A Few Questions

[billyelliot]

:confused: Hi Will we need to bring towels for sunbeds/beach, shower/shampoo for our cruise on ventura? Also we have booked a guaranteed balcony. Will we find out before we go which cabin/deck we will be on?

Whats the best time to get to port to check in? We will be at the Mercure hotel the night before, what transfer time should we allow?

Thanks:D

[u2cruiser]

You don't need towels for pool or beach as these are provided by your cabin steward and changed daily.

 

We had 'The White Company' shampoo, conditioner and body lotion with a small soap for the sink and a squeezy shower gel on the wall in the shower.

 

We arrived at 12.30 at the terminal and it was packed by then. :)

[Merlin7]

We don't rate the toiletries provided. Take your own.

[sarar]

Not sure if I remembering correctly, but wasnt their a man on the poll deck on Ventura giving out towels?

[feebee_71]

As others have said - towels (white for bathroom, blue for pool/beach) are provided in the cabin and will be replenished when used - you leave ones you want replacing in the bath/shower and any you are happy to re-use you hang over the rail and they'll refold neatly for you.

 

Toiletries - White Room products are supplied - a bottle of shampoo, conditioner, body lotion and a tablet of hand soap. These are not replenished during the cruise. Shower gel is supplied in a bottle on the wall with a dispenser and is topped up during the cruise as necessary. Many people prefer to stick to products they know (especially shampoo and conditioners) so take their own. Supplies sold on the ship are limited to a couple of brands.

 

Arrival at the terminal - the queue will start sometime shortly after 11am - once the car parking service from C&PS is up and running - and the queue for check-in will build steadily until they open the check-in desk (timing will depend on how long the queue is, how ready they are to start checking passengers in and which terminal you are in).

 

The terminal is important because - at City & Mayflower terminals, there is a departure lounge located after check-in & security so, if they're not ready to start boarding to the ship they can check passengers in and then direct them to the departure lounge where they will give out little cards with letters on. Once they are ready to embark passengers to the ship they will call priority/suite passengers, then sometimes allow the mobility assistance groups through, then start with letter A and, as the queue dies down, call each subsequent group.

 

At Ocean terminal the seating is in the check-in area and so they give out the lettered cards when you arrive at the first floor area. There is a place to get refreshments while you wait to be called through to check-in and then will go straight to the ship from security.

 

Guarantee Cabin - you could receive your cabin number anytime from booking until arrival at the terminal (though P&O don't like to leave it that late). You have to keep checking your cruise personaliser. If they haven't allocated you a cabin by the time your pre-holiday information book is sent out (about 5-6 weeks pre-cruise) then they will include part completed generic luggage labels that you will have to fill in once you receive your cabin number.

 

If you haven't received your cabin details by the time you arrive at the terminal on the day of the cruise you can find it out by checking at the information desk inside the terminal building where they have a list of all passengers and cabin numbers - just make sure the porters don't rush off with your luggage until you've written the cabin number on the labels. If you don't know your cabin number until check-in, luggage will be taken to a point near reception on the ship and you will have to identify it and then a steward will arrange for it to go to your cabin.

 

Feebee_71

[u2cruiser]

 

Toiletries - White Room products are supplied - a bottle of shampoo, conditioner, body lotion and a tablet of hand soap. These are not replenished during the cruise. Shower gel is supplied in a bottle on the wall with a dispenser and is topped up during the cruise as necessary. Many people prefer to stick to products they know (especially shampoo and conditioners) so take their own. Supplies sold on the ship are limited to a couple of brands.

 

Feebee_71

 

feebee - White Room is the MPW restaurant, the toiletries are The White Company :D

They are replenished throughout the cruise. If not, just leave the empty bottle and a post it note for the steward or ask him/her for some. I thought they were quite nice products.

[billyelliot]

Thanks for all the info!:) I shall prob take my own Shampoo, but shower gel will be fine. Iv looked at our summery on the P&O site and we are still guarantee Balcony. (We go 20th May) It doesnt say which terminal we go from. I expect that will come with our docs? Do we get these as It does say that we will have to print off E tickets? when they tell us to.

It also says that check in is at 15.30 closing at 15.45 Does that mean we will be stood around ages if we arrive by 11am?

 

If we take on a hand luggage, will we be able to go to our cabin straight away to leave it there?

Thanks once again

[LEESRE]

No they will not leave you till 1530 hours but if you arrive early you just wait till your number is called. They will give you a number or letter when you arrive. Ad others have said get there about 12 noon and you will not have to wait long.

No you cannot go straight to your cabin they will announce once they are ready, you can though sneek to your cabin sometimes and lave your hand luggage and then go and eat in the buffet.

All other details will be on your cruise personaliser adn if you have opted for the Green format then you will be able to print off luggage labels etc.

You will also be able to print off your etickets which you hand in at check in.

[LibraLass41]

The cabins are usually ready at 2pm. A announcement will be made over the tannoy. This usually works quite smoothly, as by the time you have boarded, been directed to the ss buffet and eaten lunch it is approaching 2pm anyway.

 

Arrive from midday when check-in desks open, no way wait till 3.30 -you will miss lunch!

 

You will be given a lettered queue card on arrival and letters are called in groups of about 100 passengers. I've never waited more than about 30-45mins in past 4 or 5 cruises from the new Ocean Terminal.

[LibraLass41]

billye

Take your own favourite conditioner too (if you are a lady?), Men probably don't bother..But the sea air and hot sunshine make your hair very dry, and the tiny bottles of white room conditioner maynot suit your hair type, and there is NOTHING worse than a bad hair day on a formal night in your glad rags....