wilson2579

Sorry disagree, people are posting as I have shown that it is working fine. Little or no waiting.

This is only one sailing out of many more that have had problems since this new embarkation started, but well done for looking at the positives. I do hope things are settling down though.

Hi Trish

We were also on this cruise, which I hope you enjoyed as much as we all did. We arrived at the Port after sitting in traffic along with those boarding on Anthem (glad we weren't on that, the queue was horrendous). We entered the terminal around 2.00 p.m. and were in our cabin around 3.00 which was half an hour before our official embarkation time. Our luggage was waiting for us, but we had sent it with The Baggage Company a few days earlier. With regards to the sea conditions, it wasn't great but I suppose to be expected in end of October. I coped lot better than I have previously, but I am still swaying nearly six days later.

Mandy

We only swayed on the Saturday/Sunday, something we have never done since our very first cruise 7 years ago. We did have a lovely time and thought the food and entertainment was very good once more. Our luggage must have got lost as we didn't get it until after muster and sailaway.:(

We had a lovely time but probably the roughest sailing in all of 15 cruises. I was actually sick on the 1st day at sea, a first for me, and could only manage one free drink at the captains cocktail formal night:D:D

Embarkation was okay for us, around 90 minutes wait, but really felt for the families around us that had to sit on the floor. A family of 9 sitting beside us, well the adults were sitting:D, weren't allowed to embark together because they had different times which seemed to be a new thing too, as previously if your bookings were linked you all got on together.

Hopefully this will all settle down. I did expect the terminal to be busy because of the school holidays.:eek:

We always try and self disembark. Last week we got off Ventura just before 8 am and were home in Suffolk at 11 am. Would have been off earlier if our bill hadn't been wrong and I had to wait in the queue at reception:(

When we embarked 2 weeks ago our cabin was ready but we didn't receive our luggage until much later which actually defeats the purpose of the cabin being ready as we still had to unpack after sail away:eek:

We are first time cruisers' date='having booked an early saver for a Caribbean cruise on Britannia in November.We booked a HD balcony cabin which are mainly towards the aft of the ship.We have just been allocated our cabin which is a HA cabin on F deck midship.Would this be a better cabin than the HD cabin as these have nearer access to stairs and my concern with the midship cabin is the lift problems some people have encountered.Any advice appreciated.[/quote']

 

It is classed as a better grade because it is midship. These are more expensive than aft or forward cabins.

Update : It's on the Personaliser already. It's now 12 30!!!!

 

I am really chuffed. It's only a 2 night cruise, but I am so looking forward to sampling a Mini Suite and a very early embarkation time is a special treat as I was on the delayed Ventura 2 nighter recently where we all lost time onboard.

 

This was a Select Booking made 11 months ago when I hopefully ticked the Upgrade Box - so thank, P&O Upgrade Fairy.

 

PS Thank you all for your good wishes on this too - and jean, I have sent you a PM on Facebook. Check your 'Other ' Message Box maybe?

Great result Scriv. Enjoy!!!:D

I've got an interesting scenario to put by you... I have today been upgraded to a Mini Suite on B deck Oceana from a Balcony cabin on C deck where my embarkation time was 15.00.

 

Will my embarkation time be changed now, do you think?

Fabulous news and you will get on early too:D

Just had info from P&O about our Azura 30 October cruise. We are on deck A and our stated embarkation time is 1500 hrs. However we are being picked up from Bournemouth Airport on a coach and the information clearly states that coach arrival time supercedes individual arrival times. As we are probably going to arrive before 1230hrs I assume we will be sitting in the terminal for a while.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

From what I can gather on Ventura on Saturday most are 3.00 or 3.30 pm:confused: Going to be a busy time:eek:

Oh I would have been gutted. Been to Madeira several times on cruises and land holidays and just love the place. Not so keen on Tenerife but that is just my opinion. Hope you are not too disappointed,:cool:

Can anyone tell us the current price of the washers and dryers on the Ventura? Also, what coins do they take?

 

Thanks

 

Simon

I might be wrong as I have never used a laundrette on board, but I assume they are free but you do have to pay for the washing powder, or take your own. If I am wrong hopefully someone will correct me.:eek:

You fancy coming on Oceana in Feb? :D

My husband blames my roots for all the chatting I do. Probably somewhere near your part of the woods. lol:eek:

It's a pity that some people on this board can't accept when they make a mistake.

 

You don't know what you're missing at the parties. We love to socialise and meet friends old and new there. We never queue for a drink but sit relaxed and chatting till a wine waiter or a bar steward whom we've got to know provides us with drinks as and when we need them. I wouldn't say we were joining the hordes there any more than I would say going to a show the theatre.

I love a good party. I would be there having a good chinwag too:D

Can't wait to retire so I can do a longer cruise but then maybe if I am not working I won't be able to afford them:eek:

Enjoy!!. You can have tea, coffee and soft drinks. I found the mocktails a bit sticky and sweet but that is just my opinion.:)

We went down to the Canaries 2 years ago the last week of October and had it rough all around the Canary Islands, so much so we didn't dock after Madeira. Hubby lay in bed most of the week. I have been on and holidays in Tenerife and Gran Canaria at this time of year and the weather was very nice.

Have a great trip Trish!

Thanks Scriv. Fingers crossed that the BOB behaves:eek:

SS, I would hope wheelchair users needing assistance would always be given priority whatever time they arrive. I know and understand how it is so much more difficult for you and your wife making any sort of journey, you just don't have the same options as the rest of us and there are so many other things you need to consider and cope with. So let's hope common sense prevails on that point.

Totally agree. I am sure wheelchair users will still have priority.

I am going in three weeks on Oceana, so I will let you know how I get on. My embarkation time is 3pm....

and I will let you know when I come back after my sailing in 6 days time. Hope it has all settled down by the time you go Scriv.:cool:

The problem is I don't think anyone knows for sure, lots of different interpretation and messaging on the board, from P&O and the actual experience of people currently boarding. For what it's worth my assessment having read everything from both this thread snd the Caribbean tier thread is that: You don't have to stick to your time but if you arrive early you will have to wait until they slot you in - this may or may not be before your allocated time depending on what is going on in the terminal that day. I think it is the intention of P&O to apply this to all passengers including Caribbean, but they can go to the front of whichever queue they get to join. At present I don't think this is fully operational because the system is bedding in, P&O are getting quite a lot of feedback to consider and I think they are preparing a communication to all Peninsular members - which I think will clarify what the changes actually mean. Before this communication is issued I think they are exercising discretion in what they do on the ground and what they communicate - hence the confusion. So I think we have to sit and wait and there isn't much point in fighting amongst ourselves about the rights and wrongs of the situation, or about how we think it should be done. I do believe P&O monitor the forum, this is good in some respects as it's a way for them to gauge feedback, on the other hand I think the way some individuals speak to others on the forum gives a rather depressing picture of their customer base, and an indication of what must go on onboard.

Yes it is a waiting game Florry. I wouldn't mind this if I had time to wait but it is the passengers that are sailing now or soon:eek::eek: that are being caught up in the check ins that are not flowing too well. Maybe all will be sorted out by next summer:confused:

I thought this too but didn't want to appear ageist 😉

 

I am no spring chicken but they all seem a fair bit older than me. I expect they are all part time and only called upon when needed. Maybe their wages top up their pension 😉

Aww bless, good idea but it does seem to take a long time to check in. When we went on Independence of the Seas last year the check in assistant whizzed through our details.

Well i accept that some people are rude and that is unacceptable, but some staff are incompetent as well and need better training.

I might come across rude here but it seems to me that every time we go the check in staff seem to be getting more mature.

That was posted at 13.30 yesterday but the OP never came back on to let people know what happened in the end. Was he moaning for the sake of it? And we don't know what his official boarding time was anyway. It might have been 3pm for all we know!

 

He arrived by coach...but he doesn't say if it was an "official" P &O organised coach. If it wasn't he won't be covered by the new arrangements.

I did see another post saying he was on and about to go to muster at 4.45 pm