kruzseeka

Gosh - if that's the case I'll apply for mine. But it flies in the face of P&O's statement as quoted in post #135 Another example of the left and right hand - or confusing admin systems??

That may be the answer. They will apply the benefit after full payment irrespective of how far ahead that is? This could be more common at the moment as people had FCC to spend therefore effectively paid for their cruise at the time of booking. But for most bookings, especially going forward with fewer and fewer FCC bookings, where only a deposit is paid, I assume the 90 day stipulation will still apply.

I don't doubt at all what you're saying but I am surprised as I always thought you had to hold the shares when full payment is due. Otherwise how do they know whether you will sell the shares in the meantime?

Yes. I always, apply as soon as we make full payment i.e. 12 weeks before sailing. Gives time for follow up. Glad you're sorted now though. (Like others I do a copy from my on-line account, print it, redact personal details then send as an attachment by email.)

Including their own promoted insurers! Disgraceful.

That sounds like a bargain. What a pity you aren't able to take advantage of it.

Just done a mock booking on a cruise promoted in the sale which we booked a month ago. £164 more for same grade cabin (for two) and still a good price - but not cheaper!

It was the ticket office where we asked about a taxi the first time but I think one time we just walked to the gate - the ticket office is just inside - and saw a taxi dropping someone off and he was happy to take us back. Another occasion we asked the taxi which took us up to come back a couple of hours later but it's hard to judge how long you need to be there. There is a garden to look around too and as I mentioned a small cafe/coffee bar (nothing special when we were there, but a chance to get a drink). I hope you enjoy it - I'm sure you'll find it really interesting. I was in awe of the imagination involved. What a creative mind!

We have really enjoyed visiting the Manrique Fundacion from Arrecife. It's only about three miles from the port where you can pick up a taxi. Manrique's artistic influence is very much a feature of Lanzarote and the Fundacion was his home fashioned from five lava bubbles which he excavated, connected via tunnels, furnished and decorated in the most imaginative way. One bubble even has a palm tree growing out through a hole in the top of a bubble. A ground level building has a window complete with lava flow passing through it and looking across towards Timanfaya. It's all so eclectic. It's all full of his work - even down to the labels for the loos! We've been several times and I find it fascinating - we shall go again on our next visit. There is a small cafe for a coffee and they will ring for a taxi for you when you're ready to leave. Might be worth considering for a half day - certainly would be something very different if you want a variety of experiences during your cruise. https://www.shutterstock.com/search/fundacion-cesar-manrique

For many years prior to recent events, we always carried Boots anti viral foam with us on board. Although conscientious about hand washing and sanitizing on entering the MDR after pulling out chairs and handling the menu we would use the foam again before eating. Perhaps OTT for some but seemed to be a small thing to do to reduce the odds even if only slightly. We each have to take whatever precautions we see fit to ease our minds but nothing is more certain that some on board are a liability and like others we do our best to avoid situations where lax attitudes are rife.

I was appalled a few days ago to see an item on our local news. It was a clothes swap scheme to help people who were struggling. Great idea, working well. Until they interviewed a lady who was excited to have found a sparkly top. The reporter asked when she would wear it - without a moment's hestitation 'on a cruise' she replied. I just couldn't help but feel there must have been much more worthy recipients.

True - but our-pay out this year was 40x the premium for two of us. Of course we could have not bothered with the extra cover but it has gone half way towards paying for our next cruise and hopefully will allow us to visit the ports we missed this year. But as you say, personal choice. My concern though is that people who may wish to take advantage of this additional level of cover but are unaware that the standard travel insurance may not be providing it. And they, therefore, are not in a position to make an informed choice.

And with standard travel insurance, cruise cover, if available, will be generally be an up-grade i.e. an extra cost. I wonder how many people are cruising with insurance perhaps not realising cruise cover (cabin confinement, missed ports) isn't necessarily a given. We tend to be more aware because we read the forum but we have friends who use the same travel insurers as us but until very recently they hadn't bothered with the additional cruise cover - our experience of being confined to cabin on our last cruise and getting a payout certainly opened their eyes. They have bought it now!

The Lido in Santa Cruz is great - think the girls would love it. You can walk from the port. Turn left along the main road and look for the Concert Hall (shades of the Sydney Opera House - you can't miss it). The Lido is just past the Concert Hall (nice cafe round the back for drinks etc - it looks over towards the Lido.). https://parquemaritimosantacruz.es/ It was incredibly cheap when we last went. Have a good day whatever you decide to do. P.S. Sorry the link comes over in Spanish - can't see a way to change it or send the English version. So perhaps do a search yourself and select English from the start. Here's another link https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g187482-d4028343-Reviews-Parque_Maritimo_Cesar_Manrique-Santa_Cruz_de_Tenerife_Tenerife_Canary_Islands.html Here is a pic of the Concert Hall - the view is of the back - those windows open up and that's the cafe. You can just see a little bit of the Lido on the left of the pic. https://arquitecturaviva.com/works/auditorio-de-tenerife-9

We always ask for just one egg please - no problem. Hopefully if already plated up, the second egg doesn't go to waste, but I do agree being given more food than you can manage is off-putting and wasteful.

Thanks for that clarification.

I think too there has been some reports that it has to be applied at the time of booking. This never used to be the case as described by the OP - I just get the feeling that conditions are now being applied such that it may be refused. Just in case, when doing our last booking I asked for it to be applied from the get-go. It's not much, but if eligible, then it's worth asking.

Glad to help. I think you have a very good point re using aft cabins and access to the tiered stern. The corridor we were in was closed off at both ends so only crew accessed the area. I think things may have changed on that score now but at that time we were very obviously being 'isolated' and the ship lay-out would determine which areas they considered suitable to achieve that. Anyway have a great trip on Aurora - looks a great itinerary. We did something similar a few years ago and loved it. Will be interested on any feedback though - we're booked on her again next year. Enjoy!

From other reports i believe passengers are quarantining in their own cabin now but I understand where you are coming from in choosing a cabin. We were quarantined in July and had cabin A194. We were the first cabin in a closed off corridor of isolation cabins. We were the most forward of the run of around 10 -12 cabins so on that basis they probably went down to about A222. When we were disembarking (after all the other passengers had left the ship), there were other isolation passengers joining us from what appeared to be equivalent run of cabins on the starboard side - but that is supposition. I have no idea if other areas were used.

I've just looked - seems each evening's broadcast is available for 24 hours on the BBC South website so hopefully it will be possible to view it. I'm sure Megabear2 or one of us in the region will alert you should it make the programme. But as you say, it needs to be picked up nationally as it has implications for everyone who has a cruise booked with P&O (and Cunard and others?)

I shall be glued to South Today for the foreseeable! Good Luck!

And if the answer is 'Yes' at least have a follow up question asking if there is a cause for the cough/due to a medical condition

We asked at our local Primary School who were happy to take them - they said they would use them in craft projects. Not sure how, but they are clearly more imaginative and creative than me.

Canaries/Norway/Baltic? You never know...... perhaps sometime.

Thanks. Good to hear from you and I'm so pleased it all worked out well happy v. I'd been thinking of you and hoping you enjoyed your visit to the Cinque Terre - also that you found the cruise experience everything you hoped for. Sounds as though it was! It was strange how apprehensive I was to put my toe in the water again. I enjoyed our cruise too (until it was somewhat curtailed) and now feel more relaxed about going again - but that's not until next June. Have you got anything else in the pipe-line?