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Loch Buie

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    Brittania July 22nd-5th August

    in P&O Cruises ( UK )

    Posted

    Can I ask if you had cruise specific insurance? I had thought this was supposed to cover ship excursions if you got ill?

    The excursion desk representative said you have to give a minimum of 24 hours notice of cancellation, otherwise there is no refund. The excursion cost (Florence on your own) was just under £90, which was slightly less than the policy excess.

    Brittania July 22nd-5th August

    in P&O Cruises ( UK )

    Posted

    Thank you. Unfortunately, not fully recovered yet, still coughing & weezing 😨

    =mandylennon;53814547]Thank you for your review on Britannia. One of the reasons we have avoided this ship is for the reasons you have given. Shame you can't claim on your insurance for missed excursion and being ill in cabin but hope you are well now and fully recovered.

    Brittania July 22nd-5th August

    in P&O Cruises ( UK )

    Posted

    This was our 14th cruise, but first on Brittania. We also had a balcony, but it was only large enough for 2 chairs, not loungers. The bug l caught definitely wasn't the Norovirus. We were on this cruise (our 3rd on Britannia and 11th with P&O). I have written a brief review but it hasn't been published yet (they have to be vetted and it seems to take an eternity). I will put a link to it on this thread when I can. It sounds as though you contracted Norovirus. Did you use the buffet much? You are far more likely to contract it there than through using sun loungers. We use the buffet extremely rarely, for that primary reason and, touch wood, in 11 cruises have never contracted Norovirus, even when there have been outbreaks on the ship. Interestingly, some friends of ours were on the cruise preceding ours and both picked up a bug (they use the buffet more than us). That said, although I never saw waiters holding sanitising gel and squirting all passengers as they enter on this cruise (which used to happen) I was struck by the constant queue of passengers waiting to wash their hands prior to using the buffet, which was impressive.

     

    We don't use the sun decks as we have a balcony, but agree that the food was excellent throughout in all restaurants (main dining rooms and Select venues) and service levels were mostly very good, although we had some issues in the Crows Nest (ignored by waiters), the Market Cafe (ditto) and Glasshouse (painfully slow service, but fantastic food).

    Brittania July 22nd-5th August

    in P&O Cruises ( UK )

    Posted

    Britannia is a nice ship, the food's good, & service excellent. Unfortunately, we didn't realise July 22nd was the first week of the school holidays and the ship appeared to be full.
    The midship pools, and surrounding deck areas were crammed full of happy families, & it was impossible to secure a sun lounger. Sun loungers were also quickly claimed during early mornings in the quiet area, when the ship was at sea. However, there was availability on decks towards, and at the stern, unfortunately, they were also jammed full of loungers leaving either no space, or very little space between them.
    Hygiene on the ship is excellent. However, its not hygienic or healthy to have so many people crammed together on sun loungers in such close proximity, this is one of the ways infection is spread. We boarded completely healthy, unfortunately, the following week many passengers were coughing & sneezing and despite following strict hygiene rules l also succumbed to a
    bug & spent three days in my cabin, and had to cancel a pre paid Florence excursion, losing the full amount. I'm not saying this was entirely due to the close proximity of the loungers, however it doesn't help.
    If you feel uncomfortable, lying in close proximity next to complete strangers, with only one way off the lounger, eg forward, then this might not be for you.

    There was a problem with soot falling on the decks towards the stern, swimwear and items of clothing were marked with soot, but were quickly rectified by the ship's laundry service. Apart from illness, the lost excursion to Florence and the soot we more or less enjoyed the cruise. However, its highly unlikely we would choose Britannia again, paying thousands of pounds to end up being squashed together on deck like sardines is not for us.

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