mary heyworth

We could only get cover for a maximum of 60 days with our usual insurer so have changed to Saga now and no problem. Very reasonable to. Ive seen on other forums that saying someone is house sitting for some odd reason doesnt count as your house being occupied and not able to get cover for so long.

We just notified Saga that our house would be checked at least once a week to get 100 days cover

On 8/22/2019 at 11:27 AM, Scorpio41 said:

 

Isn't the world cruise broken down into sections?  Could it be applied each section? I don't know but just a thought.

We have checked and as we booked the whole cruise from Southampton it just counts as one holiday over 14 days. Its possible but I dont know that if we had booked the cruise in separate segments we may have got an allowance for each one but I expect that would have been more expensive to do ?

10 hours ago, wowzz said:

You tie up roughly £3500 to buy the shares, you get about £120 a year in dividends, and £150 obc for every 14 day cruise you take.  As long as you take one 14 day cruise a year, the return is worthwhile,  compared to leaving your money in a savings account.  Obviously the unknown is what the share price may do in the future - I bought shares at around £40 each, so am looking at a major paper loss at the moment. But with 3 cruises booked, plus the dividend, I will break even in less than a year, and hopefully the share price will increase, and I will recoup my losses.

We were considering buying the carnival shares this year as on the World Cruise on Arcadia in January, 99 nights. However, when I checked the FAQs it appears that the £150 OBC is as you say given on a cruise of 14 nights or more. I would have thought that by doing 99 nights we would at least been allowed perhaps a bit more at each sector but appears not from what I understand. So a bit mean I think !

2 minutes ago, Bazrat said:

I was under the impression that prices usually go up nearer the date of the cruise,but if there is a general price increase it could also be other factors the price of oil for one.

Yes of course you are right with regards to other factors which may affect the price. This was not from personal experience but comments from very regular cruisers who said there was an irregular increase that in their opinion was not related to those you mention. It was suggested, true or not that the prices were increased quite a long time before May this year so that it would not be as noticable. If its true also that the gratuities are needed to shore up perhaps low wages then the money has to come from somewhere. Some people will always tip for good service to the crew they think deserve it and others not. With so many cruiselines building new ships every year then I imagine they need to be quite competitive to get the best staff so if other cruiselines pay more because they have automatic gratuities then it stands to reason the crew will chose their ships. As always an interesting debate !

3 hours ago, P-L-B said:

Yes, I agree and it is stated clearly in P&Os marketing information as they see it as a positive selling point.

 

This is an extract from a P&O brochure.

 

"On other holidays you’ll tip the waiter after a fabulous dinner, the bar staff for your tropical cocktails, housekeeping for your fresh towels and inviting beds… On a P&O Cruises holiday, you’ll enjoy the same levels of fantastic service but tipping isn’t required or expected. Instead, you can relax and soak it all up, knowing good service and good times are all simply part and parcel of your experience."

P and O made a point of saying in several publications that although the automatic gratuities would be stopped after May, that didnt mean the overall cruise price would increase to reflect that. However, some people have reported that although they may not increase after May, after the announement last year the prices increased for cruises this year. Some had already booked their cruise well in advance and compared the prices noting that there was a definite increase at that time.

30 minutes ago, Jennizor said:

Hi Kath,

 

we are travelling with Intercruises. We haven’t got a time yet though.

Brenda

Ok Brenda,

Well we are travelling down to Southampton on the same day and probably around the same time. We will possibly see you at one of the service stations ! I'll have a wander round if I see an Intercruises coach asking for Brenda and you can do the same and ask for Kath lol

Kath

On 4/5/2019 at 6:11 PM, phoenix1975 said:

With regards to online check-in, I've had my email about it today.

 

You go to the link on the email and input your booking details. Then your passport and payment card details and it issues you with a boarding pass. You can do it up until 10pm GMT on the night before you board and the email says that there will be shorter online check-in queues at the cruise terminal to get on board quicker.

So everything is done beforehand then we just queue up for our cruise cards. Is that right ?

18 hours ago, Jennizor said:

Mary, we get the coach from the Macron Stadium at Middlebrook. Not sure if it will be the one you get from the train station. Regards Brenda.

Hello Brenda

We use Eavesway coaches that come into Bolton Bus station. This leaves around 7.15am usually and I think starts off in Glasgow. Perhaps you travel with a different company ?

Kath

On 4/4/2019 at 9:52 AM, Jennizor said:

Not wishing to hijack this thread but also not wanting to start a new one.  We are  going to the Fjords on Arcadia in June but to some different ports. Haugesand, Skjokden, Alesund, Trondheim, Heitleslyt and Gerainger. Same question, can we do these on our own?

Slightly different subject addressed to you. Noticed your area is Bolton and we live in Rossendale. Do you travel to Southampton on the coach from Bolton bus station ? We have booked on this.

On 4/4/2019 at 8:25 PM, kruzseeka said:

Jennizor & mary

We're  doing a similar itinerary on Aurora in July.  We've done it before and loved it.  We haven't done Skjolden but the others are good DiY ports.

It's a shuttle into Haugesund.  We picked up a town map which had a circular walk up to the monument and back.  There are some nice cafes along the watergront.  We enjoyed it.

Alesund - if you're happy to climb, there are steps 400+(?) from the park to the top of  Mr Aksla with lovely views on top.  There is also a tourist bus if you prefer.  It's an attractive town with a Harbour and you walk straight off the ship into town.  

Trondheim is another shuttle to the centre - think they dropped us near the Cathedral.  It has a fortress and some places of interest - a wharf- style waterfront, an old town bridge and a very unusual bicycle lift (you have to see it to appreciate how it works!).  We once went on a Sunday and it was very quiet but it's quite a busy town with a shopping centre.

If your itinerary is like ours, you arrive early evening in Hellesylt.  We had our evening meal and strolled off.  There is a picturesque waterfall and a few bars/cafes plus tourist shop which stay open on account of the ship being there.  It's another walk-off.  It's a very small place but we enjoyed being able to get off the ship for a couple of hours in the evening. (If this is an evening arrival, you will have spent the day sailing down the fjords - not to be missed!!)

Next day you will arrive in Geiranger.  It might be a tender port or you might use the Sea Walk depending on how many ship's are in.  But the village is right there.  There's a good HoHo service to a view point and then you can drop off at the visitor centre which we thought was good.  Rather than get the HoHo back into the village from there, we like to walk down the walkway down the side of the tumbling river back to sea level.  It's quite spectacular.  Buy the tickets on shore though.  They offer them for sale on the ship but they're more expensive.  Again, the sail in and out is like an excursion in its own right so don't miss it.

So yes, I'd say they're all ports where you can DiY.  Hope you enjoy the Fjords.  I'm sure you will.

Thank you for this brilliant information. Ive got notes of all you say and really looking forward now !

12 hours ago, emam said:

I am also loving it, some very good points which especially ring true with me. I will start with the last one mentioned. It feels like coming home. I'm not a very adventurous traveller and after going ashore in a foreign speaking country and not being able to talk or understand the language, it feels like coming home when getting back onto the ship.

The cruise log is another favourite of mine. I am saving them up, so that when I can't cruise anymore, either because of money or health I can read over them and remember the good times.

I know most of you go off on your own on buses, trains, ferrys etc, but I quite like the tours that P&O organise. The guide's are always very good and can give you tips of other things to do. They go to some places you probably couldn't on your own.

The coach travel has been excellent from up here in the far north and embarkation very quick. Barely enough time  to visit the toilet and fill out the medical form before being called. 

Prices in pounds. They cater for the British, tea and kettles in cabins, real chocolate in the shop, British news. Every announcement is not repeated in several languages. 

Quote - not too 'poncy' but 'poncy' enough.

Formal nights, but you don't have to take part if you don't want to (though it's a shame not to). As we usually dine later, I love to sit and watch the first sitting people in all their finery.

Relaxing on a sea day, while my other half spends his time looking out to sea. 

The big bath towels.

 

This thread is absolutely brilliant ! Full of really nice people who enjoy their holidays knowing they will get exactly what they have paid for. I'm weary of the constant moaning about one thing or the other so reading all this is very refreshing. Life isn't perfect nobody ever said it was. We are all very lucky to be able to enjoy holidays all over the world so lets just think positive. I agree with all the great comments about P and O and we have tried several of the other cruiselines both cheaper and much more expensive but come back to P and O time and time again. In our opinion P and O provide exactly what we want and all the lovely people we meet along the way provide that extra bonus. Long may they sail !

1 hour ago, Jennizor said:

Not wishing to hijack this thread but also not wanting to start a new one.  We are  going to the Fjords on Arcadia in June but to some different ports. Haugesand, Skjokden, Alesund, Trondheim, Heitleslyt and Gerainger. Same question, can we do these on our own?

Yes we are on this cruise too. Just read the really interesting and informative posts and like you would love any advice re these ports. We would like to do things on our own if possible but not having visited the Fjords before welcome any tips. We love walking so happy with anything that involves some of that is fine. We are also happy to do a P and O excursion if that's the best advice but have found on recent cruises elsewhere independant trips are quite easy to find.

On 1/4/2019 at 9:33 PM, scarlet ohara said:

Having vowed never to get the coach from Glasgow again some years ago, we took it last month to Southampton. We spent 3days last March stuck in Newcastle during the beast from the east, with no transport north, by road, rail or air, and therefore none South from Scotland. We also spent 2nights in Gatwick airport at the beginning of December 2010, having changed our connecting flight from Edinburgh to travel by train to London a day earlier as Edinburgh airport had been closed all week due to snow. But the snow arrived in London as we were travelling! We decided for this cruise it would be best to do P&O travel so if the weather prevented us getting there, at least we would have no trouble with a refund. As it turned out the weather was ok but it might not have been. The journey down was okay, most slept until the first stop at Carlisle. We got straight on when we reached the port. The journey home was ok too. It’s just a long day. The coach was comfortable, but surprisingly for such a long journey, did not have power/USB sockets or Wi-fi. I would book the coach again for a winter cruise but would fly/take the train otherwise. 

If you check train tickets earlier than 12 weeks before, they either don’t show a price, or it shows as full price only. As tartanexile says, first class advance tickets booked 12weeks before are very reasonable and they include your food and drinks which often make them not much dearer than standard. 

Need to be aware that some train companies are now limiting the amount of luggage you can take. We travelled on Cross Country trains in 2017 from Manchester to Southampton which is a convenient mode of transport for us not living too far awy from Manchester. We had done this journey some years previous and direct time with no changes of around 4 hours. However, I had omitted to read all the small print so I suppose in a way my fault. We had booked first class seats as got them at a good price by booking 12 weeks in advance and didnt think there would be any problem with 2 cases each as away for 35 days. No problem putting them on the train in Manchester but we did notice there wasnt that much baggage space. I think that like the airlines the train companies are adding more seats giving less leg room and on the trains less luggage space. However, on leaving the train in Southampton the guard was very rude indeed telling us we had no right to take so many cases on and we would have to pay extra when returning and also put the cases in a different carriage to the one we were travelling in and I should have seen that on the paper work. We contacted the company before returing home asking how we could pay to take the cases back with us and were advised to take them on the train and not able at that stage to pay any extra but may have to put them in a different carriage. However, the guard on return was very obliging and managed to accomodate our cases with us for which we were very grateful. A lesson learnt for next time !

I see on occasions an upgrade might work out better but I would never say when booking I would accept one. The only reason the cruise line would move you I think is because someone else wants your cabin and not whatever else is offered. Also remember that with auto tips an upgraded cabin will most likely have higher tips so the company gain that way. We have this often when hiring a car at airports. Congratulations they say your car has been upgraded to a much bigger one. No thank you as that’s more fuel and more insurance I’ll stick please !!

Nice post very clear and with logically stated facts. I also wish the cruise lines would stop under paying crew and play the game of transferring those costs guest as gratuities. It is not about being cheap or not paying, it is about wanting to see the right thing done here. If anyone just wanted to be cheap remove the fees and tell no one, in fact even post in support of the fees.

Thank goodness for common sense !! I as beginning to think I was posting i a foreign language as not many seemed to understand what I was saying. Thank You.

So are we any nearer ? If the cruise companies and/or the staff don't think they are getting paid enough then they can increase the price of the cruise and we can choose to buy it or not.

If we choose to buy the product then can we please decide wether to give any extra in the form of a tip for any extra good service we receive ? SIMPLE !!

Well some of us thought it was simple others not sure.

Just booked a world cruise 2020 on Arcadia:)

We booked this cruise also a couple of weeks ago. Must be quite a bit of interest as we couldnt get our first choice cabin but near enough. Had only been on sale about 3 weeks then I think.

Long time off but we will really look forward to it.

mary heyworth

 

Do not let anyone ever bully or intimidate you about how and when you tip. Tipping is your choice and option, and no reason to explain yourself. Just keep cruising and enjoy your trips.

Thank You

 

You ain't no nothing about cruise life. Some people don't have another option. This is why cruise lines exploit people from Asian Countries.

 

Why don't you see British waiters on british cruise lines? Because they would have to pay minimum wage to them around £2350 per month. That would raise the cruise price for people like you.

 

You can cruise only because you get to pay a cheap cruise price because cruise lines pay the crew low wages.

 

I only know about cruise life from what I have seen and heard on all of the cruises I have been on. I have spoken to many of the staff who have worked on the ships for several years. They tell me they enjoy their job and the secruity that goes with it. They look forward to time off after severa months but some prefer to continue for a longer stint in order to be able to have a comfortable life along with their families later on.

In my Nursing Home we employ several care assistants from abroad who work under the same conditions. Sometimes they do not go home to visit for 2 to 3 years. They tell me that this is what they expect when being accepted to work in the UK whilst receiving although our minimum wage is far more than they would be able to earn at home. They are very happy to live well in the UK and send a decent amount of money back for their family. Many tell me they feel proud that they were chosen in their family to be able to do this. They are excellent employees with exception. Caring, efficient and hard working. Nothing is too much trouble. Of course they are paid exactly the same as all the other staff. Minimum Wage. They ask regularly to work extra shifts if there are any available. They never, ever complain about anything whatsoever and are a pleasure to work with and to know. Our Residents know and love them. They are a credit to the country they came from.

 

I too in the past have worked very long hours as my husband has in order to make ends meet and have been employed now for many, many years and still working for my family and to enjoy holidays. We dont get them cheap and dont expect them to be cheap. I just prefer to pay a tip when it is deserved.

I'm sorry I disagree with you all. Perhaps I'm a lot older but I was brought up to tip people. My parents always tipped. Yes I am old enough to remember when a young boy would deliver our groceries on his bike ( just like Granville in 'Open all hours) He and the boy who delivered our fruit and veg would get a tip from my mother every week. My husband and I always tip in restaurants, hairdressers etc. It's not just an American thing but obviously young people today seem bewildered by it, just as I'm bewildered by the non-tipping generation.[/quote

 

I am certainly not suggesting that we do not tip anyone for any service we regard deserves it.

I to am of the generation that was brought up to tip people in the service sector and myself and my husband also always tip the hairdressers, bar staff in pubs and also restaurants. I would however, not give a tip if I considered the service was below acceptable. I would pay the bill unless everything had gone wrong but not tip.

Perhaps you misunderstood but what I am trying to say is why do the cruise companies firstly tell us what we have to tip and also put it on our bill ? I remember when this first happened several years ago on a Princess cruise. I intended as usual to tip at the end of the cruise if I thought we had received good service in the envelopes that were provided. However, I was informed that this charge would be included on my final account but I could go to see the Purser and get it removed if I wished. I decided to do that and had to stand in the main atrium in a queue especially set up for this reason on the first sea day. Then run the gauntlet of other passengers looking on to see who were the meanies removing the tips. There was even a sign notifying where to stand for this reason. I appreciate this is not done now and a bit more discrete.

We spend quite a lot of time on holiday in hotels in the UK and abroad and we dont get a service charge or tip added on there so why the cruise ships ?

I still stand by my origional point that the Care Staff in the Nursing Home that I work at are paid the minimum wage and dont expect or get tips! Someone comented if you dont like the system dont go on cruises. My answer to that is if you dont like the working conditions and the pay for that dont work on a cruise ship !!

I read occasionally the threads re tipping on cruise ships with some interest and remain baffled as to why we have to put up with this situation over and over again.

Who decided that we would pay a tip (gratuity, service charge) or whatever new title is invented !

I always thought this was an extra payment made at the customers discretion if it was decided that the service received was way beyond what was expected? Am I right or am I wrong?

Perhaps our good old English Oxford Dictionary has got it wrong ?

We always tip and more recently have paid the tips up front long before our cruise. So there you are we too have been drawn in and I thought we were mature sensible adults !

I am a nurse and work in a Nursing Home. Our dedicated, caring excellent Care Staff are paid the minimum wage no more. They do not expect to get a tip from anyone on top of that wage. They are not allowed to get a tip on top of that wage. It is illegal for them to receive a tip from anyone on top of that minimum wage.!! They would indeed be insulted and hurt if someone thought they needed to give them a tip for a job well done.

So there you are. Why then oh why are we expected to pay this to staff on a cruise and made to feel guilty and mean if we dont ?

I ask you fellow cruisers do you get a tip on top of your wage ? I certainly dont and never had and never expected to.

Where did this rubbish idea come from ?

I agree with all this about who and where you can get ripped off but to my bitter disappointment by far the worst experience I have had is on my own high street last Saturday.

Spotted a pair of trousers in Mango in Manchester that I really liked and a bit unusual. (You know the sort of thing that you just have to get!!) I know both Mango and Zara are Spanish companies.

They cost me £49.95.

However when I got home and got them out of the bag another price tag on them saying the cost 39.99 euros. That's about £27 at the moment.

I rang the shop to ask why I had paid almost twice as much as the euro price and was told this is because they were exported from Spain. I simply cannot believe it cost so much to do this.

So sadly they will have to be returned however much I like them as a matter of principal. Apart from that I will be going to Spain next week and hopefully will see them there at the price they should be.

Kath

Sue,

We have booked the Cricket Legend and Rum Shack tour as Barry wants to meet a cricketer. Not been told its not happening yet due to lack of interest so perhaps we will get to know when on board if its cancelled.

Don't know anything about it though its just something he fancied doing and a bit different.

I am hoping we will be able to get a taxi or bus afterwards to have a look round the Island if we have time. There seems to be lots of local transport to pick up.

Kath