Megabear2

Unfortunately that's quite normal for Barbados. At least using the bonded designated cruise lane we avoid the worst of it at security.

Those blessed hot tubs again! Time for a pineapple ....?

I have copied them in but I just want a satisfactory answer from someone to say All okay. It's a long way to Barbados to be told tough, you aren't getting on for the sake of a walking stick!

We had a right to do on our TUI flight to Kefalonia last year when no one would volunteer to move for a mother and children. The pilot stated unless someone volunteered he would not take off. Took a good 10 minutes of debate and we missed our slot so more moaning. Being in the emergency exit rows we were turned down when we volunteered, yet I've sat with an unaccompanied child on an Easyjet flight and been asked to assist if there was an emergency. As ICF said, I assumed this was normal practice but maybe not.

Exactly, but clearly it is P&O who have passed on the wrong information and in this case caused several hundreds of pounds to be spent.

I was under the impression they had to seat a child with one adult, ie you'd get a seat with one and your OH would get a seat with the other at the very worst. Did they not say this? Unfortunately the P&O fly cruises to the Caribbean aren't particularly family friendly for those with younger children in my experience. Babies and teenagers deem to be okay but anyone over 2 seems to get s bit of a rough ride.

Well I've lost it now! After trying to seek clarification by telephone to the number previously provided, I now find it does not accept inward telephone calls. So I've replied by email: Quote Dear Suzanne, I have already submitted a questionnaire to the effect we do not need assistance. My husband will not be using a walking stick, although he does own one - it is a fold up one. I must point out he is a very active man despite fibromyalgia and is not in any way disabled - he is a competitive masters swimmer completing several miles in a session, plays football twice a week and also rugby. He works full time and does not have a carer or any assistance requirements. He exercises at a class at our local hospital twice a week on the remaining days. This constant threat we will be denied boarding is most unhelpful and is causing very much stress to me which is not in any way making me look forward to my trip. I would therefore request you find the form I have completed for both this cruise and my Cunard ones and confirm that I do not have to complete any new ones as stated in your email. Whilst I have every sympathy with your need to be careful of people's requirements, this chasing of individuals who have told you they are able to manage without assistance is in no way helpful. The form to which you have directed me states: "This form should be completed by all guests who: May require assistance with embarkation, disembarkation, or in an unlikely case of emergency evacuation Have any medical needs that may require special accommodation Will be bringing medical equipment or mobility devices on board Have been advised by their travel insurance or doctor to declare their needs to us" Most passengers will not complete it as the descriptions are very vague. Might I respectfully suggest if you wish everyone to complete this form rather than just those who would normally request assistance due to a mobility or disability issue P&O should actually tell people that and clarify in simple English your requirements. Currently the confusion and chasing I am experiencing is not making us look forward in any way to the cruises we have booked. I look forward to a final reply as to what you want us to do. Thank you. Unquote I'm now officially fed up with this - I've replied and provided details four times now.

Motsi is obsessed with Layton, everyone else is inconsequential to her. Ridiculous, like a love sick teenager, it's quite embarrassing.

Well here is my latest update ... Quote Dear Mrs. X Thank you for your email. We are looking forward to welcoming you on board, as a reminder, you must inform us of any mobility or accessibility requirements, and any mobility aids you wish to take with you (walking sticks, etc), prior to embarkation. Failure to do so may result in you being denied boarding. Please visit My P&O Cruises to complete the onboard needs questionnaire, once you have logged in, the questionnaire is located by clicking the ‘Before you sail’ tab and then clicking the ‘On board needs’ tab on the following page. You can then access the onboard needs questionnaire, please complete the onboard needs questionnaire no later than 14 days prior to embarkation. Please ensure you complete the onboard needs questionnaire thoroughly and read each question carefully, as once completed you cannot add any missing information and the questionnaire will need to be completed again. We also advise guests to save their onboard needs questionnaire when prompted to do so. We look forward to welcoming you onboard Britannia next month. Kind Regards Suzanne Guest Support Representative Accessibility Unquote So the form I've completed is over ridden by this apparently. Ironically my husband has no plans to take a walking stick or any other aid with him and I filled in the stupid form accordingly. I'm afraid this is just b....y stupid now.

That's very Wicked ...

The difference is they are mainly US ships, different client base and with high prices for drinks and packages. On the more mid range ships the cruise line will not hesitate to put you off for bad behaviour. Unfortunately certain elements of the British public have a very bad relationship with alcohol and they are creeping into areas of entertainment, sport and holiday venues as they want "experiences". Realistically these "elements" can cross all generations if their background and social setting perceives excess drinking as normal. They can indeed be the posh but it is most unlikely you will encounter any of these people on a regular cruise line.

It feels like Groundhog Day ... oh wait what's a Tivo box?

With the state of the world I think a chat about Strictly is very welcome, certainly not contentious. I'll just avoid CC until after 8.00am on a Monday. Definitely no need to be quiet.

Happy to join you!

It's one of those things unfortunately.

Just noted on my cruise planner for Britannia it tells me dance lessons will be available. Hopefully proper ones not the Strictly fitness class we've had for the past two years.

Home Counties South, yeh ... I avidly watch Strictly but can't watch the results show live because of other commitments so my Monday morning 6.00am is catch up, not much point this week though ...

Looking back on last year's thread about Virgin flights I noticed the charge on them was considerably lower than that for the TUI flights and that was increased again this year. The flight cost, seat fee and repeat itineraries are the reason I currently have no Caribbean fly cruise booked after January 2024. For only £900 more than we are paying for that cruise we have 35 nights on QM2 in a balcony cabin in January 2025,.

Bridge for beginners featured when I first started cruising. Unfortunately as the offering became rarer and unhosted it became the preserve of the experienced player. The last vestige of learning the art of Bridge on any ship I've sailed since the pandemic now appears to be on Cunard, along with the jigsaw puzzles and board games, particularly on QM2 in the dedicated areas for such. I'd welcome a board game room on P&O ships even if in a rarely used space on just a few days. A great way to have fun.

Sadly not in my recent experiences. Hopefully they may after this dreadful incident they might start to be proactive as they used to be.

Indeed. I've had to book economy to Japan for my May 2025 flight, not looking forward to it but £1,600 with Cunard sounded a bargain when I looked at May 2024 prices! If fares go down, which I doubt, I can always drop the flight. On seat pitch there was an interesting review by a well known consumer group in March this year. Here's the long haul UK results from Heathrow/Gatwick/Birmingham and Manchester Best long haul airlines for seat pitch (leg room) TUI - 33 inches Emirates - 32 inches Singapore Airlines - 32 inches British Airways - 31 inches Etihad - 31 inches KLM - 31 inches Air Canada - 30 inches American Airlines - 30 inches Virgin Atlantic - 29 inches

You might be interested in this, it's very informative and enlightening https://www.alternativeairlines.com/best-flights-tall-leg-room

I sympathise. Perhaps you understand a bit better why we guys pay for the PE seats, particularly with the seat reclining situation. Long haul economy on most airlines is sadly cramped and uncomfortable, ironically the older planes may well have more padded, wider seats.

No all TUI dreamliners are 3-3-3 in economy. It's premium economy that is 2-3-2. TUI were very proudly the recipient of the first 787 Dreamliner and apart from the newer planes having 9 rows of PE rather than 7 the seat pitch etc remains the same. Actually in fairness they are something of a market leader in legroom believe it or not!

Restaurants are bookable 14 days out. The dress code is updated not long before but can be at any time. Basically look at the seadays on a Caribbean cruise for formal nights, very rarely unless it's new Year's eve or the like will a port day be formal, although this isn't an exact science.