On 6/28/2019 at 3:10 PM, Wren_dc said:

I leave today (!!) for my British Isles cruise on Princess.  With current temperatures only in the 50s and 60s, I can do without the A/C on this cruise.

 

And don't forget, any day cruising is better than a day stuck in the office.  Ciao!!

It was well in the 80s  here on Friday and Saturday - cooler today but still nice.

13 minutes ago, wowzz said:

The policy says up to one litre of alcohol per person, no mention of how many containers. Anyway, the security guys are only interested in finding guns, knives etc, not bottles.  

I recently went on a Princess cruise and had three bottles of wine in my hand luggage (there were four of us in the party so less than one each - I was just carrying it for everyone). I explained to the security man as it went through the xray machine and his reply was, " You can have 12 if you want. We are security and look for different things - we don't police alcohol."

I've just come off a princess 'half-term cruise'. I am a teacher and it is our half term in the UK - a week's holiday. On Sapphire Princess. Lots of Americans were confused why there were so many children on the cruise!

Tracey

On 5/28/2019 at 9:09 PM, kenhem said:

My wife has had womb cancer and I heart failure, we're both early 60s. We've found Medical Travel Compared usually very competitive for cruise cover  but for an upcoming 28 day Caribbean cruise a company called OneStop4UK came out best, that was £580.

Following advice from an earlier thread, I also took out insurance with Medical Travel Compared and it cost £93 for a 1 week cruise to Spain for my mum (returned this morning). I was getting quotes elsewhere of up to £600 and it was way cheaper than the very cheapest one that I had found (and the other dearer ones I even took off baggage and cancellation insurance too as I purely wanted medical cover on the cruise). I am going to use tham again for her summer 12 night cruise and the quote for that was £140ish.

My mum is 81 and has had 2 strokes, plus multiple medical conditions.

Tracey

4 hours ago, 2irisheyes said:

medicaltravelcompared

Very helpful post - thank you. I have been searching for travel insurance for my 81 year old mother who has several medical conditions (including stroke) and medicaltravelcompared have worked out way cheaper than any of the ones I tried. Thank you!

Tracey

On 4/23/2019 at 7:32 PM, Caravan 37 said:

I was also on the Canary Islands cruise. We used the Serenity Pool every time the weather permitted. I found it busy all the time except when high winds closed the bar there and restricted use

Me too. Sometimes the pool was quietish but usually several people in there at one time. We swam in there most days.

Tracey

53 minutes ago, Vampiress88 said:

 

Trying to argue it. Yes it’s the Britannia one I am losing out on. I have to pay today’s prices. Not what it would have been in January. 

 

“

• unfortunately if a guest wishes to transfer their original booking even if its because we have had to cancel an itinerary, the guest would require to pay the cost of their preferred cruise at today's prices. We don't offer a price match and the choice of itinerary is down to the guest and whilst I understand your individual circumstances, regrettably the Britannia itinerary you have chosen is more than your original Ventura cruise. I appreciate that it leaves a bad taste in the mouth but unfortunately we can't deviate around that.”

this is what their official response was. 

That's probably as good as you are going to get. Are you going to enjoy that cruise now as you will be starting it on the wrong foot? Although, with no alternatives at the same price, that's a hard one. Have you gained from the April 2020 one which would offset the loss in the August one? Or keep the August one as it is, ask for the £100 to be applied to that one and cancel next April altogether?

Actually, I got those costs £50 wrong now I look back. It was £849 for Azura and £899 for Ventura. Still £50 difference.

Sorry! Can't be of much help!

5 minutes ago, Vampiress88 said:

 

They are giving me £250 “benefit” but I have to pay £404 more so I am losing out financially or I lose my holidays in school time. 

 

What really annoys me is that the prices have increased by at least £200 just the one I’ve cancelled so they are benefiting from me for changing everything and I am losing out 

I know that when I booked Azura 3rd 2020 in January it was £799 for an inside and Ventura for 4th April 2020 was £849. Now Ventura is £997 so the price has gone up from when we booked but I am, in effect, getting it for £799 as it would be a straight transfer. You should be roughly the same for April 2020 cos I think you also booked in January.

Your Britannia one, are they offering it to you at today's price or at the time you booked Ventura. I am guessing that this is the one you are losing out on?

Can you not argue that?

12 minutes ago, Vampiress88 said:

 

Yes had we not had the August one booked I would have been ok with the £100 off future cruise. 

 

I have asked for onboard credit. 

They have offered £150 onboard. 

 

This still means tho there was £404 difference in cruise. They added the £100 future credit bringing it to £304. Then I’ve got £150 onboard. This still means I am £154 out of pocket. 

 

I dunno what to do. I’m sick of arguing with them but I hate that I am paying more for their fault

Are you getting Britannia summer instead of Ventura (I've lost track)? If so, you are getting a nicer ship (in my opinion - not in others) so is this worth paying another £154? I know it's not the same as what you originally had - but neither of us can have our original option so I have decided to just not worry about it. I'm getting £100 future credit, you are getting £250 in total benefits so I suppose you could argue that they have given you more than other passengers.

Just unfortunate for us both that we had identical itineraries already booked 😞

Tracey

On 3/29/2019 at 10:20 PM, Vampiress88 said:

 

 

No not strictly fans at all. Completely opposite. 

 

So my deal is now tranfer my inside azura Spain cruise to a sea view Ventura Canaries in April. 

Then transfer the sea view Ventura canaries to Britannia inside Spain cruise in August but still have to pay £404. They have said that the £100 compensation can be added there so real terms it’s now an extra £304 if I want to change all this. 

 

If it would have been a year apart then it wouldn’t have been so bad. Even better if I’d been on this itinerary before as I’d know if I liked it. 

 

I think i will just just have to cancel April and unfortunately this would mean I wouldn’t use p&o again as I don’t stay loyal with companies who don’t have any loyalty towards me. 

 

Lets hope this ceo wants to try and put things right otherwise I’ll be one holiday short but least I’ll save money. Silver linings an all. 

I mentioned earlier that we did the Canaries cruise once before and the weather was good (better than our Easter Med). I have just looked at weather for Canaries for next week for when we arrive on Britannia. It's looking pretty good. And I had a quick look at the Med and the Canaries weather is better / more consistent.

Might be a good time for you to compare the temperatures between the two as it is exactly this time of year that Azura / Ventura leave / would have left next year.

Tracey

10 hours ago, Vampiress88 said:

 

Obc? 

 

They have offered nothing. Every time I have tried to make it work so that both p&o and I are not losing out because of their mistakes it’s had to be me asking if they could do this or that. 

You’d think someone would have at least tried. 

Remember that they have automatically offered £50 per person OBC on the Ventura cruise (or a cruise at a future date). I'm happy with that as we will not be out of pocket like you. our situations are different. Negotiate with them over that amount. That costs the company way less than offering you money off the Britannia summer cruise.

Tracey

11 hours ago, Vampiress88 said:

My kids are 4 and 3 currently so that’s why cruise in 2020 as I’ll not be able to take them out of school when 5 so I’ve got a lot of years of holiday in the schools holidays for a very long time. 

 

There were cheaper deals in January when we booked. 

 

The offical stand from p&o ceo is that no matter the reason why I have to change my cruise even though it’s their fault they will still change me extra. 

 

Really wish they would treat customers better

Would they give you extra OBC to compensat rather than reduce the difference in price?

On 4/3/2019 at 2:20 PM, Vampiress88 said:

I looked at Marella last night and couldn’t find any good ones. 

 

I need summer holidays 26th July to 31st August for two weeks two adults two kids for £4000ish. 

 

Ive looked for all sorts of cruises or even just holidays and I can’t find anything at a similar price. 

 

Really hoping their departmebt calls me tomorrow as they have said and works some magic. 

 

Really cross with everything tho. There is no one that seems to want to help. They just want more money from you. 

It probably is a cruise that you don't want to do (Crown Princess, 24th July) but I booked this one a month or so ago. 4 berth cabin and it was less than £3000 cos passengers 3 & 4 were £199 each. It is a cruise I do most years, around the British Isles - although you probably want to head off to the sun. I love the itinerary, the mix of international passengers plus I am elite on Princess so get quite a few perks. It is also supposed to the be the first 'Medallion' cruise for Crown Princess (they are revamping the fleet). Same ship as Ventura and Azura. Not many families though as they tend to head for the Med. But maybe worth a look? 24th July may be too early for you but the cruise is repeated every 12 days. I'm not going to go back and look at price for you in case it has fallen again (the closer the sailing, the more this particular cruise tends to fall).

Does this appeal to you at all?

Tracey

7 minutes ago, docco said:

I think I've posted some positives, but the suite staff are both excellent, as are the restaurant staff, particularly in the Epicurean.

 

The food's also very good, wherever you eat. 

 

How is the hot water situation with the pools and the spa area? Does that mean that they're not heating the pools or that the steam room is out of action?

Tracey

19 hours ago, Vampiress88 said:

 

 

No not strictly fans at all. Completely opposite. 

 

So my deal is now tranfer my inside azura Spain cruise to a sea view Ventura Canaries in April. 

Then transfer the sea view Ventura canaries to Britannia inside Spain cruise in August but still have to pay £404. They have said that the £100 compensation can be added there so real terms it’s now an extra £304 if I want to change all this. 

 

If it would have been a year apart then it wouldn’t have been so bad. Even better if I’d been on this itinerary before as I’d know if I liked it. 

 

I think i will just just have to cancel April and unfortunately this would mean I wouldn’t use p&o again as I don’t stay loyal with companies who don’t have any loyalty towards me. 

 

Lets hope this ceo wants to try and put things right otherwise I’ll be one holiday short but least I’ll save money. Silver linings an all. 

After I booked Azura April 2020, I found that it would be the last cruise before the refit and I was concerned as to the condition of the ship. Maybe it is good that we have been offered Ventura if you read this thread. I don't think I would have gone for Azura if I had known beforehand that it was going into drydock after that cruise...

Reporting from Azura - very poor, and much in need of that refit!

19 hours ago, Vampiress88 said:

 

 

No not strictly fans at all. Completely opposite. 

 

So my deal is now tranfer my inside azura Spain cruise to a sea view Ventura Canaries in April. 

Then transfer the sea view Ventura canaries to Britannia inside Spain cruise in August but still have to pay £404. They have said that the £100 compensation can be added there so real terms it’s now an extra £304 if I want to change all this. 

 

If it would have been a year apart then it wouldn’t have been so bad. Even better if I’d been on this itinerary before as I’d know if I liked it. 

 

I think i will just just have to cancel April and unfortunately this would mean I wouldn’t use p&o again as I don’t stay loyal with companies who don’t have any loyalty towards me. 

 

Lets hope this ceo wants to try and put things right otherwise I’ll be one holiday short but least I’ll save money. Silver linings an all. 

Yes, it'll save me money if I cancel too 🙂

7 hours ago, Vampiress88 said:

 

This is exactly what I have asked them. 

 

They will do it but there is a price difference of £404 and I would be going to an inside cabin for both cruises whereas I had booked inside for April and sea view for August. The problem is that Britannia only does inside then skips to balcony and the balcony was £1400 more. 

 

I have ended up emailing the ceo cos I got very upset. 

 

They had already scheduled the refit for the day we were supposed to be back 18th April but they said it’s that it’s been pulled early by two weeks. 

 

Will have to see but they are not making it easy. 

 

Just seems like a big con to me. The prices for the cruises have risen loads since I booked in January and now I have to pay inflated prices due to them not fulfilling what I’ve booked. 

 

Hope something can be done. Really don’t want to lose my holidays and I don’t want to feel this way about p&o since I am going next month too. It’s put a downer on that. 

Hi,

I got through to P&O last night and they were very helpful (even though I booked through a TA and not with them). Annoying yes, that they pulled the date forward by two weeks. Annoying yes, that we are already doing the substitute cruise this Easter. But easier for me as there are just the two of us and we have several cruises this year and next so not as big a deal if we accept the cancellation. Haven't decided yet and am probably going to decide on board Britannia - if we like the itinerary (I've done it before, my husband hasn't) then we may choose to swap to Ventura, if we don't, then we will make the most of a bad deal or cancel.

But, for you, it also involves children and a difference in price. So they have offered to change the summer cruise free of penalty but want an extra £404 to move from an outside to an inside? Is that the difference in price at the time of booking or now (cos don't they offer changes/upgrades for the price at the time of booking and not at the current price??)? I suppose your other choice is to stick with the current August cruise, miss Gibraltar next Easter and do the Canaries twice.

Personally, leaving Gibraltar out of the equation, I prefer the Canaries itinerary because of the weather. There was more outdoor life on the Canaries cruise than the Med cruise (in April) and certainly more children on that one.  And you can do different things in each port this year and next year. Visit different places. Gran Canaria has a walkable beach which might appeal to the children? Do you like Strictly? We don't. But that might be a draw for Ventura, April 2020.

I know it's not ideal, but wait to see what their reply is. I got a better response from CEO's department from a complaint last year than I did from the normal office. They took an unathorised £600 from my account and debited my bank. It was when the computer systems went down in the whole fleet. They assured me onboard that it hadn't been debited and I took their word for it (long story about why this happened). It took 6 weeks for them to reimburse me even though I sent them proof. They had to investigate it and I didn't know whether I would actually end up with the refund or not right up till the last minute and I felt they wre doubting my word. I ended up emailing CEO's office (advice from on this board) and received an almost immediate phone call with an apology (which is what I wanted in the first place) and an offer of OBC on my next cruise.

Let me know what they say. But they have been very polite and helpful to me on this, although my situation is different than yours.

Tracey

1 hour ago, ann141 said:

Although you booked through an agent and if you phone P and O they will tell you to contact them, you could always email at customerservices@pocruises.com and copy in paul.ludlow@pocruises.com to tell them how disappointed you are and explain your situation.I have found in the past that they sometimes make a goodwill gesture 

Ill try ringing them directly. They are normally pretty good but will probably be dea;long with many calls today so may refer me back to my travel agent. If so, I may follow your suggestion above.

Thanks,

‘Tracey 

2 hours ago, Vampiress88 said:

I booked mine direct luckily. I spoke to a manager today and they are seeing what they can do. 

 

I was also thinking as someone else meantioned taking this new Ventura canary cruise in April then swapping the one in August to a different cruise that does Gibraltar. Problem is that I will be going from a sea view cabin to inside and they want me to pay £400 more! 

 

I am so cross. I understand that it’s because their schedule for refit has been brought forward but I think it’s awful for us with a knock on affect. 

 

I love good service and if I get that I usually stay with the same company always but this is making me question why I am staying loyal if they don’t seem bothered. 

 

We will have to see what the manager says this morning but I won’t let this drop as it’s very difficult trying to get round all the school holidays but I really still want to go away abroad. 

 

No it wouldn’t be better to cancel and rebook. The £350 more in price difference I was referring to was when I checked four days ago. I booked originally in January and every single cruise I’ve looked at has increased extremely since then. Was just trying to explain that it must be a lesser cruise if they are advertising it at a lower price only four days ago. 

 Let me know how you get on. I am going to try and ring them after work and am hoping they will speak to me and not refer me back to my travel agent. They are normally pretty good. I teach so also stuck to school holidays. The Britannia one that we are taking next week (same itinerary) is a Strictly Cruise. And noticed the the one they are offering in Ventura 2020 (same itinerary) is also a Strictly cruise! I’m not a fan and have never watched the programme but would have been nice if I were. I agree that it would be great if you could swap (no cost) to the August Med one and then take the Ventura Easter one on offer.

We booked inside cabin in January and I did consider Ventura but it was ever so slightly dearer and same itinerary as my 2019 one, so that’s why we went for Azura. Don’t know comparison of outside cabin prices. Also, I prefer Azura to Ventura as I like the sea screen on Azura.

I think I will either cancel altogether or take their offer of swapping to Ventura. I don’t think that £50 per person credit is a very good offer though for the disruption, do you? Reading back through the boards, it seems to be their standard offer when they cancel cruises so it will either be take it or leave it.  Tried to pm you but can’t get it to work.

Tracey

Should you have any questions then please contact your travel agent or, if you booked directly, contact one of our personal cruise advisers on 0344 xxx xxxx (local call charges apply) to chat through your options and amend your booking.

15 minutes ago, Son of Anarchy said:

Not quite sure if I'm getting confused about the dates, but to me it looks this cruise is still available for sale on Pando's website (03/04/2020 - 17/04/2020, billed as school hols).

 

Also had a look in the latest brochure received last week which shows the gap (18/04 - 02/05 presumably) mentioned by Spike

So a bit bemused...….not unusual

 

Yes, Azura 2020 cruise still being advertised on their website (first thing I did was look was I opened their cancellation email) but will not allow you to follow through and make a booking.

They have offered me the sailing on the 19th April instead of my 3rd April sailing so they have indeed had to change it. They don't want to change things any more than we do.

The bottom of their email says that I need to go back through my travel agent if I didn't book direct with them. That's a bit of a pain as they may not tell me anything when I ring but just refer me back to my TA. I just want to ask them several questions (especially in view of hte fact that I booked two cruises jsut last week).

I am writing to you with news about your holiday departing April 2020 on Azura.

Regrettably it is necessary to change the date of Azura's refit from mid-April to the beginning of April in order to comply with maritime regulations.

This change to the refit date means that unfortunately your cruise on Azura, which was due to depart on 3 April 2020, has had to be cancelled. The first cruise after Azura’s refit will be A008N, departing Southampton on 19 April 2020, which we appreciate may not fit in with your holiday plans. This is available to book from Wednesday, 3 April 2019.

However, we are pleased to let you know that there is another holiday over the Easter period in which you may be interested - Ventura is leaving just one day later (on 4 April 2020), bound for two weeks exploring Spain, Portugal and the Canary Islands. 

We’re so sorry to have to make this change and as a gesture of goodwill we would like to offer you a £50 per person Future Cruise Credit (applicable to the first two guests on the booking) which can be used towards any P&O Cruises holiday

1 minute ago, ann141 said:

Can you go to the Canary Islands on Ventura in April (ask for at least a large inside )because of price difference and see if they wi;ll transfer the August cruise to a med cruise on Britannia (including Gibralter)

That's a good idea. Remember though, that Ventura has mostly been dearer than the Azura one (certainly since I have been monitoring prices).

1 minute ago, Presto2 said:

I'm now confused and a little worried. We are on Azura over the Easter break to the Fjords and sail on the 20th April. Is this the cruise before or after her now refit ????

Confused.com

Are you thinking April 2019 or 2020? This is for 2020.

I found out after I had booked that we were the last cruise before the planned refit. Had I known beforehand, I might have reconsidered booking a cruise immediately before dry dock (things looking tatty?). The refit has been brought forward from 19th to 3rd April 2020.

Tracey

1 hour ago, Vampiress88 said:

 

I get that it is for some but for me it’s a way of seeing lots of different places without being stuck. I don’t wanna go on a weeks beach holiday to Tenerife when I could go on a cruise to all the islands. 

 

If  I liked it then I would possibly book to go back but I wouldn’t book two exactly same cruises next year. 

 

I want the itinerary I booked. I want to go to specific locations and I am just so cross. Had we not have had another cruise booked in August then I might have been ok with the change. They just don’t seem to understand that they are having a knock on effect. I can’t even rebook cruises as they are either all out for some or there prices went up ridiculously and I don’t wanna pay more just cos they have decided to do this. 

 

The ventura cruise was quoted at £350 less than the azura one in the last few days and now they think it’s ok for me to change onto what I would say is a “lesser” cruise than what I booked. 

 

I am getting headache over this  

Hi,

I have just opened my email from P&O with exactly the same thing. I don't know what to do either.

Similar situation except that we are going on Britannia this Easter - guess where - same itinerary that we have been offered on Ventura April 2020!! So I also have a choice, cancel completely or do the same itinerary twice in a 12 month period (not as bad as a 4 month period). I am leaning towards moving over to Ventura as I cruise for the experience and not necessarily the itinerary.

We have also been offered a £50 per person Future Cruise Credit - but booked two P&O cruises last week on pre-registration!! They've let us know too late!!!

If it's any consolation, we booked this Azura 2020 cruise back in January and it was £50 cheaper than Ventura cos I considered both and opted for the slightly cheaper one (plus a different itinerary). So we would, ever so slightly, benefit if considering prices at time of booking. That may have been thecase when you booked too?? Also, the weather should be better on a Canaries cruise than the Azura itinerary at that time of year and we have experienced more families on this particular itinerary in April than on a Med one.

I'm not pleased about it either (£50 FCC is nothing for a cancelled cruise - I consider that a bit of an insult) but am going to sleep on it for a few nights before I make a decision. We have till April 23rd so theoretically, don't need to decide until after we come back from Britannia.

Tracey

9 minutes ago, majortom10 said:

We have booked  BI cruise for August this year.

I bet we've overlapped at some time or another! Sailing 24th July this year, last year was also the same week on Royal. Most sailings have been last week of July and once in August (I think). Only missed one year since 2012 🙂