shopaholic6

1 hour ago, grapau27 said:

Personally I think the people who claim 'It's not our culture' are hiding behind this because basically they are tightwads.

There are still many people in the UK like myself accept tipping is part of cruising.

Except P&O clearly feel different and pay their crew a decent wage, therefore don’t expect tipping.

1 hour ago, Seville2Cabo said:

Just because something is optional, does not mean it is not expected or the custom.   

 

I don't understand the "it's not our culture to tip".  This is just an excuse.  So if you are traveling to a country that removes shoes before entering a home, do you just say "not my culture"?

 

 

That’s the stupidest argument I ever heard. If you go to a country where they wear the burka, do you wear it? Or do you say ‘it’s not my culture’?

5 minutes ago, grapau27 said:

P&O now include gratuities because so many were stopping paying them.

The reports on P&O UK tipping boards was that people were getting letters from GS left in the docket outside their cabins asking them to reconsider reinstating their auto-gratituities that they stopped.

We always pre-pay our gratuities on Royal and forget about it and give cash to people who give us excellent service but as someone posted 

$435 for a 15 night cruise is a reason people think ;:How Much:

and most will probably tip in cash but possibly a lot less than would have been taken in autogratuities and some like on P&O UK didn't tip at all.

 

I suppose tipping isn’t really a ‘thing’ in the UK - it’s more an American thing - given the majority of P&O cruisers are probably from the UK, that could be the reason.

4 minutes ago, awestover89 said:

Had it the past couple days, yesterday was really bad. Today has been slightly better so far, but still erroring out a lot.

It’s driving me mad!

Just now, emam said:

 

We are going on Britannia in June. Let me know nearer to the time if you still want some. I think I will have a new scanner by then. Actually change that to I will have one. I will be keeping them either way. A lovely reminder of our holiday.

That would be fab - thank you! I always keep mine too - can’t bear to throw them away!

Just now, emam said:

Does anyone know if I can change them so that they are the right way up.

I don’t but not to worry - I’ll turn my tablet upside down 😀😀 thanks again! 

11 minutes ago, tartanexile81 said:

Iona is going to be something very different because of the sheer size of it. For example it will have more venues and also the Limelight  Supper Club which currently only Britannia (next biggest and newest) has, so if you could get hold of a Britannia Horizon you'd get a better idea. I take photos of the Horizons now but not sure if I did when I was last on Britannia.

 

Which Canaries Cruise are you doing. We're doing a B2B in Feb / March 2021.

Yes that’s true - I suppose no one really knows because it’s a new ship! We are on the October 2020 - just booked yesterday! I’ll check out some Britannia Horizons if I can get some! 😊

12 minutes ago, emam said:

Well here goes. I have been on a while trying to copy them, but my scanner is playing up. I had to take photos of them so apologies if they are all a mess. I have cropped and rotated them, but it doesn't look like they have saved the right way.

 

These ones are a bit more up to date than the ones on the website. so between them all you should get some idea. There is more to follow (hopefully).

You’re a star! Thank you! 😊😊

5 minutes ago, cb at sea said:

Seem to be having some issues today...I keep getting either blank pages or error notices......anyone else?

 

Yep me too - thought it was my dodgy internet!

Just now, tartanexile81 said:

The evening venues and entertainment vary greatly from ship to ship. Which one are you on?

We will be on the Iona Canary Islands cruise 😊

5 minutes ago, eddie11 said:

You’re welcome.

That website is a mine of information re menus, activities, statistics etc

Just been looking at it - it’s fab thank you 😊

46 minutes ago, eddie11 said:

Try this site?

 

http://www.beyondships2.com/oriana-daily-programs.html

Ooh that’s great - thank you! 😊

2 hours ago, P-L-B said:

Be aware that the daily Horizon activities vary depending on sea or port days.

I think that's because some of the crew and entertainment team are tasked with other duties on port days.

Ah yes of course - just wanted a rough idea really and to see how it compares to Royal Caribbean 😊

55 minutes ago, Bobal said:

 

I'll tell you how - by finding out their name and leaving a comment on the feedback questionnaire. I did this for a lovely young woman who worked as a restroom attendant on a RC ship. She handed over towels, opened the doors, always had a smile and a friendly word. I saw her a year or so later on the same ship and she'd been promoted because others had done the same. Sometimes a cash tip isn't the only way of showing appreciation.

I agree. Apparently if you compliment staff by name in the feedback questionnaire they get all sorts of perks on the ship.

11 hours ago, emam said:

I will try to add one tomorrow, though so far I haven't been able to add attachments.

That would be great if you could - thanks 😊

1 hour ago, Reina del Mar said:

We booked and paid for deluxe drinks' package on UK website and were charged service charge/ gratuities...think it was 16%

Yes me too - think we paid 18% but it was definitely added on to the ‘per day’ price.

Hi,

I have recently booked with P&O for the first time, my last 5 cruises being with Royal Caribbean. I wonder if someone would be good enough to post a copy of the Horizon daily newsletter, preferably from a European cruise, just to give me an idea of what kind of activities are put on?

Thanks 😊

4 minutes ago, ChrisTheDBA said:

John Donne.

Eh? 🤔

2 minutes ago, shopaholic6 said:

I didn’t know there were any single ones on this particular ship. I see now looking on the deck plans that they have single balcony cabins.

And interior come to that! 😊

2 minutes ago, ChrisTheDBA said:

That's kind of sad.

Why is it? Lots of people cruise on their own.

2 minutes ago, Biker19 said:

Many ships have solo cabins. 

I didn’t know there were any single ones on this particular ship. I see now looking on the deck plans that they have single balcony cabins.

I didn’t know there were any single cabins on Spectrum?

13 hours ago, bmatrose said:

Kind of a weird question but here goes.  My family(Wife and two kids 14 and 12) and I vacation about 3 times a year.  Every vacation I have some sort of surprise planned like a new activity(Indoor Sky Diving) or surprise traveler(Cousins showed up on trip to Disney).  They have gotten used to their being a surprise but never know what it might be.  We have an upcoming cruise booked at the end of the summer that we are all very excited about.  When I initially booked I booked two connecting inside staterooms but a few weeks later I found the price dropped and I booked two Balcony state rooms for a total of $400 more for the week.  I immediately booked it but didn't tell anyone.  As a family we have been on around 5 cruises and have never had anything but inside staterooms. Now onto the question.   I want to keep this a surprise to all of them right up until they open the door to the room.  My biggest worry is at check in.  During the check in process does the check in agent mention the type of room you are in?  It would be easier if I told my wife before hand but I wanted it to be a surprise for her too.  Any suggestions on how I can keep this secret until we enter the room?

That is such a lovely idea - I do hope it all works out which I’m sure it will! 😊

8 minutes ago, Bluemoontets said:

From the email I got its only 25%FCC of what has been paid.

Due to this cancellation, we will process a full refund of all monies paid to the original form of payment, including any non-refundable deposits.

Also, to help make up for this inconvenience, we'd like to provide you with the following compensation offer:

A Future Cruise Credit valued at 25% of their cruise fare paid on their cancelled holiday. You can expect to receive your Future Cruise Credit via email by the 13^th May 2019 in hopes you’ll come and sail with us on another cruise.

Surely that means 25% of what the cruise has cost you, rather than what you have physically paid?

2 minutes ago, mcoler181 said:

Hi all,

 

So we have the DBP included with the cost of our cruise, question though will all of the individual drinks charges still go to our room bill so we can view it in the room on the TV like usual? Last time we cruised RC the didnt have the all inclusive option so drinks were just charged to our seapass.

 

 

Just come off the Spectrum where we had the DBP and the tv account listed when and where we had had drinks (i.e. the date and pool bar, Music Hall etc.) but just showed the cost as $0.00 😊