Megabear2

Ahhhh, hello, you're back! It's not a new idea, I'm afraid. Trays have not been on Cunard, Princess, Celebrity and RC for a number of years. When cruising restarted on P&O there wasn't a tray in sight. I can confirm December Christmas cruise 2021 on Britannia no trays. It was a big surprise to see them back in December 2022. Meantime all my Celebrity, Princess and Cunard cruises they haven't returned. Regarding drinks, on all lines I've sailed since January 2020 drinks have been served by waiters at the table, a much better idea in my opinion as the bunfight, particularly at afternoon tea on P&O became a health and safety problem with people pushing and grabbing. Having just gotten off QM2 I was delighted to see Cunard continue to serve your food to your plate in the same way as Princess and Celebrity. P&O are the outlier on trays and I'll be pleased if they disappear and we go back to how it was on recommencement of sailing. It is definitely a healthier, if nothing else, way to serve food. I can't speak for P&O but I had no problem getting assistance on Princess when I was collecting food for two, the staff went above and beyond serving drinks as soon as we sat down and happily collecting Extras where I couldn't carry them all.

Hello again Louise! Thanks for your good wishes for Arvia, I'm looking forward to it, albeit a totally different experience this time. The disembarkation as you say was seamless as ever. Speaking to my cabin steward he told me it actually works better for them. Instead of everyone in his block of cabins having one coloured label and leaving at the same time they are staggered to facilitate a certain number of cabins being vacated in steps to allow them to be made up in batches. Looking along the line of cases on my corridor I saw 6 different coloured labels on luggage in the immediate vicinity of my room. I had offered for my room to be stripped early as I was going to breakfast but he told me it was better to leave it while he worked on completely setting up the already vacated cabins. Apparently they work in pairs, one stripping and one coming in once that's complete to set up. I'll be interested to compare with my upcoming Arvia experience which I am facing with great trepidation for disembarkation from recent reviews. Fingers crossed. I'm glad you found the insurance information on companion cover helpful. I hope you and your group of travelling ladies find some more deals soon, you never know we might bump into each other again very soon! I couldn't resist and booked two more trips onboard so combined with my June Iona cruise and August Britannia I now have September Queen Victoria and a winter transatlantic on Queen Mary 2 after visiting my friends in Dallas. What an irony the last is after the tragic weekend events there. Happy cruising to you.

I take the bear out for photographs and return him to the cabin. I've been taking him round the world for photographs since 2011 when my friend who gave him to me was seriously unwell and asked me to take him on my travels so that she could live vicariously through him.. He had a blog until the pandemic. He's quite well known in places I visit regularly.

Never mind, maybe next time. I did break cover at breakfast one morning to help three solo travelling ladies who were having insurance problems from a previous P&O cruise when one became very unwell. Apart from that I stayed pretty much incognito although a lady I'd dined with on my WC in 2019 came rushing up to me at the Coronation Fayre as she recognised the bear, not me mind you! We had a good laugh about that and enjoyed a nice chat. The bear is famous not, it seems, his esteemed travelling companion. I'm glad you enjoyed my all time favourite ship.

Yes, I had him with me. He loves a good Cunard cruise!

I cannot see why those people were needing to do that on QM2. I did not register for help even though it could have been done but as the disembarkation on QM2 was direct from cabin in an allocated space could not see the need to interfere with the needs of those requiring assistance with walking. My time was 9.00am from my cabin, so breakfast at 7.15 followed by a stroll and then sitting watching the news in my cabin, I left there at 8.55 arriving in the deck 2 disembarkation area at precisely 9.00am and a small moving queue off the ship by 9.10, luggage collected and out of the door by 9.15am. My husband on receipt of my text from luggage hall was pulling into the pick up zone at 9.20am and we were straight out and home by 9.55am. Disembarkation from Arvia looks far more complex and stressful. Here is the text of the email I received. Quote Good afternoon, Thank you for your email. Recognising that time in the terminal for guests with hidden disabilities can be stressful, I can confirm I have added embarkation assistance to your booking. Upon arrival at the correct terminal in Southampton, you will be directed to a drop off lane where you unload your luggage, porters are available to assist with this. Your luggage will then be transferred onto the ship and will be outside your cabin when you arrive. When boarding you should only be carrying your hand luggage on board with you. Once you dropped off your luggage, please make yourselves known to the assistance team in the high visibility vests for assistance, they will guide you to the registration area at the enquiries desk, then we can assist you through the terminal and onto the ship, they can also direct you to a quieter space to wait prior to embarking. Once embarkation is underway, the Ground Services team will be able to guide you through security and safely on board as efficiently as possible, in order to make it a smooth embarkation. The Enquiries desks are located at: · Ocean Terminal - Upper level, to the right of the escalator · Mayflower Terminal - Top of the Ramp, to the right QEII Terminal - Right hand side as you enter the check-in area For disembarkation, we would recommend self-disembarking early or to wait in a quiet area and proceed ashore as late as you are able to. We kindly request that you arrive at your allocated embarkation time on your boarding pass or after 15.00. This is an anticipated quieter time for guests embarking with hidden disabilities and 15.00 onwards is generally free flowing onto the ship and a more comfortable experience for all. If guests arrive earlier than their allocated time, an extended wait may be incurred whilst waiting for the available team to prioritise guests adhering to their correct arrival time. No priority can be given to guests arriving early and they may be asked to wait until their allocated time. If you have any questions, please let us know. We look forward to welcoming you on board. Unquote You will note they advise either self disembarkation or wait to the very end, so I don't think that special assistance for leaving the ship would be needed for anyone other than wheelchair users etc.

Much as I hate to say it, not on the Coronation cruise in my cabin. I took some from the public toilet where they were in good supply. It was an odd situation, my room steward gave me a list of additional items he could provide including conditioner, sewing kit, shower cap, cotton buds etc but no mention of sanitary bags. On Britannia at Christmas weI had a supply from day 1 which was replenished every day.

Last boarding time stated as 4.30pm on my 4.00pm boarding pass. However now that my assistance is confirmed my boarding pass has been changed to show to be confirmed. I assume I'll get further updates however intend to arrive for 3.00pm as indicated by the person who dealt with the assistance form. Interestingly had an email confirming how P&O deal with hidden disabilities which states 3.00pm as the quietest time for people needing calm.

Which you can't at present! There is minimum 10 weeks stated at present and personal appointments are virtually impossible to book. The message appears in the same way trying to get covid tests dud, ie there is no availability at present please try later. We have a situation with my OH's passport where it will be valid on return for 5 months 2 days. We fly to Greece early July which does offer the 3 month option, we've been advised to carry print outs of every UK and Greek government website stipulation that the passport is valid. We were unable to renew early due to.previously booked travel arrangements followed by the strike.

Today was the street party and Country Fayre. Great fun, lots of queues not as well organised as I had expected and saw a few snappy tempers about queues for the games at the date. I missed the food for the tea party from the street party as the queue was massive. Lovely opera performance calmed things down. A couple of pictures if they will.upload.

Identical to problems we had over Christmas. I had hoped it would have been sorted by now.

Update on the dining issue for me. I booked 6.30pm and 6.15pm on the app.for the whole voyage after the 8.30pm debacle. I have had no further problems and am checked in and seated within a couple of minutes. I share tables but have seen no further queues at my dining time. Service has been good - sommelier appeared rapidly to take drink orders the past two evenings - and have had no further problems with dinner as a result. However on leaving the restaurant around 7.45pm I have noticed a large queue in place at the entrance and lengthening rapidly. Breakfast I dine at 8.00am as the restaurant opens so I've experienced no problems there. However one of my table companions yesterday had waited 1 1/2 hours before being seated on Wednesday morning- I'm unaware at what time though. I was refused access to Queens Room for tea on Wednesday at 3.25pm, ie five minutes before service. Apparently every seat was full.leading to Britannia being opened, they were not allowing any waiting. The staff member who was someone I know well informed me people had commenced queuing at around 2.40pm and the room was full almost immediately. I did not take tea in the Britannia but did notice on walking through that there were large numbers seated. There seem to be a very large number of first time Cunard passengers on board and a great number I have spoken to are either newcomers or on maybe their second voyage. As a result they are keen to enjoy all the experiences they cannot enjoy on other cruise lines which with the short voyage length appear to be impacting events accordingly. Whilst it is excellent news newcomers are interested in enjoying the Cunard experience the dining difficulties do appear to be colouring their view somewhat but hopefully not to the point they will.not wish to sail Cunard again. None that I've met or spoken to have anything other than compliments about all other aspects of the ship and their experience onboard which is good news.

That makes sense. More to the point it does confirm the offer exists and Majortom should be able to use it. My offer was clearly in a different form as it was an email.not a physical letter. I'm assuming the offer has been updated/changed as mine was from a December cruise, hence use by 31 March. The theme seems to be give you 3 months to book.a new cruise/cruises but if they aren't allowing it to be added not much use.

Does the email not mention it is automatically applied but you'll only see it once onboard? I recall seeing that on my email. There was no code or anything to input to a booking, simply that it goes on your account and automatically applied. The only reason I discussed it was I wanted to check which cruise would be eligible and was told any new booking select fare of over a certain amount of days. I understood it could only be used once so assume it will be on my first booked cruise made after December.

I can confirm a rendition of Happy Birthday just made for my this evenings table companion on Queen Mary 2. It was really nicely done with a group of around 10 singing.

I think that everyone competing a cruise receives one to encourage a rebooking, they all have 3 months validity. Mine was from December to use by 31 March.

If it's a general enquiry not requiring changes or purchases I've found the P&O administration quite helpful. I just ignore the if you've booked with a T/A stuff and let it get answered by whoever. I've never once been refused if it's something like a query on administrative stuff such as P&O offers etc. Of course they won't deal with changes to bookings etc but they're normally pretty helpful about something they've sent you direct. Surely worth a try.

Can't help you there. My fares are select both 14 days one balcony one single balcony. I've had an upgrade for one of these from an inside so don't expect to see it but the lady taking the booking was adamant it would apply. If it does, well that's great if not I'm fine as OBC isn't something I stress about personally. I can't recall who said they'd had it on a saver but definitely someone did. I'll look back through the old threads when I get home from QM2. Maybe there are a couple of versions for different people?

I raised the point a while ago on ICF's Caribbean thread and Moley told me it's to accommodate the younger cruisers who are big time vegetarian. It was pointed out Epicurean is not vegetarian friendly so was to balance the deal so to speak. Seems fair enough, I've booked it for a night on my cruise.

I have this email and a direct P&O booking made on 31 March for 14 nights Arvia on a select fare. When I mentioned it to agent they informed me that it will apply but I will not see it until I'm onboard, apparently it's in the small print of the email but as I'm not home can't check as I only have the printed one ready for the off on Sunday week. It was also confirmed for my Britannia August reservation made at same time. Only restriction is must be more than a certain number of days - I think it said 5. I've no reason to believe it isn't going to go on automatically- I have a vague recollection that one of our regular posters mentioned he'd had it applied on a saver which surprised him.

The app offers little save the option for Britannia "freedom" diners to reserve their dining times. Having queued for 20 minutes last night (with a reservation placed on my behalf "for my convenience") to even get to the podium to announce one's arrival for dinner I have now booked on the app for my required dining time in advance and hope last night will become a distant memory. Having been thrust into the brave new world of freedom dining on a Cunard ship for the first time I will do whatever it takes to bypass the ensuing mayhem of yesterday evening. The queues at the 3rd floor doors to Britannia restaurant were something I did not expect to find on a Cunard ship, I was quite taken aback. One gentleman immediately behind me was taken poorly in the queue as he waited and had to be taken and found a chair. My 8.30pm reservation led to being seated at 8.55pm and my meal ending at 10.40pm and there were still quite a few still eating when I left and retired for the evening. Incidentally I was not even asked if I'd like to see the wine menu or given the opportunity to order a drink. The poor staff were being somewhat overwhelmed so I did not raise the issue and stuck to drinking my iced water. Hopefully tonight will be better, I've booked via the app for 6.30pm in the hope I might actually be able to get in to the restaurant in a more timely manner.

Ahh my friend, your first app adventure! Hate to tell you this but it's identical to P&O's so you have that joy to come later this year. I'm pleasantly surprised, it loaded and opened first time for me, went on to my homescreen and even let me book my dinner. Queue system is also working well. Biggest surprise is the wi-fi. It's actually working in my room so I haven't got to sit on the stairs so far. Strangely no entertainment showing in that section but guess it's not needed. The Daily Programme and my onboard account are also showing in the app. This is a first for me, an app that's actually loaded!

My last two Britannia cruises no pots of jam, a spoonful in a pot and most certainly not Bon Maman or Wilkins. The eggs are my favourite breakfast item on P&O ships though.

Kings Court is notorious, badly planned so always looks busy. I wandered through and noticed they are still serving guests rather than help yourself. Found my friend and had a quick coffee with her. I ate in the Golden Lion, served quickly for drinks and food. Sail away was busy, man seated next to me had a waiter spill a beer all over him and he had to go and change his trousers as a result. Arcadia and Aurora looked very splendid in the Southampton sunshine.

If boarding Arvia is like my boarding today for QM2 I'll be delighted. Arrived 12.30 as per my allocated time, luggage dropped, checked in and boarded by 12.45! Straight to room for keys, literally inside the door to put hand luggage down and knock at the door with my luggage. Unpacked, mustered and out for lunch, definitely a record for any Southampton voyage!