Gymbod

15 minutes ago, bee-ess said:

 

Thanks Gymbod, you're right I don't use FB. If you can find any information it would be appreciated, our cruise is B930B on Britannia 25th Oct - 16th Nov 

Hi Bee-ess 

I've attached a screenshot of dates. According to this if,  higher tier is 31st July or 2nd August for the rest 😘 

2 hours ago, bee-ess said:

We are on the the Britannia TA to Caribbean leaving 14 weeks on Friday. We want to reserve flight seats for our return flight.

My question is - will they go on sale on Friday (Thurs midnight) or 3 weeks time later which is 14 weeks before the date we fly home from St Lucia.

We did the same TA 2 years ago but can't remember when we bought the flight seats.

Hi Bee-ess

Whenever we've done 3 weeks we've been able to book the outbound flights at 14 weeks and the inbound the following week, as they would be open for the 2 week st Lucia - st Lucia, even though our b2b was only one week was at the end if you get what I mean 😁 So I would think the following week but dont take my word for it 😂

There is a copy of the seat booking dates  by cruise no. on one of the FB groups. I think one of the TA posted it.

If you don't use this I can check for you unless someone else can tell you where to find them.

On 7/12/2019 at 5:05 PM, Selbourne said:

 

The best description of the buffet that I heard from a fellow passenger was “Feeding time at the zoo”. One I would throw in is ‘Norovirus Central’ as I have always been convinced that it is the highest risk area for that holiday ruining bug!

We met a great couple on Azura in 2013 who have become good friends, they refer to it as 'The Swillery' and it's sort of stuck with us 😂🙊 😂

9 hours ago, fastnloose said:

Could you tell me what time Epicurean is usually open and closed on regular days

I'm pretty sure (99%) it's 

7am -9am port days

7.30am. - 9.30am sea days 

29 minutes ago, eddie11 said:

Is Epicurean available for breakfast on disembarkation day?  

If so, what time does it close?

Yes it's open disembarkation day, we always get a last photo.😍 I think it closes at 9am same as other port days

3 hours ago, Mewat said:

 

They also have the 'special of the day' (which is the same as in the MDR) in the Epicurean for breakfast, which I was happy about, as I enjoy the scrambled eggs and smoked salmon on a Sunday!

 

Michele

I didn't know this and none of the waiters have ever told us 😮 Do you have to ask? 

 

No, we didn't have to ask - the waiting staff just told us what the special of the day was.  It is different every day, but seemed to tie in with the special of the day in the MDR.

 

Michele

That's great to know, we have never been offered a special of the day, we usually do 3 weeks over Xmas and would be nice to have an extra choice. I'm going to ask this year 💯  I also like smoked salmon and scrambled egg on Sundays 😍 thanks Michelle 

On 6/30/2019 at 8:42 PM, Mewat said:

They also have the 'special of the day' (which is the same as in the MDR) in the Epicurean for breakfast, which I was happy about, as I enjoy the scrambled eggs and smoked salmon on a Sunday!

 

Michele

I didn't know this and none of the waiters have ever told us 😮 Do you have to ask? 

Thanks for the reassurance Selbourne, I'm sure we'll enjoy it but will check regularly in case anothe aft becomes available 😎

Hello Selbourne.

Thanks for the detailed info on this suite. We had a D suite 739? and this was a simliar layout to F so regarding the plumbing we heard a suction noise but it wasn't too much of a problem, but it seems you had more of a problem on F, but maybe it was just something loose that needed fixing? 

 

We go to bed around 10 - 11pm so  I'm a bit worried about how long the live music goes on until?

Not too worried about the soot, we know it's there but it doesn't seem to be as bad in the Caribbean for some reason? 

Good news about the smoking though 👍🏼 

I think I'll keep checking to see if anyone cancels in the next 20 months 😁

We had a side suite last year and although there was hardly any vibration the balconies were a huge disappointment and we like to use the balcony a lot especially sea days.

12 hours ago, sweep2907 said:

Have booked F730 for Transatlantic next year so be interesting to see how it shapes up to the many reviews. 

Please let us know as we've booked this for Xmas 2020 and worried now about noise from Live lounge and smoking drifting from the smoking area below. 

We've had starboard last time D & E deck and they were fabulous, F730 was the only aft available and bookings only just opened 😲

We went twice in December, booked pre cruise for one and had seats in front row, booked on board for the other night and had seats in middle, still good, imo👍🏼 we were told by one of the waiters that we became friendly with that seats are allocated in advance and you get the better ones the earlier you book

Hi Pat

So sorry to hear about this news. I'm sure the cruise it's the last thing you want to be dealing with now. I hope you manage to find a solution.

 

Thinking of you and your family and hope things improve for you all [emoji170]

 

Sent from my SM-G960F using Forums mobile app

Have you looked at MSC Yacht Club, you’ll get all that plus a lot more and currently cheaper than Pando, maybe not for long! The MSC Preziosa sails out of Barbados like Britannia with the added bonus of no sea days just 14 ports of call on your 15 day/14 night cruise, flights direct from Gatwick.

They are also offering Loyalty Match with any other cruise line which will give you 5-15%discount over and above the TA discount. The bargains on offer wouldn’t last for long as already it’s getting difficult to get a YC deluxe suite in the next 12 to 18 months - worth a shot, we are testing them next February and really looking forward to the exceptional service on offer.

Thanks for this information. I'll have a look at options. Look forward to hearing what you think after February [emoji41]

 

Sent from my SM-G960F using Forums mobile app

Well I’ve booked a suite for one reason. Our own two sunbeds on the balcony [emoji41].

All other perks I could take or leave them.....Butler. No Extra space in suite don’t spend enough time inside , priority boarding. Nice but not a winner , breakfast at Sindhu, nice again but not a game changer , whirlpool bath. Waiting for knee replacement and can’t get in and out of bath [emoji51], Slippers and robe. Def no. Champagne chocolates and flowers. Very nice

Expensive Sunbeds I guess [emoji23]

We love the sun loungers on the balcony especially sea days. We usually go for an aft suite but couldn't get one this time so we booked midship on Britannia this time and I'm gutted to find out the balcony doesn't have sunloungers or a full size table for dinner on the balcony [emoji45]

 

Sent from my SM-G960F using Forums mobile app

You'll love it - we always go away for Xmas [emoji319]

They'll be lots of decorations. Carol service, and a midnight mass that many of the staff sing at.

A Xmas gift from P&O.

Mince pies and cake.

Wonderful Xmas dinner with hats crackers etc.

The crew wear Santa hats.

People decorate their cabin doors. We usually bring battery/solar outdoor fair lights for the balcony too.

On family ships there is a pantomime by the kids and Santa usually is seen on the funnel - doubt this will happen on an adult only cruise though [emoji23]

Hope this helps a bit - have a fabulous time [emoji41]

 

Sent from my SM-G960F using Forums mobile app

Where did you put your wet towels? Or did you want clean towels every day?

I hang my towels on the towel rail over the bath although the steward changes them daily regardless.

This thread is so funny [emoji23][emoji23][emoji23]

 

Sent from my SM-G960F using Forums mobile app

I hang mine on the hook on bathroom door [emoji16]Can't believe I'm discussing nightwear [emoji85]

 

Sent from my SM-G960F using Forums mobile app

Hi! We're booked on the Celebrity Summit out of San Juan. Our itinerary is St. Croix, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada and St. Maarten. Does anyone know if St. Maartin, Dominica, & Grenada have recovered well enough for tourists to visit? We've been to St. Maarten several times, we usually go to Orient Beach. Barbados we've been to once, the rest are new to us. Any suggestions/advice?

We docked at Grenada in December and Grand Anse and the port was fine

We missed out Dominica and St Maartin due to damage - hoping they are okay as we are back in December.

 

Sent from my SM-G960F using Forums mobile app

I was told by a cabin steward that if the tips are removed they are still paid the same as long as the feedback is excellent. So seems to confirm the original post.

 

Sent from my SM-G960F using Forums mobile app

Britannia coffee machines are Dulce gusto or Tassimo I can't remember which. They are pods which give just a filter tasting coffee but no nice crema on top like with the Senseo.

 

You need to remember to turn the lever off to stop the cup overflowing as it's doesn't switch off like the Senseo - I learnt the hard way 😄 much prefer the Senseo.

 

Sent from my SM-G935F using Forums mobile app

It's very rare I surf using my phone but have just used it to see if I could see the poll.

I could and that was without using log in .

Also Mrs Kalos used her phone which uses another operating system to mine and she could also

see the poll ok .

Could it be down to your online settings of your phone ?

Maybe someone who is savvy on the workings of a mobile phone will read this and possibly be of help to you .

Hope you get it sorted :)

I uninstalled and reinstalled and still couldn't see it so suspect it is something in my phone's settings as you mention but wouldn't know what to look for [emoji30] But I found an option to view in web browser and have now managed to vote [emoji3]

 

Sent from my SM-G935F using Forums mobile app

I still can't see the poll? Do you have to use a computer to see it? I always use my phone?

 

Sent from my SM-G935F using Forums mobile app

You are welcome, but I fear that you may have misunderstood my answer. So, to be clear, the crew DO miss out, because P&O does NOT make up the shortfall. Forget the ones who have some withheld due to poor scores, the rest get a proportion of what is in the pot. So, the more people that remove the service charge, the smaller the pot becomes and the smaller each persons share is.[/quote

 

Oops:o ...I did totally misunderstand your reply...thank you for your clarification.

 

I honestly thought that I had read on a previous post that the cruise company did make up the shortfall....but of course I could have misread that too! :D

I'm sure I read this too janny444 and was told by 2 different crew members (butlers) that P&O make up the shortfall. They get paid the same each pay packet so I'm not sure what's true [emoji85]

 

As we're usually away over Xmas we give extra in a Xmas card as a present and leave the autotips on not sure If we would do the same an other time if year though!

 

Sent from my SM-G935F using Forums mobile app

I think the cash tips are definitely handed in. On our last cruise my husband gave one of the wine waiters a tip as she'd been really good. The next day the bar manager thanked him for the tip. I'm sure the same applies to the MDR waiters and the cabin stewards too.

If this is the case then there's no point in tipping individually as well as leaving autotips on [emoji15]

 

Sent from my SM-G935F using Forums mobile app

They are only allowed to keep it if you have left auto tips in place if you have removed this then they have to hand in any cash tips given to them.

I'm not doubting you but just wonder how the crew (that ones we tip extra) know who left autotips on or reduced the amount and by how much or who removed competely? With so many cabins and tables to attend how would they know how much to hand in? Would they even remember how much each person has given them at the end cruise if there are a lot of people individually tipping and they have a pocket full of cash [emoji32]? Or do they have to keep a strict record of this and hand it all in to be given back once it's all been worked out? Seems like a lot of extra work?

 

The whole system is flawed - I think it either needs to be compulsory as service charge or included in the fare or removed and people tip as they want.

 

I leave mine on - write excellent just so they get full tips and will give extra to certain individuals. But every year the crew have more tables and cabins to attend so sometimes things are less than excellent. I think this extra workload is due to ticking 'excellent' and maybe if we didn't do this the management may think twice about staff cutting?

 

Sent from my SM-G935F using Forums mobile app