mandsb1990

Received refund back to my credit card on 15th May. 59 days after requesting refund, although at the time I was told 45 days.

Hope all get there refunds soon,  don't need this stress at this time.

Stay safe.

1 hour ago, No pager thank you said:

Thanks for that. I was supposed to be on the 17th March Ventura sailing, being cancelled by P&O on the 14th and having the refund form signed, sealed, processed the following day (15th).  No emails to me.

 

From what I can see the longest cancellation wait on FB is day 70, excluding various mess ups by P&O with refunds nothing to do with Covid-19.  I worked this out by them saying that they passed magic day 60 a week on Monday.

 

Can anyone beat day 70 at the moment?

Don't know if it makes a difference, but I booked direct with P&O. I didn't phone them but I did send an email after the 45 days. 

Just received email from P&O stating that my refund was processed on the 12th May back to my credit card, and I should receive within the next couple of days.

Requested 17th March for Ventura cruise 4th April.

Check your spam as this is where P&O emails seem to be going!

CORRECT

the staff on RCCL use to have a $50 contract that was topped up to a low minimum by RCCL if the auto tips did not reach the Minimum.

All staff had to declare there cash tips, as this was added to the individuals auto tip and if it exceeded the ship guaranty amount they got it.

this was usually done on UK and Europe cruises.

Now as P&O are USA owned it is likely that the same applies.

 

Costa add 7 euro a day non refundable service charge

 

the trouble is Brits are not used to tipping and it should be included in the cruise price, like Thomson. Nobody on there ships asks for tips to be removed or Stiffs the staff

 

P&O do not yet add 18% to the drinks price, or inflate the bar price or charge for room service.

so please except the gratuity charge as part of your cruising costs when you book.

j

I think you will find that a gratuity charge is included in the price of drinks on P&O ships. The problem is that the auto gratuity is for cabin steward and waiting staff, you cannot adjust tips just for one or the other, so if you have bad waiting service and a fab cabin steward you will need to remove tips and pay accordingly. Why don't P&O do the same as rccl and give you vouchers for you to distribute accordingly after taking auto gratuity.

And if people are fed up reading about tips. Don't read them. Simples.

Hi

 

During our weekend in the Salisbury area, my husband and I plan to drive over to Southampton to 'catch a glimpse' of Britannia on her maiden sailaway on 14th March. However, P&O seem to be relatively quiet with details of the launch.

 

Can anyone please help with details on the terminal she is due to sail from & the approx. time? Also, any recommendations for the best vantage point would be great too - either on Hythe or Southampton side of the water?

 

Many thanks in advance

 

Loz

Hi

I believe Britannia will be sailing from Ocean Terminal so I would suggest that Hythe Marina would be the best vantage point, not sure of the time but normally around 1630 hrs. Britannia is also doing a pre-maiden cruise for 2 nights leaving at 1630 hrs on Wed 11th March so if you are around that would be a good time to view before the crowds gather.

Quite so but if P&O say it is not acceptable and don't allow you to book that way...although their website does :confused:....then that should be accepted. To try and "flout" the rules doesn't seem quite right and who would be held to blame if anything did happen....doesn't need to be a major disaster.

P&O have never said that its not acceptable for children to share a cabin to us, and we have booked many times. From the age of 12 & 14 and in a cabin next door, is no different from being at home, if you have responsible children.

What annoys me is that children younger than that are in and around the pools without any supervision, but that's another story!

We booked a few months ago now to cruise on Azura with our 2 granddaughters aged 12&14, as sisters are at that age they didn't want to share a cabin and as we were booking 2 cabins anyway they agreed that one would share with each of us. Our travel agent at the time assured us that P&O allowed children to share a cabin and we could change the arrangements at any time even when we got on board if needed. Now with a week to go they do want to share a cabin, we phoned our agent who contacted P&O and reported back to us that this is now something we can only do at check in or on board, does anyone know if this is going to cause us a problem. We know we can get around it by swapping cards but then we will be carrying someone else's card and it's not very satisfactory.

When our 2 boys were the same age, we always had two separate cabins, but they were either next door or opposite ours. I don't think there will be any problems changing once on-board, but I wouldn't be too happy if they were not nearby.

Anyone know how much it is for the COMBINED soft drink and ice-cream package is on Ventura. I know the drinks are £35 for 20 and the ice-creams are £20.

Summer 2013 the price was £40 for 20 sodas & 20 ice-creams, but they weren't advertised, you had to ask for them.

Thanks for this, very helpful. Can you share "soda cards"?

Yes you can share them. I think they are around £30 each for 20 drinks.

Word of warning to those cruisers considering using The Roebuck in Marchwood: we stay in Hythe Marina (The Boathouse) every 4 weeks or so as we are seeking a holiday home in the area. The best pub in Marchwood is The Pilgrim Inn. Don't know if they offer a Park and Stay facility, but I would recommend you steer clear of The Roebuck. We were cycling past one Sunday afternoon and all we could hear was a huge commotion (effing and blinding etc) coming from The Roebuck. Very nasty. :eek: Apparently, on Fridays and Saturdays it attracts a colourful clientele! Don't expect much sleep......try The Pilgrim instead, which is on the outskirts of Marchwood. Suffice to say, The Roebuck put us off buying in Marchwood which is a shame as otherwise it is a nice large village.

As a resident of the area i would totally agree. The Pilgrim Inn is much nicer.

http://pilgriminnmarchwood.co.uk/

Hi All,

 

I probably sound really weird but are sailing on Azura in 3 weeks time in D117. This is an NC Grade cabin with 2 sofa beds. We have been in an inside before but can't remember them having a sofa. Does anyone have any pictures or can share any information on these cabins as are not sure what to expect.

 

Thanks

 

Jamescruise07

I don't think there will be a sofa in that particular cabin. It states in the brochure that it has "two additional beds in the form of upper pullman berths"

We have stayed in an NC grade when there was just the two of us and we were able to have a queen bed, but if there are 3 or 4 of you it has to be single beds. Hope this helps.

I know this has been asked before! but when I did a search I got old posts.

 

Travelling from Yorkshire we prefer to travel down the day before, stay 1 night in an hotel & leave the car with them.

 

But the cruise we are looking at in September, leaves during the boat show. so very little hotel rooms left!

 

Who do you recommend for parking?

 

We have used CPS once & were impressed, but for 17 nights they want £180 which I think is a bit expensive. :eek:

 

Thanks

You could try this link http://www.montaguarmshotel.co.uk/pre_cruise_package.html

A little more expensive ,but what a way to start your cruise!

We are thinking of booking 14th August on Azura with the saver fare.

 

We have been on P & O many times but not for the last 4 years. Can you tell me how likely we would be to get our dining preference. We would prefer Freedom dining but second sitting would be ok. First sitting we would hate.

 

Also does anyone know the cost of the thermal suite for the full cruise?

Not sure of the cost for the thermal suite, but think you will be very unlikely to get freedom dining at this late stage. We booked an early saver on Azura in May and chose freedom dining but were allocated 2nd sitting. We are also on this cruise, hope you get what you request.

How is E Deck on the ventura?? Just been allocated a cabin mid ship

Hi,

We were in E421 which had a partially obstructed view, the cabin itself was fine and a good position for all venues.

Hello!

 

We have booked this early saver, when will we be informed of our cabin number?

 

We are sailing with Oceana E419 in July.

 

 

any one??

 

 

 

Krydstosser

Normally about 2 weeks prior but can be anytime up until departure.

Just booked a cruise in October and we thought we would drive down a few days early and stay in the area. Can anyone recommend a hotel with cruise parking? It is 11 days and most hotels do 8 or 15 days. We are willing to park in a different place to the hotel if it is a good deal.

Here are a couple of places

http://www.montaguarmshotel.co.uk/pre_cruise_package.html

http://www.grandharbourhotel.co.uk/cruise-offers

Hi,

 

Does anyone have experience of opting for the Saver Fare rather than the Select Fare. In particular if you prefer late sitting dining or flexible dining and you are allocated early sitting how flexible are they on this ?

 

Thanks,

 

Mike

They will not change your dining allocation if you book a "saver" fare, you cannot change once on-board. If you require a specific time then the only way to guarantee it is to book a "select" fare, however, if you book an "early saver" you will be asked your preferred dining times and you will get second priority and "late savers" third priority.

Seems fair to me, and if you do not get your choice there are plenty of dining options/venues for you to choose from.

Do p&o still give out free glasses of wine on captains cocktail night (1st formal night,the one were he captain makes a speech)

Plus on oceana there was a bar ( magnums) that offered free nibbles when you bought a drink. Does ventura have a bar that does this.?

Free drinks are still available during Captains speech and during Captains cocktail party (if cruise is 8 days or more). There are normally nibbles on formal nights pre-dinner in formal bars. The Retreat on Ventura cost £10 per day per person on our last cruise but the price varies depending on the cruise - the Oasis pool is open to all passengers (Adults only)

Princess put theirs on sale yesterday, when do P&O put theirs on sale?

P&O cruise itineraries for 2015/16 will be announced March 20th and go on sale 7th April

Hi could I possibly ask what the offer was yesterday, and what the offer is today.

the OBS finished end of Feb, and the m and s vouchers started beginning of march.

Was it the actual cruise cost itself that went up?

I think that "Patsy Flower" was referring to the on-board spend that was supposed to end 28th Feb but was then extended on their website until Monday 3rd March but then disappeared from their website on Sunday 2nd - therefore the difference between the obs and the vouchers. The vouchers are not quite as good as the obs was. If you can understand any of that, cos i'm confused.

I was looking at the example bar menus on P&O website and was wondering whether you can buy a bottle of wine to sit and drink in a bar or just glasses?

 

Louise

You certainly can on Azura & Ventura in the Glasshouse as well as the restaurants but not too sure about the other venues. Can't see why not though!

Although I've been on Ventura many times you only have to look at the deck plans in the brochure to see it state that cabin L223 is partially shaded and that there is a gymnasium above it, cabin A633 is not shaded/overlooked and it only has cabins above and below. As another member has stated, if you can change to port-side then change, if not, take the upgrade!!

Just found this which someone had very kindly posted last year about their cabin on Azura, which is the same layout as Ventura

 

''We were in cabin 633 (easy to remember if you think of 633 squadron). The cabin was very convenient for the Venezia buffet for breakfast by turning left out of your cabin and walking to the stern. The heavy door opens right onto the terrace pool and close to the Venezia. The laundry is close to 633 but we never seen anyone going in or out so hence no noise. We did experience some noise from deck above on occasions as the deck above is the buffet restaurant, but very intermittent.

Hope you enjoy your cruise.''

 

Hope this helps put your mind at rest :)

 

Lou

The cabin you are referring to is on Riviera deck, as this has access to the terrace pool area and is directly below the Buffet deck. The cabin in question is on A deck, so no noise from above or below but still quite convenient for the stairs/lift and the launderette which you will not hear.

Hi, we are due to go on our first cruise 5 weeks today!!! Just when I thought I had everything covered and got all my plans sorted, P&O throw me something else to consider. We had an email this morning to say that they have upgraded our cabin. We were originally in L223 which is a balcony cabin and now we are in A633. Should I accept the upgrade? Is it a better location? Are we shaded or overlooked? Any comments or advice would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks in advance.

I would accept the upgrade, L223 is partially shaded and also the corridor stinks of stale tobacco along there due to the undercover smoking area next to Frankies Grill.

A633 is an identical cabin but not overlooked at all.

Have a great cruise!

Good Morning,

I'm going on a little mini cruise on Ventura next week having never been on a cruise before.

Could anyone please tell me if it's ok to remain on the ship whilst we're in Zeebrugge? I figure this might be a good time to have a look round and see what it has to offer. Will I be able to get some lunch or is everyone expected to leave the ship??

I am also puzzled as to why I've selected a dining time when there seem to be lots of places to eat. Have I chosen (without knowing!!) to eat somewhere specific?

 

Many thanks for your help.

Debbie

Hi,

You can stay on the ship if that's what you want to do, we usually stay on-board if we've been to a port before, and the only places that are closed are normally the shops and the casino but the bars etc remain open as well as places to eat, they normally put a film on in one of the venues also.

As far as evening dining is concerned you have the choice when you book for either club dining (6.30 or 8.30) or freedom dining (6.00 till 9.30) If you booked a getaway fare or close to the cruise, your dining is allocated for you, but whatever you have got you are free to eat in any of the specialty restaurants or the buffets at a time to suit you.

Hope you have a great cruise!