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10 hours ago, Bloodaxe said:

Today has been a sad one for us has it is the second anniversary of our Sons sudden death.

Sorry to hear this.Thinking of you

Happy Ruby Wedding Anniversary Graham and Pauline.Hope you have had an enjoyable day

4 hours ago, Josy1953 said:

Despite saying repeatedly that I would not be going to the Covid hub this week, 11 calls and texts later I caved in and agreed to go in today and tomorrow because they are so short of volunteers, 3 have now got caught Covid so are out for at least 3 weeks. 

I wish that more people would step up instead of saying " I wouldn't risk working in here in case I caught Covid " one of the other volunteers had a piece of paper and was marking a tick every time she heard that today.

My husband is a volunteer steward but the venue that he was helping at closed down last sunday and vaccinations are only re starting in the middle of September once the new venue is ready.I feel sorry for the 16 and 17 year olds who now have to travel outside the town to get jabbed.Stoke is a bit far to travel to, otherwise he would gladly volunteer!

1 hour ago, Presto2 said:

Just been thinking about some of the great cruises we have had on P&O and some of the Captains we have met and had the pleasure to sail with.

Have been thinking about them during the lockdowns and am wondering if anyone knows if all of the regulars will be sailing again moving forward.

 

Did notice that one of my least favourite was on one of the ships amidst COVID, but I suppose someone (and his mum) must like him ...

 

It was bad enough with Oceana leaving the fleet, but if my favourite Captains - like Capt Willard - leave I may need a stiff brandy !

 

Are there any rumours ?

Read elsewhere that Captain Camby is on Iona at the moment

1 minute ago, Josy1953 said:

The problem with your mask only covering your mouth is that you still breathe in the germs from infected people your nose. 

I agree.Thats why I was surprised when the optician asked me to do that.I suppose having an eye test they have to make sure your vision isn't affected by steamed up glasses!

I think prices vary for Cunard cruises according to Itinerary for instance the Translantic crossings seem to be more reasonably priced because there are more of them.We went on a 26 night Translantic and Caribbean cruise in November 2019 and paid £3500 for a balcony cabin which I think is a reasonable price.I think the food is slightly better than P and O and there are more speakers.There was a Book Club that we liked and we enjoyed the theme nights.We don't drink much and I liked the fact that Cunard have fruit juice in the Buffet throughout the day rather than just at breakfast.They also have free ice cream!!The only thing we weren't keen on is there is only fixed dining.We still like P and O but have future cruises with Princess and Saga.We may book one of the P and O Caribbean cruises nearer the time though Cunard have a couple of interesting Caribbean cruises too in early 2022

7 minutes ago, jeanlyon said:

Have to say the show was utterly wonderful.  It was Blood Brothers with Lyn Paul.  I had no programme and no idea of who was in it.   She is 72 and absolutely marvellous.  Standing ovation.  Only remember her from the New Seekers and on her own a bit after that.

 

was so nice to be out for supper and see a show.

I have seen Blood Brothers 3 times as its so good.You will have to go a bit further down the coast to The Minack Theatre which is open air.I saw Pride and Predujice there and it was wonderful Just been to Specsavers and the optician actually said to move my mask down to just cover my mouth so the glasses wouldn't steam up.Most people on the bus were masked which I was pleased about.

23 minutes ago, Presto2 said:

Have just asked the same question somewhere else ---- am stunned to be honest unless they can give a good Covid reason / excuse.

I think the reason/excuse is that the steward will be in your cabin as little as possible to supposedly reduce the risk of catching/passing on covid

1 hour ago, yorkshirephil said:

I have bit the bullet and swapped our Jan 22 Caribbean cruise and booked a nice seafront suite in a hotel in Fuerteventura for a month. I wasn't willing to commit to paying our balance for something that may or may not take place and certainly won't resemble cruising as we know it. 

We have a Saga cruise in January which calls at Fuerteventura.You will have to give us a wave! If I didn't mind flying I would be booking a month in the warm weather too.

We often stay at The Premier Inn but saw a good offer for The Leonardo Harbour hotel so have booked it for our September cruise.Wondering now if it was the right thing to do as some of the recent reviews are dire!! Has anyone stayed there recently? 

1 hour ago, daiB said:

If you want to push the boat out try The Harbour Hotel in Ocean Village. Nice bit of luxury.

 

Dai

I am saving up the Tesco vouchers to try that out!!

Just now, bee-ess said:

Does that include the seacations ?

Yes 😊

1 minute ago, jeanlyon said:

Is that just in the UK though>

 

No it includes all Princess cruises up to and including when Princess sails to the US at the beginning of November(presumably next year as well)We have a UK cruise in September and a Med cruise with them in October so as long as countries let us in we will be able to do our own thing 🙂 

46 minutes ago, jeanlyon said:

Wowzz, can't dine with other people.  Can't go ashore except on an excursion.  Not our idea of a cruise.   I still have one booked for October 2022.   There are others on here who are going to do the same thing.   Vaccinations are good in Spain and France, so there is no reason why a vaccinated person can't go ashore independently.  If they are doing excursions with time ashore on your own, it doesn't make sense, apart from making money.

 

We would probably take the ferry either to France or Spain with the car rather than be told we can't go ashore on our own.

 

 

Princess are now letting people explore independantly so I would expect P and O to do the same in a week or two

2 hours ago, BouncingWheel said:

If someone catches Covid then I believe that they, and fellow cabin members, will be in a cabin in isolation. Do they stay in their own cabin or will they be moved to another isolation cabin (e.g. a set of cabins put aside for isolation purposes)?

If they are moved are they moved to a similar standard cabin? I cannot see this working so I guess they stay where they are in their original cabins in isolation.

If you are in an inside or outside view cabin then I suppose you are enclosed but if you have a balcony/suite then can you use the balcony? I thought at first yes you can and that is why so many people are plumping for a balcony in these covid times (as a back up in case of isolation) but then I see Iona Deck8 balconies and cannot see that working so will isolated people be prohibited to go out onto their balconies?

It must be similar to old virus outbreaks like noro' but never knew how that worked either.

 

Does anyone know how this will play out if it occurs?

I think Molecrochip previously posted that P and O had put aside some cabins(all balconies)for covid purposes so they are together in a block, away from other cabins.

51 minutes ago, Harry Peterson said:

Saga seem to have this pretty well sorted, judging by the experience of some friends of ours who’ve just returned. All the passengers they pick up from home now are apparently picked up in vehicles containing no other passengers, so a much reduced risk of cross infection.

 

Masks all round required throughout the journey. There’s a risk from the driver, of course, but no risk from other passengers.  They were very impressed with the arrangements, and the boarding was far easier and quicker than usual. 

Thats one reason we have booked a Saga cruise in January

35 minutes ago, Peanut006 said:

I remember my mum having a singer treadle sewing machine!! Both my mum and Grandma always had a sewing machine, I remember my mum making outfits for dancing class shows when I was little. I am not great at sewing though, the most I managed was a pair of curtains for my daughters bedroom.
We had needlework classes at school as well as domestic science whilst boys did woodwork, metal work and technical drawing

Michelle

We also had needlework and domestic science classes at school which I hated.I am not very good at practical things and am sure nowadays would be labelled as dyspraxic.In the 2nd year we could do German instead of needlework which I gladly opted for!

6 hours ago, lincslady said:

A review in today's Sunday Times, from the maiden voyage.  Mostly very favourable - no doubt the reviewer did not have problems in getting into the various restaurants!  Funnily enough, the only cabins mentioned, again favourably, are the Conservatory Mini Suites.  

Considering the lead article was to do with 'greener' forms of travel, I was surprised that the reviewer didn't mention that Iona is the first British cruise ship to use liquid natural gas.

9 hours ago, Valfan said:

Well said. I hate new technology. I find it very hard to cope with. I have very limited internet access, no printer, and no intention of ever getting a smartphone. I'm terrified of them. My way of coping with P&O's requests for us to do stuff online now is to keep moving the deposit for my next cruise onto another cruise and worry about it later. But I now have several cruises booked, all due to sail within a few months of each other. So I'm boxing myself into a corner and I can't see any way out!

Perhaps you could use a Travel Agent.They would be able to print stuff off for you and help you with things that might be necessary online.They often offer a discount as well

2 hours ago, Host Sharon said:

I wrote a live blog on the Saga boards. Forgive the spelling errors on it as I dictated it onto my tablet to save time! For me the big thing is included transport and insurance. As for the onboard experience - larger cabins, superb food (although less choice than P&O) and all-inclusive make for a relaxed cruise. I'll post a more detailed comparison in a day or so - have pre-op today for open heart surgery so a bit on edge!

I have read your Saga blog with interest as we are trying Saga for the first time in January.I hope all goes well with the heart surgery

1 hour ago, Selbourne said:

We have always fancied a UK cruise Harry and very much hope to do one in the future but, like you, would only do so once all the restrictions are lifted. As my wife is a wheelchair user she can’t get off the ship in tender ports, so that rather limits the ports of call, but Liverpool and Belfast would both need to be on the itinerary as I like both cities but would like to approach them from the water. 

The Princess cruise we are going on in September calls at Liverpool and Belfast but of course restrictions will still be in place

24 minutes ago, wowzz said:

Yes, of course. 

I was just trying to think why someone would never have won even £25 with £50k of PBs - as has  been said, it is just not possible.

I agree and it may be that the winnings have been re invested each time so that no 'prizes' were showing as un claimed because they had all been added to the original deposit.

1 minute ago, Selbourne said:

I know it’s crystal ball stuff Wowzz, but assuming that we continue as we are, with hospitalisations and deaths at very low levels and life (in the UK at least) gradually returning to normal (masks aside), how soon do you see the on board experience getting back to normality? I appreciate that overseas port calls may have some disruption into next year, but I am at a loss as to why some of the things that I am reading about are still deemed necessary, given that all passengers are double jabbed.

I know quite a few people who have caught covid despite being double jabbed though they have only had mild symptoms.We have a seacation booked in a few weeks time visiting 2  UK ports and another cruise in October visiting European ports(hopefully!) I don't mind P and O and Princess taking a cautious approach and will feel ok if restrictions are still in place for both my cruises.After October I think there will have been a lot of cruises from the UK and I would feel happy with things getting back to normal as long as there isn't a huge jump in case numbers

(Nice to see you posting again)

Thank you for your blog.Looking forward to my first Saga cruise in January

46 minutes ago, grapau27 said:

I rang 119 and gave both our details and within 5 days we received official documentation of our 2 covid vaccines.

Graham.

We have done the same.Still have the NHS app with confirmation but just in case the phone battery goes flat and others have said that the crew are pleased when you produce confirmation of vaccine on paper rather than having to wait etc