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jake 26

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  • Posts

    675
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About Me

  • Location
    Teignmouth
  • Interests
    Golf, travel.
  • Favorite Cruise Line(s)
    P&O
  • Favorite Cruise Destination Or Port of Call
    Sydney, Australia

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  1. That looks promising. Similar sized Dreamliner fleet as TUI
  2. Some interesting views and facts being presented. I am wondering, however, with Arvia and Britannia being in the Caribbean together with a possible total of 8,000 pax, so 4,000 turn round each week, how sustainable that is, given 3 aircraft per 1,000 thus 12 aircraft needed for a return flight. That is almost equal to the whole TUI 787 (Dreamliner) fleet. Given the arguments I accept long haul aircraft are scarcer than what they were, so the requirements for 240 aircraft to fly 2 transatlantic legs over the 20 week Caribbean season. and there will be delays, tech probs, does make me think it's not sustainable
  3. I honestly don't think there is a change, maybe better utilisation
  4. Flying is extremely safe, and the aviation industry works hard with one another to ensure that integrity is maintained. I'm sure Maleth is as safe as most and it's a shame their staff are having to put up with criticism. I think safety levels are maintained and improved all the time.
  5. If you say so. I've worked in air traffic control for 30 years and it's amazing what can happen if needs must.
  6. So you agree that P&O have put 2 large ships in the Caribbean but have not got a comprehensive flight contract to deal with problems that occur. You say P&O can't do this or that, doesn't sound good for the customer. I respect you are a big P&O fan and see no faults. We've had some wonderful cruises worldwide with them but I am a pragmatist and realise that sometimes if it's not working properly something is being done badly. I feel that the emphasis is to fill the ships even if the infrastructure to transport the flying pax is inadequate. Like Paul Ludlow ' 99% are happy'
  7. With respect I think it is you who is missing the point. P& O have considerably increased their need for more long haul charter flights by putting Arvia in the Caribbean with Britannia. It seems that the flight structure they've put in place is inadequate in terms of contingency, as more flights means that the likelihood of the delays and technical problems affecting cruise passengers increases by the same margin. Delays and tech problems cause knock on delays. To deal with that contingency plans are needed which provide replacement aircraft, as often happens with most airlines. P&O do not have those contingency plans it appears. I fully accept P&O cannot control delays but they can put plans in place to mitigate them.
  8. Yes aircraft delays are common in the Caribbean during the season, but that is one of the factors that P&O would need to address when they dramatically increased their charter flight requirements when they added a ship with the passenger capacity of Arvia. It seems to me their flight planning department is nowhere capable, and yet it was always very good.
  9. Judging by the delays and dissatisfaction being aired on different sites I can't agree they have successfully addressed the problems, I can only see it snowballing, and the poor Maleth staff will suffer more undeserved vitriol because of bad P&O planning.(easy to blame covid). They have increasingly relied on TUI (Cook's demise was way before covid), but by vastly increasing cruise capacity with Arvia there was no way that TUI could supply sufficient long haul flights, so it should have been recognised early as a major factor that additional flight capacity was needed. I'm not sure that I should be grateful as I am not affected, but if I was one of those who are affected I wouldn't be patting P&O on the back as you suggest. Having had many P&O cruises worldwide over the past 20+ years I have always recognised them as a good reliable organisation, but in this instance they are certainly not living up to that.
  10. It seems that P&O have made a total mess of this in the planning for the 23/24 Caribbean season with ship passenger capacity in excess of 8,000. Surely the logistics of transporting 4,000 people weekly to and from the Caribbean on an 8/9 hour flight must have been high on the 'most important' agenda, factoring in contingency for delays and technical issues. It appears that the transportation planning was more likely a side issue. I may be wrong but I can't think of any other cruise line who operate large capacity Caribbean cruises, like Arvia and Britannia are doing, who charter aircraft to fly pax on a 17 hour round trip to join and leave the ship. Most of the ships in the Caribbean are ex US, and thus many flights are internal US scheduled. I feel sorry for the staff of Maleth because they are probably doing their best, but on a hiding to nothing because P&O have put them in an invidious position where they are the scapegoats for any shortfall of expectations, or any technical failures. P&O need to sort themselves out very quickly.
  11. Great information all, thank you. I think a taxi there and walk back!!
  12. Agreed. Azura is scheduled for an evening departure which is normally 6pm
  13. Well, thank you neighbour. We may walk it as it'll give us an appetite before and we can walk it off a bit afterwards! I look forward to your report of you manage to go.
  14. Yes, thanks for your comment, I agree. We've had experience of ship group bookings before and you're right, there is not the individual experience in terms of personal service, and private table.
  15. We are on an Azura cruise next year marking a significant birthday which falls on the day we are in Funchal. 20 years ago we celebrated that day with Tea at the Ritz. We are thinking of booking the Tea at Reid's. We've been to Funchal quite a few times but never visited Reid's Hotel, which was one of Churchill's favourite hotels apparently. Has anyone partaken of Tea at Reid's and how good was it as an experience? We intend to book it online, and presume a taxi will be required to get there.
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