pennib

Good luck with the Epicurean. For our Britannia Christmas cruise we made 2 bookings from home. The first was for the week before Christmas and this was fine except that they don’t do tableside crepes suzette any more. Reason given that there isn’t enough room to safely use the trolley between tables. We were very disappointed as we have had this dessert before in the Epicurean on Britannia without any problems. Many other passengers were disappointed. Our second booking was for Christmas Day dinner (again something we have done every year). However Christmas 2023 was a complete washout. No amuse bouche, no sorbet before the main course, a very disappointing main course. Our friends who ate in the MDR enjoyed both these things and indeed when we were given a couple of menues to bring home (given to us by the 2 lovely waiters in the Oriental for breakfast, they confirmed what people had in the MDR for Christmas dinner. We were very disappointed. Probably won’t bother with the Epicurean again. On the other hand we had a couple of excellent dinners in the Beach House.

Interested that you are doing the wine and food tasting. We did it on Britannia the week before Christmas. This was new as it had not been offered on Britannia when we were on before. We have done wine and food tastings in many parts of the world and whilst the experience on Britannia was quite good it was not the best we have had. For a start, they served too much wine with each course (what a complaint!!!). We got the impression that it is a new venture on Britannia which goes alongside all the other upselling that we were offered. They may learn by experience.

Thanks Mrsg. Having kicked P&O Caribbean Christmas cruises into touch, we have already booked the Ventura for January 2025 but it is your comments about Eavesway that we found really interesting as I have already booked them and we are getting on like you at Burtonwood services. We know of others who have used Eavesway and they all give good reports. Like you, we don’t want to drive ourselves to Soton although we have done so (to join the old QE2) back in 2006. We are not worried at all about 35 nights having done 2 or even 3 28 nighters on Azura. have a great cruise and we look forward to your next reports!!

With respect, I agree with those who report that you don’t get the lounge access in PE when on a P&O charter from Manchester. You might get it if you are on a TUI holiday and you are travelling on a dreamliner in PE. if you are in PE for a P&O Caribbean cruise, you get the fast track included. In the past I made the mistake of booking fast track when booking the parking at Manchester only to find that it was included with the PE upgrade. Hey ho not to worry. if you have not been out of Manchester since the T2 refurb (be aware that is not yet finished), then you must prepare yourselves for a VERY LONG walk to and from the gate. Lots of complaints from passengers. Yes, they have “travelators” but they are usually switched off to save energy (you couldn’t make it up). Also be aware that you can be dumped in the middle of nowhere after the return flight (as we were this year) when the airport was empty and it was tipping down with rain so no airbridge. Bridgetown airport in Barbados is not fit for purpose. On a Friday and Saturday in the season, there can be between 5 and 7 planes arriving around late afternoon just from the UK and the place just can’t cope. The crew on our flight home last month were saying it is one of the worst airports they go to. We have had many years of flying dreamliners from Manchester to Barbados in PE for the Christmas P&O cruises but we have decided that Christmas 2023 was our last as delays have got much worse, we are not as young as we were. Nevertheless I am sure you will have a great trip but here is a tip; save one of your free bottles of water that you get in PE for your arrival because once you have been squashed into a small bus to take you from the airport in (Barbados) to the ship (a journey of around 40 minutes depending on traffic) and you have checked in at the ship, then waited for ages for a lift on the ship to take you to your deck, you will be very dry as you will be very tired and hot and you will need the water in your free bottle from the plane unless you want to drink the tepid water out of the tap in your bathroom. P & O used to supply a couple of small bottles of water in your cabin on arrival but that has now been stopped (certainly on the Britannia) as part of the cut backs by P&O.

Yes, we have always had a Christmas gift left by Father Christmas but these have gone down in recent years. The best one I can remember was when I got a really good beach bag and DH got a man bag. Both have been in use since and this was well before COVID. Worst was one of those bubbly scenes in a glass dome that you had to shake to activate the snow. There were more in waste bins in the corridors next morning than people were taking home. Enjoy!!!

Last year (2022 Christmas) the TUI flight from Manchester was over 5 hours late arriving in Barbados. Lots of people said you couldn’t claim compensation but we did and got £1050 for us both and we didn’t have to fight for it.

Last evening ,complying with the time limit for pre cruise booking DH found he could not book the Epicurean for Christmas night. This is something we have always done so we’re disappointed when it seemed that this Christmas night would be different. In any event we were booked in for dinner in the MDR. Imagine his surprise therefore when today he casually logged on to P&O cruise personaliser and found an invitation to book the venue for Christmas night dinner. So he did it. So if there is anyone else been “knocked back “ for a restaurant booking, don’t give up!!

Many thanks to you all. The 0800 number worked a treat and I got through to a really helpful person. Unfortunately it all went pear shaped after that but more about that in another post!!

Have just spent several head banging minutes trying to phone P&O with a couple of queries but all I could get was a “virtual agent” which was unable to enter any conversation except to ask questions which were not relevant to why I was ringing. One of the numbers was the one in “ contact us” on the main page. Has anyone got a phone number I could try. My queries regard checking in for our cruise B330 and also getting assistance at the terminal. It is not yet 09.00 and I am stressed out of my head. thanks

To reply to post no 352, we can definitely recommend Marella and we have just returned from our last cruise on Explorer. We think they are brilliant. Food brilliant, staff exceptional and of course it is all inclusive and you can upgrade for £90 a week each and have the choice of all the drinks on the ship. Go for it.

We are currently on a Marella cruise. Never been asked about disabilities etc. no emails or questionnaires about it. Hundreds of walking stick users on board!! Having a great cruise which gives P& O a run for their money.

We have been to the Caribbean lots of times and wouldn’t even consider anything that is not a balcony. It is so restful to sit out in the warm evenings listening to the sea especially with a tot of something in your hand!! You won’t regret it. Enjoy

Yes I thought that would be the problem!! Thanks for your response

I tried to post this yesterday but it seems to have been taken down. Has anyone done the cookery club on Britannia. I would like to know if you have to stand a lot as that would rule me out. thanks

Yes, we have done that many times on P&O and it is really convenient. Some of the buses taking you from and to the ship are a bit basic. Just hang on and hope !!

Thanks Andy

We usually book them when on board but thought we would save time by doing it at home prior to the cruise. Very strange timings offered and whilst it says there are 4 restaurants to book, you only get offered 2 - the Surf and Turf and the Kora La. Tried ringing TUI about it but they couldn’t help.

We are on the Explorer in November doing a back to back. We like to eat in the dining club but these are usually on sea days or dress to impress nights. Our first sea day is the first day on the ship so we don’t really want to be dressing up on that night. Does anyone know how I can find out the dates of our dress to impress nights? The cruise schedule already provided does not help. Thanks

Just watched the video. We are on a flight from Manchester to Barbados on Friday 15 December to board the Britannia. We booked and paid for PE and have also booked our PE seats and paid for them. However, on checking with some friends who are also on the same cruise, same departure date and flying from Manchester on the same day as us but they are not in PE, They asked me if we are on TOM 238 at 11.00. We aren’t as we re on TOM124 at 11.35. Given that someone noted a few days ago that one of the flights from Manchester on that date was being operated with a Maleth Aero plane, and aware from past experience that the outbound TOM number has a bearing on the inbound TOM number (239) and smelling a large rat I went into investigation mode. I have looked at Maleth site this morning and as someone else mentioned, they are an aircraft leasing outfit. They describe the planes they have and provide pictures of the seating arrangements. It is clear that some of their wide bodied planes have business and economy seating and also have inflight entertainment screens while other planes in their repertoire have clearly economy only seating 3-3-3 (or 3-4-3?) but I was unclear what the in flight entertainment situation is. I think that our outbound flight is going to be on a Maleth plane. We have not had any contact from P&O as others have so we are trying to keep an open mind. We have paid over £800 for our PE seats extra to the amount charged for the cruise. So I would not be satisfied with an extra £75 OBC as compensation!! Has anyone else got any further info? BTW, the Maleth site indicated they are taking delivery of a new plane in October.

Thanks for all your comments and help.

Thanks Megabear. No we weren’t on the wamos last year. I think that went from Gatwick and we were from Manchester. Your reply has given me some hope that things could be OK. After a lot of Christmas and New Year cruises this will probably be the last Christmas cruise as we are getting too long in the tooth for messing about in airports so we have booked Ventura 35 nights in January 2025 instead and going by coach down to Southampton. Hope you enjoy your festive break this year.

I am concerned to see that a Manchester flight to BGI on 15 December is on the Mareth list. We have booked, paid for and chosen seats on PE on a plane with a TUI number. We have paid for the seats and have a printed receipt from P&O. So now what can we expect? After last year’s debacle with the Christmas flights (ours 12 hours late) I am far from looking forward to this year’s flights for the Britannia Christmas cruise . Has anyone got any more information about this problem?

Anyone used this recently?? We are hoping to on our Christmas cruise. Anyone any idea of format, charges, ease of booking etc? thanks

Not as far as I know unless it is part of the booking circumstances. However, my questions would still apply!!

Hear hear!!! We have done 2 cruises on Explorer and have 2 more booked on her. We are multi P& O cruise people but think Marella are better. Staff excellent, food excellent and ship clean and welcoming. We haven’t eaten in the MDR except for breakfast. We like the speciality restaurants even though they charge a bit more except for Tapas and Vista. You must go to the Dining Club at least one evening. Brilliant. We always upgrade to the premium all inclusive for drinks and it is well worth it. Go for it and enjoy.