Edith1950

Excellent news for you and your family.

That’s really good news and she must be improving to be allowed to fly which must be a relief for you and your family.

21 hours ago, Megabear2 said:

I guess I should have known better. I don't as a rule do any social media, this forum is the only place I comment.  Everyone is entitled to a view, that's fine but I can't understand the almost joy some are taking in attacking.

Sorry I’m a bit late to comment on the awful situation you found yourself in and then the unwarranted comments you have had to endure. First of all how is your Aunt and how are you?

Like you I don’t do any social media, only very recently on this forum. I was most grateful for all the time and trouble you took highlighting the insurance situation and the excellent advice which I took and was able to clarify my position with my travel insurance company. You didn’t have to tell us all what you had found but I gathered you are a very kind and caring person and wanted to let as many people know, which is the same as sharing your recent experience so as many people as possible are forewarned should they find themselves in the same unfortunate position. Please don’t let a minority stop you posting anything that will inform so many of us. Take care.

Personally for us this is not a good move as we both got Covid  from our Ventura cruise. Fortunately we had our double booster in April so wouldn't like to think how we could feel even worse than we are. Really upset as it's the first time we have had covid despite us taking extra precautions during the cruise.

15 hours ago, ccpm said:

You have now found the entry but for others it is £10 to book deducted from final bill and an overall discount on the final bill for booking early unless that has changed from December 2021. I found even with all that it was more expensive than before when it was a surcharge of £15-£20. I for one would much rather it was like Epicurean a set fee but only go once if that since Atul Kucher's time as i prefer, if offered, just to do the sea day lunch time tiffin.

Yes it should have  said what I had found espeically as  I started the thread askingfor help, thank you David for jolting me, and yes I think I preferred the set surcharge. This is what I found when clicing on Details.

 

A £10 per person reservation charge is required to secure your reservation. For Sindhu bookings made via My P&O Cruises, a 20% discount will be applied to all food items, and the prepaid reservation charge deducted from your bill.

Just re read the Speciality Dining and sorry P&O you did make it clear as  I should have clicked on Details where it is absolutely clear.

16 minutes ago, Orianababes said:

Hello

i have something in the back of my mind saying that you pay a deposit and that is deducted from final bill. Emphasising that it’s a faint memory and not to be relied upon

Thank you, that seems to make sense as both the Epicurium and the Beach House have supplements on some dishes while Sindhu has a price by all dishes. So by booking prior to going it ensures you have a booking.  I just wish P&O would make it more clear unless I missed that part!

I'm going on the Ventura next month and looking at booking Sindhu. Through my CP the price is £10 but I thought you paid per dish. Surely you don't pay £10 plus per dish? Can anyone clarify this for me who has recently been on the Ventura.

6 minutes ago, Vampiress88 said:

I remember the buffet was Verona and Venezia. 
 

it’s what the beach house used to be. Thought it was trattoria or something 

Yes you’re right they were and I think still are the names for the buffet, but then I could be wrong. Now it’s bugging me as to what is was called especially as we went there quite a lot. 

I think this is probably the best advice rather than relying on whether the guidance has been updated.    
 

We are asking the European Commission to clarify the 10-year rule. Their guidance for Schengen border guards may not be updated until the spring of 2022. Until then, for some Schengen countries your passport may need to be less than 10 years old during your whole visit, and the 3 months at the end of your visit may need to be within 10 years of your passport’s issue date.

 

Just copied this off the GOV.UK website which was updated 20 April 2022 still current 1 May 2022.

Check your passport and travel documents before you travel

Check with your travel provider to make sure your passport and other travel documents meet their requirements.

Passport validity

If you are planning to travel to an EU country (except Ireland), or Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino or Vatican City, you must meet the Schengen area rules.

Your passport must meet 2 requirements. It must be:

• less than 10 years old on the day you enter (check the ‘date of issue’)
• valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave (check the ‘expiry date’)

We are asking the European Commission to clarify the 10-year rule. Their guidance for Schengen border guards may not be updated until the spring of 2022. Until then, for some Schengen countries your passport may need to be less than 10 years old during your whole visit, and the 3 months at the end of your visit may need to be within 10 years of your passport’s issue date.

Check both the issue date and the expiry date in your passport. If you renewed your passport early, extra months may have been added to its expiry date. This could affect the requirement for your passport to be less than 10 years old.

Contact your travel provider or embassy of the country you are visiting if you think that your passport does not meet both these requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.

 

4 hours ago, Vampiress88 said:

yes I would agree with that. It’s just not the food type that we normally eat really but for the amount of money we paid for the cruise then it’s worth it. Probably why we ended up at the grill or the buffet. I think olive grove and that boardwalk on the iona will end up better for us. 
 

does anyone remember what the Italian was called on azura back in 2011? Having a debate with hubby 😂 

Verona.

Because of the 3 June being a Bank Holiday I spoke to Boots to ask about the instore testing and was told they only do tests in the morning at my nearest store. I then checked with my travel agent about the within 24 hours and was told it meant the day before. They were about to have their daily call with P&O and I asked her to point out the within 24 hours was misleading, and also I would be happy to pay at the port for the test. I did try a dummy booking, as I'm too earlyt o book for June, they only had from the 4 to 10 May and it was all booked. I do hope P&O take into consideration that we don't all live on the doorstep of testing sites.

When I started this thread I was concerned about unvaccinated passengers on board and as the day progressed with emails from P&O which clarified the vaccination policy but then threw up the new testing policy. I'm grateful to all of you for your contributions and giving me tips of organising the tests. I decided this morning to phone my local Boots and Lloyds pharamacies, Boots don't do it but Lloyds said I could only book it online. I don't know why I asked the question would they be open on the 3 June to which the reply was NO as it was a Bank holiday. Now I don't know what to think as what is supposed to be a relaxing time away has given me stress.

I've just received a email regarding my cruise in November with a Important Update that they have extended their vaccination policy to include all holidays on sale. For many reasons I am pleased about that but no email regarding the June one. June one was booked in November 2020 and the November one in May 2021. I think I'm going to have to rereard my emails regarding testing but thank you Megabear for pointing it out. Also hope you are fully recovered now.
 

I've no idea but obviously concerned as infection rates are still high. I was only checking the website as my cruise is only 7 weeks away and wanted to make sure that I had everything that was required.

I have already received a email from CPS for my June cruise advising me that the Carnival drive through testing is closed. I haven't had a update as to whether tests will be carried out at the terminal.

Is it P&O's policy that from the 1 May 2022 to allow unvaccinated passengers on board departing from Southampton. Reading the current policy which ends 30 April 2022 underneath was line stating:

All other P&O Cruises sailings on sale do not currently require guests to be vaccinated.

I think that the onus is on me/us to inform them as you would with any change to your health. As I started to reply Megabear2 replied and has advised everyone to tell your insurance company about any change whatsoever however minor it may be. I really appreciate all your help.

Thank you Megabear2 for highlighting this problem and all the work you have done. On Monday I emailed my Travel Insurance Company Barclays Travel Pack. I quoted P&Os updated T&Cs of 12 January 2022 and asked the 3 questions you advised with a Yes or No answer. The reply I received today didn't reply in the way I had asked. What I found interesting was that if one or both of us had tested positive for Covid in the past 12 months we wouldn't be covered and would need to speak to the Risk Assessment Team to be assessed if we could be covered. Thinking on this is probably the same as normal when you have a change in your health you have to inform them. Luckily we haven't had Covid but I'm not sure if we had and recovered in say a week or two would I have thought it necessary to inform them as it is not a permanent condition. In the email a Travel Pack policy booklet was sent but it's the same as I have December 2020 and obviously doesn't take into account of where we are now. The email received is as follows:

Thank you for your recent contact request form.

 I can confirm if an insured person tests positive for Covid-19 on a trip, the policy provides medical cover to £10,000,000 per person. This is providing there has not been a positive test result within the last 12 months which we have excluded from cover. If somebody has tested positive, please call our medical risk assessment team on 0800 158 2688 who will assess if we are able to cover Covid-19.  

 

The insurance will also provide cover for additional travel/accommodation expenses until you can get home if you are in self-isolation. If the whole family need to self-isolate due to being a close contact, we will provide cover for each insured person. If the whole family is not required to self-isolate, we will cover an adult to stay with a child. 

 

To request a confirmation of cover document should the cruise company ask for it please follow the link below. You will be asked to create a password before submission at the bottom of the form, please take a note of this.

 

https://www.aviva.co.uk/barclaystravelproof

 

Yours Sincerely,