TigerB

As you know, we always pre-book special assistance but, as our lass has a power chair, we don't actually need anyone from the assistance team to escort us and help. All folk that had assistance were being directed straight into the building, and in there I don't think there were more than a dozen or so waiting downstairs for assistance. Our lass said the group of four directly behind us at the check-in desk said their check-in time was 16:00. They were happy having been waved in. I couldn't make out a queue for other guests outside; it appeared all were walking steadily into the building and up the escalator. This was just after 13:30 mind; it may have been different at other times.

We're on board and in our cabin, but not without a bit of drama. Whenever we go away you can always guarantee there is drama. Our lass told the kids and each of them replied with roll-eyes emojis; they know us too well!🙄 The plan was to get to the terminal about an hour ahead of our 14:00 boarding time, to sort the luggage and the car. In good traffic it normally takes about 50 minutes from Newbury, but there were tailbacks on almost the entire stretch of the M3 we were on. We arrived at gate 4 at 13:00, a journey time of 70 minutes. However, from there to the drop off in lane 2, it took a further 20 minutes.😲 After unloading the luggage and this missus, and parking the car, we were at check-in for 13:45. Parking the car in the Triangle was a breeze. For those that don't know, after dropping off passengers and luggage, head out of the exit, the after about 300 feet, turn left into the car park. I was previously fretting about the disabled spaces. As you drive in there a seven in a line just on the right. I got the last of those. It's then about a five minute slow walk to the terminal. At check-in our names were called over the tannoy. I didn't hear it, but the boss did. I then got, "What have you done now"? She knows me two well! I went to the enquiry desk on the upper floor and was told security needed to check an item in one of our cases. I knew exactly what that was. They allowed us to check-in first, and then I suggested I go and sort it, and come back for the boss. The lady from security suggested we both went down, and we would go through the crew security screening, and then directly onto the ship. Once downstairs and through security, we were met by another security lady. "It's a knife, isn't it"? says I. "We just want to check the blade length". Despite our lass looking daggers at me and shaking her head, I have to say in my defence that all I was trying to do was add a little bit of class to our pre-dinner cocktails in the cabin, so brought on a couple of lemons.....oh, and the serrated knife to cut then. It was a wee bit over the 7cm limit, so it went in the confiscated box. Lesson learnt! Thank goodness they didn't find my bowie knife in the other case!🫢 Anyway, at least we saw a little bit 'behind the scenes', so every cloud an all that.😏 A short time later we were on board and in the Keel & Cow for much deserved liquid refreshment. Our cabin was ready, but a cold drink was more important at that time. I had a bit of time to get on the My Holiday app and make reservations for the 710 club and our evening meals, and breakfasts. I'll check in later with cabin photos.

I say 'not quite live' because I ain't paying for t'internet; I'll have to rely on mobile data when in port. This is fourth time lucky for us on this cruise. We booked the same cruise for the maiden season in 2020, to fall over our 30th wedding anniversary, but there was something going on in the world that led it to be cancelled. We looked to book it again for 2021, but the prices had gone right up; I'm quite sure it didn't go ahead again due to Covid. We looked at it again for 2022, but the prices were again £400 more than we would have paid for the original trip. For this confirmed trip, which will now be over our 33rd anniversary, the prices had come down to just a couple of quid more than we had paid for 2020; so, we were happy with that. We have an accessible balcony cabin on deck 15, the same one we had originally booked. The OBC is a bit meagre though; standard is £80, BLC is £70, and shareholder is £60. It'll be alright though; we don't drink to excess, and trips and speciality restaurants have been booked and paid for. Unlike ICF, we didn't stay in Winchester last night or have a crappy crème brûlée at Rick Stein's place. Nor will we be shelling out over £200 for lunch. No, for us it was our usual pre-cruise hotel ....the six star Newbury south PI at £49, plus the meal deal. #Yorkshire😉 As it happens, we had cause to complain about our main meal last night; I won't go into detail other than today our lass told the duty manager they were like Iceland rejects!🙄 Long story, short, we were refunded the whole meal deal charges. Result!👍 Having sailed on Arvia twice now, we are really looking forward to seeing how Iona compares. We will try and give Olive Grove a try; we didn't care for it on Arvia. We have three accessible tours booked for each of Stavanger, Olden and Haugesund. We've booked all the speciality restaurants we want to do; Epicurean twice, once for the Norwegian tasting menu (really looking forward to that) and again for our anniversary, and Sindhu for the formal night. As it is just one week, I've decided not to take my best bib and tucker. We have a 14:00 check-in so planning to get there a good hour early to get the luggage sorted and car parked (Triangle), then to sit for a while inside and try and get on the My Holiday app to book more stuff before we board. I'll check in later, folks.👋

I've just checked the itinerary on our Cruise Planner; the cruise-bys are still showing for the 13th, but Olden has dropped off. Our tour for Olden is still showing. As Andy writes, there is likely to be an IT glitch. I really can't understand the IT glitch, it's not like P&O have ever had IT problems before!🙄

We are also sailing on the 10th, but not had an email.😠

No need to apologise; I wasn't having a dig, just highlighting for the OP. 🙂

As per the map at post #7

We've yet to use CPS; we have them booked for September. When we last used P4C, my son and I arrived at the same time, along with two other vehicles. Less than five minutes later, we were walking back to the terminal. After returning, I reviewed my dash-cam footage (bit sad, I know); our driver followed my son's car to the compound. Both cars were treated well on the drive and at the compound. The cars were returned by 07:00 on the day of disembarkation. We will certainly use them again.

We've only used them at Ocean Terminal and, like you, found them to be user friendly.

Forgot to specify; amended now

This is Ocean Terminal

Believe me, in those two places you won't feel out of place in a smart polo shirt and trousers or dark denim. If it's Iona you're on, and it's in a couple of weeks, it will be the one after us. I normally take a black suit and dickie for the formal night but, as there is only one on this cruise, I'm not bothering. On that night we are booked in for Sindhu, and I'll be wearing a pair of dark denims and a nice shirt, or t-shirt and sports jacket. I won't feel out of place. I wouldn't be surprised if a few folk will be thinking as you are, and considering where else they can eat on the formal night. The Olive Grove cannot be booked until you are onboard, so that may be a struggle to get in there at your preferred time on the formal night. If you fancy Sindhu, you will be able to book it from home when your dining options open, which will be after midnight tonight for your cruise.

Further to the last reply, you could eat at Sindhu or Olive Grove, neither of which are black tie on that night

There was an outbreak on our Arvia cruise in April. The affected crew members were isolated and passengers were not affected. There were outbreaks on a couple of other ships around the same time or just after; all were dealt with robustly, I understand.

Buy from whomever you are comfortable with. We purchased from Hargreaves Lansdown; it was a simple process and our fees were the standard £11.95 plus a couple of quid extra. We got our proof of ownership the same day. Send the proof of ownership, including your cruise details, to: shareholderbenefits@carnivalukgroup.com

Yes, you will be able to do that. You will need a copy of your certificate or proof of ownership. Remember to delete/obscure your account number

There have been a few cruises where we have been on freedom dining but had the same waiters throughout the cruise. On only one of those, on Britannia about five years ago, did we receive menus at the end; they were signed.

Many years ago we had very poor service at a restaurant in Florida; as we got up to leave the waiter came up to us to say that we hadn't left a tip. My late brother-in-law glared at him and said, "Here's a tip for you, don't sit down with a light bulb in your back pocket". We then left.

Wrong thread

And you've been in therapy since then!😵‍💫

Nobody, according to the article; he stays and also takes on the role of Carnival UK President.

No, I think we will stick with Lobstermania. Mind you, on our last trip we saw one young fella on there who had almost £300 credit showing; in the twenty minutes or so while we watched him, he lost all of that and another £200 that he had put in. Even the minimum stake of 75p is still a bit rich for us!

ICF, I haven't been able to find a post about it, but did you manage to get the tax rebate? If so, what was the process like?

I'm not an aficionado of the dish, but this is the one she had in the Chef's Table: I can't find a photo of the one she had in January. Yes, the MDR does have a two week menu, I recall. I wasn't aware the Chef's Table menu didn't change.

Yes, you can take on 1 litre of alcohol each at the start, plus unlimited soft drinks. You can by more booze when in port. You are supposed to declare it when you get back on board, and security have the option to take it from you and keep it safe until the end of the cruise, but that has never happened to us.