doog442

Us looking at you😉

Excellent 👍

I think things are getting lost in translation. You're simultaneously posting on what is a very large and busy world wide travel forum on TA , where in my experience the so called experts are extremely quick in putting people back in their box. Perhaps there's a bit of forum bleed coming over in your posts when in fact if framed slightly differently they could be more helpful and a little more empathetic to those impacted on here. The TA thread in question is sadly typical. It starts with new posters asking for genuine advice and within a few pages ridicule rains down on them from all corners you included . Cruising is a divisive topic anyway without a load of people wading in because folk have the temerity to have a cruise at the end of a long haul flight. Hence me stating context. If you were to look at many of the travel forums on TA, Maldives, Mauritius etc flights are often discussed in the decision making process just as on here. Many people won't fly Air Mauritius for example despite going direct, some people simply couldn't care less. So flights are actually important to some people and are part of the holiday process. To pretend they're not and simply sweep the current situation under the carpet with 'the rules and regs ' patter is slightly disingenuous for some folk. Additionally compensation isn't always the answer if you cannot physically fly for 8 hours with a small seat pitch having been bumped down to Maleth economy. So I think by now everyone accepts the bottom line, which on this case is Maleth for 4 flights a week or whatever but it doesn't have to be the norm going forward although the earlier view that's it's better than a cancelled holiday but not for everyone. One of the issues is people do have expectations nowadays and why not if that means IFE or flying on aircraft that aren't routinely delayed. On the other thread on here P&O have admitted some kind of culpability by compensating a customer with a meal in the Epicurean , a small gesture but finally realisation that they just can't dissolve themselves from any sort of responsibility as they're selling a package. You and others will continue to disagree however if P&O get labelled as using a poor airline for their long haul flights I can't imagine the damage that will do, especially as it's reached the national press. I say poor airline , trust me I've had some awful flights on BA and Virgin so I'm hardly making out they're the Mecca of flying.

Again you're taking me and others completely out of context. You're not even quoting me in some of that post. Of course it's normal for other airlines to help out on occasion but this particular situation with Maleth, their issues and the number of flights impacted with holidays pertinent to this thread and P&O isn't normal or acceptable under these circumstances, especially for those who booked PE and with the expectation of having a decent carrier as P&O have previously provided. Do you think P&O think it's acceptable? As I said the proof will be when they drop Maleth like a stone in March and pretend they never existed.

Looking further on that TA thread I see that our very own carlanthony24 has been commenting and lifting posts from here including mine, taking them totally out of the context of this particular thread and having a collective laugh at our expense and others misfortune. What a despicable and underhand thing to do Carl. There is a massive difference between commenting on a world wide air travel forum that covers hundreds of thousands of flights from all corners of the planet to a situation effecting P&O Caribbean cruises, a tiny sector of the market. Especially where people on here are trying to get information and seek reassurance for their future holidays.

That TA forum is full of wannabe flight experts fuelled by Avios, best ignored in my experience. Helpful on occasion but mostly expert in derogatory comments. I can see we have our very own representative on there who quite frankly is boring me silly.

How many flights does this impact? Not many in the big scheme of things although I accept the industry is playing catch up at this point in time. My point is that you're trying to get the point over that it's acceptable for people who've booked PE for example to be shunted down to economy on what is a regular basis. Perhaps you've lost the context of the thread? Its also not acceptable to see the continued delays to Maleth flights which in turn are leading to delayed ship departures where shops and the casinos can't open,loss of revenue etc. Of course it happens as explained above but this isn't an ordinary situation as threads like this don't appear that often. If it's acceptable as you say then let's just see if P&O use Maleth again? Of course they won't as they'll consider the product to be unacceptable, not that they'll admit it of course. Is it a risk travelling long haul ? absolutely but in 30 odd years of long haul travel I'm probably struggling to see such a sustained failure. It doesn't help hearing first hand of those who've suffered as a result, we're on Arvia and have spoken to spoken to those treated like cattle and the delays....and nothing appears to be changing. I'm hearing Maleth cabin crew are going sick rather than face some of these flights which is upsetting but compounds the situation. So to reiterate, in the context of the package offered by P&O the situation for those affected is entirely unacceptable. I know you've worked in the industry so would expect a little empathy rather than simply pointing people towards the small print and basically saying tough.

It's not acceptable. You're making it sound like its normal practice, it's not really. Most long haul aircraft with Tui , Virgin and BA are changed like for like or similar if there's a tech fault.You dont often get situations where 40 people are thrown out of world traveller plus with BA as is happening with Maleth on a weekly basis.You might well lose a row of seats to economy or they'll upgrade them further. Any seat move if pre paid will get a refund of course. The more you bang on that's its acceptable and quote the small print plus deflect the blame the more you devalue the product which is a long haul P&O cruise not a two hour flight to Barcelona. People don't book a package like this and expect a sub par product. My daughter works long haul for BA and the current situation with Maleth is pretty irregular and a major failing, hardly normal in any sense of the word.

An announcement has just gone up on Arvia. A Maleth Aero flight home has been delayed at least 4 hours and guests will be disembarking at 1800hrs. An audible groan went up from the MDR.

Something had changed I'm afraid... however total silence this evening which I presume was down to justifiable complaints.The sun is setting,G&T in hand and it's just perfect as we leave for Antigua.

On Arvia 2pm -4.30 pm weather permitting. This is certainly the case on sea days. However in La Romana yesterday it got really ramped up from 4pm until 7pm as they tried desperately to create some sort of party atmosphere. Can I just add I expect background music at a bar which is fine, you can hear it but it's not intrusive but this is something else.

Sadly not. The review I initially saw that mentioned the thumping music was on a Med cruise I presume as it was filmed in August. Anyway today we have a sea day and between 2pm and 4.30 pm we have DJ Riggsy and his same thumping Ibiza chill out tunes... which rather lacks imagination as we're in the Caribbean...😏

Just a live update. Yes we have thumping music from the sunset bar below us...it tends to be when the DJ is in situ...the other day we had Ibiza dance tunes for a good couple of hours ramped up. I'm open minded and also enjoy my music but after two hours we had to shut the door....shame as we have a large aft facing balcony but this was headache inducing and we're 3 floors up. We've just had the same today which is still ongoing,combined with some drunken ladies shreaking in the jacuzzi for the last hour it's a little lively. That aside the view is exceptional, nothing coming down from the infinity pool water wise I'm aware of and we had some heavy seas off Puerto Rico yesterday. I'd liken the noise as to being above a swimming pool at a hotel with thumping music blaring out where you'd probably ask for a move if you didn't have such a special view, larger than average balcony and of course at night no corridor noise.

We're using it now on the Arvia and it's excellent. Setting up was slightly stressy but we were tired...that's our excuse. Once on board connect to the ships WiFi ...then scan the QR code on the card in your cabin....or access your browser and visit myholiday.pocruises.com We booked lots of stuff in advance...on board however you can join virtual queues for restaurants, book trips, keep an eye on your spending etc.

We are hot spotting as I type in the Caribbean. We both have android phones, I'm not sure if it works with iPhones.

We use it every now and then. I'd have no hesitation in leaving my car there for a few weeks.

We've signed up for one device, mainly for my wife. We both have android phones and have used the hotspot feature which works like a dream at home so I presume it does on the ship, could you go further than the odd e mail for example. We're both light users, we just really use whatsapp and I might look at the football results or news every now and then. Can anyone with android phones and the hotspot facility confirm. It's not a biggie but could be handy I guess.

We go a week Saturday so I must have missed that. I've been checking in every now and then but probably missed it in the avalanche of spam e mails they send. With such a full and potentially beach / port intensive itinerary folk might be struggling logistics wise to justify it apart from of course the sea days. Drinks wise we're covered with our OBC. I must admit I thought it would be more expensive.

Just reading the post above about the whole 14 days it doesn't seem worth it in our case. I'd choose a Caribbean beach over the Retreat. We leave a week Saturday, I'll report back on prices, they usually let you do a tour around so will investigate the included fridge / drinks quality situation.

Thanks, there's been no ability to pre book at all for our upcoming Caribbean next week (booked 12 months ago) and if I recall on our July (school holiday) Med cruise on the Britannia in 2019. I wonder if they gauge it (and price) on peak hot / warm weather cruises.

Cheers. Reference the drinks, looking in my booking under 'the retreat experience' it states 'A selection of self-serve alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks including teas and coffees are also included in your experience! '.. I think someone posted a pic of a large fridge with drinks (beer / wine / soft drinks) on a thread on here once...that said hardly free as your obviously paying for 'the experience' but I could imagine that fridge getting a right hammering .🤣 Funnily enough we tend to be early risers in the Caribbean simply due to the time difference, we never really adapt so that could favour us, usually awake 6/7am. We have five sea days, three in the first six days, the first will be a write off as we will be exploring the ship. We will also be off the ship on every port visit so as I write this I'm thinking 'what's the point' . I'm presuming the sea days will be sold out, unless of course you have to buy the whole 14 days. It's odd they don't give any prices or further info on the website other than it comes with a few offers (internet / spa and 10% off shore breaks). Thanks for the heads up

We know it's not cheap (that's not the topic) but would rather avoid a 6 am bun fight, plus they do free drinks. We can't book until we get onboard, so am wondering if anyone who's done it on the Caribbean cruise can report on availability issues. Do you have to book the whole 14 days or 7 days ? The fact 2500 people will already be on the ship probably limits options for the first week I guess. If you've done it, how was it? We've done similar on Princess and enjoyed it. We're not fussed about sun / shade issue as long as we have two sun beds so just want to chill.

Departed at 1406 apparently, still a hell of a delay and rubbish start for many.

My daughter works long haul for BA (previously out of Gatwick - now Heathrow). Although it's legal it rarely happens that a long haul crew fly the same plane back even after the recommended break. For starters and of the upmost importance, is that they get to top up their tan by the pool, get silly drunk, take loads of pics and put them on instagram and take in a spot of sightseeing. 🤣 It's also worth noting how much happier said crew are on the way out, than on the way back. To be fair she's binned off LGW and the holiday routes for LHR as the main priority for UK passengers is usually to drink the plane dry 😉

£582 with Virgin to Barbados in Jan (£498 with just hand baggage- I know hardly applies for a cruise) flight prices are dropping like a stone.