paulatsea

1 minute ago, SarahHben said:

Mum & Dad, sister, brother-in-law, my husband and I are all booked on Britannia B519, all of us got the cabins we were after. I have got an F deck wake view (not a suite) for me & my husband 😁 Only 826 days to go 🤣

Book early 👍

18 minutes ago, Megabear2 said:

Hoorah  - I'm going home!!!!! I have a balcony on the QM2 Coronation cruise for £449. I'm so excited.

 

Thanks to everyone who crossed everything for me, clearly the power of the P&O CC forum worked its magic!

Excellent 👌- great stuff.  Bargain . Let us know what it’s like .

18 minutes ago, laslomas said:

Previous posters have mentioned the simplicity of embarking on Princess. My last few cruises were from Southampton on Celebrity. Boarding for me, with Celebrity, has always been very smooth, with no queues. I understanding the thinking in giving priority to Suites, and also based on the Loyalty programme tiers, but to not be flexible in allowing choice or changes is ridiculous. People are travelling from all parts of the country with different travel times. Also some coming by plane.

 

To find you are expected to board at 12:30 when 3:30 would suit you better could prove stressful for some. Not everyone will be clamouring for the early embarkation, for some that would mean an extra early start, or even an overnight stay pre-cruise involving more expense. Yes, they can turn up late, but someone else could have had their earlier time slot. I really do not see how the current system can ever work any better than just adequately. Suite guests could always be given priority, but a choice is surely the simplest solution to the embarkation process.

 

I shall wait and see how it is for my cruise in September and keep my fingers crossed that I am not given the time to embark when hundreds arrive on coaches and get priority!! 😕

Agree  - preferred boarding time option when booking would help  - (not guaranteed obviously !)

1 hour ago, tring said:

 

You have me intrigued now.  What is the Cunard Coronation Special and where is it going?  It seems a bit late to be selling a cruise for next week.

 

It’s a special one off due to the technical problems causing the transatlantic cancellation .

3 hours ago, Selbourne said:

Your feedback seems to be consistent with every review I have read about Saga and is the reason why we are keen to try them. We are in their pre launch registration system. As you have done both Saga and P&O can I pick your brains (and any others who have cruised with both)?

 

Whilst we have a number of concerns about the direction of travel with P&O and the gradual erosion in the quality of the ‘included’ experience, their prices seem to be reflecting that. We have four P&O cruises over the next 11 months and all 3 that have been booked recently are costing under £100 per person per night for a balcony cabin booked under a Select fare with free parking etc included. Admittedly these are on Britannia and Ventura, rather than the more comparable Aurora and Arcadia, but whilst we love Aurora we don’t like Arcadia and we like the additional and more modern facilities of the newer ships.
 

The cheapest Saga cruises, even with maximum discount, seem to be coming in at around £225 per person per night. Most are more. I appreciate that a lot more is included as standard with Saga, but we aren’t particularly bothered about free transfers (as we’d have to share) or wifi (never pay, use it free in ports) and we don’t really like doing excursions, so the main additional benefit is the free drinks. Even drinking more than we do on P&O, this would probably only ‘save’ us around £60 a day. So, netting all of that off, Saga will still cost us around double what we can now get P&O cruises for. We are happy to pay more for a better experience than P&O now offer, but based on your experience would you say that the overall quality difference (included food, cabins, general cruise experience) warrants double the price?

 

EDIT - Just after posting I remembered that speciality dining is also included on Saga. Due to the drop off in MDR standards on P&O we do use them more on P&O nowadays, which obviously erodes some of the cost saving versus Saga. However, the price difference is still substantial (albeit not double) so my question still stands. Thanks. 

Hi Selbourne - we had a private transfer for just us - I think it may depend on the distance but we are within the 75 mile range (I think it’s that) and also I think you can pay extra to have private without sharing but things might have changed.

With p&o we have been on Iona once on the cruise only no stops trip which was effectively adults only due to vaccination requirements at the time and 1/2 full - just after cruises restarted. It was a good price so we thought we would try it. We had a good cruise but we didn’t like the ship size and layout.

Apart from that we only go on Aurora and Arcadia. We like Aurora much better so usually go on her.

The price we paid for saga was about £1700 pp for 7 days. We wanted to try it ( just once as a treat) as it’s too expensive normally for us but with the upgrade it turned out to be very reasonable !

The cruise had been postponed twice so by the time we went the price was reasonable given its all inclusive, 2 included excursions and private transfer(which was brilliant in a Mercedes E class with a good driver).

The standard of the cabins and the ship generally are very high - noticeably better than what we are used to -  the service everywhere was excellent as was the food and drinks.

The deluxe balcony was fantastic - very big with walk in wardrobe, balcony doors and another side window. Very quiet at all times and we were near the lifts which we could not hear at all.

Very well cleaned and serviced with turndown.

The excursions were very good and well organised and we always had berths close the the port exit.

We found the pre dinner entertainment very limited - we like to listen to some music etc while having a drink but there wasn’t anything that we found.

The disembarkation at  Dover was chaotic and badly organised. I don’t know if this was a one off.

I would say it’s not worth double the Aurora price in my opinion as we have always had a very good experience with p&o on Aurora for a good price even taking into account drinks and excursions - we always go select balcony  so always get parking and some OBC.

It’s probably worth double Arcadia price if that makes sense !

If you cruise a lot it might be worth doing a 5 day one on Saga to see what you think as they don’t seem too exorbitant.

I hope that helps.

paul

14 hours ago, Mollag said:

I’m not hesitant in mentioning SAGA we were on over Xmas/New Year couldn’t fault a thing unlike the last few weeks on Azura which were terrible, got 2 more booked with SAGA already. Unfortunately we have a few more with P&O booked already but won’t be booking anymore after them. 

I agree with Mollag - we went on Saga for the first time last summer and got an upgrade to a deluxe balcony out of the blue !

It was excellent.

Cabin , service , quality and excursions were all top class. 
Private transfer to the ship and back.

Hope you enjoy it as much as we did.

2 hours ago, Megabear2 said:

I love a bit of pomp and circumstance, can't stand the plastic flag waving and out of tune bellowing though, ironic as I'm trying to get on the new QM2 Coronation sailing on Tuesday!

Good luck - if we weren’t going away the week after we would definitely try and get on this revised QM2 one as well. Let us know if you make it .

7 minutes ago, Megabear2 said:

But you do pre register your cruise card and upload your photo so just have to show travel documents and boarding pass?

Ok thanks - it’s been a few years since I have been on p&o so it’s obviously modernised.

2 minutes ago, david63 said:

But isn't this the attitude that they appear to be trying to stop?

 

Why is 15:30 unreasonable? The ship will not be sailing before 17:00 so there is plenty of time to get onboard. If you want to be onboard at 12:00 then the answer is simple - book a suite!

Yes I agree and you are right - I can’t defend it- but I prefer to get sorted earlier and have lunch so 15:30 is unreasonable for me.

Wish I could afford a suite.

I would pay a premium for early check in though.

I think the check in could be more efficient -

Pre register credit cards and upload photos for cruise cards which could be sent out perhaps.

4 minutes ago, Brummijam said:

I feel your pain regarding airports.🫣

Eastern Europe is my favourite part of the world, hoping you have a great trip.😉

Thanks very much - ditto re EE. It’s civilised interesting and beautiful isn’t it. 
👍

Sounds like they are now enforcing the check in times more robustly.

We have always arrived as soon as it opens !! and have been prepared to wait or come back if required - but never had to - so far.

We like to get settled and have lunch on board if we can.

I think 15:30 is unreasonable so I would ignore and turn up when you want.

Understand the logistics arguments etc  about arriving as scheduled but I have found it evens itself out naturally with some who prefer later or do not arrive until later - but maybe just got lucky.

Just now, Brummijam said:

When is your trip?

Fly out 0600 LGW 11 May - 2 weeks to go !

Haven’t flown for years - usually just go from Southampton - generally hate airports and queues and cramped planes but this feels like a novelty again. 
It’s the sail 3 seas itinerary which looks brilliant.

9 hours ago, Brummijam said:

13 hours ago, paulatsea said:

Brummijam - did you use the self service bag drop on the flight out or the staffed checkin

 

Hi Paul.

We used the staffed check in, Self service bag drop wasn’t available in 2017 at Birmingham Airport.

 

Thanks Brummijam - I’ll update this when I get back - for anyone who is interested ! 


 

3 hours ago, Brummijam said:

Was just about to post that for you,it was towards the bottom of the booking confirmation email .😉

Brummijam - did you use the self service bag drop on the flight out or the staffed checkin ?

36 minutes ago, Brummijam said:

From the TUI airways online site.

 

Bonded luggage
If your cruise is sailing from the Caribbean or Dubrovnik, your luggage will be transported from the airport to the ship as part of our bonded luggage service. If this applies to you, it’ll be noted in your booking confirmation – it’s important to check, as it’s only available at certain times. You’ll receive a luggage label 14 days before you travel, which you’ll need to secure to your luggage. Once you’ve checked in, it’ll be security sealed and transported for you – you won’t need to collect it at the airport, as it’ll be delivered straight to your cabin.

 

 

The last time that we cruised from Dubrovnic this was the case.

Thanks Brummijam - I thought I had seen it mentioned somewhere - didn’t think to check the TUI airways site - although others here say it doesn’t t always happen.

Re this bit - “If this applies to you, it’ll be noted in your booking confirmation”

where in the booking confirmation does it show if this bonded transfer is applicable to the specify cruise ? 

update - just found this on my booking blurb:

9 hours ago, Pink15 said:

Flew into Dubrovnik last august, after collecting luggage the passengers went on the coach and the luggage went in a van! At Dubrovnik port, all passengers got off coach, went through immigration again, back on coach for about one minute, then off again to check in. 

I think luggage was bonded on way home, can't remember, but do remember the queue of about 10/12 coaches all from the ship to do the port immigration thing again. You literally walk through a small building, get passport stamped, and back on bus. 

 

Dubrovnik airport coming home had the longest queue for security that I had ever seen, hopefully just last year's problem. Airport was rammed. 

Thanks Pink15.

12 minutes ago, Prestonscotty said:

The standard email says the following:

 

CHECKING-IN YOUR LUGGAGE

To check in your bags in the UK you'll need to have printed and attached your Marella Cruises luggage tag from Cruise Control. Once at the airport, you need to check into your flight as normal. Once you've landed, collect your luggage and make your way through to the Arrivals Hall. A Marella Cruises Representative will meet you and direct you to your transfer coach. When you reach the port, your luggage will be taken straight to your cabin. 

Thanks prestonscotty -  I heard it was “bonded” at Dubrovnik so a possibility of luggage direct to ship - I believe some other cruise lines do this there.

Hi - going on explorer 2 flying to Dubrovnik from Gatwick - does the luggage go straight to the ship from the plane and vice versa or do we have to collect it at Dubrovnik airport ?

I think this has been asked before but I can’t find the thread.

11 minutes ago, tring said:

 

We have stayed there once or twice previously, (pre covid), as we use loyalty points, which are more worthwhile given the price of hotels near Southampton.  Price or number of points needed a bit less in Winchester than the Southampton ones and nicely situated imo.

 

The hotel is not central, but to the East of the city, not far from the M3, but very quietly situated, clearly visible on Google Earth..  We were very happy with the hotel.  We chose to eat a meal.on the way down, then pick up something for our evening meal from the Tesco Extra by the M3 junction - crunchy salads etc.  We usually have the hotel breakfasts, again fine, but this time will likely take cereal/fruit with us, have a lie in and head off to somewhere in Southampton because of potential road delays.  Even with a slow moving roads, it is not far from the port and can stop at the service station on the M27 on the way to make sure we are fresh arriving.  As IHG members, we can ask for a late checkout in their hotels, which we would do in the Southampton hotels, then go straight to the port.

 

I think there may be a pub nearby where you can get a meal if you do not want to eat in the hotel restaurant, but not been there - may look for it in June, but depends how late we arrive, which can be up to 8pm or later if the traffic is bad, since we like to stop off on the way.

 

Thanks very much 

21 hours ago, tring said:

 

Oh dear, are any of the works after the main Winchester junction?  We have booked the Winchester Hol Inn for early June as the Southampton hotels are quite pricey by comparison.

 

Hi Tring - what’s the Winchester Holiday Inn like ? Have you been before ? Looking for alternatives to Southampton but near enough - somewhere nice. 

19 minutes ago, Fionboard said:

Got off Aurora two weeks ago and back on her today. She is still as nice as she used to be with lots of new carpet, furniture, TV's, etc. I still find her the most friendly of the ships. Size does matter! Sorry, but I cannot stand the new ships. Just not my style.

Good to know - thanks Fi

Customer service much better than most hotels I have been to.

Good food and nice restaurants with a bigger choice than most hotels.

Good choice of bars and entertainment all under the same roof.

Balcony with changing views.

Easy to embark and disembark and can leave the car at the port easily.

Good excursions and knowing we won’t be left behind if we book via the ship.

Feeling safe and having a common interest with other shipmates.

Civilised.

I just love being at sea - it feels like escaping.

Have always found it easy to get any problems solved.

Not too bothered about destinations even if it’s a repeat - would go anywhere at any time if the price was right - although new is more appealing.

We like adults only so it’s only p&o Arcadia and Aurora , Marella Explorer 2, Saga and Ambassador for us(not tried yet).

Usually have had very good holidays on P&O and found the balcony prices very reasonable so far.

Saga very good but we prefer the atmosphere on others.

Marella explorer 2 has been excellent so far but fly cruise - so a bit of a hassle.

Booked on Marella Explorer 2 in May.

Aurora in late August and December.

Have not been in Aurora for a many years so be interesting to see how it is.

Very interesting thread.

Happy Easter shipmates !

How does the pre release securing work ?

Can you specify saver or select and choose cabin grade / number later?

On 3/26/2023 at 11:55 PM, wowzz said:

Sadly, I think we all know the reason for that !

Heard Aurora refurb due in 2025 and Arcadia due in 2024. Can’t remember where - somewhere in this forum recently.

🤞

Maybe a stupid question - but does the highest bidder always win  ? Or is it a lottery ? Can you increase bids ? 
like eBay - keep bidding if you want to win !