shopaholic6

3 hours ago, lpops said:

That is Great advice.  We did the Baltic with the Norwegian Breakaway last year late June to early July.  No problem with overly warm days.  Suggest you take a sweater – we had a very chilly day at Peterhof Palace in St. Petersburg.  Have a great vacation.

We went to Helsinki and it was like our winter! Lovely and sunny but icy cold 🙂

3 hours ago, Ourusualbeach said:

They do not take care of 25 to 30 cabins.

 

it is more like 14 to 16 and if they get complaints or bad ratings on the feedback forms they have the number of cabins reduced.  

 

At $4.50 per person x 2 x 7 days that’s $63 per cabin x 14 cabins is $882 per week or $3528 for 4 weeks.

$3528 over 4 weeks?? In TIPS?? Plus their salary?? 

If you download the ‘Shipmate’ app, then go to ‘Explore’, type in the ship’s name, click on it and then click on ‘Itineraries’ you can pick your year, then the month and it shows all the cruises that month. 😊

1 hour ago, robtulipe said:

It is as shown below.

 

]

Amazing 😊

4 hours ago, mek said:

As others have mentioned, make sure you have cash for tips.  But other than that you don't need to spend anything extra to have a fun cruise. When we first started cruising we were on a tight budget so I know from experience it is possible.  If I were in your situation I would probably take $100 on a four night cruise and plan to spend as little of it as possible.

 

The last thing I would do is follow the advice of some who have said to put it on a credit card.  Really?  

I agree!  Once I limited myself to the equivalent of £5 per port and tried to find the best souvenir I could within that budget! I certainly wouldn’t be putting it on a credit card if I didn’t have the money in the first place!

4 minutes ago, robtulipe said:

Atlantis submarines deck minus one which is down one from the top deck.

Cool - the view must be amazing! 😊

On 5/25/2019 at 3:07 PM, LuCruise said:

Thought I heard it's been running on Spectrum too?  Wonder how long before it'll re-open on Mariner.

Yep - it was open on Spectrum when I was on her.

5 hours ago, notladjr said:

I know one thing, this thread has discouraged me from ever wanting to book a guarantee cabin if the cruise lines can bump people down from whatever catagory cabin they supposedly havea guarantee for. Scary.

 

I was offered a free cruise last month on a different cruise line if I booked an inside cabin guarantee. We had just gotten off a cruise a couple of months before and have a big European cruise and vacation coming up in a few months so we took them up on this free offer. My first ever guarantee cabin. I was nervous as all get out and then about 10 days before our cruise we were assinged a midship handicap accessible cabin. Perfectly located where I would have picked a cabin. My biggest fear had been the cabin would be below one of the very loud music venues that was active until late at night.

 

When we got there the cabin was very large, almost like a suite. We loved it. We got settled in then that night the phone rang and guest services said that after boarding some guests had informed them they needed a handicap accessible cabin and they wanted to know if we needed one. I told them no but that we were very pleased with the location of the cabin and the extra space. I then asked him how in the world someone could wait until they actually boarded the ship to decide they needed an accessible cabin. He said he didn't know, that he was just trying to accomodate the customer. He said they would put us in an UPGRADED cabin, an oceanview one. He name the deck (below the water line - something I avoid) and i instantly knew he was talking about a cabin directly underneath the music venue as I had feared we would get. Sure enough that was the case. Clearly the last cabins someone with any knowledge would book. I told guest services I did not want to be on deck 1 or 2 or beneath a music venue. I was hoping maybe they would come back with a decend location / cabin in which case I would have been cooperative. I did not tell him that though as I wanted that to come from them voluntarily. I also want to point out that if he had given me a good explanation of why at the lst minute, hours after boarding, someone needed our cabin I would have given it up. They said they would check into some alternatives and get back with me. I never heard from them again the entire cruise.

 Wow - which ship and deck has ocean view cabins below the water line?

3 hours ago, Saab4444 said:

Have you looked for the average weather and temperatures in the Baltic in May? No risk at all that it will be too hot! 

I agree! We did Baltic last June and the temperature was ... baltic! 😂

Definitely the best suite on the biggest, newest ocean cruise ship to my favourite ports! And I wouldn’t get off until I was ready!

31 minutes ago, Suemorganrose said:

Well the TA got back to us and it sounds as thought we are stuck with an inside cabin, going to try and push for more compensation though, even if it's just a higher amount of obc. We've decided not to let it dampen our spirits as we have been looking forward to this cruise for months.

I really hope you enjoy your cruise 😊 come back here and let us know how you got on 😊😊

1 hour ago, notladjr said:

I would go from an ocean view to an inside cabin for $500 total in a heartbeat. You could always cancel one or more of your prepurchased items and repurchase them with the OBC if you do decide to take what they are offering.

 

I do agree it is a breach of contrract and I am sure that is why they are offering you the OBC and $100 pp. I don't know how they can "overbook" a cruise since they obviously already had the commitment to you for that catagory of cabin. Really strange that this happend to you.

50 minutes ago, Suemorganrose said:

The £100pp isn't really compensation, it is just giving back the difference of the cost of the 2 room grades at time of purchasing, so it's just the $300. If we were regular cruisers we probably wouldn't find it such a big deal but 1st time cruisers and it's to celebrate a big birthday, unlikely to be able to afford it again for a long time if ever 

I absolutely don’t blame you - you are entitled to the cabin you booked and it’s awful that they have done this to you. Please let us know how things pan out for you - and I hope you enjoy your first cruise 🙂

7 hours ago, kernow said:

On Indy the prices shown on the menu already include the gratuity, this is just for cruises from Southampton for the UK market.

Ah I see - I did wonder after reading some of the other comments! Thank you for putting me straight! 😊

16 minutes ago, Micnvic said:

I have found it all fairly confusing. But after cancelling the drinks package several times and re adding it in the sales I think we have done fairly well. For me it is a huge weight off my mind to know that everything has been paid for when I step on board, i can fully relax

Hope you have a great cruise - I’m sure you’ll come back addicted like all of us on here! 😊😊

3 minutes ago, Micnvic said:

Many thanks for that. Full drinks package and gratuity all pre paid. 

Fantastic - the drinks package already includes the 18% and is well worth it I think! 😊

18 minutes ago, Micnvic said:

I am loving your trip report. Thanks so much for taking time out of your holiday to update us, it really is getting me into the holiday spirit.

 

am saddened to read about the tipping issue you mentioned. As I previously said this is our first cruise. However, we normally holiday in Florida so we are used to tipping for services. We decided to pre pay our tips, and I am so glad we did. I assume that the servers and staff are aware that we have pre paid, I guess when we order a drink they just scan your sea pass?

They just scan your sea pass anyway - if you have the drinks package then great, if not then the drink will be added to your bill, plus 18% gratuity as far as I’m aware.

I don’t think the Carnival one would be like sailing on a brand new ship to be honest - and I would probably do the Royal one, if only for Nice, it’s beautiful. 🙂

4 hours ago, grapau27 said:

Usually this is either on deck or in a lounge leaving the last port and easily avoided but it's like the 

Last Night of the Proms and we enjoy it.

OMG sounds fab! I can’t wait! 😊

1 hour ago, Bobal said:

Things that would make me never sail on P&O - waving Union Jacks and playing Rule Britannia as they leave port <cringe>. We call it Brexit-on-Sea

Yeah God forbid should we celebrate our country..... 🤔🤔

3 minutes ago, grapau27 said:

Iona is currently being built and will enter service doing a full season of 7 night Fjord cruises from and to Southampton UK 

It will be a child friendly ship

184,000 tons.

5,200 guests.

1800 crew.

We are D+ on Royal but have sailed 100 nights on P&O and the age range is always varied with most aged 25-55 years old.

Tips are included.

Drinks are reasonably priced with no gratuities added to drinks.

Thanks for that info - having never sailed on P&O I was unsure about the age range but just bit the bullet and booked it!!! That sounds good to me! 🙂

25 minutes ago, docco said:

The dress code's very clear and specifically excludes trainers for casual:

 

"Stylish resort or leisurewear is ideal for Evening Casual nights, for example casual separates or dresses for ladies and open-neck polo shirts and casual long trousers (not shorts or 3/4 length trousers) for men. A jacket and smart trousers can be worn but are not compulsory. T-shirts are also acceptable but should not have any offensive symbols or language on them. Smart dark denim is also fine, but not trainers, football shirts or tracksuits."

 

Ironically, though, there's no specific bar on trainers for 'Black Tie' or formal nights!  

 

 

Also, I don’t really think P&O are the slightest bit interested or impressed by how much the trainers cost 😂😂

23 minutes ago, Suzy Huntley said:

I've never sailed P&O, do you know what the age range on board is? Am I wrong in assuming its a more senior age group? The FCC is very tempting though, but I had my eye on a Greek isles cruise but in the space of 24 hours the balcony cabins went up by £1000!!!

I’m not sure about the age group although I think I’m with you in assuming it’s more senior - could be totally wrong though! Also because it’s a larger ship we might find a younger(ish) crowd! I had my eye on the Anthem Canaries cruise before the Indy got cancelled and all of a sudden the prices shot up so plumped for P&O instead! Never hurts to have a change once in a while!!! 🙂🙂

10 hours ago, akb5k said:

I was on a fjords cruise as well and really looking forward to it. Royal isn't offering one now so I rebooked on a P&O ship - better price, brand new ship, and an aft balcony so it all worked out! P&O is new for me but looking forward to trying it out! I'm from the US and Royal never offers us drinks packages:(

I’m also trying P&O Iona after being loyal to Royal for my last 5 cruises - not because I was booked on the Indy but just because we fancied a change!!!! Can’t wait to see what she looks like!!!! 🙂

59 minutes ago, LilBlackDress said:

Very Sorry for your loss ❣️

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water, and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together...

Author unknown...

Okay you just made me cry ... 😥😥😥

9 minutes ago, Milwaukee Eight said:

I understand Harmony ported in Coco Cay and don’t recall hearing issues. HOTS has almost 3x the amount of passengers. 

 3 x the amount of passengers of what?