paulatsea

I was invited to a meeting in London to discuss our Fred experience - this was about 5 years ago when the prices were competitive. It was suggested that they get some new ships as the fleet was tired - we often used to suffer from fumes coming through the air con for example. Also mentioned was the lack of balconies. Also the fluctuation in prices - although good value at that time people wanted some sort of fixed pricing or variable but consistent like saga where the prices increase towards the sail date and a price guarantee so that they were confident they would not be paying more than someone else for exactly the same cruise. The general feeling was that the staff were excellent and the itineraries especially were very good and different to other lines. Also people liked the fact that several cruises on each of the ships were adults only exclusively (even though not many children usually go with Fred) as many did not want to take any risk of having children on board. One person suggested that they try and appeal to a younger crowd - but everyone else disagreed as one of the things that they liked was the more mature fellow passengers.

I have seen children on Fred - outside of the school holidays - mainly infants - but a few school age - and they ended up next to us - so after that we only chose the adults only itineraries. Hope they bring some back.

Agree with ferretktf - ANKER are excellent - I have one. Powerful and reliable. got mine via Amazon.

And bring back adults only itineraries

Same with me - I phoned up to pay - and to make sure auto payment was removed. All was fine.

That’s a great idea - so you just stay on board.

Thanks - will do.

I’ve thought about this and it looks like a good night out and a chance to see the ship - but it seems it’s only inside cabins and no tables for two - from what I have read ? Otherwise I would def go.

I’ve checked with saga and they say all the drivers are required to be tested before pick up.

Are they required to be tested ? Do you know ? I think I’ll ask saga - if the expectation is that they are tested I would ask for another car if they said they had not been tested - and see what happens.

Was that the one where they reduced the prices massively at the last minute and loads of nasties booked ?

Crazy - I know that’s a Christmas one but still - massive difference.

The fluid pricing is a mystery to me - never been able to work it out and doesn’t always seem to be capacity related. I would love to see any algorithm they have. I’ve just booked Aurora for December 2023 Canaries for 16 nights - select price ,standard balcony, £360pp OBC and car parking for about £1500. When I first saw the price I had to look again - I can’t remember seeing that good a deal before. With the OBC it’s the same price almost as the 7 nights to Portugal/Guernsey on Aurora I had already booked for August 2023.

Yes - be happy to give that a miss.

No - adults only is not just mainly on transfers - Marella explorer 2 is adults only on all its cruises. Anyway in 2023 there is only 1 adults only- to Asia - on discovery 2 - Sri Lanka to Singapore - so assuming Sri Lanka is sorted by then it looks good. !

So looks like some discovery 2 itineraries are adults only -for Asia and some others . That’s news to me as I thought it was only Explorer 2 . Perhaps it’s always been like this . I will phone to check.

Just looked again - I see Marella discovery 2 in November 2023 Oman India Singapore BUT it says adults only ? Which is great for me - but I though only Explorer 2 was adults only ! In nov dec some are adults only (not all) fantastic itinerary- Singapore, Nam, Malaysia - wow mistake perhaps ?

Brilliant !!!! So glad.

Enter search criteria and enter and then taken to one of those “oops” type pages.

It’s pathetic - these days - to have basic functions like search not working or not tested properly.

Technical error on website !! I can’t find it

Don’t know - they should do ! It Ain’t right.

I’d be very surprised if p&o left customers in the lurch on this one. I think they have been very good so far.

I don’t think they are obliged to - but I still think p&o will be good enough to help if their policy changes. just looked again at ambassador cruise - if you test positive on the home test you can arrange yourself a pcr test to double check - however if you cannot board due to being positive you get nothing from them - you have to claim on your insurance. Same goes if you are offloaded.

I think those lines are stopping testing at the same time ?