P&O SUE

20 hours ago, Vampiress88 said:

Well I’m thoroughly depressed today

 

virgin have cancelled my Disney holiday. Not a big surprise as we could see it coming but it still stings. We will be between £1-£2k down as some things can’t be fully refunded and now I have two companies to wait for just over £7k Back. 
 

hubby was told he was furloughed today for three week. We suspected this but god knows what’s going to happen after three weeks and I’m one of the last left in my building everyone else is working from home. 
 

upside is that we won’t have to send the kids to school next week. 
 

the cake looks nice. I did make gingerbread men with my youngest other day. They were gone before photos could be taken. 

Sorry Vampiress I hope you get your refund soon. My cancelled cruise I’m waiting for the refund is only a two day one so not too much money. I’m still gutted we won’t be going on a lovely cruise for my hubby’s special birthday in October but we have to be glad we’re well at the moment. Still human to be upset though.

Happy lockdown birthday Avril, sorry you had to spend it watching a funeral. Virtual hug for you.

I’ve had a small piece of good news. I’ve been in my new job for just over 6 months now and had a call from my manager yesterday to tell me I had passed my probation period and was now permanent staff so I’m pleased with that.

On the work front (admin for NHS) I had a retired GP on the phone being a little bit entitled and seemed amazed our clinics fitting blood pressure monitors were closed! I think he thought being a retired GP I could somehow magic him an appointment! Funnily enough ‘normal’ people are being very understanding and nice (so far!) It’s going to manic when we’re up and running again!

28 minutes ago, Selbourne said:

I mentioned in a previous post that, amidst all the frustration that some travel companies are causing their customers, there are a few that are excelling during this crisis. Premier Inn is one such example. We have a booking for a week at the end of June and it was a non-flexible, non-refundable booking. I have just received an email from them;

 

Hello X

 

To give you more flexibility and peace of mind about your travel plans we are happy to inform you of some changes we’ve made to your booking.

 

Introducing our Advance rate

 

We have moved your existing Non-Flex booking to our new Advance rate. With the Advance rate you can now:

 • Cancel your booking up to 28 days before your arrival date and obtain a full refund
 • Amend the date of your booking (for stays at the same hotel) at any time up until the day of arrival

 

 

What a difference from the attitude of some other companies and it certainly encourages customer loyalty. 

Yes I’ve always found Premier Inn good though I always pay extra to ensure I can cancel up to the day with no charge! 
It’s one of the reasons I use them as other hotels I’ve looked up often won’t refund anything if you cancel up to 5 days before.

19 minutes ago, grapau27 said:

The agent rang back asking when P&O sent the email so he could let management know.

I forwarded a screen shot of the email dated 21-4 to him but he is off tomorrow so will see if he or another agent contact me on Wednesday.

Good luck!

8 minutes ago, grapau27 said:

I think driving to your PO/bank is a legitimate reason to drive.

Yes I know but it’s another journey to make! No supermarkets near it either, I never go to that town anymore as there’s hardly anything there! 
Just hope it turns up in my account! (I booked direct) I had the foresight to cancel an excursion the day before they announced the cancellation of my cruise and that was back on the account I’d booked with within hours!

Every time I see this thread bumped up I hope someone says they’ve got a refund , but no....

I really hope they don’t send me a cheque, my local PO has been closed since lockdown has been announced. My nearest bank branch was recently closed so the next option is a car drive away...

On 4/26/2020 at 9:15 AM, himan said:

This is from Holiday Extras site Sue and according to the Google link they are P&O's most trusted insurance provider. I am sure I have seen their name mentioned on P&O site somewhere. If I can find it again I will put the info on here.

thank you, most interesting 

On 4/26/2020 at 9:06 AM, himan said:

This will hopefully clarify the travel insurance cover for Coronavirus from a company that offers cruise travel insurance. Things are maybe not looking so bad if travel restrictions get lifted in time.

 

 

If I travel, will I be covered for coronavirus under medical costs in my travel insurance policy?

If you are not travelling against the advice of the Foreigh & Commonwealth Office (FCO) and if you catch coronavirus while on holiday and require medical treatment, then yes, cover will be in place for emergency and necessary treatment. Customers should be aware that our policies are travel insurance policies and not private medical insurance, meaning that there is no cover for any medical expenses incurred in private medical facilities if we have confirmed that medically capable public facilities are available.

×

 

Please contact our Assistance Team if you require medical treatment on 0203 829 6745

Coronavirus and repatriation

If you are not travelling against the advice of the Foreigh & Commonwealth Office (FCO) our policies will provide cover for repatriation (bringing you home) that is medically necessary. Our Assistance Team will liaise with your treating doctor(s) about your treatment plan and if required obtain a 'fit to fly' certificate. We also liaise with you and advise on, and put in place, suitable repatriation plans to get you home as soon as it is medically safe to do so in order to achieve your optimal recovery. Our team are unable to make arrangements to repatriate you where it is against local advice, where travel is restricted or where you would pose a risk to other passengers.

Each and every 'assistance case' will be dealt with on it's own merits.

Which company is that please?

At least we shouldn’t have to suffer those awful tables for “two” in the MDR’s that are so close they might as well be tables for eight!

4 hours ago, Eddie99 said:

This article doesn’t make comforting reading

 

https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/travel-insurance-holiday-cancelled-coronavirus-premiums-payouts-a9480981.html

 

 

“Amid concerns over rising travel insurance premiums triggered by the coronavirus pandemic, a Lancashire couple have been told the cost of their annual policy has risen by 550 per cent.

David Hallam, from Todmorden, renewed his annual travel insurance with Aviva in May 2019 for £167, covering himself and his wife, Sheila.

 

But he has just received a renewal invitation from the company quoting a figure of £1,079, an increase of over £900.

 

 

“This is for exactly the same cover with no change in our circumstances apart from being one year older,“ he said

 

....”
etc

You do have to wonder sometimes what use insurance companies are!

I’m another one that won’t be able to go abroad until we’re properly covered.

It can’t go on indefinitely though as the cruise companies won’t have any passengers. Gutting as this year and next year I have cruises which would be going to special places for me.

It’s really frustrating as my October cruise was covered by an annual policy taken out before the pandemic was known about. If I now move the cruise it won’t be covered. 
I think I’ll have to take a FCC for the deposit, I’m reluctant to go on it now although I think it will be cancelled. Haven’t got to pay the balance til July so I’ll wait and see nearer the time but looking like I’ll just take the deposit as FFC.

I was quite impressed yesterday to read a local paper’s piece about the three ships in Dover (I live about 50 mins away or would have taken a drive to have a look) They actually named they all correctly 😊

10 minutes ago, majortom10 said:

Correct the May Day Bank Holiday has been changed to Friday  8th May to commemorate VE Day.

What a shame there won’t be any parades in London etc to commemorate it .

2 hours ago, amfc_lenny said:

as to when lockdown will next be extended, my thoughts is that I’ll think they’ll extend it by another three weeks just before the may bank holiday which is on the 9th this year.

I thought lockdown had been extended to the 7th May? The bank holiday is the 8th.

28 minutes ago, Adawn47 said:

Some days are harder than others now. I've found that the best way for me to get through is to not let myself get onto a rut. So I continue as I've always done before this lockdown.  Get up, shower, dress, take morning meds, get the porridge ready for cooking and sit down with a coffee. Routine helps me. I can't understand why I'm finding it so difficult though . I only went out once a week into town. Many others are used to 5 or 6  days plus evenings.

Avril 

As Annie says - you could if you want to!

I miss popping in and out of several shops just getting one or two bits in each! It’s too much effort to queue up for the one thing I couldn’t get in my main shop.

I’ve  started ordering some bits online! I ordered some clothes for my grandson from Asda and I’ve just got the email notification it’s coming today between 12-2. As I start work at 1 today I’m  hoping it comes in the first hour!

11 minutes ago, DamianG said:

 

Come on now, tell the truth, did you start work in your pyjamas?

I worked mostly from home for 6 years, most mornings I'd get up 7:25am & just go straight into our spare bedroom ("office") to be online & available by 7:30am. 😉

 

 

Honestly no! I may have worn comfy trousers and not washed my hair but I always get dressed! When I was made redundant last year there were a few days when I got up much later but I always found having a shower and getting dressed made me feel better so I forced myself up!

On lates today (1-6).

2 hours ago, jeanlyon said:

It's not a longer period than I thought.  I can't see there being any cruises for the rest of the year.

Oh I agree but I thought P&O would do just a month again like they’ve done before.

49 minutes ago, zap99 said:

WOW, that's a big house. I can walk from my home office to the garden in less than a minute.😁

Ha ha, I made a sandwich first 😁

Finally I worked from home today! I work 8-1 most days so was nice to be sitting in my garden by 1.10pm 😊

It is a bigger period than most of us thought isn’t it?

Gutted myself as I had the longest cruise I’ve had for a while booked for October but now accepting we’re not going.

8 hours ago, wowzz said:

Isn't the dilemma that the lock down is somewhat draconian. For example - my window cleaner who comes once a month. I leave the cash on the step, and he picks it up. No different to the chap who mows  my  neighbour's lawn.  We are driving people into poverty, when there us no need to do so.

In the same way, people are being denied chemotherapy treatment, leading to additional deaths from cancer,  but, as they are not CV19 related, they don't  get reported.

I am in no way trying to downplay the seriousness of CV19, but there is an increasing number of deaths that could be averted, but are ignored due to the CV19 outbreak.

And, just to be clear, I have every sympathy with everyone suffering at this time,  but when my wife gets a phone call from her consultant to ask how she feels,  whereas she should have a blood test and a scan, you can imagine why I am somewhat concerned about the lack of risk assessment in the current crisis. For every CV19 death, there is another death that could be averted. 

I’m so sorry and annoyed for anyone needing cancer treatment. I’m stunned that they’ve stopped many cancer treatments, so awful for them and their families.

My mum had an operation to remove stomach cancer at St Thomas’s in London nearly two years ago. Because they found it early they got it all but I dread to think what would have happened if it had been left for months. 
 

8 hours ago, Adawn47 said:

Both the grandsons work at B&Q and their store is opening up on Thursday. Staff are equipped with face shields and gloves, and the tills have plastic screens. There are restrictions on what can be purchased and the floor is marked out in 2 metre lines. They have to know what they want and aren't allowed to wander around browsing. Strictly contactless payments only, no cash.  It's so surreal. 

Avril 

Avril, apart from the face guards that’s what my little local Spar is like with the lines on the floor. If you stop to try and find something (I was looking for my mum’s magazine!) people start backing up behind you! I’ve come out a couple of times without everything I wanted because you can’t double back!

Our local B&Q has just opened, it’s a big one and apparently the queue was round the block. We need tiles for our new kitchen but when my husband looked at the website there was a queue of an hour just to view it!! Needless to say he didn’t bother!

Another vote for Marco’s beef wellington! 
For overall experience I loved our first visit to the Epicurean on Ventura when it was called the White Room. Just felt so special.

It’s breakfast lunch and dinner in our house and last night we had chicken with mushrooms and tagliatelle in a creme fraiche  sauce, all cooked by the hubby, it was lovely!

Re Freedom dining - Britannia has 2 out of 3 on the main dining rooms that are Freedom so I would say you have a good chance of getting Freedom. Especially if you book this far in advance as I THINK they do allocate  based on when you book.

I find it astonishing that no one other then the OP has a refund yet! I’m still inside my 45 days though - we shall see! 
 

Regarding home working, I’ve just got all my kit to set up at home and both my PC and phone have to be plugged into my home router! Imagine how many other people are doing that, I hope  my WiFi can cope! I had to phone our IT desk and he said his internet at home was slow so it would take a while for me to get my email!