Trevor Fountain

Have a good one!

I'm curious to know what difference it makes as to who the Captain is. I kind of get at one time doing transatlantic crossings, and going for the Blue Ribbon, but there are so many cruise ships now, I can't see it making any difference. I wouldn't ask who the no.76 bus driver is, or who the Leeds to London train driver is. As it is a Xmas cruise perhaps you're hoping for a Captain with a long white beard. Have you actually booked the cruise in question, or is it dependant on whom the Captain is? Do you not want to know who the entertainers are? You are far more likely to see them as opposed to the Captain. Is it perhaps that you are a P&O Captain and you've lost your rota, and can't remember if you're on this one or not? I hope you are not Captain Hill, because your username on here may have given you away.

I bet the rum punch isn't as good in the Ligurian though, wherever that is.

I was once stopped coming back to Dover. They stripped my car. Took the air filter off and door panels etc. Had a drug dog go over whole car. Kept us there over an hour. We had nothing. The misereable sods didn't even apologise for any inconveinience. I reckon they had a tip off and got the wrong car. We were the only ones stopped off the ferry.

I reckon whoever the op spoke to got mixed up and meant 16.30.

You mean because Gary Barlow is on board, surely.

Ironically I am one of those guilty of complaining about falling standards on P&O. The problem is many of us loved P&O the way it was, and amongst the things we loved is it's Britishness. I have tried other cruise lines, and have enjoyed all of them for different reasons, but nothing really compares to P&O back in the day. I have twice done the suite experience with NCL (Norwegian Spirit), and I suppose that was the best I have encountered in recent times, but at a cost (around 8k for 14 days). Which looking back is a bargain compared to my 1993 cruise!

Correct. Hard to believe isn't it. I was going through some old stuff that I had kept from various cruises, and found the receipt amongst a pile of menus.

In 1993 I paid a little over £4000 for an outside cabin on Canberra 15 nights. That was for two of us. Admittedly it was full brochure price, and I think at that time just about everybody got at least 30% off and in some cases a much higher discount. My current cruise (select fare) 15 nights with a balcony £3900 for three of us, plus OBC.

I don't do annual policies, and I had to list all the countries I am visiting on my latest one.

That's what they told the OP. You couldn't make it up.

P&O, change of itinerary. surely not. Has this ever happened before? You're not even going to the same continent. Don't forget to inform your insurers.

Yes. About same time as you. Ironically my wife got hers last week, no sign of mine, even though they were on the same application.

Yeah I know.

From the photos I have seen, there looks a like a lot more space and storage. Take a look at https://www.cruisedeckplans.com/DP/deckplans/Iona

190 sq ft v. 134 sq ft.

I'm sure you'll look so good that all eyes will be on you, and nobody will even notice what your other half is wearing.

So which is it then? Not so straightforward. The P&O clear as mud desk strikes again!

Don't even need to do a test now, though it is "highly recommended".

I think you are probably right, but it would be easier if they just say "the following cruises will require a,b or c."

Here we go again. Clear as mud. 16 nights or more and other specific cruises. So which specific cruises? They might as well say some cruises, though I accept they probably can't say that for operational reasons.

Now NCL are allowing unvaccinated guests from 3rd September. They just need a negative test. Will P&O follow suit.

My wife is too young. In the future maybe.

You are of course correct about the upper market lines.The problem for me is I don't fly, and that limits my choice. I like everybody else just has to accept that things have changed. nobody forces me to cruise. I just miss what it was I guess.

They used to have stewards that stood in the corridor near the cabins. You would press a button and the steward would come to your service. They would make you a snack and bring tea and coffee, all free. If you left your shoes visible in the cabin your steward would polish them, without being asked. He would assist with your bow tie on formal nights. This has long gone. The food in the restaurants really was first class including starter, sorbet, main, sweet, cheese and biscuits, coffee. A waiter would always be close to hand, no need to ask for a second bread roll, it would be offered after he noticed you'd finished your previous one, and never did I have an empty glass of water.This has long gone. Who would ever have dreamt of paying a supplement to dine in a speciality restaurant, where the product is still inferior (imo) to what it was back in the day. Midnight buffet? Long gone. Theme nights such as Race Night, Black and White Night, Casino Night. Long gone. A proper daily entertainment program, organised by fantastic cruise directors and entertainment staff. Long gone. I could go on. So in answer to your question, no it doesn't matter if my bed sheets are not turned down before I get in it, but it is just another example of the watered down product that they still call cruising. Alas there will be many who cruise today who have absolutely no idea what traditional cruising was like. Though it's fair to say that the fare reflects the changes, and now a lot more people can afford to 'cruise'. I shouldn't complain, there's always Butlins.