Megabear2

This is in line with what's happening with other non related cruise companies and appears to be the accepted norm at this time which is a better arrangement than disembarkation. Presumably the positive testers are still being moved to the quarantine areas? There is a lot of disquiet about the type of cabins positives are being moved to on some ships. Hopefully P&O are continuing use balcony cabins for quarantine/isolation and not moving people to the rather inhuman inside/outside cabins the American lines are using. Italy still stands out as a destination to be wary of with its draconian up to 21 days isolation and it appears The Netherlands have also caught a few unwary souls with upto 10 days quarantine as well. It's very good P&O are avoiding these possible problems for passengers and are helping rather than abandoning which some lines have rather shamefully being doing.

Received today: SAILING TESTING REQUIREMENTS PRE-ARRIVAL/EMBARKATION COVID-19 TEST All guests ages 2 and older must present a digital or physical copy of a negative test result in order to board their sailing. • Up to Date* Guests: Must present a negative Antigen test taken within 2 days prior to sailing. Testing at the terminal will not be required. This testing requirement is currently stipulated by Italian authorities as of May 17, 2022. •Fully-Vaccinated** Guests: Must present a negative Antigen test taken within 2 days prior to sailing. Testing at the terminal will not be required. This testing requirement is currently stipulated by Italian authorities as of May 17, 2022. • Unvaccinated Guests: Will not be required to present a pre-arrival test. Instead, guests will be tested at the Terminal prior to Embarkation. Guests who have recently recovered from COVID-19 may present a Certificate of Recovery and proof of the positive PCR test result taken between 11 and less than 180 days prior to the sail date in order to board. The Certificate of Recovery can be presented as an NHS COVID Pass, EU Certificate of Recovery or as a letter from a healthcare provider. In addition, you must still present a vaccination card. Please be aware that some ports of call do not accept a Certificate of Recovery for the purposes of debarking and enjoying the destination. We will not accept a Certificate of Recovery in place of a vaccination record***.

Just been "encouraged" by email to book excursions etc for my October Iona cruise. Logging in I now have a new banner as follows: "As your safety and well-being is our top priority, we have enhanced measures in place, including reduced capacity online dining reservations. You will be able to make reservations from 24th September 2022." Intrigued I've checked all my Britannia reservations - nothing but my Arvia 22/12/2023 booking has a similar banner. Seems a bit odd.

Is that on the ships or are you quoting UK national figures? Looking at the CC boards of many cruise lines there certainly seem to be a great many cases on their ships, some quoting 50 plus covid cases on voyages. If the figures are for P&O it is impressive if they are avoiding cases, or are they just not being spoken of.

I'm not sure on what basis I get them other than I'm always looking on their website. I get a personalised code which is attached to my P&O account so when I log in it is already there and applies automatically when I book a qualifying cruise. I've been getting them for a few years now, at first I thought they wanted to lure me back onboard but as I have 6 P&O cruises currently booked I don't think that is relevant. I get them every couple of months. I also get them for Cunard but they're less frequent, probably every six months or so.

Pp. Its valid on any advertised cruise over 19 nights on either ship. I'm very tempted ...

Just received an email with my personalised latest offer. Book 19 nights or more on the adult only ships and get between £350 and £500 extra OBC. Obviously still keen to sell cabins.

That would be one hell of an upgrade!

Perhaps you should visit the Celebrity CC boards and read of the literally hundreds caught out on the transatlantic and early European sailings, many of whom are spending 10 days in quarantine onboard or worse reaching their destinations and quaranting ashore due to local rules. As Azura is fly cruising it would appear to be common sense to follow the local rules and not end up in a predicament.

I think that's me after 2 hours 45 minutes of holding for Celebrity customer service yesterday! When the telephone finally answered it was by someone in the US who couldn't help with recommended testing companies in the UK and directed me to the UK government website for a list. Having changed their testing requirements for Italian sailings twice in 48 hours Celebrity are scurrying to the bottom of my service list. I'm now using information from P&O to apply for proctored tests as Celebrity have been so useless.

Stifford Hall is a motel type hotel. The rooms are in blocks at the rear of the old hall. It is a former Park Inn. I use it regularly for one night stays as its opposite the church in North Stifford where I was married and most of my family are buried in the churchyard so I go to do maintenance. It's okay, the upgraded rooms were done by Park Inn but the advertising pictures are to say the least misleading - the actual hall bedrooms are not used and the last time I can recall them being bedrooms was 18 years ago when they were very sad. If you're looking for something better Orsett Hall or The Bell at Horndon on the Hill are far superior.

Hi Twinkle. I have followed your instructions and have now got the we are validating message. Has this now cleared for you as checked and if so how long did it take. Thank you.

I'll try to dig some out. Ive sailed in the Deck 2 "show cabin" 2002 several times. That has a large picture window and a chaise lounge where I've spent many an hour gazing at the sea on grand voyages. Being on a low deck you are very close to the water and it was a thrill in the South China Sea to have the waves reaching the window. The bed is not against the outside wall in deck 2 cabins as your wardrobe and bathroom are the corridor side. Deck 2 cabins are normally marginally cheaper because everyone loves the round windows on deck 3!

I love those cabins! Lack of any on Queen Anne is a massive disappointment. I just noted the maiden voyage is indeed sold out but plenty of space appearing on all the other sailings currently offered. Sadly for a single passenger the costs are way too high for me at this time.

On world cruise segments your passport is taken and inspected in a bulk operation by the port authorities. You have no choice but to give it over.

On vaccination: I'm trying to check in. As a UK resident I have the following problems, can anyone help/advise please? We have been told by Celebrity to complete the next stage of our check in which is to provide vaccination records. All sounds easy - not! Question 1 they ask who is the manufacturer? I'm mixed vaccine - doses 1 and 2 Astra Zeneca, dose 3 Pfizer. Which do I put - it only let's you enter one on the app. Question 2 they ask for the date of the final jab. That's my Pfizer one in November I assume I put that. Next step is to photograph your vaccination records. This due to style of UK records would be three photos, one for each jab record. I assume I post page 3 as it has the barcode but again it will show Pfizer. Any help greatly appreciated as I'm not allowed to go any further on check in without completing this. I did get through to Celebrity but was passed to a US agent who had no idea about UK records unfortunately.

The new wording now implies testing can take place 1 or 2 days before boarding if I read it correctly? Having moved my booked tests twice already I'm loathe to do it again if 1 day will suffice. "Pre-Arrival/Embarkation Covid-19 Test Up to Date* Guests: Must present a negative Antigen test taken within 2 days prior to sailing. Testing at the terminal will not be required. This testing requirement is currently stipulated by Italian authorities. " It would be really helpful if the voyage testing chart included dates you should take your pre boarding test in the same way other cruise lines are doing as it avoids confusion.

To be honest isolation and quarantine doesn't worry me one iota if I'm in Europe. Since last September I have been engaged at a high level with two UK based cruise lines on this issue and also with a large number of UK insurers and government bodies about requirements. I may be very unlucky but go into any cruise with my eyes very widely open, know my rights in each place I'm visiting and know for certain in writing that every scenario I have so far heard of or envisaged is fully covered by my insurance. My comments on Celebrity's protocols and quarantine are based very much on how at the beginning of my work on this issue, they were a guiding beacon quoted by all involved as a company who really were intent on looking after their guests. I used their policies as very much the standard the other lines should strive for and through the winter that has been very much the case. When looking to book a cruise with my friend she chose Celebrity based on her experience on her one cruise 8 years ago. I was happy with her choice due to the protocols and Celebrity's reputation. What I failed to take into account was Celebrity's massive policy changes moving them from the top of the pile to the bottom and the apparent growth of the ship within a ship idea of The Retreat. I now find myself worrying about overcrowding, long waits in the MDR, preferential treatment for reservations for other services if general staff are moved to prioritise the suite guests and reading of a general drop in customer care. I am very much used to "split facilities" cruises being a diamond Cunard cruiser so I had no worries previously about those paying more having separate restaurants etc. What is concerning me is that having been directed to this forum by my Cunard and P&O fellow posters because "the Celebrity board is full of great information and they are a friendly bunch" I have visions of half the ship being out of bounds to us and facilities fully booked in advance to suite guests - the specialty restaurants for instance.

I wouldn't call Celebrity luxury, my cruise on Celebrity Edge was booked as it was the cheapest option for a good cruise line in comparison with others. The steerage comment was tongue in cheek hence the quotation marks. I'm quite nervous after 70 sailings on other lines as to what I may encounter as nearly every post I see on these boards is from or refers to suite guests. I certainly have begun to feel second rate and that isn't tongue in cheek!

Could be the ending of bank holidays and the run up to Queen's Jubilee celebrations suppressing demand? I would hesitate a guess quite a few international passengers bailed as well once they saw what was happening with the T/A European arrivals. Here at home we had the opportunity through the winter to watch Spain, Italy and Greece handling positive covid cases and their quarantine arrangements, they are all new to travellers from other countries and in some cases have come as a bit of a shock.

As a UK cruiser we have under normal circumstances to make final payments to cruise lines 3 months in advance of sailing. That money becomes non refundable at that point resulting in 100% cancellation fees. During the pandemic cruise lines relaxed these rules, most are now applying them meaning unless you take a large financial hit if the rules change you've little choice but to go with them. Rules are changing all the time but the booking conditions are getting more rigid, protocols on help with quarantine and getting home are changing almost monthly and not in favour of the passenger. More alarming the ships are not all doing the same with their quarantine guests. Surely head office could get on top of this, at least knowing the rules they are going to apply and making it very clear. Those in Amsterdam and the UK seem to be faring far better than others, mainly due to the countries' rules. It is not unreasonable to expect Celebrity has its finger on the pulse and provides information before the passenger disembarks. I have seen no mention of a Celebrity representative assisting with contact/liaison with passengers' insurance companies whereas other lines do offer this thus removing a lot of the passengers' pressure in arranging accommodation, food and repatriation. I do of course understand it is more complex for North American passengers at this time and that the culture expectations are different but for example reading experiences of those quarantined and repatriated from Cunard ships there is nowhere near the disatisfaction being read of in the Celebrity boards.

If getting more staff onboard any company's ships is going to require a rise in wages then inevitably the answer will have to be the cruising public will have to pay more as well. The cruise lines are no doubt trying to keep these price rises down due to global recession biting and cutbacks onboard will be one way to do this. It's going to be a vicious circle. How do they keep the top end guests using the Retreat, Haven, Grills or whatever they call their high end cabins happy while keeping the bread and butter end in the insides, outsides and balconies actually able to afford to carrying on cruising? As a newcomer to the Celebrity brand I have gained the impression that they sell well to the high end guests based on the service they offer to Retreat passengers. As a "steerage" class passenger with limited resources I read little here about the experience I may expect although I'm certain it will be good. Perhaps my expectations will be nearer to what Celebrity are offering or maybe I too will think for the "premium fare" compared with Princess, P&O etc they are not for me. I remain positive and hope the experience will be better than on those lines.

I appreciate that but the OP may not have spare cash until Cunard repays him. They are short staffed in accounts as well and there is very little time to reorganise if the money is not received quickly. On the boards there is often an assumption that those who sail Cunard are well heeled but there are also many who are not and no one knows the personal circumstances of an individual which is the point I was making about shortness of time.

As it's such short notice maybe the OP doesn't have the option to do this due to other commitments or work. For those of us retired or with flexible work patterns that would be okay but not everyone will be so fortunate. Following a recent cancellation by P&O my BIL found himself with two weeks booked holiday from work which he could not change and also unable to alter the carer arrangements for his father that he had put in place.

No test if full vaccinated