CruiseTee

Most people in the US have private health insurance, which covers most of the things you mention above. When I've had to go to the medical center for treatment on a cruise, my health insurance covers it. If I were to have to go to the hospital while abroad, my health insurance will cover it. The UK has national health insurance, right? Maybe that's why it's mandatory to have travel insurance there.

I have yet another question about this cruise...LOL! As citizens of the US, do we need travel insurance? I looked on the P&O website and it seems that UK citizens must show proof of insurance before boarding. I went onto the P&O website and tried to purchase travel insurance, since it wasn't that expensive, but I am not able to because I have to have an address in the UK and I don't. Here in the US, travel insurance is optional and not mandatory for cruising. Thanks again to everyone...you have all been so helpful!

On the same note, what time will we be allowed to disembark when the ship returns? I believe it states the ship will arrive back at Southampton at 6am. I am guessing we would all have to be off the ship by 10am?

Does anyone know what the boarding times usually are for P&O? I'm trying to figure out what time to arrive in Southampton. I know most American cruise lines let you board at around Noon. Our ship leaves port at 6pm. Would getting there around 1pm be ok? Thanks again for everyone's great advice!

I just looked at it online. I think we are going to do that! Seems the cheapest way to go!

Thank you so much for the above information! I have yet to log into my P&O account, but will do so today! Looking forward to seeing you on board...I will be the one with the two college-aged girls in tow (and probably the only American!) LOL. Thanks for the wonderful advice everyone! I am pricing out private cars to get us to Southampton, but it's really expensive. Looking into the train option!

Thanks so much for all the comments! I am guessing that since it's the holiday week (we sail on April 12th-16th) that there will be a lot of families with children on board. I am just happy to be on the cruise and discover the two ports in Belgium and France. I'm going to book at Epicurean on the last night of the cruise, since it will be my daughter's 21st Birthday. Any ideas on the best way to get to the cruise port in Southampton from London? We will be staying there prior to the cruise. Private car? It's only about an hour away, right? I will definitely post a review here when I return. Thanks so much!

Wow! Thank you all so much for the wonderful advice! We are on a small, 4 night cruise on the Brittania that goes to Belgium and France. I have noticed that people from Europe and the UK do dress much nicer on cruises than us Americans! We have become the sweat pants generation over here, I'm afraid. LOL. I will make sure we pack some decent attire. Will there even be a formal night on such a short cruise, I'm wondering? Will the pool be open? Not sure if they have one of those retractable roofs. I have sailed on Cunard, Holland America (one of my favorites), Celebrity, Carnival, Oceania, Regent, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian and MSC. This will be my 23rd cruise. If anyone has any questions on any of these other lines, I'd be happy to answer! Excited to try P&O. I will try and snag a reservation at Epicurean (thank you Selbourne!)

Hi Everyone! I am from the US and just booked a cruise on P&O Brittania for mid April. My daughter and her friend are studying in Oxford and I thought it would be a nice Spring Break holiday for them. I have a few questions, I've cruised many times before but never on P&O. We are assigned Open Dining, I understand there are 3 main restaurants on board, do we just go to any one of them at anytime to eat? Any must see/eat/drink things aboard the Brittania I should know about? Thanks for any advice you can provide. We are excited for the cruise!

Thanks all! I will check on the roll call board.

We are sailing on the Nieuw Statendam for the September Canada cruise out of Quebec City. Many of the shore excursions are already sold out, does anyone know if HAL adds extra times/tours if they sell out quickly? Interestingly, I cannot even find one whale watching excursion that HAL offers for this entire cruise (8 days). Has anyone had any experience with whale watch excursions in Canada at the end of September, either through HAL or a separate company? This is something I was really looking forward to doing. Any other tips for this cruise would be great! We have sailed with HAL many times, but never this itinerary (Quebec to Boston). Thanks so much!