excitedcruisemummy

2 minutes ago, SarahHben said:

I loved having a chance to dress up. We’re on Ventura next year and expect to have 4 formal nights which I’m really looking forward to. I’m hoping to persuade my husband to get a tux but he’s more likely to want to wear a 3 piece suit. He forgot to pack his white shirt when we were on Iona in May 🙄 

Was that an accidental forget lol. 

Part of the fun for me is getting the chance to dress up, don't get that much often where I live so it will be a treat for us. Bit gutted that my 5 year olds dress is much posher than mine though lol.

11 hours ago, SarahHben said:

I’m a ‘ newcomer attracted by the low price’  and I don’t think my evening clothes were of a ‘low standard’ when I cruised earlier this year. 
 

In fact, before sailing  I was concerned Iona would be too informal for my cruising expectations, but actually many people got ‘dressed up’ every evening, young old and in-between. 

I'm also a new cruiser but am actually looking forward to the formal night and have made sure hubby and little one have the appropriate attire. Hubby actually has a bow tie.

On 10/25/2022 at 8:48 AM, JG&Lcruisingnewbies said:

You’re welcome ☺️ 

 

you need to pre- register, on line or on embarkation day. then you just turn up at a session. Whatever one you choose. If it’s full you’ll get turned away but some kids were turning up after a session start time and got in. Despite it being half term this week!

 

we are having a great time thank you. She’s a beautiful ship. Def some covid related issues with staff numbers feeling a bit down. But nothing at all like I was expecting. Shows on, live music on all resurants operational, everyone is friendly. We just need some patience sometimes,

 

 I’ll try put a review up when we get back 😃

Thank you so much for taking the time on your holiday to review and feedback on the kids club,. We are very excited to get on board tomorrow.

Have no concerns about patience I am on a go slow this holiday after a hectic couple of months.

2 hours ago, JG&Lcruisingnewbies said:

Quick post- re. Kids club. My 9 yr old is umm, shall we say assertive? Well she’d let me know if she wasn’t enjoying the clubs

 

she absolutely loves it.so much so I think she’d rather be there ALL the time than anywhere with us 😂 

for her to love it’s so much. It’s high praise! Other parents giving same feedback too. Make sure you pre register on line. When you are on the ship it’s first come first served but no one has had any trouble getting their kid in for that session

 

port days - (for scuba kids but I can imagine others are too different)

2 sessions. 1.30-5 afternoon 6-11 evening

 

sea days- the same afternoon & evening sessions plus morning session 9.30-12

 

They don’t take any kids to lunch or tea like some ships. 
 

any questions let me know

That's great thank you so much for this information. So glad your little one is loving it and hope mine does the same.

Did you go to the children's club to book in each day or could you book for the week. 

How's the rest of the holiday going I hope your all enjoying your time.

1 hour ago, JG&Lcruisingnewbies said:

What age are your child/ children?

 

happy to let you know what my 9 year old thinks after her first session! And give you an idea of session times ect. It’ll only be a few days before you sail but if you want, Just give me a nudge & I’ll reply quickly from the ship 😃 

 

we’re getting the Internet package so I’ll be online

Hi

We have a 5 year old. Would love to hear your feedback thanks so much for offering to do that. Hope you have an amazing time. Would love to hear your views on the internet to as hubby would like to invest in it.

29 minutes ago, Bin man said:

Is there anything on your cruise personeliser. Kids club listed but when I klick on it it tells me I have no children going 

No the only thing it prompted me to do was to log that i was registering a child then sent an email to say registered and to look on board in the horizon brochure for more info daily.

On 10/16/2022 at 8:11 PM, JG&Lcruisingnewbies said:

Hi, sorry I don’t have details, but I came here to ask the same question too

 

love it if I could get info about the kids clubs too. We sail for one week on 22nd October with our 9 yr old

shes seen some videos on youtube that show the inside of the clubs and loves the look of them.

I think it was ‘cruises for families’ channel. ‘Iona kids clubs’ , 7 min long, if you’ve not seen what they look like yet

 

Lovely thanks. It doesn't look like we are going to get any info before travel. Hope you and your 9 year old enjoy we sail the week after.

Hi

Not sure if I am reading this right but am I meant to have put my husband and childs full names on the booking as I have just checked and only put first and last but on Passport there is a middle name too.

Not sure why we have an earlier time than my dad but I'm not complaining lol.

I've just spoke to P and O and they are saying they have nothing to do with the times and it is all done by the port authority. They have confirmed that the loyalty tiers should get higher priority but this is not happening for some reason they have no idea why.

1 hour ago, jipsy said:

I am on Iona on the 29th Oct. Mum n dad are on deck 4 and have a boarding time of 1.30. I haven't had a cabin allocation but a boarding time of 12. 

I am on Caribbean loyalty and they are on Atlantic. I think loyalty level makes a difference to boarding times.

We will be arriving together and boarding together has never been a problem before.

 

Has anyone had probs with the on line check in. It just won't work on my phone but hopefully try the laptop later.

I don't know you know as I have no loyalty tier and am boarding earlier than my dad who has travelled P and O for a long time.

2 hours ago, AchileLauro said:

We were a party of 7 occupying 4 cabins on Iona in July. Three of the cabins were close together on one deck and the fourth on another part of the ship. The bookings were all linked, and we were all travelling together yet we were allocated four different boarding times varying from 12.30 to 4.00, we couldn't see any logic or pattern to the allocation of boarding times.

We all turned up at 12.30 and boarded together.

That's good to hear that they let you board together as we are also a linked booking that I actually booked all together and have a gap of 3 hours between times. Seems crazy as they must expect people will be travelling in cars together.

Hi

We have just had ours for October and we have a 12:45 embark time and are on deck 16. My dad is yet to have his cabin number but is on a 4:00 embark time. He will try and get on with us as we are travelling and actually booked together.

2 hours ago, Shelley61 said:

We booked at the weekend with an agent and they made it clear at booking what the current protocol is (vaccinations required  but testing only recommended).  They did say that it was down to us to keep on top of any changes in P&O's requirements.

 

If I were susceptible to potentially serious issues from contracting Covid, I don't think I'd book a cruise any time soon.

 

The UK particularly is going down the route of "Covid?  What Covid?  No such thing anymore", so it wouldn't surprise me none if P&O followed suit as soon as they can (i.e. no isolation in cabins, etc).

 

Having had it back in January, and knowing quite a few people that have had it recently, for the majority it seems to be nothing more than an annoyance, just like a cold.

 

I do appreciate that for some people it can be much more serious and, as I say, if I was someone that was likely to have a serious problem from contracting it, I'd stay well away.

 

If a policy has changed since a booking (i.e. going from required testing to none), I would have thought there was an argument to say you should be entitled to a refund.

 

That said, I know of a few people that went on cruises where testing was required, yet Covid was still rife on the ship.

We have had changes of requirements during the last year since booking and to P and O credit they have advised us each time including the recent "you don't need to test" I have however also made sure I have read their policy every few months to keep up with the current process.

I agree that I would not be booking a cruise if the likelihood of catching COVID would put me at serious risk as given you don't need to isolate on land I feel it will likely follow suit on ships sooner rather than later.

Hi

We are due to travel on the 29th for a 14 night cruise and wondered if anyone had any recent experience on the kids club on Iona. Looking to see what times they make available, how many times a day etc

Thanks in advance.

Kerrie

12 minutes ago, smokey01 said:

I'm also on this cruise. It has been wonderful. I have no knowledge of any covid issues. We did book 8pm in one of the MDRs every night and have had no issues with service. 

Hi

Glad you are enjoying the cruise. Are you able to advise what restaurants are open for food at the moment please.

Thanks

Is anyone on Iona at the minute that can advise on what is open and what is not.

Thanks