TigerB

👍 We were taken aback when we first ate in Sindhu on Arvia, back in January, and asked for coffee, only to be told, "It's from Costa so it'll cost ya guv"!

Nice to read your further report, Selbourne. With you writing about the petit fours, I take it they still serve free tea and coffee in Sindhu on Britannia. On Arvia and Iona, it's from one of the Costa stations, so comes at a cost. Those little cone petit fours were still in Epicurean when we were last on Sindhu. When we were on Arvia in April they still had the jars of preserves and the butter rosettes. On Iona last month the preserves were brought in tiny dishes, as you say, and the butter was cut into sugar cube sized pieces. I thought it was perhaps just Iona then, but from what you describe, it is maybe a fleet wide change. Enjoy the rest of your day🙂

Oh yes, I had forgotten they don't have them in the bathroom on Arvia or Iona. No loss to us; we charge the toothbrush and Epilady in the bedroom anyway.

That's correct 😊 And once you select WiFi, select P&O Guest...

The Limelight Club will be open for bookings through the Cruise Planner when the dining reservations open, about two weeks before your cruise. It is incorrect that you can only book for guests in your cabin for this venue. The maximum table size is six though, so you will need to do the following: One of your party books for a table of five perhaps, and another books a table for four. When you board, attend the host station at the Limelight Club on the first evening, so they can link the bookings; while you're there, ask them to seat you at two adjacent tables. I not tried it myself, but it may be possible for just one person to make both bookings, checking out after the first booking before going back on. If you're able to do that, follow the same procedure for linking the bookings with the host. For belt and braces, on the evening of the performance, remind them again that the bookings are linked and ask for two adjacent tables. You can follow the above process for booking meals in the MDRs, Chef's Table, or speciality restaurants, subject to them being available on the Cruise Planner. Just make sure one of you visits the relevant restaurant host ahead of the first reservation to get you all together. Although you will probably all be put on a table for ten in the MDRs, the maximum table size in Epicurean is six, and for the Chef's Table too, I think; I believe it is eight in Sindhu. Reservations for Headliners work differently; it is these you can only book for the guests in your cabin. Very often, only a couple of the shows will appear on the Cruise Planner, and then for the first week only. Yes, you're phone needs to be on airplane mode when logging on to the My Holiday app once onboard. Again, for shows you can only book for those in your cabin using this app, but you can book for up to six for dining reservations. My advice, if you all want to sit together in the MDR, rather than trying to book ahead on Cruise Planner, which only allows bookings up to 18:00/18:30 anyway, visit the host station of your preferred MDR on the first day and before it opens, and make that request. They will be able to accommodate you. It also removes the stress every evening of trying to get everyone in at the same time.

It appears to be hit and miss for pre-booking, with no consistency across the fleet. On Britannia last September we were able to pre-book our speciality restaurants, but the My Holiday app wasn't live then. Whereas, Selbourne is on her now, and wasn't able to pre-book. On recent trips on Arvia and Iona, we were able to pre-book, and both of those have the app. Megabear is absolutely correct, if you arrive in Barbados on the second day she is in port, you are at a disadvantage. Hopefully, it will work out for you, and that you will have a fantastic retirement cruise.🙂

For us, PI bathrooms usually hit the mark more often than not for accessible features, but even with their rooms, and many other hotel rooms and cruise cabins, you can look around and know they weren't designed by a full time wheelchair user. Just looking at the photo of your bathroom alone, there a several things that immediately spring to mind... - no pull down bar on the left side of the bench, - the wall mounted toiletries need to be set more forward and lower for the user, - that soap dish is useless; their need to be a proper basket for toiletries fixed under the bar on the right.

You beat me to it! Yes, I was correct in remembering it only fits razors. We had to charge the electric toothbrush and the Epilady from another socket

To the best of my recollection though, it is only suitable for razors, not for charging toothbrushes and the like. @Selbourne or @AndyMichelle may be able to confirm

Here's the link to my post for getting into town for Haugesund: https://boards.cruisecritic.co.uk/topic/2943400-not-quite-live-from-iona-g318-fjords-10th-june/page/8/#comment-65581293

Our lass sometimes has the same problem with getting up from the shower bench. Although they have the fixed rails in the shower area, they really need to have a pull down rail on the other side of the bench too. You will see from my previously posted photos that it is the same on Iona, and Arvia. With it being electric, she doesn't leave her wheelchair in the bathroom while she showers, so when I take it back in, I can always help her up; however, not everyone has that option.

Thanks for the thorough and informative update @Selbourne👍 Sorry to hear about your somewhat inferior meal in Epicurean. As you say, with the small number of covers in there, there should not have been an excuse for poorly cooked or prepared food. As a pescatarian, I generally have a fish course rather than a vegetarian or vegan course, and have had the scallop starter and black cod main several times. The scallops have always been perfectly cooked; mind you, the last time we were on Britannia was last September, and every other Epicurean visit since then has been on Arvia or Iona. Yes, we've had the training issue excuse, but not on Britannia. All I can say is, if it doesn't improve and you decide to sack off your last two reservations, don't let that influence your decision to eat in there when you are on Iona next month. At least you should be able to pre-book on that cruise, so paying just under £44 for the two of you each time wouldn't leave such a bitter taste. I get what you mean about the layout of the lunch menu, with it having the different sections for light options, large plates, and sharers (that aren't really), but we manage okay. You are as buffet averse as we are but, when you are on Iona next month, give the Quays a go. Is the mocktail you had the cherry Bakewell one? That's the go-to one for the boss. Haugesund today, then? Hopefully, you've managed okay with the wheelchair, be it on the shuttle or bouling into the town. I look forward to hearing more about your trip.

Pre-May then, when it was hit or miss if you got it outside of the window. My question was if anyone has had it recently. I'll rephrase it... Has anyone, since early May this year, when Carnival started to apply the rules more rigidly, had the shareholder OBC approved at 21 days or less?

Every time in Epicurean we've been able to choose, and more than one each too. I have stopped short of taking a little bag with me, to make up for not getting them anymore in the MDR.🤭

Lunch? Gym? Only one of those features in my cruise vocabulary!😉 G&T? Yup! That certainly features 🤭 Have a great cruise🙂

Oh yes, had that. It was nice😋

Lightweight! 🤭😉 Yes, we've been in both of those cabins. Ideally situated for bobbing up two flights to the Horizon to get chilled water for during the night, and for the lift that takes you up to deck 18. I would say they're close to the laundry too, but you're going to get a young man (or lady) to do yours.😉 Thanks for the information about the rail; I'll look into that for our next trip.

...and will it be a two-tier service? A free channel, and a premium subscription only one; the latter just showing the sex ponds (hot tubs) at night?

This is such sad news, and I cannot imagine what you must be going through right now. My sincerest condolences to you and your family. Take care

I wouldn't have known about this without coming on these boards, and used it to good effect last month.

I've read something in your initial report that was only 99.99% positive, so this is me pouncing..... (Only joshing!) I would be interested to know what cabin grade you are in, and the location. When we've been on Britannia previously, we've only been in the two HD accessible cabins on deck 14 aft. I have wondered if there is any difference internally with the HB or HA grades, or if it's just the location. Tell me about the bed rail / grab bar would you please; i.e. type and hire cost, if any? Our lass uses one at home, and on our last trip I mentioned about taking it with us. Hers is similar to this... where most of it sits under the mattress. It would a bit cumbersome to carry with the luggage. I wasn't aware you could hire from Mobility At Sea. I'm glad you got the speciality restaurants sorted early doors; it's a pity you weren't able to book on the cruise planner and save a few quid. Hopefully, Epicurean will be better for you two than it was for Andy and Michelle.🤞 Which brings me on to a tasty subject, Operation Double Dessert in the Epicurean. You only mentioned that you meant a sweet dessert and a cheese plate after I had posted about my successful mission on Iona last month, and in doing so, suffered the daggers stare from my good lady, and the later indigestion. So, your penance young man is to, on one of your four visits, have two sweet desserts......photo evidence required! If you feel really brave, you can do the triple, and get the cheese plate too!🤭 No pressure! Anyway, have a really fantastic cruise. 🙂

Was that before or after this May just gone?

Anecdotal evidence from this and similar threads would suggest that Carnival tightened up the rules on shareholder OBC about early May, and started refusing to apply it outside the 21 to 90 day rule. Further to the above, has anyone recently been successful in getting the OBC applied under 21 days? I ask because we are looking at some last minutes cruises and, whereas we had it applied at 8 days out in April, the tightening up of the rules will likely mean that won't happen again.

I was caught out by her the first time, starting a conversation about how quickly she answered the phone. Our lass just looked at me and sighed!🙄 One of the cruise consultants on Arvia did tell me her name, but I can't remember what it was. 99% of P&O guests would be satisfied if it was Paula 😉