Interestedcruisefan

On a separate note we are flying from Manchester to Barbados with p and o on Maleth on Friday I've done the online check in with passport details Can't see any link etc to print luggage labels anywhere? Do we not need them when flying with p and o? Ie do they label the luggage at the airport Anyone who knows much appreciated?

On azamara South Africa recently we only had 517 guests Buffet was served by staff wearing gloves Even someone on the ice cream machine and coffee machines etc all day Pools closed various days and emptied and refilled more than once Cabins deep cleaned (defumigated) twice during the cruise (12 night cruise) Staff positioned at every entrance to buffets to ensure everybody washed hands on entering AND leaving the buffet and entering and leaving the ship We got daily messages from the captain warning everyone and urging everybody to take every precaution possible etc We washed our own hands way over the top compared to normal On a cruise with so few guests despite all the efforts neither of us avoided catching the tummy bug I would hazard a guess most passengers and crew caught it at some stage It was clearly a problem on the cruise before us and on our cruise based on all the efforts that were going on and the daily messages from the captain If it's like that with 517 guests then what chance with more guests? Despite all those efforts there weren't enough automated doors on the ship compared to Iona and Arvia now. So you had to touch far too many door handles (perhaps would take gloves next time we cruise on an older ship) That's one advantage Iona and Arvia ships have - automated doors -open especially toilets etc

Not sure if I will do a live report this time Might post some photos from time to time though Will look for a nice quiet pool somewhere and let you know but don't think there will be one tbh

It's a big ship (as you know) but we just use the smaller/quality places on the ship so it doesn't feel so big (Also will help if you aren't travelling in school holidays) So our favourite spots are as follows 710 Club - need to book slots immediately you board Anderson's bar for cocktails (no booking necessary) Crows Nest for cocktails (no booking necessary) Swim up pool bar for frozen cocktails (no booking needed of course but if you want sunbeds near it on a sea day you will need to be early riser The sushi restaurant (needs pre-booking) Epicurean (needs pre-booking) The Gym - top quality Limelight Bar (def needs pre-booking) One of the smaller MDRs book on the app Theatre - pre book so no need to arrive mega early to queue (big theatre but that's theatres for you) Cinema - small cinema If you are someone who is happy to eat 6.30pm or earlier - everything is easier to book If you are in any of these places at any stage you won't feel the hustle and bustle of being on a big ship If you are in Brodies, The Clubhouse, the Atrium or round the pool in the Dome area you WILL know you are on a big ship Walking to all these places that are nice and calm - the distance you walk will remind you that you are on a big ship That's my tips We are on Arvia for 2 weeks in the Caribbean from next Friday

We faced it on azamara - it was happening the cruise before us and happened to our cruise (tummy bug) despite loads of hand washing protocols and buffets all beings served by staff Happened to my parents recent cruise on saga (norovirus) I think it's rife at the moment tbh And it's hard to avoid even if you follow the protocols

One word of warning - we used card to pay for one of the land trains from Iona in The Fjords. They added a zero either by mistake or on purpose and we paid 440 pounds for 2 people equivalent on our credit card rather than 44 pounds

As it stands I believe Iona aims cruises at older demographics with its 4 MDRs and Arvia aims cruises at younger demographics with less MDRs and more choice of restaurants etc As a result Iona cruises are older average age and quieter and calmer cruises Arvia more lively and younger average age We enjoy both ships My parents wouldn't enjoy either as they want a small ship without children on board that's calm and quite and they can get around easily

That's clearly to do with fellow passengers and cruise type rather than the ship though Different demographics on a Caribbean sun cruise and a Norwegian Fjords cruise Also huge huge difference between a school holiday cruise and non school holiday cruise I started a thread not too long ago saying that age and demographics of fellow passengers has a huge impact on a cruise rather than the ship itself I believe that more than ever Saw it myself on azamara recently where the only kids on board were children of some of the senior staff on holiday Totally different atmosphere to a family cruise ship. Much calmer and quieter. Which many will prefer. But some won't prefer. We can enjoy both ourselves A cruise on Iona to the Fjords is totally different atmosphere to a cruise in the Caribbean on Arvia as well Its not the ship its where it is and who is attracted to to those places etc IMO

Choose based on itinerary and price As they are very similiar

Thanks for reminding me! I had forgotten that - need to make a plan

Would imagine vast majority of people involved in talking about it weren't on delayed flights and aren't due any compensation but are on the anti Maleth bandwagon Based on what I've seen to date I just like to see Tui and Maleth treated equally etc I'm flying Maleth next Friday to barbados from Manchester Will give them an honest comparison compared to Tui last year and Virgin that I've just experienced I'm praying I'm not behind or in front (or next to) a baby

We were sat very near the back of the plane

I heard both parents at separate times say "They aren't normally like this - I think they are teething!" Lol We just grinned and beared it We've been there ourselves with our babies screaming on planes albeit furthest we tried with babies was the Canaries

Is it possible to request adult areas on flights without paying surcharge I think mine was just allocated automatically when we checked in? We did think they should keep families with young children together and not put single adults or couples literally in the middle of them Where possible We saw other families with babies dotted around the flight as well. Didn't seem to be any method to it

Yes get well soon. Sorry it's taken so long and ruined your recent cruise. Our recent azamara cruise (and the one before we got on according to the captain) there was a tummy bug going round everyone despite loads of sanitiser protocols. Gave you the runs. We both got it and we took every opportunity we could do sanitise hands etc One benefit the new ships have over this older ship was automatic doors everywhere including in the toilets (Arvia and Iona that is) So on this ship everybody's touching the same door handles coming in and out of decks and toilets and restaurants all over the ship. Surprised the doors haven't been updated tbh

The sums are set by the authorities. It's not upto maleth or tui to decide how much is it? As far as I know? And no doubt Maleth will pay like the rest of them There's tables on how to calculate what you are owed depending on the length of the flight and the length of delay last time I looked which was only recently Just got home from a 12 hr flight from Cape Town On a dreamliner with Virgin. Nice food and service. Standard seats. Reasonably comfortable (as it can be in the circumstances) However directly in the seat behind me was a baby who screamed 50 per cent of the flight And incredibly directly in the seat in front of me was another baby who screamed 50 per cent of the flight The 2 babies between them somehow managed to scream at opposite times So 100 per cent of the flight between them and you could even hear them clearly with headphones on full volume Absolute nightmare 12 hrs in that respect That prepares me pretty much for anything Maleth can throw at me next week I hope!!

I'm going to assume it's a bash Maleth agenda on there and delays on Tui arent a concern or highlighted when they happen?

Not too late to book scuba diving in Curacao selbourne!! Lol It's amazing there!!

Does he also have a thread to discuss progress for flight delay claims for Tui?

I hated it at Newark airport The night we flew home from there - despite huge queues and problems 95 per cent of the staff went home at midnight and refused to work overtime to help overcome problems caused by a security scare earlier in the evening And yes there was zero communication

Drinks were included on our recent 12 day south africa azamara cruise Whole cruise was amazing But literally some days of the cruise we chose to just drink still and sparkling water and be good Don't think it's healthy to drink the amount you would need to drink to get value from most drinks packages It's shown us never to contemplate paying extra for drinks We wouldn't get any value from it Also we started trying to eat less and be more healthy with food as well despite the great choices available

No chance They might have very occasionally made a celebration night menu at a real push. Never standard choices These are Epicurean level dishes for sure Look at the accompaniments ?

I don't think so I see it as a positive - more people having more opportunity to upgrade should they wish Most speciality restaurants become sold out early on from my experience There's clearly a demand for the higher end meals and that doesn't have to mean any lowering of MDR standards for normal menus It's just more choice for all IMO There's only so many times people will want fillet steak as well It can't replace standard food more than a couple of times And in any decent set menu restaurant in the land you will expect to see certain dishes with an extra price This is nothing revolutionary It's still good for bean counters due to the fact plenty of people DO choose to elevate meals when given the chance

Get well soon MB!

Good point Yes further up its cheaper to get in There are also people selling cheap boat trips here you can snorkel with turtles all down that beach as well