stocktonmackem

I was on the last Arvia cruise and our coach should have arrived at 1.45. Unfortunately there was a mix up at Leeds and we left an hour and a half later. We eventually got to the terminal at 3.15 and then sent to a terminal just along from Ocean terminal because too many coaches were waiting to board. We eventually got permission to board at 4,15 ish. Not the best experience for a first time coach user. 

Thank you for the review, It has certainly made me look forward to my cruise in June. It will be the first one I am doing solo (hubby not well enough to go ) but it's good to know that there are plenty of shows and entertainment venues to keep me happy. 

20 hours ago, terrierjohn said:

I am giving consideration to booking this for our next cruise, probably will just do the outbound journey which will save me lugging the cases into the hotel for the night. I can manage the return journey with a porters help, and prefer to be able to start on the laundry as soon as we get back.

I only do the outbound journey as it saves taking cases in and out of hotel. The porters help me take the cases to the car for the homeward journey and I have help to take them out at home. It is a godsend as sometimes we stop halfway down to Southampton for the night and then in Southampton the night before. 

1 hour ago, eddie11 said:

Thanks for trying to help my memory!

No, it wasn’t them

Somebody mentioned Bass Tones earlier - Bass Boys maybe?  Two single syllable words.  Very much Jersey Boys influenced with the smallest one doing a good Frankie Valli

Whatever their name they were very enjoyable!

 

Would it be the 4 tunes, we have seen them quite a few times and they are one of the few acts I could go and see every cruise. I think there are 8 of them and tend to swap around. I think the singer you are talking about was actually in the west end doing Jersey Boys at one stage. I still wonder how he could hit those high notes. x

I haven't really got a problem seeing the same acts but I wish they would change their material. It's the same old everytime. x

17 hours ago, gillybean1974 said:

Thank you, that's very helpful!! We have until 29th November to decide but may not cancel is Stavanger is the lesser of the ports. 

I agree , Stavanger was a nice enough port but not as stunning as the rest of them. I would be happy to be on board for the naming ceremony.

On 10/24/2019 at 5:59 PM, terrierjohn said:

Since I have to push a wheelchair I am quite happy with marble,  mosaic or pretend teak flooring.

Same here John, It makes life so much easier for us pushers .

Emam we have just returned from Azura. It is a fabulous ship. Once you leave the seascreen deck you can't hear the noise.It has been fixed by the way and looks great if you like watching films. There are plenty of places to sit in the shade by the pool on deck 15. We like the fact that there is another entertainment section on deck 7 which Britannia doesn't have. The only thing that was a bit disappointing was the fact you can't walk all the way round the ship on promenade deck because of the crew door at the end. (I know some people say they do but I didn't ). I'm sure whichever you choose you will enjoy. x

We will be on Azura on the Monday when the itineraries go live. Will there be brochures available on the ships as it will be a sea day so I will not have access to the internet.

On 8/25/2019 at 10:05 PM, Selbourne said:

 

Thanks Brian. That’s useful info. The issue for some of us, however, is that under this new arrangement customers are expected to take their own luggage from their car to the hole in the wall, unlike at present where the porters take luggage directly from CPS customers cars in the drop off lanes, which makes the service offered by CPS identical to their cheaper competitors. 

Selbourne, am I right in thinking you are disabled. I queried the accessible angle when I was on Ventura last week and I was told that blue badge holders would be sent to the existing drop off lanes where porters would be around to help. I was a bit concerned as I take mobility equipment with me but feel more reassured now. Too be honest the new parking arrangements mean that the drop off is closer than you would walk when going back to your car so shouldn't be a major problem for able bodied people. 

Apologies if I have the wrong person. 

I have just returned from Ventura. although they didn't do the new procedure for us I asked the question about what is going to happen in the future. The drop off area is the same place that you are sent to at present if there is a queue at the drop off lanes. The area is covered so not a major issue. I queried what happens if you are disabled and was told that you would be sent to the normal lanes and will get help from the porters to get your luggage taken out of the car. too be honest was a bit concerned at first but looking at the layout I think it will speed things up. How many of us have complained about having to wait to long to get into the 'lane' to drop off your car. 

35 minutes ago, daiB said:

Pat, I don’t think anyone has said that the porters who are there at disembarkation will not be there if a new system is used. They need the porters to unload the baggage in the first place. Neither has it been said that the porters will not be there for people being dropped off by car or taxi. If the porters were not there the turnaround would not work.

Just panicking as usual haha x

I personally don't have a problem walking a further distance to drop off the car but my husband is a wheelchair user and although he can push himself it is difficult. I would have to load the trolley with luggage and a shower/commode and push it to the hole in the wall. Going may not be a mega problem but returning would be even worse as I would also have the luggage to collect that I send down with Baggage Handling Company to contend with. I certainly hope there are porters in the baggage hall to help me or I am in an impossible situation. Thankfully I only have Iona and Azura next year so only one cruise is going to cause problems unless they then implement the procedure on Azura as well.

2 hours ago, daiB said:

I have not commented on this topic as we stopped using CPS some time ago. We now have “people” to take care of that sort of thing.

 

:).

 

Dai do you get an accessible taxi from the hotel you use. I assume its the Harbour Hotel. x

16 hours ago, Monorail Orange said:

I was on the same cruise. I have to agree with what others have said about the health precuations. The crew worked tirelessly to keep everything clean. Thier job it not made any easier by people who ignore the rules and recommendations.

 

Still surprises me the amount of people you see picking their teeth after eating.... an no doubt touching banisters or buttons after.

 

Another, more general issue, is people walking around with food and drink. OK, poolside, but not from one indoor venue to the next. Not only that, but they then leave glassware in random places. Better yet, leaving full trays - I saw one tray of dirty plates and napkins left on one of those decorative tables in the centre lift lobby.

 

Moving on from that..

 

Britannia is a lovely ship decor wise. The layout is ok (thankfully I didn't get lost past the first day) - although I still prefer the way Arcadia and Oceana have a more linear layout. However moving around the ship was fine. I did however miss a proper prom deck. Which leads me to my next point...

 

My main issue was with the number of people. It was very crowded at times - especially on those chilly early sea days. I guess domed pools do help with this (Iona and her sister will be fine).

Causually walking into a day time venue and getting a seat (as on other ships) was not always an option. A couple of times I couldn't get into the Live Lounge of an evening.

 

They'll never change the guest capacity, so I'm shouting into the wind with that.

 

And.. those lifts. Not only usually busy, but also sems like they have a mind of their own. Eventually I took the motto of: "should we walk, or do we have time to take a lift?"

 

The weather and the destinations were great though.

My husband is a wheelchair user and we didn't really have a problem with the lift most of the time, usually busy after shows and embarking. My main bug bear is people going in the lift to go up when they want to go down etc. That doesn't help the lift situation one iota. Another little gripe was the shorts issue. If you are not meant to wear shorts after 6 then the restaurant manager should enforce it. I saw lots of people wearing shorts on an evening on this cruise. Other than than I had a fantastic time. x

We have just been on Britannia, lovely to meet you EMAM. I actually love the ship and still found new things this time. I used deck 18 a lot and found it nicer than the usual promenade deck as it is more open. As for the norovirus I was told it was gastroenteritus. Someone said that it is the same thing but I am not a nurse so took their word for it. All I can say is that even though there were people asking you to wash your hands some people still walked on by and ignored them. One lady who did this then complained because she went to use a chair and table which had just been sanitised and she complained because it was wet. I also had to stop someone filling his water bottle at the water urns on deck. Some people shouldn't be allowed out of the house. haha. 

Despite this I had a fabulous time and can't wait to return to Britannia again. It may not be for a while as I have other ships booked. 

21 hours ago, Presto2 said:

We booked a cruise on Ventura for next May, reckoning that this would mean that by the time we got to Oceana in August 2020 we would have moved up another tier.

 

Well we have checked our loyalty points now for the Peninsular Club and to say we are confused is an understatement.

We thought it was worked out on 10 points per night.

Apart from the fact that they have missed a 14 night cruise off (that we are chasing up) the points there just don't add up at all.

 

Are we doing something wrong?

Is it as simple as just 10 points per night or do they use some strange, magic formula just to confuse us all … or make us wait even longer to move …...

 

PS We had e-mailed but after 2 weeks we phoned today and were told it could take a month to check. Other than that to phone 9 - 5pm Mon _ Fri.

Really helpful (not) if you're at work ...

 

I find if you contact the social media team via private message on the

 Facebook page they are very helpful. I had a problem with my loyalty points and they sorted it for me. Good Luck

 

 

1 hour ago, P-L-B said:

Thanks for your reply.

Did you sail with P&O ?

Yes, understand that there is a local bus service that goes to Chanda but there are some post's that suggest that P&O provide their own free ( if select fare) shuttle bus service, but I'm not sure If that's an option.

 

Yes, we went with P and O in 2017. I didn't see a free shuttle bus just a service bus. I don't think it cost much to be fair. We were Select fare but still had to pay. Thinks may have changed since 2017 .

8 hours ago, P-L-B said:

We have not been to this port before so could someone please confirm.

 

Is there a P&O shuttle bus service from Souda to Chania in Crete?

 

Thank you.

Yes there is a bus just outside the port but its chargeable.

The only problem you may encounter on Club Dining is that the restaurant you use is at the back of the ship and only one set of lifts. They are very busy at meal times. You may be advised to either go early. 

Last year it was pre allocated seats. I went to check a couple of days before because my hubby is in a wheelchair and I wanted to make sure we could get to the table. I was shown the table they were going to give us. When we turned up on the night the Maitre d' decided to put us in a better place.

I have had cause to contact P and O and each time they have dealt with the matter quickly and satisfactorily. The weren't really complaints as such just points about how they could do thing differently for disabled guests. As someone who deals with customer service I just pointed things out and didn't scream and shout. I find in my job the nicer you are the more you get from me.

We have spent numerous special events over the years, 30th wedding anniversary and 65th and 60th birthdays and spent a lot of money along the way. It would cost P and O a small fortune if they gave everyone celebrating a free be. 

Although C deck cabins are overlooked it is only partially overlooked. You can still sit at the back of the balcony and not be seen. You then have the option of sun/shade and also somewhere to sit if it is raining. In my opinion they are the best cabins to have.

The chances are that you will be going from Ocean Terminal as Azura leaves from there on the 22nd and Britannia is already on a 14 night cruise which I will be on. I will probably be wrong lol but that is my theory. x