RobboM

We have cruised with both RCL and P&O and found them not too dissimilar. RCL ships are a bit more glitzy - wave riders and ice rinks etc. - however P&O is less expensive for drinks and speciality meals, and have more choices for cruises out of Southampton. We like both! (We haven’t been on any of the really big RCL ships though). 

Yes we did this on a recent ish cruise. We just asked for a table for 8 and waited a short while until one became free that they hadn’t already started seating people at. We didn’t wait too long. 

On 5/31/2020 at 10:17 AM, RobboM said:

Yes - it’s the same for us. We cancelled on 14 March but we are still waiting! 11 weeks now! 

A quick update - I have received both my refund and FCC this morning (2 June). My patience has been rewarded! 😉

14 hours ago, Strongbox said:

77 days today and still waiting patiently!!

Yes - it’s the same for us. We cancelled on 14 March but we are still waiting! 11 weeks now! 

Thanks. Any idea what time they start giving out tickets?

We arrived at Gatwick at 11:45 and my recollection is that they started giving out coach numbers around 12:15, although there were many people already waiting there for the coaches.

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We have used the transfer coach from Gatwick to Southampton on a TA and tickets were handed out on a first come first served basis. There can be as many as 10 coaches travelling down to the port, they fill up one at a time and depart when full.

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And here is where it says you can use the card on your next cruise:-

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Latest info from Rhapsody of the Seas:-

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On the website it says ‘up to’ 25% off! Also in the T&Cs there are many types of excursions that are excluded! It’s just another way of getting your attention!

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Nope! - we were in the economy seats near the back! [emoji41]

...... and I wasn't driving either! [emoji41]

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Hi, We flew back from Barbados this morning on a Dreamliner. The first meal was a chicken & mushroom pie, potatoes and veg, roll, cheese and biscuits, & carrot cake. The second meal was a breakfast - omelette, sausage, beans and potatoes. In my humble opinion the food was quite nice! [emoji106]

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We are on this cruise too Mike. In previous years there have been 8-10 coaches leaving from Gatwick for Southampton, and as each coach fills up they leave. Therefore previously it was staggered departures between about 10.30 and 11.00 am, and the coaches departed from the Gatwick South bus & coach stop area. I hope this helps a little! I guess P&O will let us have full details for this year in due course! Rob

I paid on line last week and although I didn't get an instant email confirming payment, I did get an updated booking confirmation the following day. This had been updated to show that I had now paid in full. I hope this helps. Rob

We've had Sue Holderness twice and Tom O'Conner twice, and last year we had a guy talking about famous murders / murderers and how modern technology could have helped with the cases. Some good, some less so!

Hi, Could it be that the rumors heard refer to the US's proposed changes to their Visa Waiver Programme? This mentions the need for 'e-passports' which sounds, to me, like an enhanced form of the current ESTA.

See: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-34972383

Rob

I use the WMS Cellular at Sea/901-18 cellphone service. I'm on Celebrity Eclipse and can find the service ok but my O2 phone won't connect to it (it has done so before many times on this ship). Has anyone else experienced this? I believe that the issue is with o2, not the ship or WMS but o2's online "gurus" are completely useless and can only suggest the most basic things such as restarting the iPhone. Does anyone have any ideas?

I was on this cruise and had exactly the same problem. I have an Iphone on a monthly contract as well. The phone worked well in Boston & New York but would not work on board the Eclipse. I even received a text from O2 telling me the charges for using the Cellular at Sea service! I have also tried talking to O2 and their Guru service without any success at all! Rob

We had several invoices too. I phoned RCCL to check and it appears that they first had to add on the gratuities (2nd invoice) and once they had been added they could then apply the free gratuities and the drinks package (3rd invoice). Apparently it is a manual rather than an automated process! Rob

We were told that the accounts team are running behind and they expected the new invoices to be completed by mid- August. We have recently had our updated invoice through, so they are wading through their backlog! I hope this helps! Rob

Interesting, really didnt think there would be so many kids on a TA.

We were on Azura going the other way in March/April last year and there were probably only half that number on board. To be honest we didn't even notice there were that many until we saw a pirate parade!

We are a bit port'd out to be honest, certainly as far as the caribbean and the med goes, know them all back to front and often stay on the ship.

 

We have a new one next week "Basseterre" in the caribbean but we tend to find they are all much of a muchness.

Yes I tend to agree. We are stopping at St Kitts in a couple of weeks which is somewhere we have not been to before, but we have been to most of the 'normal' ports.

We do tend to see the ports as the added bonus nowadays!

We have done both and enjoyed both (on P&O and RCCL). I tend to agree that it all depends on your perspective.

If you see a cruise as being specifically about the ports you visit and you want more than half a dozen calls in two weeks, than perhaps a TA won't be too far up your list.

However if you see a cruise as being more about the ship being the destination, and visiting a few ports as an added bonus, then you may well enjoy a TA.

A TA tends to be a more relaxing 'get away from everything' no phone, no rushing, type of break. Whereas the 10-12 stops in 14 days Med or Caribbean cruise can be quite hectic and not so much of a relaxing time - still really enjoyable though!

Horses for courses!

Hi, we have been on 6 cruises on P&O and 6 on RCI, and to be honest we have loved them all! We like the glitz of RCI just as much as we like the elegance of P&O. The OP is right to say that RCI is now more expensive particularly when you add on the more expensive tips and drinks. But like others have said - it depends what you want out of your cruise. My advice would be to give P&O a try but don't expect the glitz! You won't find an ice rink and climbing wall, but you will find great places like the Glass House and East / Sindu! We love them all! Rob!

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That wink bothers me. Do I have to leave my clothes on the ship? :eek:

We used the ferry when we went to Grenada and thought it was a very quick and easy way to get to the beach (no wink this time!) - I would perhaps not recommend it for the less mobile though! :cool:

Grand Anse beach is a good place to spend the day.

I agree, and when we went there was a little ferry that took you direct from the port over to Grand Anse! Nice beach! ;)