10th July, and I'm starting to get a little nervous that the mailing hasn't arrived yet.

Thanks.

Thanks. That seems a rather bizarre policy.

Thanks. I'm afraid I couldn't afford a suite.

Thanks. My cruise is calling there too. If they're happy with US dollars, then I think I have a few left from a previous holiday.

Thanks. I was thinking mainly about tipping the excursion guides, which is one thing that you can't use a card for.

I'm another Saga newbie, and will be cruising on Spirit of Discovery to Greenland next month. A couple of things that I haven't been able to find out and would welcome enlightenment on: 1. Is there a laundry service on board? I don't mean a self-service laundrette - that's not how I want to spend my holiday! If so, is it included in the cost of the cruise or does it incur an extra charge? (I suspect it will be chargeable, but that's fine so long as it's not too exorbitant.) 2. Is it possible to purchase foreign currency on board? Though I don't suppose there will be that much opportunity to spend any in Greenland.

I'd much rather be going on a cruise - assuming that it's not a fly-cruise - than holidaying in Spain, given the shambles that air travel to/from British airports seems to be at the moment. I enjoyed my Med cruise in April, though that was on Aurora rather than Iona.

It's not mentioned in the 7th June letter. There will still be no books in the library and the PCs will not be available, which is a pity.