picsa

Hopefully my Irish passport will be through by then so it will be irrelevant for me, and also irrelevant for my wife travelling on her UK passport as the 90/180 rule doesn’t apply to spouses and children of EU citizens when travelling with the EU citizen.

Other than breakfast where I just want a juice and a pastry, then I have no idea why anyone would choose to use the cafeteria other than the MDR at lunchtime or evening.

When P&O stop recommending passengers wear them around the ship - the staff can’t be seen not wearing them if it is recommended that you do, even if nobody does (although not actually nobody as there are still half a dozen or so passengers wearing them when walking around).

It means that booking for the theatre seems irrelevant - either the staff tick you off if you booked, but if you didn’t they just wave you through or book you in themselves then and there. And they are only there before the show starts so arrive five minutes afterwards and you can just walk in anyway. In summary, the ‘app’ and booking for the theatre appears to be pointless.

Similar on Azura this week, except Sindhu isn’t open either - although the MDR is open for lunch.

Exactly - it seems crazy you would close the restaurants that make you money.

Believe they just sent her down there a couple of months ago to do the ‘figure of eight’ cruises from Valletta stopping there each Thursday and alternating the weekly route.

Am on Azura in the med at the moment. Sindu has been closed since April, Epicurean closed last week, The Glass House isn’t doing food, afternoon tea is cancelled, and the Beach House was booked solid for the whole cruise from day one. The reception manager offered a standard letter confirming the situation to be sent to guest services on return by disappointed customers.

No areas on B deck on Azura are blocked off for quarantine. when I travelled on Iona last September the quarantine area was behind closed doors where they had closed the passage way doors to block access - nothing on B deck is similarly blocked off. And sorry to hear about your wife.

On fixed dining and second sitting isn’t that busy with plenty of tables being kept empty - I booked three weeks ago on a cheapo saver and got a table for two on my preferred sitting without issue. Haven’t heard any moans from those using Freedom about queues or the ‘app’ (quite why P&O refer to their MyHoliday webpage as an “app” eludes me). At the Playhouse theatre when you say “no” to the question “Have you booked in the app” between saying “just go in” and “let me book you in now” which they do on the tablet they are carrying. No ‘app’ booking is needed for breakfast or lunch - just the Freedom dining and the Beach House (which tells you ‘tough luck’).

Joined Azura last Thursday for a couple of weeks. Airport not too horrible as it was an early flight, but others didn’t seem so lucky as the P&O charters later in the day were delayed so Azura was an hour or so late leaving Valletta. The question about what is closed on Azura should perhaps be what is actually open. Sindu has been closed since April, Epicurean closed last week, the Glass House is open but isn’t doing food - and the Beach House that is open - well you can have a booking for next week but this week - sorry, fully booked. No idea how full the ship is, but it doesn’t feel busy at all - even at breakfast on a port day you can have a pick of dozens of free tables to sit at and there are no queues to get back on board, or finding a seat in the theatre or show bar - Manuel Marinez the ‘Cuban’ comedian was joking last night about there only being forty people in the room so it didn’t matter about his performance - a joke but he was about right with the numbers. Aside from that things are returning to normal with masks now only needed in the medical centre and on tenders (or shuttle busses if the country requires it) but all the staff still are because it is recommended. A few more shows on board than before. Dance classes back. No limits on numbers in pools. Still no ship’s photographers. Azura is starting to look very tired in places though. Some of the furniture is showing wear and is dirty, and the carpets have seen better days. Anyway, if people are not flying out on for a cruise in June at the prices P&O are currently charging, then hard to see how they can afford to pay for the staff to actually open the closed venues.

Do you actually know the commercial arrangements and any profit share between the concessionaire and P&O? I am sure that P&O don't let the concessionaire operate on their ships for free.

I see the on-board shopping offer (https://www.pocruises.com/onboard-activities/shopping) has recently changed for the worse. Back before April (https://web.archive.org/web/20210416071315/https://www.pocruises.com/onboard-activities/shopping) the offer was - "Enjoy a minimum saving equivalent to the VAT on every item compared to its UK high street price or RRP and receive a further discount (up to 10 per cent) if you’re a member of our Peninsular club." However it is now - "Enjoy a saving of up to 15% on every item compared to its average UK high street price and become a member of our Peninsular club to receive a further discount (up to 10%)." So P&O are making at least 5% extra profit on everything sold, and that is only if you get the 15% saving as it isn't on everything.