Jaywader

Ours booked today on Aurora. [emoji908][emoji2]

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We always take some rolls with us for the flight and just buy a drink on board. The airline offerings are usually pretty awful

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I was looking to book one of the new conservatory mini suites until I saw the deck plans. I was very disappointed at the positions of These quite expensive cabins. Why would anyone want a balcony on prom deck ? I really can't get my head around that. The other position of these cabins is deck 9 and they a recall above the public areas of deck 8. Needless to say I am holding back on booking

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You've been upgraded to a Superior Balcony which is bigger than a Balcony. You will have a seating area with a sofa and a shower over a bath, as opposed to just a shower. You will also get a bottle of champagne and chocolates in your cabin when you board. The balcony is overlooked by cabins above which some people do not like, personally we don't mind as the extra space and bath are worth it. For a 14 night cruise these cabins can cost around £300 + per person more than your original cabin. Personally I think it's a good upgrade as you are getting a better cabin as opposed to a similar cabin in a different part of the ship.

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I think I know the answer to this but thought I'd ask anyway. Our Thomas Cook flight, booked by P&O requires us to pre-book seats through the Thomas Cook website, along with any extras we require - extra baggage, meals etc. We have done this and completed the Advanced Passenger Information form, though I don't know if the latter is actually required as P&O already have the information. On the Thomas Cook manage my booking site it also speaks of online check in but I'm assuming we can't do this and have to check in at Gatwick in the normal way as I expect we have to complete the medical form - saying we haven't had any tummy upset etc. Am I correct about this?

 

I know we have to collect our baggage in Valetta and take it to the P&O vehicle which takes it to the ship, we had to do the same thing in Genoa when we did a fly cruise to the Mediterranean, also on Oceana.

 

Thanks for any responses.

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Lots of people interested in this Eglesbrech and posting on the issue has been very quiet on other sites as well. Azura is due back in So'ton tomorrow so maybe we will get some feedback soon

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I've just checked the Cunard site - Military Benefit combinable with other obc!

Decided to ask the question of P&O - as I've said before, it's not the money but the principle of why P&O discrimate against shareholders in this respect.

 

Advice please on best email address to send it to. Will let you know if I get a response and what that is!

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I agree with your sentiments. This new arrangement only came into force on 1.3.18 so perhaps the full payment for your cruise was made before that date so wasn't affected.

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I may not be correct kruzseeka, but I would definitely query that further! In writing.... and let us know!

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Just in case anyone is on this cruise and hasn't visited our Roll Call, a 'meet has been arranged at 11.00a.m. on 23rd March in Anderson's Bar. If you'd like to come along, we'd be very pleased to see you.

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Hi, can anyone help please? Have you experienced this? We have been lucky enough to receive an upgrade which I spotted on Cruise Personaliser, however the e-tickets and luggage labels available to print still show our original cabin number. Is this a timing issue? Will they eventually show our new cabin number or do we just use the tickets with the wrong cabin number?

We reprinted ours just before the cruise and they showed the new cabin numbers. If they hadn't, I would have crossed out the old and written in the new especially on the luggage labels otherwise they would end up in the wrong cabin.

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Everyone seems super-organised on these threads, love the idea of a cruise drawer, packing lists/spreadsheets and now I’m just going to photograph our passports. This will be our first proper cruise so we have a lot to learn, I’m hoping it will be the first cruise of many. This time next week we should be on Britannia in Barbados :)

 

Jaywader - can I just ask what are the magnets for?

 

Thanks

Julie

Hi Julie G57..loved your post. we've been cruising for many years and still learning little wrinkles from threads like this. It's how I learned about magnets. They are so useful. The walls of your cabin will be metal so magnets are very useful to keep your cabin tidy by holding your tour tickets, invitations etc. And if you are celebrating they will hold your cards. My cruise drawer is invaluable (another idea from a Cruise community). My advice to any new (or old) cruises is to keep in contact with a Cruise community and never stop learning. Enjoy your cruise

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Some really good ideas on this thread. Thanks everyone for sharing them. Just off now to photograph our passports.

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I've packed and weighed my case (taken the dresses back out so they don't get creased). I've printed my e-ticket from the personaliser and from my TA. Luggage labels on. Currency ready. Fact sheets about destinations printed. Copies of excursion details printed. Dartford Tunnel prepaid. Nails booked Friday but that's it.

 

How do you spend the week running up to your cruise. What have I forgotten?

I have 2 weeks to go and have just got cases down from the loft. I have ordered currency and received E tickets and luggage labels. I am in the process now of making my lists.....I love lists. I have got my medication requirements.

My week before list looks very similar to yours without the pet care requirements. I have a Cruise drawer that contains all the little useful things I take e.g. magnets, a 4 gang adaptor, a small bag with 3 zip compartments that carry my cruise card, phone and kindle around the ship. It also has a shoe horn and various other bits ad bobs. I find it saves a lot if time having all these things in one place.

I also have a checklist for packing all essentials I.e. .passports, tickets, currency, medications and spectacles

I love the last couple of weeks. It's when the fun begins. Have a great holiday!!

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We are considering booking a mini-suite or suite (first time!!) on Oceana. Can anyone make any recommendations as to which to choose? We love the stern of a ship, as we enjoy sitting and chewing the fat whilst watching the wake.

We have booked a side mini suite on Oceana for October purely because we didbt have any choice of position. No problem with the cabin size and layout but the side balconies are a bit small for my liking. Length is ok but narrow across. Really just 2 ordinary balcony cabins sise by side. Don't know about Oceana suites sorry.

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Yes

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Yes

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I have no issues with you, but was just stating a lesson we had learned a few years back when we had booked through an agent.

 

There was a big itinerary change as there were three ports in the Ukraine which had to be removed because Putin had walked in. The change was visable on line, but we had to wait until we got the letter with our options. Direct bookers had their letters sent straight to them and would have arrived, but we had to wait until the letters got to the agents and then for them to be sent on, yet there were reasons why we wanted this information ASAP. We have not booked cruises with an agent since then. Likewise we have always made sure that we have given all holiday companies an email address and if appropriate, requested emailed documents which means we will receive them even if away. This is obviously a change of procedure and these things happen at times.

 

Incidentally it was me who had initially posted about the email we had received and that seats were bookable, as I thought it may be useful information to others who may not know about it. Hence, I do think that a word of thanks may be a bit more appropriate. If you have issues with P&O, surely that would be much better taken up with P&O.

Tring

first let me apologise for my late reply and also to say how sorry I am if my post led you to believe that I was getting at you in any way. I can assure you that was not my intention. As you rightly say I do owe you thanks. If it were not for you I would still be waiting until 14 weeks before to book. As it is we have the seats we require. I have also booked extra luggage. We also are sailing back to Soton . Once again I apologise and hope we have the chance to meet up on the ship

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An after thought - I think it is the case now that you can't get military benefit as well as obc offered as a future cruise booking made whilst on board. So in this case these two are not combinable. Correct me if I'm wrong.

You are quite right. They check to see how you got your OBC and if it involves a promotional offer e.g. booking on board than you don't get the military benefit. We have been given MB for our cruise in March because it was booked prior to August 1st 17 and of course you have to have select fare

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For those who favour adding tips onto the fares - would there still be people who would feel the need to tip 'on top' do you think?

Yes of course there would. Up to now, I have left my automatic tips on but I have never wanted to walk off the ship without saying my own personal thank you to the wonderful young men and women who have always looked after us so well. I say up to now because for the first time I am seriously considering removing my tips.

I have no idea of the % age of passengers who remove tips but I have a feeling that it is quite high. Of those, I think there will be some who pay their tips but I also think that there are a lot who don't . I will pay my tips as I always did before automatic tipping and hope that if enough people stop paying their tips automatically then P&O might be persuaded to include them in the fare. I will still be using the little envelopes but I we be happier knowing that everybody will be paying what they should pay.

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:D Lol Janice.

 

That might well be much sooner than you realise!

As well both be sailing from Southampton on 21st March!

 

We're cruising on Oriana to the Arctic Circle to hopefully see The Northern Lights.

It'll be quite an exciting and unusual cruise and our first cold holiday.

We've loved our Caribbean cruises and can't wait to follow your 25 night path one day.

 

With just 30 days until the off, we'll be packing very different clothes in our suitcases.

It would be a miracle if we did accidently bump into one another in Southampton so I'll take the opportunity to wish you a happy cruise with lots of fun in the sun!

 

Best wishes

Annette :)

We will raise a glass as we set sail and wish you 'Bon Voyage'

:D

Hi again Jaywader.

I've just seen your cruise - 25 nights - Southampton - Caribbean - Southampton.

How lucky are you!

That one is on our 'Must Do' list but not until we retire and our work commitments are behind us.

I'm sure you'll meet some lovely fellow passengers and have a wonderful time.

Happy sailing.

Annette :)

Thanks Annette..We are really looking forward to our cruise. Like you, we had to wait until retirement to enjoy the longer cruises. It was worth the wait. Hope to meet up someday on the high seas.

Janice

I am arranging a meet fir our March cruise so have been following this thread with interest. Following your advice daiB I have emailed P&O suggesting a possible venue and time and now as If their reply. I only hope it will be sd successful as the one you arranged in September on Azura. We weren't a large crowd but very enjoyable. Although I have attended many over the years, this is the first time for me to arrange one.

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What an Amazing Captain. We were with him on a Greek Island cruise last October and he had his family with him. It was lovely seeing him push his young son around the deck each day or trying to get him to sleep at night. He was so proud when his son produced his first tooth that he announced it to the whole ship. By the end of the cruise he wasn't known as 'The Captain', but 'A........'s Daddy'.

 

Cruising with him was such a pleasure. We sail on Oriana tomorrow but do not yet know who our Captain will be.

Hello Windsong

We were with you on the Greek Island cruise with the gorgeous Capt Camby. I remember you from the CC meet when the Captain joined us with the hotel manager and made our get together very special. I have some lovely photographs of the occasion . We are off next on Aurora to the Caribbean next month. Enjoy your cruising and hope to meet up again on the high seas.

We also loved his thought for the day. The best was "money doesn't buy you happiness, but it does keep you in touch with your kids!"

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I don't think there's a hard and fast rule as to when excursions are available to book . Mine are online already for cruise in October

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