BMT

I am Elite+ and now, sadly, a solo cruiser.  Is it my imagination, or do I receive a discount on my solo occupancy?

Following this as supposed to be on board - illness a few days before prevented us boarding:loudcry:

However, hoping to board on Sunday for the second part of our B2B!! Regards to all and disappointed not to be able to meet up. Onwards and upwards!! Fingers well-crossed for Sunday.

Brings to mind something that happened to us a few years ago.

We were sitting having lunch and a single lady asked if she could join us - naturally, we welcomed her.

I asked if she was travelling alone and she said "in a way". I asked her to explain and she said that she had her husbands remains in her bag and was going to empy the urn off her balcony on a nice day!!

I explained that this wasn't allowed, but that if she went to Reception, proper arrangements would be made.

Never saw her again - but spoilt our lunch!:confused::eek:

Also on the previous cruise.

All depends on the Captain and how risk averse he/she is. Cruising is very weather dependent and having been on the Ventura at the beginning of the year when a gust caught the ship and she 'tipped' quite severely in the Bay of Biscay, I can only say that if a Captain has any doubt at all, he/she should not try to dock, as it could be extremely dangerous.

We were on a B2B over christmas and NY on Ventura - similar to Azura. We mostly go Celebrity and occasionally Cunard. As far as Pando is concerned.....the word 'bargepole' springs to mind!!;p

I hate the smell of their toiletries!! Shampoo is OK instead of washing powder:D

Sailed on many Celebrity ships and also on Jade and, our favourite, the Spirit.

Enjoyed both lines. Always enjoy our cruises except our last one on P&O Ventura. Never again Pando!!!

I second the OP. On the Ventura at Christmas, after two or three 'deep cleans' at the commencement of cruises, staff were not even changing tablecloths between diners. Only after 'someone' was brought on board to deal with a problem that had been on board for at least three cruises, were simple precautions taken i.e. paper menus and no salt&pepper!! Didn't see anyone cleaning lifts etc.

In the Costa shop, the staff were not even wiping dirty tables and a server threw a wobbly when asked to wipe all the crumbs etc. off the table by a customer!

Well, we all want the cheap drinks and cheaper prices on Pando - perhaps this is at the expense of low staffing levels? Although, I did notice that the supervisory staff just marched around looking important!!

Original Concierge Class was to encourage bookings of rooms with the overhang...guess no longer an issue? We moved to AQ wgen it was introduced, and some of those rooms are under noisy spots and have overhang issues.. It's all marketing.

Quite right. Aqua was 'invented' to make more money out of cabins which were normally hard to sell:p

Brilliant marketing. I suggest another special restaurant just for inside cabins with free massages in the spa - hehehehe!!!

When they first 'invented' Concierge Class, it was lots of little touches.

I remember pink towels one day, changed to green the next day.

Breakfast was laid out beautifully on a white cloth, flowers etc.

It was the little things and then it slowly became mundane, until embarkation lunch was added. Not worth hundreds of dollars on S-class though.

Perfectly content with our 1A cabins - walk-in-shower as we can't manage a bath - and location, location, location. Bonus of a huge balcony.

We were top level until along came Zenith and deposited us outside Michaels:D. Don't miss having our ears bashed by the interminable one-up-manship conversations though - "mine is bigger than yours etc." hehehe!!! Always hated the Michaels room anyway (S class) - through all its different uses.

For the difference in price, we can eat every night in the different specialty restaurants and Murano in particular, is way ahead of Luminae in terms of cuisine.

Celebrity didn't do too badly though - gave us free coffee and tea in Cafe Al Baccio - very social and not so much one-up-manship!! Nice music from the Centrum also. Don't miss the Concierge - never used them anyway. Always have a drinks package although we don't drink other than an occasional Zinfandel.

As long as I get a decent amount of free internet and some dry cleaning and laundry, I am perfectly happy as an Elite+ - only thing missing really for us, is drawer space in the balcony cabins.

If anyone wants a real 'suite treat' go in the Yacht Club on MSC. Now, that's luxury cruising!

Having sailed on both many times I would say that Eglesbrech has summarised things perfectly. P&O provide a good holiday, but I think Celebrity provide a better one! Celebrity have a “ can do” attitude whereas unfortunately P&O sometimes have a “ can’t do” attitude.

Sums it up to a 'T'!!!

You really should look at the Yacht Club on MSC Divina or their new ship Seaside. We are frequent cruisers on Celebrity and love the S Class ships but when we wanted to splurge for a suite experience MSC was SO much cheaper than NCL Haven or X's suites! Check out YouTube videos of Top Sail Lounge or the One Pool area on MSC.

 

 

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Been in the Yacht Club on MSC - a wonderful experience.

I have actually changed to 6.30 dining for our upcoming 28 days B2B on Silly after years of mytime dining. My mother is very elderly and even on recent cruises on the Eclipse, we were having problems with the freestyle dining. Don't need aggro.

Will actually also be trying the Buffet in the evening - unheard of for us!!!

I did notice many empty tables in the classic dining - while beepers were being handed out in freestyle. Perhaps they should be thinking about reversing the decks i.e. freestyle downstairs and classic upstairs.

I can assure all my fellow Brits that there WILL BE A KETTLE in the cabins, as well as extra tea stations!! Policy for Celebrity ships out of Southampton.

Well, after three cruises, just after Christmas, someone was brought on board to deal with the noro situation.

Took three cruises and ruining countless peoples holidays, before the geniuses at P&O realised that this was not being dealt with properly onboard. Saw the first signs when the salt/peppers were removed and also hard menu covers.

So, for the sake of all those on this long cruise, I hope noro has now been eradicated.

Enjoy this cruise DaiB:halo:

I am not surprised repairs needed - thought after the dreadful noises the ship was making when she listed in the Bay of Biscay, that some damage must have taken place.

Have to hope that its the end of the problems for Ventura - depends if the norovirus rears its ugly head again - too soon to tell I think!! Hopefully, they have improved the hygiene on board!!

Hi Minikiss - we were also in bed - I woke up when a glass of water on the bedside table hit me full-on - went all over me, I got up, fell and rolled into balcony door. The noise the ship was making was shocking - very, very, frightening experience and a lot of injuries apparently. Many flew home from first port and also from last port before Southampton not wanting to experience the Bay again.

I thought at the time that there must have been some damage to the ship. Not surprised repairs required in the Caribbean. The ship groaned all night - horrible!!

Wonder if the noro has been controlled - gone on since mid-November!! Too soon to tell though. If they continue to neglect hygiene, then noro will keep rearing its ugly head!!

Apparently, it was built because it was felt that, as a major cruise port, there should be a top-class hotel in Southampton.

The P&O care team had recommended the Elizabeth House, which is a B&B. But I felt that under our circumstances, we required a bit of luxury and pampering. Not feeling let down at all!!

Hope this recommendation helps people looking for a 5* Hotel in Southampton.

Unfortunately, like many other passengers, we had problems after disembarking Ventura last week.

I have to compliment the Pando care team at Southampton for the interest and help they offered in our predicament. We encountered by chance, a lovely lady from the Care Team at Southampton General Hospital and from then onwards the Team kept in contact.

Excellent and unexpected!!

SOUTHAMPTON - fantastic new 5* HOTEL

Due to a medical problem we had to find a hotel as we couldn't get back to London.

We ended up at the new HARBOUR HOTEL in Ocean Village, overlooking the Marina. (Not Grand Harbour!)

The hotel has been open for about three months and the equal of any 5*/6* hotel we have stayed in.

In addition, the staff were wonderful and went out of their way to look after us - even offering the Hotel guest car to take us to and from the Hospital. Also, a very good price for a hotel of this standard.

But if you sit at a table where staff can't be bothered to change the tablecloth and the previous diner has noro or hasn't bothered to wash their hands...........bingo!! Noro 1 - diner nil!

When there is an outbreak on Celebrity, you know instantly. Lift button area covered in clingfilm and constantly wiped over - visible cleaning constantly in lifts and stair handrails. Hardback menus withdrawn as are salt and peppers - took Pando 4 weeks to do menus and salt & pepper! Not rocket science!!

Celebrity always has restroom attendants at peak times near restaurants, theatre etc. None on Pando. Dirty loos and some out-of-order.

Ventura indoor pool now an extension of the buffet. No-one keeping area clean, just selling drinks!!

Huge medical bills to everyone affected and large cost to NHS. No wonder you are REQUIRED to have health insurance - so Carnival don't have to pay out!!

It doesn't matter how much they give out anti-bac gel - it doesn't work against Noro. Best to wash your hands constantly and thoroughly and take anti-viral gel / spray / foam with you. I'll certainly be going prepared fro Ventura in 4 weeks!

Yes, but keeping the ship clean is the answer!!

We boarded on the 9th for a B2B and boarding was delayed for a 'deep cleaning'. So it was onboard from at least mid-November-ish!!.

About the 12th December I complained that Beach House breakfast had dirty tables, dirty floors and counters had congealed food on them.

Costa don't even wipe tables between consumers. One waitress threw a wobbly when asked by a guest to wipe the table clean of crumbs etc. from previous guests.

In Freedom Dining and lunch, servers were not changing tablecloths between changeovers, if cloths were not stained!! No visible cleaning in lifts or on staircases.

I believe 'someone' was brought on board after Christmas to try and deal with a situation in which, in the middle of each cruise, there is an outbreak of norovirus. How long does it take Pando to realise that there is a problem? At no time were any toilet attendants on duty even at peak times. After Christmas hardback menus were withdrawn as were salt and pepper - this should have been done weeks previously.

All I heard from staff were remarks about dirty, greedy cruisers. How about staff being properly supervised to keep the ship clean?

Southampton General was kept busy with cruisers after our Christmas cruise.

Really disgusted that the problem was not tackled in the beginning!! Worst 2 cruises in 60 years of cruising. Very concerning for the elderly.

It is certainly the case that they are checking in earlier that when the new rules came in. Top tiers are being checked in well before 12.00 so that when boarding starts they go straight to security and on to the ship. That means that those lower down the embarkation list are moved up.

 

 

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We meet again daiB - same subject. :p:p

We are also on this cruise with you kisskiss (B2B)- same problem, as we have a 3.30 boarding, which no-one in their right mind would arrange to arrive at - especially when dealing with motorways etc. and especially in view of the weather forecast and Christmas madhouse shopping traffic in Soham.

Anyway, we hope to arrive at about 12 midday - my mother is a very physically frail 102 year old - and I have been given the name of a person who will hopefully, expedite her transfer to the cabin as quickly as possible. I will bring her lunch, she can then have her rest and be rejuvenated (hopefully!) in time for lifeboat drill!

Its really interesting that I am finding across all cruise lines, that onboard staff are more willing to please and be helpful to their guests, than those on shore. I had to ask the lovely Tiffany at Pando to email the Hotel Manager - who did remember me:halo: - and hopefully his advice will ensure mother a problem free transfer to the ship. Once onboard, I hope that we won't disembark at all for 26 days. Gangways and ports are a no-no these days - the ship is our destination.

See you on the 10th!!