Megabear2

Yes, and generally she is excellent. Her husband Steve Stroud who was a guitarist with The Holies accompanies her (he plays with Cliff Richard at the moment!). Her performances in The Limelight Club are not just singing, they are a mix of stories and events in her life and she actually is a very personable lady. Even my husband enjoys seeing her although he grumbled like mad the first time. We've seen her quite a few times on Britannia. She is very much a people person and is very happy to speak to people outside of her performances. Her charity work for head injury victims is something she talks about. Incidentally she hates the song Makin' Your Mind Up but happily tells you it made her enough money to buy a nice semi detached house in the London suburbs!

The offer on drinks package had an end date of 4 March. That was P&O's big drive until then. Interestingly I repriced my cruise booked last week after reading your post. It is actually £100 cheaper now although the OBC is less. Even adding the new drinks package at 10% off instead of 20% it remains so.

https://premierchristian.news/en/news/article/nearly-one-in-four-cathedrals-in-england-now-charging-for-entry

I agree about the rudeness, absolutely ridiculous. The most annoying thing is after forking out the £25.00 they then wanted extra to visit the crypt and yet more for the Whispering Gallery and higher. I couldn't help but think of Jesus and the money lenders in the bible at that point. Our home cathedral has just for the first time in over 30 years had the last scaffolding removed and is no longer under repair. We used to have big signs up telling us the EU were funding a large amount of the work, now I guess all that missing funds is going to have to be clawed back through entrance fees.

It's pretty standard, however I'm not so sure this year we will get the bargains. Generally far more cabins are currently reserved on most cruises I look at - not just P&O but across brands. Celebrity for instance seem to have sold well with the Apex at high prices. Princess seem at present to be the ones with the better deals. I booked Britannia for Christmas last week and struggled to get a balcony with sofa in a position suitable for me. I've ended up mid aft certainly not my usual go to but it was difficult to find anything on my preferred decks mid forward. The OBC was quite reasonable at £340 plus my "welcome back" £100 and the cruise is overall £1500 less than I paid for my one just past - remember the new one is over Christmas so should be dearer. It is the same across the board. The Cunard deal ending coincided with the new launch and obviously was an attempt to sell the current onsales. It seems to have pushed up the base level inside fares by around £200-300 as it ended. Apart from our 35 night Caribbean on QM2 we have nothing booked for 2025 so I will continue to look for "bargains" as all my personal funds are now committed to my Queen Mary 2 world cruise in 2026.

Exactly my thoughts Zap. I have paid a small charge, a Euro or two if I recall correctly, for a Spanish cathedral - I cannot remember which exactly but it was commented on because it was so rare. I have never encountered a Catholic cathedral charging, Westminster Cathedral for instance is free so I tend to take my visiting friends there rather than the Abbey or St Paul's unless I'm specifically asked for one of those two.

Yes I visited both last year when in Liverpool, both absolutely beautiful. As someone who loves visiting Cathedrals the £25 is not exceptional. York costs £18.00, Canterbury £17.00 and Westminster Abbey £29.00. As referenced by Graham I happily put money into the collection plate on visits to church and indeed put money in voluntary collection boxes in churches all over the world. My comment is mainly that charging high entry fees may be very off putting to people visiting and becoming engaged with the church. Compulsion to pay rather than voluntary voluntary is I'd guess most offputting. Advance tickets for Madam Tussauds and the London Eye are £50 yet to visit St Paul's and Westminster Abbey is £54! Incidentally on my own "moan" about Salisbury Cathedral our council tax for many years carried an amount towards living in its diocese.

It is very sad to see churches closing, unfortunately it is not restricted to Anglican ones. The loss of a church is unfortunately a sign of the changing demographic of the population of the UK. The removal of things like morning prayers at assembly in the name of inclusivity has served to move young people ever further from the organised church. It is a sad state of affairs. As someone living in the main diocese of a great cathedral I find it quite ridiculous that to visit for prayer, sitting in reflection or lighting a candle of remembrance I am asked to join a queue of tourists paying £9-£10 each and produce photo id to allow my free entry. The two local parish churches are locked apart from the times of published services, this giving the impression worship or prayer can only occur when the organised church says so. On a visit to St Paul's Cathedral with friends from Australia last year we were asked to pay £25.00 each to enter so £100 for the four of us. This for visiting a building I grew up knowing as East London's main church, head of religion for the region's working classes and which through my working life was often my lunchtime refuge for prayer and peace if work was a bit too hectic. While on that visit a young German lad climbed onto a lectern to have his photograph taken and was reprimanded and spoken to very harshly by a member of staff. My friend went to the boy's defence telling the staff member "hey mate, when you charge so much for entry you've turned your cathedral into a theme park, not a place of worship". Although surprised at this reaction it was suitable food for thought, particularly with over a quarter of Britain's cathedrals now charging substantial entry fees. I'm not quite sure what I feel about these charges now as a result.

A big thank you from me too. As I'm someone who would happily live on a Caribbean island full time, it's been fascinating reading and hearing of your experiences on the islands, particularly the five I've not had the pleasure of visiting so far. I have greatly enjoyed your reports from tours you took, particularly the amusing and witty observations of some of people you've met along the way. I hope you and Lady S have very many happy memories of your great adventure for many years to come.

I hope your partner recovers very soon and is soon back in good health.

Also a word of caution on insurance cover for cancelled shore excursions: most policies have a limit on how much cover they offer for these. It can be quite generous - Staysure top policy offers £1,000 for instance - but with some trips costing well in excess of £150pp nowadays it makes sense to consider this when booking before departure.

There was a huge flare on Sunday and the lights were seen as far down as Cornwall. Yet again they were seen at Stonehenge. The signs are very positive for those joining Aurora.

Not sure if the provided a picture but hopefully this is helpful Incidentally I think Glass House is on the port side as I had an F deck cabin directly above the open area in 2022, if my recollection is correct you are on the other side.

Sad to hear the 507 is no more. As a commuter to Lincoln's Inn from Waterloo for 13 years its big benefit was using the tunnel rather than queuing to get on Aldwych and all the traffic lights. Regarding the trains on Thameslink perhaps alighting at Blackfriars on the south side of the river (ie travel in the rear) might be good for Dave and then it's a quick hop on the bus direct to Waterloo main entrance and up in the lift to the concourse or even a pleasant stroll of around 20 minutes.

I have used Novotel several times and you can walk from the hotel to departures. Used Crowne Plaza once for an event at NEC and they had an airport shuttle. Both of those were nice quality hotels.

That sounds much better and more in line with the response from the CEO's office I had expected. I assume you now have a new cabin number if they've told you where it is. Which cabin have they given you as a matter of interest? Chris Lees is Carnival UK's Executive Vice President so I assume once you found the right route they took it seriously. I'm very pleased for you. I hope that you can put all the stress behind you now and look forward to your cruises.

Unfortunately the underground is also subject to strike action. Currently not many strikes beyond this month apart from Aslef overtime ban.. Do you have National Express coaches from your part of the world? My niece used them from Essex to Southampton for her university as the price was very reasonable. Otherwise you may be able to go direct to Heathrow for the Intercruises coach.

Unfortunately this issue isn't going to be up for debate but it does go a long way to explaining the springing up of this type of question across the forum boards. Unfortunately it is what it is. The problem is the unwary self bookers can so easily fall into the trap, particularly with saver fares. With the push for young families to be the new cruisers it would make a great deal of sense for saver family fares/cabins to not be bookable on line and only by direct telephone calls or via travel agents at least until the website can actually deal properly with the issue. At least the unwary could be in possession of proper information before deciding to part with their money. The young lady is clearly very upset about the situation but all avenues now appear closed which is a sad state of affairs. I must confess I'm surprised at the lack of help and understanding she appears to have received from P&O. Hopefully a solution will be sorted once on board if she decides not to rebook.

I have looked at the video now. Obviously it shows the room with the bunks in use rather than in the folded position. I can confirm I have had one of this type of room on Azura and had the beds as a queen with no issue. Yes there was an overhang but I was able to use either side of the bed and not crawl to the end. This was room P319, in fact it remains one of my favourite rooms allocated on a saver fare and I have booked it subsequently by choice on select. Azura's inside cabins are 15m2 (165ft2) and a quick look shows Britannia's insides as 15-16m2 (165-175ft2) so I cannot see that the set up I had would not work. Incidentally the three cabins you mention in particular C316,317 etc are classed as larger insides and are the 16m2 ones. They are a different shape which gives the size difference. If I recall from one my BIL had when you enter the door the dressing table is to one side and the room opens up for the bed to be on the wall to the other side. They are a higher grade as you said.

The maritime law is correct - I've seen a similar discussion on a DIsney forum as well. If P&O have stated the matter is closed then unfortunately you have little choice. You booked a saver fare where nothing is guaranteed I'm afraid. If they say it can be done I suppose you could ask for that in writing once more and sort it onboard. If however you want certainty it would seem perhaps best to cancel and rebook while the OBC will cover your lost deposit. Short of that I guess it's see what can be done onboard. I appreciate what you say about the bed configuration only it does say very clearly "preferred" and unfortunately that is not a part of your contract but simply as it says a preference. I'm sorry I cannot be more helpful but if it was Executive Office there is nowhere left to go I'm afraid as I doubt it's something ABTA would be interested in.

Which room are they saying can be made into a queen? There may be pictures elsewhere you can look at. The real problem is that you were unaware the Queen bed configuration is just a request and is not guaranteed. Unfortunately it is not like booking a hotel room where you choose double or twin sleeping arrangements (mind you I have trouble with this on occasion too when my friend and I were presented with a queen bed in Rome because they believed we were a couple!). Is this only Britannia, if so what are they doing with Iona booking? I assume the caller is from customer services or was it actually from Executive Office? Why did they say they won't put anything in writing, that seems extremely odd? Did you write as suggested or is this a result of the social media contact?

Agree with this unless you hit a problem like today. Absolutely no trains in and out of Waterloo due to an incident outside Woking. Southampton is a difficult one to find alternatives by train although the Southern service is most direct. The rail strikes are the other problem.

It takes around 45 minutes to an hour by tube. District Line to Earl's Court, change to Piccadilly Line to Heathrow Terminal 2/3 station. It's about 5 minutes from the underground station to the bus station. For step free access (ie if you've a lot of luggage) I'd look at Victoria Line to Green Park and then swapping on to the Piccadilly Line there. I'm unsure where in Kent you travel from, but if you can access a train to get to Farringdon or Bond Street you have the Elizabeth Line option too. I regularly travel from Waterloo to Heathrow via Green Park and it is relatively easy so long as the lifts are all working. There is a fair bit of underground walking. The District Line is less stairs until you make Earl's Court.

Surely depends on the definition of "solo". On a couple of cruises, one on P&O and one on Cunard I have had "singles" on my dinner table who although adults are travelling with and sharing a cabin with their parents for cost reasons. Both of these people were men in their 30's and although technically not alone they liked to attend the solo meet ups as they didn't want to spend every hour in the company of their parents. Neither of these sets of parents required looking after, the arrangements were purely financial to take advantage of special rates on 3rd/4th passengers.

Yes it's peninsular points. If you put it in your basket and view it you will see if there is a discount before check out . Mine came up at £252 and then reduced with my percentage.