paulatsea

What a horrible thing to do to you at such short notice.

They should have offered you the option of a full refund or a suitable cabin change with obc / some money back or even a change of cruise.

Does this mean someone else has been given your cabin ? Or it was double booked ?

I think it’s totally out of order as it seems you (like us) carefully choose where your cabin is to avoid  noise etc.

good luck.

4 hours ago, Malcolm142 said:

Having just spoken to my TA she has given an explanation .

R403 was not originally made available to the public as a cruise. The time slot was reserved for a private  charter but it got cancelled. P&O then had 16 days to fill and so came up with R403N to Norway.

I think it  is a bit of a one off with an unusual itinerary which we were immediately attracted to when I saw it on Sunday.

We have now booked a balcony deluxe and also booked our excursions.

Looks a good itinerary  - way up to the top.

Interesting - I wonder who chartered the ship and for what reason ? 

I was on this as one as well.

Select price balcony B deck and second sitting dinner - table for 2.

Really enjoyed it.

great cabin and steward.

Good dinner table - wine waiter was a bit abrupt but service was very good.

Food was ok - good enough for us but not wow.

Horizon buffet was very good for breakfast and lunch. Always tables available and not manic.

breakfast in medina was great.

loved the crows nest for pre dinner drinks and they had a band on at 19:30 most nights or a pianist.

always had some nice background music on which is important to us.

everything worked and was in good repair.

Excursions were good - Porto was brilliant.

great to be back on Aurora again after about 3 years.

back onboard December 1st. Can’t wait.

ps we stayed the night before at the pilgrim inn in marchwood for a change - we usually stay at the holiday inn or the big pyramid one opposite.

it was a mistake - not good at all.

Back to the holiday inn for next one.

PPS parked with cps - all very efficient.

told to arrive at 14:30 for boarding but got there at 13:00 just to see what was happening and we were prepared to leave and come back if necessary.

joined the “early arrivals” queue and waited about 45 mins and then were allowed in.

very efficient check in and boarding.

another advantage of a smaller ship.

18 minutes ago, molecrochip said:

All planned and scheduled into current program. Unlike US lines, no cruises get cancelled to dry dock.

 

Britannia 5-21 April 2024

Arcadia 7-25 November 2024

Iona 13 March - 1 April 2025

Azura 7-27 March 2025 provisionally

Aurora 5-21 April 2025

Thanks molecrochip - do you know what the extent of the refits are ?

Just got off Aurora - all in good shape.

Great cruise. Good service. 

8 minutes ago, ParisHilton said:

Is it generally book early (18 months?) in advance for best price, prices creep up, plateau, then last few weeks prices come down, but not to early bird prices?

In my experience its not as predictable as that-

I have found the prices to be random. Can’t see any regular pattern.

From experience I know what a decent price is so if I see it I book it, if not I wait and see.

The best prices I have had so far are early bookings to the canaries - but that’s not always the case.

This is for p&o and Marella.

Saga is much more predictable - earlier the better but also a price guarantee obc credit if the price you paid is reduced.

don't know about other lines.

Had one on Oriana - in the pool - “guess how much I paid”  scenario.

I replied that we had paid the same(which was true).

I asked if he had a balcony - as we did.

Shattered look !

9 hours ago, Ardennais said:

I book all our cruises and pay for them. My husband sometimes asks on the way to Southampton how much I’ve paid, and to be honest, I can never really remember. 

Perfect wife !!! 

15 minutes ago, pete14 said:

The cost of our Aurora cruise in November is still showing much more than we paid for an early booking. No refunds for us I guess. ☹️

Same for me - December this year and November next year on Aurora to the Canaries  is nearly  £1000 more pp than we paid on our early booking.(select  + balcony + parking + obc)

Are these significant price changes does anyone know ? Are they for 2024/5 or for year as well ?

I’m amazed they are doing this ! What’s going on ?

3 hours ago, Chrisdriving said:

Booked another cruise on Arcadia for 2024 after the dry dock in November, chap who took the booking was adamant both Arcadia and Aurora have 10 years left with P and O due to their popularity with certain demographic of customer.

Cannot see it myself but would hope he is at least partly right in them both staying for a good while.

Both are having a huge amount spent on them in next refits for the benefit of P and O and it’s customers.

Long may they live !

Which cruise Chris ? Good price ?
I have been looking at some world cruise segments. 

e-sim would only be for mobile data on land at the various places you stop (or near enough to land for a signal).it won’t work at sea as you can only connect to maritime networks which are very expensive. If won’t connect to ships internet - it’s mobile data only.

I think you would be best to get a mobile package from your current supplier that includes all the countries you are visiting - e.g Vodafone allow you to use your uk data package allowance overseas depending on contract but you can get an extra one off package for n-days for countries not covered by your existing contract.

this is simpler and probably cheaper than an e-sim for just checking in back home.

ships internet packages that I have used are very poor and expensive.

I just wait until the next port of call and then use mobile data like you would in the uk.

In emergencies at sea if you need WiFi just get a pass for that day or part of that day.

5 minutes ago, andyS87 said:

That makes sense, thanks for explaining 

Thank you andyS87 - I hope you enjoy your holidays. Best wishes. 

2 hours ago, andyS87 said:

Tell your friend that I’ve recently booked a P&O cruise so was wondering about the dress code. Didn’t realise there were so many fellow cruisers who felt so strongly about how other people choose to dress, hence the question.

Dress code details are on the website.

16 hours ago, andyS87 said:

Why is everyone so emphatic about having to dress up on these nights and P&O taking a hard line with those who don’t?
 

I couldn’t care less what other people wear. When there’s no difference in the offerings in the restaurants on board it all seems rather pointless anyway.

You might not care - but others do - so perhaps consider what other passengers prefer.
A lot of people like a more formal atmosphere occasionally - some don’t -  but if you don’t want to adhere then go to a non formal restaurant/bar that night.

40 minutes ago, thornegirl said:

Onboard now, looking at my holiday app only 1 if the 4 bookings I’ve made is on there.  I’ve taken screenshots of my booking so will go down to reception after muster drill at 4pm. Not done one of those for years!  Had a lovely peninsular lunch with a couple of glasses of wine. In the crows nest having an elderflower fizz before we go to muster. 

Shambles ! Good luck at reception - be very interested to hear what they say. 

20 minutes ago, cruzadict said:

Hi Paul at sea, the food was delicious .  We didn't have a desert and the bill came to £40 for the 2 of us.

Thank you

4 minutes ago, cruzadict said:

We have just got off Aurora and couldn't book Sindhi prior to boarding but did it on app as soon as we boarded.  There was no cover charge, we just paid for the items we ordered.  Seems to change weekly 

Thanks - was it worth it ? Do you mind me asking how much you spent ?

Are the tables reasonably spaced for privacy (we will be a 2 if we make it !)

So my reservation made via myp&o might be overridden ?

Read somewhere else that it used to be a cover charge only , then changed to individual items , then cover charge which is removed from menu cost ! 

2 minutes ago, cruzadict said:

How can they take payment for Sindhu.  Thought each item was priced individually.

Maybe just the booking fee ? How does it normally work - booking fee and individual dishes ? I though it was just a cover charge that was extra and menu was included ?

10 minutes ago, thornegirl said:

Ive not had an email, but as the money has already gone out of my bank account I would think so.  

I’ve Booked !! Thanks for the tip . Email confirmation and it’s on my bookings.

This will be our first time in sindhu - heard it’s good. 

8 hours ago, thornegirl said:

I've just logged on to My P&O cruises to print off another luggage label and have noticed the dining booking for both Sindhu and the Beach House are available to book.  They have always been enquire onboard previously ,  The Glass House is still enquire onboard.  Lots of availability if anyone going on that cruise wanted to book now.  

 

I've booked a couple of dates as you get your Peninsular discount if you book prior to boarding.  

I’m on R317 - just had email saying cannot book in advance ! - but I also see Sindhu is bookable - do you think they will honour the booking ? As you have paid upfront I assume it’s yes. Interesting.

Thanks for posting - good news !

Just had 2 (duplicates) of these for my next cruise end of this month on Aurora . Ages 63 and 72.