Disaster

[Nippy Sweetie]

Disaster!! We were burgled yesterday while I was at work. House was trashed. Among other things the B******s took our passports. We have an appointment for an emergency passport on Wed am (earliest available) but their website says they wont do emergency replacement for lost or stolen passports. Due to set off for Southampton Thurs for departure on Arcadia on Friday.Also cruise not insured for cancellation due to loss of passport before setting off. Dont suppose P&O will be willing to do anything for us and why should they

 

 

Please everybody put your passports somewhere really obscure

In tears

Jane

[Elaine0138]

What a dreadful thing to have happened, hope you can get new passports on Wednesday

[LibraLass41]

Jane

What a horrible thing to happen to you I am so so sorry (CYBER -HUG) x

 

My passport is on display in a clear file here in my study with paperwork for my cruise in 2 weeks time, I will now hide the paperwork.

 

I hope things work out, keep us updated. I hope the scummy burglers rot in hell!:mad:

[ROSEBASKETS]

I'm really sorry to hear of your predicament, don't give up hope, the Police may still recover your passports in time. If you are not covered under your travel insurance is there anything that your home insurer can do to reimburse you for your cruise if you do miss out?

 

Is it possible for your tickets to be signed over to a family member or friend rather than just letting them lapse, just in case you can't make it? I know it's the last thing on your mind at the moment, but just trying to be practical and they may even give you something for them so it isn't a complete loss.

 

I really hope they catch the offenders and set the dogs on them when they do!

 

Good Luck and Best wishes, Rose

[Suebiker]

So so sorry- don't know what to say. I really hope you manage to get your passports sorted. Perhaps P and O would move you to another cruise - given the circumstances!!! Let's hope you get it sorted.

 

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you

 

Sue

[CASPALL]

What a horrible thing to happen.

So sorry.

Caryl

[Nippy Sweetie]

Thanks all. Am feeling better after a good nights sleep. It is very hard work being burgled. So many phone calls to cancel things organise things etc. My car had to be taken away & put in a secure compound as spare keys taken & Police said the thieves would be back to take the car later. Nice. New locks to be fitted to car. New door & windows as they had smashed their way in. Scene of crime people for checking for prints etc. Lists of things taken to be made then finally trying to tidy up the shambles.

We need a holiday. A cruise would have been so nice. ah well. Look after your documents people.

[tom_uk]

Thanks all. Am feeling better after a good nights sleep. It is very hard work being burgled. So many phone calls to cancel things organise things etc. My car had to be taken away & put in a secure compound as spare keys taken & Police said the thieves would be back to take the car later. Nice. New locks to be fitted to car. New door & windows as they had smashed their way in. Scene of crime people for checking for prints etc. Lists of things taken to be made then finally trying to tidy up the shambles.

 

You have my deepest sympathy over what has happened to you. I know what you mean about the work involved, following a burglary we also suffered just over 18 months ago. I hope you're able to sort everything out quickly and easily.

[LibraLass41]

Thinking of you all day. Is there still a chance you can go on the cruise if emergency passports are sorted out? Have you telephoned P&O what did they say? Any chance of transferring the cruise? Oh, its a terrible thing to happen.:mad:

[Doc07]

A real nightmare I hope you are feeling better.

After I told my wife and the 'o no's' were over,she used to work at a post office,she said you'd have to explain and offer to buy new passports,you would need to go to a passport issuing office because of the time.You could then travel and think about claiming the cost back later,small comfort but you would be there if all else fails.

 

regards Doc07

[Nippy Sweetie]

Thanks all. Rules have apparently changed re passports now. The lady on the emergency line said all we could do was turn up for our appointment on Wed at 9am and hope there would be someone with the time or willing to to do it. There are so many checks to do now apparently -re us, the person who countersigned the photos, re the police etc etc. It does say in black & white that the premium emergency serrvice is not available for lost and stolen passports.

We`d pay anything to be able to go on the cruise I reckon. We can probably claim back the cost of replacing documents, I hope that would also mean passports. Anyway it may be academic.

Meanwhile we`re sort of trying to pretend we might be going & trying to prepare, you know, clothes washing & packing & buying toiletries & things. But its a strange jittery feeling just not knowing if we can go or not. Am keeping hubby as busy as poss to stop him ruminating.

[jocap]

Oh, I'm SO sorry for you! Is there any way you can negotiate with P&O over this? I just looked up your destinations on cruisett, and thought that, as you're in the EU- but I don't know whether Croatia is. Have you checked your cruise insurance yet?

Sorry, we're all trying to help, but you'll probably know more when offices open on Mon. Good luck1- jocap.

[ROSEBASKETS]

In reply to the last poster, if you are a British citizen, you can leave the country with 2 pieces of ID, one of which must contain your photo and signature. You can travel around Europe and go almost anywhere.

 

The problem is that to get back into Britain, you MUST HAVE a UK passport to get back into the country. Even if you are British, can prove who you are and have lived here all your life, without a passport HM Customs send you back to the last place you came from! Even with a thick regional accent and a house, you won't get back in (unless you smuggle yourself back in, but then are you an illegal legal imigrant?)

 

ONLY IN BRITAIN!

 

To the OP please keep us posted on how you get on, I'm sure all of us on the forum hope you manage to get away. :)

[capasamari]

What a nightmare! My mum and dad had to cancel a cruise and transfer the booking, it costs £100 transfer fee for P&O to do this. Here's hoping you can get new passports on Wednesday and go as planned. It must be so hard trying to pack this weekend. Best of luck!

 

Carol x

[Norfolk Brit]

The problem is that to get back into Britain, you MUST HAVE a UK passport to get back into the country. Even if you are British, can prove who you are and have lived here all your life, without a passport HM Customs send you back to the last place you came from! :)

 

Not necessarily. We were on an escorted train holiday 18 months ago, and one party member's passport was lost by a Swiss hotel when they collected them all in, not the best-ever example of legendary Swiss efficiency.

 

We arrived in Paris with no idea of whether he would be permitted to travel or not by Eurostar, but British customs permitted him to board and travel to the UK.

 

Like everyone else, I hope the OP gets this sorted out somehow.

 

Mary

[soletread]

Disaster!! We were burgled yesterday while I was at work. House was trashed. Among other things the B******s took our passports. We have an appointment for an emergency passport on Wed am (earliest available) but their website says they wont do emergency replacement for lost or stolen passports. Due to set off for Southampton Thurs for departure on Arcadia on Friday.Also cruise not insured for cancellation due to loss of passport before setting off. Dont suppose P&O will be willing to do anything for us and why should they

 

 

Please everybody put your passports somewhere really obscure

In tears

Jane

 

Thats terrible I'm sorry to hear that

 

I know its too late for you but I would recommend everyone to have a hidden safe at home we have a small safe in the back of one of our cupboard bolted down it also weights a ton so even if anybody got beyond the house alarm found it got it free they wouldn't run far with it

 

Our Passports and valuable jewllery are always in the safe its also fire proof as well and holds our critic documents like will's ect I strongly suggest people invest in a good home safe

[balf]

The problem is not whether you can leave or return to the UK without a passport, but whether P&O would allow you to board.

 

David.

[chirpy007]

So awful for you, fingers crossed something can be done. Good luck xx

[Nippy Sweetie]

Thanks to a very decent passport official we got new passports & will be off down to Souhtampton tomorrow after all!! We are so stressed that a cruise is just exactly what we need. Thanks all for your kind postings

Jane

[thranite]

Thanks to a very decent passport official we got new passports & will be off down to Souhtampton tomorrow after all!! We are so stressed that a cruise is just exactly what we need. Thanks all for your kind postings

Jane

 

I'm delighted to hear that.

Have a great cruise. You deserve it.

 

:)

[Cruachan]

Thanks to a very decent passport official we got new passports & will be off down to Souhtampton tomorrow after all!! We are so stressed that a cruise is just exactly what we need. Thanks all for your kind postings

Jane

 

Jane,

 

that's brilliant news! I stumbled on your original post quite by accident. What a throughly rotten thing to happen. All the best from Maureen and me, and we hope you have a fantastic cruise. At least that will be some kind of consolation for the burglary.

 

Any chandeliers to contend with this time? How long is the hike to the bathroom? :)

 

Jimmy

[2irisheyes]

Great news. Perhaps the people at the Passport Office had been reading cruise critic and pulled out all the stops for you. Have a great time.

[capasamari]

I am so pleased for you! To have this burglary, especially so close to your holiday, was awful and I am really pleased you are going.

 

My mum and dad are on Arcadia now as she heads for Southampton on her return from the Baltics so I hope they have left a few cocktails on board for you, you'll be ready for one! ;)

 

Have a super cruise.

 

Carol x

[jeanlyon]

Just wanted to say how pleased I am for you. Well done Passport Office!

[History addict]

How lovely to read that your story has a happy ending. Well done too to the passport service - great to hear that some organisations can still provide good service. Comforting also to know that they can turn passports around quickly in an emergency.

 

Have a super cruise.:)