Bacardi..

It's all very complicated and to do with pooled tipping and the fact we all think it works in different ways. Hopefully this won't turn into a big tipping disagreement, but this is how I think it works: 1) We pay tips into the pool 2) We rate the performance of the individuals on the questionnaire 3) P&O share it out and the % each employee gets is dependent on their rating - if you don't give a top score they don't get all the tip 4) The tip % is fixed for each rating, if there is not enough in the pool to cover this P&O pay in the difference 5) If you tip a member of staff in cash they are required to put it in the pool, this is to avoid them receiving double tips both in cash and from the pool, the reason P&O tell staff who has removed tips is not to shame passengers - but to make it clear they expect cash tips to be pooled if received and they are being watched! 6) The more people who remove tips (I don't judge this it is personal choice) the more likely there will be frequent shortfalls and the more likely the recommended amount will increase.

So if this is the case the individuals will get their tip based on your rating whether you pay on one cruise or the next - the question is whether P&O will let you. I would have thought it wouldn't make much difference in the big scheme of things as the pool must have a regular shortfall. Sorry if I have just added confusion to the subject, it took me ages to work it through in my head, must be time for a weekend!

I understand what you are saying, and perhaps auto tipping and cash tipping does work this way.

The only thing I don't understand is when asked a few attendants they said they prefer cash. If they were pooling it why bother saying cash

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I must say recently booking early has paid dividends for us recently. With the obc and car parking the price would not have been far off saver price, but we got the extra benefits.

I have been on saver the dinning arrangements leave a lot to be desired. There's so many people trying to change no wonder they say they can't do anything

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I think they mean that you say I want pay cabin boy £x as a one off. You can go down to reception and decrease or INCREASE the gratuities. I did not understand why earlier in this thread it was said it would not get to the cabin boy

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We were on ventura at Christmas and the dinner was poor, the Buffett was the worse I had on a p&o ship same s..t every day.

It sounds like your complaints are more like the changes p&o are making across the fleet, not just the oceana

We were on the oceana last year, it was the best cruise I've ever done. It was so busy with loads of ports the entertainment was great with live music round the pool on sea days (afternoon for a couple of hours) all the singers in the bars could actually sing very well

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Are you not allowed to post a link to the story

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You could always buy your wife something extra for Xmas from the jewellers. She might then make yours xmas

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Re the wine package that may work, I would ask the wine waiter if they can bring the wine on the following cruise if you bought and paid

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You are right in thing that you will use your obc. Do you have the same cabin for the second cruise? If so you can add extra to your tips, you could then explain to your cabin boy what you've done. If you have a different cabin your tips would not go to that cabin boy.

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They will take you straight from the airport to the ship. If will then have your picture taken and cruise card given to you. So I doubt you will be able to walk round first, you would however be able to get off afterwards and have a wander. You are quite close to town though. When are you going?

You could just sign up for halifaxshare dealing account. Cost £12.50 plus stamp duty to buy shares. You can only deal while the market is open, you get 15 seconds to buy after you request a price, but you can deposit enough£ by card and deal immediately. You can leave a deal for the morning I.e saying buy 100 shares.

Zika virus so people think cruise sales may drop. Mainly I think, however carnival should be posting so good profit figures so that may help them rebound.

They won't be ready until later in the day. They weren't when we did the oceana cruise last year

I've got my own tickets for the race and was going to book the oceana. P&o are only doing a escorted tour to the race so it means I would end up with two sets of tickets.

I am not sure about getting my own transfer on race day (not a problem normally just jump on the train). However I think I. Going to book p&o trip and a ticket for the hill and try and sell them on the gate or give them away.

Unless someone tell me about a transfer from villafranche to monaco on race day

Maybe it was just the way you worded your response...which I read as being slightly critical ....

 

 

 

I haven't done freedom dining before, as I said in my post, and as I also said I have never had a bad table on club dining.

 

But As others have said many times on this forum, and repeated by Staygulf at post 5 on this thread, there is a tendency on freedom dining for the " how many cruises have you done " type of conversation , which I hate. If you havent experienced it, i would say you have been very lucky.

Perhaps it was worded badly, but I only asked why they would rule out freedom.

My last cruise was a early saver and got allocated second sitting. It was the worst table I've ever had. Nothing particularly wrong with the people but they were a lot older than us. (We're no spring chickens). We did not bother after the second night and used the buffet.

With freedom we would have been on a different table and would of made more use of the formal dinning. As another poster has suggested if you get on with someone you can arrange a drink and go down together.

But you are correct we are all different and I do hope p&o continue offering the different dinning options. I believe that there must be a better way of doing it with the saver fares, as the amount of people unhappy with the choice they've been allocated is large.

. And if the OP does not want Freedom dining, I dont really think it is fair for any of us to question the reasons why.

 

Happy cruising folks...

I think it perfectly fair. The op clearly states they have not been on a cruise before, and rules out freedom dinning. They could quite easily not understand or have a misconception on how it works.

Btw

I have done freedom dinning many times and I can't remember being asked how many cruises I've done or asking how many someone has done, you must been on some boring tables

Why would you not want freedom. I've Never had a problem with it, we just ask to be seated on any table available never really had a wait. You can eat when you want then, and it is the same as club dinning menu.

Btw

Bonvoyage

The Britannia is not in gib until the 7 April. Are you sure you have your dates right

I am but you need to start a roll call

I have booked it. If you look round you can get it for £750 inside or £950 balcony then try calling a couple of agents. Two weeks for that money is a great deal. You can always get off the boat whilst they are in Barcelona

Considering uk passports are valid for 10 years (you might have a bit more if you renew) and we are entering 2016 in a few days. I cant see it being a problem as everyone should of renewed

Two cabins, although you would have to sleep 1 adult and child. I think some balcony cabins have a fold out bed in the settee, not sure if this is classed as a double, or you could get a suite with two rooms (not sure if ventura has these)

Btw

I am also on this cruise

The other option was to grab a taxi. We were just there and prices were €20 - €30 for a trip. You can tailor it to suit you needs and not be on a coach so long

They have stopped the DF, but that only ever lasted about 9 month. Room service will deliver to your cabin. Gin £22 a Ltr. Same for other standard spriits. Malts etc more. In fact much the same as a supermarket when they do not have an offer on.

On this years world cruise we got a voucher to allow us to take 1 bottle each back to the cabin. Any other time I just buy from a port duty free shop. Just done a cruise similar to the one the op Venice to venice taking in Genoa. We still bought out of a duty free shop. Two liters of baileys €24 and superkings €21 for 200.

I'm trying to remember if there was any shops selling booze near Genoa port. I think there was, turn left and walk down the road towards the marina. There was a lot of shops selling cheap t shirts etc (and lookie lookie men at the marina)

I did buy some baileys in a port duty free. Even if it's not duty free you can still buy in the shop and take it on the plane. Just need to compare it to ship price (btw I thought the ship had stopped allowing you to buy on board and take it to your room)

Yes you can buy alcohol and take it onboard. Just done Venice to venice taking in Genoa. It was a great cruise, you can buy it in the airport but I don't think you will have time for duty free when you get off, it was very well organised by p&o in veniice straight from the plane through passport control and onto the bus.

You could buy it in the uk airport duty free as you can then take it on the plane, as you will of already passed through security. Don't forget you will need to drink most of what you buy as you can't put it in your hand luggage and the way back