DM6045

Wonder if anybody can help? We’re travelling tomorrow on Enchanted ans both Me and Mum separately purchased some onboard credits through our cruise personalisers and we’ve just gone to print out our travel summary and noticed they have been assigned to me. Will we be able to get the ones she paid for transferred to her account onboard or do I have to call princess and get them transferred before we leave? Could it be because we’re both registered to use the same payment card?

 Many thanks never had this problem happen before.

The area on aft on deck 7 (usually starboard) has always been a smoking area for everyone when I’ve been onboard any royal class ship its not just for crew there’s no crew smoking area on deck 9. We had a cabin above the area on deck 8 and had no problems

6 hours ago, Ombud said:

 

3. Costa neoRomantica -> Celestyal Cruises Experience 
10. POAU Pacific Dawn -> scrapped by Ocean Builders

 

Couple of corrections @Ombud Costa neoRomantica has now been scrapped by Celestyal, also Pacific Dawn has not been scrapped and is now sailing for Ambassador as the Ambience her sister Pacific Jewel was scrapped after a very brief period as the Karnika. Ambassador have also brought the AidaMira (not on your list) direct from Aida to be named Ambition and start sailing next year.

Biggest problem the Aida ships have is that they are built for such a unique product that they’re not suitable for most ‘traditional’ cruise lines that would consider something her size, such as no sit down main dinning rooms they’re all buffet style as such they have much smaller galleys and have a very low crew compliment for their sizes, so most lines would need to find space to increase both of those things to offer a more standard experience onboard.

My bet is either Celestyal or Margaritaville she could suit both of their very casual laid back port intensive short cruises. 

A couple of moths ago we returned from a back to back (14 + 18nights) on a different line from the UK and the medical officer onboard is an old family friend who gave me some figures of onboard covid numbers.

The first 14 day cruise was the ships first since masking and covid protocols had been officially dropped and there was no mandatory onboard testing (unless self reported as symptomatic) I would say only 5-10% wore masks properly onboard during the trip and generally acted as though covid no longer existed. At the end-of that trip 17% of the passengers had reported symptoms and tested postive so combining that along with the asymptotic and those who didn't report their symptoms for fear of isolation the realistic figure is more likely to be in the 20-25% region.

The second cruise was longer at 18nights there were also more passengers onboard and although it was still not a requirement to mask officers and crew were actively recommending it when moving around and using lifts etc… meaning that I would guess aprox 85-90% passengers wore them around the ship unless eating/drinking, we also had ffp2  masks left in our cabin for use incase we didnt bring any due to no requirements. On this trip we also had 2 mandatory covid tests due to the requirements of ports we were docking at one on day 3 and one on day 15 (so we expected higher figures on this trip due to the tests picking up those who were asymptomatic.) but by the end only just under 6% had tested positive.

This clearly said to me that although masking certainly will never fully stop it spreading it is certainly capable of limiting a mass outbreak onboard that the industries reputation cannot afford.

Currently onboard QE and our second formal was Masquerade 2 days ago, even though this theme had disappeared from our cruise planner a week before we left.

You can actually drink water with legionella bacteria in and be fine the problem comes when you breathe it in after its airborne such as from air-con or the spray from a shower or tap i believe the shower is the most common cause in this uk as it develops in the shower hose.

56 minutes ago, Bill Y said:

Tend to agree, too many sea days compared to port days, this was made worse when the total duration was reduced to 99 day for insurance reasons, also there is a lot of repartition of ports.

Interesting I never knew that they cut the length due to insurance, strange though how none of the other lines doing worldies ex UK have the same insurance issue’s as their trips are all still over 100 days 

personally I think the numbers of people doing them would rise again if the lengthened them again so that each year could go back to a more varied itinerary from the previous one

Personally we don't fly and prefer longer winter itineraries so would like to see a come back of the grand voyages that focused on a specific region like Artemis and Adonia used to do. Still roughly 100 days but focused on for instance Asia or a circumnavigation of Africa etc meaning there was many more ports than a worldie… now they only seem to do a world cruise or around south America,

We also did a fabulous 6 week trip on I think Fred that was down to Rio Carnivale

Southampton-cape verde- Rio (5days)- devils island- Azores- Southampton

Best Itinerary that I’ve ever done by far was the Amazon with CMV, Aurora was there at the same time but Magellan went to more places in the Amazon than P&O have ever offered I’d love to repeat that although I'm hoping Ambassador will have me covered on that one.

When do you all think MSC will make their announcement about their Southampton sailings this summer?. All the big UK companies have cancelled theirs in favour of cruises to nowhere or just to British ports. Friends of ours are booked on the 14th may sailing that has still not been cancelled despite it being illegal to go on according to uk government (cruises allowed to uk ports only from 17th May). We’re booked for July to go to the med and would just like to know where we stand personally I would prefer it if they did it as a uk sailing.

so with all the other lines following government advice I wonder why MSC is dragging it out?

As a Carer I was lucky enough to have my first jab last but night the nurse giving it told me the second one would be in 12 weeks as its not really needed as one is enough! whilst the nurse at the station next to mine was telling her patient that it was only effective if the second dose was given in 3 weeks.

the other thing that made absolutely no sense to me though is that the 2 other members of staff who work with me had it done at the same time and yet when we left to cue to get our second appointment the one before me got hers for 4 weeks time, the one after me got exactly 3 weeks and I got mine in 10 weeks when I questioned it and asked if they had anything sooner I was told yes they do but I couldn’t have one and should just be grateful and take what im given. Just makes no sense to me that there is no fixed system in place for timescale for a second dose, especially when the last thing I read from the manufacturers of the vaccine was that it should be 21 days for maximum effectiveness. And also very odd that the nurses giving the jabs were also telling different people different things.

I’m quite surprised that  after signing the deal for the new terminal at Southampton MSC missed the opportunity to send  a smaller ship say either Armonia or Sinfonia on year round ex uk cruises from 2022 taking over CMV’s itineraries. As they both cater to the cheaper end of the market and there is a massive gap in the UK market now waiting for someone to fill it, and a-lot of the dipslaced passengers from CMV will not book on Magnifica’s Southampton cruises as the ships too large for them and the Itineraries are too repetitive and commonplace. I know the style of the itineraries required would be slightly out of MSC’s comfort zone but I personally think they’ve missed an opportunity.

It wouldn’t in the least surprise me if the Aurora was to leave P&O soon, it was fairly common knowledge that she would leave when Iona’s sister joined the fleet in 2022 anyway, apart from QM2 she has the most amount of public space per passenger across all carnival brands this virtue also making her one of the least profitable. Her engines are also very thirsty having been built for fast cruising on long exotic itineraries. Pre COVID the Chinese company that brought her near sister Oriana made several offers on her so that they could have a cohesive pair.

Instead of Aida Cara my guess would be the younger Aida Mira as although they’ve just got her she’s the only ship in their fleet that doesn’t naturally  fit in with Aida’s unique style of cruising where the Cara was what the whole concept was based around. Ive also heard the Mira is not very popular with regulars for this very reason.

1 hour ago, Thaxted said:

The points you raise are interesting, but I think that some of your analogies are strained. This virus is far nastier than the Norovirus. Even a small outbreak of COVID would be almost impossible for the medical staff on a ship to handle. A bit of extra oxygen would hardly suffice. And given that we still don't know if people who have been vaccinated can still spread the disease, more than likely if there were an outbreak among the unvaccinated all the passengers would be placed under some sort of restriction or quarantined. As for Yellow Fever, since it is spread by mosquitoes, if you haven't been vaccinated and visit an area where the disease is endemic, as you said the risk is largely confined to yourself. But COVID is spread from person to person. If you aren't vaccinated, you are sharing your risk with others.

 

 

Yes To be fair having re read the bit about norovirus I didn’t word it in quite the way I meant to nor did I mean it to sound as cavalier as it did.

My point regarding yellow fever was made because with the facts available I don’t personally believe at this moment that you would be sharing any greater risk of transmitting to those that will have been lucky enough to be vaccinated as there is currently no proof that the vaccinated are less likely to spread the virus amongst themselves compared to those that aren’t so potential restrictions and or quarantine could possibly still have to apply even in the absence of the unvaccinated as the vaccinated can still get severely ill just in most cases not enough to require ventilators and intensive care. Several people  on other threads who can’t have it have even said that if a minor outbreak was to occur onboard they would self isolate in their cabins anyway so as not to put themselves at further risk of becoming gravely unwell, most also said they wouldn’t be socialising as they would have pre COVID and would want to maintain a level of distancing and mask wearing etc anyway especially in the direct presence of other unvaccinated passengers as they all understand the extra risk that they are taking. I just don’t think its right that they should be victimised and be made to feel like they are somehow threatening for something that they that have no choice over and there is currently no scientific evidence to prove otherwise, of course if the evidence was to change then I suspect many of them would probably also change their minds so as not to put others at unnecessary risk.

Apologies if that makes no sense my brain is working faster than my fingers tonight...

Its been interesting seeing this debate  about SAGA’s vaccine policy played out on various threads on social media but there is one thing that I think is wrong and that is the fact that they are not allowing any medical exemptions to the vaccine, the last figures I saw were that aproximately less than 0.3% of the uk  population will not be able to receive the Jab so theoretically only 3 people on a ship of a 1000. Even if double percentage I'm sure an outbreak among the unvaccinated could be managed by the medical team in the same way a serious case of Norovirus although admittedly they may have to carry extra oxygen.

The thing that I have found most upsetting about peoples responses to this is that a-lot have said that they wouldn’t feel safe sailing on a ship with a couple of unvaccinated passengers in fact one thread even went down a very dark rabbit hole with people saying that the unvaccinated should be made to wear visible symbols of their status and only be allowed into a few select shops, hospitality venues etc... rather than living in the UK in 2021 all sounds rather similar to Germany circa 1940 in my opinion.

I just cant understand why those that are vaccinated are displaying signs of fear against the minority who cannot be.

Personally I don’t see it as any different to any other travel vaccine, take Yellow fever for example its mandatory that you have the jab to visit certain places unless you cannot have it for various medical reasons and you get an exemption card, then you personally have to weigh up the risks to yourself and if you still decide to go have to make sure you take as many precautions as possible to protect yourself, your not putting your fellow vaccinated passengers at risk by you not having it, I just do not understand this mentality.

As I’m hoping that this thread maybe a little more civilised in its responses than those on FB would you feel scared if a very small number of said passengers were onboard and if so why do you think they pose a risk to you? not trying to start a debate just interested in your thought process?

just to be clear so no anti- antivaxers jump on this I’m not talking about people who choose not to have the vaccine only those that cannot.

29 minutes ago, Captain_Morgan said:

 

Very good points, but at the end of the day the restart of any brand will be driven by maximizing the generation of £/$/€ which I think is something we can all agree.  Based on that rationale, having Ventura/Britannia/Azura operating even at 50% capacity equates to a larger income generation than the likes of Aurora/Arcadia operating at 50% capacity based on a simple 1 person = £1 ratio (monetary figure used strictly for example and clearly doesn't represent the actual fare being charged 😆).  I agree as well with points made that despite her size Iona is likely to be kept tucked away until a more grand restart can be had for her as she is very much the new flagship of the brand thus my inclusion of Britannia as one of those I think being first to resume service.

I completely agree thats how a restart will most likely go ahead it makes the most sense for the company, my comments were merely made as I have seen a-lot of posts both on here and fb etc recently that even smaller ship devotees seem to consider the newer larger ships being ‘safer’ as they are perceived to be more spacious, I guess it just go’s to show that the ‘bigger is better’ marketing that their PR departments put out works.

4 hours ago, DS_Dean said:

Carnival just announced another ship is expected to leave the Corporation, and now Azura heads to Newcastle... it is all very Oceana indeed! 🤯

 

...

 

But no. There is no way Azura would be departing for reasons made in this thread - youth, tonnage etc. I had always thought Azura or Ventura would be first to return to cruising on the P&O side. I don't think they would want to risk bad press if it goes wrong on their "flagships" ships like Britannia / Iona. Arcadia / Aurora too small with with social distancing seemed to put Azura and Ventura in prime position for first ships to sail in my mind. I speak merely as guess work on my part - I have no actual knowledge 😄

 

Azura's now overlapped "MOT" as it were, maybe puts her on the back foot. In comparison to Azura are any other ships coming close to an MOT/ Mandatory Dry Dock?

 In regards to Aurora being too small for social distancing she has by far the highest space per passenger ratio in the whole fleet  also she has more square footage of public areas in total compared to Ventura/ Azura so the way I see it she is surely the safest... however In my opinion she will be the one affected by the latest Carnival Cull if P&O are targeted by it, for the very reasons listed above mean she’s the most unprofitable and carnival don’t like high space - low profit 

I find it quite interesting that in a post covid world most people think that the bigger newer ships are safer even though they carry disproportionately larger passenger numbers (and fewer public areas to accommodate them in) compared to their smaller fleet mates.

14 hours ago, Roz said:

So back to my question - if Zaandam and Volendam are gone, which ships will do the longer itineraries, or will HAL just quit doing them?

 They could easily do them with one of the Vistas as the P&O Arcadia, Cunard QV &QE and Costa Deleziosa and Luminosa are all derivatives of the Vista Class and they have done world cruises / long cruises for years very successfully. HAL would probably have to drop its prices slightly to fill them but on the flip side they would be cheaper to operate.
If anything dropping the prices on their grand voyages wouldn’t be a bad thing for attracting more Brits/ Europeans on them (I know we’re not the target market) as on average the starting price for a world cruise for us on P&O, Cunard, Fred Olsen etc... is £10,000 (r/t UK) however on HAL its usually £19,000 (plus flights) a couple we cruise regularly with is fortunate enough to do a world cruise every year and a couple of years ago they did HAL as they are one of their favourite lines but said they wouldn’t do another with them as it simply wasn’t worth nearly double the cost plus flights and luggage over Cunard or P&O etc... the only thing they preferred was the smaller ship but they could have that on Fred Olsen or P&O Aurora for a-lot less... quite a few Dutch and Germans have said very similar to me also regarding the value.

Our cruise last year flying out to Jamaica and cruising back our proper safety drill was held at 8 the next morning the night before when ŵe arrived they just went over everything over the tannoy and Went through muster station locations etc and to report to them the following morning for a full drill.

39 minutes ago, London-Calling said:

 

I'm mature now, but when I took my first Olsen cruise I was in my late 30's but still looked young-ish.

 

The lady at the check-in said to my wife and I, "are we crew"

 

Many of the passengers, at the time, were twice our age, although I do not have a problem with this. many of them had more get up and go than many youngsters.

 

I always enjoyed the CMV crowd.

 

have you ever tried Thomson cruises. They were similar to CMV.

Yes have done thomson but alas no good for me now as they’re not doing any more ex uk and i cant fly also apart from the dream they’re all abit big for my tastes now (I considered the Columbus as too big) and unfortunately apart from transatlantics (again have to fly) they have never done anything in the 3 weeks plus duration and thats my preference. Still sit tight and wait for further announcements from Fred. All my favourites have gone...Swan Hellenic.... Voyages of discovery now CMV. Maybe its me 🤣

24 minutes ago, London-Calling said:

 

Yes, It makes good business sense for somebody to take up the CMV slack. Olsen's style and fleet are a similar product, just MORE expensive for a similar quality in my opinion too. All they need to offer the CMV ports and drop their prices!😉

 

Marella might be interested too. Ships like Thomson  Spirit and Celebration (now both gone) would have appealed to CMV fans.

 

I bet Olsen reconsiders losing two ships!

 I completely agree and as you could say CMV were Freds Biggest Competition (although now it looks like their matching Saga prices) it would make sense for them to take up the slack.
Someone needs to fill the gap i’m relying on it !
And yes so sad to see Spirit and  Celebration gone.
What i loved about CMV was they never pretended to be something that they weren’t as the MD told me on the anniversary on Columbus last year we want to show people the world who couldn’t see it otherwise and in my opinion thats what they did should have had 67 nights with them this year and i couldn’t afford that anywhere else!

Friendliest passengers as well in my experience (being somewhat younger than most) me and my partner have had some rude and snotty remarks on Fred and P&O in the past. Most often Freds Passengers think i’m crew so I tell them i’m the fitness instructor (im a 20 something slightly overweight guy with purple hair, a very obvious limp and a walking stick) 😆

2 hours ago, London-Calling said:

 

Olsen said two ship would be going BEFORE CMV collapsed. Maybe they are reconsidering.

 

CMV had many regular fans at various UK reginal ports. Maybe Olsen will want to win them over to their product?

 

Maybe Olsen can use the CMV itineraries/berths, which must all be going spare at the moment?

 

Lot's of "Maybes" 😉

10 minutes ago, Britboys said:

It would be great if you are right but Fred would need to lower launch prices to interest CMV cruisers. The ones advertised for 2022 so far are nearer Saga Cruise prices than CMV!

Funny i was having a conversation about this just the other day... IF and its a big If they were to move BW and BD onto cmv’s more successful itineraries I think they could be onto a winner having travelled both CMV and Fred for years the people who will book again are the ones who took CMVs longer more ‘exotic’ itineraries. IE. Their 42 day Amazon trip that CMV have done every year from the beggining or we were booked onto a 25 night canaries and cape verde trip this november these are trips nobody else does. However to attract them they would have to drop their prices abit  on these ships not necessarily to CMV levels but not their current £150-250 per night average. This would also help them win back alot of their ‘defectors’ like us who switched as they felt Fred was becoming too expensive and CMV provided much better value for money... I think they could make a success of it after all if it wasnt for COVID CmV would still be going strong after all they were 87% fully booked for next year before COVID struck. And CMV people were loyal on this years Amazon trip 94% had travelled with CMV at least twice before and just over 60% of those had done the same Amazon trip previously. But as i say pricing would be a big factor but dropping fares can be successful Our Amazon trip was £2300 pp for 42 nights or £55 pn (booked 8 months in advance) and it was nearly fully booked compare this to BWs cancelled 32 night Caribbean trip this November when I looked at that in Feb it was £3600pp or £112 pppn  also plenty of availability left for IMHO not much of a better product (dont shoot me!) and Freds newer prices are frankly eyewatering So maybe split the old girls off onto a budget arm of Fred? We can dream but there is certainly a big gap that needs filling now. Also Tilbury will be great full for the custom as they’ve just refurbed the terminal.

sorry long winded and not very well worded post over! 🤐

Cant see why they would TBH they have a good customer base this side of the Atlantic and with us loosing CMV they will probably be getting alot more if they price the new ships right. Also I’ve come across a few Americans on Fred and with the odd exception they have all said they found the experience to be a bit to staid and quiet for their tastes, not being judgemental just basing it on my experience of meeting people onboard. And Having travelled on HAL a couple of times (Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Veendam) HAL is positively active and lively in comparison.

Perhaps you should join the said person as Princess do the same cruises over and over again. So much that they have t shirts printed withe the cruise on. I have one.

 

 

 

 

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Why should I join them? I was only saying that I agreed with their view of the latest release I'm aware that princess repeat itineraries but that really has nothing to do with this thread

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It’s the short winter brochure. What do you expect. The Dubai fly cruises have only been going 2/3 years. They are not going to change them yet. The Ventura 35 night cruises look interesting.

 

 

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I have to say I'm with PRINCESSTHE BEST on this one the winter cruises always used to be more exciting because they would be longer cruises to further afield...

Now unless you want to do the Caribbean and don't want to fly there is very little and nothing new and exciting.

The Ventura cruises IMHO are no different to what the Oceana used to do every winter for years.

There is an endless list of places they could come up with that would make for a really different and inspiring cruise that a lot of people that like to do a long cruise in the winter would book because of its uniqueness.

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