bungle66

Is that Olden, Selbourne? It looks like where we were docked when I took this photo from the other side of the Fjord. Might not be the same place but looks very similar.

Morning Paul, I suggest you try to log in to the system and make a booking online. Go right through the process, to the point of choosing the cabin you want. Before you get to the payment screen you will get the price breakdown and it should by that stage reflect the 10% (or 5%) discount. To make sure that is the case you can go through the same process without being logged in. I think you will see the difference. Good luck.

1 hour ago, bungle66 said:

Anyone else experience a similar issue to me today? I transferred a booking from December '22 to a Fjords cruise in April '23. Lovely lady helped me with the transfer which went smoothly until it came time to pay the additional deposit of £28. Their system wouldn't allow me to pay, it simply wouldn't 'beep' for me to enter my card details. I was passed onto a team leader but same thing happened and then subsequently onto a Manager but still their system wouldn't allow them to take my small payment. I am now waiting for a call from them (which should have come this morning) to resolve the issue. I had already paid a deposit for my previous cruise, so hopefully the booking is safe but I want a confirmation and until it is paid for correctly their system won't generate the confirmation. It's all a worry lol.

Thankfully all sorted now, I had to call them back in the end and hold on the line for 47 minutes but this time their payment system 'beeped' at the correct time and allowed me to make my massive £28 payment! Hooray. I am now in possession of my new booking confirmation and looking forward to my Fjords cruise on 22 April 2023. Only 583 days to patiently wait lol.

Anyone else experience a similar issue to me today? I transferred a booking from December '22 to a Fjords cruise in April '23. Lovely lady helped me with the transfer which went smoothly until it came time to pay the additional deposit of £28. Their system wouldn't allow me to pay, it simply wouldn't 'beep' for me to enter my card details. I was passed onto a team leader but same thing happened and then subsequently onto a Manager but still their system wouldn't allow them to take my small payment. I am now waiting for a call from them (which should have come this morning) to resolve the issue. I had already paid a deposit for my previous cruise, so hopefully the booking is safe but I want a confirmation and until it is paid for correctly their system won't generate the confirmation. It's all a worry lol.

14 minutes ago, Son of Anarchy said:

Has happened to us.  Booked on launch day, phoned about 2-3 hours after booking opened and the price went up by about £300pp.  It was for 30 nights roundtrip USA and Canada though, balcony cabin.

 Ultimately it depends on popularity of the cruise and cabin grade, but can happen.

Thank you Son of Anarchy, that is very helpful to know. I have to make a decision whether to start again and forgo my existing deport (which in fairness isn't much) or take a chance that any price rise on the day of general release is less than the value of my deposit. Now where's my crystal ball hehehe

Seen the cruise that I want to switch to. I'm hoping to switch my deposit from a Dec '22 to April '23 cruise. Just really hoping a few cabins remain available in the grade I'm seeking and that the prices don't rise between today's launch and going on general sale on 9th. Does anyone know if they usually go up on the first day of general release?

Wonder if anyone can help? I usually pre-register with P&O and always get a great price but this year I want to switch a booking from December 22 to a Fjords cruise in May of 23. I assume I have to wait until the cruises go on general sale to do that. Does anyone know if the price changes from the pre register price to the first day on general sale? I'm trying to figure out if it would be better to pre register for a cruise (I want a suite) and pay a new 5% deposit and then forgo my existing deposit only £116 or wait until the cruise I want is on general sale and switch my deposit to the new cruise. If the suite price has risen by more than £116 from pre register to general sale, I'd be better off starting from scratch but if it's the same price I might as well wait and not lose the existing £116 deposit. I hope I've made sense?

1 hour ago, Britboys said:

You'll find a little bit of discussion about this here:

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.co.uk/topic/2794269-summer-2023/

Thanks Andrew, much appreciated. 

I currently have a German Christmas Market cruise booked for December '22 but I am keen to change this to a Fjords cruise for April/May '23. Do any of you regular cruisers know how far in advance the following years summer cruises are launched? I would have thought it might be anytime now-ish? I am also wondering if it will still be possible to switch our deposit from the December '22 cruise to one in spring/summer '23? Time I guess will tell on that one. Any advice would be greatly received. Thank you

6 hours ago, davecttr said:

I have one of those which is great for phone calls and texts. Mine is PAYG. I also have a cheap Android smartphone which does not have a SIM installed (I don't like touch screens). This works just fine with both the NHS Apps and lots of other stuff besides, it also has an emergency call option, apparently even smartphones without a SIM can still make emergency calls.

 

I will take my Doro, Smartphone and the 119 paper copy, all sorted so no need to worry. 🙂

Interesting! Can you download the NHS app on a smartphone without the need for a sim card? That might be an answer for my elderly mum who doesn't have a smart phone, only an old brick lol.

I loved the naming ceremony but would have liked to have seen a bit more of the interior of the ship. They could have incorporated a 5 minute 'tour' maybe. I would also have liked to hear the Captain speak, maybe just a few words. It felt a bit contrived but I appreciate it is a very different experience to anything that's been before. I was shivering along with them. It looked cold there lol. All that said I was impressed. Looking forward to my cruise on Iona in December 2022. Not long now lol.

Wonderful and flawless naming ceremony. A pleasure to watch and what a beautiful ship she is in the flesh! Cannot wait for my cruise in December 2022.

I think the company will be pleased if people DO bring their cruises forward. They want and need as much money coming in as possible. The sooner you are onboard, the sooner you are spending! The sooner you booking, the greater the balance payment they have in their bank. Happy days. You get to cruise sooner and they get to stay in business (one hopes).

8 hours ago, bungle66 said:

I need to change a cruise, treating myself to a suite and worried sick they will all be gone already. 35 minutes to go - how excited am I? I feel like a 5 year old waiting for Christmas morning lol. Have a great day everyone.

Hi guys and girls, for those that kindly asked if I got my choice of suite - the answer is YES!!! Hooray!! I started calling at 0828 and on my third go at dead on 0830 I got straight through to a really lovely lady. I was so shocked at getting through immediately that I dropped my piece of paper with all the details on and had to scrabble around to retrieve it lol. Thankfully was able to transfer across without issue and we've actually ended up with £100 more on board credit than I thought, so happy days. I hope you have all been as successful as me. Good luck everyone and take good care.

I need to change a cruise, treating myself to a suite and worried sick they will all be gone already. 35 minutes to go - how excited am I? I feel like a 5 year old waiting for Christmas morning lol. Have a great day everyone.

2 minutes ago, MX-Drew said:

I had a similar thing happen to me with a Celebrity cruise. When it was cancelled I applied to Celebrity for a refund only to be told they had not received the money from Iona's godmother's company. The Agent hadn't even paid the balance at Celebrity's balance due date! Then I contacted the agent and they said they will have to pay the balance to Celebrity and Celebrity will refund the full amount.

Motto of the story, never trust an agent, do it yourself and then you have only yourself to blame.

Like you, I'd rather book directly. This year particularly I think there is less chance of P&O going bust than many TA's

Thank you all for the lovely photos, comments and video! They all make me feel very festive. I/we have decided today to splash out on a suite for our 2022 cruise. It's been such a rubbish year for lots of reasons I want something Christmassy to look forward to and as the luxury version of the cruise is not so expensive if I start saving now, that's what we'll aim for! Take care everyone and best regards.

1 hour ago, kalos said:

Where are we on this one ? 

Oops, apologies that was taken in Åndalsnes, Norway and is a shot of The Britannia. Pretty amazing cruise to the beautiful Fjords. 

Interesting and maybe worth checking and double and triple checking with your insurance provider. I have just been doing an internet search for cruise insurance and on the Travel Insurance 4 Medical site a box jumps up stating the following:

IMPORTANT POLICY UPDATE
Our policies will cover cancellation and curtailment if an insured person named on the policy documentation has a confirmed diagnosis of Coronavirus (COVID-19). You will also be covered for emergency medical expenses if you get infected by COVID-19 whilst abroad.

No cover applies to trips if the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advise against travel to your destination. You can read the FCDO's latest advice here. The FCDO is currently advising against ALL cruise ship travel for British Travellers.

If you cancel your policy within 14 days of purchase, you are welcome to a full refund - provided you have not travelled and do not intend to claim. Beyond 14 days you may be entitled to a partial refund. Please check the cancellation terms in your policy wording for details.

In effect they will NOT provide cover for ANY cruise, anywhere for British Travellers!! Be careful and check you really DO have insurance cover.

Really lovely!! I feel Christmassy already lol.

Wow Beckett, sounds wonderful. I'm looking forward to being able to switch my current booking to the December cruise. Got to wait until 28 April to be able to do that. Patience needed!!

Thank you. I suspected that was the case but nice to have it confirmed.

I am hoping to switch an existing booking to the Christmas Market, Western Europe cruise G239 on Iona 10th December 2022 and I'm wondering if P&O decorate their ships for Christmas? I love that magical time of year and usually visit the German Christmas markets by air but thought it'd be an even more magical experience on board Iona. Anyone been away on the run up to/over Christmas?

At the prices offered, a cruise to nowhere does not appeal in any way. It'd be like floating in a prison and having to pay for the privilege. I can travel throughout our beautiful UK for a fraction of the price and actually stop off at places. I'm also still not convinced that the virus will not be spreading like wildfire. Just because we are vaccinated it doesn't mean we cannot contract or pass on Covid. I wish those who are booking well but think I'll wait a while to see how things pan out next year. I sadly don't think Covid is finished with us yet by a long way!