Megabear2

There's actually two queues. The shorter one is those on time waiting to go in. The longer one goes round the corner and is early arrivals. The queue to go in is stretching up the escalator. As I say, glad I'm not in it!

Arrived a bit earlier than intended as absolutely no traffic between Salisbury and Southampton. Luggage went in the hole, but a bit chaotic with coaches still arriving at 15.05. Big queues outside but seem to be being managed okay and doesn't look too bad at all. Reported to assistance and a lovely man took me through the side door and seated me. He offered to help me go through early but I've declined as seemed very unfair with hundreds outside. Just before 4.00pm he's coming to get me. I've made good use of my time waiting. Logged in to the ship and booked a couple of extra meals and shows and have the illusive 710 Club 8.45 performances for several nights as well. I'm all set and looking forward to getting on board. Decided to cancel my 6.00pm dinner for tonight as enjoyed lunch at home with the OH before leaving for Southampton. All looking good at present, I'm chilling watching the queue, couldn't be doing with the standing outside though!

The booking you switch to has to cost more than the one you are moving from.

The legal team no doubt breathed a sigh of relief, particularly as I'm boarding in a few hours!

And unfortunately he now has to declare higher than normal cholesterol when buying travel insurance and the question states has your cholesterol EVER been raised so even if he gets it back down to a good level naturally he will be rated and charged more. Sometimes these health checks don't help at all when it comes to travel insurance.

I just know it's bloomin' expensive now!

Interesting insurance story here. The end paragraph about possible new rules is rather intriguing. https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/older-holidaymakers-face-prohibitive-travel-29948156

Great bargain. Just about to press the button. I looked at the Canada one later on as well. Also no supplements. I think Faroes went because of the animal rights issue with whales if I remember rightly.

Sorry to sort of hijack this thread but what are opinions on Arcadia balcony cabins if I took a saver fare? Are they disastrous? I've seen a saver deal on the 21 night Iceland, North Cape, Norway August sailing with a balcony at £1,999 for a saver single occupancy. As some may remember I hoped to see a real polar bear and whales and everyone suggested the North Cape might be best. Seems a bargain ... opinions sought on cabin, ship, ports (need for transfers etc) and possible Pipaluk sightings on that cruise. Thank you.

Oh dear. Apparently four ships in today Balmoral, Anthem, Virtuosa and Britannia. Another four tomorrow including Iona, Sky Princess and Celebrity Silhouette. I'm looking at four on Sunday including Arvia and Anthem with my dreaded late check in time. My other half is already stressing about getting me there on time with no trains meaning extra traffic, if this makes the local news he will have me camping out in the park overnight!

Definitely say nothing. It's now virtually impossible to claim on an insurance policy for covid cancellation of any holiday, let alone a cruise as all insurers want a positive covid test carried out by a medical professional and won't accept self administered tests, even if video observed. My Post Office annual policy is due renewal and I queried this with them and six other companies. Basically the covid cancellation cover is no longer worth the paper it's written on as Government policy on covid changed in April. As a result it's nigh on impossible to get an in person test which the insurers want. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/covid-19-testing-approach-from-april-2023

Nothing mentioned on my last 2 cruises just have you had covid symptoms recently asked at Gatwick. Absolutely nothing at Southampton for QM2 last Tuesday and they have same term in their documents. I don't expect anything on Sunday either. Mind you P&O don't seem worried about anything except don't get here early - I've now had 4 reminder emails for that!

We may well laugh but that's why arthritis carries such a high excess premium! According to FCA more travel insurance claims fail on non disclosure of arthritis than anything else.

I would be exceptionally careful about your reading of the policy. Most underwriters will insist on looking at your full medical history via a paid for doctor's report if you make a claim. This will be over a set period of in some cases as little as 6 months (eg Allianz) or 5 years (eg Staysure). Most policies of insurance state quite clearly if you do not declare everything in the required period (there's even a cold on existing conditions) then your policy may not be valid. With some (very few policies) you can opt to not be covered for existing medical conditions but this would mean not being covered for anything you may want to declare. It's either all in or all out.

Just looked at a few Iona 7 night Fjord cruises on the website and note they are not available to book until 12 May. Any idea what may be happening?

During the pandemic hotels and presumably the cruise ships were forbidden from allowing new occupants to reuse items the previous occupiers had accessed. As a consequence all items in a room were to be thrown away as the rooms were vacated. This included tea, coffee and sugar and other individual wrapped items. I'm still using up the vast quantities I accumulated over the last two years. I'm guessing having gotten into the habit these people are carrying on and using the they'll be thrown away excuse in case they're caught.

Online as well

I've just rung RBS/Natwest on the number on my debit card.. There is a recorded message saying the emails were sent by them in error and as a result there will be a delay in answering telephone calls. It didn't state how many affected but I just hung up and left the message as deleted.

I also received one of these yesterday - I bank with RBS. It was confusing as I had just been online to look at my account and I wondered if I'd clicked on something about using the app (which I do not use) in error. In light of your post I'll have another look at it as I just deleted it yesterday.

The Post Office around here (I've tried 6 different ones this afternoon) have no passport application forms which they claim is due to the strike meaning they weren't sent out. A call to Newport Passport Office has confirmed there is a supply problem, they have said they will send one but takes 3 to 4 days. They checked the appointment which is 20 May and informed me if the form doesn't arrive by Tuesday I need to rearrange it on Wednesday or face a £30 penalty! They then checked and told me there are no more Newport appointments between 20th and the end of the month. They kindly offered Belfast as an alternative!

I'm just booking fast track for my OH. I know his passport is valid for EU but very nervous of over officious officials. Seems to be two choices. Get a form from PO, complete it, attend Newport at a cost of £155 new passport sent within 7/8 days or £193.50 to apply online and then travel to Newport to collect it in person. Seem to be same appointment times for each though!

Would a passport dated start date 4/12/2013 be valid for 10 days commencing 6 July 2023?

I do not believe P&O passengers would want to pay the difference in price. QA will be interesting as there are several pay extra dining venues planned. My QA booking for the 30/6/2024 currently from £6458 for Cunard balcony fare with $500obc compared to £8098 Club with $600obc. A Princess Grill would be £11998 with $800 obc. Compares very favourably with Arcadia 25 June 2024 (has 2 extra days) at £5998 for select balcony with £440obc. The mini suite would be £10298 with £480 and full suite £11598 with £520 obc. Really no comparison in quality so Cunard so a no brainer. Therefore unless the ship and service were massively upgraded I doubt anyone would want a "half way house" on P&O?

As long as it is somewhere else not a relaxing day at sea ...

Are you considering relocating? I personally have always found US customer service rather sycophantic and ungenuine but I suppose it depends which part of the US you are visiting. Tourist areas never seem to keep promises made in advance and shoulders get shrugged just the same as here.