Megabear2

Can't help you there. My fares are select both 14 days one balcony one single balcony. I've had an upgrade for one of these from an inside so don't expect to see it but the lady taking the booking was adamant it would apply. If it does, well that's great if not I'm fine as OBC isn't something I stress about personally. I can't recall who said they'd had it on a saver but definitely someone did. I'll look back through the old threads when I get home from QM2. Maybe there are a couple of versions for different people?

I raised the point a while ago on ICF's Caribbean thread and Moley told me it's to accommodate the younger cruisers who are big time vegetarian. It was pointed out Epicurean is not vegetarian friendly so was to balance the deal so to speak. Seems fair enough, I've booked it for a night on my cruise.

I have this email and a direct P&O booking made on 31 March for 14 nights Arvia on a select fare. When I mentioned it to agent they informed me that it will apply but I will not see it until I'm onboard, apparently it's in the small print of the email but as I'm not home can't check as I only have the printed one ready for the off on Sunday week. It was also confirmed for my Britannia August reservation made at same time. Only restriction is must be more than a certain number of days - I think it said 5. I've no reason to believe it isn't going to go on automatically- I have a vague recollection that one of our regular posters mentioned he'd had it applied on a saver which surprised him.

The app offers little save the option for Britannia "freedom" diners to reserve their dining times. Having queued for 20 minutes last night (with a reservation placed on my behalf "for my convenience") to even get to the podium to announce one's arrival for dinner I have now booked on the app for my required dining time in advance and hope last night will become a distant memory. Having been thrust into the brave new world of freedom dining on a Cunard ship for the first time I will do whatever it takes to bypass the ensuing mayhem of yesterday evening. The queues at the 3rd floor doors to Britannia restaurant were something I did not expect to find on a Cunard ship, I was quite taken aback. One gentleman immediately behind me was taken poorly in the queue as he waited and had to be taken and found a chair. My 8.30pm reservation led to being seated at 8.55pm and my meal ending at 10.40pm and there were still quite a few still eating when I left and retired for the evening. Incidentally I was not even asked if I'd like to see the wine menu or given the opportunity to order a drink. The poor staff were being somewhat overwhelmed so I did not raise the issue and stuck to drinking my iced water. Hopefully tonight will be better, I've booked via the app for 6.30pm in the hope I might actually be able to get in to the restaurant in a more timely manner.

Ahh my friend, your first app adventure! Hate to tell you this but it's identical to P&O's so you have that joy to come later this year. I'm pleasantly surprised, it loaded and opened first time for me, went on to my homescreen and even let me book my dinner. Queue system is also working well. Biggest surprise is the wi-fi. It's actually working in my room so I haven't got to sit on the stairs so far. Strangely no entertainment showing in that section but guess it's not needed. The Daily Programme and my onboard account are also showing in the app. This is a first for me, an app that's actually loaded!

My last two Britannia cruises no pots of jam, a spoonful in a pot and most certainly not Bon Maman or Wilkins. The eggs are my favourite breakfast item on P&O ships though.

Kings Court is notorious, badly planned so always looks busy. I wandered through and noticed they are still serving guests rather than help yourself. Found my friend and had a quick coffee with her. I ate in the Golden Lion, served quickly for drinks and food. Sail away was busy, man seated next to me had a waiter spill a beer all over him and he had to go and change his trousers as a result. Arcadia and Aurora looked very splendid in the Southampton sunshine.

If boarding Arvia is like my boarding today for QM2 I'll be delighted. Arrived 12.30 as per my allocated time, luggage dropped, checked in and boarded by 12.45! Straight to room for keys, literally inside the door to put hand luggage down and knock at the door with my luggage. Unpacked, mustered and out for lunch, definitely a record for any Southampton voyage!

If cabins/rooms are cleaned every day I have no worries. However when I was injured and trapped in the bath when the hotel only cleans the room every three days then you realise just how vulnerable you are. Each to his own however wherever I stay alone now I ask for contact at least once a day.

I'm glad I booked everything beforehand if availability is going to be bad. I took pot luck on a MDR and chose Zenith for the Celebration Night. I assume they are the same. Interesting to hear Technoman is find it very busy as the "overcrowding" reports from the Easter cruise indicated it was just due to the school holidays. This perhaps is not so clear a reason now.

I was quoted staring from £10,144 solo on the October 2024 Italian cruise on Saga i looked at. I'm not mean by any reckoning but that scared the pants off me, I'll stick to P&O, Cunard and Celebrity until I win the lottery.

My name given is Pauline and my mother referred to me as Pauline the Peril from age 5!

Does it ever get the sun? Hugely impressive size. I have an extended Arvia on the hump booked later this year and wondered about sun/shade there as well.

Can only agree with our US friends. Breakfast is a big thing on Celebrity, RC and Princess. Sadly P&O are a long way off competing in my experience although the eggs can be very good!

Well this is promising. Received today after submitting my assistance request. " Good afternoon, Thank you for your email. Recognising that time in the terminal for guests with hidden disabilities can be stressful, I can confirm I have added embarkation assistance to your booking. Upon arrival at the correct terminal in Southampton, you will be directed to a drop off lane where you unload your luggage, porters are available to assist with this. Your luggage will then be transferred onto the ship and will be outside your cabin when you arrive. When boarding you should only be carrying your hand luggage on board with you. Once you dropped off your luggage, please make yourselves known to the assistance team in the high visibility vests for assistance, they will guide you to the registration area at the enquiries desk, then we can assist you through the terminal and onto the ship, they can also direct you to a quieter space to wait prior to embarking. Once embarkation is underway, the Ground Services team will be able to guide you through security and safely on board as efficiently as possible, in order to make it a smooth embarkation. The Enquiries desks are located at: · Ocean Terminal - Upper level, to the right of the escalator · Mayflower Terminal - Top of the Ramp, to the right QEII Terminal - Right hand side as you enter the check-in area For disembarkation, we would recommend self-disembarking early or to wait in a quiet area and proceed ashore as late as you are able to. We kindly request that you arrive at your allocated embarkation time on your boarding pass or after 15.00. This is an anticipated quieter time for guests embarking with hidden disabilities and 15.00 onwards is generally free flowing onto the ship and a more comfortable experience for all. If guests arrive earlier than their allocated time, an extended wait may be incurred whilst waiting for the available team to prioritise guests adhering to their correct arrival time. No priority can be given to guests arriving early and they may be asked to wait until their allocated time. If you have any questions, please let us know. We look forward to welcoming you on board." I'm very happy with this and hope it works.

This is a critical issue to me. I stayed in a Best Western Hotel last year with the same policy. Unfortunately I had a fall in the bath where I was quite badly hurt, it took 40 minutes to get out with very hot water running and my feet and legs were burnt as a result. Yes a freak accident but BWH have subsequently acknowledged the policy is flawed and have instituted a singles policy of one call a day to check on wellbeing. P&O should at least institute this as of I hadn't been able to get out of the bath I would have lain there forc48 hours until my check out. Single travellers need monitoring, P&O need to step up here.

I'll let you know! Meantime I've booked me trips Gov! We shall see where we go. I quite fancy the overnight in Ibiza my July Britannia has offered. I fancy the rave in bubbles ...

See you onboard. I'm going home!

The trouble is Apex is coming in 2024, I'm struggling no comparison. I love Britannia but...

I bought the basic price for Med 14 days. Cost was £153.72 including 8 1/2 percent reduction for Mediterranean. Certainly not cheap.

19 May still showing Arvia, Celebrity Edge and MSC Seaview. If they aren't letting Arvia in they're leaving it very late to tell P&O unless P&O already know and haven't told the passengers.

You'll be checked in okay, they're aware there's a problem and have already told me that's what I need to do. It will be just like the old days apparently! The lady I spoke to told me they are prepared with a nice seating area for suite and priority guests, just in case.

I'm about to experience a late boarding time for the first time in over 50 cruises and although I know someone has to be last am very concerned about possible delays impacting all sorts of things. First night dinner becomes a problem. Do I book in advance as I won't be able to cancel it if I'm in the queue at the terminal. I also won't have a clue where the restaurant is as I won't have time to find it! Realistically I'm looking at arriving for 4.00pm, join the queue and be processed, board, find my cabin, watch the safety video, go to find my muster station (again with no idea where I'm going) and get myself checked in. The whole process means it's now well on it's way to 6.00pm and I've not even added in trying to book stuff on the app before it sells out. In fact I'm tired just looking at this scenario! Joking apart I can well see why there's reviews saying the first night of dining can be a mess. Take 6,000 people with no idea where they're going trying to find their way around a very large ship, sprinkle in tiredness from long journeys, restless kids and apps that a lot don't understand and chaos may well ensue. Mind you after writing this I think it's room service or the buffet for me first night and my 6.15 Zenith booking best get cancelled!

I managed to get back in to the bookings at around 8.00pm and it allowed me to make bookings for week 2. I eat early between 6.00 and 6.30 so it was important to me to secure reservations in advance as I understand once they're filled that's it. Apart from one night with Olive Grove I have managed to secure my first choice times - quite a few of the things I looked at had no 6.15 or 6.30 options remaining. I'm quite interested in trying the Keel & Cow when I can book onboard. Has anyone who has eaten there know what time dining starts in there, please? Incidentally the reservations I made previously are still not showing in my itinerary although these new ones are including the paid ones. I am confident they must still be there so won't do anything until I get back from the QM2 cruise. This has been quite a trial and error process which I hope will be better for Iona in June. It's a shame I have to eat early as I'm sure onboard booking would have been easier than this has been.

No.