polk01

54 minutes ago, Traderboy said:

Thank you

So the Captain is still recommending you to wear masks . Is that right?

That's right and hasn't changed since we boarded.

3 hours ago, Traderboy said:

How is the Covid situation onboard this morning?

No update so I assume that it's under control.

I'm on the same trip and not wearing a mask, nor do I intend to. I booked the trip accepting COVID as a risk, as I do when I go in any crowded environmental. It's now endemic. Having had it once, I know it can make me feel pretty rough, but the days of it having a significant risk of serious harm are gone, provided your vaccinated.

3 hours ago, Wedgeh said:

That is a serious issue! I pray for your sake that they at least have port.

They do but it's not the same. The sacrifices I'm having to make are horrendous. Not what I expected but I decided I'd tough it out and sue when I get back. 😜

My experience on Sky Princess so far has been horrific. No Malbec and no dessert wine. How can they expect civilised people to live without basic necessities?

If I asked at Guest Services, do you think that they would agree to repatriate me from this hellhole? 😜

4 hours ago, Level six said:

Did they ask if you had a 2nd booster? 

No, only that we'd had a booster

On 8/17/2022 at 12:28 AM, Ombud said:

Request: if boarding in SOUTHAMPTON between now & August 30th, can you please let me know if the port authorities (or check in personnel if done by Princess) requested a copy of your covid test results?? Princess is all over the board:

Website -> not needed, attest only

Chat -> added ArriveCAN.  I don't go anywhere near Alaska

CVP -> medically assisted test needed

No checks at all. We were asked if we'd had the vaccinations but that was all.

There's no point in going to Heathrow if you're already in central London. Get the coach from Victoria Coach Station.

2 hours ago, sloopsailor said:

 

If the airport managers are trying to limit the number of passengers using the airport, the way they would do it is be limiting the number of flights in and out of the airport, not limiting the amount of people taking a scheduled flight. 

That's not true. Heathrow have imposed a cap of 100,000 passengers per day and are asking airlines not to fill their planes. They are not limiting the number of flights.

1 hour ago, billco said:

Radisson Blu Hotel. Not supposed to leave room. We have tried UberEats a couple of time, but I have to go out to the front entrance to pick it up. Hotel service is terrible. We get to leave after 5 days. Will be going to another hotel for the remaining 5 days.

There's no quarantine requirement in the UK. Legally, you're free to go anywhere even if you have COVID. Morally, it's up to you.

1 hour ago, Steelers0854 said:

 

Can you tell me how you did this?  Our TA says the only transfer available are to and from Heathrow. This would be much better for us as its right next to our hotel.  Thanks!

You can book directly.

https://www.nationalexpress.com/en

The other thing to be aware of, if you're traveling soon, is that there are a series of strikes planned for the railway which massively impact service. Check the dates and make sure that you won't be affected.

On 7/2/2022 at 8:37 PM, sddsddean said:

The problem is, we all know, that no insurance company 'likes' to pay out!!

 

Best of luck

 

Simon

I disagree with this. The good insurers see paying out on genuine claims as the reason they exist.  That said, there are many insurers who don't have this attitude.

You can 

18 minutes ago, PacnGoNow said:

@smilesonfacesand @leck57which hotel would have a place to pickup wine very close by, a block or two? TIA

You can go to the Asda supermarket or the Waitrose in John Lewis to buy wine. The Premier Inn, Novotel, Ibis, Holiday Inn, Travelodge, Mercure and any of the town centre hotels are in walking distance of both of these and the cruise terminal. Central Southampton is compact and easy to navigate so I wouldn't worry about which you stay at providing you are able to walk without difficulties.

...

Tip: ...Celebrity will allow you to make a free call to your Agent so they can speak directly to Guest Relations...

 

I believe that Jon Piling is GRM on SIL and he's one of the best!

Thanks for the tip Orator. Fortunately I live in the EU so was able to call on my mobile without charge but, if I have any problems when I'm further afield, that's great to know.

You're right it was Jon and he came across really well. I was impressed with him and his approach.

I will return home and tell people about my great cruise rather than the trip which was good but... and that had to be in Celebrity's interests. His intervention, at the request of the Concierge, has transformed my last impressions.

Thank you !

Enjoy your last 2 days.

Waggie

I forgot to mention that for Stockholm we docked in Frihamnen rather than Nynäshamn. This had much better public transport links to the town centre with bus tickets available from the terminal.

I've had a call from the Guest Relations Manager and he's accepted that his team let me down on both occasions, and taken responsibility rather than just blaming the people I dealt with. He acknowledged that on both issues his team could, and should, have done better. No excuses or platitudes.

He's refunded the shuttle tickets and asked there's anything else he can do to make up for the poor service. I'm now a satisfied customer. I accept that things go wrong but it's how the problems are resolved that counts.:)

OP - I am sorry to read of your issues and the way they were handled. Can I ask a question - were you expecting to dock in Rostock ? We are sailing this weekend and expect to dock at Warnemunde. Have they changed this? Shame if they have as we have made plans from Warnemunde.

Waggie

Waggie

We docked in the Rostock container port which is in neither town. You'll need a taxi or the shuttle. I get the impression that they usually dock in Warnemunde, where you can walk into the town centre and get a cheap train to Rostock if you want, but clearly not always.

It is great that you are enjoying the sailing, yet not the GR service aboard...

 

Unfortunately, it is your TA who must resolve issues with payments for items you purchased before sailing unless you purchased those items directly from X. I have been in that situation and know...

 

As for the transportation issue, have you tried the Tour Desk who would normally handle such issues aboard and most likely would have more power to do something?

 

Continue to have a bon voyage....

Thanks. The packages were part of the Celebrity standard offer with all bookings made when I booked my trip, not anything I paid for separately that the travel agent was responsible for. This was a Celebrity head office mistake.

When I spoke to the Shore Excursion team about the shuttle service they referred me to guest relations.

I understand your disappointment but as far as the packages and any OBC you should always pack a copy of your invoice showing these things. That would have saved you those three days of waiting, saved calling your TA etc.

I had the invoice but it didn't match with their records. That's why I'm so annoyed. Most of it was sorted fairly quickly but what took the time was the last two internet packages. While the title of the packages had the WiFi the itemised section didn't.

Overall I'm having a great trip but I've had to deal with Guest Relations twice and on both occasions have been totally underwhelmed.

The first was that on boarding our "complimentary" drinks and WiFi packages were not included. Guest Relations told me they'd look in to our and get back to me. They didn't. On the third day I had to phone my travel agent, get them to call the Celebrity head office, who then contacted the ship. Only then was the issue resolved.

The second was to complain about the shuttle service from Rostock. We waited 50 minutes for a bus back to the ship. When I spoke to guest relations they acknowledged that the service had been poor and they'd had lots of complaints but as the shop didn't provide the service it wasn't their fault, they just collected the ticket money on behalf of the local operator without making anything themselves, there was nothing they could do about it and there would be no refund (I hadn't asked for a refund). It felt like it was a scripted response to make clear that they considered Celebrity had no liability.

Overall they gave the impression of being great at platitudes but having no desire/ability to address any issues.