mrbluesea

I think this type of survey is one piece of data that people will use when forming an opinion.  It has its uses but should not be taken in isolation of other factors.  It therefore has some value,  if treated with care.

1700 is a perfectly acceptable sample size to be able to make reasonable assessment of consumers experiences.

In the old days, pre covid, does anyone know what happened to people who ticked yes on the pre boarding health questionnaire to having sickness/diarrhoea (or whatever the terminology was at that time) to stop norovirus getting onto the ship.  Were they turned away, quarantined or given a visit to the on ship medical centre.  I just wonder if everyone answered that questionnaire honestly.

7 hours ago, wowzz said:

Sorry, I am completely confused. 

I suspect the problem is that you are using an online agency. Why not use a specialised cruise agency and actually talk to someone ?

Many of us here use certain agencies, but they all entail an actual verbal interaction. I book most of my travel arrangements through the internet,  but for cruises, I prefer the personal touch.

It was an online agency which had a human interface who I spoke to to agree the pre release price (should they secure the suite on release date).

If the suites are still showing as being available,  why was your booking not accepted?

    The suite was shown as available today at 08.30 am on the P&O website at a (very good) lower price than the online travel agent had quoted yesterday but showed as unavailable when I tried to complete the booking today.

If both suites were sold on launch, then why has the price dropped??

    The price difference I am referring to is between the online travel agent (yesterday) and P&O website today.

Yesterday P&O were not showing a price for the Penthouse Suite so I going to take a risk with the online travel agent who were offering a price. If I had been successful I would have got the Penthouse Suite but at a higher price than if I had been successful today.

Had a lucky escape (I think).  Yesterday I agreed a pre release price with an on line travel agent for Aurora in Nov 24 for the Penthouse Suite at £169 pppn (saver fare) which I was happy with (and paid a deposit). As there are only 2 such suites available on Aurora the price was conditional on the travel agent securing the accommodation. They failed to get either of the 2 suites, but this morning the price on the P and O website for the Penthouse Suite was considerably lower.  Yes,  I would have liked to get the Suite at the agreed price with the travel agent, but I would have been a bit annoyed to have booked it at the higher price. Deposit now being refunded.  This is the first time I have pre registered for a cruise,  not sure if I will do it again.

Whatever the cruise line, whether tips are included in the fare or not, I will always tip staff personally. My personal choice, particularly given the last few years staff have had to endure.

38 minutes ago, zap99 said:

You could always take the risk and cover the cost yourself

Very true.  But it could be at a high cost (but I guess all things are relative) however you may not even start your cruise if you cannot provide evidence of insurance cover.

I think its the hope of a 'yes' or 'no' which I find unlikely to be compiled with.

My personal view given a potential risk is you can either try to mitigate the risk (through insurance) or avoid it. In the current climate I'm definitely in the avoid camp.

Useful advice but unlikely to be compiled with by the insurance company.

https://www.sundaypost.com/fp/cruise-ships-leaving-glasgow/

Sound as though at least one ship is leaving shortly.

If you are a cruise line that intends sailing you say so and publicise it widely. If you do not intend saling, in the short term, you say nothing. That way you can more easily update your strategy.  Whether it would be a good approach for Azamara to start mass sailing at any time soon, I doubt it. Not at the price point and product they seek to offer.

On the last P&O cruise I was on, just before the first lockdown l was advised by my winewaiter that the role of winewater was to be discontinued on the new larger ships. The role was going to be picked up by the general waiters.  The wine waiter we had was not too impressed with the proposed change. If it did go ahead it looks to be a very retrograde step.  Has anyone else heard this possible change.

Having just performed the marshalling role at the local vaccination centre the number of grumpy people turning up for vaccination has increased. Thankfully a very small minority. I'm not sure if its the change in demographics but there does seem to be more people want to find something to grumble about. For all future people to be vacinated please be nice to the marshals. Its not thier fault if parkings not free or if you need to change your face covering. Thank you.

8 hours ago, wowzz said:

First of all, can I say that I think that this is a very friendly and supportive forum, and I feel that I have made lots of virtual friends here.

So, if  you think that I am wrong, insensitive or worse,  please say.

It is just that various threads seem to have  become  submerged  with Happy Birthday Posts, Get Well Posts,  Sorry About Your Friend/Relative Posts etc. Don't get me wrong, I think that these posts are fantastic,  and show how much as a community we care about each other. But, would it not be better if  these "social" (for want of a better word) had a seperate thread of their own?

Sometimes the original objectives of the threads have become lost in the socialisation. 

Right- I'm a big boy, so I will not be upset if you tell me I am wrong. I'm just saying that we should, perhaps at the least, have a seperate Happy Birthday thread. 

   

 

 

I think you are correct. There is a balance to be struck which I think has moved too far to 'social' posts (as you call it) on factual threads.  I was hoping that its just a sign of the times and that things would get back to normality at some time in the future.  But as an infrequent poster the volume of these types of posts on threads seeking advice and comment has made me visit this board less often.  

Unfortunately a cruise round the uk would just become just a booze cruise, not at all like a transatlantic which I really enjoy.  So probably not for me.

3 hours ago, Skicruiser55 said:

Totally agree with all of the above.  We found the included wines and spirits not that great and upgraded our beverage package.  It can’t cost that much more to include a decent selection of wines.  

I agree, quality of the included wine is not great.

Talking of latest technology if you are not uptodate with the 36th America's Cup I would recommend having a look in particular the Italian vessel Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli looks stunning (even though its beating the British at the moment). Its best to see it in motion rather than a photo.

1 hour ago, Haworth said:

Phil

 

If you have your NHS number number you can book on line without waiting for a letter, we (66) booked Friday night and got our first Jab on Saturday

You do not even need your nhs number. We did the same thing over the weekend in advance of any letter or notification. As long as you are in group 5.

27 minutes ago, zap99 said:

I guess you learnt from your experience in boarding. As the nervous jabees got out of their cars, there was you with your tray. " Would you like Orange juice, or Champagne Sir/modom.🤣

I was going to go for the cuddly animal and photo opportunity, but thought better of it.

18 minutes ago, Eddie99 said:

I think my best “celeb” wish would be for JVT to be on jab duty, though I’d be happy with Hugh Bonneville too.

 

Another shout out for non-celeb volunteers.  The car park, pelican crossing and queue marshals at our local centre must be perished these last few days, yet they continue smiling behind their masks and manage a Good Morning as we pass

I did my marshals role a couple of weeks back, and yes I was frozen standing in the car park directing cars but my cruising experiences did remind me that the first point of contact to any experience is so important at putting people at their ease. It did make me think of all those staff standing on a dock in all sorts of weather welcoming you back.

7 hours ago, nordski said:

And a Canadian friend as well. 😄

I knew as soon as I had posted that I should have made my comment more inclusive - apologies. The multi national dimension is the really nice thing about this board and although I've only cruised twice with Azamara, its the main reason I keep an eye on the comments made.

I know you did not mean it in any way derogatory.  I just did not want our American friends to use the term perhaps inappropriately. Keep well.

In the uk, the term 'punter' is generally not the most complementary way of describing a paying guest. 

Just for interest. Reported 3rd Feb.