LifeonMars

Carnival UK shareholding Dept, Can Beat that, Booked yesterday through the online section of a well known TA at 3.30pm for a cruise in 90 days, received booking confirmation almost immediately, they obviously have good IT dept, at 3.45 pm emailed Carnival UK shareholders asking for shareholder benefit and at 5.30pm received email from them that it had been applied to my booking and that I should contact my TA for updated confirmation. Contacted my TA by email (Only way) and this morning had acknowledgement from them that the additional trip obc had been added and was showing in the add on section of My trip.

Go for the QM2, The Ventura in my opinion is a back to front ship. No forward views unless out on deck or in The Retreat or Spa.

Have not noticed that Brand of Beer, The Problem with P&O is not all drink Brands are available in all Bars and all ships vary their Brands, . Heineken, Stella and Fosters has been available on some ships but I believe Moretti is now going to be available. Here is the latest menu for Beers and Ciders from the P&O Website. The Budweiser is actually 5% not as 4.8% as shown in the menu. Tia Maria, Baileys etc is available and included with a drinks package.

The Dancing Man http://dancingmanbrewery.co.uk/ is your best bet, although this is nearest to Ocean Terminal not Mayflower which is some distance away. However Uber Taxis are rife in Southampton and are very reasonable and easy to book using the app.

Here is the new Bar list for Aurora due to be introduced Thursday

This one for I-94 information. https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/#/home Select View Travel History tab. Then fill out with your passport number and correctly select your Country of issue, date of birth etc

Back in May , you could get Iceland/Norway Arcadia Aug/Sep sailing £1149 solo on line TA Price for unobstructed Balcony Saver Fare (EF Guaranteed)

also with the P&O Ships that visit Amsterdam for the Overnights, Ventura seems to have nearly Two nights in Port arriving around 5pm on 1st sea Day leaving around 11.30pm after the overnight stay., for a sea day back home. Whilst the others have a seaday getting to Amsterdam arrive early morning of 2nd day and leave Port the following Morning, to Get back to Southampton the next day.

Some Travel agents will give you a discount if asked, Special offers are sometimes sourced by the Travel Agent from the Cruise Brand . There is an on line only CruiseTravel Agent in the UK which you book purely on line and all dealings are dealt with on the www, they also have a phone based agency under a different name were you can speak with a human although prices can be but not always slightly higher. They also have a forum. They often have great offers. You just have to shop around.

They must have been the lucky ones, you will always get some, who are lucky or who ignor the rules, perhaps the person marshalling the queue messed up. Not everyone will obey directions, you do not know how empty the queue may have been before your arrival, hence they were allowed into the terminal building.

Check in/Boarding times are slightly later due to Disembarkation now being done by Staterooms and not groupings in Theatre/Lounges etc. Hence it does take slightly longer for the Stateroom cleaners to prepare for the next guests. At Southampton the Check in Staff now have an area outside the Terminals were they will direct early passengers to queue and will only allow those passengers to embark when the queues for the passengers arriving on time has diminished. (Then only in 15/30 min segments depending on how early you have arrived and your original boarding time ) Those arriving near to the time on their boarding pass and those with Priority Boarding are shown directly into the Terminal Building. This is what I have found for the past few months both with Cunard and P&O The system for Boarding and Debarking works very well when following the requested directions.

Katie McAlister will join Cunard as President in August 2023

Also recently 16nights Balcony (EF) Arcadia Norway and Iceland £1149 saver 12 Nights Aurora Clear Ocean View (LE) Select ,Norway and Lofolton Islands £1349 with £350 obc

There can be some good solo deals around, however usually it is by chance to find them. One Travel agent in Cardiff also specialises in solo cruises and gets some good deals although usually the saver fare, however I have found cheaper than has been offered on direct with P&O with Select fare, taking into account the obc offered, also a well known web only uk website to book your cruise online only, can also offer some great solo deals and its a great website to check the solo prices. They also have a human website to book cruises were you can speak directly, Its a matter of looking at the minefield and delving into it for the best solo price. Sometimes the more expensive select fares with obc can be cheaper than the TA offering a Saver Fare.

You will need your Blue light Card number to proceed with the booking though.

I would take the details with you on board QM2 and speak with the Voyage Sales people on Deck 2, They may help you with an email to the specific P&O Dept, or Ship. If you are unable to phone P&O on 0800 052 3840‬‬ Tuesday prior to Boarding QM2

Southampton Airport has very easy access to The Railway station, for Southampton Central, then taxi from there. Or The Unilink Bus U1C from Southampton Airport to Southampton Central Railway Station or stay on and get off at The Town Quay and Taxi. (If QM2 Terminal is still being used on the day of departure ) Presently for Taxis at Southampton Central you have to exit Platform 1. Or use the West Quay Multi Storey Car Park by the Port at £5 per 24hrs https://www.west-quay.co.uk/parking/multistorey-car-park

If you booked through a Travel agent, then they have to send you the tickets/Boarding pass etc. The get around that used to work if booked through a TA and the ship you are sailing on uses the MSC for me app, is to down load that to your phone/tablet, Check in, then it allows you to email the documents to yourself. https://www.msccruises.co.uk/on-board/internet-apps/msc-for-me

Now showing estimated 0700hrs Amsterdam Arrival on 13th April 2023

Rotterdam is still shown on the AIS for arrival on the 12th April with Amsterdam City Centre Berth showing for the 13th April . This has been shown for a couple of days now.

No faff at all. One email direct to the company. Done. Why get more people involved?

Staysure also has a sister company Avanti and the Paying too Much comparison website, although they trade independently they are owned by TICORP Ltd who are registered in Gibraltar.

Even if shares are held by the company you buy from, its easy to get the shareholder benefit applied. By forwarding the email to the share holder team at Carnival at least 3 weeks prior to departure, with an attachment of a copy of your latest statement, with account number crossed out. Full details shown here https://www.carnivalcorp.com/static-files/bc1b7f04-a3e8-4176-91ac-a529290fe45d

Getting to The Old Elbe Tunnel , It is walkable from Hamburg Cruise Center Steinwerder, Did it myself a few months ago. It is sign posted also if I remember correctly. It took me about an hour to get to it, but I was not walking very fast.