cornflake girl

Anyone got a really good crystal ball? We're hoping to go to the Fjords in 2021 and are looking forward to seeing what P&O offer in September however we really don't want to go on Iona. Based on past experiences does a new ship go somewhere else during the second summer season or go back to the original destination?

Thank you all very much for taking the time to reply. It’s good to know that we should be ok. If we decide to go down this route, I’ll definitely ask once we’ve boarded to ensure we’ve got our request.

48 minutes ago, docco said:

Are there tables for 3?

 

I doubt you'd be able to sit at a table for four with just three people, but I could be wrong (we always use Freedom Dining - much more flexible all round).

 

We're just two, but we love the company of others.  Not everyone does, of course, but most of the time you'll have no problem at all.  Freedom Dining does allow you, though, to specify the table size, and a table for four is always a gamble.  The two other diners could be really lovely - but they could be a nightmare.  Six is our ideal size, or eight, but we're all different.

Thank you for your super quick response. I thought the same as you...

The dining staff had no problem seating just the 3 of us on a table for 4 when dining in Freedom but we did have to wait at times which, with a 4 year old, wasn't great. We may just have to wing it or get there super early!

I was offered 2% by one TA and 3% by another advertising up to 6%. When I quoted their website I was offered 5%

We're a family of 3 travelling and, rather than opting for Freedom Dining and waiting for a table for 3, we're considering going for the Early Sitting. The only table size options are even numbers so if we choose a table for 4 will it be likely that a singleton will be sitting with us or will we have the table to ourselves? No problem with other people, would just rather eat alone. Also, our son may go to the Kids Club so it would just be the 2 of us on the table for 4 a lot of the time. Do you anticipate this would be a problem? Thanks in advance!

On ‎3‎/‎10‎/‎2019 at 6:32 PM, Presto2 said:

 

Hi, have done these ports a number of times and am trying to think about what was on offer for families. We're a couple but will do my best here for you :-) Am guessing your little one will be about 6 come this holiday?

 

Have managed to find my Holiday Information packs for the last 2 Greek Island cruises we have done with P&O and found the following. Hope they are useful. I haven't included the ones where I don't think taking a little one would work at all (having done them)

 

Athens:

The Acropolis

Ancient Corinth and the Corinth Canal (this was amazing but perhaps the time in Corinth may not suit a little 'un … but then again it was not too long and there is loads of shade. We had lunch at a hotel that was just stunning

The Acropolis and the Plaka

Athens Panorama

Athens on your own

Corinth Canal transit (would recommend this) Basically it is a great boat ride for a little 'un and amazing for the grown ups!

Funicular and Fabulous Views (have done and would not do again)

Temple of Poseidon and the Beach (the beach looks amazing and we have booked this for 2019 with another cruise line)

 

Souda Bay:

Akrotiri and Chania

Vineyards and Jeeps --- not for the faint hearted

Monastery and Rethymnon

Leisurely Souda bay

Rethymnon on your own

 

Katalolon:

 

Olympia and the Beach --- we have done this and it was wonderful. We were not at Olympia too long and adults and children get the time to see something. The beach is lovely and very safe

Kourouta Beach - great beach

Simply Olympia

 

Sorry have never been to Zakinthos

 

Any questions re the excursions please ask

 

 Thank you so much for taking the time to look back at your information packs - I really appreciate it :-)

This is so helpful and really useful to have your opinion about each excursion. Thank you once again.

Many thanks to you both for your suggestions. I should, perhaps, have added more to my original post. I know that it's possible to DIY all of the ports or book on other small group tours but I am keen to know that family tours P&O offer because of our experiences last year. We thoroughly enjoyed our 4 year old son's first cruise to Italy and Croatia last year and did most ports ourselves. In Venice, we hopped on the people mover and took a water bus down the canal. Whilst this worked brilliantly, our son was exhausted after barely 3 hours in Venice and we returned to the ship. With hindsight, it may have been better to pay the over inflated cost of P&Os transfer, merely for the convenience. Likewise, in Messina, we chose not to travel to Taormina ourselves because of the walking/transfers involved and deeply regretted not going since Messina was a dive.

So, we know we can do it ourselves and we know that there are cheaper tour companies out there but, with a small child, it may be worth it to pay for the convenience of a ship tour.

I’m hoping to book a Greek cruise departing in 2020 and am interested in what family excursions P&O offer in the following ports:

Athens

Souda Bay

Katakolon

Zakinthos

Would someone mind checking out their cruise personaliser and letting me know? Thanks so much!

I think it is £399 for a week and £599 for 2 weeks judging from the quotes we had.

 

The quotes ended up being £359 and £539 due to the 10% pat passenger discount being applied at the moment so a very good deal. We booked a better grade than normal as the price per person comes down.

 

OBC seems to be an either or situation at the moment and sometimes seems bonkers, e.g. superior deluxe cabin - 2 weeks Britannia £140 OBC or car parking, Suite £290 OBC or car parking so the suite person loses out unless they take the OBC and sort out the car parking themselves.

Sounds about right to me! I called and I worked it out as £354 for a week with 10% discount.

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The cruise we have registered for is 2 weeks and our son will be 9 when we sail. Unfortunately I can only pass on what the TA told me so I don't know the age limits.

 

All the best.

 

Damian

[emoji106]

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Is that £599 whatever age? And whatever length or just a week?

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Hopping on your thread, any idea on multiple flights from Birmingham? We sorted our own flights out this year so I paid little attention to the flight sheet in the cabin on the way home. The EMA flight leave waaaaay to early for us.

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Can anyone tell me whether, historically, P&O choose to cruise Greece in the Easter holiday? I know that Oceana did this year and will do next year but just wondering if there’s a chance they’ll go elsewhere in 2020.

Also, has anyone been on Oceana during the Easter holiday? Is it insane with children? We do have a child but don’t like other people’s children! Ha. Really enjoyed our Croatia/Italy cruise this year the week after the holiday but our son will be at school in 2020.

The kids clubs are open on port days same as sea days

Recent Oceana voyage outside of school holidays and the Kids Club didn’t run the morning session on port days. Open as usual in the afternoon and evening.

They can’t contact you unless they have their phone and internet. Just pop back to see if they want to leave, that’s what we did. Or, you can call kids club from one of the phones dotted around the ship.

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One tip: if you’re on freedom dining and want a table for 2 then one of you take the kids to the club whilst the other queues up at 6pm for a table. We ate early as our son wanted to be picked up 8-9pm.

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Hi both. We went the second week of half term and the cruise finished in school time so there were few children on board. We were really happy with the children’s facilities. Once our son had been to kids club, he always wanted to return. I’ll take a photo of the Splashers activities when I’m home but kids club opened after muster drill in the first night (8pm) then was open 9-12, 2-5, 6-11 sea days then the same minus the morning shift in port days. There was a magician onboard and the kids were taken to see him twice then did a circus skills workshop with him. They had two discos, went on a ships tour (really just riding the lifts!), loads of crafts and free play. The club staff were all great with the kids. They had a kids tea 5-5.30pm every day which we took our son to. Eve, who works there, was wonderful with the children. My only (minor) criticism is that housekeeping and dining staff seemed intent on filling his tummy with chocolate and ice cream which we had to say no to a few times. They were just being kind though.

As to ports, we did Dubrovnik, Split, Venice and Messina. In Dubrovnik I went on a GoT tour and my husband had our son for 2hrs. There’s a small park outside if Pile Gate which they went to, got ice cream. We all went on a glass bottomless boar tour which we all loved. Our favourite tour was the Tuk Tuk (could only book it through P&O). The owner took us and was fabulous with our son. Whilst expensive, it was a highlight. Split: my husband went in a walking tour and I stayed on board. Swapped in afternoon and so went to kids club. Venice: took the people mover and vaporetto down the canal. Really enjoyed it but long day (back by 3pm still). With hindsight, we’d probably split up or take a boat tour. Messina was a dive and we didn’t go to Taormina so after venturing out for an hour, we stayed on board.

We had an inside cabin and, unless we suddenly came into loads of money, would book again. With a 4 year old, we spent very little time inside and it was dark so he slept for ages.

Whilst we’re still in Malta, we’re mourning the end of the cruise and really want to return! Perfect holiday with a child.

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I’ve been meaning to reply to you since boarding on Thursday. The pirate pool is still there. I’ve heard that kids areas have been smartened up but have nothing to compare it to, this being first cruise on Oceana. Been in Splashers and Surfers and both very nice, particularly Surfers.

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When we did a fly cruise on Oceana which left from Genoa the coach driver took us from the airport to the ship (P&O flight) and managed also to take us to the wrong entry to the ship. He too took us to where the passengers already on board could return to the ship, through security etc. So we all had to get back on the bus and go out of the terminal, round a one way system and then return to a different check in area. Admittedly this wasn't Malta but don't assume the coach/taxi driver knows where they are going!

Sounds awful!

I have done two fly cruises with P&O. One in Med and the other from Barbados. In both cases flights organised by P&O were part of the package. Process was so easy and stress free that I would never consider doing this independently.

We love to travel independently, that’s the fun but for us. P&O only gave us the option to stay one night either side of the cruise in Malta and we wanted to stay longer.

We did this independently in October on the repositioning cruise. I'm sure we had a time on our e-ticket but I know I phoned P&O about a different query and asked then and it was either 12 or 1pm that we could get there, have a feeling it was 12.

 

We took a taxi from our hotel and he dropped us at the cruise port and gave us directions so we hauled our cases to where he said following signs To The Ships to be told very firmly that was just for guests already on board and check in was somewhere else. Very hot and bothered by the time we hauled every thing back again. Of course it was clearly marked with big P&O flags but we were just looking in the wrong direction. So if you are coming down the hill from Valetta with the water on your left then the check in is on the right in the cliff. You go in, do all the check in then go through a tunnel under the road and are then on the harbour/port side. Do not follow the signs to the ship but if your taxi stops in the layby outside the cruise port then look behind you on the other side of the road and you will see it.

 

Hope that helps - of course you may get a taxi driver who is actually aware where the check in is!

Thank you for such an informative response. I’ve taken a screenshot of his to take it with me to ensure that we go to the right place.

I do not think it will appear on your e-ticket because it is a fly-cruise. I think most people will have a flight time with a check in for flight advised as x hours before flight. As flights arrive they will transfer to ship as soon as transfer vehicles are provided. Independent flyers will make their own way to ship from airport and embark during the available time whenever they get there.

 

 

 

Regards John

Thank you for your super quick response John. I don’t suppose you know what time embarkation starts?

Does anyone know when your embarkation time appears on your eticket? We sail on Oceana in just over 2 weeks and it doesn’t say. We booked cruise only so not sure if that’s why...

Thanks, will have a look at that. There seem to be a number of airlines doing Malta from Manchester so we could try it ourselves as we have done this before a number of times with Celebrity. Just to check re the £400 - was that for a 7 or 14 night cruise? (Then again it may not make a difference..)

It was 7 nights for 2 adults and a child. We are cruising “off season” right after the Easter school holiday which, I think, is one of the reasons for the discount. At the time of booking, last year, I checked peak cruises and there was no discount offered for removing the flights.

We’re heading out the day before our cruise and staying for 3 nights after. We booked our own BA flights from Gatwick and booked Grand Excelsior for half the price that P&O charge. We also got £400 off the cost of the cruise for taking the flights off. Staying in Sliema after the cruise. If you like a bit more independence and want to stay longer then this is one way of doing it.

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