Azura - New Improved Embarkation Process

[tartanexile81]

And now for a good embarkation experience though you have to go to Barbados to enjoy it.

 

The flight from Birmingham landed at 2.30 and we were sat on the ship with drinks in hand at 3.30. No customs or bags to collect, it was bliss, they have certainly got the Caribbean down to a fine art.

 

(Review of the cruise to follow, quick summary was that Britannia was wonderful.)

 

Very pleased to hear it. However I have read some complaints, think on Facebook, about the embarkation in the Caribbean. The way you're transported from the airport to the ship came in for a lot of stick. You can't please some people

[daiB]

Very pleased to hear it. However I have read some complaints, think on Facebook, about the embarkation in the Caribbean. The way you're transported from the airport to the ship came in for a lot of stick. You can't please some people

 

 

I think people forget they are in the Caribbean. In Barbados at least they have some bigger buses. They are certainly not coaches. They do the job.

[CCFC]

Very pleased to hear it. However I have read some complaints, think on Facebook, about the embarkation in the Caribbean. The way you're transported from the airport to the ship came in for a lot of stick. You can't please some people

 

I have a video of us on the bus from the airport to the port, its quite entertaining.

[tartanexile81]

I have a video of us on the bus from the airport to the port, its quite entertaining.

 

We use local buses all round the Caribbean and I'm like you - think they're great fun! But then I go on a cruise to enjoy myself not to moan to everybody on board and when I get back. Strange I know but that's me!

Edited December 22, 2015 by tartanexile81

[laurakdy]

Very pleased to hear it. However I have read some complaints, think on Facebook, about the embarkation in the Caribbean. The way you're transported from the airport to the ship came in for a lot of stick. You can't please some people

Seriously? I've done this 4 times now and there is absolutely no problem whatsoever. In fact, best transfers I've had on any holiday.

[davecttr]

I boarded Oceana on the windy day, an absolute shambles having arrived at 1.45 for a 2pm slot and not boarding until 3.40 :mad:

 

I will say that the wind was not P&O's fault but i detected some problems, the check in desks were not working at all and I think it took some time to admit they had to change to dock level boarding rather than use the bridge.

 

HOWEVER

 

the new system was not working anyway. i arrived 15 minutes early and was given a green card with the letter 'H' on it. Green was the colour for the 2pm boarding slot. A couple waiting next to me had a 'C' card and they had arrived at 12.30 so the 'A' and 'B' had already been issued :eek:

 

Moral of story - if you want to board at your designated time arrive about 1 hour 45 minutes early and sit there. Once everyone realises this we will be back to everyone arriving at 11.30 :D

 

as for the cruise - curates egg!

[Goosebear Mum]

I boarded Oceana on the windy day, an absolute shambles having arrived at 1.45 for a 2pm slot and not boarding until 3.40 :mad:

 

I will say that the wind was not P&O's fault but i detected some problems, the check in desks were not working at all and I think it took some time to admit they had to change to dock level boarding rather than use the bridge.

 

HOWEVER

 

the new system was not working anyway. i arrived 15 minutes early and was given a green card with the letter 'H' on it. Green was the colour for the 2pm boarding slot. A couple waiting next to me had a 'C' card and they had arrived at 12.30 so the 'A' and 'B' had already been issued :eek:

 

Moral of story - if you want to board at your designated time arrive about 1 hour 45 minutes early and sit there. Once everyone realises this we will be back to everyone arriving at 11.30 :D

 

as for the cruise - curates egg!

 

Yes, that was my findings on Aurora for the Christmas cruise. It was not straightforward or quick, and we boarded 40 mins after our given time. People there a lot earlier got on earlier. Chaos was one word, and it was my first cruise on a non expedition ship :(

[daiB]

I boarded Oceana on the windy day, an absolute shambles having arrived at 1.45 for a 2pm slot and not boarding until 3.40 :mad:

 

 

 

I will say that the wind was not P&O's fault but i detected some problems, the check in desks were not working at all and I think it took some time to admit they had to change to dock level boarding rather than use the bridge.

 

 

 

HOWEVER

 

 

 

the new system was not working anyway. i arrived 15 minutes early and was given a green card with the letter 'H' on it. Green was the colour for the 2pm boarding slot. A couple waiting next to me had a 'C' card and they had arrived at 12.30 so the 'A' and 'B' had already been issued :eek:

 

 

 

Moral of story - if you want to board at your designated time arrive about 1 hour 45 minutes early and sit there. Once everyone realises this we will be back to everyone arriving at 11.30 :D

 

 

 

as for the cruise - curates egg!

 

 

Not at at all Dave, have you read the thread on Aurora embarkation. Everyone who arrived on time boarded within minutes. Yes there were people who turned up early but they had to wait.

 

With regard to your cruise, well if there are other factors involved no system will work.

[davecttr]

Not at at all Dave, have you read the thread on Aurora embarkation. Everyone who arrived on time boarded within minutes. Yes there were people who turned up early but they had to wait.

 

With regard to your cruise, well if there are other factors involved no system will work.

Dai, my card letter was 'H' so even if they started the green boarding at 2pm I would have to wait until all the letters before 'H' were processed.

 

I will restate my point. If you want to board at or before your designated time, get there much earlier to grab one of those 'A' cards

[daiB]

Dai, my card letter was 'H' so even if they started the green boarding at 2pm I would have to wait until all the letters before 'H' were processed.

 

 

 

I will restate my point. If you want to board at or before your designated time, get there much earlier to grab one of those 'A' cards

 

 

Good try but bad information for those going to board, as apart from these few posts on this thread, all the other threads I am reading on here and on a number of FB groups and other forums are very positive about turning up at the correct time and being on very quickly.

 

Good luck to anyone trying to buck the system but you are in for a long wait as others have found out.

[davecttr]

Good try but bad information for those going to board, as apart from these few posts on this thread, all the other threads I am reading on here and on a number of FB groups and other forums are very positive about turning up at the correct time and being on very quickly.

 

Good luck to anyone trying to buck the system but you are in for a long wait as others have found out.

I did not buck the system, I arrived 15 minutes early and was given a 'H' card.

 

so exactly how many minutes and seconds is the window to get a perfect embarkation and the magical black card

 

ps - what happens if everyone turns up on time, hundreds of black cards and a long wait?

[Callyscally]

DaiB Have you sailed with other cruise lines other then P & O ? if you have done so you might be in a position to compare boarding styles and times it takes to get onboard. We have cruised with Celebrity...P & O... and RCCL

The longest wait for us has been on P & O, hoping things will be better this April when we once again cruise on the Azura. :)

 

Regards

 

John

[Florry]

Good try but bad information for those going to board, as apart from these few posts on this thread, all the other threads I am reading on here and on a number of FB groups and other forums are very positive about turning up at the correct time and being on very quickly.

 

Good luck to anyone trying to buck the system but you are in for a long wait as others have found out.

 

 

All the information and views that people share here are useful and interesting. Having an open and diverse forum allows this - some will have positive experiences and some will have negative experiences and all are entitled to share. I've heard that some of the FB groups remove people who dare to express any sort of opinion that goes against the views of the moderators. If this is the case you end up with groups that have undergone a form of social cleansing, as such it is highly likely that members of such groups either have similar views or do not feel confident to express anything to the contrary. I'm not saying that this is the case in the instance you have quoted, just that as with most things social media is in my opinion subjective.

[terrierjohn]

All the information and views that people share here are useful and interesting. Having an open and diverse forum allows this - some will have positive experiences and some will have negative experiences and all are entitled to share. I've heard that some of the FB groups remove people who dare to express any sort of opinion that goes against the views of the moderators. If this is the case you end up with groups that have undergone a form of social cleansing, as such it is highly likely that members of such groups either have similar views or do not feel confident to express anything to the contrary. I'm not saying that this is the case in the instance you have quoted, just that as with most things social media is in my opinion subjective.

Sounds a bit like the system the BBC use when picking question time auidiences.:rolleyes:

[terrierjohn]

DaiB Have you sailed with other cruise lines other then P & O ? if you have done so you might be in a position to compare boarding styles and times it takes to get onboard. We have cruised with Celebrity...P & O... and RCCL

The longest wait for us has been on P & O, hoping things will be better this April when we once again cruise on the Azura. :)

 

Regards

 

John

You can hope Cally but I somehow doubt it, unless Dai and P&O do brainwash everyone to meekly toe the party line, and you don't get the wrong sort of wind.;)

[daiB]

You can hope Cally but I somehow doubt it, unless Dai and P&O do brainwash everyone to meekly toe the party line, and you don't get the wrong sort of wind.;)

 

 

If people want to turn up early, fine if that is what you want fine.

 

They will still have to wait.

[daiB]

DaiB Have you sailed with other cruise lines other then P & O ? if you have done so you might be in a position to compare boarding styles and times it takes to get onboard. We have cruised with Celebrity...P & O... and RCCL

 

The longest wait for us has been on P & O, hoping things will be better this April when we once again cruise on the Azura. :)

 

 

 

Regards

 

 

 

John

 

 

Why on earth should I cruise with another line just to see how they embark passengers.

 

I have not once said that P&O do it the best way. All I am saying is that to have less time waiting in the terminal come at the time you have been given.

 

I am only giving advice on what is the best way, at the moment, to embark a P&O ship in Southampton.

 

I have not once said it was good or bad, just that people are reporting that checking in close to their given time is working.

[daiB]

All the information and views that people share here are useful and interesting. Having an open and diverse forum allows this - some will have positive experiences and some will have negative experiences and all are entitled to share. I've heard that some of the FB groups remove people who dare to express any sort of opinion that goes against the views of the moderators. If this is the case you end up with groups that have undergone a form of social cleansing, as such it is highly likely that members of such groups either have similar views or do not feel confident to express anything to the contrary. I'm not saying that this is the case in the instance you have quoted, just that as with most things social media is in my opinion subjective.

 

 

Florry,

 

The only people who have been put off our site, the largest one are those who have abused other posters or have been deliberately stirring and causing trouble.

 

Oh yes and those wanting to sell sun glasses. Or post porn.

[Callyscally]

Why on earth should I cruise with another line just to see how they embark passengers.

 

I have not once said that P&O do it the best way. All I am saying is that to have less time waiting in the terminal come at the time you have been given.

 

I am only giving advice on what is the best way, at the moment, to embark a P&O ship in Southampton.

 

I have not once said it was good or bad, just that people are reporting that checking in close to their given time is working.

 

Hello Dai, I do not think that people only try different cruise lines just to see how they embark passengers. If you have been on more then P & O ships then you could say that in your experience P&O are quicker and better at getting passengers onboard, then say Celebrity or Cunard or other cruise lines leaving Southampton.

 

Cheers

 

John

[Scriv]

Back to Dave's post about the new system not having worked on the Christmas cruise on Aurora - that was on a very windy day with connected problems, so operational issues would have understandably over-ridden the system?

 

What I am trying to say is you can't judge the efficacy of the system on a day when it is changed to suit extraordinary circumstances. On the very much delayed Ventura sailing, we were actually told that the new system was suspended that day as they cope.

[daiB]

Hello Dai, I do not think that people only try different cruise lines just to see how they embark passengers. If you have been on more then P & O ships then you could say that in your experience P&O are quicker and better at getting passengers onboard, then say Celebrity or Cunard or other cruise lines leaving Southampton.

 

Cheers

 

John

 

Like others you do not read what I am posting. I have never said that the way P&O embarks is best. That is not the point of my postsites.

 

I am trying to help people who are working with the system as it is.

[Scriv]

I have to come in here and support you on this Dai. You have never said that P&O's embarkation system is the best, nor have you said that the new system is better than before nor that you agree with it.

 

I say all this with confidence as I have read all your posts and have actively tried to glean from there whether you agree with it or not, but you have always refrained from expressing an opinion on this, so I am none the wiser lol.

 

You have indeed always posted on what seems to be happening or is actually happening from what you are learning from all other posts and forums where people who have experienced the new system are reporting back.

[Callyscally]

Like others you do not read what I am posting. I have never said that the way P&O embarks is best. That is not the point of my postsites.

 

I am trying to help people who are working with the system as it is.

 

Thank you Dai, for putting me straight

John

[daiB]

Thank you Dai, for putting me straight

 

John

 

 

You are very welcome, anytime.

[weylady]

hi going on the boarding theme what is it like on a fly cruise to meet Oceana in Genoa from Bournemouth airport. Customs transfers etc.