Valfan

I was on Iona last week. I too felt like a newbie again as it was 3 years + 4 months since my last cruise. But I had a brilliant time. I'd forgotten how much I loved cruising, and the ship was absolutely stunning. The member of staff when I first stepped onboard told me where my muster station was and said I should watch the safety thing on my cabin TV.  But I didn't have to go to the muster station. Then she pointed me in the direction of the priority lunch venue, which was the Pearl restaurant. A few minutes later I was sitting with a glass of wine, chatting to people about cruising. And it was as if I'd never been away from it all.

4 hours ago, jessybell said:

think I saw that Princess Cruises are changing their pre-embarkation covid test policy.  If they are saying expensive tests not necessary, why can’t P&O…all under same umbrella!

Where do P&O ask for expensive tests? Their website says: "Adequate tests include over the counter tests, providing they meet the criteria below.... if guests have any remaining NHS tests, these would be accepted." You can't get any cheaper than leftover NHS ones that are still in date. 

2 hours ago, bbtablet said:

I read a lot about Geurnsey visits being abandoned due to a combination of poor weather and the need for tendering. Some have suggested there is only a 50/50 chance of getting in.

Ventura regularly has Geurnsey as its last stop on the way home, and I am on such a cruise next month.

Can those who have been unfortunate enough to have lost this stop in the past say whether any OBC compensation is offered please?

tai

I'd have settled for a 50/50 chance. I've only had a 20% success rate with cruises scheduled to visit Guernsey - been booked on 5 (from memory at least 3 of them were on Ventura), but only got there once. On all 4 failed attempts we just had an extra day at sea. No OBC compensation was due as the missed port was due to bad weather - although the first time it happened we were looking out the window at a very calm sea, a proverbial millpond, when the announcement was made.

6 hours ago, Cruiser5137 said:

I'm thinking of forming a new and, from reading many of these comments, what I imagine will be a rather elite club. It'll be called the 'I did an Iona cruise to Norway and got to all four ports!' club. 

I'm booked on Iona for 3 weeks time. For over 3 years now I've thought about all I'd look forward to on my longed-for return to cruising. Now that it's nearly here, after reading many of these comments, I find myself thinking, "I'm really excited to get back to cruising and try Iona. I wonder where I'll actually go." 

8 hours ago, Fionboard said:

OK if you want an inside, but I always have a balcony. Cannot see supplements removed from them any time soon!

I've just clicked on the link and started dummy bookings for 1 passenger for a couple of the dates given, and it is the same price for a solo passenger as for double occupancy for Seaview, Balcony etc. So it looks to be a great deal. It's just my luck that I've recently got fed up waiting for cruising to go back to anything like normal and have booked a coach tour. So I'll be away either during or just a day or two before or after nearly all the cruises included in the Solos deal. There's people who seem to be lucky in life and then there's me!

1 hour ago, terrierjohn said:

If you can use a pc or laptop to post on this forum and do internet searches, then you have all the expertise needed to do the same on a smart phone, and the P&O "App" is actually only a webpage, just like the CC forum, so you can already access one of these.

I've lost count of how many times I've tried getting a smartphone. At least 5 times. I just can't use them. I never got as far as trying "apps", whatever they are. I just knew smartphones aren't for me. So each time I took the thing back, well within the 14 days cooling off period. Usually first thing the morning after buying it, cos I just wanted to get rid of it out of my life. My eyesight isn't up to reading on such a small screen either nowadays. I only have this laptop because a Carers charity received a lot of funding at the start of the pandemic to supply brand new laptops and provide funding for data to family carers (which I was at the time) who were completely trapped at home looking after relatives without their usual hour or two a week online to check emails etc. at their local library. The library near me closed its doors for 15 months when Covid came along.

10 hours ago, Devon Lady said:

I understand that there is a potential 10% reduction for b2b  bookings, but am unsure if this applies if booking the second one at a later date or if it only applies when booked together. I will be telephoning P&O tomorrow, but given how difficult it is to get through, I was wondering if anyone had managed to achieve the discount when booking B2B separately, so I am aware before I ring?

 

 

I added a second cruise months later and got the 10% reduction on both cruises a couple of times over the years. I've not cruised for a few years now, due to full-time caring and then Covid came along. But hopefully the same will still apply for you. Good luck.

1 minute ago, wowzz said:

Stick them all on Ebay  - you might be surprised as to their value! 

It was the post about the one at £29 on eBay that prompted me to look them all out! But when I checked for actual Sold listings, there were just a few that had fetched £2 or £3, so the £29 one will probably stay listed with no takers. It was lovely to have a rummage amongst my P&O stuff though. It made me realize how much I miss cruising, after more than 3 years out of the game.

6 hours ago, Denarius said:

The only time I recall having received a P&O lapel pin was when I was elevated to the Baltic Tier. Could be because I went from Gold in the Portunas to Caribbean in the Peninsular, and you only get them on "promotion". It is still in its little bag unopened. Can't see the point of them myself, and have never seen anyone wear one.

I went from Gold in Portunus club to Caribbean in Peninsular Club too. Then I did quite a lot of cruising upon early retirement, and found myself in the Baltic tier, which I never expected to reach. I remember receiving lapel pins, though like you I never wore them or saw anyone else doing so. On reading this thread, I decided to have a rummage amongst my P&O souvenirs. So far I've found 8 Caribbean pins, all in little blue cloth bags, 3 Baltic ones in little cardboard holders, and a round blue badge for P&O's 175 years Grand Event.

9 hours ago, sparky5942 said:

I don't get why people feel the need to drive miles out of their way to get an in person test when they can do it on line or through an app.

A lot of people, myself included, don't have a smartphone, have never seen an app, and don't feel confident doing very much online. I also don't have the option to drive miles to get an in person test, as I don't drive either. So I've been in limbo while this edict for passengers to "organize, book and pay for" pre-cruise testing has been going on. 

What website can you track the ships on? I know people who are on one of P&O's ships at the moment but don't know where to look to follow their progress. I'm not much of a one for all this technology nowadays, but always willing to have a bash!

11 hours ago, gsmt47471015 said:

I personally do not feel any stigma(  I'm a think skinned Yorkshireman) ,but after overhearing many conversations in public places, the buffet in particular and the mdr  some peoples perceptions of an inside  cabin,  and the people who use them are less than complimentary , no offence was meant or intended to those who prefer not to use one🙂

On most of my 35 P&O cruises I've had an inside cabin by choice as I don't like a window I can't open. And I'm not keen on heat, so I can keep my inside cabin at a nice constant cool temperature. The twice when I was upgraded to an outside there was a constant game between me and the cabin steward - he kept opening the curtains to see what he was doing and I kept closing them to keep the sun out. The twice when I took a balcony cabin - once to try it cos it was very little extra compared to an inside, and the last time I cruised when it was literally cheaper than an inside cabin - I honestly never used the balcony. Both times I popped outside on the last day just to have a look. I took a photo of it and tried sitting on the chair for a few minutes. But it was cold and windy and there was packing to get on with, so I went back indoors a bit sharpish. I guess I'm just an inside cabin sort of person.

34 minutes ago, zap99 said:

Any information is welcomed. 8 weeks till our next cruise. Hopefully no tests by then.

I hope you're right about no tests by then. But, according to my TA (the well known one) when I mentioned the new testing policy to her on the phone last month, P&O expected it to be in place "at least until October this year, and they'll review it and make another announcement then if any change." I live in hope of an earlier change. But, if not, I'm getting very used to this "living without cruising" lark. Someone wrote on here a while back "The longer I go without cruising, the less I miss it". And I must admit, that's me now as well.

2 hours ago, Selbourne said:

Excellent news. On the basis that I would not be visiting the medical centre (well, not intentionally) that now means no compulsory mask wearing anywhere on board. Hallelujah. Those who wish to continue to wear them can continue to do so if they wish. As it should be IMHO. 

Hallelujah indeed! Mind you, they'll reserve the right to re-introduce them at the drop of a hat no doubt. But we're getting there. Very slowly, but hopefully surely. And there's still this new testing business that started last week too - pick a testing company, any testing company, even though you don't know any of them from Adam; and make sure you take the test the day before your cruise sails, even though you haven't a clue where you'll be the day before the cruise sails. Eh, no thanks, I'll just wait even longer to restart cruising. 3 years and 18 days and counting.

12 hours ago, BouncingWheel said:

And you are surprised if the P&O website is not totally up to date!

Actually not sure about Medical Centre but the other 2 are definitely now only recommended.

 

No, I'm not surprised in the least. I'm just trying to find out what is actually happening onboard P&O ships now, in real life, from people who are currently onboard or who have recent experience of P&O protocols. I'm over 400 miles from Southampton, and have just gone into my 4th year with no cruising, so any info I can glean is much appreciated. It just seems odd that in all the emails and paperwork I get from P&O, and all the glances I give their website, there's no mention of them dropping mask-wearing.

15 hours ago, RaspberryCremeBrulee said:

Has anyone heard if P&O Cruises will be celebrating the Queens platinum jubilee on board ships sailing from Southampton?

We have not seen or heard anything re our sailing so far and, haven't noticed any related thread in CC.

I would expect P&O to celebrate the Jubilee in good style - unless things have changed drastically in the 3 years since I last cruised (full-time caring for my parents and then Covid came along). I've been onboard over the years for things like big anniversaries of VE Day, a previous Jubilee etc. and they really went to town, putting on special shows, and sticking red, white and blue balloons and union flags up all over the ship. We even all got a free glass of bubbly and stood for a loyal toast at dinner on Oriana the evening after Prince George was born.

7 hours ago, BouncingWheel said:

Correct. No masks in P&O theatres (unless you want to of course)

Well if that's the case no one has updated the P&O website. It still says masks must be worn in the cinema, theatre and medical centre onboard.

3 hours ago, yorkshirephil said:

And of course there is Will Young and the deep fry song, it doesn't matter how many times I hear it always sounds like "I think I want to deep fry now"

I know what you mean. No matter how many times I hear Neil Diamond's song, I'm always sure he's singing about the Reverend Blue Jeans.

On 4/19/2022 at 2:41 PM, ShelaghL said:

By the way we have cruises booked up to and including 2024.  I have had emails from P&O in regards to all booked cruises up to February 2024 in regards to needing to self test the day before, but not the ones for summer/autumn 2024, so this testing may be around for a while, but lets hope not.

According to my travel agent (the well known one) on the phone yesterday, P&O have told them the new testing regime is likely to go on until October this year, and they'll look at it again before then and let the travel agencies know what's to happen. Hopefully they'll let the rest of us know their plans too.

4 hours ago, 2BACRUISER said:

Its beginning to be a bit farcical now especially since on land there are no restrictions whatsoever and you can mingle in a busy shopping mall, cinema or theatre or concert. 

I couldn't agree more - except to point out that it began to be farcical a long time ago. It's now at the stage of being ridiculous, unbearable, illogical, call it what you will. But, whatever it's called, I won't be joining in their game or jumping through their hoops. And I won't be alone.

16 hours ago, Fionboard said:

Cruises are 10 nights and 4 so probably why no discount. Also used my FFC and OBC from Arcadia cancellation for this booking.

That explains it. It used to have to be 7 nights or more, and now I read on here that it's 5 nights or more. So a 4 night cruise added to any other one would never have qualified for consecutive cruise discount.

6 hours ago, tring said:

Do P&O still give a discount for back to back bookings and if so what are the criteria?  I think it applied to all cruises over seven nights, but I am not sure of that. 

 

Also if we book the cruises at different times, does the discount still get applied to the cruise which was booked first - do they change the pricing on that as well as give a discount on the newly booked cruise?

It applied to any cruises over 7 nights when I booked at launch for Sept - Oct 2022 (now moved to Sept - Oct 2023 in the hope of more normal cruising). So the rule change to any over 5 nights is something I didn't know about until reading this thread. Always good nuggets of information on CC!

As for booking the B2Bs at different times, I can't speak for recent times. But my first B2B was when I took early retirement in 2012. I had booked one cruise at launch many months before. Then, when I found I was definitely getting the leaving package at work, I added another cruise to it, and got the 10% off both no problem.

5 hours ago, Fionboard said:

I recently booked two cruises back to back, select price but got no discount on 2nd cruise. 

Were they P&O cruises? Cos they definitely give the 10% off both select price cruises, as long as one isn't for less than 5 days. I've done several B2Bs over the years and always got it off both - even one time when the two cruises were booked months apart, and a couple of times on 2 different P&O ships, as long as one came back and the other went out on the same day. I had a back to back booked with them in recent times as well, with the 10% off both cruises. But with all the free flexible transfers I've done lately, they have morphed into other bookings with no back to back element.

5 hours ago, BouncingWheel said:

In July 2021 we have booked and paid a deposit for a Jan 2023 cruise. My understanding is that this is currently covered by the original rules (not the current flexible rules which run for 2022) and for our cruise you can only move it once and to a higher price cruise that is no later than 12 months of the original (6 if it is a world type cruise). 

I believe that we have up until we pay the balance to decide whether to make that 1 move without incurring a loss of deposit but cannot find that nugget of information.

We want to leave it until late summer to give the chance of the cruise to go ahead with "near normal conditions" but would love the find the official date that we can leave it before making that decision if someone could point us in the right direction!

No, a booking you made in July 2021 is not covered by the original rules (when it had to be a higher price cruise, sailing within 12 months etc.) because the free flexible transfer policy came in very soon after the pandemic began and it replaces the old rules completely. I've lost count of how many times I've transferred bookings since May or June 2020. P&O could revert back to the old rules at the drop of a hat. But after nearly 2 years of the free flexible transfer policy, and with P&O going backwards with their new testing edict etc., I can't see it going any time soon. Same as I can't see me going back to cruising any time soon with all their restrictions.

9 hours ago, Presto2 said:

Thanks the one we have seen says not so may be in an out of date version. 

Have just has a good look and found it under their new flexible transfer policy.  

You are right  . Thank you

There isn't an out of date version of the free flexible transfer policy. I took a note of all the details - move to any cruise, any price, any date, any length etc. in the very early days of the pandemic - when P&O were dragging their heels over "extending their pause" and insisting that I either moved my booking or paid the full balance on a long cruise that had no earthly chance of sailing later in 2020. And their free flexible transfer policy was exactly the same then as it is now nearly 2 years later.