Megabear2

You are correct, but there's debate elsewhere about upcoming "small extra charges" for some areas here. It is a very popular and therefore busy area. Incidentally because The Retreat does not offer many full sun seating areas or a swimming pool, the people in that area also use Serenity Pool which makes it even busier.

We have several different scenarios depending on where your cruise originates. Ex Southampton under present rules there is apparently no offloading anywhere en route so absolutely no excuse not to report symptoms. Those that do not are simply being reckless with the ship's and others welfare. Fly cruising on the other hand is a totally different case. Seeing the Princess covid victims in Rome last week one of the themes I saw in the overhead calls in the medical centre was a lack of information as to what was going to happen. Listening in the people were ill prepared to be moved into an Italian quarantine hotels as they had not been told of the need. I'm not really sure of P&O's policy for those still testing positive on arrival at their destination but Princess' seemed to be sending their victims into quarantine hotels ashore. On the other hand Celebrity on my 18 June cruise had a policy of allowing positive testers to remain on board until they tested negative - there were as far as I know minimal numbers of sick on that cruise, if any. Whilst not ideal, the latter at least had less personal and financial impact on individuals. Which brings us to loading levels and their affect on possible covid quarantines. The number of passengers on the Princess cruise we were on was quite high, the second leg increasing by a further 1,000 to virtually maximum capacity. This would leave little room to allow victims to isolate on board with the inevitable consequence that positive testers on turnaround day would have to leave the ship. Again the Celebrity cruise had a far lower number sailing so could comfortably let victims remain on board to complete quarantine. Going forward into the Autumn and Winter sailings P&O are going to have far more passengers on fly cruises with Azura and Britannia busy in the Canaries and Caribbean followed by Arvia arriving and their handling of this is going to be the make or break on people's attitude to reporting symptoms. As I understand it there is a push to have these sailings as near capacity as possible so any policies for them will need to be robust and passenger centric to maintain confidence in booking. The other thing looming on the horizon is the review of the cruising with confidence programmes. Currently they run until the end of September and presumably are being discussed now. How many people will be willing to take the risk of booking a cruise under "normal" booking conditions, ie only able to move to a higher fare voyage, 15% deposits, no FCC if you cannot sail but a claim on your insurance (and your policy may be one of those not covering that scenario) and basically all the onus passed back on to the passenger? Celebrity have already announced their equivalent scheme ends on 30 September. No doubt the other companies are looking long and hard at that idea. The future passengers have a very big amount of things to consider regarding covid. The normal terms that cruises were sold under pre pandemic were weighted entirely against the customer and the passengers' reliance on their insurance as a result. These insurers now have amended policies which weigh very heavily against the claimants. The cruise lines in their rush to return to normality should perhaps bear this in mind. Once passengers lose the current flexibility they may not be so keen to commit.

Just to correct myself to avoid confusion please note these companies no longer use Global Response or TIF having changed their policies last year. They now use companies with a much better reputation thankfully.

You may recall I emphasised a while ago to check out the underwriter/claims company not the name on the insurance policy. There are some extremely expensive policies with big names out there still using the same claims companies- last time I checked there were only 7 operating in the whole UK market. The lesson is check absolutely every minor detail. An excellent way to ensure you catch even the tinest medical event to declare is to get your NHS app to give you full access to your medical records to check dates/-events when declaring. For instance some insurers expect you to declare if you've had covid, others don't. Always try to type absolutely everything no matter how ridiculous it seems. I declared a boil on my latest application, it came up with 7 related questions!

Such an expert I can't even get my own family to do it right ... but yes Wowzz you are correct. 95% of insurances sold are by middlemen, very few actually have their own assistance company and even less underwrite the policies themselves which is why there's always someone on an emergency number to call that you won't recognise and why I always say look at the reviews for the claims company when buying a policy not the name on the insurance policy which is worth zilch if you need to claim. FYI Good to Go are the insurance contractor in this case but all the paperwork is headed Paying Too Much (a price comparison site). The actual emergency assistance is a company called Global Response. The latter are used by a very large number of companies, including most of the well knowns such as Staysure, Avanti, Holiday Extras - all of these three are underwritten by Great Lakes who are a German company. Our underwriting team are Spanish. Being over 80 precludes a huge number of people from the higher grade insurers and indeed an awful lot of companies say no insurance over 70. A few of the bank insurances, M&S and LV do cover until 80. My own two insurance policies are with The Post Office (emergency cover Collinsons) and Allianz who do provide their own emergency and underwriting team. I have the former purely because it has the very best covid cover policy on the market and as I frequently travel to areas where testing is required before boarding a ship wanted it purely in case of quarantine abroad before or after a fly cruise. Because I'm relatively healthy with no meds or health conditions a worldwide all singing all dancing policy with them cost me £297 for the year which I think is a good investment. My Allianz policy is attached to my bank account so costs me very little. It's actually an excellent policy but the covid cover in 14 days before departure isn't covered. Hope that helps ...

Thanks for your good wishes. This insurance was purchased in January this year to cover our Aurora cruise in April, the cruise I've just accompanied her on, a wedding abroad later this month and a P&O cruise in October. The first was cancelled when we all caught covid so was just allowed to run. My aunt lives 150 miles from me and no one had mentioned this "funny turn" to me as she as found to be medically well and I was oblivious. As explained elsewhere I was pencilled in as her replacement companion the day before I left on my own cruise. As I resit I was never involved in the insurance purchase or the declarations. Normally I would have checked everything in March for the Aurora cruise but as it was covid cancelled never thought to look. As I say a salutory lesson.

More on this salutory tale, I'm afraid! As you will know by now I am a total stickler for declarations to insurance companies covering everything from a sneeze to a heart attack and constantly bang on about the essential need to include absolutely everything. Well it appears my own family have not been so diligent and have broken my golden rule. Good to Go have informed my BIL that following the latest hospital report they believe the illness is a result of a non declared medical condition and as such they may be declining the claim. This results from my aunt having undergone an ECG after a "funny turn" at home a month after purchasing the policy, something resulting in nothing being found wrong at that point. GTG have stated this incident is marked on her medical records and as such should have been notified to them even though happening after the purchase of the policy. The debate on liability is now commenced. Meanwhile the doctors in Rome are having a meeting to discuss whether they believe she can survive a flight home - currently a mute point as if the insurance will not pay out it will be impossible to pay for a special medical flight, apparently costs for that alone would exceed £80,000 plus required nursing staff etc. Clearly there is no way she can at this stage travel on a commercial flight. My cousin is flying to Rome tomorrow to relieve my aunt's sister who at 80 years old is now worn out. The hospital is costing £1,500 a night for room and board alone. Present running costs up to £50,000! We should get 70% of medical bill paid once the GHIC is received but the rest is on the family.

This is correct. Either card as long as in date does the job. My point was to ensure that if your EHIC expired or you though you didn't need a card now to ensure you obtain one. I would also suggest you keep it on your person when ashore, eg if you have a misfortune and your card is onboard and the ship sails leaving you ashore. I know many who leave the card in the safe with their passport.

Understand that, but what happens when they want their next cruise and the ships are all still trolling(!) backwards and forwards to the same places? As someone taking 5 or 6 cruises a year I study a lot of lines itineraries and over the past five years or so choice has diminished a lot. I assume by easy sell you mean it can be cheaply marketed as these cruises are good "taster" cruises. However all these chopping and changes combined with inclement weather might make it far harder to sell in the future?

I never understood the massive number of cruises on all lines going to Norway in the first place. Can see some of the specialist ones like Northern Lights and Arctic circle as special cases but these backwards and forwards straight rail like ones that all the lines are adopting offer little variety and I cannot see how all these new cruisers they are all chasing will want to keep going there. Variety is the spice of life and all that ... I recall this area being called a cold weather cruise by Cunard when I first started cruising and at that point there were nowhere near the number of cruises in that area than there are now.

I will risk it for my Caribbean Christmas. Just had to cancel three others due to my family circumstances but absolutely intend to go at Christmas and on my August 2023 bookings.

Glad to hear you're having a great time. There were in fact 50-60 cases in the special offloaded area and a lot of their owners were awaiting transfer to quarantine in Italian hotels in Rome. Carry on enjoying the party but stay safe.

Hi Binman. Yes we applied for the temporary one which Italian hospital has accepted to continue treatment. However the insurance company requires the "proper" card so we have applied for an emergency replacement as per government website. Unfortunately the claims handlers are insisting on lots of obstacles being cleared for each step to accept liability. They've even argued the original Civitavecchia hospital was not a public one and my BIL had to get proof via family friend that is in fact the only public hospital in the area. Currently the discussion is regarding if the move to the specialist cardiac unit is really necessary despite okaying it yesterday. This is a real learning curve for us all. Thought if you had proper insurance no problem but they'll question you and wriggle every step of the way it seems!

I am assuming if Vrodpaul has been told he can use Serenity as part of his Retreat package that P&O are going to do the same as Princess. Interestingly last week there was no one using the "cabanas" around Regal Princess' serenity pool and on the sea day the area was not filled as most of the remaining beds were in full shade and quite chilly with wind blowing around. I recall on aregal seacation the wooden shelters were identical to Britannia's and well used.

No having just come off Regal I can confirm that the wooden frames (which are in exactly the same place as on Britannia) have had some sort of light covering put over the top. The beds now have thick pink mattresses on them and when o looked every one had a reserved sign on it. The only sunbeds not reserved were in the open.

Jeepers, the Princess ones cost a fortune!! I think I recall a post somewhere by Wowzz on the Princess forum which mentioned in excess of $140. I'm sure he'll be able to recall it? Just found the post he answered to: Sanctuary update: we made it up there again and there are in deed cabanas inside the Sanctuary, but at a higher cost. A full day is $220 for two people or $140 for 1/2 day. With that you get a mini-bar with your choice of beer or wine and a high tea service. You also get the tea service at the cabanas by the Retreat pool, but no mini-bar.

I suggest renewal immediately. We have been told 14 days for the duplicate. The emergency company Global Response will not accept responsibility for the part covered by the GHIC until we produce it, that's one of the reasons I'm furious about the lost bag at the port. We are therefore liable for 70% of land based charges until we receive it and my brother in law who has a POA is signing his life away almost hourly with his fingers crossed! No idea what someone with limited funds would do. I assume they would have to work something out. Having read literally 100 insurance policies since this time last year every one requires you to carry an EHIC or the new GHIC. I'm not sure everyone is aware of the fact you actually have to present that and your passport to the hospital representatives. I gave a copy of the passport to Princess as I couldn't locate it in the confusion but I was told not sufficient by the paramedic team and luckily it was to hand in my bag ready for the airport.

Hopefully will stay that way. On Regal Princess which is the identical ship to Britannia all the canopied areas were made additions to the Retreat and were chargeable. It looked a very odd mix but basically you were paying for the better placed beds in the area and had a pink mattress and towel.

Thank you. Medically no change in condition but her sister saw her yesterday at last. If there's any change I will update accordingly. Unfortunately Global Response are not being helpful. As a warning to all ensure you have your GHIC on you at all times as until ours is located we are paying ALL costs which the UK Government would contribute. Well into £30,000 now!!

Regarding the Caribbean P&Os list is fairly short but I'm not sure it's totally accurate. I see Guadaloupe on their list which I tendered from Azura in the year of the hurricane disruption when it was a replacement for Dominica. This is NCL's list - there are several ports on here which I have definitely tendered from on Azura and Britannia, the most recent being St Kitts and Tortola: Caribbean, Mexico & Panama Canal Basseterre, St. Kitts* Cabo San Lucas, Mexico Castries, St. Lucia* Cozumel, Mexico* George Town, Cayman Islands Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos Islands* Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas Harvest Caye, Belize* Ocho Rios, Jamaica* Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic* Road Town (Tortola), British Virgin Islands* Roatan, Bay Islands, Honduras* San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua

From P&O's list of tender ports:. Some interesting and familiar names here. Europe, Africa, and Middle East Agadir, Morocco Alghero, Sardinia, Italy Alter Do Chao, Portugal Argostólion, Nisos Kefallinia, Greece Bantry, Ireland Brønnøysund, Norway Calvi, Corsica, Haute-Corse, France Crotone, Italy Djúpivogur, Iceland Douglas, Isle of Man, England Fishguard, Wales Flåm, Norway Fowey, England Galway, Ireland Geiranger, Norway Gythion (Sparta & Mystras), Greece Heimaey, Iceland Hellesylt, Norway Helsingor, Denmark Horta, Azores, Portugal Hydra, Nisos Hydra, Greece Ilfracombe, England Isafjördur, Iceland Itea (Delphi), Greece Kirkenes, Norway Korcula, Otok Korcula, Croatia Kotor, Montenegro Le Palais, France Lerwick, Shetland Islands, Scotland Lipari, Italy Máhon, Spain Mariehamn, Åland Islands Mgarr (Victoria), Malta Monte Carlo, Monaco Mykonos, Nisos Mykonos, Greece Náfplion, Greece Nanortalik, Greenland Newhaven (Edinburgh), Scotland Nosy Be, Madagascar Ny Alesund, Spitsbergen, Norway Nynäshamn, Sweden Oban, Scotland Paamiut (formerly Frederikshåb), Greenland Petropavlovsk, Russia Plymouth, England Ponza, Isola di Ponza, Italy Portoferraio, Elba, Italy Portree, Isle of Skye, Scotland Praia, Cape Verde Pýlos, Greece Qaqortoq, Greenland Rønne (Bornholm), Denmark Runavík, Faroe Islands Santorini, Greece Sarandë, Albania Sorrento, Italy South Queensferry (Edinburgh), Scotland Split, Croatia St Helier, Jersey St Mary’s, Isles of Scilly, England St Peter Port, Guernsey Stornoway, Scotland Taormina, Italy Tobermory, Scotland Trincomalee, Sri Lanka Ullapool, Scotland Visby, Sweden Zakynthos, Greece

I see no mention of its occupancy. I travelled the Barcelona to Rome leg and for different reasons discovered a large number of luggage awaiting their owners to be offloaded into Italian quarantine hotels.

We all know that P&O Customer Service can be very challenging to deal with but on this occasion I would like to publicly thank them for their prompt and helpful, human service. As is posted elsewhere on the board I am in the middle of a major crisis with a different cruise line but had need to contact P&O to cancel a future cruise for which payment was due. When notified on Monday P&O stepped up to help by offering compassion and assistance in handling the matter of cancellation. Their solution was offered promptly and was very generous. This morning I had need to log in to my P&O account. Imagine my surprise to find my aunt's "gifted" future cruise credit already transferred to my account and available for use. Considering I only had the call with P&O late Monday afternoon I was surprised to find it there. In addition to this, two overnight emails from P&O employees have arrived offering help and support in finding someone in the Princess organisation to deal with my complaint. I appreciate that I am lucky to have made contacts with some P&O staff when discussing other issues and that many may not be so fortunate, but I really do feel I must praise them for their kindness, support and help. P&O and these individuals are helping to restore my faith in the cruising industry at a time when I am at my lowest ebb. A big thank you from me.

I assume that is why they are all using the 7 days cruises as their experiment. Having just completed two 7 day Mediterranean fly cruises on Celebrity and Princess both of these operators provided KN92 masks in your cabin. I assume P&O are doing the same? Celebrity had no mask mandates at all but Princess had signs everywhere recommending them. There were no confirmed cases on Edge that I saw but the quarantine area was locked away. There were a lot on Regal Princess as I discovered during my search for the lost suitcase. Celebrity offer a reporting line for those returning who develop covid in the days after immediate return. It is a mute point if they actually do anything with it. In light of the "experiment on P&O and HAL I'm surprised they do not appear to have one.

Boooooo!