hewhotravels

Here we go again, you can always rely on Harry to drag out discredited project fear lies. Even the BBC failed to find the slightest hint of bad news to justify the claim regarding the loss of free European roaming.

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-45064268

I have a 3 mobile contract and roamed for free in Europe BEFORE the EU made it compulsory,  have also roamed for free around the world on various wonderful cruises.

1 hour ago, Harry Peterson said:

Post Brexit, with no certainty of any reciprocal agreements to replace the current EHIC arrangements, prices are bound to rise just to reflect that, let alone Covid.

 

That, plus the post Brexit ending of the free inclusive mobile calls/data within the EU, is making UK hoildays increasingly attractive. 

Good luck, hope you have a good resolution and it bides away the time to your next escape! I'd be tempted to message them through their Facebook page as well, I've found that they monitor it constantly and it often leads to  much faster response to queries. 

I messaged P&O on their Facebook page, got a rapid response to the message and then a calendar in an oversized jiffy bag with hand written calendar inside arrived around a week later. No complements slip inside, all very strange and not at all professional but all the same, we got one. We are Ligurian.

So as we pay the same tariffs when roaming in the EU as we do at home, why on earth would you expect the same when we leave? It's an EU law, that we benefit from while we are members. Can't pick and chose the bits we want and don't want.

Did you read my comment #23? I have travelled around the world using 3 at home, Europe is just another part of the world! We have called home and used data from our contract in places as diverse as Sri Lanka, Australia, South America and USA as well as throughout Europe using 3 at home, The EU are not in a position to stop 3 or Vodaphone users having this option in Europe so it will continue! 3 are a world wide company (as are Vodaphone) and are in a position to be able to either offer extensions of your contract on their world wide partner networks, or negotiate bilateral agreements with other networks to their users. Brexit will not affect this as they are not @blessed EU' offers, they are deemed to be sound marketing. If other companies are not in a position to offer continuation because they can't negotiate deals with other networks then the market will determine who will win the share dominance battle. Simple business practice - clever marketing advantage by these two companies.

I forgot to mention the question of mobile telephone and data post Brexit... We use 3 as a provider and had 3 at home which we used across the world including Europe (71 destinations at present) making calls and burning data within our contracts before the blessed lords of Brussels gave us a strange sensation of deja view. Vodaphone have only 48 inclusive destinations but 104 other destinations where the cap is £6 per day. So the airwaves will fall down after Brexit? Nope, not in a competitive market, just more project fear disinformation for anyone keen to listen.

The biggest issue I had with P&O Bars was the service, compared to all three other cruise lines the bar service was no where near as good or attentive, but I guess that is because they are not working for tips.

The waiting staff are working for tips, the price you pay includes two elements, a service charge for the waiter and a service charge for the barman / bar lady. This is why, if you go to the bar directly, the barman will inevitably serve you through a waiter. This is why all the bar staff are excluded from the gratuity system.

Obviously it is a shame if your Mother couldn't get a drink with her dinner. Did you ask for the wine waiter to get it for you? It was our experience that wine was being fetched from other bars upon request when it is not apparently available. For example, when we boarded there was no Rioja allocated to the Glasshouse (despite being on the wine list). I told them that it was my favourite tipple and was available in the Crows Nest, a waiter was sent to spread the allocation around, wonderful service and a very satisfied me.

The latter, we went to Iceland and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. The ship itself is in fine shape, the crew are wonderful and the food was more than acceptable. It is not difficult to avail of a seat in the show lounge without bagging one an hour before the performance and seats are always easy to find around the ship. The buffet can be busy at peak times especially before 9am for breakfast of 1pm for lunch. Contrary to one review I have read, the ship was stable with little if no rolling. Just remember that the draft on the Adonia is the same as on Britannia, with much less above the water line to catch side winds. Movement if it occurs tends to be as it rides the swell, not cross waves My personal measure of rough is when the 'comfort' bags appear on the stair ends, they did not and nor were they needed.

There were stocking issues with wine and beer either being or becoming unavailable but there were plenty of alternative beverages available. Those who couldn't have their exact correct drink are, in my opinion, moaning ninnies. I understand that the availability was better than the previous cruise, i.e.it is getting better and soon will be fully stocked.

My reasoning for the moaners was the excessive number of affluent higher grade 'Portunus' passengers on the Icelandic cruise. It must be pointed out though that many of them, as we were , enjoying a half price cruise, and really should have known that there would be teething issues. Experience shows that this is exactly the group who are prone to moan about anything and everything. One example was the commodore (yes, that is how he introduced himself to passengers and crew alike) who was angry that the captain evidently was displaying the ensign incorrectly, and loudly declared the captain's discretion to one and all in the glasshouse. Another moaner was the lady who objected to being kept on a tenter whilst the crew assisted a disabled passenger ''you could have got 10 people off in the time it took to get her off''. She received no mutterings of agreement from the other passengers, just astonished looks of condemnation. As always, the huge majority of passengers are lovely, both talkative and amiable, we had a lady offer to change seats in the theatre when we arrived later than normal 'because we usually sat there'. That was not unusual, good manners outweighed poor so go ahead, enjoy your cruise and look upon the moaners as part of the entertainment.

DH is attracted to Cruisepark Southampton as cars are stored under cover. There are so many poor parking companies, was just wondering if anybody had any experience of this company - good or bad? Thanks.

We have just returned from a 24 day back to back with our car parked with Cruisepark Southampton and were very impressed with them. The cost was competitive and the experience second to none. After arrival, the taxi arrived with only a few minutes delay and after disembarkation and a phone call to the company, was with us within 10 minutes. The warehouse where the car is parked is 10 minutes(ish) from Mayflower depending on the traffic. We have tried several parking alternatives and would recommend them.