Gettingwarmer

1 hour ago, jake 26 said:

With respect I think it is you who is missing the point. P& O have considerably increased their need for more long haul charter flights by putting Arvia in the Caribbean with Britannia.

It seems that the flight structure they've put in place is inadequate in terms of contingency, as more flights means that the likelihood of the delays and technical problems affecting cruise passengers increases by the same margin. Delays and tech problems cause knock on delays. To deal with that contingency plans are needed which provide replacement aircraft,  as often happens with most airlines. P&O do not have those contingency plans it appears.

I fully accept P&O cannot control delays but they can put plans in place to mitigate them.

There are not enough planes around for P&O to acquire replacements. This has come about after the plans for Arvia in the Caribbean. 

8 minutes ago, jake 26 said:

Yes aircraft delays are common in the Caribbean during the season, but that is one of the factors that P&O would need to address when they dramatically increased their charter flight requirements when they added a ship with the passenger capacity of Arvia. It seems to me their flight planning department is nowhere capable, and yet it was always very good.

When they arranged the 2023 Arvia season several years ago there was sufficient planes flying. These were depleted during Covid and planes are now hard to find. They managed to find Maleth Aero to fill the void. Cruises are arranged long before flights become available  

1 hour ago, Adawn47 said:

I got back home at 8.15pm and enjoyed a nice bowl of soup and a decent coffee, soa quick update.

Frank's just had a 3rd transfusion. They're struggling to get his heamaglobin levels up which is worrying me more than anything at the moment. His appetite has improved and he's on a low salt diet and fluid restriction. It's all really confusing.

Tomorrow will hopefully be a little clearer.

Avril

Hope you get some sleep tonight and Frank improves tomorrow. Goodnight. 

3 hours ago, Interestedcruisefan said:

We have a chance to fit in a 12 night cruise on azamara  pursuit whilst we are in Cape Town

 

First glance it appears they include drinks (not sure which ones) and gratuities

 

Looks like small ships

 

Less entertainment but great food 

 

Price seems ok - if quality is good and drinks and gratuities are included 1900 ish per person for 12pm nights in outside view cabin

 

Can anybody recommend?

 

Or warn me of anything I need take account of before I book compared to P and O

 

 

photos of when she was Adonia

The ships are small and all the same. They bought P&O’s Adonia a lovely ship. A great showroom at rear of ship and small cinema which also had classical musicians. 
I would sail Azamara anytime if the price was right but I’m not sure it is your style. Too small and not enough going on. 

19 minutes ago, Angel57 said:

Lindt lindor are my favourites! 

2 minutes ago, mrsgoggins said:

 

+ 1

I especially like the mint ones 😋 but my 'last meal' request (odd concept that!) would include a Lindt Les Grande hazelnut chocolate bar.  If it were to be a last meal, I'd go for the milk version because I wouldn't care how much I ate!  In real life, I usually buy the dark version as I find it easier to not overdose on that 😉

Strawberry and cream Lindt. 

14 minutes ago, mrsgoggins said:

 

Lol, I hate them with a passion!  If they were the only chocolate confectionery available, I'd be slim, which I definitely am not!  Don't like fondant icing either and loathed Fry's chocolate cream back in the day. Given the millions of Creme Eggs Cadbury's sell, I'm obviously in the minority here.  Bring on the hot cross buns I say 😁

 

 

Same as me. I find all of the above very sickly. Give me an ordinary piece of plain or milk chocolate any day. 

Three cruises this year to the Canaries, Baltic and east coast of USA & Canada, the last two firsts for us. No great feats for us as we are getting older but loved seeing the buildings in Quebec and enjoyed a lobster roll in Bar Harbor and travelling on the rivers and oceans around the world. 

8 hours ago, paradiselivin1 said:

Did the same or similar cruise in January. Yes, we definitely paid the usual gratuities and did get the OBC conversion that Thrak stated above.. When we cruise in UK/Norway this summer; expect that we'll also pay the usual gratuities as Americans and get another lousy exchange..

Ships leaving the UK are charged in US dollars onboard and everyone whatever nationality is liable for  gratuities in US dollars unless paying plus or premium fare. 

On 12/16/2023 at 2:28 PM, yorkshirephil said:

The World has been cruising for nearly 20 years. https://aboardtheworld.com/our-story/

 

There is a new ship scheduled next year (Ville Vie) which will cruise around the world every 3 1/2 years, there is an option to purchase a condo or buy segments, quite interesting reading. We were alerted to this ship as one of the speakers on Queen Elizabeth was due to pay a deposit on one of the condo's on her.

https://www.insider.com/residential-cruise-startup-condos-at-sea-photos-2023-10

https://news.sky.com/story/the-couple-who-sold-everything-to-live-on-cruise-ships-for-the-rest-of-their-lives-13028137

Happy Christmas 

I usually only read this thread and rarely post as I tend not to  divulge much about myself. However the people here bring a lot of comfort to each other and I can relate to many of the problems. Some people have had a very hard year and I hope 2024 brings happier times. 
I wish you all a Merry Christmas and look  forward to continuing reading this thread. 
🎅🎄🎁⭐️🐪🫏🐑 

44 minutes ago, SeaLuvrrr said:

Princess Caribbean cruises just opened up for 25/26.  I tried to book one of my favorite delux balcony cabins on a 2026 cruise for my wife and I online and I got the dreaded message:

 

We don't currently have any rooms available to select in this location. If you choose to continue, Princess will assign a room for you just prior to sailing

 

I tried four other sailings on different ships and got the same message.  I’ve seen this in the past on certain ships and cruises while on others I could select.  This has nothing to do with the cabins being sold out.  What is Princess doing and why?  More control?  Forcing us to use a Princess travel planner?  How do I get around this?

 

I just wen back on and put in 3 guests and was able to pick and choose!  The two of us have selected these cabins on these ships in the past and never had an issue.  What gives?

 

 

See this

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2976495-is-this-booking-policy-new-is-it-widespread/#comment-66503472

17 minutes ago, jh1809 said:

I suspect that P&O would be reluctant to give up on an annual round-the-world cruise, and I believe that Aurora and Arcadia are their only ships small enough to go through the Panama Canal. Yes, a RTW could go via Cape Horn instead, but it would add substantially to the length of the cruise, and also I imagine that some potential passengers would be reluctant to brave the Cape, with its reputation for storms.

The larger ships can go through the new Panama Canal locks. 

18 minutes ago, Host Sharon said:

I wish you all a happy, healthy and peaceful Christmas. After another month in hospital with pneumonia, Christmas and cruising are cancelled for the time being. Just appreciate everything one has and take nothing for granted.

Sorry to hear your health problems are ongoing. I wish you a good recovery for 2024. Happy Christmas 🎅 🎄

43 minutes ago, puddle said:

We are looking to book our first P&O cruise on the Iona for June/July next year to the Norwegian Fjords.  We are looking at a standard balcony cabin, and in particular cabin 12.411.  Please can anyone tell me if the 411 cabins have the bed next to the balcony or the sofa/sofa bed?  I asked P&O but they can’t tell me and the photos on their website show both configurations.  Also, there are only two of us, so is booking a cabin with a sofa bed a mistake?  We’re just trying get a slightly bigger balcony if possible, which is the main reason for choosing this cabin.  We have the cabin on hold until about 6pm this evening (UK time).  I’ ve tried googling but without success,

 

Thank you 🤞

See below 14417 next to 14411 seems to have the bed next to the wardrobe so you would think 14111 bed would be next to the balcony. 

3 hours ago, Josy1953 said:

We booked a cruise on our favourite ship, Sky Princess, this morning so we have something to look forward to.

After the horrible year that we have had this year we really need something good to look forward to.

Love Sky Princess. Had some recent lovely cruises on her. Our next cruises are on Ventura and Arcadia. It is nice to look forward to a cruise. 

Just now, terrierjohn said:

Can't be that, I seem to get an e-mail every 2 or 3 minutes from them.

Maybe you have yes to email but no to snail mail

13 minutes ago, Megabear2 said:

Yes at 16 I shared a flat in Chelsea two roads down from Stamford Bridge so I do know about sharing. However safety regulations and council rules wouldn't allow that now - we were 10 who rotated in and out rapt weekends when work colleagues joined us for the football and nights out in the King's Road.  Happy days but we certainly wouldn't have been able to work under those conditions!

I don’t think @Interestedcruisefan means they work in the cabin. They would do this out and about around the ship. 
I still wouldn’t like 4 adults in an inside room. 

13 minutes ago, zap99 said:

I read that Posh negotiated his fee. I bet she had a cut as well. £1.5m is quite decent for 4 weeks work.

It was Toff (Georgia Toffolo) 

4 hours ago, Staffordshirecruiser said:

Hi, I know there are a few deluxe cabins at the aft that are wider than the standard cabins, but are all the midships deluxe cabins , the same width as standard cabins, but a little bit longer?

 

Thanks

Yes same width but longer which gives a little more open space in the middle. 

5 minutes ago, Centurions said:

We have some OBC so we're happy to take our chances, or as suggested use local vendors.

On another point, is there a desk onboard to book future cruises and, if so are there any benefits in doing so.

Again many thanks for your help.

Yes there is a Future Cruise desk on board. The deposits are small £50, £100 or £150 depending on the length of the cruise. There are also different offers of OBC etc but these change. 

I would agree with the above but would add that excursion prices can go up if they are popular so if you are agreed what you want book now. However in the Caribbean there are usually lots of independent vying for your trade at the ports. Lots of cruisers do this and If you are happy to do  this then fine. 

13 hours ago, Babynan said:

Thanks everyone for your advice. Can I just ask how it works with the parking? when I drop the car at the car park, do they take our luggage to the ship the same as AB parking does? Also is it far from the car park to the cruise terminal? Thanks.

It is too early to say which berth but most probably Mayflower. When you arrive you are directed to the CPS line where they will photo your car then take your keys to take the car to the onsite car park. As you will need help they will get a porter to take your bags to the despatch area for the ship. You then make your way the short distance to the terminal. You don't mention your disability but there are wheelchair helpers at the terminal for the ship. 

Sailed on Uganda to Madeira, Casablanca, Cadiz. 
Also sailed on Devonia to Santander, Corunna, Lisbon. 
Such a long time ago and I was very fortunate to have travelled so early. 
No more cruises till 30 years later.