seapals2

15 hours ago, ann141 said:

We have booked a seacation direct with Princess and have been told the final balance is due 90 days before the cruise.I think the 30 days only applies to cruises before a certain date July possibly ??

Yes you are right .. I was getting confused with the book with confidence which is 30 days.  We can cancel up to 30 days and get a credit which would be taken off the balance of our cruise booked next year.  

8 hours ago, rachiem said:

I was told by Princess that the full balance is 90 days?

I will check on that but our TA said it was 30.  If that was the case you might be expected to pay the balance before May 17th for the first few sailings.   I doubt that the ‘road map’ will change but it’s always a possibility.  

We have cruised with P&O and Princess equally and have top loyalty level with both.  In the end we picked Princess for our short sea staycation as it took quite a few days to make our mind up and by that time P&O had been on sale longer and choice getting more limited.   Looking at both websites we preferred knowing the specific grade of cabin.  This year is a special celebration so we went all out for a suite.  With Princess we could select the grade within the category ... with P&O the suite price could have been for a mini suite .. there was no breakdown of grades.  Has anyone booked a mini suite to compare.  We have only had to pay £50 per person deposit and have 30 days not 90 for balance payment.  By that time there will have been a fair few sailings and we will have the option to change our plans for later in the year.  We have stuck with the advertised AI price for the 4 days but did get the option to remove it.  

5 minutes ago, seapals2 said:

The key point is .. domestic waters ... for these short cruises no different to booking a uk hotel stay. 

 

well that’s if you can find a UK hotel that offers .. all inclusive drinks .. wifi .. free laundry (we are Elite) .. entertainment ... choice of fantastic dining options ... and don’t forget stunning sea views.  Good luck trying to find a hotel that matches that this summer.  Sorry have to add ... and no kids .. I love children .. but this August will be a bonus not having the kids onboard.  
apologies in advance to all the families .. 

The key point is .. domestic waters ... for these short cruises no different to booking a uk hotel stay. 

54 minutes ago, clarky213 said:

That might be a rule set by the UK goverment allowing them to sail.

This was my reply to the email I sent following a link on the gov.uk website for travel advice. 
 

2 hours ago, bobstheboy said:

Cruises now on the Princess web site for UK cruisers. 

Please note there are two prices, without and with AI, just as I stated there would many days ago.

Guessed there would be once we could make bookings .. there are a lot of people who wouldn’t get value for money at £30 a day.  The advert of AI prices was to attract those who had looked at P&O prices without the drinks package.  Seemed to cause a lot of debate at the time.  On a longer cruise we have booked without the plus package but meeting up with friends in August on Sky so having the drinks package just for 4 nights and all sea days makes sense.  That’s a lot of cups of coffee and bottled water ... 😉

On 3/23/2021 at 9:17 AM, Geoffa30 said:

We aren’t afforded the same cancellation policies in the U.K. as you are in the US, so I highly doubt people will be booking now only to cancel thus losing their deposits. I’ve always found the attitude of booking cruises to snag the best cabins just in case I fancy going on it to be very annoying.

There may be some late deals once balance payments get requested 30 days before cruise.  Some may have seen the low £50 deposit tempting but get a change of mind later.  

On 3/22/2021 at 4:43 PM, busymumofthree said:

I am really really hoping to book for the Regal Princess when the bookings open on Wednesday this week BUT it seems a real risk that we wouldn't actually be able to go.  

 

(Apologies to non UK cruisers, this will be of no interest to you.)

 

My reasoning is this - we are a family of 6 and its my 60th in mid August so we had booked the Regal to Scandinavia for the occasion (well, it was the Grand, then switched to the Regal).  So the possibility of a quick break instead is so exciting.  BUT although my husband and I will have been fully vaccinated, and so will my priority group 6 daughters in their 20s, my 30 year old son and his fiancé are only 50:50 likely to have had their second vaccination, by my reckoning.  With the April vaccine delays already signposted, age 40+ are looking at May, so I'm guessing age 30+ will be June..... which is touch and go for the standard 11 week gap to have had a second dose by the time we would sail.

 

Thing is, do I book and hope for the best and then accept we may have to cancel (and we've had 4 cruises cancelled in the last year so our luck's not that good!) or do I wait to see when their first vaccine is and count the weeks forward to see if we could go and then book....? (And hearing how fast P&O have sold today, the ship could easily be full anyway by then.)

 

I know no-one can really advise me, and this couldn't be more of a first world problem, I'm just thinking our loud really ..... but if my logic is right, its not just children who are excluded this summer, but also the under 40s.....

 

 

Had exactly the same dilemma ... my husband is 70 in August we have booked a hotel in Uk for a couple of nights for all the family which includes two teenage grandkids and then a short 4 nt Sky Princess just the two of us.  Would have loved them all to have been on the cruise with us.  We did it for our 60th birthdays and wedding anniversary and the whole family had an amazing holiday.  
Have you decided?  

Have to correct my original post here with cabin numbers.  Apologies ... 

18 minutes ago, reef112 said:

They are selling inside cabins (certainly on Iona at least).

Sorry I had only looked at Britannia to compare with Sky Princess ... no inside cabins for sale on either and similar capacity.  
Iona is a huge ship with 5,000 capacity perhaps they couldn’t sail with such limited capacity and have sold some decks and not all.  

On March 9th the gov agreed that cruises in UK waters came under the restrictions as the rest of hospitality which is set to reopen on May 17th.

So for the purpose of insurance cover no different to booking a UK hotel stay after May 17th.  
Insurance had worried me but reassured by the reply to the email I sent to the link on the gov.uk website on foreign office advice.  We have booked Princess with just a £50 deposit per person ... balance not due until 30 days before sailing well after May 17th.  
In the worst circumstance where we might have to cancel in the next month we stand to lose £100 but we could change the booking to another cruise at that time for no increased cost.  

Just now, Roger88 said:

I doubt they will go for minimum capacity on those cruises post Pandemic. It simply not worth it. I pretty much sure that all the cabins will be booked out and there will be tons of people on board

there are no inside cabins for sale.  Unless they suddenly decide to change this in the months to come capacity will never reach 100% .. I think there are aprox 750 balcony cabins ... 1500 guests .. 50% capacity.  

14 hours ago, FamilyCruiserUK said:

I would love to know the following, just beeing curious and nosey i guess.

 

What % of guest capacity will they sale at. 50% 60%?

 

Also how close are they to selling out, would love to know how full each cruise is. 

 

I know its trival but its exciting times tbh

 

No inside cabins being sold so that will reduce capacity to around 50% as no children onboard the balcony cabins will probably be just 2 occupancy.  

Booked ... 🥳🥳.  Very smooth ... just £50 per person deposit.  The option is still available to book with or without the all inclusive package.  It’s only 4 nts .. and all sea days ... happy days.  Now where do we book the sunshine ☀️ ☀️ 😎😎.   We have opted for Sky Princess .. we left her in the Caribbean last January ... hope she has survived well.  

Fed up of sitting on the fence ... we are booking at 8 am.  🥳🥳

TA asked if we wanted to remove the Princess plus but for this short cruise we have left it on.   👍🏻   🥂🍾🥂🍸🍹 
Let you know if all goes smoothly.  🤞🏻

On Sky Princess can the suite aft balconies be overlooked?   
with no ports of call we will spend more time in the cabin .. hopefully the weather will be kind and we will use the balcony more. 🙏🏻

2 hours ago, Minnie29 said:

Can anyone tell me what the process is when you pre-register with your TA for these British Isles cruises? 
do you call them to register and they call you when the cruises are released or do you tell them what dates and cabins you require and they book for you and phone later with the details? 

Our TA has kept us posted throughout.  We have decided to go with Princess so she has our deposit and cabin grade ready to make our booking tomorrow morning. We are hoping that TAs get through more easily than trying to book online ourselves.  I think they can request a specific grade in the category you pick and not sure you can do that if you book yourself.   Have you got a TA you trust?   We have used the same person for over 10 years and wouldn’t book any other way now.  👍🏻   

Sky Princess has 724 balcony cabins.  With no children onboard that could mean about 1500 guests if all were booked. Max occupancy 3660 so 45% would be a good guess.    Statistics specify 1350 crew, that’s nearly one to one service.  Although at reduced occupancy probably won’t be fully staffed.   

Loving all the excitement that’s coming through in these posts from those who have made their bookings.   Can fully understand how you are feeling when we can’t even book a restaurant until April and that’s only to sit outside!  
We remain undecided ... husband is 70 in August and we have booked the whole family into a hotel for a couple of nights to celebrate ... had this been an option we would have been tempted but with teenage unvaccinated grandkids it’s not possible.  
I hope they ease the need for mask wearing even if it’s only on the outside decks.  In theory you have no infection onboard .. no cases .. vaccinated and tested passengers ... should be no community transmission.  It should really be one of the safest places to be on the planet.  The crew will be the only risk factor.  
Lets hope the sailings all go without a hitch and pave the way for the rest of the year.  

Interesting where international waters begin.  Basically the summer cruises to comply must stay within 12 nautical miles or 22 kms. 
 

15 hours ago, seapals2 said:

P&O taking bookings from tomorrow.  Anyone decided to sail.   Have you checked with your insurers.  The FCDO advice remains unchanged.  Are we covered if we decide to book.   P&O will refund if the sailings are cancelled but what if we need to cancel for any reason.  
 

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/cruise-ship-travel

Finally found this in print 

https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/uk-will-permit-domestic-cruises-to-resume-as-early-as-may-17

Not sure why it hasn’t been amended on the gov.uk website which still has the original advisory against all cruise travel. 

Finally found the information in print I was looking for.  
https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/uk-will-permit-domestic-cruises-to-resume-as-early-as-may-17

This allows the UK domestic cruises and over rides the advisory from the FCDO only for cruises that remain in domestic waters.  Providing nothing changes April 12th with regard to lifting hospitality restrictions May 17th.  

28 minutes ago, wowzz said:

So, everyone that has booked a holiday for the end of this year, or next year will not, in your opinion,  be covered by their insurance policy. 

Well, my insurance company doesn't agree with you,  as,  I suspect do most others. It's the situation when you travel that is relevant, not the situation at time of booking.   

yes I agree ... I am presuming we are covered for our cruise next year as by then all present FCDO advice we can expect to be lifted and anything else is right now unforeseen and unknown.  

It’s the particular short cruise in July which may well be booked and paid for before they get round to changing the wording to allow UK only cruises that concerns me.  
if I need to cancel before the wording is changed.. will I be covered 🤷‍♀️   
Going to play it safe and wait for the advice to be clarified.