Trevor Fountain

The direction P&O are heading you'll be taking a tent with you soon.

I think the newspaper got this one wrong. As I understand, this was arranged by Paul Ludlow for an upcoming p&o magazine. Look closely and you should be able to spot Paul. This is his version of Where's Wally.

Everybody has been aware for some time now that mandatory mask wearing can be imposed at any point before or during a cruise. If I was exempt from wearing a mask I would make damn sure I would be able to prove I was exempt. I travel on a cruise on Sunday. There is every possibility that by the time I reach check in that mask wearing on board will be mandatory. If that is the case then I expect non-mask wearers would probably be denied boarding. I don't know what they would say to those who can prove they are exempt, but if they can deny boarding to anyone who has had a cough in the last ten days, then I'm pretty sure they can deny boarding to people exempt from wearing a mask. It should be made clear to people who are exempt that they must provide suitable evidence of exemption or run the risk of having to quarantine should mandatory mask wearing become necessary mid-cruise. There are plenty of people who P&O do not accept on board for medical reasons, so just because someone is exempt from wearing a mask should not necessarily mean they are to be allowed to endanger the lives of other passengers during any outbreak of a airborne transmittable virus on board.

I don't much care for your attitude either.

There are too many liars and cheats in this world to start taking the moral high ground and worrying about having an unpleasant view as you put it. Some people seem to spend their time thinking of ways to beat measures put in place for the safety of the majority. They think they are hero's until karma strikes.

Then put them in quarantine unless they can prove they are exempt.

So presumably these folks would have declared their health issue on their mandatory insurance policy. In which case it would be easy to show to P&O medical staff on board.

Can't see your post.

That's your choice. At the time I booked the cruise I'm going on this Sunday the rules clearly stated a test (which had to be certified) was to be taken before departure. This, coupled with the option of a fcc was part of my own risk assessment before booking with some degree of confidence. I think it was you who said if people are worried, they shouldn't go. Well I for one don't fancy throwing away over 4k, but given the choice I wouldn't be travelling on Sunday.

There's nothing nice about catching covid from someone who knows they are infected but not isolating when on board a ship, where transmission is probably more likely than in open air. Though I understand why people are now even more reluctant to report it given what has been discussed earlier in this thread.

I probably wouldn't panic on that score, and if it does happen at short notice you could even get a next day in person test (Manchester). https://man.randox.com/#ardp

Exactly that Megabear. I could not have put it better myself.

So what do we do? We booked at the time because of the fcc rules. Now they've moved the goalposts, after final balance due, and we're stuffed. Either get on board or lose the full fare. Not much choice really. Personally I know there is some risk, but I was happy when I booked knowing people were having to test before boarding and mask wearing was compulsory. That's what I signed up to. Now we'll do our little bit by wearing masks, even if it is not mandatory, though I doubt many others will.

Great news. Enjoy the remainder of your holiday. I really hope you get properly compensated by whatever means.

Yes, at one time the cabin stewards and dining room waiters were Goanese, the bar waiters were Filipino. I seem to recall P&O sacked all the Filipino's en masse after they demanded higher wages.

The only good thing I can think of to come out of lockdown, is the fact that I learned to use hair clippers, and then realised what a con job barbering is.

Hope you are ok by the time your cruise comes around. Have you checked with P&O that you can take the scooter in the cabin? Looking at post #52 it may need clarifying. Best of luck.

Or charge the same as Star Clippers and/or Saga.

That's a shame. As much as I don't want to be in isolation, I certainly don't want to end up in the back of an ambulance.

Maybe not covid then? Many reasons why they may have required hospitalisation.

I can fully understand you're being unhappy about missing a port. Experienced cruisers understand that when you book a cruise there is an element of risk that means you might not get to every port. If logistics allow, then the port will be substituted for another. Whilst it is upsetting to miss a port, what you have paid for is a 7,14 or whatever day cruise, and ultimately that is what you got. You can insure for missed ports, and I suggest you do so if you cruise again. I have missed a few ports in my forty odd years of cruising, but never has it ruined my holiday. You don't mention what sneakiness P&O have been up to, though I agree there are a number of issues that they have not handled well. However these are unprecidented times and reading other boards it's obvious that this isn't unique to P&O trying to manage evolving situations with things like covid, supply issues. staff shortages and many other things besides. If it was so bad that you don't want to sail with P&O again, that is your choice, but try and take all the positives from your cruise, and think what it may have been like if everything was normal. Whichever Line you may choose, I'm sure all will be better judged in more normal times.

Yes, indeed.

To avoid confusion this presumably refers to MSC.

As I have never seen Port fees/taxes itemised in my fare, I have always considered it to be part and parcel of the overall package, and would never even give it a second thought when ports are missed. I mean if you go to Tesco for your weekly shop, you know that in the cost of your food Tesco will obviously have considered the running costs involved. If you walk down a food aisle and the lighting has failed, would you expect something knocked off your bill, because obviously less electricity, more profit for Tesco? You say P&O keep many thousands of pounds in fees and taxes if a port is missed. Can you say how much per fare this equates to? Presumably, if the ship is not in port, then it is moving, should they then charge the extra fuel cost to our bills? More staff required to work as no passengers will be ashore. The list goes on. I am happy with my fare and if I am worried about missing ports then I will buy insurance to cover that, though everybody is entitled to their opinion.

I wonder if there is any real advantage of checking in online. Theoretically if you have your boarding pass you shouldn't need to see anyone at check in. This is obviously not the case.