kruzseeka

1 minute ago, Gettingwarmer said:

It could be due to different medical conditions. 

True.  So many factors/variables.

6 hours ago, yorkshirephil said:

We have paid £32 extra to extend from 31 nights to cover the Iona 35 nighter.

Well that's interesting.  It's to be hoped that any additional surcharges are consistent (like for like) and not dependent on who answers the phone.  Or did you do it on-line? 

Anomalies of this kind are a concern - If all other factors are the same (cruise length, destinations, number of ports etc).

21 minutes ago, terrierjohn said:

Not mine but a friends, and I think the cruise length was 14 days. However if the same friend is correct then we are in for a shock when it comes to extending cover above 31 days, she paid over £100 for the extra 4 days on the Jan Iona Caribbean 35 nighter.

Gosh that's a hefty surcharge for 4 days!   I think we'll be seeing more details emerge as more get to the renewal stage and there will be gains and losses dependent on a variety of factors. 

It's not surprising really that they are charging per cruise for additional cover.  I guess the old £40 flat rate for 2/3/4 cruises in a year (and that's the same for a couple with joint account) was a steal given the more days at sea, the greater the chance of a missed port and/or cabin confinement.  And it's a very decent pay-out per day of confinement or missed port. 

For the moment we are very satisfied with our quote and are paying less than last year and still have almost enough in hand to pay the cruise add-on for two more cruises. 

17 minutes ago, Winifred 22 said:

You have misunderstood. I previously always took the £40 a year extra cruise cover for missed ports etc. If now it’s going to be £27 or more extra per cruise  based on last year and   what I have booked it is going to be around extra £160 + a year just for extra cruise cover plus the £150 for the bank account basic cover. Perhaps I am naive and will not get full annual cruise cover for less than £300 a year in which case I will stay with Nationwide and just purchase the cruise cover each cruise that I take. Having previously benefited from the returns from missed port insurance I would not consider not having it included in whatever policy I cruised with. 

I understand.  I hope you can find a more economical product and would be pleased to know if so as we do prefer to take out the additional cruise cover too. 

At the moment, we've benefitted from them dropping the age extension so for now N/W still represents good value for us even if we do take on the extension cover per cruise.  

1 hour ago, Winifred 22 said:

Thank you . I can’t see it will be value money for me. I renew in October and I think I will end up just taking out an annual policy elsewhere when I factor in the £13 a month for the account and potentially £27 to £40 per cruise it could be more expensive.

Of course you have no need to take out the additional cruise cover for missed ports/cabin confinement.  You are covered by the travel insurance to cruise with associated medical, repatriation cover etc which you would expect from an insurance policy. 

The cruise add-on is an optional extra and you have absolutely no need to pay that element should you feel it unnecessary.   I'd be surprised if travel insurance costing less would give that cover - but would be pleased to know if so.  

2 hours ago, terrierjohn said:

The new Aviva NW policy, charges £27 for missed port cover, but has to be paid for each cruise, and the extra charge for more than 31 days cover is significantly higher than  the old UK Isurance one.

The amount they charge is not fixed.  We paid £40.    As  mentioned in my post #27 it is quoted case by case and is based on destinations, cruise length and if involving multiple countries - at least that's what I was told.  You got a good price for yours. 

(Does yours cover cabin confinement too?) 

31 minutes ago, Thejuggler said:

Ports visited make a huge difference as to which cruise to choose.

 

Norway are really cracking down on the size and type of ships which can visit the dramatic inland fjords and ports such as Gerainger, Flam, Olden.  These restrictions are getting tighter each year so get there while you can.

 

I've read a few similar threads from US cruisers where they list the ports and many of the the so called 'fjord' cruises they are comparing go nowhere near the inland ports named above.  Some were more a coastal cruise with a short detour into a fjord for a quick look!

 

I've never been on Cunard, but on current ship offering P&O doesn't appeal.  The new ships are just too large for what we would enjoy and the Grand Class ships (Ventura, Azura etc) no longer appeal.

 

I would agree completely.  To really experience the Fjords you need some destinations which involve a long transit from the coast. The sail-aways from such ports can take 5 hours until they reach the sea.  At the ends of the Fjords the mountains are more dramatic, higher and closer to the ship so that you are often surrounded by mountains. This is the awesome spectacular scenery you need to see for a Fjords experience.

The ports mentioned above provide a true flavour of the Fjords.  Add Eidfjord and Andalsnes to 'proper' Fjord destinations then I'd be hoping for an itinerary which can deliver at least a couple from that list in one week. 

As mentioned before, some itineraries are basically calling at coastal towns.  I would recommend a choice based on destinations. 

I have asked for a paper copy from Nationwide each time we renew with medical conditions noted with any upgrades. It has your policy number and the time period covered. I wouldn't travel without it.  If asked I have it to hand - just in case we ever needed it in an emergency irrespective of whether we might be subject to a spot check at embarkation.   

As reported in an earlier post, I have renewed my Flexplus travel insurance with the new insurers (Aviva).  All ok. 

Today I received a letter from Nationwide reminding me I needed to renew any add-ons and complete the medical screening.  OK I've done that BUT within the mailing was a booklet to check the benefits.  Thought I'd check it was as I expected......... Well!   

'If over 70 you will need an age extension at £65'.   What?  So read the back of the brochure - it was dated October 2023 and on closer inspection of the back page it say the insurance is underwritten by UK Insurance!    Unbelievable!   Just as well their customers are more on the ball!  

On 4/9/2024 at 5:18 PM, kruzseeka said:

Perhaps don't despair just yet.  I understand they normally do not cover over 75 year olds but from what we've been told by NW their arrangement with Aviva does, moreover without a additional charge.  So....... it seems that NW has negotiated different criteria.   

It's possible there could be a variation in the Health screening for NW customers too.  It will be interesting to get feedback once the first tranche of Flexplus customers renew policies due after the changeover day. 

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you. 😘

I have just renewed my cover with FlexPlus - renewal date was 30.05.24 so now moved from UK Insurance to Aviva.  Wanted a phone conversation and getting hold of the right dept was a bit problematic (I think they want you to fill in the online forms) but once through it was pretty straightforward. 

Add-on cruise cover is not a fixed price.  I've done a post under 'Missed Port Insurance' with more info for anyone interested but so far happy with the outcome - medical screening much like before and no age extension so made a saving over-all. 

Have just renewed our cover with Aviva - we travel early June and our policy renewal is 30.05.24 so I was anxious to know where we stood in case I had to start shopping around.

In a nutshell - cover done - so far not cost me as much as with UK Insurance but will have to buy additional cruise cover for future cruises (probably get two more out of it before I'm paying more than before - with riders see below). 

I'll share my experience with as many details as I was able to gather.  

Rang yesterday - difficult to find how to get through.  Didn't want to fill in the online form for medical screening in case I shot myself in the foot - I'd much rather explain to an agent and be able to clarify details and be sure they're correct.  Eventually got put through by UK Insurance to Aviva and was promised a call back at specified time which didn't happen.  But I did get a phone number for Aviva Flexplus insurance which i rang this morning:  0345 878 5445 (long wait for connection but at least I got to speak to an agent who was very helpful - guess they're a bit inundated at the moment with people like me!)

Both covered - no age extension which we already knew about (saving of £69)

Medical screening: relies heavily on medical situation in the last 12 months (investigations, hospitalisation, treatment etc) and declaration of conditions/medications etc.  We were covered at no extra cost (as was the case with UK Insurance - although we have had to pay a premium in the past when medical issues were current.)  Of course there was the standard not travelling against medical advice. 

Cruise upgrade:

Covers missed ports @ £150 p.p. per missed port

Covers cabin confinement on medical grounds @ £150 p.p. per day up to a max of £1500

Now this is where it gets a bit less clear..............apparently the cost of cruise cover isn't standard, it has to be quoted for and is subject to variables like length of the cruise, destinations and multiple countries which I suppose makes sense - some ports do have more misses than others and may constitute more risk????    

He didn't quiz me extensively (i.e. every port) but wanted to know each country we were visiting.  

Don't know how the previous add-on worked for World Cruises.  £40 for the whole period or per sector?  But this could be much more methinks given they want to pin down the details rather more.  

Bottom line - £40 to cover us both for a 16 night trip in Europe.  So same as before except of course we will need to pay again for any subsequent trips.  We may or may not take up that option but so far are nearly £70 to the good. 

I think it may well reduce the uptake of the 'add-on'.  We shall think carefully about whether to bother again but we've gone with it this time.  Paid over the phone and documents to follow (saves me printing them out for P&O if they want to see them at embarkation). 

Think that's all I managed to glean - hope it helps.  

25 minutes ago, kruzseeka said:

These are not Lalique style glass work but on Deck 1 the entrances to the theatre from both port and starboard are a corridor which curves round and has a small seating area 6/8 (?) seats part way along which is arranged around a huge egg shaped sculpture about 5 feet high covered in shiny metal or glass fragments creating an eye-catching structure which reflects light in all directions.  I think they're spectacular but completely lost and overlooked in the location they're in!  Wish I'd taken a picture now but given that these are not  busy entrances to the theatre I wonder just how many people have never seen them.

Doh...... just realised I'm talking about Arcadia!  Sorry for that rather random diversion. 

On 4/29/2024 at 10:02 PM, pete14 said:

Are you referring to the beautiful Lalique statue in Aurora’s atrium? I don’t remember glass artwork on Arcadia but I may have missed or forgotten it. 

These are not Lalique style glass work but on Deck 1 the entrances to the theatre from both port and starboard are a corridor which curves round and has a small seating area 6/8 (?) seats part way along which is arranged around a huge egg shaped sculpture about 5 feet high covered in shiny metal or glass fragments creating an eye-catching structure which reflects light in all directions.  I think they're spectacular but completely lost and overlooked in the location they're in!  Wish I'd taken a picture now but given that these are not  busy entrances to the theatre I wonder just how many people have never seen them.

On 4/25/2024 at 8:21 PM, gsmt47471015 said:

I have the utmost sympathy for your enforced delay , however it is not just Aurora , we got off Arcadia after 99 nights and its fair to say that infections were plentiful ( of all descriptions)and increased in the last three weeks of the cruise , it says something when the Captain announced that anyone not adhering to basic hygiene requests would be put off the ship, and indeed 

they were, we never used the lifts and never once touched any grab or handrails during the whole voyage ,even when the ship was rolling all over, and still succumbed in the last few days and got off the ship with infections of varying descriptions which we are still suffering with. Honestly I do not know what the answer to this problem is but feel that earlier ,and strictly enforced standard hygiene practices perhaps would have minimized the spread , it must be stated that as passengers were flying into the ship and embarking at numerous ports this will not have helped ( passengers next door to us were isolating with sickness etc within an hour of embarking) 

I do wish you a speedy embarkation and hopefully a healthy cruise😃

Well I'm pleased to say that we've just returned from the 12 night Norway cruise on Arcadia which followed on from your return and there was no evidence of NV onboard. 👍

We also had a 90 minute delay wrt boarding tmes whilst additional cleaning took place.  We arrived about 20 mins before our designated time (2 pm revised from 12.30) and boarded immediately to find quite a few already on board.  I think they began embarking at 1.30.  We spoke to someone who had come by coach and there had been no revised departure time for them so they arrived about 2.00 and boarded immediately.  He said it was the fastest boarding they'd known!  There was quite a wait to gain access to cabins but it all seemed to work well and I didn't hear any complaints. 

The Capt and Hotel Manager were very up-front about the infections prior to our embarkation and frequently reiterated the need for hand washing and compliance.  Enhanced procedures in the buffet were in place and you couldn't help yourself to teas/coffees - staff would make those at your request.  

After about 3/4 (?) days an announcement was made that here had been no reported infections so normal service was resumed in the buffet.  We didn't get any indication later in the cruise that there was as a recurrence. 

So hats off to their procedures and compliant passengers.  We had been a little apprehensive beforehand but had a good cruise and thankfully no infections. 

I m

We too 

I'd endorse either the train to the Cinque Terre - use it like a HoHo.  Probably ignore the town on top.of the hill. It's a climb to get there and not the most rewarding use of time.  Vernazza is the jewel in the crown imo. 

Or the ferry to Porto Venere.

Both very doable and excellent day out.

36 minutes ago, kalos said:

 

I did put other day to Avril that Nationwide would cover me through (UK) as 

they use now ,when I checked online but when I went on Aviva they do not cover 

my condition..

Perhaps don't despair just yet.  I understand they normally do not cover over 75 year olds but from what we've been told by NW their arrangement with Aviva does, moreover without a additional charge.  So....... it seems that NW has negotiated different criteria.   

It's possible there could be a variation in the Health screening for NW customers too.  It will be interesting to get feedback once the first tranche of Flexplus customers renew policies due after the changeover day. 

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you. 😘

57 minutes ago, Selbourne said:

Could be. Mine are with Hargreaves Lansdown. Doesn’t explain the delay in getting OBC applied once the shareholding has been verified though?

That's true.  You'd think that would be the easy part!  And in some cases it has been almost by return (with perhaps some variation as a result of working hours US/UK timings).  What a frustrating business.  Hope you soon get confirmation.

6 hours ago, Selbourne said:

Did you apply direct or via Stockperks? Have to say I am deeply unimpressed with Stockperks. I registered and uploaded proof of shareholding. Took well over a week to get it recognised and that was only after I chased them. Once that was done I applied for shareholder OBC for a Cunard cruise. That was a couple of weeks ago. I’ve heard nothing. When I used to apply direct to Carnival the response was far quicker. 

I do agree your experience isn't good.  Presumably the change was meant to be more efficient - and in many cases once registered for many it has been quick and easy. 

I wonder whether it makes a difference who holds your shares.  Seems once Stockperks have you recognised as a share holder you don't have to go through the registration process again but presumably they do check that you still hold the shares each time you apply.  Are some providrs linked into their system and give more or less instant confirmation whilst others are not, and if not, perhaps delays are a reflection of varying response times from providers. 

22 hours ago, ovccruiser said:

It is illegal to drive in Norway whilst operating a mobile phone, much the same as here, but, would you call into your nearest police station if you saw someone in the UK doing the same? There are virtually no police on our roads so many people take the risk unfortunately.P & O will probably do nothing about it if you complained.

I understand the point you make - but whether or not it is reported/detected/prompts a police response I don't think is the critical issue here. 

It's whether P&O is prepared (knowingly, once reported) to put a coach load of their passengers on excursions where some drivers are not observing the law and taking risks with their safety. 

I agree - and even if the locals (or even authorities in Norway) find this acceptable I think P&O must be informed.  The shore excursion team have no business dismissing this without taking it seriously and reporting it (I suppose he may have done but just wasn't prepared to admit anything to you). 

P&O surely have a duty of care. Can you imagine the backlash if there was an accident and they knew about such a careless/dangerous approach to safety - and basically condoned it if they didn't take it seriously. 

I think you are being very responsible and would encourage you to report it officially.  Would others suggest the most effective route would be a direct email to the CEO?  

Just seen this article

https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/24205061.cunards-queen-anne-welcomed-southampton-flotilla/

Southampton likely to be very busy (Sky Princess also in port) and no doubt many visitors coming to sight-see too. 

Could be worth bearing in mind re the weight of traffic especially for those boarding on that date. 

We were in Tenerife when I think it was the World Cup Final. We'd deliberately not booked an excursion expecting it to be televised and thinking they'd do that in a large space so thought there would be a good atmosphere watching with others onboard.  

They were very apologetic when it was impossible for them to get a signal so we, along with quite a lot of others, got off the ship hoping to find a bar showing the action.   We trouped from one bar to another - one bar owner trying for ages to link with some satellite station or another - without success.  Clearly it was in the interests of any bar to show it as they would have an influx of customers buying drinks so I'm sure it did prove impossible for them.  We were told Rugby wasn't followed there so no local demand I guess. 

We cleared off to the Lido! 

2 hours ago, kalos said:

 

Did not post much yesterday as had a bit of an off day . Got up in the morning

and the room was spinning but back to normal if there is such a thing for me.

The food photos all look lovely ,didn't eat much yesterday so I could eat the

lot for breakfast .

 

Hope you all have a good day 🙂

Glad you're feeling better today.  Take care! 🤗😘

1 minute ago, Fionboard said:

Upside down, but not much difference!

Just shows the fabulous clear reflections!  Looks, lovely anyway! 

2 hours ago, Fionboard said:

On Aurora in Andalsnes today. We waited for the last Intercruises coach as they are contracted to P&O. Unfortunately, Eavesway are not, so we left without them. Doubt Eavesway will compensate their passengers so poor people will probably have to claim on insurance. 

Great destination.  Love the ride up the Gondola! 

We're there next month - as a matter of interest, is there any snow at ground level at the moment? Guess there will be on the top of the mountains. 

Enjoy your day and here.