kruzseeka

I understand - personal choice but what you must have is a travel insurance which has basic cruise cover. As previously mentioned, most policies do but that's what you need to satisfy yourself (and P&O) that your policy does!

Your insurance should cover cruises - but check it does. I think this is what P&O require in particular for medical cover. The 'add on' cover for which you will pay an extra premium (£40 for us both with our insurers) covers you for missed ports or cabin confinement at a daily rate. But that is your choice whether or not to enhance your insurance. We were confined for 6 days (me) and 5 days for my OH so had 11 days payback. Missed a chunk of our cruise but the insurance was a good contribution to our next booking.

That makes a lot of sense. Do we know if P&O do likewise on those ships which still have fixed dining? (Mind there aren't so many alternative venues on those ships so perhaps not as much of an issue with no-shows.)

You are right and make a good point! We do quite like the idea as described in my post on another thread because of other reasons and I suppose it helps with capacity to provide more tables for two (they are quite squashed in!) and it does make it easier to chat to others. But perhaps slighter higher benches would work? Or cushions???? Perhaps not many people have made this point to them in the past as it could easily be taken into account in the design. Come to think of it the booths in my local M&S cafe are low too. Why?

That could be something they would look at but i wonder how many passengers these days with a changing demographic would select fixed dining. Also, with the increased availability of other dining options, there may be quite a high % of no shows in fixed dining on any given night because diners have decided to dine elsewhere leaving a lot of empty seats which would exacerbate the problem. One of the problems for us re fixed dining is that tables for two are very limited and not guaranteed if you select fixed. Also you may not get your preferred sitting. We're not unsociable, far from it, and in fact liked the very close-together tables for two on Azura in the freedom dining room - there are quite a lot of them in several areas arranged in front of long banquettes. I've read complaints about them as the gaps between tables is narrow but as we could chat happily to our neighbouring diners we rather liked their proximity. The advantage for us was that we were able to eat at a time to suit us, at our own pace and not be waiting for people having more courses than we would want (perhaps not such an issue now with the reduced menu I've read about!) especially if we wanted to get to a show. It also allowed us to meet different people although often the same couples would end up in the same area each night. But we weren't stuck with dining companions who didn't gel. On Cunard we were on a table for 8. One couple turned up on the first day and never came back. Perhaps they didn't like their dining companions!. Another couple came only on formal nights taking over the conversation speaking incessantly - we were glad they didn't come more often! Which left four of us on most evenings. Fortunately the other couple were American and were very interesting and also interested to talk to us about the UK too. We had some good laughs and stimulating conversations. We were lucky that they were the ones left! So I'm disappointed to hear about the problems surrounding freedom dining as that is our choice. It's to be hoped that the issues can be resolved but it strikes me the capacity for diners is spread over multiple dining areas and assumes passengers are pretty much distributed evenly between them. The MDRs cannot possibly cope if insufficient passengers choose an alternative venue on any given night. Hopefully we'll hear of an improving situation. You make a good point about paying Select fares though - a heavy premium for basically choosing your cabin location.

Just looked this up to make sure I've not dropped a clanger!!!!! 😲🤣🤣🤣. Getting very cautious about the use of some emojis too. 😊

We were on QE when late one evening we went to the buffet for (probably) a hot chocolate - can't imagine why else we would go as we don't use the self service ordinarily. A group of six young people (early 20s?) arrived screaming and laughing and blocked the entrance. They weren't threatening or harming anyone but we're clearly very very drunk. One of the guys ended up on his back on the floor waving his arms and legs around much to the very loud hilarity of his friends. These were very respectable looking (in my mind almost Hooray Henry's if that conveys an impression without offending anyone). Security was called to move them on. Just my experience - not that it affects my overall opinion of Cunard or their passengers. But goes to show issues can arise anywhere but as MB points out it is the cruise company's procedures and response which we need to have confidence in.

My experience too - although we've only travelled once since it became AI and like you on an adults only and a Northern Lights cruise which perhaps wouldnt attract the party set. Not a lot of sitting round the pool on that one!! Prior to our move to predominantly P&O, we'd had excellent experiences of Marella. Superior service and much better entertainment. Our first P&O shocked us at the poor standard and out-put of the Headliners - much better standard now I might say - but at one time there would be 10 different production shows in a 14 night cruise on Marella with their entertainment team doing live sets in the nightclub later at night and sail-a-ways too (not entertainment team miming to pre-recorded stuff). Of course it's a matter of personal preferences whether those things matter to the individual and it may well have changed now (I think there were fewer production shows when we went more recently but far more than P&O). They were also very port intensive itineraries and for fly cruises the organisation was superb (contrast a really poor experience of arrangements on a Celebrity cruise queuing for over an hour in blazing sun waiting for coaches which we could see lined up ready but not prepared to load passengers for transfer to the ship). TUI with their own fleet of coaches at arrival ports and own reps made for an efficient process of transfers. Service was also excellent - with great smiling crew. Perhaps too friendly for some - but horses for courses. We've travelled mainly with P&O for the last ten years or so (just a few with Cunard, Celebrity, NCL) because their offering has suited us and so far we've not decided to jump ship. Current accounts make interesting (possibly unsettling reading) but time will tell and we'll make our own judgement of how we feel standards/service may have changed though as already discussed that can be influenced by itinerary, relating mainly to a given ship, costs, ship management, crew training - all kinds of issues which may be specific to a particular cruise and therefore possibly not endemic. Open mind. I confess the AI move by Marella is something which I'm wary of - but I wouldn't write them off either - at least for another adults only cruise - and perhaps not Xmas or NY!

Sometimes it states somewhere (perhaps not too obvious) that the fare already reflects the discounted price.

Likewise, we were on Aurora in July/Aug and based on that haven't got concerns about our future bookings on her. 🤞

From UKsatcom's report there were somewhat more than 5 people in that queue for dinner! (Even if that is considered by Paul Ludlow, with the H&S implications etc, to be a 'minor' issue!) Thank you too UKsatcom for a factual report of your own experience - it cannot be considered by anyone to be acceptable. As you say, it seems they sailed before they were properly ready - apps, catering, service etc. I hope too that this will be a wake up call but sadly after seeing PL's interview on South Today, I'm not sure - I was aghast at his glossing over of issues (granted he was hardly likely to highlight all the problems but an assertion of only 5 people affected beggar's belief!). You can testify otherwise - and how much more was there which you didn't witness? Anyway let's hope there are immediate steps to rectify things and that those due to sail soon will have a much different experience. Perhaps you could offer your services to do something about that app too! 😉

I don't know how many passengers she was carrying on this cruise but 99.9% of 5,000 is 5 people. Is that really a reflection of those who had 'minor' issues? Again all in the definition of 'minor' and many will have had a good cruise with no issues and some a good cruise but with minor issues but surely however exaggerated some reports are his numbers don't seem realistic.

I take your point and perhaps if there is a 'must do' excursion we may book ahead but our next cruise carries a lot of obc (it was one those mega generous offers to attract bookings plus Share Holder benefit) which we certainly won't use up on drinks or special meals. We brought an awful lot of duty free back with us last time to 'mop up' obc at the end of our trip but if it were possible to book at least some trips on board that may be a risk we are prepared to take. Thanks for the info MB on the (iffy) app - your impression of additional excursions being added during the cruise may help us out.

Thinking about having to book once on board, can this be done on the App or is it still with the Destination Services team or filling in a form to put in a box? Can see them being inundated with folk wanting to use obc as soon as they board.

You might find some useful info on this thread. (Sorry seem to have posted the link twice.)

No. Cover is fir the year. At renewal you just ring up to add the age extension if appropriate, cruise cover (cruises are included but this gives the missed port and/or cabin confinement additional cover) and update your medical declaration. That's then good for the year.

Ripoff Britain today covering insurance issues with cruising. A lady couldn't get adequate full cancellation cover for her World Cruise with Cunard - the maximum cover fell far short of the cruise cost). They highlighted how cruise companies (P&O mentioned too as a 'sister' company) require customers to have full insurance to be able to travel but then don't care that aspects are impossible to cover. Cunard's response was that medical issues, repatriation etc had to be fully covered but not necessarily full cancellation cover. (Of course they don't care about that - but honestly have they any conscience at all re customer care?) Cunard's own recommended insurers Holidays Extra (!!!) wouldn't give full cover nor any other insurers this lady could find. She'd already got £15K locked up in a deposit. She has now cancelled and transferred the deposit to a different less expensive cruise which comes within the maximum cancellation cover. Not quite the issue which has been discussed on here at length but again indicative of the gaping holes in the insurance cover for the unwary.

They do send out some paperwork and like Waju, we take the booklet with us (not sure what is automatically sent or if you have to elect to have it sent in your preferences might be worth checking). I always carry our Health Declaration letter with us too when travelling. That comes as a dated confirmation letter giving your policy number and is updated annually when you go through the medical screening.

And incidentally we had to call on the breakdown cover too which is now with the AA and had no problem. For long enough we didn't realise we were covered with the travel insurance so were pleased to find that they also included Homestart which not all policies do as standard.

Pleased it's worked out well for you and I must say our experience of making a claim, also our friends', has been excellent.

I agree. And it may well work for inexperienced or nervous cruisers. There must be a (business) rationale behind it - they used to provide it and I very much doubt complaints about late arrival is the reason given their disclaimer. Well folk may try complaining but they aren't going to get anywhere are they?

That is eminently sensible and to be expected. How can they legislate for delays for weather, other ship movements in port, unforeseen issues? Anyone expecting compensation are either very naive or cynical trying to cash in. Other cruise lines manage to provide this information without being asked for it.

Very useful tip. Thanks. If lots of people follow your advice, they may decide to publish them in the first place. I suppose it depends on what 'benefit' they perceive relates to not supplying them in the first place.

And in the meantime it will cover you for short breaks (minimum of 2 nights?) if you may be thinking of a few days away - and gives you breakdown cover too. We were able to deduct that from our car insurance policy when we renewed it making a saving there.

I should have mentioned too that for anyone interested in the FlexPlus account that you don't need to have it as your main current account. It's not one of those where you have to have a minimum monthly deposit and at least 2 Standing Orders or similar requirements so it's quite possible to hold it and just ensure there is sufficient in the account to cover the monthly cost which gives you the basic travel insurance (but you may have additional age/cruise/medical supplements to pay). It does have some other benefits too like breakdown cover.