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smokey01

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Everything posted by smokey01

  1. Every P&O cruise we go on (ordinary balconies) we ask for flannels/face cloths, absolutely no problem, we get them changed daily without asking (after embarkation day). Not asked for body lotion though. Mostly cruised P&O since covid, so 3 times per year for face cloths with no problem so maybe it is the body lotion that is a problem (I always bring my own body lotion as I have sensitive skin). Next 2 P&O cruises will be in a suite (for the first time, yay) so I can’t test if things have changed! I have found though that if we ask for flannels there is a blank look so we make sure we Americanise it to face cloths.
  2. I so look forward to your menu postings. I can always pick something (and I’m a fussy non fish eater) even though I know what you say that they don’t always live up to expectations, but since covid having sailed RCL, MSC and Princess I always preferred the MDR meals on Iona/Arvia over the other cruise lines. I look forward to Britannia in July where thankfully we are second sitting confirmed and not having to deal with the dine whenever they can fit us in as we had on Arvia on our last P&O cruise.
  3. Oh let me know about the over 85s if you do find out. My mother is 85 but luckily our renewal is now so she is OK for this year. I wonder how much cruise cover per cruise will be. I tried a dummy booking on their normal travel insurance site but it didn’t give cruise cover as an optional extra.
  4. She is going the long way around. Some cruises have been cancelled and the first UK cruise on 22nd April is now departing on the 23rd April. As far as I know she will now be travelling from Dubai to Southampton empty of passengers for 2 or 3 weeks. I am on the 23rd April cruise which was supposed to be 12 days but is now 11 days.
  5. 1. is Tea and coffee available free in the buffet? Yes 2. I have heard that supplies of milk, tea and coffee in the cabin can be somewhat frugal. Would I be able to bring a carton of milk and my own tea and coffee on board? We just get extra milk, tea and coffee from the buffet and take to the cabin, but yes you could also bring your own. 3. when I booked with P and O, I asked about gratuities, and was told that they aren’t required, which surprised me. It may be because I booked in Australia, where there are laws about compulsory gratuities. What do most people tip for cabin staff, drinks service, and waitstaff? Tips are also included with P&O in the UK but some do give a small extra tip at the end of the cruise to their cabin steward and waiters if on fixed dining.
  6. And me, my impression was mrsgroggins was the better presentation
  7. I presume the wristbands are good for unlocking the cabin door as you approach it and when ordering drinks?
  8. Oh dear, we are on Iona in October in an aft suite, deck 12. What time of day and for how long is the DJ in situ?
  9. I’m loving looking at the menu’s. Our last P&O cruise was April 2023 on Arvia where I found I just could not handle not knowing WHEN I could actually get into to the dining room that I subsequently cancelled multiple cruises. I’m now feeling like cruising again. MSC first in April but followed by Britannia July 5th. The menu selection you are showing is very appealing to me, and I feel a little stupid now as in April 2023 I thought the actual meals we ate in the MDR on Arvia were lovely but I just could not handle not knowing when I would dine. So I’m looking forward to Britannia in July with fixed late dining and hopefully these or similar menu choices. I’ve cruised since the early 90’s and know it is not quite the melt in the mouth dining I got then but since covid I have tended to enjoy P&O food over RCL and MSC and the price per cruise is lower so overall a good compromise.
  10. A friend who used to cruise often told me it was not worth getting off in Arrefice, so I didn’t for years. Then one cruise I did and had a lovely walk through a marina to a castle like structure out to sea, and then I followed on a little way to a lovely sandy beach. I’m not a shopper or cafe drinker so that did me just fine. Lately p&o (and probably other lines) have stopped the shuttle buses dropping off in a non descript car park by the small marina so that meant the walk to my usual haunt was marginally further for me but still do able. Unfortunately it was a little too far for my mid 80’s mother. That said my next 2 cruises are to the Canaries and I look forward to my stops at Arrefice. I do agree that Las Canteras beach in Gran Canary is lovely and my all time favourite port stop after New York. I do agree Tenerife without an excursion is pretty boring, if anyone disagrees and says there is a nice place in walking distance of the ship then feel free to tell me. I don’t do shops or coffee shops though! I’ve done too many excursions there to want to do anymore so I just walk to that manmade pool area make some phone calls and then back to the ship.
  11. I believe 12411 has the bed by the balcony. Personally I like the bed by the wardrobes although that configuration does make the space tight to get into the wardrobe. That said we like the settee to be next to the balcony so we can sit on it and gaze outside. Not sure what you mean by this, I think all balcony cabins have a sofa which can turn into a bed, so basically the only choice is whether you would prefer the bed to by the balcony or not.
  12. We have a suite next July on Britannia. When ordering restaurant meals with several courses I presume they deliver all courses at once? Do you order via the butler or room service? Is a tip expected per delivery?
  13. When we went to Haugesund in September we paid the equivalent of £22 for a land train which, in the main, went through a bit of a run down town. If we were to go there again we would stay on board. I’m sure Alesund will be nicer, so my guess is the change in port is due to complaints as per terrierjohn’s suggestion.
  14. I’ve been on P&O and Princess many times and always remember them having cases by deck order. Last Princess cruise was June 2022, 4 P& O cruises and 2 RCL cruises (also cases by deck order) since covid. Only issue on all cruise lines is getting a lift to disembarkation floor, typically takes 20 minutes even if you employ the lift up to go down rouse.
  15. Have to say since covid having done 4 Iona cruises and 1 Arvia we have had nothing but easy disembarkations with P&O. That said getting a lift down probably takes 20 minutes but after that plain sailing.
  16. Because Looking4Parking give me a discount
  17. I always book Parking4Cruises thru the Looking4Parking website. On that site I pick Stress Free Parking but when I show up at Southampton it is actually Parking4Cruises. This has been going on for 10 plus years and many cruises and I’ve always been very happy with StressFree/Parking4Cruises.
  18. Last year on Enchanted Princess after a couple of nights the concierge asked us if we would like drinks delivered to our suite during the 2 hour “happy hour”. We did, and each evening the waiter or waitress would bring us 2 glasses of red wine and 2 glasses of Prosecco between the two of us. Is this normal or just a one off with that concierge? I noticed other suites also made use of the delivered drinks.
  19. This is from May 2023 Virtuosa Sky Lounge in GBP May 2023.pdf
  20. I don’t think it does but I’ve still to do on my first MSC cruise. I’m matched to go with diamond benefits 2weeks today so will have to see how we like it.
  21. Confused, I don’t believe it includes any discounts for speciality. Yes Aurea gives you anytime dining. If you are diamond you do get one free specialty meal
  22. We are having a very wet summer. I think it is caused by the heat wave in mainland Europe affecting our normal weather system.
  23. Sorry cr8tiv1 I see you said ice cream, that is if the picture I saw is the ‘heart attack treat’ you are talking about
  24. What is this, is it the red heart thing I have seen? If so what is it made of taste of?
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