pennib

I think so as I have tried to log on at one minute before midnight and you cannot get on line!!!

Easy to cancel auto gratuities. Get the form from reception on the ship and do it straight away. For trips, this is more tricky and depends where you want to go . Some are more value for money than others. For example the cost to go the beach in Grenada is ridiculous. In St Maarten, get the ferries from the cruise terminal to the town centre. They are frequent, reliable and do not cost the earth. Then you can wander around the town, or the beach as you please.

You can usually do this around 14 weeks prior to departure.  You than need to be really on the ball to get what you want, like logging on one minute past midnight of the 14 week date. Good luck

Not been on Oceana (yet) but we have bought spirits on other P&O ships and found their prices not too bad.  However we think Dubai DF is very competitive (for wine anyway and they usually have offers on certain wines) so I think their prices would be competitive with Oceana. We have family living in Dubai and so have visited there at least a dozen times, always buying the booze at the Dubai DF on arrival. We also get our coming home booze in the Dubai DF in the departures lounge. They know how to please the punter in Dubai!!  If you are there on a Friday try to fit in a brunch at one of the big hotels (Burj excluded) and you will see what I mean.

For anyone travelling to Dubai to join the Oceana for its gulf cruise, don't worry about the alcohol bit.  Be aware that there is a duty free shop in the airport arrivals hall (yes, the arrivals hall!!). There is a generous personal allowance to take into the country. 

We book as soon as the bookings start which is around 18 months before the Christmas. We do this to ensure that we get the cabin we want and also the premium upgrade flight from Manchester.

What you have to remember is that a hurricane means poor weather for at least a week i.e. While the storm is approaching, during the storm and then afterwards so it is nor just a poor day or two. I personally would not cruise in the Caribbean between July and November. Good luck!!

Having had family living and working in Dubai for the last 10 years we have visited Dubai at least a dozen times. People don't seem to have much difficulty in getting booze and there is even a duty free shop in the airport just after you have collected your luggage from the carousel. Just be careful where you drink it!!

We've recently been on Fantasia in a YC1 cabin. Don't think there were any insides in the YC. However, all cabins are marketed as suites but if you are in a YC1 don't expect a huge cabin. Ours was no bigger than a balcony cabin on P&O. The walk in closet was a joke. Service however in the YC is excellent.

We were on Azura for 28 nights for Christmas and New Year so imagine what it would have cost on the £12.50 package for each day. Previously we bought minutes and this was far better than the current system. Everyone on the ship was going on about the cost so hardly anyone bought it from P&O but used wifi in the ports instead. I have written to P&O about this but not got a reply so far. By way of contrast we have just been on MSC Fantasia for 7 night UAE cruise and their Internet price for the whole cruise is the same as P&O charges for just 2 days. So who is making a profit??

Difficult one this. I have spoken to 2 agents today and they are mad busy with people wanting to go on the new ship. So what do you do? Book now and take a chance with paying the deposit or take a risk that you will wait and possibly not get the cruise or cabins that you want?

Yes the £100 supplement is applying from Manchester and all airports except Gatwick. I think it is just an extra source of money for P&O applying to the new ship as lots of people will want to go on it. Also you can get a 28 night on Britannia for Christmas and New Year 2015 if you go Via an agent but if you contact P&O direct they won't sell you a 28nighter, only 2 14 nighters which works out a lot more money. Confused???

Yes we find P&O drinks prices very reasonable and there is no awful 15per cent on top. We think Cunard very dear. Perhaps explained why the bars were half empty some evenings back in February on the way to Hong Kong.

Our golden rule is to never book a cabin underneath a deck which has sports/restaurants/sunbeds / discos as there will be noise. We did part of Aurora's world cruise about 3 years ago in a balcony cabin. The wardrobe was a joke. Not enough hanging space for dresses and also you could not access half of it as it was behind a furniture unit. Shame as we otherwise liked the ship.

If you want some lunch while in Saigon, can recommend Pho 24 restaurant for cheap, quick and nice food.

Been there twice on cruises. Do remember the ship ties up in a container port so you can't just walk off the ship. We did a walking tour with RCCI and it was very good. Had some free time for the souk. We like the place.