dwhe

I have done it and absolutely loved it, I want to do it again.

I was able to do it 50 days before the cruise. It seems pretty random, all I done was to keep checking.

Princess has lifted restrictions but please remember that individual ports can impose restrictions. Belfast has just announced that independent travel will not be permitted from cruise ships.

https://www.irishnews.com/news/northernirelandnews/2021/08/20/news/-frustration-and-tears-as-cruise-passengers-barred-from-belfast-under-covid-health-guidelines-2423242/?fbclid=IwAR366BkjaryFxrVKatmD1xITahBWHGdQ-aJH5QKyUiO9YOwvqzsaLatpGMU

3 hours ago, Cruise Puss said:

...Looking forward to seeing Regal. Having been on Britannia quite a few times, we think it's based on the same plan?

Again, many thanks for your helpful reply. 😊

Britannia is P&O so they are probably not the same.

17 hours ago, portiaqueen said:

I’ve sailed Princess out of Southampton numerous times and, despite what other people are saying on here, have never had a kettle provided in my cabin. P&O are a completely different matter. It irritates me no end!  In answer to the original question, I did ask & was told no.

According to what I have just read, they have provided them since 2018 out of Southampton, so someone's wrong.

Edit: Sorry it has already been said.

I have paid for 2 of these packages, one Round Britain in Oct and one to Norway next year and they are no different to "Staycation" and the package available in the USA.

I tell a lie, it is called Dream with us in the UK and Princess Plus in the USA which might explain why people are getting confused. When I have mentioned Dream With Us people didn't know what I was talking about.

20 hours ago, waltd said:

Your opinion  lets hope you are not right.   And you should have a backup plan. 😀

Not my opinion, fact, it is a direct quote

16 minutes ago, delgirl said:

Yes lovely weather. We have never cruised with princess before. We are not big drinkers and I mostly drink pop or water. It is £30.00pdpp extra which includes drinks, wi-fi and gratuities. Was just trying to work out if it was feasible to do this or just pay gratuities and drinks separately. Never use my phone when on a ship always in the safe. I am on holiday.

Even if you only have the odd cocktail and a few cups of coffee in my opinion it is worth it combined with the Wi-Fi and general gratuities.

If you don't take the Dream package you will have to pay for all drinks and will have to pay the daily gratuities added everyday, and no Wi-Fi which you might not miss.

I have just looked at my T&C's for my UK cruise and they are no different.

When you buy the package you pay the price quoted then they add on 18% at checkout, on the ship you are not charged drink gratuities because you have already paid them.

If you buy the Dream With Us package when booking it is different. You pay only the price quoted.

Dream With Us includes drinks package, Wi-Fi and all gratuities, a very good deal.

Hello delgirl, I live in the West Midlands, Lovely weather we are having at the moment

4 hours ago, the english lady said:

Are there any guidelines for seeing the sights ashore?
For the time being, you will only be able to go ashore on shore excursions that are researched and organized by Princess Cruises. Port transfer and shore experience operators will be subject to new policies and procedures to reflect the latest approved guidance in line with our on-board protocols, and will comply with all local guidance relating to social distancing and face masks. 

his is from the princess staycation cruises.

 

 For the time being, you will only be able to go ashore through our new range of organised and vetted shore experiences. Port transfer and shore experience operators will be subject to new policies and procedures to reflect the latest approved guidance in line with our on-board protocols. 

This is from the pando website. Cunards (that go on sale today) will be the same as pando.  the others are not on sale yet, but certainly for these summer cruises you will not be allowed to roam free. As the world opens up, winter comes on, cases will rise again, so you may find it will not be until 2022 that you can wander ashore on your own.

Thanks, you are pointing out a cruise line policy we have been debating for a few pages.

I linked a document provided as guidance to the cruse industry by The UK Chamber of Shipping, which is the trade organisation for UK shipping of which Carnival UK is a member, which gives no such direction and indeed states the opposite "For all guests and seafarers, both independently ashore and on excursions upon disembarking and re-embarking the ship"

I know if I want to go ashore I will have to take a ships excursion, I have just been pointing out that it is not a legal requirement and in my opinion a money grab.

4 hours ago, the english lady said:

They have said about lifting restrictions, but I thnk that will be more along the lines of going on holiday, meeting up. I think we may find the mask thing will be around for a while. Last cruise we had ,we both caught the worst cold/virus we have ever had..when we boarded you could hear people coughing/sneezing etc all around. I think it will be fairy steps for this year, especially on cruises.

Your opinion, lets hope it's not right🤞

28 minutes ago, waltd said:

...  You are hoping they will be removed by June.  No government  can be certain what is going to happen in June...

Wrong, my Government are telling me we are on track to have all restrictions removed in the UK by mid June 21  not me.

Next October I will be travelling to Southampton. The night before I cruise I will be meeting friends and going out for a spot of lunch, then probably do a mini pub crawl before retiring. The next day I will be cruising.

From the NHS website "Evidence suggests that testing tends to be less accurate within three days of exposure, and the best time to get tested is five to seven days after you were exposed." That's even if it is found that vaccinated people can pass it on which is not clear yet.

So there may be 1000's of people infected but undetectable getting on the ship. Where do we draw the line, no cruising till next June or no cruising till June 2025 or beyond?

Sorry to harp on but I just found this:

https://cruising.org/-/media/Files/Executive-Summary-Cruise-Framework-COVID-19

From the shore excursions section "For all guests and seafarers, both independently ashore and on excursions upon disembarking and re-embarking the ship, alcohol-based hand sanitiser should be made available at gangway exits, and all persons should be asked to use them."

This was issued by The UK Chamber of Shipping if you want to look them up.

9 hours ago, the english lady said:

Nobody is forcing anyone to book these cruises. Its going to be bad enough in Southampton with thousands turning up from all over the UK , to meet in one place

 

I think you are loosing sight of the fact that ALL social distancing is on track to be removed mid June 21 in the UK not 22. I have underlying health conditions but we have to get back to normal soon.

8 hours ago, the english lady said:

But if they are taking the cautious approach, (gov. and cruise lines) there is not a lot people can do. You accept the T and C and sail, or you don't.

 

But still no one has given us an insight into how they are going to stop interaction between excursioners and locals and indeed excursioners from other ships now the other lines are jumping on the round Britain bandwagon.

I truly accept peoples concern about the crew but cannot accept they will be able to keep us cocooned whilst on shore.

If I choose to go on an excursion with them I will accept the T&C's but I have every right to complain about their prices and the ludicrousness of demanding we can only go ashore with them.

I have only seen UK Government guidance referring to "tour providers of excursions" so why can we not use other companies that are proven to take the required precautions?

I quote "One of the conditions of them sailing was probably that they did not just let people off the ship to wander." I cannot find any such direction from the UK Government, If anyone can post a link I would be grateful. I prefer fact and not opinion on such matters.

Sorry for the long post.

There was when I was seasick crossing the North Sea in rough weather a few years ago. 🤢🤮 I spent a day on them on the promenade deck overlooking the ocean.

9 hours ago, caribill said:

 

Also, if you can go on your own, you can stay as long or short a time as you like (consistent with when you must be back on board), not forced to leave at a pre-determined time which may be too soon or too long for you.

 

By the way, does the Princess excursion allow you to also visit the SS Nomadic which is a Titanic tender? It is across the street from the museum and is included in the admission price. To me it is a fascinating part of the museum and not to be missed. (It was used to transfer passengers and luggage from shore to the Titanic and did not stay with the ship. Has first class and steerage sections that keep the different classes of passengers separated. First class section had a full service bar.  Steerage section had a water fountain. Many other differences between the two sections.)

I don't think it does caribill, no mention at all in the gumph.

Also there is other Titanic stuff in the area like its dry dock that you don't get to see, it's a 4 hour excursion, 1 hour driving around half an hour getting there and back (according to them) and 2 and a half hours in the exhibition, all for $99.95.

If anything they should make the excursions cheaper to compensate us having to take theirs, not exploiting us.

I don't blame you majortom10. If the restrictions are still in place in Oct, which would not surprise me, I will be staying onboard with my drinks package trying to reach that 15 limit lol.

Edit to the above post:

£15.50 for the over 60's so it's even more expensive.

I have just been looking at excursions to Titanic Belfast, somewhere where I really want to go.

Ship excursion with a half hour drive around Belfast is $99.95 (£72)

The attraction is less than 2 miles walking from the dock and £19 ($26) if you pay on the door or pre buy your ticket like I would have done.

I'm gobsmacked, having been on loads of excursions with different cruise lines that is one expensive excursion for what you get and I haven't checked the rest yet.

Me to, having been to most places a cruise ship goes to in Europe, I now like to walk around a bit, have a pint or 2 and watch what's going on. Then back on ship for afternoon tea and a quiz. I never thought I'd miss it so much.

Fingers crossed for you Ombud, I'm sure it will be fine, being the eternal optimist that I am

46 minutes ago, oskidunker said:

They want to limit who you come in contact with...

Hit the nail on the head there, limit, they can't stop contact.

We all know what ship excursions are like....... organised chaos.

By September in the UK everywhere will be open the places where you go will be full of people under no restrictions, attractions will not close to the general public just for a coach load of ship excursionist to visit.

If the cruise companies were that concerned they would have cruises with no ports of call which indeed some are doing. It is all so they can make up a little for lost profits.

37 minutes ago, Ombud said:

https://www.princess.com/plan/cruise-with-confidence/cruise-health/covid-19-guest-protocols/

(I'll post and correct if not right ..... it's at the bottom)

Many thanks for the link Ombud. Sorry I misunderstood you, I thought you were talking about someone being kicked off a ship recently and not the protocols.

Once again many thanks.

3 minutes ago, kevinyork said:

 But if they disembarked us, we could be home in just a few hours anyway this being a U.k cruise. 

Good point, would be a pain if they kicked me off in Belfast. Second thoughts It would be like a mini cruise on the ferry back.