Cathygh

I hope you both have a great time

3 hours ago, Tomcruise92 said:

 

 

It did have the My Holiday app but the virtual queues have been removed across the ship. The maitre d told us that virtual queuing was being removed from all ships (not sure if anyone can confirm that?).

 

 

Thank you that is interesting. I hope they do.

Thank you, Did Azura not have the My Holiday app? We used it on Azura in October last year. You can use it to join a virtual queue for the MDR. However when I was on Iona in May (half term, so very busy)  trying to use it to join a queue for the MDR was chaotic, but I know it worked ok for others on less busy cruises.

I am so sorry to hear that, condolences to you and your family.

A local TA told me that MSC are giving P&O a run for their money in ex Southampton cruises, lots of locals are trying MSC, including myself. Not having to queue outside is a bonus.

Happy Birthday Michelle

Have a great cruise, all sounds good so far

5 hours ago, Denarius said:

A very pertinent question.

When the Glasshouse concept was first introduced (on Azura) it was first and foremost a wine bar. Its selling point was that it featured wines chosen by Olly Smith and not available elsewhere onboard and that all wines were available by the glass as well as by the bottle - hence Glasshouse. Light meals and snacks were also available. It was dissappointing to find therefore, that on my cruise on Azura last year the Glasshouse appeared to have become primarily a restaurant.

The wine selection is vastly reduced IMHO but it still has most of my favourites listed 

Can someone clarify please- is the pop up just the food or is the wine available as well? Thanks

2 hours ago, lindylooellalouise said:

We were directed to the arrivals if we wanted to use the toilets,

That's a relief- no pun intended!

8 minutes ago, lindylooellalouise said:

Lots were buying tea and coffee when they got to the check in area and carried it through to the departures even through security, some of the staff were clearly embarrassed having to carry chairs outside, when obviously the more elderly passengers should have been allowed seating inside,

Appalling treatment from P &O

I don't know how the cafe will survive if customers can't buy anything until they check in.

20 minutes ago, lindylooellalouise said:

We also disembarked yesterday from Arcadia and had  a really awful embarkation experience so much so it’s deterring us from booking again with P&O

we travelled  six and half hours down from the Northeast  traffic was very busy at times and quite harrowing  it’s very difficult to get the timings right and you can never judge what the traffic will be like,but nevertheless we did arrive two hours early and were told to wait outside, or we could take a taxi and were directed to the taxi rank to take us elsewhere, as we had left our car with CPS we were not allowed into the terminal at all,we did ask if we could just sit and wait inside have a cup of tea and use the toilets but we were again directed elsewhere they we’re bringing chairs out for more elderly passengers  who couldn’t stand for long periods of time, I wasn’t expecting to board early but did expect to be able to sit inside when we did enter the check in area we found the whole area to be deserted and no passengers were sitting waiting, we were told they wanted the boarding experience to return to pre covid times absolute nonsense all of the cruises we took during covid times we were allowed inside the terminal mask wearing of course what a really horrible disappointing start to our holiday and has left quite a bitter taste if this is how P &O think that’s acceptable treatment of their loyal passengers. I do understand that the procedure is difficult when there are are large numbers of passengers but surely they can cope  better than that with the smaller ships numbers

Agreed. A dreadful way to treat passengers. It's like a punishment and P&O have forgotton who pays their wages. 

I have complained to P&O about this, and the fact that staff said to me they were worried they could lose their jobs if they let people through, that's down right bullying.

Were people allowed to use the toilets? I would hope so.

I can't tell you about September but all children's places were taken in May half term on Iona, so lots of them.

If you want to avoid children then avoid the pools especially when the kids clubs are closed.

If you are thinking of taking children then I am sure there will be anough on board for them to make friends, and our grandchildren loved the kids clubs. 

I hope that helps

Just now, Megabear2 said:

I've never had a pin, did get my slippers though.  Mind you I never got my Cunard Diamond pin either, must be something I said!

Got the slippers too, but they are huge and look ridiculous on my dainty feet

We got our Mediterraen pins on our last cruise and the info did say we get priority boarding. I thought it was a mistake but may be not?

2 hours ago, david63 said:

Nope. All my wife's cruises up to 2019 (cut off was 2017 I think?) were brought over but none of mine. I had a discussion with the Captain's Circle people and was told that it is an IT glitch that happens from time to time

That happened to my DH,he got Platinum  and not to me but Princess did let me have Platinum too. Theyagreed straightway but tokk months to alter my account,

1 minute ago, david63 said:

It would go some way but the bigger issue is that arrival times are allocated with a total disregard as to how/when passengers are arriving.

 

We all know of passengers being given an arrival time of, say, 13:00 but are on a coach that is not scheduled to arrive until 14:30 and similarly there are passengers having an arrival time of 15:00 who are on a train arriving at 12:30. There needs to be a correlation between designated arrival times and physical arrival times with an ability to arrive within 30 minutes of that time

Yes of course they should. Last time I travelled with Princess we had a Princess transfer fomr the hotel to the port  (in the US). I selected an arrival time of 12.30 on the app, but was allocated 2.30, which was the time the coach arrived at the port. Very sensible joined up thinking.

2 minutes ago, sistersontheseasuk said:

 

Prior to these changes of people being asked to wait outside had you ever arrived at the terminal and found the building to be full? I know I haven't and I have sailed on full Iona sailings. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I also don't believe the queuing area outside would house as many people as the building could?

 

 

On May 27th I can verify that the teminal building had every seat free with probably 50-100 people outside in the naughty queue. 

There was also an early arrivals queue inside the teminal. At the top of the escalator boarding times were checked again and any one who had slipped through early was directed to the queue. There weere 6 people in it who went through check in fairly quickly.

I like the Princess app, you can do lots through it before you sail eg choose your embarkation time. You can order any drink anywhere on the ship and they will bring it to you. (But they can struggle to find you on the open decks.) MDR food is on a par and sometimes better than P&O and there is more choice. We were able to get a curry for my husband one night when it wasn't on the MDR menu. They try to help, rather than fob you off. 

If you plan to sail when our US cousins are on board just be prepared T shirts, shorts and caps in the MDR.

Just now, daiB said:

You are confusing Iona and Arvia. I have not seen many complaints about Iona.

I have a complaint about Iona, but that hopefully that issue will be resolved by the new booking system, if that is rolled out to Iona. 

I welcome this change and it solves the problem we had trying to eat in the MDRs on Iona recently. 

13 hours ago, cruising.mark.uk said:

I'd be fascinated to know why not.  If it is possible for people to get to the terminal, drop their luggage and check-in, why is it not possible for those same people to get to the terminal, drop their luggage and then go into town for a couple of hours and return?  I understand that the arrival of coaches is timed to allow passengers to board straight away.  So, all other passengers must have got to the terminal under their own steam or been brought by others.  So, why can't they drop their luggage and then use their own steam or that of others (or, worst case, a taxi) to take them into town and then bring them back again?

According to google maps it is a 20 minute walk to West Quay from Ocean Terminal, not great in this heat.

Also I would not recommend going into Southampton with any valuables especially a passport unless it is very securely hidden. There has been a spate of passport thefts from people wandering around until it is their time to get on the ship. I met the partners of the victims of passport theft on recent cruises, one in April and one in May. Those who had lost their passport were denied boarding. I suspect there are many more.

There will be some outside when you leave the ship. Or you can order an uber when you are ready and they will collect you from the prebooked taxi line

59 minutes ago, molecrochip said:

The need to be onboard early to make bookings is an issue. If that is influencing arrival times then it’s self defeating.

 

Maybe certain things like 710 club need to be released at 8am each day for the following day, like the kids club, or at 6pm once everyone has boarded.

 

Another option is for everyone to be limited to 3 visits to the 710 club so that all those who want to can visit over the course of the cruise.

 Sensible solutions. People have mentioned on here and elsewhere how unfair it is that everything is booked up before they get on board. Opening bookings at 8 am is a little early for me 9am would be better.

27 minutes ago, Splice the mainbrace said:

Yeh the Faroes was dropped due to their whaling policy, an Iceland port was dropped and basically going the opposite way round now Norway followed by Iceland. I’m not impressed at Liverpool being an added port of call 1) it’s only 40 minutes away from where we live and have been there many times, 2) We also only went there 2 weeks ago on a round Britain cruise where we just got off the ship and mooched for an hour or so and got a couple of bottles of cabin wine!🍷

Oh dear. Well I suppose you could pop home and do your laundry🤣🤣