Medeba

1 hour ago, ferretktf said:

Just landed back at LGW 

 

@cardiffgirl 

You are so right. On night 1 they should have stopped the music and made a announcement that no more music would be played or drinks served until passengers complied with mask wearing and appropriate social distancing. 

 

That would have set the tone for the cruise and made it far easier for the non executive staff to enforce. 

 

Welcome home.  Thanks for the updates whilst you were away.  I decided to fill out the survey I was sent by Tui about my holiday (the one I didn't have!).  Most of it was N/A of course but I made my feelings known about how the situation was handled (or not) on your cruise.  I suspect the Christmas cruise was similar.  

Just wanted to thank everyone for their posts about repricing and refunds.  I have now had two repricings on our B2B cruises for October 2022 and saved a considerable amount of money.  We also got the latest $500 OBC promotion.  We did, however, lose the free WiFi package but this was a small price to pay for the reduction in price.

Ferretktf. So sorry to hear about the irresponsible cruisers on your cruise but really glad you are managing to enjoy yourselves.  Good luck with the test tomorrow.  What did you think of Gibraltar?

12 minutes ago, Megabear2 said:

We are now into month four of international cruising and it is very clear Spanish authorities are not changing their position.  The situation with the Iona Christmas cruise has magnified this policy's effects and those booked on to future cruises visiting these areas should in all fairness be told that there is a very high chance if they are contacts of a Covid positive passenger they will find themselves offloaded into a Spanish hotel to quarantine with all the associated difficulties. It would only seem right the cruise companies acknowledge this.

I completely agree with your assertion Megabear2 that cruise companies should inform prospective passengers of the Spanish stance.  Had I known about the Spanish authorities policy on offloading passengers with a positive Covid test I would have thought twice about booking my Christmas cruise; I assumed that if you tested positive that quarantine would be onboard.  When I did find out I should have asked what my options were for my booking (hindsight is a wonderful thing).  As Christmas got closer we worried about the fast transmission of Omicron and the heightened risk of testing positive and being quarantined ashore.  In the end, we decided the day before the cruise not to travel (I must admit we were hoping that Spain might ban travellers from the UK as France and Germany had).  Needless to say we lost our money.  And, just to rub salt into the wounds, I had a email yesterday to ask if we enjoyed our cruise! 

2 hours ago, Brummijam said:

Fortunately Jet2holidays were very accommodating in letting us cancel and re book for next year.

That was indeed very fortunate, Brummijam.  We obviously lost our money but still feel we made the right decision.

3 hours ago, ferretktf said:

We don't feel that onboard will be any greater risk than remaining in the UK

I'm not sure I agree with you here, Ferretktf, but I sincerely hope you have a wonderful cruise.  I keep thinking about what life is like on EX2 at the moment so I would be really interested to hear about your NYE cruise on your return.  Safe travels.

After much soul searching we decided at the very last minute not to go on our Christmas cruise on Ex2.  Too many concerns about the fast transmission of Omicron and, having read reports of Covid outbreaks on ships, the possibility of quarantine in Spain did not appeal.  

22 hours ago, ferretktf said:

I'm travelling on 30th Dec ...

 

I have two positions to mull over

• I'm not worried about catching Omicron personally (triple vaxed and ultra cautious - wear FPP3 masks etc.)
• With the boat only around ~50% full,  I'm comfortable that I can socially distance (was certainly not a problem on my Marella cruise in October)

On the contrary though

• am worried about Spain banning UK
• am worried about others bringing Omicron onto the boat - not as I say as a risk to my health, but more that the numbers may end up destroying the Cruise as - as I witnessed in October - far too many people are completely lax when on holiday - heavv social mixing and miniscule mask wearing

biggest concern is Spain not letting us in though so I guess - to a large extent - it is all out of my hands anyway

Just the thoughts we have but we're due on the Christmas cruise.  With the news about Germany this morning you have to wonder if Spain might follow suit.

2 hours ago, ferretktf said:

Note the "Download" button on the result - this produces the printable certificate that you need to show at the Airport / Port .... looks like this 

Again note the times ... i took the test at 9:15 - the certificate was generated at 9:16

 

 

Thanks for this information and the screenshots for the PCR tests.  It's good to see what everything should look like.  We received our LFT packages from Chronomics today.  Just hoping the Spanish don't follow France's policy on UK visitors.  It's all a bit worrying.

I've just read on a Mallorcan website that the Spanish government and the EU Commission are saying that UK children between 12 and 16 now have to be double vaccinated to visit Spain; it doesn't apply to children from the EU.  I wonder how this will affect the Explorer cruises in the Canary Islands over the next few weeks? 

Hi ferretktf.  Yes I had considered an airport test but I have bitten the bullet and ordered all the tests from Chronomics.  We have resigned ourselves to a period of isolation on our return.

Incidentally, you may be interested to know that I received a reply from Chronomics today about my Spain/Canary Islands default query on the order page.  You were right, it is a glitch on the system.  Considering I only emailed them last Friday, I think that was a timely response!

9 hours ago, ferretktf said:

no it does not matter - it is a bug

 

However, through that link you can only buy a combined pack for £50 …..your pre departure and return PCR.

 

why are ordering your PCR from elsewhere? Chronomics are cheapest?
 

you can just order pre departure from Chronomics (for £17.09) using the standard Tui link 

https://www.chronomics.com/tuiflighthotel?affiliate=tui-partner

 

Thanks ferretktf.  The only reason we were going to go elsewhere for the PCR tests were the timescales listed on the Chronomics site for receiving results.  We are due back from Spain on 30 December and it's very unlikely we will get a result from them until early in the New Year and we would therefore potentially be isolating for quite a while.  We have used Randox before and the results were very quick. 

However, your information about the tests being valid for 6 months may sway our decision.  At the moment we are concerned about whether to go on the Christmas cruise given the current Omicron situation.  Beginning to have sleepless nights weighing up the pros and cons!  The obvious con is the monetary loss if we don't go as insurance doesn't cover disinclination to travel.

My understanding is that Chronomics send the PCR tests whilst you're away.  Do you know if this is true?  If so, this could be another potential glitz bearing in mind the public holidays over the Christmas period.  Don't know why they can't send them when you order like Randox does.

I have been looking at the Chronomics website for ordering our pre cruise rapid antigen test (I'm ordering our return PCR tests from another company).  When I try to place an order on the TUI customer page, after entering the booking reference and date of departure it asks what country you're going to.  When I try to input Spain it defaults to Canary Islands.  Has anyone else had this problem?  Does it matter if I click on Canary Islands?  I have sent Chronomics an email about this issue but I haven't yet had a reply.  

Anyone got the NHS letter showing the booster jab as well as the first two vaccinations?  The NHS website said the booster jab would be included in the letter but mine (and three other family members I applied for) did not.  At least the NHS App does show the booster record so I've saved that as a file on my phone and printed it out.  

7 hours ago, ferretktf said:

I have re-booked for the trip leaving December 30th (two weeks later)

Taking a bit of a punt what with the Omicron and the Dry Dock ... so might get cancelled again but happy to take the chance as wanted to see Gibraltar and this was the last sailing on that itinerary.

Worse case scenario I am then switched to a Canary cruise in the New Year

So , I assume that the Christmas and New Year cruises are still going ahead as planned?

1 hour ago, LandC said:

We pre-registered in March 2020, which seems a long time ago!  We were asked if we were interested in Cruises departing January to March, or April to December 2023.  We opted for the latter.  I contacted Saga a couple of weeks ago and was advised that staff haven’t yet been told when these cruises will be on sale, but likely to be after Christmas.  It seems very late compared to other cruise lines - I hope it’s worth the wait!

I'm impressed with when you pre-registered for 2023.  Looks like I'm going to be well down the pecking order for a phone call!  Thanks for the info.  I too hope it's well worth the wait.

Hi.  Has anyone heard when 2023 cruises might be available?  Looking to book a cruise to celebrate our silver wedding.   We have preregistered but probably a lot later than many people.  So was wondering if anyone has received a call yet for 2023.

15 hours ago, caymancouple said:

Oh, wow.... we are on the Journey.  Sounds Exciting....or should I say Azamazing......

 

Hi.  Why don't you come and join us on the roll call opened by Host Jazzbeau?  The more the merrier!

1 hour ago, 2BACRUISER said:

Well i should be sat prosecco in hand on Ex2 now instead i've been mucking out pigs and will in a couple of days time be off to frozen Northumberland for a few days R&R. Not quite the same as a week on Ex2!!! 

Thanks @ferretktf for all your info, i am still very aggrieved with Marella and it will take me a long time to forgive them. hell hath no fury like a woman scorned!!!

I am so pleased that you are getting away for a few days.  I agree there is no comparison but I hope you enjoy Northumberland.

Ferretktf.  Thanks for all your very informative posts.  I hadn't appreciated the subtle differences between the two Explorers.  I can fully appreciate why Marella would want to swap the ships back to their scheduled itineraries (assuming Explorer gets fixed in time).

If the remaining EX2 cruises go ahead from 16 December I would guess it would be on the Explorer as I wouldn't expect Marella to bring EX2 back from the Canaries to complete the remaining Spanish cruise itineraries.  Keeping fingers crossed that the work gets finished in time but I won't hold my breath!

1 hour ago, 2BACRUISER said:

@ferretktf cant change we farm this was our only window wont be away now until prob Sept next year. Doesn't matter how many price matches they offer or deals. 

2BACRUISER.  I feel so sorry for you.  Can't really begin to understand how you must feel.  Just when you think it might be Covid that would stop a cruise going ahead, it's industrial action that steps in (and it's not even EX2 in Cadiz).  Commiserations too to Cardiff Girl.

Well I'm hoping that the 'dress to impress' night on our Explorer 2 cruise over Christmas will fall on Christmas Day.  We quite like dressing up on a cruise (haven't done it in years, though, because of changing dress code policies).  But, like Cardiff Girl, I'm keeping my🤞🏼 that I can still get into at least one of my evening outfits 🤣 .

Am enjoying your blog very much, Norris.  Keep up the good work!

1 hour ago, Grandma Cruising said:

Thanks for the photos of 7116 - We are booked in that cabin on Pursuit for the Black Sea cruise in May 2023. Lovely to see how roomy the balcony is.

We were in the equivalent cabin on Oceania Sirena on a 35 night cruise around Australia.  I asked if we could have two sun loungers for our balcony and we got them!  We also had the two balcony chairs and table and amazingly it all fitted in without being overcrowded.  So, I can confirm that's it's a very spacious balcony 😎 !!