Somerset Cruiser
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Posts posted by Somerset Cruiser
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We are considering a transatlantic on Ventura in December, Caribbean and back. Any opinions on the positioning of balcony cabins?
Aft is an option, other than the potential extra movement are there any other advantages/disadvantages?
As it is a return voyaage I guess there is no advantage to Port or Starboard.
Thanks in advance.
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Sorry I worded that incorrectly, I meant to ask if there is a lunch on boarding day.
Not sure why I said hosted!!
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We have just been told by our agent that the Lunch for Caribbean or above members is not he hosted.
Can anyone advise if this is correct?
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We are boarding Iona on 30th Oct, as of now P&O still require a PCR to be booked for the PLF, according to our agent.
Am I misunderstanding, if the test is a Government requirement then why would P&O require a PCR.
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35 minutes ago, rickg8 said:
Anyone, maybe @ecko or @Southendweather? I'm going diving in Langkawi but only just organised it, so probably too late to order currency before we leave. Wondering if I need to pay over-the-odds at the airport or if I can just use the ATM when I get off the ship. Thanks!
There is no cruise terminal in Langkawi, the local are happy to take US$.
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We were in Sihanoukville 2 weeks ago, it is a mess, all of the roads have been dug up due to the extensive construction of Chinese hotels/casinos.
Tuk Tuks are available at the port for city tours, but get out of the city if you can.
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On 1/5/2020 at 10:07 PM, indiana123 said:
We were told by a crew member that it was a big outbreak but to be honest we saw no evidence of illness.. ie we didn't see any poorly passengers.
You wouldn't, they are confined to their cabin.
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On 1/5/2020 at 7:48 PM, Southendweather said:
Something I've been meaning to ask, what currency's does one need (as we say down souf)
Also, not been to the quacks yet, but what vacinations are recommended, if not made sure are upto date?
Keith Southend)
Depending on your plans it is possible to get by with US$, it may make a small purchase more expensive, but less so than getting currency and changing it back. I don't think there is a port where you could use it. Have plenty of small notes though.
We were recommended Measles plus the usual vaccinations.
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4 minutes ago, Southendweather said:
Hi theped - Now if I've got this right that would be in the same week as us, 1st week for us, 2nd week for you, I assume you fly into Thailand to board the ship. You haven't been told officially yet I guess?
I think we will know one way or the other this week.
I wonder if a large part is required to repair the transformer as this would more likely come into Thailand due to the size of the port, but I'm only playing a guessing game.
Keith (Southend)
A part is being made, hence the delay, you are probably correct that it will come into Thailand.
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21 minutes ago, Southendweather said:
Thanks Somerset Cruise - I'm intrigued following this saga. Our original outgoing flight was 12th Feb 20:10 but is now 13th Feb 00:45
Our return to Gatwick was 23:10 and last week got changed to 22:40, I also seem to recall 23:25 was another change, so a little earlier.
Still nothing to say any itinary changes - yet - I imagine if there is it will be this week we will be told.
I assume the damaged transformer hasn't been fixed yet?
Thanks
Keith (Southend)
Keith, I think the Captain said the transformer would be fixed in about 5 weeks, a week ago.
The late flight wasn't so bad, I slept a few hours and the drove straight home from Gatwick yesterday morning.
It's their attitude that the changes aren't a big deal that annoys me. Quite simply we wouldn't have booked the itinerary we had.
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On 12/23/2019 at 8:18 PM, idh2019 said:
Also be glad you are going into and out of Laem Chabang. The 1800h arrival of the ship in Langkawi means that flights from Gatwick and Birmingham are re-scheduled so they do not arrive at Langkawi before the ship docks. Hence the departures back to the UK are also later.
Arrived home from Langkawi yesterday after a 14 hour+ flight including a refuel in Bulgaria. What I don't understand about the scheduled late arrival of the boat into Langkawi is that we had a 6 hour delay leaving Vietnam on the 30th due to a medical emergency, but were able to make up that time and even dock a little early.
There is much more to say but I am still gathering my thoughts.
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1 hour ago, Cathygh said:
The guy who posted that rumour has now admitted it was a joke. Good job too as we ae on the NY cruise
He's funny eh!!
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18 hours ago, Eglesbrech said:
I would like to think they would provide some sort of cover but personally I would be checking if I didn’t have annual insurance. Presumably you would have to make contact to activate the extension or at least inform the insurer, (you have to contact when using the medical element over a certain amount). Every policy will potentially be a little different.
Every policy is different but it would be a poor one that didn't extend until your return home, that is whole point of the insurance.
I would not expect any policy to withdraw cover when you are delayed in such circumstances.
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4 hours ago, Windsurfboy said:
None of the cruises just transiting gulf are cancelling.
I wonder if the reason to cancel Dubai cruises was not just safety and the big union Jack, which I'm sure was a significant factor, but it was also helped by low bookings.
Whatever it was it was not a cheap or easy decision, but most probably the right one.
What was the booking level for the whole season?
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On 6/28/2019 at 11:16 AM, Harry Peterson said:
I agree. Empty sunbeds are useless to everybody. Far better just to have a straightforward rule that once you leave a sunbed it’s available to anyone who wants it.
That would allow maximum usage for everyone and maximum fairness.
Though frankly the thought of lying for hours on a sunbed would fill me with horror!
100% agree, plenty to go round if they if people used them then left them free.
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8 minutes ago, CCFC said:
Japan seems to be.
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This thread reminds of the man who cancelled his family holiday to Turkey about 10 years ago after a terrorist incident there, they went to Cornwall instead and end up being rescued from a hotel roof after severe flooding.
We are on Oceana in December, nowhere is 100% safe.
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On 4/24/2019 at 12:22 PM, Scriv said:
However a big negative for us is TUI Marella Customer Service - if you have any query or problem before or after your booking it's a real nightmare getting anything sorted or even finding 2 representatives who say the same thing.
We book via a local TUI shop to avoid dealing direct, a £30 fee for the whole booking is well worth the convenience. They check you in for flights and print your documents as well.
We have done some 20 P&O cruises but our last 2 have been Marella, Discovery and Explorer. They are differences as has been pointed out, but overall I would say comparable.
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On 3/26/2019 at 3:31 PM, davecttr said:
I have completed 21 Marella cruises and 22 P&O and enjoy both, they are more similar than different especially with Marella's latest ships which IMO are every bit as good as the P&O ones.
differences for me will include:
P&O more formal, Marella less so
More talented show teams on Marella
P&O crews are more reserved, friendlier on Marella
P&O older clientele or those who won't fly
Marella more port intensive, no long sail around Spain to get to the warm areas
Marella are basically fly cruises
P&O passengers can sometimes be a bit snobby, somewhat pretentious
Marella have a much better social programme for solo cruisers of they want to take part
Both lines get drunks but no more so on Marella. The worst drunks I have seen have been aboard P&O
Go with an open mind and do not listen to the moaners you will meet, make your own mind up at the end of the cruise
Happy cruising
Spot on Dave. Can I add, people on Marella don't seem to moan as much as P&Oers. Also given our recent experience on Explorer I would say better dining with more options.
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On 2/10/2019 at 8:22 PM, dazlight said:
Also at dinner can I order a glass of wine then another when I’ve drank it or do I have to get a bottle of wine and get 20% off.
Not sure how P&O will do it, we were on Marella AI recently and wine at dinner was just poured as and when by the waiter. Sometimes our card was taken, sometimes not. I guess it is easier when the whole ship is AI.
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17 minutes ago, Britboys said:
Maybe it depends on the itinerary and even varies between particular departures.
I think that is fairly certain given it will be different passengers.
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On 1/30/2019 at 8:45 AM, wowzz said:
Perhaps I should have said that Marella are not promoting an up market appeal. To do so, would, I believe, alienate their target market, who basically consider cruising to be the nautical equivalent of a land based AI resort, and are not interested in formal nights, etc.
Not true, we were on Marella at Christmas and I don't think the overall dress standards were noticeably different to P&O. Only 1 formal night a week but that was 80/90% participated in.
We are on Marella again in March, the Caribbean this time, interesting to see if there is any difference.
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With a long P&O history behind us it is usually the cruise line of choice, we are aware of the shortcomings and also the things about them we like.
Our last cruise was on Marella Destiny (TUI) at Xmas. Having recent experience of TUI we didn't travel with high expectations. But what we found surprised us, a ship in really good condition throughout, the cabin was spacious and they now include tea making as standard. A constant supply of live entertainment, not overladen with quizzes. The food was good, not quite to the level we would expect on P&O, having said that it was as good as we have had on some P&O trips.
If this is the standard they are aspiring to on all of their ships I feel they are going to be a serious competitor, particularly with the wide variation of itineraries and fly cruises.
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I have looked a Cruising Excursions and where they have comparable tour they are almost double the price of the ship tours.
Lack of staff- Ventura
in P&O Cruises ( UK )
Posted
We've just booked this as well and while I understand the operational difficulties they have I would hope for the full facilities and services to be available on such a cruise.