IDB37
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Posts posted by IDB37
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If the buffet stays, absolutely nobody should be allowed to enter without hand washing.
If Princess (& other cruise lines) continue to allow passengers to by pass the hand washing facilities &/or santitiser, there are going to be some very ugly scenes as the unclean are taken to task.
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41 minutes ago, voljeep said:
sorry if you thought that was sarcasm … I thought it was an excellent posting with 2 excellent links showing that at least
a month lag from Princess knowing what was going on, and stopping ( somewhat ) cruises at that point
Fair enough & thanks for that.
It's a tough time for everyone right now, with hard lessons being learned all around.
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10 minutes ago, voljeep said:
wow, a full month - excellent posting of FACTS !
And your point is ?
What additional facts would you like ?
The names of the ships which continued to sail despite the disease spreading like wildfire across the globe, or perhaps the names of the passengers and crew needlessly infected with Covid as a result ?
No doubt they'll all be named in the multiple class action law suits now being issued.
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Well I can only find this:
But whatever the exct chronology, the bottom line is the writing was on the wall for at least a month prior:
https://www.cruisecritic.com/news/5057/
Are you saying you think Princess and the Cruise Industry as a whole acted in a timely and appropriate manner, in the light of the developing crisis, having primary regard to the safety of passengers and crew alike ?
Much as I have loved cruising over the last couple of decades, there are surely an awful lot of question for Cruise Execs. to answer.
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43 minutes ago, jwattle said:
Respectfully, Princess had already made the choice...
Princess did not stop until March 12th. Other Cruise lines even later.
All pretty unforgiveable given the writing was on the wall for weeks prior.
The industry now has a public image that will take an indeterminate, but likely very long time to repair.
Let alone the human tragedy and disastrous financial impact.
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Respectfully, the posts that seek to draw comparisons with planes, shopping malls, cinema's etc., are fundamentally missing the point. Planes have surgical grade filtering systems, which ships do not and it's pretty easy to exit a shopping mall & a cinema ! Less so a Cruise ship when it may be many days from land.
I posted on the Grand Princess Covid Discussion Thread on March 5th acknowledging my post would be unpopular, but suggesting that the time had then come for Princess and all cruise lines to do the right thing & cease cruising for a period of three months.
I further said that it would be better to do the right, but difficult, thing then and hopefully thereby engender some public goodwill, rather than insist on sailing until the last possible moment and risk a PR disaster, as well as the likely severe medical implications.
The post I refer to above appears to have disappeared.
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For all the entirely valid reasons mentioned in this thread, self serve buffets will surely have to end,.
As for the passengers who insist on walking past the hand washing bays and also decline to sanitise, they absolutely should not be allowed in to any eating facity under any circumstances.
Nor i.m.h.o., should the vest wearing individuals who wander into the buffet after spending time by the pool, or the gym, and insist on sharing with everyone the contents of their sweaty arm pits and other unmentionable areas.
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Thanks for the contributions above. All valid points, which Cunard, along with the rest of the industry is going to somehow have to address.
The cross contamination issue is going to be a tough one to crack. The incident described below shows how even medical professionals and health workers are not immune from infection arising from using a self serve buffet:
You have to wonder whether the only way forward will be for all food to be served, with no exceptions made.
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After the awful events of the last few months, a myriad of things will need massive improvement if public confidence is to be regained by all Cruise lines, including Cunard.
Just one matter which springs to mind, is that henceforth, surely absolutely no-one should be permitted to enter the Kings Court, or any of the Dining rooms, without hands being washed. I don't think I could restrain myself in the event of watching someone decline to do so.
I even wonder whether the concept of 'buffet' style eating is sustainable moving forward.
Thoughts ?
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20 hours ago, AF-1 said:
Norwegian Cruise line has the Pride of America based in Hawaii. They come under some law that says they have to hire Hawaiians as part of the crew and have to pay them standard US wages. That is why that one ship costs more to sail a seven day trip than others; but they are booked all the time. So people will pay the price to sail on that ship.
All true, but of the 20 odd cruises we have taken (Celebrity/Crystal/HAL/Princess/RC/Cunard+NCL), the Pride of America was notable only for the absolutely dire service, the staff oozing 'attitude' from every pore and the barely concealed contempt they displayed for the passengers. A massive shame and a huge contrast to every other ship we have sailed on.
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Unfortunately, another passenger also confirmed as positive (see tenth paragraph)..............:
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Calgary area resident has tested positive, having been on Braemar 11 Feb to March 4th:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/covid-19-virus-alberta-coronavirus-1.5490999
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Looks like all Canadians on board are to be flown to a military base at Trenton, Ontario and undergo 14 days quarantine:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/covid-19-coronavirus-march-8-1.5490199
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4 hours ago, mcrcruiser said:
How much damage to both Princess & the other cruise lines can not be determined just yet . Should containment of this virus get out of hand then it is in the short term the end of cruises .Who would want to board a ship only to get sick or worse ?
Agree completely.
Hope your post lasts longer than mine (saying much the same thing) did !
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Don't think this will be a popular post, but I genuinely feel there must now be consideration given to all Cruise lines suspending sailings for a meaningful (3 months ?) period.
Yes, it's a nuclear option, but how else can the risk of a repitition of Diamond Princess be avoided ? With the spread of the virus across all continents (ex. Antarctica), the chances of someone getting on board any cruise ship, whilst unknowingly incubating it, are surely increasing rapidly. Once that person embarks, everyone else on board is immediately at risk, as (a la Grand Princess) are those on subsequent cruises.
An absolute nightmare and potential financial disaster for all Cruise lines.
But in the current circumtances, I just don't see how ships are going to be able to continue to sail. If they continue to do so, they surely risk becoming public enemy number one, in addition to the obvious potential of class action law suits.
Better to get ahead of the game and take decisive action now, in the hope that it will pay off medium term.
(And no, I don't think planes should stop flying. They aren't carrying 2,000-6,000 passengers !).
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If current trends continue for very long, the dividend will likey be substantially cut.
It's not just the 'soft' level of bookings (translation, they've bombed big time), it's also the massive costs associated with all of the cancellations, re-routing, staff dislocations, etc. etc..
Unfortunately, the outlook is for choppy seas for some time methinks.
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We recently did a 37 day repositioning cruise, which we enjoyed immensely and could happily have stayed on board for another 2-3 weeks or so. Not so sure about 90+ days though.
However, unless resources are such that money is completely irrelevant, there is also the small matter of the cruise cost per day, which is invariably higher for very long cruises.
By way of example, a search of a well known web site just revealed the following, (all for balcony accomodation on ships rates minimum 5*😞
30-60 days - minimum cost US$102/day (H.A. - Noordam), or e.g. US$119/day (Cunard - QE).
60-90 days - minimum cost US$170/day (Cunard - QM2).
90 days+ - minimum cost US$182/day (Cunard - QM2).
So, the saving of c $80/day by taking a 30-60 day cruise, as opposed to 90+ days. This amounts to many $thousands over a long timescale and these savings are per person.
With the above on mind, I can't see much advantage (unless, ahem, snobbery becomes a consideration !), of doing an individual cruise, as opposed to doing two or more cruises, which in total amount to the same number of days ? With a bit of planning you should be able to cover broadly the same itineraries either way.
I guess the cameraderie of 'going all the way' with fellow passengers might be an attraction. Equally however, I'm sure there are times when it might be good for all concerned to finish the cruise while the going is still good !
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https://www.ttgmedia.com/news/news/po-cruises-cancels-dubai-and-arabian-gulf-programme-18963
Perhaps unsurprising given the present tensions in the region and P & O's British heritage, but I wonder if other cruise lines/Princess will follow suit ?
We did the 37 day Singapore to Southamption cruise in March/April this year, and are presently feeling somewhat fortunate re our timing.
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Is this much/any different from the occasional (but too frequent) alcohol fuelled 'age rage' incidents that we see these days ?
Alcohol & a lack of self control don't mix.
As for the above statement that "it’s usually the English that are responsible for the worst behaviour", perhaps that should more accurately read "it's usually glib and often ignorant generalisations that lead to conflict".
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Maybe consider taking a train to Brockenhurst &/or Lymington in the nearby New Forest National Park.
They are both very scenic and the train journey is only 20/45 minutes respectively.
(Southampton Central Train station is a five minute taxi ride, or a thirty minute walk if you're feeling energetic).
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Many thanks for the info. and thoughts above.
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Hi
Does anyone know what size the digital safe is in the staterooms ?
(Just wondering if it's large enough for a 13" x 9" laptop)
Many thanks.
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We are mid 50's and have done four transatlantic cruises with Cunard (QM2 & QV) and seven cruises with Celebrity.
As with everything, there are pro's and cons on both sides, but for our age Group we would give Celebrity the edge (excuse the pun - given the name of their latest ship !). Entertainment and ambiance is certainly more relaxed, and the atmosphere might perhaps be regarded as less 'starchy' than on Cunard. We did find the QV more than a trifle dull to be honest.
The Solstice class of ships with Celebrity are excellent, with superb facilities throughout the ship. The buffet is also certainly less crowded than the Kings Court, at least to our experience. In the MDR we would again go for Celebrity, with a better range of menu choices. Regrettably we haven't attained the heights of the Cunard Grills !
That said, Cunard's atmosphere of elegance and occasion is always to be enjoyed, particularly on QM2.
A first world problem really - filet mignon or lobster thermidor !
Where to visit in the UK?
in P&O Cruises ( UK )
Posted · Edited by IDB37
Exmoor, (West Somerset & North Devon) is absolutely beautiful, with some gorgeous villages and stunning moorland scenery.
Dunster, with its Yarn Market & Castle, on to Minehead & North Hill. Continue along the A39 to Porlock, with its famous hill (drive carefully), across the north coast to Countisbury Hill, down to beautiful Lynmouth (famous for the flood disaster of 1952), and up another 25% - 33% gradient hill to Lynton, (or just take the cliff railway up). Also make sure you don't miss the incredibly scenic 'Valley of the Rocks', just a couple miles up the road.
Inland to Exmoor villages like Winsford, Exford and Dulverton, along with a visit to the nearby ancient clapper bridge 'Tarr Stepps' across the River Barle, should round off what should be an excellent trip !
If you've more time, then yes, continue to Cornwall and Captain Poldark country.