Growler5010

Why do some people have this urge to 'ban' any activity that doesn't suit them - especially on a cruise ship? The non smoking on balconies rule I can understand as there are designated smoking areas on ships that smokers can use but to then suggest banning alcohol brought on ships & a 'quota' of alcohol allowed to be purchased at bars is laughable. Bar staff can refuse to serve passengers who they believe are inebriated - they should do so instead of having a blanket rule thrust upon those who drink within moderation but may just go over that quota you suggest.

As for bringing alcohol on board, I know that some do so because they don't want to pay P & O prices, however the majority do so because they want a drink in their cabin whilst getting ready for dinner or in their cabin before retiring for the night. It doesn't mean they stop buying drinks in the bars & restaurant too.

So now the smoking ban has been won people want to move on to an alcohol ban/quota. Why not go the whole hog and ban gambling in the casinos (addictive) and sunbathing (skin cancer threat). Having skin cancer I would love to walk up to all those basting in oil in the sun & warn them of the damage they could be doing but I don't because I have no right to question another adult's choice in life - I just get on with enjoying my cruise without looking for things to moan about - life's too short!

We have stopped at Warnemunde three times in the last 2 years & we agree that it is a beautiful little town. The first time we did an excursion to Lubeck which was a big disappointment - UNESCO Heritage Site as it is a medieval town on an island in a river but for every medieval building there was a 1960s concrete monstrosity housing MacDonalds, C & A, etc. The second time we did an excursion to Rostock which was ok - the best bit was the trip around the Stasi Prison Museum. The third time we stayed in Warnemunde & realised what we had been missing! Beautiful clean wide beach, long promenade, great shops, bars & restaurants, all situated on the river & a 10 minute walk from the ship.

I agree with everything already said, however can I just sound a word of advice (more of a monetary kind).

A young gentleman on one of our cruises had MS and he got about fine with the aid of a stick. One day the excursion was particularly long, hot & tiring & on getting back on board ship he suddenly needed the help of a steward with a wheelchair to help him back to his cabin. His wife decided that they should hold on to the wheelchair (P&O property) for at least 24 hours until he recovered & this is where it hit the pocket. To keep the wheelchair he had to go see the doctor for an examination to say 'Yes, you need the wheelchair'. This examination was unnecessary (due to his already diagnosed condition) & costly & would cost even more if the doctor had to visit him in his cabin. He had to go along with it otherwise he would have been 'cabin bound' until he recovered & couldn't get off the ship the next day. He was also charged for the daily rental of the wheelchair! As it turns out, he couldn't get off the ship the next day anyway because they wouldn't allow the wheelchair to be taken on shore! When they queried the cost etc they were told it would have been easier if he had brought his own wheelchair - an insult really as he didn't have a wheelchair as he preferred to try & be independently mobile for as long as he could - something I can fully understand as my 45 year old sister-in-law has MS & she has the same determination.

So have a lovely cruise but be aware of the possibility of having to incur unexpected hidden charges!

We went with Alla in August 2012 & have recommended them to everyone who asks. Our group got together through the P & O Community Forum (alas no longer with us now) & we had a brilliant time.

We got upgraded at check-in when we sailed on Oceana 2 years ago but it was only to the next grade up (the deck above our balcony cabin). One of our cases still hadn't been delivered to our 'new' cabin by 6pm - hubby found it outside our 'old' cabin!

I got a cough on Arcadia last year & it wasn't accompanied by a cold - it took 6 weeks to go. So I took advice on the forums & on our 5 week Oriana cruise last month I filled the ice bucket with water every night & used a saline nose spray. Result - no cough!

We always have a balcony cabin and although you shouldn't do it I have tried in the past to leave it slightly open for nightime air. However, the constant high pitched whistling this causes is like chinese water torture so I gave that up in the end.

Just done the 35 night cruise on Oriana & didn't suffer from any problems with the air conditioning like I did on Arcadia last August (a cough that lasted 6 weeks). I took the advice on this thread & used a wet flannel & also filled the ice bucket with water every night - not a problem. There didn't appear to be any outbreaks of NV and all the restaurants etc were open & running as normal.