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We are visiting Galway as part of a cruise round Ireland in April and wonder if anyone has any suggestions of what to do independantly

1 hour ago, seapals2 said:

Haven’t read all the posts but going back to when this was first raised we checked with our insurers,  M&S premium club insurance underwritten by Aviva.  ( quite a few other banks are underwritten by this company too). They said simply we were insured as a couple.  If one of us was ill .. Covid or otherwise the spouse was covered for costs incurred too.  If one of you were taken ill before travel it’s always been the case that both are covered for cancellation costs.  Don’t see this as being any different.  If one of us was taken to hospital whilst on holiday travel and accommodation is covered.  If we were travelling with grandchildren under 18 they would be covered too. 

We have a similar bank insurance underwritten by Aviva and they have also confirmed that as it is a joint account and policy then we would both be covered if one of us had to quarantine abroad as a result of being offloaded from the ship.

I wonder if it's because the previous sailing times were put back to 9pm? Worth phoning Saga because someone may have made a clerical error

I spoke to someone today at Saga about something else but enquired about the 2023 release date as well.I was told early March as they are still finalising some itineraries

I would agree with the comments that jocap has made.I wouldn't want to book a long cruise with them but we have booked a short 5 night cruise on one of their newer ships from Liverpool in April and if that is more suited to our tastes then we may book a longer cruise as they have some good itineraries and the 2 newer ships are supposed to offer Freedom dining which we prefer.

I spoke with my friend who has been on a Hurtigen cruise and she said that although it was a good experience it was a bit like a glorified ferry.One of Hurtigens newer ships looks more attractive and is probably the one used for the filming of the show with Susan Calman.However I have looked at the cabins on the ship round the UK and they remind me more of ferry cabins than cruise ships! The Itineraries are appealing but I think we will wait for a year or two before booking so we can read other peoples experiences.We shall do the same for the Ambassador cruise line which has some interesting Itineraries.

1 hour ago, Harry Peterson said:

An odd question, maybe, and I know they’re very different, but I was wondering if any of the P&O regulars have any experience of Hurtigruten?

 

Looks very appealing in many ways, and the Susan Calman programmes recently really whetted the appetite.

 

I know P&O pretty well, but it’s changing fast. Any thoughts please?

 

Harry

The itineraries around the British Isles look interesting and I agree that the Susan Calman programme made the cruise line sound appealing.However a friend who sailed with them to the Northern lights a few years ago said the experience was good but very different to a normal cruise partly because the Norwegian s use the service as a commuter route.Things may be different for a cruise round the UK so when I see my friend tomorrow I will try and find out more information and also find out if she watched Susan Colman

2 hours ago, Megabear2 said:

I have this morning been invited by the FCA to make official complaints against Holiday Extras, Staysure, Avanti and Allclear. These are the insurers for my immediate family. Whilst happy to do this for the first three I am unsure if it will be productive as we know their underwriter is looking to amend the terms to show quarantine in the exclusions. I am thinking I may be better to write to the cruise line CEO offices (not just p&O) and ask them to comment directly on HE's last reply. That would cover most UK sailings apart from Marella who use a different insurer.

 

Any thoughts or indeed any contact details much appreciated. I'm out all day so nothing will happen until tomorrow whatever I do. Cheers!

I emailed the CEO of Saga recently and received a phone call from someone quite high up the following day.Dont want to post anything here but found it quite easy to find the email address using Google

1 hour ago, peteukmcr said:

Glad to see the thread is still here. I did intend to post more over the weekend but we received tragic news on Saturday that Patrick’s 24 year old niece died. Think we’re still in shock, it happened so fast. Makes you put things into perspective. I’d resigned from my job on Friday too as I’m leaving the travel trade, but the excitement of that has been put in the background at the moment. 
 

I have a question for you P&O experts. Anyone who has had complimentary coach transfers included in the fare, have you just taken a one-way transfer?

Sorry to hear your bad news.We just took a one way included coach transfer home from Southampton because we wanted to spend the night before the cruise in Southampton

47 minutes ago, Harry Peterson said:

I’ve no problems at all with Jodie Whittaker. Just the overcomplex, ludicrous scripts and the gang of 4/5 whatever replacing the Dr Who plus companion format. I think she’s been shafted by the writers, and I’ll be pleased to see the return of Russell T Davies.

 

Watched most episodes since that first one in 1963 - remember rushing home to watch it - and it’s gone through good and bad patches, but my wife’s keener on it now than I am.

 

Richard Ayoade is also a possible. He’d be good. Quirky is good. I’d cast Matt Lucas!

I think Richard Ayoade would be great.Love his travel programmes

4 hours ago, Harry Peterson said:

@Megabear2

 

Hi Megabear - not strictly relevant here, but in the old thread on this subject I took up your suggestion that Saga should be pushed on their statement that they didn’t offload COVID-negative passengers.

 

As suspected, they do.  See exchange below. To add, if you wish, to your very comprehensive and helpful fund of knowledge 

 

 

“Thanks so much for your helpful reply.

I'm still a little puzzled, though, because I understand from another cruise line that Spain (and Spanish islands) require, following the relevant EU Directive, that not only passengers testing positive be offloaded - but also any close contacts, even if those close contacts are testing negative.  I understand that other EU ports may also be following that same line.

This will, of course, override any policies or protocols operated by individual cruise companies, such as Saga.

Are you quite sure that your statement below ('We would not disembark you if you have not produced a positive Covid test') is correct, please?  It would seem to be at odds with the policies being operated by some, if not all, EU countries - and certainly Spain and the Spanish islands.

Kind regards”

 

 

 

“Thank you for your recent email to us, I was awaiting a reply from my colleague as I needed to check the procedures with him and this is what he has advised me :

Dependent on local health authorities we could potentially have to disembark a close contact of the passenger - Spain on our most recent cruise have made us disembark passengers when we wanted to keep them in the isolation zone.

I hope this information has been of assistance to you and if I can be of any further assistance then please do not hesitate to contact me.


Kind Regards,

Jemma O’Leary
Saga Holidays & Cruises”


 

It for this reason that I deferred the Saga cruise that I should have been on currently as although Saga had stated that people would only be offloaded if medically necessary, I knew that Spanish ports insisted on it.Spanish policy is not Sagas fault but I don't think it is clear from the info they give you that this will happen.I really think that with a lot of companies it depends who you speak to on the phone as to what you are told and one reason I prefer to email.

Just last week I read of a Saga passenger who required hospitalisation so  although for most people it's no more than a cold it can be worse for some.I think one problem at the moment, possibly not in the Caribbean but in Spain and the Canary Islands is that passengers have to be offloaded and quarantine in a hotel and flying home.There are still high number of cases and whilst I can see that in the future testing may not be needed, I personally hope it continues until number of positive cases decreases

Sometimes saver fares aren't available at release so the fare may only be based on the select fare at time of booking.I think the new larger outside cabins on Aurora are supposed to be nice but there are only a few of them

31 minutes ago, Megabear2 said:

I am booked on the 1 April Aurora Canaries cruise. Originally booked as a single when cabins in very short supply on release day.  I've never sailed on Aurora so it's a whole new world.  I currently have a front outside cabin which has not been allocated yet.  Again at the time of booking no choice but to pick inside, outside, balcony or suite.

 

My 82 year old Auntie was added to my booking some time later - she knows Aurora very well having done several world cruises on her in the past.  With all the cancellations etc I've been advised that quite a few balconies have opened up. Auntie has only ever had an inside cabin on Aurora.

 

I've never tried to change cabin type before but am quite tempted to treat Auntie on what may be her last trip on her favourite ship.   When I booked as a single my cost was £1495 and this went down to £999 each when I added my Auntie so between us we have £1998 spent already.  A select balcony is currently on select price at £2958 but changes on location.

 

Questions

1: Cruise is fully paid, am I able to upgrade if that's the case

2. Are Aurora balcony cabins good, the bulk seem to be available on Deck A - anyone have opinions on any of these or suggestions which I'd be best looking at

3. We have £110obc each at present. The select price on a balcony seems to be offering £115obc, would we get to keep ours or does it change

 

Any other suggestions to make this nice much appreciated. Auntie getting a bit nervous with the offloading stuff so I'm hoping to take her mind of the problems.

 

Should add there's 8 of us travelling with the rest in to be allocated insides.

 

Thank you all for suggestions/help.

 

 

We upgraded from an inside cabin to a balcony after the balance was paid but we had to pay the price of a balcony at time of booking.We were on A deck near the front but we're pleased with our cabin

It looks great.Glad all went well with check in and no delays to departure

On 1/19/2022 at 11:31 AM, yorkshirephil said:

I am feeling a bit smug, Wordle in 2, it does help when the first random guess has 4 of the 5 letters albeit 3 were in the wrong place.

A lovely sunny day here now the rain has passed, pleasantly warm for time of year

It is amusing how fish chips and whatever form of bread is different around the country, I would order twice wi' bits and 2 teacakes, even though teacakes usually come with currants in and if I was buying from a shop or stall I would order breadcakes if I wanted plain teacakes. 

Feeling a bit smug too as tried Wordle for first time today and got it in 2 helped largely because I had 3 correct letters ( 2 in the right place)as my starting word.Thank you for recommending it🙂

3 hours ago, Harry Peterson said:

Haven't they just done the same thing with SoD too?   People allegedly being offered the next cruise, although that's only hearsay based on social media.

They have done the same on spirit of Discovery which in some ways is understandable due to the covid cases onboard the current cruise.I can't see any reason for doing similar on spirit of adventure when the cruise has been covid free unless they want to reduce the number of passengers onboard.I do think Saga should tell people the reason for doing this as the people staying onboard s of a surely pose no covid risk to others

23 minutes ago, Wonky said:

Hello all, anyone on board Iona currently? MIL on board and no contact so had a look on AIS and it appears to be heading for Tenerife after donutting in Funchal harbour! Nothing bad going on I hope?

It may be weather related.One of the Saga ships had 2 attempts of docking at Funchal a couple of days ago before aborting the attempt and heading on

24 minutes ago, Kohima said:

Anyone know why this is happening and is it on both ships?

It's probably because of the covid cases on the current spirit of Discovery cruise and being done as a precaution to reduce the numbers of passengers onboard and therefore hopefully the risk of covid on the next cruise

2 minutes ago, NorbertsNiece said:

Guests on board, booked on B2B, have been told they may not stay on board on the 20th at Southampton and must disembark.

It makes me wonder if they are going to cancel the 20 January cruise.I could understand them saying that to guests on spirit of Discovery where there have been covid cases but not sure why it's necessary on spirit of adventure which I presume is covid free unless it's to reduce the number of passengers onboard on the 20 th cruise? Hope it goes ahead for your sake

1 hour ago, Cocktail sipping said:

We’re out on the Azura from the 20th Jan to the 5th Feb, and whilst we’ve never done a back to back cruise before we’re seriously thinking about doing one this time. What’s the best way to go about doing this, is it best to wait until you get on board or ring P&O before we go. Any help would’ve gratefully received.

Definitely try phoning p and o tomorrow as I presume your return flight will be changed and best to check if that's possible before you go.Also they may be able to arrange for you to stay in the same cabin

We had an obstructed balcony cabin on Britannia a few years ago and although the view was limited, it meant we could open the doors and get some fresh air.You still get share benefit on Saver Fares.We prefer Britannia to Azura though Azura has larger balconies.We like the fact that on Britannia there are glass doors rather than a curtain in the shower and everything is newer.We also like The Limelight Club on Britannia though you do have to pay for that.I would be happy to go on either ship on a Saver Fare

Our favourite P and O ships are Britannia and Aurora

1 minute ago, NorbertsNiece said:

Found this :

 

Brilliant! Thanks very much.I love a Pimm's and lemonade and bucks fizz

Staysure and AllClear  will cover most medical conditions but at a cost

Is there a list of cocktails and does it state whether or not each is included?Also is there a list of mocktails?