P&O Cruise with Confidence

[ann141]

2 hours ago, wowzz said:

Jean, I totally agree with you about the excursions  - but, nevertheless we have just booked a cruise in October with Princess, and are going to treat it as a luxury hotel holiday (we got the drinks package as well), so that if shore excursions are limited we will just laze around on board. To break up the cruise we may do a couple of official excursions, if they seem interesting enough.  

We are considering booking that Princess cruise.I have looked at their excursions(I realise they are subject to change) and some seem quite interesting and difficult to do independently e. g visiting Spain from Gibraltar and Sitges from Barcelona.Just got to persuade hubby now 🙂 

[wowzz]

3 hours ago, ann141 said:

We are considering booking that Princess cruise.I have looked at their excursions(I realise they are subject to change) and some seem quite interesting and difficult to do independently e. g visiting Spain from Gibraltar and Sitges from Barcelona.Just got to persuade hubby now 🙂 

I think we are just taking the view that if, when final payment is due, only official excursions are allowed we will take a closer look at the prices and schedules and make a decision then.

[majortom10]

Just been reading Pandemic News on cruiseindustrynews and conditions they took on MSC when she started cruising and if other cruise lines adopt some if not all then it will not suit everyone. No self service buffet only plated meals served by staff, on entering buffet you are given a napkin with your cutlery wrapped inside, hand gel and temperature are taken and there are no meals in buffet restaurant for dinner only breakfast and lunch. Tables in restaurants have only tablecloth and then they set the table when you are seated, menu available via QR code on your mobile and only paper menus issued if no smartphone. Excursions are cruise ship organised with only 25 people per coach, wherever you go if you leave the bubble then you will not be allowed back on the ship and be sent home, only shopping will be allowed at places agreed and made safe in advance and if excursion warrants under normal circumstances a meal you will be given a packed lunch and taken to a safe place to eat your lunch.  Certainly wouldnt appeal to me and hope many of these restrictions are stopped by the time of our next cruise in August  we will cancel it and move it to another time in 2022. Dont fancy having to wear a mask all the time except for when you are eating or drinking in a bar.

[tring]

On 10/14/2020 at 8:59 AM, molecrochip said:

For those not aware, P&O started their talk about restarting yesterday by launching their outline protocols.

 

https://www.pocruises.com/cruise-with-confidence

 

There are no surprises here.

 

I know you have previously said that if we tested positive for COVID we may have to move to a certain part of the ship, which will be used for quarantine purposes.  Can I ask if that means occupants of a balcony cabin will be put in another balcony cabin, or could we be moved to an inside or outside cabin?

 

As we are now booked on a Princess cruise as well as Iona, can I ask if those policies will be the same on both Cruise Lines? 

[jeanlyon]

On 1/19/2021 at 10:49 PM, majortom10 said:

Just been reading Pandemic News on cruiseindustrynews and conditions they took on MSC when she started cruising and if other cruise lines adopt some if not all then it will not suit everyone. No self service buffet only plated meals served by staff, on entering buffet you are given a napkin with your cutlery wrapped inside, hand gel and temperature are taken and there are no meals in buffet restaurant for dinner only breakfast and lunch. Tables in restaurants have only tablecloth and then they set the table when you are seated, menu available via QR code on your mobile and only paper menus issued if no smartphone. Excursions are cruise ship organised with only 25 people per coach, wherever you go if you leave the bubble then you will not be allowed back on the ship and be sent home, only shopping will be allowed at places agreed and made safe in advance and if excursion warrants under normal circumstances a meal you will be given a packed lunch and taken to a safe place to eat your lunch.  Certainly wouldnt appeal to me and hope many of these restrictions are stopped by the time of our next cruise in August  we will cancel it and move it to another time in 2022. Dont fancy having to wear a mask all the time except for when you are eating or drinking in a bar.

Blinkin 'eck.  Prison sounds better!!

[joeecco]

30 minutes ago, jeanlyon said:

Blinkin 'eck.  Prison sounds better!!

I really don’t see what’s wrong with any of the above. If you hadn’t cruised before and walked into a buffet with these protocols you would think it was normal. What’s the difference with being handed a plate of food instead of picking it yourself, how many times have you seen someone handle a bread roll and then put it back for example. 

[Son of Anarchy]

1 minute ago, joeecco said:

I really don’t see what’s wrong with any of the above. If you hadn’t cruised before and walked into a buffet with these protocols you would think it was normal. What’s the difference with being handed a plate of food instead of picking it yourself, how many times have you seen someone handle a bread roll and then put it back for example. 

If the buffet is operated in the way we've seen during noro outbreaks, we don't have any problem at all.  Member of staff puts your choices on the plate, as much or as little as you like and off you go. 

I've read that on Fred, you are allocated a table in the buffet. Personally I would prefer this, maybe these protocols could be used to trial something similar.

[joeecco]

22 minutes ago, Son of Anarchy said:

If the buffet is operated in the way we've seen during noro outbreaks, we don't have any problem at all.  Member of staff puts your choices on the plate, as much or as little as you like and off you go. 

I've read that on Fred, you are allocated a table in the buffet. Personally I would prefer this, maybe these protocols could be used to trial something similar.

I agree yes, we dislike searching around looking for a table only to find ones with coats over them. We’ll happily be guided to one 

[WECRUISEUK]

27 minutes ago, Son of Anarchy said:

If the buffet is operated in the way we've seen during noro outbreaks, we don't have any problem at all.  Member of staff puts your choices on the plate, as much or as little as you like and off you go. 

I've read that on Fred, you are allocated a table in the buffet. Personally I would prefer this, maybe these protocols could be used to trial something similar.

Totally agree,they were doing this on our H A cruise on Westerdam in nov.2019(H.K.-SING.),very hygenic.Wouldn't be atall surprised if hotels started doing this when we start heading towards normality,i would be more inclined to choose those that did.

[Esprit]

47 minutes ago, joeecco said:

I really don’t see what’s wrong with any of the above. 

Me too.

I haven't stopped working since March other than a week in Madrid to visit my daughter. I will happily abide by the restrictions the cruise lines impose if it means I get a two week break on a ship.

[AnnieC]

1 hour ago, Son of Anarchy said:

 

I've read that on Fred, you are allocated a table in the buffet. Personally I would prefer this, maybe these protocols could be used to trial something similar.

Yes, Fred's buffets are most civilised and, at least on Balmoral, it's held in two venues, one of them in one of the smaller main dining rooms with tables allocated on arrival. 

[majortom10]

Personally the buffet part of the conditions I stated earlier are the least of my concerns as we dont use buffets on ship due to the disgusting manners of people who handle food and then put the food back. I have been convinced for many years that this area is where most norovirus outbreaks have occurred.

[zap99]

8 minutes ago, majortom10 said:

Personally the buffet part of the conditions I stated earlier are the least of my concerns as we dont use buffets on ship due to the disgusting manners of people who handle food and then put the food back. I have been convinced for many years that this area is where most norovirus outbreaks have occurred.

Shoving their filthy water bottles under the drinking water spout annoys me. Don't they think?.

[majortom10]

3 minutes ago, zap99 said:

Shoving their filthy water bottles under the drinking water spout annoys me. Don't they think?.

But still many do that even though there are signs saying not to do it.

[PORT ROYAL]

Thought to add.

Azura Men not thoroughly washing hands before leaving a public toilet, plus wiping deep excavated nasal debris on handrails whilst walking.down stairways.

[joeecco]

38 minutes ago, majortom10 said:

Personally the buffet part of the conditions I stated earlier are the least of my concerns as we dont use buffets on ship due to the disgusting manners of people who handle food and then put the food back. I have been convinced for many years that this area is where most norovirus outbreaks have occurred.

I couldn’t see any concerns in the original post if I’m honest. Lots of people on here saying they don’t like the fact that you must do ship excursions for the time being because of how over crowded they get so having 25 per coach is music to their ears surely. 

[joeecco]

22 minutes ago, PORT ROYAL said:

Thought to add.

Azura Men not thoroughly washing hands before leaving a public toilet, plus wiping deep excavated nasal debris on handrails whilst walking.down stairways.

This disgusts me, and it seems to be everywhere you go.. but I must say that the toilets near the theatre on Azura had a young man inside during showtimes directing everyone to a sink and turning the tap on for them and handing them paper towels, which I thought was great. Seemed like a nice touch for those that already wash there hands whilst at the same time making those that don’t, do! 

[Dinglebert]

1 hour ago, joeecco said:

This disgusts me, and it seems to be everywhere you go.. but I must say that the toilets near the theatre on Azura had a young man inside during showtimes directing everyone to a sink and turning the tap on for them and handing them paper towels, which I thought was great. Seemed like a nice touch for those that already wash there hands whilst at the same time making those that don’t, do! 

Were they staff or just a rather strange member of the public!

[joeecco]

1 minute ago, Dinglebert said:

Were they staff or just a rather strange member of the public!

😂😂😂😂 a kind staff member luckily 😂

[nicki-k]

On 1/19/2021 at 10:49 PM, majortom10 said:

Just been reading Pandemic News on cruiseindustrynews and conditions they took on MSC when she started cruising and if other cruise lines adopt some if not all then it will not suit everyone. No self service buffet only plated meals served by staff, on entering buffet you are given a napkin with your cutlery wrapped inside, hand gel and temperature are taken and there are no meals in buffet restaurant for dinner only breakfast and lunch. Tables in restaurants have only tablecloth and then they set the table when you are seated, menu available via QR code on your mobile and only paper menus issued if no smartphone. Excursions are cruise ship organised with only 25 people per coach, wherever you go if you leave the bubble then you will not be allowed back on the ship and be sent home, only shopping will be allowed at places agreed and made safe in advance and if excursion warrants under normal circumstances a meal you will be given a packed lunch and taken to a safe place to eat your lunch.  Certainly wouldnt appeal to me and hope many of these restrictions are stopped by the time of our next cruise in August  we will cancel it and move it to another time in 2022. Dont fancy having to wear a mask all the time except for when you are eating or drinking in a bar.

If I had read this a year ago I would have been horrified but it's strange how 'normal' much of it seems now. I am quite happy to be served in a buffet as it's so much more hygienic, it doesn't bother me tables being set once seated as again that has become the norm, wearing masks in public I'm fine with but the escorted excursions could be a deal breaker. I don't mind doing a couple of ship excursions but do love to wander to see what is around the next corner. I'm a keen photographer and enjoy the freedom of wandering and snapping away so to be restricted to only escorted excursions would be frustrating but having said all that the goal posts are constantly shifting so I am trying to remain positive and will see what is on offer if the ship sails 🤔

[kalos]

Another one to watch out for is when your in port .We like to people watch from our balcony and as the coach passengers return to the ship there is a member of staff directing them to the hand gel dispenser before boarding the ship . Now watch what happens when the ships crew come to get onboard , if no ones around like an officer or other passengers ,they just smile at the hand gel guy and board the ship.

We have seen this happen more than once, so when it comes to Noro - the staff are just as bad as the passengers . Maybe now things will not be as lax in the future .

[Selbourne]

2 hours ago, kalos said:

Another one to watch out for is when your in port .We like to people watch from our balcony and as the coach passengers return to the ship there is a member of staff directing them to the hand gel dispenser before boarding the ship . Now watch what happens when the ships crew come to get onboard , if no ones around like an officer or other passengers ,they just smile at the hand gel guy and board the ship.

We have seen this happen more than once, so when it comes to Noro - the staff are just as bad as the passengers . Maybe now things will not be as lax in the future .

I agree that staff can be as bad as some of the passengers. With Norovirus being a constant threat on cruise ships, never mind Coronavirus, I have always been staggered when I have witnessed passengers using the toilets and failing to wash their hands and then heading straight to the buffet to handle communal tongs etc 🤢 but I was even more staggered when we were having a drink in Anderson’s one evening and I popped to the nearby loo. One of the barmen came in, for the same reason as me, and as I was washing my hands he just smiled at me and started to walk out. I was so shocked that I’m afraid that I called him back and suggested that he needed to wash his hands, which he then did in a very embarrassed manner. Needless to say we never ordered a drink from him!

 

Whilst we try to avoid the buffet at all costs, the proposed changes make sense. Sadly, the other restrictions, whilst understanding the reasons for them, don’t appeal to us at all. We would rather not cruise at all than be subjected to that level of control. All a bit cosmetic anyway, as I think people might be getting a bit carried away on the basis that the UK vaccination programme is going well, as that is just one consideration of many that will determine when it is practical to resume cruising. None the less, I look forward to hearing about the experiences of those who go on the first cruises, whenever that may be. 

[joeecco]

The website no longer shows the page for FCC terms and conditions and how to use and transfer it etc.

 

IF our July Azura cruise is cancelled, we will get a lot of FCC. Much more than needed to book our plan B cruise so my question is. Can you transfer PART of your FCC to family members who have not yet cruises with P&O but have had the same cruise cancelled? 

[wowzz]

5 hours ago, joeecco said:

The website no longer shows the page for FCC terms and conditions and how to use and transfer it etc.

 

IF our July Azura cruise is cancelled, we will get a lot of FCC. Much more than needed to book our plan B cruise so my question is. Can you transfer PART of your FCC to family members who have not yet cruises with P&O but have had the same cruise cancelled? 

Not quite sure about your question, but, IIRC, you can transfer FCC to other parties, but only for new bookings. I don't know if partial transfers are allowed, but I see no reason why it should not be possible. 

[P&O SUE]

On 1/21/2021 at 1:55 PM, zap99 said:

Shoving their filthy water bottles under the drinking water spout annoys me. Don't they think?.

In the Bank office I used to work in there were signs up not to do that - people still did! Ignorant people everywhere I’m afraid.