ferretktf

On 3/29/2022 at 9:19 PM, terrierjohn said:

There is also the lido deck burger and fried chicken station and the freshly made pizza station.

Which is now just a burger and hot dog station (just got off today)

i have done because it generates a QR code that is supposed to speed up things on arrival

HOWEVER - i'm not sure if that will make any different to bonded cruise passengers.

I've also printed things out - gone for Belt 'n' Braces!

Update to the above - adding the Covid PCR result was a little fiddly - had to "request a link" to be able to upload the PDF File - alternate was to photo the two pages and upload the photos

yes - i downloaded the BIMSAFE App onto my Android phone

For some bits it linked you into Chrome to fill out forms - for other pieces where photos were required it was very easy - you also need to photo your NHS Covid Certificate plus your Covid PCR result (that I am currently waiting for )

are you overnighting in Barbados?   I am travelling out Friday and the first night is spent on the ship and it does not sail until saturday night - so i placed 1 night down, with P&O AZURA as the Hotel

Biodata in the Barbados BIMSAFE App requires a photo of the main page of your passport (the one with all the detals and your photo)

Depends on your party size, whether you are highly restricted on travel dates, want a specific itinerary in a specific ship and require a specific stateroom in a specific part of the ship.

in short there is no correct answer that will suit everyone.

personally I am ultra flexible so I book late for best value…2-3 weeks before travel.

others take advantage of initial offers by booking very early - as soon as the itineraries are released.

somewhere in the middle is arguably the worst time as the initial discounts have gone, and the cruise company is trying to maximise prices, before heavily discounting again as embarkation date approaches (n.b. But only if cabins remain!)

with a number of cruise companies there are a tremendous amount of FCC’s currently out there - where travellers have received credits in lieu of voyages cancelled due to the pandemic.

most of those FCCs have expiry dates in the next 12 months and this may reduce the potential for heavy discounts as sailing date approaches, as sold cabin numbers will be in the higher percentage range.

Firstly you have to have a private test - you cannot use NHS

TUI have negotiated some discounted rates and there are links from their website.

I use Chronomics (but there are other providers)

The way Chronomics work is that when you place your order you create an online account with your personal information.

you then register the barcode from the test they send you, at the time you are taking the test.

you then self certify (assuming negative) by uploading a photo of the cartridge to your account. 

within seconds you get sent a certificate - this is immediately available to print off from your online account, and is also emailed to you.

Nope - but the alternative is P&O changing their processes to produce a certificate from the Airport pre-flight tests - that would be acceptable to Barbados but currently all P&O do is place a sticker on your passport to show you tested negative (not acceptable to Barbados).

I think if there were multiple itineraries left from Barbados then they would change - but next week is the last one on the season.

and they have retained the need for a 3-day PCR for Barbados.  Sigh ... thats £160 I now have to pay next week when the Barbados Government no longer mandate this

it was at 4.38pm (may make a difference)

Apologies - i misinterpreted the reason for your question. I thought you could not physically call due to "number unobtainable".   I hadn't realised that International travellers were handled by a separate team in P&O.

If any consolation i phoned P&O yesterday and the wait time was only 1 minute (entire call lasted less than 5 minutes despite needing to make a booking change) 

500 on Azura for relocation

Source - social media post by a passenger currently on board who asked the question of the staff - guess it does need to be taken with a small pinch of salt as i would have thought that "regular" staff would only have anecdotal knowledge - but they might have asked the Captain!  However it does appear that the ship will be quite quiet - I have been allocated a much better cabin than i expected for example.

I would imagine that the Britannia relocation would have a broadly similar proportion of numbers to Azura, however many that ultimately turns out to be - i guess the Southampton disembarkation might be attractive for some

Presumably you have tried 0044 344 338 8003

it’s an “03” number so would have hoped it would work? But as it is non geographic then maybe not.

I have also found  0044 238 065 5000 (but that was the overseas equivalent for 0845 678 0014 so might be out of date)

Marella is not bad for first timers - slightly smaller ships so not so daunting and a slightly younger demographic.  With drinks included they also work out quite reasonable price wise

I am also following this very closely as I am on this voyage.

P&O update their requirements weekly - next one due on 9th March (published 10th March).

There is a SLIM chance they will change, but I think it unlikely for a couple of reasons.

1. The current LFT test, while clinician supervised so meeting Babados requirements, does not produce a QR-Code / Certificate. Instead the testing partners just place a sticker on your passport.  The sticker is not enough to satisfy Barbados, so P&O would have to ask them to provide certification - presumably at an additional cost to P&O
2. With this being the last Barbados cruise, will P&O really change their process for just one Cruise with (allegedly) just 500 passengers, or will they just let it remain.

1) We fly to Corfu - will our bags go from the plane to the ship automatically or do we collect them?

You collect and take to your coach transfer - you then don't see them again until they turn up outside your cabin door several hours later
 

2) When we embark in Corfu, will we then be able to go ashore and explore before sailaway?  (we land at 11am and the ship doesn't sail until 11pm)
Yes - lots of people do this. Just ensure that you are back on by the latest embarkation time (often significantly earlier than sailaway time - it will be clearly displayed as you exit the ship after boarding and completing muster - do it in the App and you have complete control over "when" - alternative is to attend a mass session in the Theatre where the video is on a loop - after doing the video you then have to go to your muster station to have your pass scanned.
 

3) Ive seen lots about the Dress to impress nights not being too formal - I always wear a tux for formal nights on P&O etc but do not want to be in the minority so what are peoples thoughts? (It'll help with the weight limit if I dont take it, Ha!)
Not really formal at all. On the two Marella cruises I have been on in the last three months, i would say around 10% of men wore tuxedos, 50% wore smart - either lounge suit with tie or blazer with tie, 25% wore smart shirt and trousers, sometimes with jacket, but no tie, and around 25% didn't bother and continued with Jeans/T-shirts.  Unlike other operators, none were denied entry to the MDR.
 

4) We will be visiting Venice (I presume Marella still sail through the Canal?) and would like to be up on deck for the sail in - can anyone whos been suggest how early we should go up? We dock at 8am.
Sorry - can't help, other than noting Cruise access to Venice Canal is highly restricted at present so it is possible you will dock just outside- however Marella are smaller ships so they may be ok
 

5) We visit Koper, Venice, Dubrovnik, Split and Kotor if anyone has any 'must-sees' as we start thinking about what to do in port. We have late night stays in Koper and Dubrovnik. 
Can only really help with Split but the main touristy areas there are close to the port - certainly DIY walkable with a map / google.
 

6) How long is the transfer from the airport to the ship and how simple is the process with TUI? 
In Corfu it was 20 mins for us in November

2 hours ago, wowzz said:

OP has said Spain and Portugal. 

I was demonstrating that the decision is not down to P&O, plus that it is variable based on individual countries policies at that moment in time.

The examples I gave were the ones that i have personal knowledge/experience of (sadly i have not travelled everywhere in the world in the past 6 months!)

it depends on the country/countries you are visiting.

Spain (at least in both November and January) were demanding disembarkation.... however this does not mean this will still be the case at Easter as Covid rules across Europe start to relax.

Caribbean (most notably Barbados) demands isolation as they do not have the infrastructure to cope - which is why Carnival is useing the Queen Victoria as a quarantine ship down there.

while it does vary a little - on the two most recent Marella Mediteranean cruises we have done (Nov and Jan) , they have tended to congregate around the £50pp price point ... I usually do a little research myself and see if it possible for DIY, or local taxi, as they often work out cheaper and more flexible.
With Marella, nearly every trip leaves earcly morning and lasts 2-4 hours to ensure everyone is back on for lunch - we found very few "extensive/whole day" tours on offer from them.

For the night before testing I use Chronomics LFT tests  (approx £15 - follow TUI links)

You take a photo of the negative cartridge - upload to their  website - and you get a certificate instantly - within seconds.

3 hours ago, paulatsea said:

 

 

are they open 24x7 at arrivals Gatwick ?

 

 

 

loking at their website, slots are available for booking from 7am - 8.20pm

15 minutes ago, paulatsea said:

Assume express test do LTF as well ? Do you know where it is at Gatwick ? Thanks

Drive through for PCR in one of the Long stay car parks, as well as the walk-in at Arrivals in LGW-N

Yes ExpressTest will do LFT, but unless you live right next to LGW, I would have though that Chronomics would be easier from a time perspective (must be done after 9pm on the night before you go)

While I have not done this trip I am keen on doing it (and have a easily seasick partner) so I have done some research.   Always seems to be the Madeira <-> Mediterranean leg that has the most eventful seas, before/after that things are generally pretty smooth.

I have also seen reports from the Canaries itineraries that Canaries <-> Madeira can also be choppy so it seems to be the seas around Madeira that cause the most problems

Chronomics good for your lateral flow - you upload a photo at 9pm and get the result at 9.01pm (no human intevention their end). 

You can purchase lateral flow from Chronomics seperate to your PRE-CRUISE PCR test for Barbados.

Thursday would be the appropriate day for getting the test. I have not yet gone through that process but for me EXPRESS TEST at Gatwick (also a Tui/Marella preferred partner) would be what I would opt for.  Location is probably key for anyone needing a PCR Test

as i understand it, only in "Bonded" locations .... e.g. Barbados, Croatia .... don;t know if Canaries/Malta are "bonded" but possibly not.

certainly in Corfu and Malaga (my two post-covid cruises), you had to collect the luggage from the airport carousel and take to the coach ... after which you did not see it until it reached your cabin