majortom10

All companies are interested in maximising profits but to say - A couple or individual that have an interior cabin, don't drink, don't use the speciality restaurants, don't go on P&O excursions etc are of no interest whatsoever to P&O, or indeed, to any cruise line. Is a complete and utter nonsense with no foundation whatsoever. You have not spoken to everyone on P&O ships who cruise and ask if they drink, book speciality restaurants or go on excursions so to say such a statement without any knowledge of such is fanciful. How do you know that those sitting at the next table in a bar or speciality restaurants are in an inside cabin or higher. So to make such a statement is rather silly.

That is complete and utter nonsense without any foundation.

If last week on Iona is anything to go by there were many Caribbean and above at the Welcome Aboard lunch and also the Peninsular Tier lunch. With reference to cocktail parties there was none still giving out vouchers but I don't see any reason why they couldn't have parties in SkyDome or Club House both certainly big enough.

Yes

The Welcome Aboard lunch even though only a buffet on Iona is a relaxed start to the cruise without the hussle and bustle of the smash and grab....sorry I meant Horizon Buffet. Also to be honest the Peninsular Club lunch we had towards the end of the cruise was possibly the best meal we had onboard.

We went to dedicated disembarkation lounge after leaving our cabin at 8am and was told we could disembark straight away instead of waiting for our time. The queue to get off the ship was negligible and we soon found out suitcases and loaded our car and was driving off CPS not long after 8-30am. I was expecting a massive queue to get off Iona but was very surprised and non existent.

Caribbean also attend the Welcome Aboard lunch.

Also some shows in the theatre will be bookable in advance and also Wavelength (Ben Shepherd quiz)....don't bother.

You get slippers in Caribbean Tier so don't worry.

I perhaps wonder that Olive Grove is being operated differently on Arvia than it is on Iona. On Iona open all day from just before lunch until evening with same menu day/night for the whole 14 days.

We tested positive on Sunday after getting home on Sunday but there was no congregation on disembarkation it was very handled. We generally kept ourselves to ourselves throughout the cruise and ate at a table for 2 for every meal. My own opinion is that the likeliest place we caught it, and were very surprised we were positive, is the lifts were packed full every time we used them. We normally try to use the stairs asu h as possible but on a ship as large as Iona is very hard climbing 10+ decks of stairs.

On our cruise last week on Iona we dined lunch/ dinner 4 times over both weeks and the menu was the same for the whole fortnight.

Lucky you that is something that is only afforded to American cruiser's whatever grade of stateroom. In the UK we very rarely, if at all, get gratuities included so we have to pay the amount added in total on the first night of cruise.

Think it is well documented and has been for many years that cruise lines pay their service staff i.e. cabin stewards and waiters very poorly and they rely on gratuities to boost their wages to an acceptable level. Anyone who doesn't really believe this is I am afraid burying their heads in the sand.

I agree entirely just returned from a cruise with gratuities included in the cruise fare and there was no deterioration of service. You then if staff give exemplary service give a personal gratuity which they keep. End of the day Cunard do no more than in every land based hotel in clean your room and waiters serve your meal. So why should we all have to pay £12+ pppd for the privilege and be made to feel guilty if we don't. Surprise, surprise many Americans who book in the Grills get free or actually included in fare as nothing is actually free, so if it is good for them it should be same for everyone. If we were all totally honest we all know that Cunard charge daily gratuities to your account so they can pay them poor wages and boost the profits of Carnival.

Well you are very lucky to be in that privileged position not all of us are.

Would never dream of leaving a tip/gratuity on a 14 nt land based holiday in a hotel of £400 so why should a cruise line be any different seeing that staff do exactly the same.

In your opinion it might not be and to be charged £400 for a 14 my cruise for a couple is a substantial amount. Plus there is also the charge of 15% service charge on drinks which no doubt might also increase.

I have but always been wife's desire to go in QG on QM2 so was just an idea but cannot justify or think it is worth the extra £1500pp compared to Club Balcony. But to be honest cabins Club, P2 and Q6 are in very poor positions of the ship. Personally would rather do 2 cruises in Balcony than one in QG.

They differentiate by a about £700 per couple😀

Anyone travelled in Q6 on deck 9. Worry that they are too far forward and may suffer movement in rough seas.

Thanks for your thoughts but we have both been very poorly since Sunday and don't seem to be improving at all.

On our recent cruise on Iona we had a disembarkation time of 8-25 to 8-35am and had to leave our cabin by 8am. But not to go to dedicated lounge no more than 10 mins before allocated time. So people were just hanging around in corridors but we went early straight to Club House at 8-05am and on arrival were told we could disembark, no queues and very efficient.

There were only a few wearing masks initially on our cruise on Iona, so not compulsory, but did seem to increase as cruise went on. Unfortunately we arrived home on Saturday didn't feel well on Sunday and did COVID test and were both positive

They are but not actually part of Carnival UK and only seems P&O and Cunard that swap staff around.