PJ's

I have just booked 2 x balcony cabins on Ventura (no fly) to the Canary Islands in November. This is a 2wk cruise and although we have done the Canaries quite a few times in the past just wanted a bit of sun before Christmas and hopefully we will get some. Got a good price on an early saver fare and can also request dining (usually like 2nd sitting). In the past not had a problem with dining as we were allocated our preference. Not too bothered at the moment with flying so opted for the round trip from Southampton. Fingers crossed for a good cruise.

I suppose it all depends on whether Germany and the Netherlands will open their borders to people from the UK. At the moment they are still closed as far as I am aware but things change so quickly so keep your fingers crossed.

Sent a PM via FB about my refund and the reply was that it can take up to 14 days for a refund to show back onto the credit/debit card. If I haven't received my refund after 14 days then I have to PM them again and they will look into it. My covid testing company refunded the cost of the LFT's which I had booked before sailing within a few days and I had the option of ordering the PCR's which were now required. Why can some companies do it and not P&O? Will see what happens next week.

I have also received an email from P&O saying that the refund would be made to my credit/debit card.

No it hasn't been refunded to my onboard account. They definitely said back to credit/debit card which was used to purchase. We booked them prior to the cruise and not when we were onboard.

We were on Ventura last month and unfortunately our excursion in Gran Canaria was cancelled by P&O as we did not arrive at the port until lunchtime due to a fuel problem. Our trip was booked for the morning and I was told that refunds would be made back to the credit/debit card from which they were paid. This refund has not yet been received so how long does it take for P&O to refund? They're quick enough to take the money when booking. How long do I wait before a phone call is made to them? During our cruise the rules changed and I had to re-order PCR tests from my test provider. They have refunded me the cost of the LFT tests which I originally purchased quite quickly. Why can't P&O do the same? Not happy.

As you have booked a saver fare you are correct in thinking that P&O will allocate your dining time. The Bay Tree restaurant is for fixed dining (6.30pm & 8.30pm) but you may be allocated Freedom dining which means you can choose when to dine. If this is the case then I understand that you can join a virtual queue via the app. Ventura has two dining restaurants for Freedom dining and only the Bay Tree for fixed dining.

You can always change the times for the shows when you are onboard as I understand that it is quite easy to do via the app. There will be a card in your cabin informing you of which dining choice you have been allocated.

Just received notification re change of port for our upcoming cruise on Ventura. Now calling at Tenerife in place of La Palma. Happy about this as didn't want another sea day.

10 hours ago, wowzz said:

"Testing for All" gets consistently good reviews,  is easy to use,  and costs £18. 

Just ordered from them this week. Very easy and straightforward and the cost is now £17.

6 hours ago, Les_ldh said:

Just a suggestion, but I had a problem with the e-ticket and luggage labels as well but found that I had pop-ups disabled in my browser. Once I enabled pop-ups both of these were able to be printed straight away. Something else you could try, and let us all know if it works as it will help others.

Les.

Thanks for the suggestion but I tried disabling pop-ups and all 3 icons are still greyed out. I think that it will be next week before I can check-in online (21 days before embarkation). Will let you know if I'm successful or it looks like a phone call to P&O.

3 minutes ago, zap99 said:

I wonder if 3 weeks is a bit early. Some of our staycation cruises were about 10 days. 

Not sure. Wondering as well when to order our LFT for when we return and also got the PLF to complete. Not looking forward to all the paperwork.

We booked direct with P&O so no TA is involved. I'll give it until the weekend and then try to ring P&O next Monday as it will then be 3wks before departure

I presume that you don't have to book to use the buffet and are just able to walk in? Can anyone inform me if the fixed dining in the MDR is now not going ahead and everyone is freedom dining? 

Still cannot access online check-in and it is 3 days since we received the email from P&O informing us that it was open. We booked direct with them so do you think I should TRY to ring them to see if there is a problem? Maybe I should be just a bit more patient?

Just received an email informing us that check-in is now open for our cruise next month. Guess what? No it isn't!! Got quite excited but the check-in icon is greyed out, in fact all the icons are greyed out. Why do P&O do this? No cabin number either so not much point in printing anything off even if I could. Will keep checking this week. 

Yes it is. We are parking with CPS and therefore have to go for testing. Testing is also done at the terminal for those who are arriving on foot, by taxi, by coach etc. but will still have to wait for their negative result before they can board the ship.

Are you boarding at Southampton? If so you have to be tested before embarking the ship and therefore head to the testing site at Mayflower terminal before they will let you on to the ship. As far as I am aware this practice is still being done as we have had an email confirming this for our cruise in November 2021.

The last transatlantic we did on Azura was back to Southampton from Barbados. We flew from Manchester to embark the cruise in Barbados and parked our car at Manchester airport. After our wonderful cruise around the Caribbean we sailed to Southampton and then boarded the coaches back to Manchester airport in order to collect our car and drive home. Good service.

We are a group of 4 who are embarking Sky Princess on 13 September and we have an arrival time of Group A (11.45-12.15). We are driving down the day before and staying at Holiday Inn.  Can anyone tell me where Dock Gate 20 is? It looks as though this is the entrance which you are supposed to use but no idea where it is. Been to other dock gates (4, 10 etc) but never to 20. After looking at the cruise timetable for Southampton it seems that there will be 3 ships in for 13 September sailing so hope that the waiting time is minimal. So looking forward to this mini cruise - not been anywhere for 18mths. 

14 minutes ago, wowzz said:

Just as importantly, how will the cruise lines deal with the need to test everybody prior to returning to the UK,  ensure that everyone has filled in the UK Passenger Location document, and ensured that all passengers have ordered a Day 2 test kit and have the appropriate reference number.

Yes I was wondering this as well. We are due to embark Ventura on 23 Nov and heard nothing from P&O as to what we need to organise before cruising. Balance is also due to be paid next week (25 Aug) and not had a reminder from P&O (not sure that they send them now?). Maybe after the next review things will be a bit clearer, especially for those who are due to cruise in September.

Fingers crossed that we don't get cancelled.

Most of the hotels in Southampton have deals for cruisers which include a taxi to and from the port. We have used Holiday Inn, Herbert Walker Ave which is overlooking the port and in a brilliant location. They also do deals which include a taxi to and from the port. 

Hi - we are also embarking Sky Princess in September and have booked CPS parking which we have used several times in the past. Your car will be waiting at the terminal which you disembark from and all you have to do is walk to the parking area and collect your keys from the cabin and you are on your way. There will be signs showing you the way to CPS in order to get your keys when you disembark the ship. If you have downloaded the Princess medallion app you can book an arrival time and a departure time as well as entering all personal information etc so you can embark pretty quickly after having had your covid test. Have a good cruise.

Hi everyone - what a wonderful thread to start. We are booked on Ventura to sail to the Canaries on 23 November 21 (in a suite) and have to pay balance at the end of August. We booked direct with P&O and are so looking forward to this cruise as last year was a bitter disappointment for us. We had a cruise cancelled which was booked to celebrate our silver wedding anniversary. I also had a major birthday and therefore missed out again with not being able to cruise. If the cruise is cancelled (please no...no....) then we will transfer it to 2022. Here's hoping....fingers & toes crossed.

I was surprised to get a text message from my GP asking if I want the shingles vaccination as I am of an age to get it now. So, I've booked in for it on Monday afternoon - anything to keep me as healthy as possible is okay by me. Also looking forward  to when I have my 2nd covid vaccine at the end of April. Anything to get us back to normal, really looking forward to the day when we can visit a restaurant and have a lovely meal. 

Missed out during this pandemic with celebrating our silver wedding anniversary in 2020 and now my 70th birthday earlier this year. Fingers crossed that we get to go on our cruise in November 2021 on Ventura. 

It is a shame for everyone who was hoping to get back to cruising abroad this summer. We have a cruise on Ventura booked for the end of November 2021.....just wondering if this will go ahead. Keeping fingers crossed.