Winifred 22

8 hours ago, cruising.mark.uk said:

I know we are very lucky with OBC and we also benefit from military and shareholder OBC, which many will not.  A tip, though, - but certainly not financial advice as I'm not qualified to give that and it would be inappropriate on here - at current prices, buying 100 CCL shares will cost about £800.  For that, you (as a single traveller or a couple, there's no double dibs for a couple if they are both shareholders) will get £150 OBC for every 2-week cruise you do on P&O and $250 on Cunard, Princess and Holland America.  For someone who travels as much as you do on CCL ships, I sense that you'd more than recover your initial outlay in the first year after you 

3 hours ago, davecttr said:

I will ask the question again, how many shirts do you pack for a 7, 14 and 21 night cruise?

 

 

My family would pack 1 per night plus a spare so 8 15 and 22 . We don’t do laundry on holiday. Plus t shirts polos etc.. for day time. Have enough of it at home all year. We only ever cruise out of Southampton and park nearby so luggage no issue. 

Wow those are good  prices. 

Just looked them up. If I was free 21 nights for under 1300 yes please. 

I should imagine it’s just those 3 . Cunard did something similar last year and it was just selected med cruises without the flight. 

I can’t see them allowing non standard configurations. As you suggest there wouldn’t be enough room anyway with all the fixed furniture and the table lamps are sometimes fixed. I have stayed in a variety of cabins across all 3 Queens and can’t envisage putting the beds in an L. Interesting about the deluxe inside. I am eyeing up a late saver filler cruise and they are advertising inside deluxe. Tempted to see what they are like. 

I was recommended to book for a TA and have done so. 

Sorry to be dense. Do you mean only have one single bed in the room. I don’t think that is offered. I have never been offered that and always have the bed separated. I use the spare bed to put my bag on etc.. 

1 hour ago, Interestedcruisefan said:

I don't believe the people at check in or security at Southampton actually work for P and O do they?

 

Regardless I believe they are excellent at their jobs and not people to be complaining about

 

It's a well oiled machine there

 

Any issues at Southampton I would suggest are caused by passengers either arriving early or late or both

You are correct . They are not P &O or Cunard employees. I think they work for Intercruises but definitely not Carnival U K.  It’s no point and totally unfair to moan and grumble at them if their policies or way of organising things don’t suit you. They are doing their job as instructed and deserve to be respected. As you say most of the problems arise for whatever reason  from people arriving at the wrong arrival time. 

It’s my understanding that if one or two of the Pullman berths are being used there is no option on the bed configuration. It has to be two singles. 

8 hours ago, kruzseeka said:

Important correction: 
I've just been looking at getting a Nationwide credit card and whilst Winifred 22 is quite correct in saying there is no charge for transactions abroad it seems that now cash withdrawals do attract a charge.   Apologies for the previous misinformation. 

 

Extract from N/W site:

Cash withdrawals in a foreign currency outside the UK
Non-sterling transaction fee	n/a
Cash fee	2.5% of the transaction amount (min £3.00)

 

 

Also just checked the Halifax site to be sure I'm not giving more duff info!    When it comes to money - best get it right!!!!!  

 

Halifax Clarity Credit Card

No fees when you travel and one simple rate for the things you buy

 

0% fee to withdraw cash

Interest charges apply and some ATM providers may charge a fee

0% fee for using your card abroad

Interest charges will still apply.

 

Oh that’s interesting about the Halifax I have accounts there too and Clarity card. I never use either debit or credit card for cash withdrawals I just use it for spending in shops , excursions etc.. Thanks for extra info. I know Halifax travel insurance doesn’t give you the option to upgrade and add cruise cover. 

7 hours ago, kruzseeka said:

Nationwide FlexPlus charge only £40 p.a. for missed ports/cabin confinement - that's for a couple of you if have a joint account.  We got £150 p.p./day for cabin confinement last year.  Not sure what the missed port rate is - perhaps £100 iirc and presumably each if it's a joint account - realise there are other factors involved in choice of insurers but the extra you quote for your insurer sounds excessive to me (without knowing the details of course).  It may not be like for like but may be worth investigating.

I opened an account just for cruising with them for the insurance and the £40 upgrade cover. Their credit and debit cards do not attract foreign transaction charges either. Sail with Cunard so this is an extra win as all onboard is in dollars. 

2 hours ago, CarlaMarie said:

 

The shuttle buses are not supplied by P&O now though so you do have to pay if you want to use them at Haugesund. 

I paid about £5 return last month. Very efficient ran every 10 15 mins no queues. 

I had one on deck 8 . Fabulous views both ways in the fjords but was windy. Weather was particular bad last July in Fjords. 

10 hours ago, Megabear2 said:

Not everyone comes in via the M3/M27 though.  Spoke to quite a few on here who have come from the West and also Bournemouth way.  They have used the A36 and the A303 or via Salisbury.  The Southampton Road through Salisbury is non existent - well I'd say so anyway as our esteemed MP John Glen is "watching it" - being a single track road with superstores either side funelling to a roundabout each end with a Tesco, Premier Inn and McDonalds at the furthest point .  My home is 1 mile from the furthest end of this road and regularly takes 30 minutes to reach the Tesco there.

 

The road system also welcomes quite often 19 mile diversions when the A303 or M3 are closed.

I agree. I join the M27 at Cadnam from New Forest and the worse delays are often between the Salisbury and Southampton Junction. Frequently it can be just bumper to bumper all the way from not long after I join. 

2 hours ago, Victoria2 said:

Cunard ticks all our boxes too. Why change when something suits so well. Familiarity doesn't breed contempt for us. It says 'welcome home'!🙂

Absolutely. Part of the pleasure for me is knowing exactly what to expect. Only possible tantrum from me would be if they changed the Golden Lion menu and took off my favourites .

Embarkation day ritual for me. A curry in the Golden Lion by 1 30 and then a dessert from Kings Court or Carintha lounge depending on if I am on Q V or QM. Then a trip to the Britannia Restaurant to check out my table.

10 minutes ago, Lord Haw Haw said:

Wow, wait till you try a luxury cruise line. I started with Crunard which was lovely but then got serious.

 

I really don't want to burst anyones bubble but horses for courses.

No courses for me.Cunard is at the top of my price range. No desire to cruise less often by spending more on upscaling. I’ve known some people spend more per night than I do on my whole cruise !! 100% their choice but not mine. Can’t see the point . Cunard ticks all my boxes so that’s a no from me. 😀🚢

9 minutes ago, davecttr said:

Sorry to butt in. My next 3 cruises are on Britannia, Aurora and Arcadia. Which terminals do they use?

 I have always sailed out of Ocean Terminal 2021 2022 and 2023 on Britannia.

3 minutes ago, Landon90 said:

As in use mine to get it all setup and the boarding pass then change it after? Didn’t know that was possible but sounds good if we can change it afterwards. 🙂 

Yes it’s quite straight forward to do. Just as the other poster said you can easily go to

reception and change it as soon as you get onboard. Saves time at check in 

On 5/10/2023 at 2:20 PM, Megabear2 said:

I'm just booking fast track for my OH.  I know his passport is valid for EU but very nervous of over officious officials.  Seems to be two choices.  Get a form from PO, complete it, attend Newport at a cost of £155 new passport sent within 7/8 days or £193.50 to apply online and then travel to Newport to collect it in person.  Seem to be same appointment times for each though!

We attended Newport for renewal / change of name on Saturday morning and  passport was back by Wednesday. So worth the extra money and drive. Super cheap fry up in the Asda opposite. 

1 hour ago, Selbourne said:

I had the same issue with Cunard the other week (same IT system). You can check in at the terminal. 

Same here with Cunard. Managed to do it on lap top in the end. 

On 4/16/2023 at 12:45 PM, Lady of the Nile said:

Hi there, can anyone answer this question, years ago when we went on the QM, if we had a treatment in the Spa, that enabled you to use the Spa for a day without having a pass. Maybe its wishful thinking that still happens. I feel nickel and dimed here a little bit. Yes we have obc as World Club, and 45 minutes of WIFI which I don't want, but I was told, that I can't cash it in for anything else. Thanks for any advice. Going on QV in August round Briitish Isles, but not much information on that i.e. Lido Evening Restaurant.

 

Hi I think you will find your world club benefits have changed now. You don’t get free internet minutes just a sum to put towards the 24 hour or voyage packages. Similarly I have not had OBC as part of World Club just when it was offered with fare. 

On 10/21/2018 at 5:58 PM, hihilo said:

CUNARD will most likely offer a ' day tour' of the city that ends at JFK. You can also take a taxi, or UBER to the A/P but that sounds   like a   L O T   of boring time to hang around the airport.

The only tours I can see are only bookable for those doing the 15 round trip transatlantic. Nobody else is allowed to join according to My Cunard. 

I am on a 15 day transatlantic and have booked a Cunard 4 hour excursion to see the sites. 

4 hours ago, davecttr said:

Just checked, this is what they say, those prices are the minimum bids for 2 people

 

Upgrade offers are priced per person and based on two guests sharing a cabin. If you are sailing solo, you will be charged 200% of your offer amount.

 

So the minimum bid for a solo cruiser in a mini suite would be £1900

Yes it would . Not worth it.