AndrewShooter

Thanks to all that replied - very useful confirmation of all I had found via Google. We had budgeted over £2k - £2.5k pp but would only do it via P&O (always way over the odds!) to make sure we were not left behind when we visit SAmerica on Aurora next spring. Jury still out on decision as my days of extreme adventures are, regrettably, becoming distant memories. 

On S America cruise, do P&O excursions run trips to Machu Picchu? If so, assume

overnighter and ball park cost advice appreciated. TYIA.

31 minutes ago, grapau27 said:

Been there got no email or call back.

Hope you have more luck.

I emailed Paul Ludlow personally early Saturday morning fully explaining my then wait of 64 days was over his 60 claim and have had no reply.

Fully anticipating exactly the same response......... Can live delay etc etc.... But I just want them to be honest about what expectations can be realised

I sought further advice today 18 May on my  refund now overdue on the 60 day wait time having been told a week ago the 60 days did not include weekends and bank holidays. That of course was pure waffle - but I paid the game. Todays advice was given accepting the 60 days time wait had been reached with no mention of weekends, bank holidays etc being of relevance. My call handler was again, extremely polite and explained demand for full refund, rather than the 125% scheme, had exceeded expectation and that extra staff had been deployed to deal. However, there were some who were due and should have received full refund by now, but were  regrettably, still  waiting. The lady offered to contact 'refunds' department and request an update on progress -  the results of which she would relay to me by email. Ever the optimist, I will continue to play the game.........

I cancelled a cruise on 19 Mar 2020 for a cruise sailing 12-26 Apr 20. I have sat thru' the changing time scales for repayment but phoned P&O direct yesterday, 11 May 20, for a general update. I was told very politely that I was using the wrong time calculator in my 60 calculation in that I should not including Bank Holidays, Saturdays or Sundays as P&O did not term these as "working days". I pointed out that I had booked, direct with P&O, on a Saturday and paid on a Sunday and that there was no mention in the cruise itinerary that the ship would drop anchor at midnight on any Friday and haul similar on the following Sunday. The lady I spoke with understood the irony in my comment but could only restate the official P&O stance. She confirmed she very much hoped I would receive my refund on, rather than by, the 60 day settlement date but would not guarantee the repayment would actually be made. Lap of the Gods as they say......

AndrewShooter, I have heard that before (65+ ride free) but I have always wondered as to whether that applies to non-EU citizens. From the website of the public transport authority (bkk.hu), these are the types of people who can ride for free at 65+ (and the approprate documentation you must carry to prove your eligibility):

 

-Citizens of Hungary or other EU, EEA Member States or Switzerland, aged 65+ (with Identity card or any other personal identification document)

 

-Foreign citizens aged 65+

who get retirement pension from the Hungarian Pension Fund

(with Certification of the Pension Fund and any other personal identification document)

 

-Foreign citizens

with Hungarian nationality

aged 65+ and their relatives aged 65+ on the basis of Act LXII/2001 on Hungarians Living in Neighbouring Countries (with Personalised “Magyar igazolvány“, and “Magyar hozzátartozói igazolvány“)

 

-Foreign citizens aged 65+

settled in Hungary

on the basis of a special international agreement (with Identity card or any other personal identification document)

 

-Refugees 65+, persons settled in Hungary and persons who have the freedom of movement and residence not based on citizenship (with any personal identification document and any document certifying legal status.)

My interpretation of that would be that a US or Canadian tourist 65+ isn't entitled to a free ride unless you have Hungarian ancestry AND you have the official documents to prove that. Or if you meet one of the other criteria, such as dual citizenship with an EU member country and you're carrying that passport. Do you have other information about this? I'm not in that demographic yet but just curious.

 

OP, if you are docking where Andrew described, it's at Betthayány Ter I think? That's a fair amount upriver, and on the opposite side from the Great Market. You can catch a tram running southward and get off at Gellert Ter, then walk across the bridge to the market. Should be easy, and the views from the bridge are pretty. If you want to walk even less you could probably catch another tram across the bridge.

On my recent trip the Cruise Director informed all on board, including the USA and other non European nationals, they were entitled to the free public transport at pensionable age. We all took this to be age 65. I totally respect the advice of your Hungarian State regulations and my only input is that related to Emerald Rep advice. He did also state tram charges were so reasonable anyway, that full holiday participation in Bar or Restaurant activities would not be impeded! 🥂[emoji502][emoji106] Regards & enjoy......

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Looking for some info on where Emerald docks in Budapest, from recent cruisers. As we will be transferred from our hotel to the ship for noon, we have remainder of day to explore. Have heard they are on the Buda side, and a bit of a walk to get to Pest side. Would like to get to the Great Market Hall, would grabbing a cab be best or how long to walk there and back? Would be on a Saturday. Thanks in advance for any info.....looking forward to our cruise, and hoping for some rain ;)

You will board at the mooring point directly opposite the parliament building. Use the very efficient and cheap tram system to access the area you refer to. The reception desk/cruise director will give you directions to the close by tram stops etc. If you are a “ pensioner” the tram/public transport systems are free but you will need a form of ID, driving licence for example, to prove entitlement.

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Becareful, one of C ruise critics rules is that messages must start off in English after which a foreign language can be used. I once fell foul to it.:halo:

Thank vous! 🤭

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Note that this balcony system is what is generally referred to as a French balcony.

 

 

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Vous voulez dire un balcon français?

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Thanks for the review! Did you use your balcony much?

The balcony system on Emerald is different to the norm. In essence, the whole top half of the completely glass wall/ window slides down and you actually sit inside your cabin/on your thus created balcony. For us this worked extremely well, space management wise. You did not lose a large part of your cabin to a mostly unused part of your living space. Yes we did use this balcony facility, mostly mornings pre/during breakfast and late afternoons pre dinner. For the most scenic parts of the trip, Wachau Valley and the night time Budapest lights cruise for instance, it is best on top deck where the sights to be seen need a 360deg viewing platform. According to fellow pax, those cabins with just a window were literally eyes at water level with a very small viewing platform and a little claustrophobic.

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A 7 day river cruise completed 7-14 Aug 18 with Emerald Cruises on MV Emerald Destiny.

I’m a very regular balcony cabin Ocean Cruise participant whose only previous experience of river cruising was on the Nile many many years ago. This river cruise was one of the best, water based, holiday breaks I have had in recent years. The following comments are of course, only In My Opinion(IMO)!

Cost. More in hard cash than equivalent time on sea cruise but, IMO, well worth it. My package (premier balcony) included flight, airport tfrs, 7/24 meals, 7/24 drinks, daily escorted walks/coach tours, all tips both on board and guides/drivers etc. Some additional special interest trips were available at cost. You make your choice - you pay the money. I did a Classical Music evening concert in Vienna and a morning trip to Bratislava. Others also enjoyed a Julie Andrews moment in Salzburg.

Flights and Travel. Flying from/to UK = short haul and Economy but quite adequate. BA (my choice to Emerald) Baggage allowance is 2 x 23 Kg plus cabin hand bag per pax. I took just 1 bag well under weight and with all I needed including jacket. Wife similar with different dress for each evening! A supposed only 20kg for coach transfers and ship porterage was never checked. All baggage handling from airport pickup to airport drop off was well managed by Emerald. Munich airport pickup, for me, was bad. We waited at the airport for two hours with some 30 other ship pax for four other pax on the coach transport manifest that did not actually exist. They had cancelled several days before but a good/bad example of left and right had presented. Return flight via Budapest was good regarding accounting for all baggage on to correct coach etc but bad at the airport. Not Emeralds fault/responsibilty at all though; all mechanical baggage handling was down at the airport leading to massive checkin queues, old ladies fainting in the heat - I could go on but you get the drift. The Hungarians surprisingly appeared to revert to Soviet type - do nothing, ignore it, say nothing and nobody will notice. For those of us that remained calm the resultant entertainment from the short tempered and vocal few provided light entertainment throughout. Tip - we flew BA. Their only available onboard M&S sandwhich meal option was an expensive immeadiate throw away choice to be avoided!

Itinery. Superb. Scenery, cultural, architecture presented in well balanced programme. Sailing overnight on the less interesting river stretches, by day on the beautiful, Wachau Valley for instance, and a not to be missed Budapest city lights by night. Called by some the ABC cruise, another bloody castle/church, but another beautiful castle/church more appropriate.

Accomodation. Very good. Cabin very similar in size to traditional sea cruise cabin but modern and making excellent use of space for storage etc and a proper shower you can actually get into with ease. Large size cases easy fit under the bed.

Facilities. A small infinity pool, emptied at one stage when river level was particularly low and to help us “scrap” into Budapest. Well done Captain - many other similar ships did not make it! Tip - pool. Get there early to get one of only a few loungers. A small gym that was sometimes open. Free wifi throughout ship although sometimes a little hit and miss in signal availability and speed. An excellent lounge/bar area with sufficient seating for all pax if in attendance together. Good fresh brew coffee 7/24. A well stocked bar with quality branded spirits etc On my package, I could have for instance, as many large Hendricks/decent single malts as I wanted/wife would let me at no extra cost. Light breakfast, light lunch and high tea served here together with canapés and light evening snacks. Area in front of main bar used for any local evening entertainments, a traditional Bavarian Band and a Hungarian Folk Band and Dancers on this cruise. Cruise Director, a very pleasant very informed and multi lingual Hungarian chap, gave a brief from here each evening. He invariably took 20 mins to cover that better presented in 5 but it did give time for an extra G&T/whiskey!

Dining. All freedom and sometimes a bit of a bun fight/rush to get to sit where you wanted (next to the port/starboard windows best) or with who you might want. Quite a few tables for two but soon snapped up. Breakfast and lunch both self service from a central island server station. Adequate, because you could make repeat visits, but not that exciting. Evening meal, waiter service. For my appetite, not adequate and again, generally unexciting but with regional specialities served appropriate to location. Both at lunch and dinner optional cooked to order waiter ordered main courses (steak, fish or chicken) are available every day. I had steak and chips on three nights. For me, the dining was a bit of a let down - I was hoping for a fine dining experience, at least in the evening, and for me at least, this did not happen. Tip. Do not sit immeadiately next to the central server station - meal time saw the traditional bun fight at the OK Coral and it was not unusual to see somebody's backside appear near your meal as they pushed and shoved their way around with/against the natural order of civilised self service dining!

Passengers. Overwhelming British. Some from USofA and few Chinese/Japanese and from Oz. On overall balance everybody got on really well in a very friendly and helpful way. There were just one or two who, IMO, dressed/behaved not quite in the manner of the rest of the pax but no significant issues.

Dress. Casual throughout. Evenings, smart trousers and shirt. On a couple of Gala Nights (don't get excited - the Captain eats with passengers and a pre dinner glass of fizz) a lot wore a jacket as per sea cruise semi formal but not an issue if you didn’t. The ladies without exception dressed sea cruise semi formal for dinner and very good they looked too.

Crew - about 40 strong.Internationally sourced, all speaking good English and all very efficient, helpfull and friendly. IMO, virtually faultless.

Summary. 95% success which has convinced me to research completing another Emerald river cruise. And as I said in intro, all IMO!

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Hi there

 

 

 

FYI I have included an attachment PDF which was scanned from our on board account showing the Wine Package item at £203 bought on the first evening of our cruise. You can see that a Loyalty Discount of £17.26 was applied to that figure.

 

 

 

The later 4 bottle package also shows the appropriate discount

 

 

 

Don't quite know what is happening based on you experience and the P&O Advice webpage

Please do not think I disbelieved you. But now, even more looking forward to an extra 10%. Yippee!

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That's interesting. I'm afraid I beg to differ

 

 

 

We've just returned from a 30 night cruise on Aurora. I ordered a 12 bottle Captain's Collection on the first day and our on board account clearly shows our loyalty discount was applied to that figure. Towards the end of the cruise we ordered another 4 bottle package and again our discount was applied.

Interesting.

On my most recent cruise I asked prior to purchase and was told it would not benefit from Loyalty Discount. This was confirmed on my Account documents.

The P&O Advice web page still shows the following:

Wine Packages

Various wine packages are available. Wine packages can be consumed either in the restaurant or in your cabin. Please note loyalty discount will not be applied when purchasing wine packages.

Please note that these packages are non-refundable and may not be exchanged for another item, or for on board credit

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Perhaps you will apologise now!! I said when it was happening and it has.

 

 

 

Bal

Apologise for what! You were asked politely for the source of the story to give it credibility........

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Details here

 

 

 

https://ask.pocruises.com/help/PO/before-you-sail/military

 

 

 

Only on Select now (used to include Early Saver) and value reduced.

Thanks for that. Story now credible.

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The originator of this thread in both original message, and after being asked specifically to do so, has not identified the source of this alleged change. It is very hard at this time to give credibility to the allegation.

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Thanks for that info - can you ask for the fridge to be emptied so you can just use your own supplies?

On my last 35 nighter, this year, I had the fridge stock removed upon boarding by the cabin steward and I restocked with my own preferences for the rest of the cruise. He placed it in "his box" under the bed. Not an issue throughout....... Enjoy.

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Catherine, enjoy all aspects of your next cruise and imbibe to choice. I know I do and am never put off by "opinions" on this or other similar such sites. Like you, I am not unduly influenced by price only by what I like. As a one time policeman I only ever deal in facts. Full wine and bar lists, types and price, are easily available on the P&O website.

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The question of "value" regarding Wine Packages is factual and indisputable. Purchase of the Captain's Collection runs at 10% and that of Commodore's Collection runs at 15%. The question of choice is personal. I know what wines I like, check both the Wine & Packages Lists for content as part of my pre cruise preparation and decide my personal purchase plan. Takes minutes and is all part of the fun. Invariably I decide on the Commodore's Collection. I may also order one offs from the Wine List appropriate to a Fine Dining speciality restaurant - by way of even more variation I have even been known to order a pint of lager to accompany a curry or Mexican themed meal in the buffet bun fight restaurant! I anyway am lucky and get 10% discount for all onboard spend but do appreciate the extra 5%. For one contributor to say Wine Packages are "a waste of time" is strangely dismissive - the issue is nothing to do with time. Solent Richard's reply is spot on - again.

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A3 - Petersfield. Great Oak (Premier Inn) 1min off A3. B'fast 0630- 1030 daily. Red Lion (Weatherspoons) 5 mins off A3. B'fast 0800 till late morning. Google both for exact loc and menus. Circa I hour thereafter via A3 - accepting time of the day, day of the week, Dock Gate to be used and how many ships in changing pax may have some minor time penalty plus margin. Use both locs when going fishing (and wife not with me)!

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Dan - exactly the same as the first/(many)others I have attended on P&O cruises. But this was the first time I have been required to attend two. As I recall the Captain explained it was a requirement, not sure if P&O or Maritime Regulation, to conduct refresher training every month no matter individual status or opinions.

Cruise Puss - respect your opinion and have no knowledge of what you have experienced on other cruise lines. But I base my strong view that complacency etc kill after over 30 years of military/emergency team response duties where I have the unfortunate task had to clear up avoidable mess or break bad news to relatives.

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On a lot of cruise lines, when you are doing a B2B you don't need to attend the second drill. You are judged to have been to the first one, which, under this new system you will have done, and, therefore, you don't need to attend the second.

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Don't get the B2B "exemption" plea at all.

On a recent 35 nighter all pax required to attend a second refresh brief. Totally supported the instruction and welcome the attendance verification by cruise card initiative.

Complacency and arrogance kill!

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As a pax on Oceana in Montego Bay this year I can state a story was much retold on board, post departure, that a fellow female pax had been robbed at knife point whilst ashore. Accounts were anecdotal, varied in detail and not first hand from the alleged victim nor witness. Whilst I cannot say if true, false or elaborated, similar stories often abound amongst the chaterazzi! I did hear, first hand, from two separate alleged victims that taxi drivers taking them from the ships berth into Montego Bay had been charged far more than the pre-agreed tariff and not allowed to exit the taxi until after payment. I had no reason to doubt those reporting these incidents.

Whilst I personally find Montego Bay to be a generally unpleasant/unsafe place to visit, P&O tours are ship to ship escorted, safe and pleasurable.

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Or you could choose one of the very few cruise lines that still requires strict dressing up. I think the Cunard board is that way ->

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