CruisingSarah

Thanks both for the info, I've only very rarely booked a guarantee before and never had it this late. I'm checking several times a day 😂

We still don’t have a cabin number at 10 days out, thought the status has changed and instead of ‘excited to reveal cabin nearer to sailing date’ it now says ‘GUAR deck GT’. Now I assume that just to mean it’s a guarantee cabin. But the GT bit threw me as the travel agent grade says GF which is an actual cabin grade from the deck plans whereas GT is not. I suppose we will end up where we end up but I thought we’d know by now!

Hi! We are on the same cruise. I managed to book Epicurean for once in each week at the times we wanted, 8.00 ish, Sindhu on Saturday - that was booking up already, the sushi one booked ok too. I also booked Chefs Table for second sitting 8.30 for both formal nights, we night change this but st least we have something. Everything else I looked at, all the free options only had 6.00-6.30 times available and this was several restaurants on every night so I assumed they keep the later times for onboard bookings. Limelight Club acts didn’t look all that appealing for us so haven’t booked. Still no cabin allocation but glad it was linked up to allow dining bookings.

That would be fair and logical.

Yes you’re right, I thought the same. The covered balcony is a bit of a disadvantage but they’re all mid-ish ship and so I suppose that’s more of a premium location than higher decks forward or aft. Now I’m thinking we might also get this big upgrade to deck 9 aft!! 😂 As long as it’s not to promenade deck I don’t mind, and I don’t think they can as unless they upgrade us to a different cabin type then that location is a grade below what we have booked. All fun and guessing games!

We will just see what happens then I guess! We booked a standard balcony, there were lots left on deck 5, the covered balcony style, so I expect we will get one of those.

We booked just last weekend at three weeks before and we looked at the whole ship to see what cabins were showing as available, decided that we would be fine with any of those and so booked a saver. So two weeks out now and no cabin allocation yet and the weird thing is that previously sold out cabin types are now available and also cabins on decks which were unavailable are now available so either there have been cancellations or there’s a lot of moving around of people in saver fares as they start to allocate! There must be a method to it!!

Yes you’re right that was what I meant, should have said in the original post! Thank you for your info earlier!

Apparently you can (and need to) book any of the paid extra speciality restaurants in advance.

thank you, we’re 15 days out so hopefully soon!

Been a while since I cruised P&O. Recently booked a last minute cruise on Arvia on a late saver fare, when do they usually allocate your cabin? And after allocation ard they likely to change it? I keep looking daily and also keep looking at the cabins left available for new bookings so I suppose I have a good idea what we’re likely to get from what’s left! Can you book dining etc without a cabin number if it’s still not allocated when dining is released? Thank you 😊

Why don't they make it an adult only pool? This might help the issue somewhat. I don't know, just thinking that adults might use the pool more for relaxing rather than playing as the kids understandably do.

My real worry is that we will somehow get 'upgraded' to one of these goldfish bowls!!

Thanks everyone so much, I think I will be avoiding balcony cabins on deck 8 then, not really fancying being in a goldfish bowl!! Will also check and amend the booking where we are potentially being left open to be 'upgraded' to one of these as just selected a balcony mid ship location but not a specific cabin!

Thanks this is really helpful and I will have a good look at the cabins you mention both to choose and to avoid! And yes this is exactly what I was trying to gauge, just how much is it like having people stare in to your cabin and balcony as they are passing 😳

Thanks for sharing that link I will have a good look!

Thanks but I'm pretty sure they are, they are the GC and GF ones on deck 8 promenade.

I hope this is the right place to ask but please let me know if not. I am looking for advice on choosing a standard balcony cabin on Iona. Please can anyone advise on how disturbed you might be having a balcony cabin on the promenade deck 8? Maybe not so bad further forward where there is no seating area and just a walkway? Or maybe it's not an issue and people don't outdoors congregate on deck 8, though with the hot tubs I would guess they do? Also how would deck 9 above the public areas, pub, theatre etx on deck 8 be, any noise issues from below? Also what about the far forward cabins on Iona? Even right on the front? I'm kind of hoping that this ship does not move much at all and so any motion issues would be minimal? I wouldn't have hesitated but have recently returned from a Norway cruise on a small old ship in bad weather (force 9 for 4 nights) and for the first time in 12 cruises I was affected and this was in an aft cabin so hence I am now more cautious. Many thanks for any info at all.

Just wanted to say thank you Malcolm for the two excellent reviews which were very useful to us pre-cruise. We are just back from a 7 day Fjords trip on Ambience. I will get around to writing a review too in the coming days. I have a lot to say, not too much of it good unfortunately, and we also experienced issues with the air conditioning/heating in the cabin, basically it was not functioning at all, and in certain public areas too, either freezing cold or unbearably hot. Our cruise was totally full and reception had signs up to say don't bother asking to change cabins. One cabin we heard of had severe water ingress which was present on boarding and they had tried to dry out but it persisted all cruise. There was significant water ingress from above into the buffet restaurant on both sides close the doors nearest the pool. We did have exceptionally bad weather but nonetheless would expect the restaurant ceilings to be water tight. Happy to answer any queries and will get a review up soonish.

We are just back from Ambience. Yes the pre-cruise communication is lacking and it's hard to get through and answers on the phone (and on the ship too!) However to reassure you a bit on the points you raise, firstly there is a meeting on-board for all passengers with special dietary requirements on the day after boarding, so I would imagine you can go to that and explain your wife's needs and they can then accommodate you. The buffet has a section of GF as well as vegan and also everything on the menus is clearly marked as to what dietary restrictions is satisfies. In the main restaurant tables are held for 30 minutes after which they are allocated to anyone who shows up. So if you don't get your table for 2, you might be lucky to go 30 minutes after the start of 1st sitting and then be allocated one. There are actually quite a lot of tables for 2. All the best with it!

Thank you, I think I can live with those two things excluded, I’m concerned about having adequate medical cover and missing the ship in port cover, I had better phone them. The policy documents are not very straightforward!

Can anyone tell me if I am ok to go on Ambassador with just NW Flexplus account travel insurance? I gather I shouldn’t buy this cruise upgrade they offer Is the policy adequate for cruising or should I buy a different policy with another company? Many thanks