Geminisquirrel

I drink litres of sparkling water in 500ml bottles. Is it okay to pack a case and put it with my main luggage? Obviously wrapped and labelled. It would be no different to taking a case of soft drink cans.

Help please. Thank you.

Love the tips (secrets). Thank you.

Can I just ask about Coffee cards. We have 2 part used ones from previous cruises. Can we still use them on our up coming cruise.

These faults are rumoured to be the result of the ship breaking free from where it was anchored in Geiranger [sp] and making contact with the seabed. Isn't it the second ship to have done that recently...?

I and my family were on board Azura this past week.

The Captain categorically denied any connection with what happened in Geiranger.

Yes the ship was berthed and was caught by a sudden very fierce gust of wind or winds causing 2 of her berthing ropes to snap.

It took 6 of the tenders and a couple of tugs to get her back in situ.

The Captain then took us out into deeper water to protect any damage being done. We had 500 passengers ashore and needed to get them back safely.

The following day the hull was inspected by divers to confirm there had been no damage.

We were getting ready to leave Flaam and while the pre sail tests were being done, a problem with the electrics on the propulsion was found. The engineers worked on this round the clock.

The weather forecast was to be very high winds. We stayed in Flaam overnight.

The following morning we set sail down the Fjord in relatively calm waters. The Captain then advised that another problem resulting from the original electrical problem had occurred.

He advised we would put into Began and pick up a Technician who was being flown in from Hamburg. We sailed from Bergan with the Technician on board to Southampton.

The weather worsened as we hit the north sea.

I for one and there were many like me was very grateful we had the problems in calm waters, because it would have been a very different story if we had broken down in the north sea and the rough seas.

At no time did you feel any un ease from any of the crew, they went about their jobs as if nothing was happening. We were kept informed by the Captain as to what was going on and what was being done.

Yes, it added another day to the cruise and of course this was not convenient for some but everything was done that could be done.

A £100 OBC gesture to every passenger caused a riot of shopping. I have never seen the so many people with bottles of booze and sleeves of cigarettes going back to the cabins.

Azura shops will have to be completely restocked.

One lady in particular swore to us that it was her first cruise with P&O and it would be her last.

The future deposit awarded to her was of no use. She stormed reception with her story and was offered 20% of her on board bill instead.

She was not happy with that as she had not spent £50. It was a case of take it or leave it.

We believe she took it. But she will most certainly be sending the CEO a letter with all her complaints on it.

My advise to her would be lighten up.

The Captain and all his crew should be congratulated and commended for their dedication to duty.

Are there any single cruisers, on Azura A509N to the Fjords.

Ship leaves Southampton on 1st May 2015.

We are travelling as a family but one of the party is 29 and single. Want him to have the opportunity to meet other singles.

One of our party is a keen cyclist, likes extreme sports etc.

Can you please suggest trips of activities he could look at.

Thank you in advance. This is a great post/help.

We have an adult travelling with us who is interested in off the normal activities. ie, biking, off roading, climbing.

Does anyone have any info on alternative trips.

Thank you in advance.

Thank you guys, your comments have been very helpful.

Tina:)

I hope you good people can help me.

We are doing the above cruise from San Francisco, therefore having to fly from Manchester (Cheaper and quicker than a transatlantic).

My questions are.... How formal are the Formal nights on a ship in America. Do they differ much from ships that sail from Southampton?

Obviously we are thinking of the weight of Dress Wear.

Thank you in advance,:)

You need to exercise ypur imagination a bit more, majortom. Try these:

 

1. They enjoy giving tips personally.

 

2. They have a rooted objection to auto-tipping.

 

3. They think auto-tipping is a personal insult impugning their integrity.

 

4. They don't believe auto-tips go where they want them to.

 

5. They haven't eaten in the main restaurant so don't want to tip the restaurant waiters - instead they put the money in the buffet tips box.

 

6. They changed cabin part-way through and want to ensure they tip both stewards.

 

7. They want to enclose the tip in a thank-you card.

 

8. They always bring bucketloads of Euros in cash, to save charges, and prefer to shovel the large spare notes onto the crew rather than change them back.

 

9. They've used all their on-board credit and are worried their credit card is maxed out or lost, so they're paying cash.

 

10. Oh dear, my imagination needs work too. Anyone got a number 10? :)

Agree with all of the above.

On our last cruise our Steward told us that if he didn't get positive feedback on all questionnaires, he didn't get his share if the tips. We always tip Steward extra anyway.

From The P&O web site.

 

 

https://ask.pocruises.com/help/PO/on-shore/Port_Shuttle_Info

Thank you. It will teach me to look before asking.

If you purchase your Cruise on a Saver fare, I understand you have to pay for the Coaches to transfer to different destinations on the cruise.

Can anyone tell me how much these costs are please.

I also agree' date=' leave automatic daily tips on, and tip extra to the who deserve it.[/quote']

 

This is what we normally do and still intend to do.

Can someone tell me please, if you can take off your daily charge, when you are on anytime dining.

Not sure if it can only be done with set dining.

Thank you in advance.

We have booked today for 1st June 2015. We are sailing on the Golden Princess out of San Francisco for a 10 day round trip to Alaska.

Nervous and excited.

I am a wheelchair user and would like to know if I get priority boarding at embarkation.

Thank you in advance for any replies.

Please do make sure you to clarify with your Travel Agent, about the Grand Princess and her itinerary. To do a rt Vancouver, it will be 14 days, not 7. If you sail one way out of Vancouver on the Grand, you would disembark in Whittier for a transfer to Anchorage for onward travels. Flights out of Anchorage are expensive - we've always viewed coming back on the southbound into Vancouver as a reasonable alternative. Of course, you could disembark and do a land tour from Anchorage - Princess has a number of options for those.

 

If you do decide to sail out of Vancouver, you could also fly into Seattle (Sea-Tac) and take a Princess transfer from that airport up to the pier in Vancouver.

Thank you. I have looked again, taking your advice and see that the TA did make a mistake. Thank you.

It looks as if we will be doing the SF round trip which is 10 days. We intend to spend a few extra days in SF either side of the cruise.

Thanks to everyone who gave some input. I will discuss them all with OH when he gets back.

The 14 hour flight to SF does nothing to settle my nerves. Not the greatest of flyer.

We are toying with the idea of cruising Alaska next June. Our options are 10 days round trip from San Francisco on the Golden Princess or 7 days round trip from Vancouver on the Grand. Princess.

We have been on the Grand 3 times before and loved every minute.

My questions are.

Which would you consider the better option?

What is The Golden princess like?

We are planning spending some time exploring either SF or Vancouver, which do you think is the better?

thank you in advance for any responses .:)

On both our cruises on the Grand Primcess we have taken a cool box full of wine, soda & water.

Put a luggage label on it and dump it with the rest of the luggage. Not been refused and arrived safe & sound.