Eglesbrech

Im also old school and I agree, I would not try to take on contraband and I think most people will hopefully be the same. I am disappointed by the change as we always take on a decent malt to have in the cabin and P&O don’t offer anything vaguely like the whisky we take in their bars. That said I am versatile and they do offer some decent wines so we can manage for the time onboard. The wine selection has however reduced along with all the other choices and the list, even in the Glass House, is a lot more pedestrian than to used to be. I think what annoys people is unilateral changes after cruises have been booked. I appreciate that P&O will make policy changes from time to time but would it not be better to do so when launching a new season / brochure, so people know what to expect. This was a unique selling point for P&O, getting rid of it may be one more reason for people to look at other lines if they are all becoming homogenised anyway.

Yes I got dragged to Monica and made to “walk” the course. I don’t know if you are aware but MSC have F1 simulators onboard and OH did that and enjoyed it (I didn’t, if I had got in to that car I would have struggled to get out again!).

Not another F1 fan. OH watches it all the time, he even made me go with him to Silverstone- I was the official photographer!

Welcome to cruise critic. This is an old thread with the last post being in November 2023 so in terms of any issues with Noro, it is out of date information. Are you cruising on Ventura in the near future? If so I’m sure there is nothing to be concerned about, P&O are usually very quick to get on top of any issues like this.

The priority theatre seats are a bonus if you have the package (but not to those who don’t drink, don’t need a package and so have less chance of seating). I can take or leave the prize draw, a bit gimmicky. People were nudged towards the higher packages when for example the alternative dining venues such as Alfredo’s, which they has always enjoyed for free were made chargeable and then added into the drinks package as a “new benefit”. The drinks package is good as it includes some high quality offerings but it’s pricy on longer cruises. I hypothesised some time again that Princess and P&O would move ever closer in terms of what they offered and it’s happening eg Princess now charge for some categories to select a cabin which they never did before and P&O will as you say probably adopt the higher priced package model eventually.

I can’t post the link Andy as not allowed on CC but I did a quick search and this is being covered in other places with an alleged direct quote from P&O. See below. Said P&O Cruises in the announcement of the new prices, “Any packages purchased on board or pre-cruise from [May 8, 2024] will be in line with our new pricing.”

Are you an authority on contract law? Genuinely interested by the way,

This may be just gossip and rumours, there have been things in the past that bounced round the internet and turned out not to be factually correct, Andy mentioned that this was not gospel in his opening post. That said P&O have made changes the past, regardless of the T&Cs you booked under.

@molecrochip Any potential truth in this?

This is from the booking section for the Easy Package. It does mention beers can vary. I have only ever seen Heneiken served. Book now online your drink package at the lowest price compared to the onboard price! Savour the freedom to satisfy your thirst at any moment! Including: Selected classic or international cocktails Non-alcoholic cocktails and mixed drinks Spirits (whisky, vodka, gin, rum, tequila, brandy - one brand per type) House wines (red, white, sparkling, rosè) Draft beer Heineken and bottled beer Heineken* Soft drinks from the fountain, canned soft drinks, fruit juices by the glass and bottled Bottled Mineral Water Classic hot drinks (espresso, cappuccino, caffèlatte, hot tea, hot chocolate) Beverage gratuities included *The brand of beer may vary over time.

@Beckett I have just watched this being done. I picked the right word - torture. The end results do however look just amazing.

We don’t age badly, we simply evolve like a butterfly. Every wrinkle is earned and probably the result of smiles and laughter.

Relaxing! I can think of many words to describe what you have outlined and relaxing would not be one of them. Torture would be one of them that springs immediately to mind.😀 You are a braver woman than I. My sister gets all sorts done and spends hours at the beauticians but I have never heard her mention that procedure. Her time is well spent as that’s probably why she looks much more polished and groomed than I do. I will mention it to her.

Well every day is a school day. I have never heard of micro blading. My brows, nails etc thrive on complete neglect. My only particular grooming is a monthly haircut. So what do they do, trim and shape the eye brows?

Good morning all. Lovely here again today but thunder forecast for later. Nothing planned for the holiday weekend but there is a new exhibition at the V&A showcasing Kimono which looks interesting. Anyone doing anything interesting for the weekend?

A sleepless night again. We have had beautiful weather the last few days and looking out at the garden the solar lights are lit up like the Blackpool illuminations because of all the sunshine. Bed stripped washed and dried out on the lines, makes such a nice fresh scent when they are dry (lavender and rosemary planted round the drying green). I was “green” before it became a thing, (that or mean/prudent) as I have always tried to dry clothes and bedding outdoors whenever possible. Hope you all have a good day in a few hours at a more civilised time to wake up.

I’m curious about this as well. We have been invited to upgrade on some cruises but not on others. Seems to be no rhyme or reason to it.

@SewKate5 Mark T is correct, you can go any time you like but 10am has been about the earliest in my experience. If you like the Grills you should love the YC. Some prefer the food on Cunard but I have always enjoyed what is offered on MSC as well. Within reason you can make special food requests as well. All the extras included in YC make it more attractive pound for pound and the extra escort services provided by your butler eg if you are going on a tour you go down from Top Sail not the theatre etc. The contents of the mini bar is included in your price and the butler will change them if for example you prefer diet drinks or more fizzy water, different mixers etc. I don’t know if it applies to a weekend short cruise but we are usually also offered a full bottle for in the cabin from a relatively decent choice of vodka, gin etc (the whisky is however quite basic). You should be offered your choice of daily newspapers as well and there are evening surprises but I won’t spoil it by telling you. YC also has a lovely outdoor space where you can enjoy the sun or a light meal or afternoon tea (there is also white glove tea in top sail). There is a small pool, jacuzzi etc up there. YC is a lot more laid back than Cunard so expect a range of outfits on formal night for example but no one looks at you twice whether you choose to wear a tux/ ballgown or your best jeans and top.

We usually show up at the YC tent (look out for a blue gazebo outside the terminal building) about 10am. As described above you are escorted to the YC check in area for a drink and the paperwork. A butler then takes you up to the Top Sail lounge for another drink about 10.30am. There is a nice little snack area there on some ships on others you can request a snack plate. You can then either wait there to be escorted to your suite by your butler once it is ready or leave and go exploring. The concierge desk will help you set up your payment account and can assist with any bookings you wish to make. You don’t need to book slots for the main theatre shows if in YC, there is a separate area reserved for you. Your butler can escort you down to bypass the queues in the evening if that’s something you want (we never bother but the facility is there). Your YC card can also override the lifts to give you priority but the lifts are efficient so again we don’t tend to use this perk as it affects other guests. You will eat in the YC restaurant which is very good, particularly the Italian choices. You also get a choice of included wines by the glass and staff are happy to recommend an appropriate pairing if you want that. The coffee is also very nice as you would expect from an Italian vessel. On the last morning you also get priority to disembark when you want to. A butler will escort you down and you get priority to exit. @SewKate5You will enjoy the YC, they take very good care of passengers there.

The below the salt comment caught my attention. Salt was an expensive commodity and a cellar was ceremonially placed on the long table. Those at the top of the table had flavoured food, fine white matchett bread etc.. Those below the salt had less fine food and were of a lower social station. There were also sumptuary laws which dictated which colours of cloth certain people could wear. Some colours of fabric were reserved for the “higher” classes.

It also covers radio and podcasts which are brilliant for partially sighted and blind.

Well we went to see Hamilton and it is a brilliant show which I can highly recommend if you haven’t seen it yet. I love musicals and travel to Edinburgh to see any first runs that come up here. Show tickets are becoming so expensive now though. Add to that the cost of everything in Edinburgh, as a small town yokel I can’t believe how much they charge there for anything and everything. I feel the same in Southampton as well though. I’m used to the £10 meal and £4.20 pint of Stella! It’s been sunny again today so we enjoyed a long walk and did a bit of gardening.

I agree that the professional vloggers are usually very considerate however I have seen myself and family members (fleetingly) on several of these u tube videos. Particularly just after the pandemic when there were fewer passengers on ships. They do talk into camera but they also film in public areas and people are in the background. Not everyone will be happy about that. In the U.K. as you will know parents / guardians / grandparents are not allowed to film or photograph school shows or awards etc. Roll to the summer holidays and the same children are caught on camera by any random with a phone. You are correct, the lines may make rules in future but as to whether they are followed then dress code / towels on sunbeds/ embarkation times/ hand washing etc etc suggest not.

They were staying in the Yacht Club at the time which is a fairly small area of the ship. Consequently it would be difficult for someone staying in that “ship within the ship” to completely avoid being caught on camera as it is such a very small community of people (around 200). Add to that the fact that from time to time there are passengers who are fairly well known who travel in the Yacht Club with their families and will probably not want their children seen on camera. We had a very famous sportsman on our last voyage for example and no one bothered him. He and his family had a normal family holiday away from autograph hunters and fans. As other bloggers have discretely filmed in the YC in the past I wonder if on this particular occasion someone wanted to protect their privacy so filming was stopped? Who knows. Travel Blog Jamie was on our most recent Aurora cruise filming. It was interesting to see his take on our cruise. I enjoy watching some of these blogs for information and the professional bloggers are usually very careful and not “in your face” . It’s the selfie seekers who annoy me more and those who film or photograph every single bite they eat in the dining room (which is why we now avoid sharing tables whenever possible).

YC is a lovely experience, I’m sure you will enjoy it. Because of the amazing YC public areas we hardly spend any time in our cabin so nab a YC inside when we can, not always possible as they go fast. Just for information the insides are small and little short on space for storage so we usually take some magnets for extra hanging space and lightweight collapsible boxes to store things like shoes. There is a useful space under the two chairs that takes a 10 by 10 by 10 box which you hide all sorts of bits and bobs in (if the sizing is the same on your ship, we have only been on Virtuosa and Euribea). Packing cubes are handy as well for the high top shelf. As others have said, you will get hooked on the YC.