Turbofun

https://ask.pocruises.com/help/PO/flights/Charter_DrinksMeals_diet

We'll have to sort this too, my wife and I are vegetarians but we've always had no problem previously on fly cruises with several lines.

It's just a matter of finding the correct procedure or link.

I've just looked at the seating selection page for our flight but on that page there's no mention of meal requirements.

Usually airlines require 48 hours notice of special dietary requirements.

Haven't we all learnt that, nowadays, loyalty is not considered of much importance by most commercial organisations?

Another fly vote here. It's just so great to step out of the 'plane door into the lovely heat having left a cold UK.

Then the islands, tours from ship or independent, always good, with locals who, mainly, welcome you. Sure they want your money but always with a smile.

Rain?, often it might for a short while, then the heat dries it. However, be warned, it might be that an unusual storm might hit any island and destroy some infrastructure. Just as with the UK and flooding in recent years.

We love the Caribbean.

We will be on Britannia B609 10th April. On our first cruise ever for our golden wedding anniversary and very excited and also a little daunted. Wouldn't like to make any faux pas! Any tips would be most appreciated..

Don't be daunted, our first cruise was a spur of the moment booking and we just rocked up and learnt as we went along.

However, after that we researched and planned more. So, read all the FAQs on the PandO website, read the forums here, across all cruiselines and the ports forum.

Then, once on board, don't be afraid to ask if you need information or help.

Your cabin steward if you want ice everyday or more teabags, reception if your loo isn't working. Waiters in restaurants or servers in buffet if you want something a bit different foodwise. It's the old saying, "If you don't ask, you don't get".

Fellow passengers can often help with knowledge, especially as many will be seasoned cruisers and, because of the fact that it's sort of secure and everyone's in the same boat (or ship), folks are more approachable than say in an hotel. Never mention what you paid for your cruise though.

As always in life you have to weigh up those you meet and decide how to interact with them. That said, in all our nine cruises since we started some four years ago, there has only been one person we both thought, no.

Sometimes, as with our last cruise, you get a table in the MDR that really gets on and, as it was second sitting, we were usually last out and, sometimes, then off to a bar. 2 from the USA, 2 from Scotland, 2 from Australia, us from England.

Read the Horizon daily information "newspaper", it will help you lots.

You'll probably come away thinking "Why haven't we cruised before?" and, like most here, start thinking about the next one.

Thanks everyone for your help! Looking at doing Caribbean Cocktai.

 

Has anyone cruised the Caribbean around November time? Looking at doing the Caribbean Cocktail on 22 November but worried that the weather might be horrid, and perhaps leaving it till January might be better?

http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/outlooks/hurricane.shtml

Fwiw, my view is and I shouldn't perhaps say it here, if you want a reasonably good overview of Cuba before it becomes "Americanised", go on a 14 day escorted trip.

We did such with Saga last November and, thanks to our guides, learnt much about the place.

It's good and as we're vegetarians it impressed us that there is a vegetarian menu paired with wines for that menu.

The only caveat might be table companions, in that, if a couple, you'll be paired with another couple and it might be pot luck as to whether you click.

Luckily we did, finding a bit of that "small world" with the couple we dined with.

This was on Ventura, Caribbean Jan 2014 and booking onboard was no problem. Perhaps it's become more popular now?

Absolutely worth it if you have any interest in how the whole thing works on a cruise ship.

I did it on Ventura early last year on a Caribbean cruise.

Four and a half hours in total iirc, with, as said above, senior officers to explain and answer questions. They all doing this with total charm and making those on the tour feel welcome and not "intruding".

Much is down to the questions those on the tour ask as regards how much you might find out, so don't be shy.

For instance, at our final Q&A session with the Captain in the Glass House I asked the Captain about the problems of dealing with such a large crew and discipline, remember this is a crew of men and women from many nationalities. He replied that the previous day he had spent six hours dealing with a crew problem.

That helps to explain the hard job any Captain has to do, ultimate responsibility for ship, passengers and crew.

Hi Rookery, we are thinking of doing the 'Rome on our own' Thomson excursion. Been looking online and found that we can book tickets for the Colosseum in advance. Not sure if this will avoid the queues though.

Depends upon what else you want to see, the Thomson excursion we took had the Colosseum, the Forum, the Spanish Steps, the Trevi Fountain and a drive by the Vatican all with a guide who provided information all the time and would answer questions about Italy.

Mind, was tiring though with a fair bit of walking but very worthwhile for seeing the major sites.

Hi all,

 

We will be taking our first cruise in May. Ports of call are Palma, Olbia, Sorrento, Rome, Ajaccio and Palamos.

 

Any ideas/tips on excursions and things to do in port would be much appreciated.

 

Many Thanks

 

Sam:)

There is a Ports forum here where you will find lots of info about what to do in any port and excursions available. Then just using a search engine for any port will also produce lots of info.

However, as said by the previous posters, for a first cruise it's probably best to use the cruiseline's excursions. It's what we did and we never had a bad excursion. Sure, on subsequent cruises we've had better excursions but that was because we had become more confident in using independent operators booked online or on the day at the port. Here review sites are useful for checking on any independent operators.

A first cruise is a bit like starting at a new school, so much to find out, new people to deal with, most of whom seem to be totally at ease in the surroundings such that it's easier knowing that trips ashore will be no problem for you, while you're finding your "cruise legs".

Whatever you decide to do, enjoy it, it's a brilliant way to see places and you only have to unpack once.

Does it matter?

What's in a name?.

The only ships that have universal recognition are the Queens.

So, how about "Thomson Queen"?

Hmm, food should not be a major point of debate on a cruise.

Appreciating that it's subjective however it should mean that the majority will be satisfied, such that it isn't much matter for debate on forums.

The bean counter that tells the Executive Chef that the £pdpp has been reduced should be shot.

Feed them, entertain them, should be any CEO's motto.

Thomson pay up when legislation makes them.

A flight delay on our January 2011 Caribbean fly cruise, yes that long ago, has just given us a cheque that meant one of us cruised for free, although it was a late deal.

That said, my wife did have to persue this matter in an assertive manner, quoting the relevant rulings.

I can't find my insurance documents, but found out about Cuba on their website, I better start looking for my insurance docs

Indeed, at least to have their phone number, should you need assistance.

We always take a copy of the policy document.

Just because previous travel has been uneventful doesn't mean future will be.

Life is a lottery, one doesn't know what the future might hold.

We did a P&O cruise out of Southampton a few years back and it was awful. Age group about 70+ and entertainment consisted mainly of lots of old men playing a piano. Just about our worst holiday ever. Can anybody advise if a Caribbean cruise with P&O is likely to be the same (@ Xmas)? We did a Celebrity far east one last year and it was brilliant. Fab service, great food, much younger crowd and far more sociable. Thanks in advance.

How old are you?

I'm 66 but I do know how to use the resources of the Internet to research any subject I'm interested in, to provide me with information that will help me to make a decision.

So, to help, use the reviews forum here and elsewhere, many reviews include videos. Use a search engine to provide a comprehensive overview of any cruise lines you might consider using.

We've not done a P&O Caribbean Christmas cruise, just a late January fly cruise and it was great.

Then, we love the Caribbean and a cruise means we get to see many islands in an easy way.

Perhaps you should also consider Carnival and Royal Caribbean from US ports if you want a younger passenger demographic.

Have just booked repositioning for next December never ever book so far in advance. Never been with Thomson.

Little worried as we have just done a black sea with Oceania the Riviera.

Superb 6 star all the way we have done celebrity princess p and O (not keen) Norwegian, Msc.

Why do people like Thomson.

Tell me why this cruise line is you favourite or if you like it why?

"Variety is the spice of life", so, I look forward to your review of your Thomson cruise.

Because it ain't gonna be anything like Oceania but Thomson does have some positives, if all goes well.

That said, I doubt my wife and I will ever go with Thomson again, after six cruises with them.

The problem isn't straightforward though. The likes of P&O are basically arbitraging disposable income in one region against the lower wage rates of another.

That's our world of Globalisation, as witnessed in many of the products we buy.

The big question is, for how long can this continue as wealth shifts to the East from the West?

Perhaps in thirty years time the passengers will from the East and the crew from the West?

Let's think about emergency evacuation of passengers and crew from a cruise ship.

There is no test of this before a ship enters service, unlike a civil aircraft type and that test is under what might be called benign conditions.

Our most recent practical experience of evacuation from a cruise ship didn't inspire confidence in procedure or crew performance.

You have to face the fact that going to sea has risks and, depending upon where you go, time of year and, therefore, weather, there is the possibility of freak waves that could sink the ship you are on.

Lots of freighters have just disappeared.

From what I understand though modern cruise ship design is predicated upon the belief that, operated in a professional manner, sinking is virtually impossible and that all other potential problems could be dealt with without evacuation.

"Pays your money, take your choice".

Might depend upon why you cruise and what you want from cruising and, therefore, how you value any extra cost items.

It'd have to be very good entertainment to tempt us.

We're, by preference, late diners and, especially on 2nd sitting traditional dining, have found our table companions so interesting that we have always been very late leaving the MDR, then, at times, all of us have gone to a bar to continue our drinking and conversation.

Problem here might be how the entertainers are able to gauge the audience in a more intimate space, meaning those entertainers had better be true pros able to "feel" the response pretty quickly, otherwise it'll fail, with bad feedback from the audience.

Hi mike, we will be on our 2 nd week when you join the dream, I've not looked out my insurance, just know I've taken worldwide cover & cruise cover included, so I recon if anything happens when in Cuba,and I pray nothing does, the cruise part of the cover will kick in , as I'm in Cuba with a cruise :D , hope to bump into you for a half one day or night, p.s mike you a hearts or a hibees fan lol. I'm a bluenose lol.

See you aboard

Alex & Helen ( Muffinman )

We too have worldwide and cruise cover travel insurance. It excludes Cuba.

It's to do with the Underwriters, as explained in the links in the OP.

You need to read your policy.

We, last November, went on a land tour of Cuba with Saga, travel insurance, as you probably know, is included in the price of Saga stuff.

Can you help? How does this work with freedom dining. Our friends are vegetarian and we are on Aurora in Jan. Previously with fixed dining the menu has been brought to them so they can choose for the following night - but with freedom they wont know where to find us the next night!!

You'll be assigned an MDR and the Maitre'D or a Head Waiter there will sort it out.

They're very good at recognising the folks with special requests.

Worked perfectly for us last January on Ventura.

Don't forget though to tell them if you and or your friends won't be there on any following evening, if you plan to go buffet or speciality say.

I dont believe in tips...

Religious or cultural reasons?

I know this is normal and you do have the option of not having it put on you room account if you want to 'tip' personally. But I was just wondering how it works. Does this graturity charge form part of their wages? Also, do P&O keep a percentage of it?

 

More out of curiosity I ask.

 

Keith (Southend, UK)

From what I've read, on all the cruise forums, no one knows the answer.

The cruiselines certainly haven't provided definitive answers.

Therefore, the majority opinion appears to be, pay the gratuity, hotel charge or whatever it's called and individually tip those who you consider have given you good service.

Most just factor it into their total holiday cost.

Well, my wife and I, two weeks ago, returned from a two week land tour of Cuba which gave a very good overview of the place, mainly thanks to two very good guides.

Others here have given lots of information and experiences that will have provided food for thought to those considering going there on a cruise using USA lines, should that happen in the near future.

My opinion, fwiw, is that a cruise to just Havana will not provide a true overview and, more importantly, once the tourist trade is let rip, Cuba will become just a larger Caribbean island and much like all the rest.

One's view of Cuba is probably influenced by one's political persuasion.

USA corporations would just love to again make Cuba a playground both for the wealthy and mass tourism.

That though would mean that Cuba, as an anachronism in the current world, would no longer be so.