CRUISENSNOOZE

On 7/5/2022 at 11:52 AM, kelkel2 said:

Yes to this!! If it’s something like a bar drink that you get a receipt for you can add a tip on that, but last time I cruised there was no receipts that came with room service because you’re not paying for it, therefore no tip options. Cash is best for tips! 

I agree with Cabin Service etc, table service etc where it is freely given........BUT, I do not agree with Bar Service!!!...have you not checked your receipt?...there is usually a 15% service charge added to every drink, wine served.

The App only works when onboard the ship. Make sure your phone is on flight mode, so no accidental phone charges!!.

Our favourite eateries outside the 4 x MDR were The Olive Grove and The Beach House. We did try the Epicurean but it fell way short of an 'Experience'.

The 4 x MDR's...2 x small and 2 x large. All Iona MDR's are Freedom Dining which we love. We used the App a couple of times and were told we were i.e. 22 in line, but found we were called both times within about 10 minutes. We found it just as easy to walk to the MDR you have chosen and book in there. They ask how many on a table you would like to sit at. If you didn't mind whatever number (mainly 8), you were seated immediately.

18 hours ago, Amelia Noylam said:

Quick Question please, 

Do the shuttle buses run on a night-time when your ship is docked overnight in Barcelona, or would we need a taxi.

On Iona 5th November 2022 overnight, only ever done daytrips.

We were overnight in March from Iona. If I remember rightly the buses were only to about midnight..

Hiya and welcome to your first cruise...you will love it!

We have done both and much prefer flex/freedom dining.

1st, The main reason is I can eat when I want. Nothing worse if come off a tour and back in cabin you fall asleep and wake 20 mins before your sitting. One mad rush to get ready. There might be a show you want to see or have drinks with another couple you have met...then the choice is yours how you spend your evening.

2nd, Meeting the same people every evening can get a bit monotonous, especially if you have someone on the table who commands attention all the time!...meet so many more people by changing each night.

3rd, I feel like eating at the buffet tonight or another speciality restaurant. I can just go. Politeness is always to tell your table you won't be there the following night, but I didn't know then I fancied Buffet this evening!. Nothing worse than being on a table and you are waiting for a couple to turn up who didn't have the manners the night before to say they wouldn't be eating tonight with us.

Enjoy........Chris

CEO email is:   Sture Myrmel   Sturemyrmel@carnivalukgroup.com   Not sure if 1st letter is capital or not, so send to both email addresses (capital and lower case) to be sure.

12 hours ago, tring said:

 

Thanks. Can I assume you do have a blc then, rather than a defence card?  Sounds like P&O making a mistake regards their own rules, but we have come across that before.  Will ring next week and give it a try on a couple of cruises which we have booked direct 🙂

 

We have both cards BLC and Defence. We just gave both numbers and P&O told us which cruises could have additional OBC. Sorry don't know which one worked for which cruise.

14 minutes ago, tring said:

 

I have a new blue light card, (which I had not previously realised I was eligible for), but I understand you can only use it for OBC if claimed when booking.  The defence card is different and it is possible to claim the OBC at a later date, not only when a booking is made.  Hence, from what you say, I assume you have a defence card.

We have just claimed yesterday. One of the cruises we had already paid the balance. The other one is for January and that was purchased over a year ago. Just gave the guy both card numbers and told us which cruises they worked on. We have 4 booked, but only worked on 2, so still worth a go...

Just now, majortom10 said:

That is only for cruises booked direct with P&O and not those through a TA.

Oh I didn't realise...thanks for that.

Extra OBC???

If anyone has a BLC.....Blue Light Card. Available to anyone who has been in the NHS, fire brigade, Ambulance, Armed Forces etc. Also the other card ....  Defence Card.

Phone up P&O and give your booking refs of your cruises. We got and extra £150 OBC on 2 of our cruises...not to be sniffed at.

1 hour ago, Selbourne said:

Assuming that the 111 cabins contained 2 passengers each, that means that almost 6% of the passengers contracted Covid during the cruise, in spite of all the testing rigmarole. I’ve no idea how that compares to the other ships but it’s an interesting statistic. 

I know a few couples were in separate cabins, when one was positive and the other negative.

On 4/17/2022 at 3:51 PM, miaandmum said:

We are currently on Iona, along with around 4,500 others (figure quoted to me by staff at the terminal yesterday). While we were waiting for our covid test results to come through, there was a cordoned off section with about 25 people in who had tested positive.

 

This is the most miserable ship i’ve been on. I’ve not seen any laughter, crew don’t seem to want to engage. We’ve been barged out of the way by people rushing to get into the lift.  Zero social distancing. I could go on but I think you get the idea.  Lovely ship but a lot of rude people. 

We came off Iona about 3 weeks ago. There were 3800 on board which is 73%. By the end of the cruise 111 cabins were occupied with people who had tested positive during the cruise.

We must have been lucky as the ship was very 'happy' when we were on board. Staff smiling and very helpful. I would presume the staff get fed up with rude passengers, which is a shame that the few can spoil it for the rest.

On 3/14/2022 at 12:38 PM, TheGuv316 said:

im only doing a short 6 night in the Med 1st time with our daughter with us and prob wont even leave the ship so I fell we dont need it are they still insisting on it  ?

 

I would never travel without Travel Insurance on a ship. Fall down the stairs and need repatriation...I hope you have about £50,000 doing nothing to pay the bill. One visit to the doctor on board varies from £75 - £100 and that is just to be seen. I needed a tablet for a migraine...£80 for 1 tablet!. The last cruise we were on required travel insurance with a minimum of £2,000,000 for any medical treatment.  We have our bank insurance which covers for cruising. (NB cruising is not always covered by travel insurance)

22 hours ago, grapau27 said:

I agree with you Chris.

We booked another Iona cruise yesterday for next year and secured the same aft balcony cabin.

Graham.

We have booked 2 more for this year!! + 1 on (dare I say it)...MSC...

Chris

p.s. I think I saw your wife on board as saw her in one of your pics on another thread..

On 3/20/2022 at 6:46 PM, Alicop21 said:

Hello, I’ve just joined the community.

 

My wife and I sailed on Ventura (P&O) 13 years ago for our honeymoon and we haven’t sailed since.

 

we’ve got two kids now (9 and 7) and we have our first family holiday in 5 years booked on Iona for 7 nights in April.

 

We’ve been really excited but today I’ve read quite a few negative threads on here about the Iona (too big/bad food choice/the booking app isn’t great etc) and now I’ve got my first tingle of worry.

 

Can some people give me some hints and tips so we can avoid some of the first timer mistakes?

Just off Iona and you are in for a treat!!

Great ship...yes she is large but it didn't really feel it was...well, apart from when you had to walk the length of a corridor!! Her decor is very minimalist and scandi colours. There are 3 stairways and the 'art' is in different colours. Blue at the front, grey in the middle and red/blue at the rear. Can set up wifi once in terminal. Only warning, keep your flight mode on at all times on the ship so you do not incur any charges. The App works without data.

There were 4 different films each day at the 'cinemas' . These were also available on your TV in the cabin (which is a 50" screen!). One film each day was for the kids. Great little infinity pools around deck 8 for a different experience...has a glass side!

Ship is so good, we have booked 2 more cruises on her.....Enjoy...

Chris

On 3/25/2022 at 10:46 AM, PG101 said:

Great - thank you.  That's helpful.

Just back off Iona 14 night cruise. It was 12 smart casual and 2 black tie do's.

7 hours ago, Vampiress88 said:

Is there anywhere or anything people would recommend doing if we arrive down in Southampton a few hours early. 
we have 7&6 year old that need entertaining 

There is always Ikea!!  More or less opposite Gate 10. Could go to the cafe on the top floor and the kids will have a view of the ship.

23 minutes ago, Vampiress88 said:

And these covid tests. Am I right in thinking that all of us 2 adults and 2 kids need to do tests at the terminal (we’ve had both jabs and booster)

and the kids have to do an at home one 5 days before as they are 7&6?

Yes the dreaded tests are still being done at the moment (this could change). From dropping the car to getting on board took 3.1/4 hours!. Joined the queue and it wasn't too bad....took about an hour. Test was only the swab in one nostril. Then we went to a holding area inside and waited for our results. My husband and I had our test at the same time, but my results came through nearly 1/2 hour before his, which made the wait much longer. It was quite quick after that to get on board.

20 minutes ago, Vampiress88 said:

Peeps

 

thought you guys would know but what are the check in times usually on the arrival day and check out on departure 

 

is it usually about 12-3pm and then  9/10am ?

Hi, We have just come off Iona. Times aboard will vary. Your cruise line should tell you your time a couple of weeks before. Check out on departure started at 7am. This was for passengers who were taking their own cases off. Otherwise times varied from 8.15am to about 11am. Passengers who tested positive and were in quarantine cabins had to wait till the end and have heard one couple did not get off till 11.30am.

On 3/7/2022 at 1:14 PM, lilyafloat said:

Britannia probably appeals a bit more, but never having done this I'm open to almost anything. Not keen on lots of people around but I suppose it depends on how they flow around the ship, 2000ish sounds ok, 4000 to me personally sounds like a nightmare!

 

We may be able to push the dates to June and all of September depending on my son's university term dates. I really appreciate your help x

Hi, We have just got off a cruise on Iona today. When I booked, I was a bit worried due to the amount of passengers it takes....5200. Also I didn't tell my husband just how large Iona is... 185,000 tonnes!!, as he likes small ships. Anyway the day dawned and we went to Southampton with husband muttering "it's a bloody container ship/block of flats" etc etc. We found out due to covid measures there would be 3800 passengers on board..............   14 days later.

My husband is a total convert to the large ship now. I know there were only 3800 on board but the ship always felt so spacious and this was without the decks being used as it was too cold and windy. Getting on and off her on Port days seemed to be much quicker and most times there were 2 gangways open. The buffet areas worked much better and at no time was it hard to find a seat and I can't see it being a problem when she is full. The promenade deck is so wide there are seating areas around most of it with Alfresco dining. Freedom dining is in all the 4 MDR's plus all the other various dining outlets.

Would we go on Iona again?....yes and we have already booked 2 further cruises on her.

Chris

On 3/18/2022 at 4:02 PM, smj777 said:

It has always bothered me that P&O don't povide a shuttle bus into Gibraltar. Neither I nor my wife can walk as far as the town and there are usually queues for taxis so we tend to stay onboard in Gib.

 

Just back from a cruise which included Gib. There is a bus service from the port as someone has just mentioned. £4 single...sorry don't know if they do a return. We found most ports that needed a shuttle ride the cost P&O charged was £4.00 (less % depending on the tier you are with P&O). In Barcelona we were there for 2 days. They charged for the first 2 rides and then it was free for any additional trips taken. The cost of shuttles is included in the select fare,  but I would realistically work out how much this could cost me as my saving on the last cruise would only have been £40 each. 

15 hours ago, NorbertsNiece said:

 

Between you and me ok? Pastry chef tested positive. Exec chef Raj has been making pastry!

Oh bliss..just need the Chocoholic evening now!

Chris

4 minutes ago, Spike11 said:

That might have been the case in the past, but not for the last few years. I have been able to apply at least a year before the cruise. The only stipulation is that it must be at least 3 weeks before the cruise. Applying 25 days before would be cutting it a bit fine, I think!

Oh, never had a problem...yet. Just done it for our cruise this weekend, without any problems.

17 minutes ago, otbc said:

Do you know if there are many positive cases onboard? I've not really seen much info (I get why they'd want to keep it quiet!) about whether there have been many/any cases on ships recently...

 

My OH has a fear of flying, so the risk of being disembarked is really, really putting us off!

We are due on Iona this weekend. We are taking enough Lateral Flow Kits with us. We will do a test on the morning of each port and if test positive..we won't be doing the ships test. We will stay quiet and stay in our cabin. Lesser of 2 evils I'm afraid.

47 minutes ago, Spike11 said:

I saw today that Carnival Corporation have on there website published shareholder benefits for cruises up to July 31st 2023. I duly sent my e-mail to the shareholder benefits team asking for OBC to be applied for my late 2022 and 2023 cruises, only for them to say that the benefits for the period beyond July 2022 have yet to be published!! I have send them a link to Carnival Corporation website and await their response!

 

I always thought you could not apply for OBC until 25 days before the cruise. We emailed our last cruise 23 days before  and OBC was applied within 5 working days.

52 minutes ago, davecttr said:

About 2 to 3 days for me. I use Equinity so just email my details including shareholder reference.

We use Barclays for our shares. P&O replied to us within 5 working days. Our cruise is this Saturday and it shows the OBS has been added.

Emails to:   shareholderbenefits@carnivalukgroup.com