firsttimer086 Posted October 18, 2021 #1 Share Posted October 18, 2021 (edited) Looking through the excursions they mostly seem to start at 8.30, maybe 9.30 at the latest. If it's only a 3hr trip for example (a lot seem to be this short for 40 odd quid!) then you'll be back on board before lunch, but seeing as some ports will only allow you to leave the ship on an excursion, why can't I find any that start at midday or the afternoon? Also, do people really want to go sit on the beach at 9am, seems a bit early? When you factor in potentially having to queue for an antigen test in the morning before breakfast the timing feels a bit tight. I've never cruised before so maybe this is normal, but outside of COVID you would be able to go explore the local town at your leisure, for free of course. Edited October 18, 2021 by firsttimer086 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Converted to cruising Posted October 18, 2021 #2 Share Posted October 18, 2021 I noticed this too and, like you, wondered why so many were such an early start especially when you are on holiday. I’ve booked a couple but am going to wait and see if things change and we can use the local taxi/ tour buses to the beaches. 🤔 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorkshirephil Posted October 18, 2021 #3 Share Posted October 18, 2021 1 hour ago, firsttimer086 said: Looking through the excursions they mostly seem to start at 8.30, maybe 9.30 at the latest. If it's only a 3hr trip for example (a lot seem to be this short for 40 odd quid!) then you'll be back on board before lunch, but seeing as some ports will only allow you to leave the ship on an excursion, why can't I find any that start at midday or the afternoon? Also, do people really want to go sit on the beach at 9am, seems a bit early? When you factor in potentially having to queue for an antigen test in the morning before breakfast the timing feels a bit tight. I've never cruised before so maybe this is normal, but outside of COVID you would be able to go explore the local town at your leisure, for free of course. At the moment I don't think the cruise lines know what to do for the best due to the constantly changing rules. With winter coming who knows how things will pan out. We cancelled our Jan Caribbean cruise because of the uncertainty, P&O were assuring people that affordable tours would be added later, however we saw no evidence of this before our balance was due. I wish you the best of luck with your cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
watsonbeau Posted October 18, 2021 #4 Share Posted October 18, 2021 Regarding going ashore, I am also concerned that any port excursions booked on board requiring coach travel, some of which are required by the cruise line to disembark, inevitably have the risk that if someone on it later tested +ve , then P&O might well go rounding up all the others who had booked on same tour bus - as of course they would know everyone who had been on board so deemed as close contact. So you could well end up being offloaded through no fault of your own even if negative at the next port or isolated for a time onboard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Interestedcruisefan Posted October 18, 2021 #5 Share Posted October 18, 2021 4 minutes ago, watsonbeau said: Regarding going ashore, I am also concerned that any port excursions booked on board requiring coach travel, some of which are required by the cruise line to disembark, inevitably have the risk that if someone on it later tested +ve , then P&O might well go rounding up all the others who had booked on same tour bus - as of course they would know everyone who had been on board so deemed as close contact. So you could well end up being offloaded through no fault of your own even if negative at the next port or isolated for a time onboard. Imagine the cost of insuring yourself against any of the 49 companions on each of your Caribbean shore excursions catching Covid and forcing you to disembark? Thats a hell of a lot of potential quarantine and flight costs from just one Covid case Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wowzz Posted October 18, 2021 #6 Share Posted October 18, 2021 13 minutes ago, watsonbeau said: Regarding going ashore, I am also concerned that any port excursions booked on board requiring coach travel, some of which are required by the cruise line to disembark, inevitably have the risk that if someone on it later tested +ve , then P&O might well go rounding up all the others who had booked on same tour bus - as of course they would know everyone who had been on board so deemed as close contact. So you could well end up being offloaded through no fault of your own even if negative at the next port or isolated for a time onboard. Given that it can take up to 3 days for someone to test positive, anyone sharing a coach, taxi, dining table, etc with the infected person over that period could theoretically be disembarked. However, that could involve hundreds of people, so, in practical terms, very unlikely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firsttimer086 Posted October 18, 2021 Author #7 Share Posted October 18, 2021 1 hour ago, yorkshirephil said: At the moment I don't think the cruise lines know what to do for the best due to the constantly changing rules. With winter coming who knows how things will pan out. We cancelled our Jan Caribbean cruise because of the uncertainty, P&O were assuring people that affordable tours would be added later, however we saw no evidence of this before our balance was due. I wish you the best of luck with your cruise. I think I'd have done the same if we were in your position. Unfortunately for us we had already paid the balance in full before it got cancelled & rebooked so our options were more limited (and it's supposed to be our honeymoon so we still wanted to go!) It's clear they still don't know full details of the winter season, the A-Z guide has TBA listed against several destinations regarding the testing & excursion policy, and after watching Ollie's video we should apparently be able to book speciality restaurants by now but still can't? I just find some of the excursions availability strange, there's one that is just an hours duration, however it's only offered once at 8.30am and seems like it could easily be run at multiple times throughout the day to give more options. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazrat Posted October 18, 2021 #8 Share Posted October 18, 2021 1 hour ago, yorkshirephil said: At the moment I don't think the cruise lines know what to do for the best due to the constantly changing rules. With winter coming who knows how things will pan out. We cancelled our Jan Caribbean cruise because of the uncertainty, P&O were assuring people that affordable tours would be added later, however we saw no evidence of this before our balance was due. I wish you the best of luck with your cruise. Affordable tours that’s a matter of opinion, to me they was expensive but we booked them now some of the islands are beginning to lift restrictions and you can book independently, but we chose not to go down that route. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Converted to cruising Posted October 19, 2021 #9 Share Posted October 19, 2021 The early start is still the strange thing especially the beach tours going at 8.30am and back before 12.0. If we have to go on the ship tours that’s fair enough but there’s not that much choice and I’ve had a couple cancelled already. Could be the islands cancelling them 🤔 but I’ll use the local ones where I can and just play it by ear. Just keeping my fingers crossed that we go 😊 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jipsy Posted October 31, 2021 #10 Share Posted October 31, 2021 Just noticed that you no longer have to do a ship excursion in Antigua. Last time there we just wandered to the bus station & got a bus to the beach. We are on Ventura on 3rd Jan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Host Sharon Posted October 31, 2021 #11 Share Posted October 31, 2021 Early tours could be to avoid the hottest part of the day. Sometimes, they also allow you to fit in another afternoon tour if available. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tattydog Posted October 31, 2021 #12 Share Posted October 31, 2021 1 hour ago, jipsy said: Just noticed that you no longer have to do a ship excursion in Antigua. Last time there we just wandered to the bus station & got a bus to the beach. We are on Ventura on 3rd Jan. Hi, where did you see this? We are onboard this Thursday and the A-Z destinations hadn’t been updated. That would be so much better if we could go ashore independently, we got married in Antigua Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gettingwarmer Posted October 31, 2021 #13 Share Posted October 31, 2021 20 minutes ago, tattydog said: Hi, where did you see this? We are onboard this Thursday and the A-Z destinations hadn’t been updated. That would be so much better if we could go ashore independently, we got married in Antigua Click on Click here. Updated 26 October https://www.pocruises.com/travel-health-advisories?otprrf=direct 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Presto2 Posted October 31, 2021 #14 Share Posted October 31, 2021 Off topic but this reminds me of an American cruiser who just wandering past us one morning and asked his family in an unintentional loud voice. "Would someone remind me why I am standing in a theatre at 6.45am with a load of other people and worn out and this is my on holiday" Had to laugh as he said exactly what everyone else was thinking .... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beryl patricia Posted October 31, 2021 #15 Share Posted October 31, 2021 9 hours ago, Gettingwarmer said: Click on Click here. Updated 26 October https://www.pocruises.com/travel-health-advisories?otprrf=direct Thanks for the link - am I right in thinking that if we have booked an excursion and the country requires a test then that’s extra to pay on top of the excursion price and not included 😳 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gettingwarmer Posted November 1, 2021 #16 Share Posted November 1, 2021 12 hours ago, beryl patricia said: Thanks for the link - am I right in thinking that if we have booked an excursion and the country requires a test then that’s extra to pay on top of the excursion price and not included 😳 Other infornmation COVID-19 vaccine and testing requirements For holidays to the Caribbean from 22 October 2021 - 27 March 2022 Given the long-haul destinations and the number of different countries visited, combined with the current health protocols and entry requirements in the Caribbean, all guests (irrespective of age) must have completed their vaccination course at least 14 days prior to travel. This can either be two doses of the currently approved COVID-19 vaccines or the approved single-dose Janssen COVID-19 vaccine (approved by the MHRA). A single dose of any other vaccine will not be accepted. All guests of all ages must meet the requirements of the COVID-19 vaccination policy. All guests on a Caribbean fly-cruise will also need to organise and pay for a private PCR test within 72 hours before arriving in Barbados. The test must be administered at an accredited or recognised laboratory by a healthcare professional. You’ll present your negative PCR result at the airport as well as complete a complimentary antigen test organised by P&O Cruises. For guests setting sail in Southampton, you will complete a complimentary antigen test at the terminal and must pay for a PCR test on board at a cost of £25 within 72 hours of arriving in the Caribbean. and We also organise testing that may be required to go ashore in various destinations on your itinerary. These tests will be available to purchase on board at a cost of £18 per antigen test per person and £25 per PCR test per person. Currently, the majority of ports we visit this year do not require entry testing. For the latest information on the requirements of the ports we visit, click here. All requirements are subject to change. During your holiday, destinations on your itinerary may have various documentation requirements. You are responsible for meeting the entry requirements of each destination you plan to visit, regardless of whether you have booked a P&O Cruises shore experience or are exploring independently; however, we will be happy to guide you through all testing and documentation needs on board. P&O Cruises cannot accept responsibility if you are denied entry to a country because you do not meet its entry requirements. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now