Flash harriet

I have some fairly mundane questions but if you could help, that would be great. Have booked Britannia 7 night Norwegian Fjords for June 21, and it’s my first time on P&O UK

1. is Tea and coffee available free in the buffet?

2. I have heard that supplies of milk, tea and coffee in the cabin can be somewhat frugal. Would I be able to bring a carton of milk and my own tea and coffee on board?

3. when I booked with P and O, I asked about gratuities, and was told that they aren’t required, which surprised me. It may be because I booked in Australia, where there are laws about compulsory gratuities. What do most people tip for cabin staff, drinks service, and waitstaff?

thanks in advance….

Just picked up this thread…ex travel agent here.

if all else fails and you cant get a refund, i would just leave the booking as it is, and just not cancel it.  P and O will cancel it automatically when you fail to pay in full. And you never know… circumstances may by some miracle change, and you end up going, so your cabin will still be there…and if circumstances dont change, well, you havent had to pay the £50.

i have retired now, but often when I cruise, I make the booking direct with the cruise line, and then, if the cruise line allows it, I hand the booking over to my friendly travel agent. The agent doesn’t have to do anything, and gives me a discount worth half the commission. Win win, and then when I DO  need help with stuff, they treat me well because of the commissions they earn from me with minimal work.

On 5/17/2023 at 2:10 AM, MMDown Under said:

On 5/18/2023 at 3:20 AM, arxcards said:

Thank you! I love your candour.

 

I do like the look of the cabin. Brisbane embarkations are so much better. 😉 In Sydney, Carnival had days when Splendor's queues were down to the ferry wharves.

 

I noticed that Cassidy Rae was doing a resident musician piano & vocals show - did you get to see any of her shows?

Cassidy was on board and did a show most nights..it is a shame that there isn’t really a proper Piano Bar. I guess the Italians weren’t that interested.

You are far more organised than I with the thermos, mmdownunder.packing for this trip has been a nightmare, as we went from tropical heat to freezing Seattle. A thermos would have been very useful.

Luminosa will be coming back to Australia after her Alaska season, so here is a bit of info for anyone who might want it. I am happy to answer any questions as well, if you care to ask..although my internet in the wilds of Cornwall, England is currently a little patchy.

Finished this cruise a couple of weeks ago, and must say that my expectations ( which were admittedly low) were all exceeded.

we were in cabin 7402, an aft facing premium  cabin right over the wake.

EMBARKATION

was an absolute shemozzle. We turned up at our allotted time ( 1pm) to be confronted by a queue out the door and 50 metres down the footpath. Mask wearing inside the terminal was not enforced, and Covid tests not asked for. They did check our vaccination certificates and some people were denied boarding as they hadn’t been vaccinated. We finally got on board at about 3pm.

CABIN

very pleased with the cabin..extra long, although the same width ( or perhaps a smidge narrower than a regular balcony cabin. Lots of drawer space with proper handles rather than the hair-tie thingies. Extra closet space. Bathroom was a standard size, but was granite rather than the hideous pink or green plastic. Shower had a glass door rather than a curtain, and some people may find it too small, but it was fine for us. Balcony was huge..perhaps twice the depth of a regular balcony. Bed was firm but comfortable, and pillows were fine. We asked for bathrobes and they were promptly delivered.location was a bit away from the lifts, but very quiet, and handy for the Lido Buffet two floors up. There was, however a lot of creaking as the ship moved..almost as if all the trims were flexing. We could also feel the engine vibrations on occasion, and there was some engine noise. Also, on the balcony the noise of the wake echoed on all the metal surfaces, and we found it unexpectedly loud….but our Noise Cancelling headphones  proved to be a great solution.

FOOD

a solid 7/10 for the buffet, and 8.5/10 for the main dining room.

we had late dining, and had a fabulous table of six..all of us wildly different, but we had so much fun. Kadek and Devi, our waitstaff were wonderful…attentive and good fun, and got to know our names and preferences really quickly. The meals were varied and on the whole, very good indeed. Portion sizes have shrunk a bit since I last sailed Carnival, and that is a good thing.  Azar, the Magician came round most evenings and entertained us…we were astounded by his talent and hope he goes on to have a wonderful career.

the Lido buffet was fine for breakfast, once you worked out what was available and where. The coffee however was absolutely DIRE. Anyone travelling should get the best instant coffee their ego will let them get away with, bring it along, and drink that instead. Decaf teabags were available for most of the cruise, but ran out just before Hawaii..although they were replenished there. The deli had good sandwiches, but there was often a long wait. One Turkey sandwich I ordered was still frozen, and not very appetising. The burgers wereOK..nothing special, but the Pulled Pork at the BBQ was amazingly good. There was always a roast dinner available in the buffet in the evenings, and the Pizza was also very good.

ENTERTAINMENT

there were plenty of vey good musicians on board, and we usually found ourselves gravitating to the Ocean Plaza for the Luminosa Rock Band. I didn’t enjoy the shows so much…I don’t know why choreography for female dancers seems to have them dancing as if they were pole dancers in a strip club. Yes, sure, the odd hip thrust and leg spread gyration might fit, but it was pretty much ALL strip club moves and frankly it got boring. There were a couple of solo acts which were entertaining though.

BARS

most waitstaff we’re great..some remembering us and our preferences very quickly. Service was always good, and we always tipped. Drinks weren’t cheap, but they rarely are on a cruise ship. We didn’t do the drinks package, but made a point of always having what we wanted and when we wanted it, and ended up $1600 better off, so it was a good call for us.

PORTS

we stopped at Suva (meh), Noumea, Papeete and Moorea, and Honolulu. The captain changed the itinerary to get us to Honolulu the day before we were scheduled, which was a great call, as it allowed us to get all the USA immigration stuff out of the way and then enjoy the port the next day. Our favourited were Noumea, where we went to Signal Island, and Moorea, where we did a Stingray Snorkel trip. Some passengers were unhappy that Noumea was pretty closed, as it was Sunday. There were LOTS of Sea days, which suited us really well as we love them, but many passengers were grumbling that they were bored and there wasn’t enough to do. We were very happy though.

GENERAL

The ship is relatively old fashioned now, and lacks many of the amenities that the newer ships offer, but we were pleasantly surprised by the standards around the ship. Thee were a few maintenance issues..the Lido Buffet suffered from a constant leak from the kitchen into the dining room, and you had to be a bit careful where you sat, to avoid drops of condensation falling on you. The decor was tasteful by Carnival’s standards, and there was plenty of public seating. They could get rid of the giant reclining lady in the lobby though, and create a bigger area for dancing..and save a bit on fuel too I expect. On the whole, it was a lovely environment.

we would sail on Luminosa again.

Some photos below..the one of the cup  is a hack for getting a full cup of tea from buffet to cabin without spilling it!

Sadly, laziness, and most likely that unless the contact with the client is going to generate more revenue immediately, then it’s not worth it. Short term, I know, but I have seen it happen.

I am a retired TA and I often got emails offering an upgrade to specific clients..I always passed on the offer to the client, but always gave the client the warning that they lose control over where they ended up on the ship, so they could decide. If you booked with an on line agency, I am wondering if the email just got binned, and never forwarded to you.

The ship is an old Celestial Cruises ship, currently being used in Turkey to house the poor souls who lost everything in the earthquakes. So, that means that these people are going to have to be kicked off the ship soon in time for it to be refurbed before the cruise. This info, and the cost being so cheap..it a big no from me, even if I could stand living in a cabin the size of a shoebox for three years….

I guess you might not know the answer to this as your cruise was short, but is there anywhere on board where I can press my clothes? I am on a 22 night pacific crossing, and am wondering what to do, other than pack polyester wrinkle free stuff…ugh.

On 10/24/2022 at 11:50 AM, kangforpres said:

Just booked a Casino offer and scored a Balcony for taxes and Fees! Looking forward to crossing the pacific since it not something most land lubbers do.  I'm 4 star on HAL but this will be my first Carnival. Also excited about the ship, ex Costa now Carnival and just out of dry dock.

 

Should be fun and tie me kangaroo down mate!

 

-Paul

I am booked on this one..I was determined to be on a cruise for my 60th birthday and this one popped up. Kangforpres,  ( what an intriguing username!), you will have a fabulous time as long as you manage your expectations! I remember my first Carnival cruise, on Spirit. We boarded and instantly thought “what have we done…it is so ORANGE”….but I knew it was big, brash, cheap and cheerful, so once we found the bits we liked and found how to avoid the bits we didn’t, we had a fabulous time. Anyone can cruise on any cruise ship as long as they are fully aware of what they are getting into. My favorite? Seabourn from Copenhagen to Montreal, but I can’t afford that sort of trip every time, so I cruise P&O Australia, Norwegian, Celebrity, Carnival, and when the itinerary is good and I have the money, Seabourn. I have never had a “bad” cruise!

I am booked on the 22 day Brisbane to Seattle on Luminosa, and with a heap of seadays, we will probably get good value.

I did originally think about putting the same value as the cheers package as a cash deposit with guest services to see how far it went, and then of course if any was left over at the end, we would be ahead, but then I thought...Yeah...Nah...too hard.

Hee Hee…not laughing at your predicament, but I think it is so cute that someone with a username Womble99 is asking about Hobbiton…..

Part of the problem may be that New Caledonia and Fiji require you to have fully comprehensive travel insurance that covers Covid, and it is quite difficult to find insurance that will cover Covid if a cruise is involved.

Thank you for a fair and balanced review. I have booked the repositioning cruise Brisbane to Alaska and had anytime dining, but I think I will go back and switch it based on what you have said. I always bring my own decaf tea, as well as an insulated coffee mug…I hate the plastic ones in the buffet.

I have booked an aft facing cabin on desk 7, but cannot find any pictures anywhere…on Costa is was described as a mini suite, but Carnival call it a Premium Balcony, whatever that means. I am sure I will be happy, whatever….who doesn’t look forward to a cruise!

Captain Gier Arne always takes his bike with him......

I just came off Route of the Vikings with Quest, and both my husband and I commented that the kitchen under chef John is producing some of the best food we have had with Seabourn, and for the first time ever, our meats were always cooked as asked for, and fish was never overdone. They ran out of Cucumbers though! Hard to get in Greenland, thats for sure.

I sail out of Copenhagen on Quest on Saturday: My documents state that the ship will be at Frehavn port.

i really don't mind if there are no washing machines, however, a few irons and ironing boards are vital..how else are we to look presentable in the evenings after unpacking. I don't trust anyone except my dh to iron any of my clothes.

I too love Seabourn, mainly because it is so understated. The ships aren't "grand" or Posh, or Blinged up, but are generously designed, quietly elegant, with thoughtful spaces and excellent cabin design. The staff are warm, helpful, and friendly, without any stuffiness, or over-fawning cringeworthiness. In general the guests are friendly and happy to share a conversation with anyone on board. They are rarely arrogant or demanding...you wont see too many high maintenance divas on board...nor their male equivalents, whatever they may be. The food is a good standard, without being overly pretentious. We will be sailing on the cruise just before you..Route of the Vikings, and I am looking forward to being thoroughly spoiled.:)

Oh dear. That's all I can say.

I seem to drop about two kilos every three weeks. It seems a bit slow at first, but then it just seems to fall away quite quickly, and consistently. I recommend that if you are interested, check out Michael Moseley's website..there are recipes, and forums there to help you along the way

I'd like to know this also. Seems like a doable plan/diet.

For breakfast, I eat 30 grams of rolled oats with skim milk ( about half a cup) and a handful of frozen berries. In winter I nuke it to make porridge, in summer, I let it soak for a while, and then eat cold. I have either black coffee, or tea with a little skim milk. I eat nothing during the day, but will have black decaf coffee ( my tea is decaf as well), and water. I get home about half past 5 and generally have a spoonful of Vegemite dissolved in hot water...I find if I am hungry, Something low calorie, but with a HUGE flavor hit calms things down. Then at dinner time I have a big green salad, with eithe a hard boiled egg, or a bit of chicken breast. I use chick peas in the salad for a bit of low calorie bulk. Then I go to bed early...and wake up the next day feeling fantastic! I eat normally during the rest of the week, which includes chocolate, and a couple of glasses of wine on Friday and Saturday night. I do try to limit sugar intake ( except for chocolate) but eat prodigious amounts of butter on my bread. I also work out 4 times a week...but if I'm honest, not particularly hard! I am lucky that this seems to work for me. My husband...well, not so much. It takes a bit of effort coping with hunger, but I usually tell myself to wait until tomorrow, when I can eat whatever I want...and by then the urge has passed. It is a bit hit and miss for the first week or two as it takes a bit of practice to resist the call of a grumbling tummy, but once you master that, it really is easy. Come on...who can resist a weight loss programme that tells you to diet for only two days out of seven?!

I am a massive fan of Michael Moseley's 5:2 Fasting Diet..when ever i need to drop a couple of kilos, it is my "go to" solution. I fast on Mondays and Thursdays, consuming 500 calories in the period from just after Sunday night dinner, to Tuesday Breakfast, and the same Wednesday night through to Friday breakfast. Once I get used to feeling hungry, I find it really easy to stick to, and also find that I feel fantastically energised the day after fasting...which seems quite strange. the other benefit is that i get more sleep,as I go to bed early on Monday and Thursday nights. I first did this diet nearly 2 years ago, and dropped from 65kg to 55kg in the period from late august to late November and have remained at or close to this weight ever since. i like to keep my weight between 52 (ideal pre-cruise weight) and 55kg, my ideal normal weight. I like this diet because:

There is no special eating plan, other than to restrict calorie intake for the two days (hey..I eat chocolate on at least two days a week!).

My body seems to appreciate the rest from having to constantly digest and process food..apparently the theory is that can divert energy and attention to repair and maintenance.

I seem to have more energy, particularly on the days after fasting.

If I slip up and cave in to hunger ( that happens a bit at first, until you learn to get used to being hungry sometimes) you can always revert to eating normally for the day, and start again the following day.

This is a long post I know, but I have reaped so many benefits after years of trying to control my weight, I felt the need to share.

Actually, that would be Hong Kong to Singapore. It's on the Sojourn.

I got an email this morning: Food and Wine cruise from Singapore to Hong Kong, in January 2016.