southampton observer

On 3/25/2020 at 11:04 PM, cruisefan2012 said:

Has anybody that has had whatever reason to cancel their cruise ACTUALLY had a refund yet from P&O

 

I havent had a refund yet -  patience is a virtue I don`t possess...

Refund today, after many emails and phone calls. 

36 minutes ago, Josy1953 said:

I would say that they definitely have problems, I saw some the questions on the Coronavirus update this evening and one of the people asking questions asked Rishi Sunak what he was doing to help companies like P&O who needed a multi million £ bail out to continue  trading.

Possibly talking about P&O Ferries not P&O Cruises?

Given the problems I am having getting a refund from P&O I would say that they have real problems. Their customer service is a shambles,: phone contact means that you wait forever and email response is slow and contradictory. I have used P&O many times and was a pretty content customer up to the Covid crisis but I doubt that I will ever cruise with them again due to their incompetence and their tardiness. If this is how they treat regular customers I do not see that they will survive if and when the cruise market reopens. I'm pretty sure my experience isn't unique.

Anyone wondering how quickly P&O refund? In my case, I applied on line as soon as they cancelled and was told up to 60 days. Chased them up and have now been told at least 60 days. Not at all happy with level of customer service. Glad I booked with credit card. I'll let my CC company sort it out.

Future cruise with P&O ? I could not, in all honesty, deal with a firm that does not even honour it's own promises. I know times are difficult for them but in these troubled times I need my refund. I am glad that I haven't opted for FCC as it seems possible that they will not honour that promise either.

There are, I think, several banks and ATMs a short walk away from your hotel on the High Street. Go out of the hotel and walk towards Town Quay. Pass Bugle street on the left and then turn left onto High Street opposite Red Funnel and Town Quay. I think that there may be a Co-op ATM(by or in the food store) pretty soon on the left but failing that if you continue up the High street about 500m there is a RBS bank on the left and then a TSB bank on the right. Also a bit further on the corner of East street and High Street there is a Nat. West bank.

There may be other ATM's nearer so it might be useful to ask at the Hotel.

Hope that this helps. Have a good trip.

Sorry, but I cannot recommend any car park companies although I'm sure that they do exist. As I'm local I've never needed to.

As a UK citizen, am I right in thinking that the difficulties and the cost of a Tourist Visa when my potential cruise ship enters an Indian port is off putting?

Some very attractive deals which often involve only one Indian port are currently available but I am reluctant to go through the application process and pay rather a lot of money for just one day in India. Am I missing something here?

Hi. Happy to advise although I have no experience of Southampton Hotels so my answer to Q2 is not a personal recommendation.

1. Two possibilities

a. There is a regular National Express Coach Service from Gatwick (Both Terminals) to Southampton. It's worth booking your coach in advance at http://www.nationalexpress.com/home.aspx It takes about 2hrs 30mins and the coach arrives near the centre of Southampton with a very short cab ride to any central hotel.

b. There is a rail station at Gatwick South Terminal. Even if you land at North Terminal there is a frequent, quick (2mins) and free shuttle to and from the South terminal. The train station is easily accessed from the airport. Industrial action allowing, there are direct trains to Southampton Central that take about 2hrs. Again it's worth booking in advance at https://www.gwr.com/ .Southampton Central is a very short cab ride to any central hotel.

2. We often use Travelodge http://www.travelodge.co.uk/ or Premier Inn http://www.premierinn.com/ Both these chains have hotels in central Southampton. They are fairly basic but we have very rarely been disappointed.

3 Salisbury is easy and well worth a trip. Again there is a regular train service from Southampton Central to Salisbury. Stonehenge not too easy. I believe that there is a tour bus from the Salisbury rail station see http://www.thestonehengetour.info/timetable but I have never used it. I find Stonehenge somewhat underwhelming .You aren't allowed in the circle and the free view that you get from the road passing it, is just as good as paying. However, if it is a must see you might consider looking at a bus Tour that takes in Salisbury, Stonehenge and Bath ( a great place to visit for the day). By the way, central Southampton has a few hidden gems like The 16th Century Tudor House Museum, Bugle St , The Merchants House, French St. and St Michaels church, St Michael's St. These might interest you.

Hope this is of some help and that you have a great trip.

Hi,

I see that your hotel is fairly near Waterloo railway station. I would suggest either a cab or the underground to Waterloo. There is a regular service from Waterloo to Southampton Central; take care to get a faster train that doesn't stop everywhere (trip takes about 1hr 15mins). Book in advance via South West Trains web site for better deals or look on Megabus site for very inexpensive but more limited trains. You can buy tickets at Waterloo on the day but you pay considerably more.

Train arrives at Southampton usually on platform 4. Be careful to exit at Platform 4 (the station has 2 exits, do not leave from platform 1) The Taxi to the port is a short trip and there are usually plenty of taxis outside the station entrance on cruise days. There are many different cruise terminals, make sure that you know which one you need to go to. The cab driver will probably know where the Eclipse is berthed but probably safer to know which terminal.

http://www.southamptonvts.co.uk/Live_Information/Shipping_Movements_and_Cruise_Ship_Schedule/Cruise_Ship_Schedule/

This site is useful if you don't know which terminal.

Hope that this is of some help.

Enjoy your cruise.

Yes, there is an IKEA on West Quay Rd near to all of the Cruise terminals. There is ample pay and display parking nearby and IKEA has a multi storey car park.(Around£2 for 2 hrs). Sounds like a good idea.

Kids grown up long ago and no grandchildren yet, so cannot recommend up to date indoor play area etc. Sorry that I cannot help.

It is possible but you may not have a great deal of time at the British Museum. (I visited it 3 weeks ago)

Don't know where you'll dock but as time is important get cab to Southampton Central Rail Station.(Short ride) To save time it might be a good idea to go to South West Trains web site and buy train tickets in advance: buy a return ticket that allows underground travel in London zones 1&2. It is easy to buy the ticket at the station, either at the ticket office or using machines. The London trains usually leave from platform 1.

Weekdays there are fast trains every half hour at 8.30, 9.00, 9.30 etc. The journey takes about 1hr 30mins and you arrive at London Waterloo station. Follow signs to Underground and take the Northern line (Black) to Tottenham Court Rd. From here the Museum is a short walk, right onto Theobalds Rd then left onto Bloomsbury Rd (Should see signposts to Museum). Underground trip should take less than 15mins then a 10min walk.

If you make the 8.30 you could be at the Museum by 10.30. So you could get over 4hr there.

Getting back; Northern line back to Waterloo. plenty of afternoon trains to Southampton. To be sure, the latest train I'd get back would be the 16.06 which gets in to Southampton at 17.22. There are earlier trains and the service is fairly reliable.

London trains usually get in on platform 4. Leave the station from this platform. There is a regular bus service that leaves from outside, that will take you to Town Quay, which might be useful, depending where your ship is docked otherwise it's a short cab ride.

Please check the train details on the South West Trains Web site before you go.

Hope that this helps and that you enjoy the BM!

Thanks what is the cheapest way to get to London from South Hampton ? We will have two larger suitcases each, so that is also a factor. We are staying there for 3 nights before we fly back to Newfoundland.

 

Thank you in advance

 

Michele

Hi Michele,

Not sure where in London you need to be. National Express bus run a regular service to London Victoria at a reasonable price.(20kg case + hand luggage pp) Train is quicker but more expensive although if you are flexible try Megabus site for train to London Waterloo for as little as £10. Coach and train stations are not far from all the cruise terminals. Hope this helps

lived in Southampton for over 30 years. if anyone needs free, independent info on transport, places to visit, things to do in the area or anything else I'd be happy to give you advice.