Megabear2

Prior to the pandemic in January 2020 we sailed Britannia in the Caribbean and on that cruise we were told that wine waiters were being done away with. That was the new policy apparently as a cost saving matter. I was actually surprised last Christmas to have a wine waiter in Epicurean as on all my staycation and round UK cruises I hadn't seen one! The only specialist wine waiter I have seen this year on a cruise was on Celebrity Edge, none on Regal Princess or Britannia although it was staff shortages causing none on Regal. My friends sailed on Sky late August and reported the same. Attending the wine tasting on both Britannia and Regal the sommeliers explained that wine waiters are no longer specialists and as the wine lists are becoming smaller the two lines are relying more heavily on the sommelier recommendations and what actually goes through the cash register to aid their buying in of wine. Seemed to be sensible when explained like that.

Perfectly sound reasoning, I did the same. On my Princess cruise in July our head waiter was a lovely man in his late 40's clearly adored by his workmates and the people he served. He did however look perpetually sad. On being asked by our table companions why he explained that he was one of 8 siblings who had been working the cruise lines since their early 20's and prior to the pandemic the entire family were in the process of setting up their own travel company in the Philippines. During the pandemic two brothers were lost, the remaining six and the extended family had to put their plans on hold and when cruising restarted the two eldest brothers went back to sea to enable the rest of the family to restart the plans at home. These two wages were in effect keeping things at home on an even keel to allow their dream to come to fruition. Our waiter was on his last contract but had just been told by Princess that due to recruitment issues and short staffing his contract needed extending by three months. He had agreed to keep things better for his work colleagues and an extra wage for his brothers' widows. Needless to say he got huge tips from all on our table to help them all. Interestingly he told us apart from himself and his brothers no one else in his large extended family were going to sea preferring to work in IT and the tourist trade in the Philippines. He also said although relatively young he was worn out by his cruise years and needed to get away.

Well if we want to cruise we will have to live with all this. As is happening everywhere the world has moved on and changed. All these new passengers aren't going to worry about what they've never had so apart from a few tweaks here and there not much can currently change I'm afraid. If the government here is saying they want all the younger retirees to go back to work because we haven't enough people working I've no doubt the same has happened in the countries the cruise lines take their pool of workers from. If we have a long life expectancy we mustn't forget that people in these places through no fault of their own have a far shorter one and the appeal of flying off for months on end for really hard work will be just as unappealing to people overseas as it is to the mysterious UK inactive 50+ "missing". How many of us are queuing up to help the country apart from those who volunteer.

It's pretty standard nowadays. Unfortunately if you aren't quarantined with a positive test you aren't considered as in confinement and able to claim on your insurance. Basically a ruined holiday possibly separated from your partner with no compensation. Compared to having say Norovirus when you'd be able to claim £X per day on a full cruise cover policy a pretty rough deal.

Close contacts who are negative go under special measures. They stay in their own room and can only eat room service but aren't quarantined as such. They are allowed off but not on tours. They are tested fairly regularly apparently. Seems like the whole trip becomes a half way house a you are restricted quite a lot and are masked at all times. Host Hattie over on the Cunard board has just been through the procedure so its pretty current.

Caribbean cruises upcoming with observed testing required 48 hours before sailing. Will be interesting to try to find out ow many are refused boarding and how many cases occur onboard.

A bit like this?

Do remember that other countries don't have the same policies so there is still a risk you can be offloaded. The "getting on with it" can unfortunately change. There's no cover for quarantine unless you have a positive test either.

Yep. Now you're on the right hymn sheet. There is NO insurer who covers this issue without a positive test. The OP is not the first to have this happen to them.

The answer is how long is a piece of string! Many do not report they feel unwell, there's technically no testing so you'd not be challenged unless identified as a close contact. Those that have been honest and reported themselves haven't had the best of times either personally or financially.

I'm afraid that Holiday Extras also don't offer the cover. Basically as it stands you cannot insure for refused boarding unless you have a positive covid test. The UK travel insurance market does not offer the cover P&O suggest and if you are refused boarding you're looking at a long and difficult argument to recover your money I'm afraid.

A sign of old age! Think Marlon Brando On the Waterfront.

Is that -your personal view or stated company policy?

All well and good if it's an insurable risk. As we know a lot of this isn't. If P&O/Cunard spoke to the insurers they might actually understand that the issue is pretty major for the passenger. Bit like asking them to put their hand in the fire to see if it's hot!

While I think there is some merit in observation and a possible question at the terminal, which as I said I'd personally be happy with, many others would not be happy with that approach. The suggestion earlier that anyone seen coughing or whatever could be asked to take an onsite test also seems reasonable and would fit with Moley's suggestion of random testing. I believe P&O are very happy with the muddy waters and as long as they don't get caught out they won't do much to change things. I believe unless people like you and the OP challenge them either legally or via ABTA, consumer groups or social media they will just try to ride it out. As ever I'm charging in demanding a fair deal for all but truthfully I normally end up fighting the battle alone as there's a serious public aversion to "getting involved". This reluctance is why these companies get away with so many things I'm afraid. I note you say you are going to pursue your case, I hope so and wish you every luck. Unfortunately until they find themselves in the position and are staring down the barrel of the gun most people really have no idea what is likely to happen.

Crikey even I find that draconian! I cough regularly since my brush with cv in March/April. Whilst I'm happy to chat with medical staff and be examined I'd be very unhappy at being treated like I have something to hide. As I've stated elsewhere it is my intention to take a certified covid test before each cruise I'm taking so that hopefully any refused boarding is backed up by a medical document. For the time being those results are my financial security. Perhaps P&O should make it clear on their we strongly advise you take a test page that if no certified positive test is available you run the risk your insurer may not cover you. At least it would be a start.

Never had it with P&O but had a strange one on Cunard world cruise in Jordan. Late departure at midnight, all onboard 11.30pm. My two American friends and I booked a private excursion to Petra followed by early evening in the Wadi to see the sunset and then tea in a Bedouin tent. Scheduled arrival back at QM2 was for us 10.45pm. Slight delay with traffic we arrived back at 11.00pm to find everything cleared away with one man waiting at the gangways. He was very short with us but we thought nothing of it and went for a drink to watch the ship sail on time at midnight. Next morning was a collect your passport day as we were at sea. At the table oours could not be located anywhere. We were told to leave it while they looked into it. Two hours later our names were called to go to reception where we were lectured on our late arrival back. My friend stated we were half an hour inside the all onboard time and had done nothing wrong. We were told our passports were withheld as they thought we had overstayed and missed the ship. That evening at dinner our table companions told us crew had come round at 8.45pm the night before searching for us and demanding if anyone knew our whereabouts. When told where we were apparently lots of hand wringing and frowns occurred because apart from us everyone else was back onboard. We never did get to the bottom of what the problem was!

If you don't complete it apparently they cancel you anyway as it's a term of booking. In March my entire family were hit by covid and had to cancel our 1 April cruise. One BIL just told his travel agent he wasn't travelling and ignored the questionnaire when it arrived next day. Due to an oversight P&O thought he was still travelling. At 1 minute past midnight on departure day he received an email stating as he hadn't completed the questionnaire his cruise was cancelled.

If you didn't think to keep a copy at the date of your booking it will assumedly have been booked prior to the amendment on 5 September and therefore should be fairly easy to point out to P&O you booked prior to the abandonment of FCC. You are entitled to ask for the printed copy in force at the date on your booking confirmation as well although getting this might as you say prove difficult.

Whilst an interesting suggestion it wouldn't help her sister in law or any other of her travelling party denied boarding as they won't have any claim on medical grounds. I believe the OP is past her sailing date as well. The problem with the questionnaire is it being completed online with no chance of appeal. When tests were being done at port you had medical professionals at the terminal who knew how to handle the situation, now as you say its computer saying no. The SIL is assumedly on a different insurance policy and living in a different address, therefore her insurer has no liability under most of the policies I've discussed the issues with them. If you do not travel as a couple or family residing at the same address you have no recourse at all.

I can confirm that ABTA are extremely interested in this following my conversation with them. I am currently in discussions with them, Holiday Extras and supposedly P&O. I am due a reply from the latter next week. If a suitable reply is not forthcoming in that reply I am instructed to make a formal complaint to ABTA and also the ASA as it is blatantly clear that the advertising is incorrect and misleading. I personally would go so far as to suggest fraudulent as they must be aware the policies do not cover these risks - I've spoken to 14 insurers with the same reply. Travellers on P&O and Cunard are affected by this issue and ABTA have commented unofficially that this is clearly a policy to tie in with Carnival, the US parent company, of removing all restrictions. Ironically buried in the US and Australian terms of Cunard is a requirement for them to pay FCC to affected guests with US or Australian bookings. If, as I suspect, P&O try to cut some deal with me which unfortunately they have tried previously, I intend on this occasion to refuse. I have put them on notice I will be contacting various consumer agencies on the issue if they do not sort the issue for all travellers, not just individuals. To the OP I suggest lodging a complaint with ABTA immediately as there is nothing to best lost in raising the issue - the more the merrier! I would also suggest taking the issue up with any legal entity you may have access to - check free home insurance free legal lines, credit card legal help and any work or union related help lines. Definitely don't let it go unchallenged. If you need "proof" of the insurance issue, please refer to the Holiday Extras thread I started where Adam Edinburgh's reply on what his company will not cover is posted. I have a swaive of material on this issue! If you want to contact me direct let me know - I'm not sure if this site allows personal contact but I'm sure we can find a way. To everyone else including those who have said it's an okay policy, I can assure you it's not according to the governing body of travel.

Direct Line ANNUAL MULTI-TRIP Perfect for the frequent traveller, and families too. Plus, 20% off when you buy online. Introductory offer only. Each trip up to a maximum of 42 days. All travellers must be under 75. Quotes valid for 90 days. Word of caution here. Direct Line had a very poor reputation on covid cover initially. Suggest you thoroughly investigate their current stance on major points of refused boarding, quarantine both onboard and shore (it's a long cruise so offloading is not I'm afraid an impossibility) and also close contact boarding refusal etc. Basically if you have a large sum at stake per person call them and ask every possible question regarding covid testing proof etc. This policy covers £5000 maximum which is fairly standard.

I think in that case you will find it extremely difficult as over 70 is normally restricted to 31 or 35 days. Have you looked at the policies from M&S? You can extend their policies to 45 days and more but their premiums reflect it. They are however covered by one of the very best insurers/claims companies. I know they cover heart conditions including stents as I have a friend insured with them. They I believe insure to 80 as well.

As I am currently only monitoring this thread on insurance issues, I have an update for anyone interested. I have received a reply from P&O's Executive Office to my email of 3rd October on the situation with refused boarding as either a contact or on completion of the health questionnaire and we are now in direct communication and discussions "at the highest level". If and when these discussions are completed I will post here the answers and result.

Hi. On insurance issues for longer cruise suggest you try Avanti if you are happy with Staysure, however it only helps if you are under 70. They are the more specialised sister company of Staysure. Their policy is as follows: Quote How long can I travel for with an annual travel insurance policy? With an annual policy, how long you can travel for will depend on your age and where you’re going on holiday. If you’re under 70, you can travel for up to 50 days per trip, and up to 183 days in total for the year. Aged 71 and over? You can travel for up to 35 days per trip, and up to 183 days across the year. Are you planning a holiday longer than 50 days? If you’re aged 70 and under, you can opt for our one trip extension, which can cover you for up to 90 days for an additional premium. Looking to travel for longer than 3 months? Take a look at our long stay travel insurance. Unquote I can confirm they cover most health conditions at a cost as my husband is insured with them and he has a myocardial Bridge, fibromyalgia and ME amongst others. Hope that helps. However please be aware along with all the other insurers they only pay refused boarding on a positive test.