Just back from our Caribbean Cruise and did our usual water taxi trip to Grand Anse Beach. Water taxi good value at $10 pp return. Shocked by the increased cost of loungers after being asked for $40 for 2 chairs and a parasol. We walked further down the beach and got a pair for $30 but even this made this beach the most expensive of the 2 week cruise. We also found the chair suppliers quite aggressive in their attitude and rude to some people. This was disappointing and may venture a little further to other beaches next year.

Thank you for sharing, it’s been very useful 

On 11/9/2022 at 11:14 PM, si_boy said:

A week ago at Southampton it was chaotic to get on QV and the only time I have experienced it like this.
No one was allowed to board before 1pm which seemed unusual and caused subsequent delay.

It got worse when they started to call passengers to board, QG and PG first followed by pax that arrived at the terminal earliest.
It was only when a Diamond pax asked what was going on did they adjust to Diamond and Platinum next but by that time it was too late and pax were just joining a queue.

Port staff blamed pax arriving earlier than their allocated arrival time but we saw boarding passes with 12:45 and this was at 1:30. 
Hoping it is better for you @LadyL1

 

Yes our experience was exactly the same, as diamond we were asked to sit to the side but would get called once grills etc were boarded. They then sat new arriving people in the former grills seats and then started to board those seats first, it was very frustrating and for a little while they did appear to lose control. We were told by one lady as diamond to move forward only to be literally chased after by another lady asking what we were doing.

We were in our stateroom on deck 1 at the time of the “fire” and had a recorded message come through on our telephone telling us to leave our cabin immediately and my husband is pretty sure it mentioned a fire. When we left the cabin the fire door was closed and we could hear phones ringing throughout the cabins, obviously some people would have been at breakfast etc. when we got down to the stairwell by the theatre there were some crew there but they didn’t know anything. We decided to go to deck 3 and go on the promenade deck. There we saw an officer who didn’t know anything and advised us to go to the Pursers desk?? We did go back in and attempted to walk through the art gallery but were turned away by crew (obviously we were headed towards the point of “fire”), however the crew suggested using the lift which was a surprise as in all fire training we were taught never use a lift.  Anyway most importantly we still managed to make our way to breakfast in time.

3 hours ago, jeanlyon said:

Just been reading the Facebook page for P&O and people there getting het up becaue they are at 66 days etc.  Just feel very relieved that I contacted someone and got my refund.  Feel very sorry for those who are still waiting.

That’ll include me as one of those Jean, still nothing

25 minutes ago, ratherbecruisin said:

We have cruised with Royal Caribbean, Princess, NCL, Carnival and MSC. We are wondering since we are not formal people

will we eel out of place on Cunard.  What is the dress codes for the diningroom?

 

I often feel that if you need to ask the question perhaps Cunard is not for you.   You state you are not formal people, yet Cunard is more formal than the other lines you have cruised with.  Don’t get me wrong some people remain informal but on the whole people dress up and the whole experience is more formal so if it’s not your thing perhaps stick with what you know.  The main dining room has a formal atmosphere, quite refined and gentlemen have to wear jackets every evening.  There is always the buffet if it’s not your thing.

Just checked Cunard website and all cruises now available from May, who knows what’s going on.......but doubt they’ll be sailing.


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That was lovely. I could have listened to more. I love to hear the bagpipes. He plays them extremely well. Is he a piper?
Avril 

Thank you Adawn47 yes he plays very well. He was a Pipe Major in the Irish Guards and in fact was the Sovereign’s Piper for several years.


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My son in law playing the pipes in Lancashire 
 

 

37 minutes ago, wowzz said:

I'm not an expert, but basically Carnival are borrowing masses of money to help them get over the current situation. They will need to repay the debt and interest, therefore their profits will reduce. The longer the moratorium on cruising continues, the more of the borrowed money they will spend, and eventually they will run out of cash.

Hopefully someone more expert than me will give a more detailed answer.

Thank you I appreciate your response 

25 minutes ago, Harry Peterson said:

I think we have enough threads on this already.

Really Harry, I must have missed the one that actually gave today’s Carnival Corporation news

This won’t  come as any surprise but thought any shareholders, potential shareholders may find it of interest 

 

CARNIVAL ISSUES PROFITS WARNING AS COVID-19 HITS CRUISES

(Sharecast News) - Carnival Corporation issued a profits warning and scrapped guidance on Friday as the coronavirus pandemic pushed the world's biggest cruise operator to a heavy first quarter loss.

Carnival said the virus, which has led to a global travel slump as operators cancel services and issue refunds, would have a "material negative impact" on its full year financial results and liquidity and also delay ship deliveries.

It said it was cutting costs and capital expenditure and seeking extra financing in a bid to improve liquidity, adding that it had fully drawn its $3bn revolving credit agreement to bolster finances from the impending hit.

Carnival operates ships under the Carnival, Costa, P&O, Princess, Holland America, Seabou and Cunard brands and has suspended temporarily all global voyages. Two of its ships had to dock off their destination ports after some passengers were tested positive for the virus.

On Thursday the company said it was in talks with the US government to offer its vessels as hospital ships for patients with non Covid-19 conditions to help free up hospital beds to cope with the pandemic.

"Given the uncertainty of the situation, the corporation is currently unable to provide an earnings forecast, however it expects a net loss on both a US GAAP and adjusted basis for the fiscal year ending November 30, 2020," Carnival said in a statement.

The company swung to a first quarter GAAP net loss of $781m, or $1.14 per share compared with net income of $336m, or earnings per share of 48 cents a year earlier.

The impact of Covid-19 on the first quarter's net loss was around 23 cents a share, the company said, which took into account cancelled voyages and disruptions.

For the seven weeks to March 15, 2020, booking volumes for the rest of 2020 were "meaningfully" lower year-on-year as a result of the effects of Covid-19, Carnival said, as were cumulative advanced bookings at prices that were "considerably lower".

"The corporation also believes the effects of Covid on the shipyards where its ships are under construction, will result in a delay in ship deliveries," it said.

2 minutes ago, jeanlyon said:

Oh thank you, was beginning to think it was just me.  My friend who travels with us and I look after her email is also on Gmail and has had all of the announcements.

Jean, wondering whether you or your friend booked the cruise, if it makes any difference whose the lead name?

An important message from P&O Cruises

Mrs ... in light of the ongoing Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation, the UK Government has issued advice against cruise ship travel for British nationals aged 70 and over and people with pre-existing health conditions.

We understand if you are concerned by this advice. As your cruise is departing outside 14 days, we will be in touch as soon as possible with further guidance.

Keeping an eye on share prices during my lunch as hoped to buy more today it states they’ve closed the market, it’s back on now, just gone under £12 per share

12 hours ago, texanaust said:

So am I correct in understanding that all Carnival Corp owned lines with the exception of Cunard are now allowing people to cancel and receive a FCC?

Cunard and P&O

5 minutes ago, jeanlyon said:

Just because you are unfit to travel now, doesn't mean you are unfit to travel later?

 

 

All depends on the reason for being unfit to travel, and being fit in normal circumstances but not fit whilst Coronavirus is rampant

Just now, Tangoqueen said:

33 minutes ago, enjoysummers said:

Surely you can get a letter from your GP to saying unfit to travel?

taken from P&O website. Although It’s ridiculous that the company expects people to take up much needed appointments at GP’s to fulfil their requirements

 

We understand if this situation has led you to think about cancelling your upcoming cruise. 

If you are concerned about travelling within balance due date due to medical reasons, we are now able to look at transferring your booking, if you can provide a letter from a medical practitioner/Doctor on headed paper which confirms that you are unfit to travel on your cruise.

Simply call us on 03453 555 111 (local call charges apply) and we can discuss your options. If you booked with a travel agent, they will be able to help.

31 minutes ago, enjoysummers said:

Surely you can get a letter from your GP to saying unfit to travel?

We’ve been home for a week now after a wonderful 2 weeks on Britannia.  On port days we were off the ship until at least 3.30pm so by the time we changed and had a quick bite to eat it would be well after 4.30pm before we bought our first drink onboard (of course we’d had a few local beers on the beach earlier).  We’d have a cocktail and a beer in the Sunset Bar, then a drink in our cabin getting ready for the evening, a pre dinner drink and a drink after dinner.  We no longer have wine with our meal and just take the chance to rehydrate with water (wine is reasonable prices but after the high cost on previous Cunard cruises were we found we were often the only people drinking at the table made the switch to water).  On sea days we would have a large glass of wine with lunch and an additional beer or two during the afternoon.  We also had steaks in the Beach House with wine one evening.  Our total bill came to a little over £450, averaging £32+ a day for the 2 of us.  With an obc of £390 the final bill of only £60 was very welcome.  We enjoy dancing most evenings so i can’t get carried away with extra drinks otherwise I’d be breaking my ankles.  We didn’t buy bottled water or teas/coffees onboard. 

 

 

2 hours ago, oceansandseas said:

 

I do wish there was a way to know if there was a large dance club on a voyage. Those voyages make the Queen Mary 2 dance floor seem very small.

I totally agree, we choose Cunard mainly for the dancing and fortunately in 14 cruises haven’t shared a cruise with a dance club.  The dance floor is often busy and we’d be disappointed if there was a large dancing group onboard.

2 hours ago, oceansandseas said:

 

I can either lose a pound or gain a pound.  Although drinking more alcohol on holiday than I do at home I am definitely having less car sweets, evening chocolate and crisps!  I usually weigh myself daily first thing in the morning and my Fitbit records the info.  I’ve just looked back at info for last February immediately before and after our 2 week Britannia cruise in the Caribbean and thought it interesting on the loss of body fat during the holiday.......all that swimming, dancing and lack of sugar paid off.......but not for long.  I have to say a bit heavier this year but have a month to cut back.

 

9 hours ago, pully8 said:

just a few queries about the rough seas, why would people not travel with their own medication to alleviate sea sickness, or did they run out and sort medical assistance on board?

we expect to take our own but imagine emergencies could occur.

what were the passengers given and what was the fee? 

Many people suffered sea sickness who stated that they have done many cruises without being ill but on this occasion suffered.  We were ok but always take our own sickness tablets with us anyway but many didn’t.  There was a note in the daily magazine to say tablets were available at the pursers desk and this was the same medication as the medical centre provided.  When we went to the desk for something different there were loads of boxes of tablets and the guy joked he could put any price on them as they were in such demand.  I don’t know the price for sure but think someone said $20 per box.  They had sold out by the end of the first sea day and I knew of people who couldn’t get any.  They had restocked for the return journey but limited tablet to 3 per person I think.

1 hour ago, siforest65 said:

Out of curiosity what do you think most people’s gripes were about? My guess is late departure from Lanzarote with an overnight silence, missing Lisbon and the rough days. 
 

I think missing Lisbon was a blow but guess the Captain wanted the extra time to go deeper into the Bay to avoid the worst of the storm. 
 

On the Thursday evening we got talking to another couple who were also in the Yacht club and we had to leave because it was very rough up there especially on a slippy dance floor. Anyway the guy reckoned that the stabilisers weren’t deployed to save fuel. 
 

I've been unlucky on my last 2 cruises, the previous one was to Guernsey in August and we had to go to Le Havre on that occasion due to the weather.

 

I got a questionnaire and tended to be sympathetic in my replies because I feel I have to put total faith in the Captain.

Si, a few gripes we heard included lack of updates re delay departing Lanzarote and subsequently missing Lisbon.  Shortage of sea sickness tablets.  Poor quality lectures during the day.  Variety of evening entertainment in the theatre (not helped possibly by inability to bring new acts on at Lisbon).

 

I think with the added sea day and unfortunate sea conditions (although it is November so have to be prepared) guests were getting a bit fed up and I did hear several saying they wouldn’t do that cruise again at that time of year.  Needless to say we are going to book again for next year any day now.

Returned home from QV on the 16/11 and no questionnaires onboard and as yet no questionnaire emailed.  We would usually get the email within a day of getting home.  I spoke to Cunard rep today and was told it’s done from the ship not Southampton office. Didn’t sound quite right to me but I didn’t question it any further.