Bgees

10 minutes ago, wowzz said:

You have to fill it in no later than 48 hours before you board, not in the 48 hours before boarding.

Are you certain? The website doesn't say thatl. It says that it should be completed in the 48 hours before boarding, not 48 hours before boarding.

2 hours ago, pete14 said:

Wise decision about getting a taxi but what about transmission risks at the airport or on the flight itself?

I think that is outweighed by the possibility of being denied boarding because you happened to be on a transfer to the port on a bus with someone who subsequently was tested positive.

Talking of videos, has anyone seen the new P&O TV advert? Lots of maskless singing and dancing, sitting at the bar joking with the barman, etc. Very realistic!

Ah, I see the gov website says that you can complete the LFT in the 48 hrs before travelling so it will be possible to complete the form on the 22nd and then present this on the 23rd. Some worries about websites crashing though!

If you’re travelling on a cruise that lasts 19 days or less, submit the form in the 48 hours before boarding. If your cruise is longer, you can submit the form while travelling.

48 minutes ago, majortom10 said:

No you need a PLF filled in 48hrs before start of cruise because you need code from the LFT test that you are taking on day 2 of your arrival home to put onto PLF. This is checked at the port before embarking your cruise.

So we can only order the PCR tests for the plf to ensure that we can get on board? It doesn't make sense if the gov says that this is ready for the half term holidays. Surely this would be the same for any holiday that involves transport abroad. How can anyone use a lft for their half term holidays then?

Can I ask, if the tests are available to order from the 22nd, does that mean we can't do the PLF until the 22nd? It seems not much time when our cruise leaves the 23rd.

I am concerned that the IT might not hold out if there are hundreds of thousands of test being ordered and PLFs being entered on the same day.

Travellers will be able to order their lateral flow tests from 22 October, when a list of approved providers will be published on the gov.uk website.

20 hours ago, LynnForestgate said:

Is it the pricing structure of P&O that allows these "Types" to afford to go cruising nowadays ?

I really don't think that this is the issue - there are many people who can afford very expensive holidays who are obnoxious in every way. The main issue is the lack of action by the cruise lines to ensure that sunbeds are used correctly, combined with a pent up frustration caused by the insidious truths, half truths and un-truths fed to us by every level of media over the past 18 months. 

Ask any person working in a face to face job and you will get the same answer - people are losing patience at every level.

This is on the P&O website:

Travel insurance

It’s mandatory for all UK guests to have comprehensive cruise-specific travel insurance when you sail with us. Whilst we hope you never have to claim, the policy will ensure you’re able to relax and enjoy your holiday knowing you’re protected should you need it. When travelling with us, your insurance must include medical cover of £2 million minimum and cover for emergency evacuations and medical expenses related to COVID-19. You must also ensure your policy includes cover for repatriation, cancellation and curtailment and full cover for any and all pre-existing medical conditions worldwide, or as a minimum, in the countries you are due to visit.

You will be asked to confirm you have travel insurance at the terminal/airport and you may need to provide proof of your policy. It is your responsibility to ensure you have appropriate cover in place. Unfortunately you will be denied boarding, at your own expense, if you do not arrange insurance. P&O Cruises has partnered with Holiday Extras to offer appropriate comprehensive travel insurance cover for our holidays. For more information regarding travel insurance requirements please visit www.pocruises.com/travel-insurance

5 minutes ago, Interestedcruisefan said:

I've always assumed Princess to be more expensive than P and O when ive looked at cruises. 

I have noticed that Princess are nearly always cheaper than P&O when looking at cruise prices recently. That is selecting the Princess Plus price as well.

Worse cruise we ever had was a 2 week cruise from Southampton to the Med on Navigator of the seas. It started badly (she was delayed by bad weather from Russia which meant 6000 people getting off and getting on at the same time. This was the only cruise where we had teenagers singing and shouting around the ship, insulting staff and being chased by security. This happened for the full two weeks. I was never so glad to be off a ship. Speaking to some Americans they said this was the sorst cruise they had ever gone on. 

That is why we would always cruise from Venice/Rome, etc so we can avoid the all-inclusive 'Blackpool' crows.

When you read some of the comments from regular P&O cruisers on this forum you realise why P&O don't appeal to a wider audience.

I hope with our first P&O cruise coming up we don't meet the attitude that seems to prevail about what P&O should be like, compared to what they appear to be hoping to become with ships such as Iona, etc. 

I would go HAL.

3 hours ago, Interestedcruisefan said:

would actually be more confident to book if there were no ports of call and it was just 14 nights on the boat with food, entertainment and great weather to sunbathe etc

I would love that. I would definitely go for a cruise from Southampton that sailed to the  Canaries/round the Med, without any ports of call. No hassle about tests, etc, just food, drink and sunshine!

8 hours ago, Ardennais said:

Having cruised for many years when our three were teenagers, I can well understand the disappointment. However, I understand the reasons for the policy. My daughter is a teacher, and it’s quite frightening how many teenagers at her school have had Covid since the beginning of term. Some of her GCSE classes have absence rates of around 50%. 

But wasn't that the point of having a PCR test 72 hours before sailing, and an LFT at the port so that cases should be caught before passengers board? Just because you are vaccinated doesn't mean you can't pass it on or catch it.

Quite right.

No need to be confused, there are over 220000 under 16s who are double jabbed due to underlying health conditions or living with those who are immuno-suppressed.

1 hour ago, molecrochip said:

Have they each had two jabs?

 

If they’ve only had one in line with Government recommendations then they still don’t pass P&Os criteria.

They have both had two doses of Pfizer so are double vaccinated as per P&O guidelines.

Always handy though when the company say 'To be advised' on the rules.

Issue we have now is what evidence P&O require that our children have had both vaccinations as the NHS England app doesn't allow covid pass for under 16s.

We have now completed the form that allows (hopefully) our holiday to continue. Halfway down the email there is this line:

If all guests on the booking will be fully vaccinated at least 14 days prior to sailing, please complete this web form by 6 October 2021 to confirm and your booking will remain in place.

Hopefully this will mean that we can still get the holiday as planned. Friends have just come off the IOna (13th Sept cruise) and gave us their copies of Hoprizon. There appears to be enough qizzes to keep us happy

4 minutes ago, crazy cat lady 83 said:

We are on the Iona half term cruise. Me and my husband are double jabbed and my children are not (11 and 9) 

 

I will await an email. Talk about leaving it last minute 🙄

I have seen this on the P&O website. May be you wil be allowed on board due to the timing/numbers cap.

The current vaccination policy for our international cruises departing from Southampton has been extended until the end of March 2022 but our reduced occupancy on board, coupled with the Covid-19 protocols, has made it necessary to limit the numbers of unvaccinated guests on a selected number of sailings between September 2021 to March 2022.  We are so sorry for the change to these bookings and the disappointment caused.

Why are you cancelling my booking, but my friends can still travel?

Just now, Bin man said:

Bgees where were you going on your cruise ? Reading the rules to me it's for the carrabian cruises all other cruises it can be a pcr test if  children not vaccinated as it was or if I  have I got it wrong I stand corrected .

Northern Europe. The email makes no mention of the PCR test, only that they are cancelling.

As you're travelling with guests aged 17 or younger that exceed our capacity limit of unvaccinated guests, we've made the assumption they won't have completed their vaccination course before your holiday and will be unable to travel. Regrettably, we are going to have to cancel your booking. 
 

But then P&O have not said that any of their children's facilities are closed, only saying what they are and what the children can do in them. It would be the same if they decided to close all the lounges but still told people all about them.

The email I got did not mention the PCR testing at all, just that they assumed our children were not fully vaccinated (they are) and that they were cancelling our cruise.

Well, having looked at the P&O rules for travelling (adults double jabbed, children not jabbed have to take PCR test, etc) we booked the advertised school break holiday for 23rd October.

However, it appears that children are not allowed on the school holiday cruise anymore as we have just received an email from P&O saying that they have assumed that our children are not fully vaccinated and have cancelled our cruise.

This means that three weeks before the cruise they are changing the rules regarding who can travel and are cancelling holiday with that short notice.

Our children though are double vaccinated and so can travel but the question I have is should they? As you know, it is impossible to actually talk to anyone at customer services as they just cut you off when trying to call them so I can't find out if there are going to be other children on board or whether the teens/kids clubs are going to be open. If they are not, then it is not really going to be much of a holiday for them as P&O don't provide any facilities for younger cruisers outside the clubs.

Is anyone else in this situation or have any thoughts. Should we take them or should we just get our refund. (I would not take FCC from P&O as we will never cruise with them again.

3 hours ago, Vampiress88 said:

have asked on a different platform and they have said that children can’t be in bars after 9pm which is a bit unfair as they are on holiday and I let mine stay up on sea days. 
 

I've never been on any ship that has not allowed children into bars at any time (as long as they are not adult only venues.) Who said that they were not allowed in after 9?