ospreycruiser

9 minutes ago, StopTheWorld said:

My experience has been that online check in opens at midnight of the departure port of the sailing. If you’re sailing from Southampton this summer this will be GMT up until 31st March when the UK moves to GMT+1. 

I don’t know who “they” are that you are referring to? But if it’s UK residents then having to stay up to midnight is less advantageous than being able to check in at 8pm if in New York! 

 

Thanks for that. It is what I was hoping to hear.

Can anybody advise me how the UK/US time difference works when booking your time slot when checking in? Since the US is ahead of UK time does that mean they have advantage when looking for an early time?

Also received a similar email with adjusted port times for Apex September 7 Iceland and Scotland. Wondering if it is an engine issue.

Thanks Hattie

Is anybody to tell me if the Golden Lion on QV is open for lunch on embarkation day in Soton? If not I will default to the Lido as usual, but would to try somewhere different if available.

Thanks

1 hour ago, Alsun said:

For those who will be boarding this or next Saturday, I would recommend to print out / download a (pdf) copy of your vaccination status via the NHS app.

Assume that our vacc status will be (re)checked whilst boarding and read somewhere that the NHS app was down for a couple of hours last week so having a printed copy might be safer than relying on access to the App itself ……

 

Btw, we didn’t download the Verifly app (our TA told us NHS app/proof was ok) but got a phone call from Viking earlier this week- basically double checking the info already provided by us on the health Q.

I also declined the Verifly app and received the same phone call checking vaccination status. While on the phone I asked about facilities at the car park. He said there was no luggage transfer to the terminal and it was a 5 minute walk. I will therefore drop off the luggage at the terminal and then navigate the one way system back to the car park.

I wonder why other lines are able to call at Scilly during August - Fred Olsen three times and Saga once, on different dates from Viking original schedule.

On 7/29/2021 at 8:22 PM, Alsun said:

 

We are on the 14/8 sailing too and asked our TA to check.

TA told us that currently our cruise is set to visit Scilly - weather permitting - so fingers crossed….

 

Received Viking email today with final e-docs for the 14th, including itinerary confirming Tresco call plus my booked excursion. I then opened today's newspaper and was confronted with a half-page Viking advert selling the Star cruises in August. On the 7th and 14th dates Tresco has been replaced by "scenic sailing".

Inconsistent or what?!

1 hour ago, Glenndale said:

We embarked around 11:30 and it seemed as though all the cabins were ready for occupation.

We left the ship at 7:20 and I believe everyone was disembarked by 8:30.

So no waiting for cabin to be ready.

Thanks Glenndale. If everybody was disembarked by 8:30 what time did they stop serving breakfast? 

I have another question about embarkation. I have seen the comments about being released from the cabin after handing over covid test samples and viewing the muster drill video, but what happens before cabin access? If we have an early check in time are we held in one of the public areas on the ship until our access time of 2.00 pm or can we wander about and eat/drink?

16 hours ago, ospreycruiser said:

Just received the Viking email about the Verifly app. This will not be compatible with my old phone and when I booked on the phone I was told the NHS vaccination letter was acceptable, but no mention of this option in the mail.

I spoke to Viking this morning and they confirmed NHS letter or app if fine at check in. The Verifly app is aimed at fly/cruise passengers but the system automatically sends it to every booking.

Just received the Viking email about the Verifly app. This will not be compatible with my old phone and when I booked on the phone I was told the NHS vaccination letter was acceptable, but no mention of this option in the mail.

3 hours ago, Staffordshirecruiser said:

Hi Osprey, it is really well organised and they have a really good process. You follow the signs that take to to the entry to the car park,  you are ticked off on their list and shown which way to go to park.  Once parked your bags are taken away by the porters and your car is photographed, and then you have a short walk to the port building of no more than a couple of minutes.  I am sure the porters will lift your bags out of the car and look after you.  Just ask if there is anything else you are uncertain of?

Thanks Staffordshire. That's exactly what I was hoping to hear and a load off my mind.

We have booked the Apcoa/Viking parking deal at Portsmouth. It seems that we are to drive directly to the car park on arrival. Does anybody know if it is feasible to drop off the luggage at the terminal before entering the car park, or are there porters to transfer bags from the car park to the ship?  Although not disabled we may struggle with heavy suitcases.

1 hour ago, downsmead said:

We are on that one, most people on here seem to be on the following ones. 
We were sent an email about using VeriFly - have you received that?

I will try and post about our experience on the 7th.

Thanks Downsmead. Not sure about Verifly. When I booked on the phone they said NHS vaccination letter was acceptable.

It would be interesting to hear about the embarkation experience, including testing, from anyone sailing on the Star Aug 7th. We are on the similar cruise one week later. 

We have booked for the alternatives but is it essential for dinner in the main restaurant? (Viking Star 14 Aug). We prefer to turn up at short notice and prefer table for two.

17 minutes ago, Host Hattie said:

You don't have to accept FCC, just ask for a full refund.

 

https://www.cunard.com/en-gb/contact-us/travel-health-advisories/guests-aged-70-and-over-or-with-health-conditions

What does "cancellation fee" mean in the Cunard document? We are due to pay the balance in 2 weeks time. If we cancel and ask for FCC is it 125% of the money paid so far or 125% of the total cost? I'm a little confused.

Planning to take a taxi from a Midtown hotel to Pier 11 for the ferry. Is it an easy drop off at the pier?

Also any estimate of the taxi fare would be appreciated.

Not too bothered by the noise level - much more concerned about the strobe lights directed at the audience. This includes adult only ships where most of the pax are of a certain age. Many of us are increasingly less tolerant of bright lights, and I have resorted to wearing sunglasses - embarrassing if I forget to remove them when the house lights come on.

Can we pool our hand luggage allowance so that 2 x 5kg can be made up with (eg) 1 x 7kg cabin bag and 1 x 3kg handbag?

Looking to book for Britannia in February but the listings on CP only come up with acts on 8 nights out of 14. Is it likely that more acts will be posted between now and sailing date? Any advice would be appreciated.

you will find that Thomson have a ship sailing from the Caribbean next year so Thomson Holidays will use the Dream liners for their holidays

I suppose this means Thomson will use one of their elderly 767s instead. I see from the Seatguru website that the 787 Dreamliner has 47 PE seats while the 767 only has 31, so there could be some disappointed travellers.

My flights for February 2018 are currently listed as TOM034 and 035 from Gatwick, so I guess I'll need to wait until the seating plan appears on CP to give me a clue about the aircraft type and airline.

I have read on another forum that there are plans to stop using the Thomson Dreamliner on Caribbean flights. We are on Britannia in February 2018 so would probably be affected. Does this mean more use of Virgin Atlantic in addition to the Adonia cruises?

I looked on the P&O website but could not find anything.