chrisg1uk

https://www.pocruises.com/what-to-wear?fbclid=IwAR2LiRb8xm8K15RycDo07ruFAGwQALIijcehtibr0bTa7MzQZx0P_PJ9-sU                                 Oooh I was wrong.  It's changed again.  You really couldn't make it up.  Tie now required (as much as it ever was) 

Please forgive me if I've missed this.  It appears you no longer need a tie for black tie nights.  Strange.  https://www.pocruises.com/what-to-wear

Just to confirm as back today from Britannia. Formal rules only in MDR's, Crowsnest and Epicurian. Saw plenty allowed in without a tie. Not in Sindu, Limelight, Glass House or Beach House.         

What you have quoted is exactly right. you can however take more than 1 bag each so we split our 56kg allowance over 3 bags.  Its way more than enough for 2 week cruise.  

7 hours ago, zap99 said:

Food is a bit better and lots of drinks. I paid extra to ensure we had 2 seats together. DW logged on again to ensure she sat somewhere else. Last time we were on a TUI holiday we got priority security and the lounge. I'm not sure if you get that on a P&O charter. Last time the TUI man gave me some little  bottles of  Brandy and Baileys ' for your cabin sir '. All very civilised.  Enjoy.I 😁

On a P&O charter flight using a TUI plane in PE you get the fastrack security but no lounge access.  Still have to pay to reserve a specific seat. 

Social media is littered with similar tales, some blaming P&O, some TUI although how folk can be sure is a mystery to me as each will simply blame the other.  Simply put it would appear very few flights are available for seat booking for the Caribbean season as yet.  Yes it used to be 14 weeks but it certainly hasn't been the case this year or indeed last. The message I see from P&O is simply to keep checking the personaliser which will provide the link when available.  I would have thought the higher tiers will continue to be given 2 days to book theirs before the rest.  No solution, but everyone is in the same position and frankly there is not a lot any of us can do about it except look forward to holidays.        

Thank you.

Thank you for your replies.  

Bit of advice please.  We are going to the Baltic next May and would like to wander into the cities where possible.  Could you experienced cruisers advise how far out of town do P&O berth at Helsinki, Stockholm and Copenhagen,  Many thanks.     

When we arrived at the embarkation shed there was a small sign for those requiring assistance and suite passengers to by-pass the queue. Didn't bother as the line moves quickly and would rather those who need help were given priority to get on board. 

I think its more likely that either TUI haven't yet confirmed the specific variant of the plane they will be using or P&O haven't allocated passengers to flights yet.  If social media is to be believed, many folk are still moving cruises for whatever reason so if its the latter then P&O would want to minimise subsequent changes by waiting some time after balance due date at least.  The TUI flights are certainly scheduled from Gatwick for the dates I was travelling as I found them, I think I did a dummy car parking booking using Gatwick's on site provider if I recall correctly.     

18 hours ago, Mysticalmother said:

Interestingly, I am off on a different “ cruise” next week… a Brittany Ferry! And I am hearing of some of their restaurants not being open…in particular the main restaurant on Bretagne. Reasons given are staff shortages and supply chain issues…. I am returning on Bretagne on a day crossing from St Malo and if what I am hearing is true, only the buffet is open until midday…resulting in it being manic… and with the prospect of a further 6 hours on board and no hot food available after midday. I hope this just rumour…as we will have a 3 hour drive when we finally get off and I don't fancy a stop at Burger King on the way home! 
Its not just P & O …..

Ok,  I have done this crossing 3 times in the last 6 weeks and will be again on Sunday.  The situation has been consistent regarding the day crossing back to UK.  Despite Brittany Ferries telling everyone the main restaurant will be open for "brunch" until 12 midday, it has been closed.  The self service or canteen has however been open serving hot food between 2 time slots starting at (I think) 11:30am and something like 4pm.  You amy still wish to get your Burger King but there has been an option. 

2 minutes ago, newbie cruissy said:

Hadn't noticed that, and yes it is new. The wording changed from "Enquire on board" to "Available to book on board" in the last day or so. Odd wording though given the new explanation. The "Enquire..." message would be more appropriate if there's that uncertainty. The "Available...." message implies that once on board you can definately book. 

Its this sentence that concerns me most:   In this instance, please speak to the teams on board who will advise on the most up to date availability".  

11 minutes ago, newbie cruissy said:

So when listed as "Available to book on board" can one assume that they will be open, as this message is on my personaliser now?

Have just checked my personaliser.  I have no idea if this is new or always been the case but at the top you will probably see:  "However, if below your options read ‘Available to book on board’, this means that bookings for speciality restaurants for your cruise are not bookable before your holiday. In this instance, please speak to the teams on board who will advise on the most up to date availability".  

Given how "careful"  P&O are with words, no I don't think you can make any such assumption. As Moley said earlier, they could be closed, open or fully booked. I for one have had enough and will be moving my very expensive (for me) 1 off cruise to much later.  Hopefully by then they will be providing whats in the brochure or at least telling us upfront what they won't be delivering .  

34 minutes ago, molecrochip said:

I must remember, quick replies are never the thing to do. Sorry to anyone offended. 

 

I was focused on the comment that it was false advertising by showing restaurants that P&O know are closed. My point, made badly, was that cruise personaliser doesn't list these restaurants as open. It just lists the restaurants that are on the ship. They could be closed, fully booked or available to book on board.

 

What I am seeing more and more is a passenger expectation that things are back to the pre-pandemic ways of working. This is despite being told that there are changes. Unfortunately, I fear we have these difficult times for a little longer.

I for one accept that not everything will be back to pre pandemic levels and sympathise. But that sympathy will only continue if I feel we as customers are being treated with respect and openness - which I doubt at the moment.  The lack on board photographers, the loss of the turndown service in the evening, people who have paid a significant premium to choose their cabin being forced to change without compensation are all examples of changes that have been initially highlighted on social media.  The speciality restaurants form a very important part of some customers very expensive holidays - it is not surprising that folk will get upset.         

48 minutes ago, molecrochip said:

Cruise personaliser had been listing 'enquire on board'. That doesn't say open, it says ask.

Personally having spent a fortune on my next cruise I would prefer to know what I am going to get for my money.  Is it too much to ask?  After all, P&O still publicise the availability of all the facilities. If this is the attitude then I think its time for me to jump ship before balance due.    

On our last cruise I noticed the gentleman sat next to me at dinner had a lapel pin. I asked what it was and he explained it denoted such and such tier .... I lost interest in the detail.  He explained he always wore it and hoped others reaching such status would do likewise so they could immediately recognise each other as "like minded" people.  Didn't see him again. 

Haven't been on any of the trips you are considering but in relation to question 1 , the latest advice for each island is on the P&O website, but as you would expect the situation is constantly changing.  You don't say when you are going but it looks like post January (Azura) so the answer has to be no one knows. 

25 minutes ago, Baggy178 said:

Something similar here.

We have a return flight from Barbados included in our cruise price ( Oct 22nd re-positioning Britannia ) with a flight to Manchester on a TUI charter.

P&O is inviting us to book seats but they carry a £35 premium. Presumably if I don't pre-book they have to seat us somewhere for free ?

And do P&O charter the entire TUI plane or just a certain number of seats - if it's the entire plane we don't understand why pre-booking carries a premium.

Thanks in advance.

Very simple because they can and folk pay.  In premium the seating is 232, the rest of the plane is 333. So couples who don't pay stand the risk of not being sat next to their partner.  I am told not all the seats are bookable and many who don't book report they have always been ok.  It depends how important it is to you.  I think my wife sees it as her duty to sit next to me but we don't pre book so I guess he lives in hope of being elsewhere. 

I do sympathise. However, I really don't think you will achieve anything by moaning at P&O other than to register you complaint.  As others have said the seating is 2-3-2 and since most travel as couples, it is inevitable that some will be split up.  After the demise  of Thomas Cook there really are not many charter airlines around where P&O can charter the whole plane.  I really cannot see them waiving teh fee just because someone doesn't want to pay it.    

In the end the most important thing is the welfare of the passenger(s) who test positive. For me that means getting them to a hospital or at least off the ship to a quarantine hotel.  Even apparently mild cases can turn nasty quickly and being on a ship with serious covid is not the place to be to get a good outcome. The insurance situation is a nightmare and it seems likely a lot of folk (probably me included) will have not actually purchased what they thought they had.  P&O are naughty is they are in fact promoting a policy that doesn't meet what would be considered "normal" needs or at least be completely open.  I really am considering moving my cruise again and its over a year away!       

41 minutes ago, kevboy said:

I am going 22 October on transatlantic re positioning of Britannia B124. The flight details were up 2 weeks ago but with only 4 weeks before the cruise I still cannot select seats. I can only think that the type of plane to be used has not yet been decided. Tui is the carrier so Dreamliner is their plane of choice normally for long hauls. What can the problem be? 

If TUI are the carrier then there are 2 versions of the 787 with different seating configurations and capacity. That might be the problem. 

Oh dear.  From what I can see the affected junctions are between 9 and 11 which are way to the of Southampton. Unless you are coming along the coast or were planning on coming down the A3 off the M25 then it won't affect you. So I would avoid the A3 and use the M3 instead, or cut off the A3 westwards across country a good way before the bottom end..  There is no need to leave another day earlier.     

1 minute ago, PORT ROYAL said:

On Cunard, one can pick the airport, airline, flight time, seating grade.  So why not on PO?

I suggest you ask them as have no idea.