CarlaMarie

2 minutes ago, HMB1990 said:

Sorry I am not in cabin B428, thats the cruise number. They have put us in cabin C539 and it states non converting twin beds with pullmans. 

I am so sorry, I read your first message completely wrong!!  If they have put you in C539 then they would have been fixed beds all along, and would never have been able to be converted in the first place.

When you say they changed your room, were you originally assigned a different cabin? 

4 hours ago, HMB1990 said:

I am here in 2024 to say I am now having this same issue direct with p&o. 

Booked the B428 14 night Caribbean on the Britannia. Booked and confirmed a queen bed inside cabin, myself, husband and baby. 

Rang and added a cot last month. New confirmation came through a couple of weeks ago stating bed configuration non converting twins with pullmans. 4 agents, 3 emails later and all I am getting is ' try and sort it onboard ' 

Sorry but I booked and paid for a queen bed. Baby has always been on the booking and is in a cot. I could get over the pullmans not being used but the twin converting beds are a deal breaker sorry. 

I paid 3.5k for this holiday. A balcony is now 3.8k I said id upgrade but they are quoting me 5.4k for the same balcony because that was price when I booked ! 

Am I being unreasonable in the fact I expect to get what I booked and paid for - queen bed. and its not my fault there system apparently let me book something that is shouldn't have done. It's not like iv rung up and added my baby after booking. 

They are telling me there are no inside queen beds available on any grade, but I know its not true as I can book them online today. So they are certainly fobbing me off. 

I told them to refund me and I'll rebook a balcony. They say i'll loose my deposit. How is that fair ? They are not providing what I booked, therefore surely they have broken the contract. 

Someone please help. I am not happy to pay this much money and spend 2 weeks on what should be a luxury holiday in twin beds with restricted head room due to wall mounted bunks, with a cot between us. It looks like a hostel for goodness sake and we will have to crawl down our beds to the foot to get in and out. 

Customer service is diabolical. 

Hello!

I have included the deck plans for you (these are the 2023 deck plans, so the most recent). If you look at the cabin notes section, all cabins with a filled in diamond shape next to them have the fixed bed configuration. 

I hope this helps and puts your mind at ease. 

Britannia-deck-plan-2023.pdf

12 minutes ago, terrierjohn said:

Do the same rules and compensation levels apply to charter flights that apply to scheduled flights, if so I imagine Maleth will be out of pocket by the end of their contract. So they become insolvent, go bust and Maleth 2 take over their assets but not their liabilities!!!!!

 

I think this could be a concern of passengers, and probably added to by the fact P&O will end their relationship with Maleth after March this year. You do start to wonder what is causing a delay in processing claims and why they are not responding to passengers.

P&O have directed passengers to get their compensation from Maleth, so the same or similar rules must apply. 

1 hour ago, Interestedcruisefan said:

Would imagine vast majority of people involved in talking about it weren't  on delayed flights and aren't due any compensation but are on the anti Maleth bandwagon

 

Based on what I've seen to date

 

I just like to see Tui and Maleth treated equally etc

 

I'm flying Maleth next Friday to barbados from Manchester

 

Will give them an honest comparison compared to Tui last year and Virgin that I've just experienced 

 

I'm praying  I'm not behind or in front (or next to) a baby 

From what I have seen it is passengers simply asking if others are having difficulty getting a response from Maleth in regards to their claims and to get advice.

I don't understand why TUI are being brought into this when this is not about comparing airlines etc... I hope you do have a wonderful flight, and am sure you will probably have no problems. 

4 hours ago, Interestedcruisefan said:

Does he also have a thread to discuss progress for flight delay claims for Tui?

 

 

This is in relation to Maelth, not TUI. Passengers are struggling to get any response to their claims from Maleth. As others have said, many passengers are experiencing this and it is appearing in comments across the internet. 

Passengers are allowed to voice problems and ask questions. 

10 hours ago, doog442 said:

 

How many flights does this impact? Not many in the big scheme of things although I accept the industry is playing catch up at this point in time.

 

My point is that you're trying to get the point over that it's acceptable for people who've booked PE for example to be shunted down to economy on what is a regular basis. Perhaps you've lost the context of the thread? Its also not acceptable to see the continued delays to Maleth flights which in turn are leading to delayed ship departures where shops and the casinos can't open,loss of revenue etc.

 

Of course it happens as explained above but this isn't an ordinary situation as threads like this don't appear that often.

 

If it's acceptable as you say then let's just see if P&O use Maleth again? Of course they won't as they'll consider the product to be unacceptable, not that they'll admit it of course.

 

Is it a risk travelling long haul ? absolutely but in 30 odd years of long haul travel I'm probably struggling to see such a sustained failure. It doesn't help hearing first hand of those who've suffered as a result, we're on Arvia and have spoken to spoken to those treated like cattle and the delays....and nothing appears to be changing. I'm hearing Maleth cabin crew are going sick rather than face some of these flights which is upsetting but compounds the situation.

 

So to reiterate, in the context of the package offered by P&O the situation for those affected is entirely unacceptable. I know you've worked in the industry so would expect a little empathy rather than simply pointing people towards the small print and basically saying tough.

 

 

I don't think this thread is allowing a proper discussion, furthermore posts here have been discussed on the Trip Advisor thread. 

I do agree that there appears to be a consensus amongst some who have worked in the industry that the passengers should accept what is going on and simply claim for compensation. That they too should be grateful for having an included flight with what they deem to be a cheap Caribbean cruise.

I don't see how that is an acceptable attitude to have, and nor is it the point of this thread.

So pleased the weather has finally started to improve for you, and I hope it continues! Looking forward to hearing about your ports over the next 6 days. 

The play which they put on for you sounds like a great idea, and can imagine it was very much welcomed.

14 minutes ago, carlanthony24 said:

Nothing naughty about it. FR24 is just having a moment. FR24 is just not capturing the information correctly on that flight. Happens from time to time. Seems like its capturing when they refiled the flight plan. FlightAware does not pick up the flight times correctly either every week. Other means to find out when it should of departed but that would be internal for them to investigate. 

 

Its picking up the the Antigua route only no Barbados and no times to show. 

To be fair, even on the Gatwick website it wasn't showing the flight as delayed. It had the departure listed as 15:00, and not the original time. Passengers saw the flight time listed as 15:00 yesterday, so I presume it was refiled then?

7 minutes ago, Yorkie69 said:

Thanks for the reply Sussexboy. Although I agree that Maleth were probably the only option but we tried to cancel when they were announced but we were told this wasn’t a possibility unless we lost our deposit. P and O had an option at that point to manage the expectations of the customer but instead forced those that had booked before Maleth was announced to lose their money or put up with the issues we all knew would likely happen with an airline with little or no resource when things went wrong. I would have preferred the option to cancel/move the cruise deposit but was told that this wasn’t possible.

I know there are many who are defending Maleth and P&O (lengthy thread on TA). Yes Maleth was probably the only option and we all know delays happen with airlines, but P&O would have been well aware of the standard of the planes/service, their lack of resources and contingency for when things go wrong.

Somebody mentioned the contract with Maleth was signed last March, months before passengers were informed in September/October.  So they should have given passengers options rather than just drop the change on them and to be told they'll lose their deposits/cruise if they cancel. 

As the problems and issues continue, I am amazed that P&O are not making sure that communication is being kept up between them and the airline so that passengers can be well informed.

@Yorkie69 I am sorry to hear that your flight is delayed. You really do feel for all passengers involved.

Have either Maleth or P&O given a reason for today's lengthy delay? 

12 minutes ago, Selbourne said:

Another sunny day in paradise. Will it never end? 

IMG_1245.mov

Oh my that weather looks awful. I really hope it improves for you soon. 

I've been catching up with your posts today, what a cruise you have had so far! You've had so much bad luck with the weather, plus the onboard issues you have had with regards to immigration, dining etc... You really shouldn't have had to keep chasing them up to get things sorted (or not!). 

I've really enjoyed reading all the menus and seeing your wonderful photos. So thank you again for sharing them with us. 

1 hour ago, RebelWithoutAClue said:

this makes me worry for my British Isles cruise on Britannia in June 25.... 😟

That is her 10th anniversary cruise isn't it? I wouldn't think they would cancel or change that one. 

12 minutes ago, Harry Peterson said:

They’re not ditching Arcadia are they?

I don't think so. It looks like they've just decided to send her to the Med instead. Interestingly, J510 was due to leave on July 16th - not the 13th which the new cruise will be leaving on. 

Edit to add - J509 (3 night western europe cruise) must also have been cancelled which was due to depart on July 13th. 

2 hours ago, david63 said:

Seems a bit strange as it is still available to book all grades of cabins online!!

It still is!

They have done this a few times of late. It must be disappointing for those booked on the cruise. If passengers had wanted a cruise to the Med they would have booked one to begin with! 

Like others have said, Princess do some lovely round the British Isle cruises and appear very popular.

57 minutes ago, Interestedcruisefan said:

Over 4 hrs delay means big money claims

 

In the meantime enjoy the extra time on the ship (assuming you weren't waiting in the airport?)

The amount of claims to be paid out on must be huge by now.

It doesn't appear the plane has left Antigua yet. 

5 hours ago, Cash123 said:

Well it looks like we will be delayed leaving Antigua today as both Maleth flights are over 5 hours delayed, Passengers leaving today are being told that wont be leaving at least until 6.00pm

Hope your delay isn't too long and that you are kept up to date.

This reply has been sent in response to a passengers review of their cruise and Maleth flight - 

"... We take all our guests’ feedback seriously and we are passing all relevant feedback over to the airline, which have taken this onboard to improve the services. Improvements have already been made to ensure clean facilities during your journey. Please be aware that the majority of our air sourcing for the Winter 24/25 Caribbean season for 14 night turnarounds from Barbados has been completed. We have confirmation that TUI will be operating these flights. We will have confirmation on the details for the remaining flights, including the Antigua departures in due course. Best Wishes, P&O Cruises Social Media Team"

Have you looked at the roll call for the world cruise? There might be some more information on there from passengers already on her (Yes, she left on Saturday).

7 hours ago, amurray88 said:

We didn't take soft drinks... Water at meal times which is fine, and generally everyone is sitting by the pool without a drink and at dinner having water and tea/coffee. 

Having been with different lines previously they normally have a lot of waiters going round pools asking drinks - I've not been asked, or seen anyone being asked, if they want a drink by a waiter...indeed, I've not seen a single waiter apart from behind the bar in the pool areas. Again, we're fine with it but just surprising as they must be missing out on £££'s surely?

Sounds like a relaxing cruise! 

I have heard that on the bigger ships the bar waiters are not always able to go round so much as they are very busy, so some passengers have been queueing at the bar to place an order. Again this is dependent on the demographic and type of cruise that  Iona/Arvia is taking. 

I am surprised that you haven't seen the waiters walking around much on your cruise too. 

1 hour ago, amurray88 said:

Will give fuller report when we're back but the general feel around the ship I would say is 90% of people are drinking water at dinner, very few people drinking during the day.

 

We are now at £130 left after Sindhu. We've visited Costa once, and bought 2 glasses of wine and 2 beers. Don't plan to buy much more to be fair... We're not big drinkers but it also just doesn't seem to be the thing to do in comparison to our RCCL cruises or the likes of MSC/NCL where alot more people have packages.

Did you take soft drinks on with you as well when you boarded?

They do sell mocktails and other non - alcoholic drinks you can try. Plus there are ice creams as well you can purchase, or room service etc... 

I am amazed so few are having wine or similar with their dinner.

21 hours ago, Lickylips said:

Sadly my friend boarded Aurora on Wednesday and on Friday with the terrible weather she fell and broke her shoulder and hip. She is now in Hospital in Madeira having surgery. Take care everyone. 

I am so sorry to hear about your friend. I do hope the surgery has gone well and that she makes a good recovery.

Like everyone else has suggested you can spend it on your drinks, speciality dining, items in the shops (even for presents) spa treatments, and the duty free shop etc... 

1 minute ago, amurray88 said:

Not bad CarlaMarie! Will give fuller report on return 👌. Think with MSC you loaded it all into the casino and then you could withdraw it all as cash from the casino. Was so handy when you didn't intend spending it all 

Looking forward to your report. I had no idea that was even possible! Amazing how different lines have their different ways of doing things. 

Any OBC that remains on your account and not spent come the end of the cruise will be lost.

Hope you are having a great time!