loveheart

1 minute ago, darknightsdespiser said:

So my Mum will have to cancel her cruise and lose all the money or buy a smartphone she will never use again?

She could go to a chemist for a test and get a paper certificate

3 minutes ago, darknightsdespiser said:

Can you do more than one person on the same smartphone/email?

I'd like to know that too. We are travelling with an 83 year old who doesn't have a smart phone.

3 minutes ago, crompton21 said:

The current system doesn’t allow you to cheat and yet cases still manage to get on board. Isn’t it likely that the risk of it getting onboard from the test not detecting correctly is far greater than the risk of a minuscule amount of people cheating.

 

 

Six of one and half a dozen of the other I would say.

10 minutes ago, molecrochip said:

You will only have one test sent to you by the testing company. So if you test positive at 24 hours out, you won't have time to order another one, receive it, and upload a negative result. Hence the 24 hour requirement.

You don't have to test using the test you have been sent. I have lots of home tests. If I was going to cheat I would use a test I have and then get someone else to take the one I have to upload.

2 minutes ago, molecrochip said:

Yes, that would work.

 

Generally, you enter details of person when you order. Before going test you activate the profile by matching test number to profile. Then you upload result.

Following on from your post,  people can self test at home with one kit then if they are positive they  can get someone who has just tested negative to take the test for them. There is so much more chance of someone with Covid being on the ship with this method than if you were tested at the docks.

No one can book an on site test until they know what their boarding time is and we won't know that until about 3 weeks before we cruise.

1 minute ago, Yorkypete said:

You go on the NHS app and fill in your details inc the number on the test. They then send you a certificate in text to show and print out.

The home test isn't a NHS one but from what I've read NHS tests aren't allowed anyway.

2 minutes ago, Yorkypete said:

A lot of people have a couple of these test kits  and they are acceptable with the certificate you can obtain. We are using one for our coach trip down to Southampton as it is required by the coach company. It is not an easy task to obtain the necessary paperwork etc when you are travelling. We leave on a Sat morning at 5am and the test has to be done sometime on the Friday.  Embarkation time is an early essential as at least one of our choices for the test is nearly booked up already, five weeks before we go.  They also say the tests are available at just a few Boots branches and at Lloyds pharmacies only subject to availability of staff and tests, and are not guaranteed to be available.

 

We've got home testing kits but where would we get a certificate from? 

2 minutes ago, yorkshirephil said:

That means you meet the vaccination requirements, the testing requirements are in addition to them

I see. What a pain. The testing centres will be run off their feet in Southampton. Not to mention the additional cost to us all.

1 minute ago, darknightsdespiser said:

The latest email is very clear, test needs done within 24 hours; impossible to book until we know our boarding time!

Why does is also say if you are jabbed and boosted you are eligible to travel.

Everyone is so confused by this email but my understanding is you don't have to test if you are jabbed and boosted. It's just so unclear on the email. If anyone gets through to P&O can they let us know once things are clarified.

18 hours ago, icsys said:

 

 

I'd love to know who the TA is.

 

This is how I see it: If outside final payment and YOU decide to cancel, then yes you will lose the deposit because at this stage the cruise is still going ahead. You will probably lose the cost of the hotel and flights too if booked independently.

 

June is a long way off. Personally I would pay the balance and see what happens nearer the time. If this all blows over you get to cruise, if not and  you decide to cancel, the “Cruise With Confidence” policy allows guests to cancel up to 48 hours before a sailing. Guests will receive a full credit for their fare, usable on any future sailing of the guest’s choice in 2020 or 2021. The policy applies to both new and existing cruise bookings with a sailing date on or before July 31, 2020.

If flights and hotel were booked independently those costs will likely be lost unless the airline/hotel will allow them to be rescheduled.

 

If Royal cancel the cruise you will get 125% FCC which can be applied to a cruise or exchanged for 100% cash refund at any time up to 31st December 2021.

If the cruise is cancelled because of the virus then most likely the flights will also be cancelled and become refundable. I would hope that you have insurance in place for this as a last resort, just in case???

 

We've just been through all this with our March 29th cruise. 

 

Its a case of whose nerve holds out the longest.

Thank you for your reply. I booked a package through the TA, hotel flights and cruise so if Royal cancel I am still unsure about the air fare and hotel. If I can't fly to Barcelona then I guess I will have to cancel the cruise and I should get the flight money refunded. I don't know what I paid for the different segments  of the holiday so it's hard to know what I will be refunded and by whom. 

 

32 minutes ago, loveheart said:

I am in the UK and have been told by my TA that even if Royal cancel my June cruise they will only issue me with credit. As I am flying to Barcelona and staying in a hotel for 1 night I will only get the value of the cruise back in credit and not the money for the flight and hotel. I will also lose my £700.00 deposit  if I cancel now. Although if I rebook a future cruise right away that £700.00 will be transferred to the new cruise.  I have 2 days to decide whether to pay the balance or cut my loses and cancel.

My TA didn't mention 125% FCC if Royal cancel so is this just if booked direct with them and not through a TA does any one know?

I am in the UK and have been told by my TA that even if Royal cancel my June cruise they will only issue me with credit. As I am flying to Barcelona and staying in a hotel for 1 night I will only get the value of the cruise back in credit and not the money for the flight and hotel. I will also lose my £700.00 deposit  if I cancel now. Although if I rebook a future cruise right away that £700.00 will be transferred to the new cruise.  I have 2 days to decide whether to pay the balance or cut my loses and cancel.

I usually stay out on deck for as long as possible and we are always second sitting in the dining room so my OH goes back to the cabin well before me and gets ready and depending on whether I have to wash my hair or not I take approx half an hour to an hour to get ready although I have been known to do it in about 20 minutes from start to finish. 

I've done 2 cruises from Barcelona flying from London on the same day with no problems but I was very anxious. 

Next year we are flying in the day before for my own piece of mind.

1 hour ago, little britain said:

Depends on what rate they have. If it is a NET rate or some group allocation which is already deeply discounted they will not allow the balcony discount.

 

OT - but I hope you do a Live From Quantum post if possible please as very interested in your thoughts on that one!

cheers

LBx

My TA has just confirmed that our booking is a NET rate and therefore RCI will not allow any balcony discount.

1 hour ago, kernow said:

There are some UK TAs who don't give it if they are selling the cruise at an already discounted rate. We didn't get it for our upcoming Quantum cruise but the (very well known) TA was offering a much cheaper price than RCL so we went with them. I think we've also had this once previously with a different TA.

 

 

I'm going to call my TA tomorrow. I'm sure the answer will be no as I got an early bird booking discount but it's worth a shot.

28 minutes ago, royal girl said:

Our last cruise (2017) I don't remember being allowed to use the 3 free drinks during dinner in the MDR.  Good to know we can now!

Only if you are in the MDR before 8.00 or 8.30pm depending on when happy hour ends and 2nd sitting starts.

It was worse than I ever remember on Indy this year.

Once you have checked out your towel you can exchange them as many times as you like without needing your sea pass. You only need to show it at the end of the cruise to check them back in.  I've never waited more than a few seconds on any cruise I've been on.

1 hour ago, sgmn said:

I must admit we usually pick up one or two bottles of water as part of our 'free' 3 drinks to drink overnight, didn't realise its was such a no-no!!! 

In June on Indy lots of people were taking bottles of water and a drink out of the DL on their way to dinner. 

We  usually go to 8.30 sitting for dinner  in the MDR and because  I like to stay out on deck for as long as possible we normally rock up to the DL at about 7.45pm and have a couple of drinks, maybe 2 or 3 at the most. If we go to an early show we will get a drink before we go into the theatre with our loaded drinks then if we have time will go to the DL for one after the show.

However if people wish to spend all their time in the DL during Happy Hour it doesn't bother me at all.

We saw Grease a couple of shows with the singers and dancers which were very good, a couple of comedians, jugglers the usual sort of thing and a hypnotist. 

Shorts, teeshirt, sundress during the day. Capri pants, maxi or pretty dress in the evenings or a smarter dress or eveing trousers and a smart top for formal nights.