berlingo

My TA contact working in a large on line cruise agency ( please see my earlier post) reported that the ‘30 day pause’ in sailings is pretty standard across the cruise lines just now.

Apparently Princess are the only ones to go for a 60 day stop immediately.

Julia

Spoke to my TA this afternoon from a large UK on line cruise site .
She told me that P&O is the only cruise line with whom they deal who had not announced the cancellation of their planned cruises for the next 30 days. She does not understand why they have not but believes it is inevitable that they will.

Apologies if this has already been posted.

Julia 

The travel insurance policy I have ( which was is brilliant by the way) does not require any medical details at all. Therefore I do not advise them of any medication I am prescribed.

From past experience with other insurance companies they have asked questions about treatment such as chemotherapy, surgery etc and this has had a bearing on the policy they offered. If I was still using this type of provider I would definitely tell them if I was prescribed Oramorph. 
 

Yes I have taken a small bottle of Oramorph with me on every cruise for the past 5 years. It is a drug I need occasionally rather than on a regular basis. We always sail from Southampton and I keep it locked in my cabin safe.

I do not have a specific letter from my doctor about the Oramorph although I do for other drugs such as my insulin injections but I do take my prescription sheet.

I have never had a problem taking my Oramorph on board.

Juliax

16 minutes ago, amajaa said:

 

 

I do think lots of people don’t even realise there is lunch in the MDR, which is probably why it isn’t well attended.

Also you would be amazed at the number of people who think because their evening Dinning room allocation isn’t mentioned for lunch that they can’t go to the MDR, or indeed for breakfast or afternoon tea. We have told so many people that they can and they have been pleased. I think P & O and other cruise lines should really make this clear.  One couple we met on day 3 of a cruise were not enjoying their holiday because they didn’t like going to the buffet until we told them they could go to the waiter service restaurant, after that we realised they were not in the minority. 

I do agree with you on both points.

A lot of new cruisers unfortunately do not understand their dining options. 

P&O should do much more to provide this and other basic information. I am sure it would improve the passenger experience and satisfaction at very little cost.

Plus as you mentioned a little publicity about MDR lunch placed in the Horizon could really help. After all P&O provide few income generating lunch options which this would impede and overcrowding in the buffet is a perennial complaint.

Juliax

6 hours ago, Scorpio41 said:

£1 booking deposits open today 13th August for Elite passengers and 14th August for all other passengers.

 

First time I've paid the deposit in cash. lol.

 

Thank you for letting me know

Julia

We love a Great British Sailaway!

I am afraid that it is a very old fashioned notion that we should in some way be ashamed of being British. The younger generation have no such pseudo guilt.

Every nation in the world celebrates it national identity. It is arrogance to feel morally superior for not celebrating.

I am sure you will have a fantastic time.

My daughters have cruised since they were little and absolutely love it. Sunbathing, in the pool and jacuzzi, hanging out with new friends, watching movies, sauna, steam room, meeting up for lunch are some of the things they do in the day. They enjoy dressing for dinner and this can take a long, long time. They go to a show, do some shopping, movies under the stars, midnight swimming and probably lots of things I don’t get to hear about.

 Unfortunately it is correct that you won’t be able to go to the kids club. Believe me my eldest daughter tried by changing her birthday slightly but they have a list of all the under 18’s.

What my daughters did do once they were over kids club age was to arrange a meet up for under 25’s one evening. They did this by contacting the Cruise Director who was only too happy to help and it was advertised in the Horizon. It turns out that there are often lots of that age group who were wanting to socialise and they have a great time for the rest of the cruise.

I am sure you will find more than enough to do and have a great time.

Juliax

Hi there

Sorry I don’t know about the cost but can tell I love the Retreat. 

We tend to use it on sea days on warmer cruises. It is lovely knowing that you have sunbed waiting and you will not have to wander the ship looking for one. We also book the afternoon only if we can. We are late risers so booking a whole day is a bit of a waste.

On other days we love the Serenity Pool area on Britannia. But go early on in the cruise before everyone finds it😉

It’s the old cliche of “layers” I am afraid.

You maybe okay in very summery clothes in Paris but here in Britain you would probably get hypothermia or at least severe rust in shorts. Unfortunately hot days can happen but they are not that common. Three warm days in a row constitutes a heat wave😊. And the further north you go the cooler it is likely to get.

When we go on holiday in this country for day wear I optimistically pack one beachy summer dress and a pair of linen trousers then the rest is jeans, tops, fleeces and waterproofs. 

As far as looking a certain way goes don’t worry about it. Once you are out of London no one will even think about labelling or judging you. Out here in the sticks people are more likely to be just interested and politely curious because we routinely do not come across our American cousins.

Also I would not over worry about churches here. Unless you are in a bikini or in central London I don’t think people would bother to be honest. I would be very, very surprised if I was asked to cover my shoulders in a church over here. Us Proddies tend to be relaxed about things like that.

Have a lovely time and I am sure you will enjoy your visit x

Here in the UK deposits for cruise and other types of holiday are never, ever refundable.

Regardless of the travel company deposits are usually around 10% of the total cost.

You may be able to get some money back if you make a claim on your travel insurance but strict criteria are applied, serious illness or death are usually the only acceptable claims. I have never come across a policy with an any reason cancellation term.

Also regardless of how much your cruise may be reduced once you have booked you are tied into the price you agreed to pay. 

Juliax

1 hour ago, Dorset cruise fan said:

I assume you know the cliche about British people talking about weather all the time. Well that's because we never know what it's going to do. September is often a lovely month but nothing is guaranteed, weather could be doing pretty much anything. The usual advice, layers, waterproof and sea sickness med and hope you won't need any of them.

Totally agree.

Maybe hot, cold, wet ,windy or foggy and that is all in one day! You should be safe from snow but you never know. October is supposedly the stormiest month but anything goes.

I would play the sea sickness meds by ear. You may not need them but definitely don’t travel without themxthem

3 hours ago, JimmyVWine said:

Also...don't discount the Teen Club.  On the new ships, they are pretty nice spots.  Your kids would probably prefer to hang out in the hot tub at the Teen Center than hang out in the hot tub with the older crowd.  Also, signing up for the Teen Club is a great way to simply meet up with new friends.  No obligation to actually stay at the Teen Center.  But they have to be signed up to go there to meet others.  In other words, after they meet some new friends on day one, day two might be: "Let's meet at the Teen Center at noon and then we'll figure out what we want to do."  But in order to do that, they have to be registered.  My daughter signed up on every cruise from age 13-18 and made many new friends.  But on average, she probably spent less than a third of the time actually in the Teen Club.  The rest of the time the kids were out and about at pools, movies, dining venues, etc.  But instead of herding cats, it was just easier for all her friends to pick a time to meet at the Teen Center as home base.

I totally agree.

Our two girls would do exactly the same. They had the most fantastic time and some of the other “cruise kids” they met are still friends years later.

Just get them registered on the first day when everyone is looking to make friends. Leave it any later and it becomes very difficult to break into established friendship groups.

4 hours ago, MrandMrsCoz said:

We are on our first cruise in a few weeks so new to the cabin layouts etc. After reading that you have a sofa-bed for your son, i'm slightly jealous as we have balcony cabin which apparently has a bed for our son suspended from the ceiling meaning my husband and I have to have the beds on the floor made up into two singles.....not idea. I think if we are to cruise again, I will make sure I stipulate the bed layouts. I just assumed that a couple plus child would be in a cabin with a double bed and sofa/childs bed!

It does depend on the ship you are sailing on but on the Ventura and Azura a sofa bed as the third bed is only available in cabins above a standard balcony. The OPs cabin is a Superior Deluxe Balcony and a Suite will also have a similar arrangement.

I understand your frustration. If you booked through a travel agent who did not explain the sleeping arrangements to you I would be tempted to share my frustration with them in the form of a strongly worded complaint. After all as a new cruiser you are paying for their expertise to ensure your holiday meets your requirements.

Having said that you live and learn. Our first cruise was in a tiny outside cabin with just a small window and our two daughters in bunk beds above our single beds. It was a bit of a shock when we saw it but we still had an absolutely fantastic time and have not stopped cruising since.

Go with an open mind and a positive attitude. After all you may not have wanted to pay the premium for a larger cabin for your first cruise.

With the greatest respect and not wishing to offend anyone  can I suggest another reason why some people find the entertainment too loud and others don’t ?

Hyperacusis is a type of reduced sound tolerance and increased sensitivity for sound. People with Hyperacusis often find ordinary noises can be too loud and unfortunately for them loud noises such as in a theatre can often be uncomfortable or even painful.

Exposure to loud noise can in the short term increase sensitivity to noise and worsen tinnitus ( buzzing, whistling and ringing in the ears.) It can also cause a popping sensation.

The condition is very often caused by aging of the structures in the inner ear and can often be associated with hearing loss. 

There is is usually no cure for Hyperacusis once the sensitivity has started because it is often due to natural aging. However there other disorders of the inner ear which can cause similar symptoms which can be treated. Therefore getting a prompt ear assessment is important.

ref betterhealth.org.au

7 hours ago, crompton21 said:

This is complete and uninformed speculation on my part....

 

There were a couple of incidences recently where Britannia was delayed when arriving in to Southampton.  For whatever reason, this seemed to put a lot of pressure on the logistics of embarking new passengers, presumably because the window for loading was reduced or too many people arrived at the same time or whatever.  Gridlock and chaos appeared to be the result.  

 

Is it possible that the increased numbers for Iona cannot be processed in the current way simply because there isn't enough room to physically accommodate all the cars in the timescale?

 

I am neither supporting or criticising P&O or CPS, just wondering if recent events have forced this change by showing that they can't process the required numbers using the old (current) methods.

Hi OP here

As I mentioned in my original post my brother was told that the change was “necessary because of Iona”.

I agree that it is likely by this they meant the size of Iona made embarking passengers more challenging. 

However to my mind the solution they propose is far from ideal. Inconveniencing ones clientele and reducing customer service whilst continuing to charge a premium price is not the best business practice.

Secondly ensuring disabled individuals have equal access to a service is not optional. To say assistance for people with a disability “should” be available is outrageous and potentially illegal.

Finally to make a major reduction to the service provided without notice or compensation as my brother and many others endured last week is sharp practice to say the least.

Julia

14 hours ago, Selbourne said:

Further Update

 

I have spoken to my very helpful contact at P&O who has read me the communication that they have received from CPS. It was as vague as the communication CPS had with me, but added some extra detail to my last update (posted on this thread yesterday).

 

The ‘new’ CPS vehicle drop procedure is currently being trialled on 4 Britannia cruises, but the assumption is that it will become standard practice at Ocean Terminal (only) for all Britannia and Iona cruises. 

 

In the email, CPS have a section that’s titled ‘what will customers notice that is different?’ which goes on to state;

 

1) The new car drop facility is approx 30 metres from the terminal (Note - they had told me 20 metres but I don’t believe that either can be true, as you walk further than that in the current drop off lanes! I suspect that it’s 30 metres outside the perimeter of the defined terminal area, so the walking distance will be much further).

 

2) The stacking lanes (that can currently cause prolonged waits before you are even called forward to the drop off lanes) will no longer be used. Drivers will be directed to the new drop off area upon arrival (Note - how that will result in shorter wait times I fail to understand, unless they have significantly more staff to check in and remove cars - which I doubt). 

 

3) Passengers will then be expected to take their own luggage to the terminal building. Trolleys will be provided, but not porters.

 

4) Assistance should be available for disabled passengers.    

 

This new procedure means that CPS loses its unique point of difference over all the other cruise parking operators (i.e. checking in the car immediately in front of the terminal building) at Ocean Terminal. I have a booking with them from Mayflower cruise terminal in November and will keep that one (as the process should be unchanged) but I have cancelled my booking for next years cruise from Ocean Terminal and re-booked with another company. 

 

Hi OP here

Just had some new information from my source on Britannia.

Apparently when the new CPS system was operating on Saturday if passengers expressed dissatisfaction they were told that the change was down to P&O not CPS and any complaints should therefore be made inside the terminal.

Interesting don’t you think?

Julia

5 hours ago, majortom10 said:

My last cruise with Princess was last August and as a UK cruiser we were not asked like they used to do whether we wanted our final account put on in $ and converted by our bank or let Princess convert it. It was automatically added to my credit card in $ do not know if this is now the norm.

Hi

I have just completed our Guest Information on the Cruise Personalizer.

We are UK residents and will be sailing on Sapphire from Southampton on the 18th August 2019. 

The last part of the Shipboard Account section asks you your preferred currency when settling your account ie sterling or dollars.

It also states if you change your mind you can go to Passenger Services on board and alter it.

31 minutes ago, kenhem said:

The problem in finding the best and cheapest policy depends so much on your pre existing medical conditions. To give a couple of examples, and no criticism intended, Selbourne says Aviva does an annual family policy for £100 for his family. I did a dummy booking with them for an annual policy for cruising Europe just for myself with an existing medical condition - heart failure - and whilst they were prepared to insure me for £67 it was on the basis my pre- existing conditions were excluded, so not much use. Likewise Insure and Go, which gave Clodia's husband a good deal for £72 quoted me £370 for annual Europe cruise cover. Apologies for quoting the two people concerned, and not intended as a slight at all.

I have similar problems with insurance. As I have incurable cancer and am on permanent chemotherapy a lot of the companies mentioned, although my doctors say I am fit to travel, will not offer me any cover at all.

Thankfully I found that the Women’s Institute have partnered with Open Travel Insurance to provide annual worldwide  Travel Insurance with no medical questions. Without this I would not be able to cruise.

Juliax

32 minutes ago, cabin4three said:

Maderia is a great port for children there is a lot of art/graffiti art at the docks that is done by crews of visiting ships.

The streets in port are steep but lots of interesting things to see (get a Google map). There are parks to have a walk or run around in.

The cable car is fun and if you're all brave you can come down in a wicker basket sort of sleigh ride. But watch a few before deciding!   As mentioned above the streets are steep so it's an adrenaline rush getting down the hill in a basket 😁

 

Another vote for the cable car and gondola ride back down the hill. We have done it three times now because our daughters love it. You can do it independently but getting from where the gondola ride stops back down into central Funchal is a bit of a slog.

I would recommend the ship excursion which as well as the cable car and gondola includes a visit to the top of the mountain where you can look down onto the ship in the habour. There is also a little cafe up there which is very child friendly and serves delicious Portuguese tarts. You then go back into Funchal for a well deserved adult orientated visit to Blandeys Madeira winery where you get to sample the fare.

Julia

5 hours ago, so,ton saint said:

 

Hi i work for Penguin  parking over the river at marchwood we still take passenger,s and cases direct to the drop of points so it doesn't affect our working practice , i under stand how you feel just watching people struggle with there trolleys for 200 mtrs or more, idid ask one of the Supervisors, and he told me this is the way its going to be, we are just short of porters, (say no more) but on Sunday it was back to normal with Ventura but have also been told its a trial period for IONA . next year for several weekends Britannia will be at the Mayflower because as you know  Ocean terminal will be for iona and Ventura will be at 38/39 and Anthem. at city.

 

 

 

Hi

Thank you for posting.

I am the original OP so it is great (or maybe not! 🙁) that you have been able to confirm what I understood to be the situation.

When you are sharing new information it can understandably causing a reaction. It is reassuring to know the information was reasonably accurate.

Thanks again

Julia

On 7/28/2019 at 10:32 PM, picsa said:

 

One difference not mentioned is the cabins. P&O cabin furnishing looks like a 1980's Travelodge, and is certainly not up to the standard of ships like HAL's Konigsdam.

I have not sailed with HAL but the OP mentions they have sailed with Princess.

Much as we love them Princess ships are definitely much more successful than P&Os cabin decor when it comes to replicating your 1980’s Travelodge. They have nailed that particular theme. Lots of plastic wood, browns, terracotta and beige are the order of the day.

Also having recently sailed on Britannia I have to stand up for P&O interior design. Sea greens, turquoise and greys, beautiful fabrics and very pleasing artistic pieces for me make for an elegant, interesting and relaxing environment.

Julia

We too always ask for the latest disembarkation time slot and this is usually about 10.30am. However quite often the disembarkation process is quicker than anticipated. When this happens the time slots are all brought forward so that final announcement asking all remaining passengers to leave the ship can be as early as 9.30am.

Julia

3 minutes ago, jeanlyon said:

But surely all cases these days have wheels?  You don't have to carry them.  Obviously if you are disabled, then that is different.

Firstly with respect the answer is no, not all cases do  have wheels.

Secondly I am sure you are aware that many people have some physical limitations which make handling heavy luggage difficult and/or contraindicated. These may include people with heart conditions, breathing problems, those who have had recent surgery etc. These individuals may not be classed or class themselves as “disabled” and would not meet the criteria for a blue badge.

I am sure you agree that not having a problem ourselves does not preclude us for having awareness of and empathy with those that may.

Hi

OP here.

Just to clarify what I understand. There appear to be two main changes from to the previous CPS procedure.

Firstly cars were directed away from the usual CPS drop off area immediately outside the Ocean Terminal. In stead they went to a new area further away but I am not sure of the exact distance.

Secondly after passengers vacated their vehicle there were no porters available at all to assist. Instead the passengers were instructed to collect a trolley and load on their luggage. CPS then collected the car keys and completed the necessary paperwork before driving the car away as normal. Passengers then had to push the trolley to the luggage drop off area at the terminal. I am not sure whether there were any porters available  to assist with unloading the trolley at this point.

 As I said this appears to be a trial they are running at the moment. I posted because I was not thrilled with the changes and wondered what others thought. Personally I should not be directly affected as I hold a Disabled Parking Badge. However I do have elderly parents who would struggle if they had to manhandle their luggage without an assistance.

Also there did not appear to be any canvassing yesterday of the passengers for their opinions. Something which I would of thought was very important when introducing changes which I feel impact negatively on the customers experience.

Hope this helps.

Juliax