LifeonMars

18 hours ago, gazwag said:

No true we have blue light and shareholder OBC in July

You were obviously lucky 

On 2/23/2022 at 10:58 AM, Kristal Blade said:

Thanks LifeonMars,

It’s a minefield out there! I had totally forgotten the time difference! I’m going to speak to the tour operator, a big one with Offers, they should be able to help.

Any Update ?

I have found this in Manhattan, bookable  Rapid Antigen Test with Certificate $75

Result 1-2 hours

https://www.bloomlabs.co/

Bloom Labs is located on 36th St. Between 5th and 6th Avenue. Just minutes from Herald Square and Penn Station

https://bloomlabs.as.me/schedule.php?_ga=2.232339231.1253462368.1646602757-1617693869.1646602757

9 hours ago, littlehetty1 said:

hi do you get the extra obs  on a saver fare or do you have to book a select fare to get it? cheers

Share holder credit is usually allowed to both fare types, unless you have an additional discount by using  a blue light card or Military benefit here in the UK

Agree with the My Holiday intranet page re booking of restaurant,  It is confusing but I soon worked out that the tabs only allowed you to book for early dining so obviously filled up quickly, to eat later you selected the restaurant, saw how many passengers were waiting,  and if decided would go on the waiting list, to be honest I only ever waited about 5/10mins to be called.

The My Holiday Intranet page is very badly designed in my opinion , if the normal  daily menu was placed on it each day it would be so helpful to the passengers. 

What is annoying no restaurant menu in the bars especially the Crows Nest.

If you traipsed down to an actual restaurant to read the menu, the TV Screens would change before you had time to read everything. 

(Everything Tech never seems to work for Carnival) 😀 

I found the Level of cuisine to be very good. Especially the nice touches of  additional different types of sausages each morning.  (Wild Boar being the best)  The Vegetarian options also good. Liver one morning ,Kidneys next and also steak available the next also the Different types of Potatoes. Plenty of variety.

Service was slow in some areas, which also look like an airport terminal. 

The Club House  and Crows Nest were my favourite bars. Very good service in both of these.

53 minutes ago, ohnonotmeagain said:

I am following this thread with interest as I have,very recently, purchased some shares [ the basic100] but as not cruising until late June have not yet sent an email requesting shareholder OBC. This thread has prompted me to investigate a little deeper! However, being very thick I'm really not sure which page I have to copy, redact and send over . At least 2  seem likely candidates!

IF some one would be most helpful to screenshot the correct page, I'm with Hargreaves Lansdown , I would be be deeply grateful. Obviously redacted, it's just the page I'm after😇

The page I think you have to send has the purchase price ......do you also redact this as well?

Thanks in advance for helping someone with no financial literacy whatsoever!

Log in to your HL Account

Select My Accounts and Dealing page were you will see your Fund Share Account, select that and another page opens.

Towards the bottom you will see  options, print page, PDF version, Download, Table Key.

Select PDF version which will open a PDF version in Adobe 

You need to cross out your client number at the top right, keep your name and date 

and forward this page to shareholderbenefits@carnivalukgroup.com

with the Cruise number / Ship Your Name address and  and dates you are sailing

If you booked with a TA then you will have to ask them to forward a new Booking Confirmation  the day after the shareholder obc has been applied.

2 hours ago, cruise44 said:

The Commodore club on the QM2 is below the bridge, so the potential up-lighting at night would cause navigation issues, so that is why they have the blinds down. But here the future Commodore Club is above the bridge, just like the Queen Victoria and every other ship with a forward observation lounge, so the location of the bridge wouldn't have an effect, as long as its below the lounge.

 

 

 

But if the Bridge was raised, would not that put the Bridge above the Commodore Club causing the problem as I suggested. I have not see any plans for the Interior of Queen Anne

On 2/24/2022 at 9:56 PM, cruise44 said:

Posted on another post, but they should have just raised the the bridge. Cabin count would remain mostly the same, so still get their revenue, and a slightly better looking ship. The new "excellence class" are top heavy ships, but because they put the bridge at practically the top deck, they have a much more balanced forward profile, and you really don't notice as much. Carnival Corp had such a long time to develop this new "vista/pinnacle" design variation, wish they had put some more effort into it for Cunard.

But if the Bridge had been raised , would that have meant that any forward views like the Commodore Club would have to have the Blinds down at Sunset, similar to what happens on QM2

Must agree, Deck 15 mid Balcony, lots of creaking and banging, Have heard this before on other ships though especially Norwegian Epic with its long upper outside decks when going across the North Atlantic.

Also I thought some of  the  banging could be down to  the glass shower door not keeping closed in the rough seas in some nearby cabins.

12 hours ago, Kristal Blade said:

I’ve had some more thoughts about this. My brother in law needed a Covid test before a flight last year. He ordered them from a company that required him to film himself reaming his nose then send photos of the test panel showing the negative line. Confirmation was emailed to him within 30 mins.

 

I’m wondering if I could take this kit on holiday with me and use it while in my New York pre cruise hotel. I think that test system cost about £20. 
 

So, what do other Brits think. Workable? Acceptable?

Any input gratefully received.

Libby 

I don't think that would be acceptable,  as the actual test taken at the time  is not supervised by a Telehealth provider , Only the film has been supervised. 

quote

The telehealth provider must confirm the person’s identity, observe the specimen collection and testing procedures, confirm the test result, and issue a report that meets the requirements of acceptable proof of a negative Covid-19 test.

end quote

I suppose one  could  pre book and use a company that  video calls you  through Zoom/Skype on your computer from your hotel room etc then e mails you the certificate.  But if using UK company remember the time difference. 

If you use a USA company then you would somehow need to get hold of their testing kit prior to the test being taken.

It would help if Cunard could be more helpful in testing and prices for Bookings joining Brooklyn.    Or arrange the tests like they do in the UK at the port.

If you google then companies do pop up like these below, don't forget to use the discount codes supplied by your airline operator.

https://www.qured.com/shop/products

https://www.testingforall.org/product/fit-to-fly-lateral-flow-test/

https://www.cunard.com/en-gb/the-cunard-experience/sailing-with-confidence/preparing-to-sail/at-the-terminal#brooklyn

2 hours ago, ace2542 said:

That is nearly more than the cost of the cruise!

 

On a serious note when is the test needed to be completed for a typical sunday afternoon eastbound departure?

Latest Protocol as shown above 

https://www.cunard.com/en-gb/the-cunard-experience/sailing-with-confidence/preparing-to-sail/at-the-terminal#brooklyn

quote

For example, if your voyage departure is 4:00 PM on a Sunday, you may board with a negative Covid-19 test that was administered any time on the prior Friday or after.

On 2/18/2022 at 12:19 PM, Kristal Blade said:

Hi Landrewm,

We are on the 5 June “ferry” too. We are really hoping testing will all be a thing of the past by then. Currently U.K. passengers don’t need to test on return but I know we might need to test to board.

Can you please tell me where you booked your appointment in NYC, we have a night there before we sail?

Thank you very much,

Libby 

Libby if travelling a day before from the UK then from what I presently understand and with current rules,  you can use the same test (If used with the time frame rules)   to enter the USA for Boarding with Cunard as long as it is an observed test and taken two days prior to your voyage. Only if staying longer than one night in the USA would you need a new observed test

Quote

What is considered two days prior to my voyage’s departure?
The two-day period is two days before your voyage’s departure from the USA. The two-day timeframe provides you with more flexibility than a 48-hour timeframe. By using the two-day window, your test validity does not depend on the time of your embarkation or the time of the day that your test was administered. For example, if your voyage departure is 4:00 PM on a Sunday, you may board with a negative Covid-19 test that was administered any time on the prior Friday or after.

Can I use the same test I used to enter the USA to embark the ship?

Yes, if taken within the two-day time frame required for embarkation (see 'What is considered two days prior to my voyage’s departure?' above).

All guests will be required to provide evidence of a negative Covid-19 test result at the terminal, this must be paid for and taken prior to arrival. This must be an observed viral (antigen or NATT/PCR) test, taken within two days prior to embarkation.

Please note, testing is NOT provided at the terminal.

If you’re looking for help finding a test facility in New York, this site may help: https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/find-test-site-near-you.

Definition of observed test.

Vaccinated guests may use a medically observed self-test that meets the criteria below. Only medically observed self-tests will be accepted.

The test must be a SARS-CoV-2 viral test (nucleic acid amplification test [NAAT] or antigen test). The testing procedure must include a telehealth service affiliated with the manufacturer of the test that provides real-time supervision remotely through an audio and video connection.

The telehealth provider must confirm the person’s identity, observe the specimen collection and testing procedures, confirm the test result, and issue a report that meets the requirements of acceptable proof of a negative Covid-19 test.

Accepted antigen tests include:

• Rapid antigen test.
• Viral antigen test.
• Antigen Chromatographic Digital Immunoassay.
• Antigen Chemiluminescence Immunoassay.
• Antigen Lateral Flow Fluorescence.

NAAT tests include:

• PCR - Polymerase chain reaction.
• RT-PCR – reverse transcription real time PCR.
• Quantitative PCR (qPCR).
• Reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) test.
• Transcription-mediated amplification (TMA) test.
• Molecular test or molecular diagnostic test.
• Isothermal amplification.
• Droplet Digital PCR or digital droplet PCR (ddPCR).
• Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR).

What is acceptable proof of my negative Covid-19 test result?
The following formats are acceptable proofs of a negative Covid-19 test: paper negative Covid-19 test results (original only), digital or emailed Covid-19 test results; or record of Covid-19 testing from a healthcare provider including original digital email notification or personal electronic health record.

The negative Covid-19 test result must include:

• Where the test was administered, including information such as the name and contact information for the laboratory or healthcare personnel who performed the test.
• Type of test (indicating it is a NAAT or antigen test).
• A specimen collection date within 2 days before cruise departure.
• Guest’s name and either date of birth, age, or passport number.
• A negative test result using words or phrases including (and not limited to): Negative; undetectable; SARS-CoV-2 RNA not detected; SARS-CoV-2 antigen not detected; Covid-19 not detected; Not reactive.
• Test results marked “invalid” are not accepted.

see this link

]https://www.cunard.com/en-gb/the-cunard-experience/sailing-with-confidence/preparing-to-sail/at-the-terminal#brooklyn

On Iona it is self serv. also trays available 😳

Some crew/entertainers did join the ship in Vigo 

If you take the Drinks package, then you will not have the extra Spanish Tax on your drink. Food for thought.

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3 hours ago, GOQ said:

 

 

 

 

 

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8 minutes ago, smoggymonster said:

a reply to Foody , I am having the same problem and I think mine is because part of the cruise payment was FCC and my balance is still outstanding and I think its a problem between P&O and Iglucruise. never had a challenge printing everything off before. cheers

you can try phoning P&O    0800 052 3840‬‬  and see if they can do anything like put the FCC on to the booking to show it is paid,  or your TA for them to sort it.

I would have thought  Cunard QM2 and the address of the Cruise Terminal . Is there anything in the "before you sail" section that shows the address or guide to fill in the form? 

if Steinwader Cruise Terminal 

Buchheisterstraße 12, 20457 Hamburg, Germany

Has anyone been charged for additional alcohol drinks over the 15 permitted per 24hrs  on the Ultimate Drink's Package with either Cunard or P&O ?

Perhaps  Princess have a different accounting system. Which can tell over or under the  price limit ? 

.

1 hour ago, tring said:

 

That 72 hour registration form would have been a problem for our cruise, as the scheduled has us visiting within two days of sailing, 

I should have said If planning to go ashore then complete the registration within 72hours prior to arrival in Hamburg.  So could be done at Home or on ship.

I wonder if Iona with its Southampton registry has anything to do with  the cancellation for Hamburg.

Cunard QM2 is due in Hamburg on the 13th February 2022.  From what I can see the Hafen City Cruise Terminal is being rebuilt, re opens end of this year. Altona is to small for some ships which leaves Steinwerder which is located in the container area .  Also if you wish to go ashore  you need to complete a Registration form 72hrs before  and   you need a booster jab  or take an antigen test prior to entry and be in possession of  proof of either.   

20 minutes ago, LifeonMars said:

Cover for you,  was one company that arranged cover and included cruises to nowhere. 

https://www.coverforyou.com/travel_insurance.php

 

also see

https://www.coverforyou.com/faqs_travel.php#am-i-covered-for-a-cruise

33 minutes ago, hollyjess said:

Thinking of booking  British Isles cruise but the companies I have tried say they do not cover UK cruises. Can anyone advise please?

Cover for you,  was one company that arranged cover and included cruises to nowhere. 

https://www.coverforyou.com/travel_insurance.php

14 hours ago, LifeonMars said:

Not to sure if you need negative test though if fully vaccinated with booster.

https://www.government.nl/topics/coronavirus-covid-19/visiting-the-netherlands-from-abroad/mandatory-negative-test-results-and-declaration/mandatory-when-travelling-from-a-high-risk-country

Found this on P&O Website, although any thing could change. 

https://www.pocruises.com/content/dam/po/pdfs/A-Z-destination-entry-requirements-guide-1-Feb-2022.pdf

VIEW THE GUIDE (PDF)

VIEW THE GUIDE (PDF)

5 hours ago, jcl410 said:

All -

 

 I'm planing my trip from London to Southampton to board the Queen Mary 2 on the 15th.  Our arrival time is at 1500. If we arrive early, is there any place at the Ocean terminal to wait indoors before getting the Covid test? If not, are there any good alternatives to wait after arriving at the train station? It looks like we'll be getting to Southampton at 1414. (South Western Railway has reduced the number of trains do to staffing issues (Covid related.) Right now, there is only one non-stop an hour from Waterloo.

 

Aloha,

 

John

I suggest on arriving at Southampton Central Station take yourselves and luggage to the terminal. From there you can check your bags in.  See  what the arrangements are and if necessary go and visit a local bar if you need to abide time.  Oxford Street not  far away to walk a few bars ),  also The Dancing Man Brewery and Kutis Indian Restaurant at Royal Pier by the Red Funnel Ferry entrance.