bbtablet

 

Boarding this coming Saturday, so after seeing the tip from Megabear2 (many thanks) I checked our cards - out of date! - and applied on-line today for the GHIC.

Approved by email the same day, with allocated reference number, including how to obtain a temporary card if the main card has not arrived before travelling (which in our case it will not have done).

"If you need state-funded treatment while visiting another country and do not have your card with you, a Provisional Replacement Certificate (PRC) can provide the same cover temporarily.

You can only apply for a PRC from the time you need treatment. A PRC can provide cover for treatment that has already taken place, but one cannot be issued in advance."

My research comes up with:

Europe means the European Union, the European Economic Area and/or their member states, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

.. so under no circumstances do your countries possibly fall outside of that!

The reason your policy is worded the way it is is because some customers are unsure about the countries it has listed and it prevents constant queries (although how Spain got into those specified defeats me!).

4 hours ago, Selbourne said:

I agree that this seems odd. I would have thought that Tromso and Narvik would both have snow at that time of year, but we have only been there in March. There was plenty then! My only guess would be that in December they cannot guarantee enough snow coverage at the locations where the excursions happen and, as a result, they aren’t available, but that’s a pure guess. It would help if they said why!

.. but of course we know that isn't the P&O way, except for stating "for operational reasons"!

4 hours ago, Orianababes said:

Hello All

 

I have recently printed my boarding pass for upcoming cruise. Being in Caribbean tier I am fortunate enough to have priority boarding. Currently having a senior moment- my memory tells me that the words Priority Boarding were on the boarding pass. Current boarding pass has no such mention. Is my memory playing tricks on me by thinking those two words appeared? Not really important I know but would just like to put my mind at rest

Like you, my wife is Caribbean tier. We are boarding Ventura on Saturday. Her Boarding Pass (12.15pm) says "Priority Boarding" at the bottom right, to the right of the QR code, so yours should also be stating that.

I suggest you take this up with your T.A. a.s.a.p. as, from personal experience (well-documented here), some of the staff checking boarding passes outside the terminal at Southampton (they are not P&O employees) can be, and have been, totally incompetent, officious, unreasonable, obstructive, incredibly rude and bloody-minded towards cruisers!

Othe contributions at that time:

 

They don't provide printed port guides like we were used to in the past.

 

I normally do a google search for information and try to print off maps for our ports of call.

 

Good tip. You can get all the info you need on Google.

 

 

post by Kalos in May 2022:

 

https://www.pocruises.com/ports  

 

 

Post by Bazrat June 2022:

 

The post by Kalos as a link we downloaded. It works really well, put in our cruise number and the guides appeared to the ports.

 

I haven't tested yet but assume it still works that way.  Hope this helps.

Bernard.

14 hours ago, Megabear2 said:

Three of our party have become very unwell with a flu like virus.  There is general concern whether more of us are going to be struck down so I'm also using First Defence as I find it can help prevent and reduce these types of illness.

 

 

 

 

Many thanks for the tip - I have not heard of this product before. Looked it up and ordered on ebay straight away - it will arrive in time for my upcoming cruise - just hope we don't need it!

As a matter of interest, is there anyone currently on Ventura who can report the present situation there - is there a perceived outbreak on that cruise or is everything fine?

I only ask because we are on her next!

"with a liitle bit of this, and a little bit of that, then shake your bum, bum, bum, bum, bum" (ad nauseum), followed by lots of "da da da da da da.." by any chance? (1981)

4 hours ago, Megabear2 said:

 

To anyone reading this does anyone know the relevance of the charming ceremonies we saw everywhere today with the children receiving bouquets and flowers at their various schools?  We really wanted to ask someone but felt we would be intruding on what were clearly very special and personal family occasions.

Apparently it is a tradition in that part of the world (Latvia, Lithuania and Russia too) that children bring flowers to give to their teachers on the first day of the new school year (which I believe was the day you saw them). The number of flowers should be odd, as an even number indicates a funeral gift of flowers, but perhaps no-one really minds nowadays. So perhaps the children weren't receiving them, but instead were holding them in preparation for giving them to their teachers?

My T.A. has responded to my request, so all is well - perhaps I am too impatient to wait for them to contact me!

.... and don't forget the camels.

Yes, but as others have said before, as I booked through a T.A., P&O will not send it to me - I need to ask for an updated invoice from my T.A. in order to see it.

...... and just for the benefit of those who may be interested in how the system works, I have today received a further email confirming that my OBC has been credited. This was from an "uploaded document proof of ownership" application and took 6 days from start to finish.

Oh! for the days when travel insurance only cost me £100!

Never get old!

22 hours ago, moon_dust said:

Never used travel agents before, will I need to commit to buying something with them or can I just go ask questions and not book anything?

Google "Cruise travel agents" - that will pull up the one's cruisers, including myself, deal with.

This evening (30/8/24) I received an email from Stockperks to say that my proof of share ownership has been processed, although it still says "in progress" on the redeemed screen. It confirms that my application was made on 23/8/24 and the cruise starts 14/09/24, so I am still hoping for confirmation of the £150 OBC before we sail, but it is getting tight!

Yes, I applied just over 3 weeks before sail date so believe I should receive the OBC, no matter how long Shareperks take to finish the process.

15 hours ago, Winifred 22 said:

I have spent less than that on my 9 night Cunard cruise as a solo !. 

? you can edit by clicking on the 3 vertical dots on your post.

On 8/18/2024 at 4:03 PM, Jazzytelly said:

When mine kept saying 'in progress' for weeks I just applied again and it worked.

Was that a situation where you had to upload a proof of ownership document or simply name your broker? I too am waiting on an "in progress" where I uploaded a document, which it said had been received and processed, and time is running out as the cruise is now in just over 2 weeks time.

Just hope that there won't be any problems which can cause a later departure - late arrival back to Southampton; requirement to clean-down the ship if there has been an outbreak of something nasty on the preceding cruise; weather; etc.

 

My advice would be - make sure you get on board, and then just let it all happen!

So that this might help others who come across this situation, here is an email received when I asked about the situation before the cruise. It might be useful to have a printed copy ready in case you are challenged:

Re: Boarding Pass arrival time differences on the same booking

PG

To: bbtablet;

26/09/2023 16:40

 

Dear Bernard,
Thank you for getting in touch with your question about embarkation.
When two guests are travelling within the same cabin – they will allow the lower tier guest to check in together with the Caribbean/Baltic/Ligurian member at the earlier time, in line with their Peninsular Club benefit.
We hope this answers everything for you and we are looking forward to seeing you on board!
Kind Regards
Emma
Guest Support Representative

1 hour ago, molecrochip said:

Assuming that they are sharing a cabin with someone of status…

 

A cabin can’t check in two people separately therefore highest tier boarding pass on top… and off you go.

 

Also they should allow them to join you at the embarkation lunch.

Slippers and champagne will still be provided in the cabin by virtue of one qualifying person.

100% correct, BUT does not work if the first-checkers outside the building have not been told this, or claim to have been told this is wrong information - my experience last year. Apparently, they are not P&O employees and some are bloody-minded, will accuse you of "inventing" confirming contact with P&O Customer Services, and call you a liar, so good luck (and wish me luck when my wife and I (still different tiers) try to board Ventura again next month).

... and gents need to remove their belt if, like mine, it contains a metal buckle, so undignified shuffle past the scanner trying not to let my trousers fall to around my knees!

On 8/18/2024 at 7:19 PM, Eglesbrech said:

 

 

 

I did read the thread.

.............

One persons moan is another person taste and discernment. What you might find acceptable, I may not (and visa versa).

 

Have a pleasant evening Dai.

 

 

Oh no! What's this?- not another administrative hoop to jump through, surely! - (visa versa).

Try a different browser - e.g. Chrome.