Megabear2

Just recovering from all the excitement here at Goodwood! What a great run from my brave boy, very proud of him with his third place on going he doesn't like. Time to open that bottle of champagne my friend bought me when we arrived, I've been too nervous to drink it until now.

You may get an email through the course of the day advising you entertainment bookings are open. You won't get one for dining.

They won't go live until 2 weeks before your cruise. I understand that some people have had offerings in recent times, but I could be wrong. My friend sails on 3 September to US/Canada so I'll see what happens there.

They should go live overnight tonight. Not exactly midnight but not long after. If they aren't there at around 12.15am then they'll click over some time overnight - as one of the insomniacs I frequently book things around 2.00am, it never fails! Your restaurants should theoretically follow at midnight Saturday.

My OH is playing at Twickenham on Bank Holiday Saturday ... I'll ask him to treat you gently!

You are correct. All ships you could book online in advance. Even in January 2020 it was a relatively simple exercise. Christmas 2021 first time I came across it which was fair enough as it was only a few months after restart. Every cruise with P&O since apart from on Arvia I've not been able to book on my cruise planner. Strangely our next Britannia cruise changed last week from Enquire on Board to Coming Soon as did the January 2023 one so I had hoped it was a change but then the email above arrived. Sailing from Southampton I am not too worried but being a Saturday arrival on a Barbados later arrival I'm pretty sure it will be a struggle as for reasons best known to the ship they open up the reservations for day 2 long before anyone on the Saturday flights actually arrive.

Can confirm a lot of the gents wear white or cream DJ for formal rather than the black but standards are maintained. Apart from that formal night is very much the same and well adhered to. Still lots of sparkling dresses and tops on Britannia as well, not many little black dresses more bright ones and lots of floaty cotton dresses. Last year we had four formal nights including two Celebration nights. It can be a bit of a phaff for the gents because of the luggage allowance - my OH sends his shirts to be laundered rather than doing the laundry ourselves and therefore only needs two but brings a selection of ties and cufflinks to be different every time. There's generally a Caribbean night where all the staff wear tropical shirts etc. It used to tie in with the theme night, you’ll still find a large number wearing tropical dress and all the ports do a roaring trade in selling these clothes to cruisers. Last year the higher tier Peninsular parties were back and formal was very much in evidence. I understand from communications I'm receiving we should expect these onboard and recent live reports from Selbourne and others indicate the Captain get together is now back as well.

Yes, it all went through here as well. I had some FCC sitting in my account that the t/a couldn't/wouldn’t apply so I did the direct with P&O route.

I assume your QE cabin was a suite as there's not much difference in the standard balcony cabins on either ship. QE are around 228sq ft, Azura between 221sq ft and 421sq ft.

Big surprise that we have Frankie Dettori onboard. The ground was drying today but like a pudding so it's going to be quite a challenge. Mark Johnston went for this one as the forecast for Saturday is absolutely appalling - high winds to go with the rain apparently. He is a very genuine horse so will give his best whatever the circumstances.

My current pussy used to live next door as a kitten. They went back to Malaysia and left him behind and we found him as a waif and stray in a cupboard in our car port. Thirteen years on he still goes next door to do his business. He's getting a bit stiff nowadays so my now neighbours built him a ladder on their side to help him get back over the 6 foot fence! He is a very spoilt pussy by all around here.

No breach of contract I'm afraid. If there's 2,700 onboard they can't guarantee everyone will be able to have everything advertised including speciality dining. What they should and can do is offer a level playing field for everyone to have an equal chance and currently that's not being offered. Try this one. I suggest you tell them you're not happy with the vague response from Guest Services. You never know if they see enough questions on it they might actually do something, it's not like we want the world and we're actually trying to give them guaranteed money upfront! Executive.Correspondence@carnivalukgroup.com I might drop a line to my personal contacts in a month or so, want to see how my Canadian cruise goes first. We have a while yet.

I started out with Executive Correspondence, not my contact but just the higher up office. The reply has come from guest support so it looks like they passed it on. I have two personal contacts in Executive Office so I could perhaps try them. Where have you been writing to, was it guest support or elsewhere?

I had hoped as we had gone to Coming Soon things might be getting changed. I'm really intrigued by why only these three ships. One of my points was if it was to be onboard only did they retain availability for day 2 arrivals (I recall you were told that was the case) and would common sense apply if a plane was delayed. Deadly silence...

As a cat person I researched the killing instinct many years ago. Not wishing to get into big discussions on the subject you might find this interesting. https://www.catcuddles.org.uk/wildlife-cats#:~:text=It's a common belief that,specialised%2C opportunistic%2C solitary hunters.

North.

On Arvia in May, I met Neil Lockwood along with quite a few more pasengere. P&O were organising for signed copies of his CD to be sent out to people's homes so I ordered one for my husband as a gift. I was travelling alone so imagine my husband's surprise when he opened his gift to see a nice handwritten inscription to Pauline and Kevin rather than his name.

My two have just arrived and I now have a dilemma! When I made my reservations onboard Arvia the guy noted I'd had special assistance to board - that was a temporary need after an accident. Consequently I received two assistance forms which I have not completed because the cruises are flying out of Gatwick and we do not need assistance there as it's not a queue outside the terminal. Reading my emails they emphasise I have to complete the forms but I've no desire to use assistance at Gatwick or in Barbados. Do I fill the forms in anyway? I cannot help but recall the recent amputee I met in May who was almost refused boarding because P&O didn't have enough handlers in the event of emergency and wonder if this notification is to prevent things like that.

In fairness I wouldn't know that either. I rely entirely on a full postcode and directions on my paperwork when driving to a booked car park anywhere.

The competition for these cruises this year is high. Princess had an excellent one, QM2 has one and Ambassador all sailing within a 13 day period. The Princess one was slashed in price and is sold out I believe, the Ambassador one has also been cut in price recently with only the Cunard one maintaining its price.

That's dreadful attitude. If you have time I suggest you relay this to Holiday Extras as they were the agent. At least we now know!

I have for a few months been in contact with P&O regarding why it is no longer possible on some ships to book speciality dining before departure. The conversation has been interesting to say the least. Anyway today I have received the long awaited reply. Quote Good morning, Thank you for your email. We are currently unable to offer pre booking of speciality dining venues on Azura, Arcadia and Britannia (excluding Limelight Club). This is under constant review and we apologise for any upset or frustration this may cause prior to your cruise. Should you wish to book a speciality venue during your cruise, we kindly ask that you book this via My Holiday App once onboard, via one of the My Holiday podiums that will be set up by our team onboard or at the main desk of the restaurant you wish to book. I am unable to give you reasons why we are operating this way at the moment but like I have previously mentioned this is under constant review and if anything changes, we will of course notify you. I am sorry that I am unable to offer you any more information than that at the moment. We look forward to seeing you on board. Kind regards, Unquote

I have my three much loved cats and my dad in lovely caskets (long story!). My will stipulates that we are all to go to Austria to be scattered on the mountain in our village where my mother in law is scattered. A small part of my ashes is to be taken on a Cunard Queen to go in the sea off Gibraltar where my mother was scattered in a ceremony organised by them. Dad threatened me to an eternity of hell if I put him in the ocean as he was terrified of water!

Nothing is provided by the ship. Be aware the pools are actually quite small with not much room if it's a busy cruise. A noodle might be okay but your fellow guests might not be too keen on you having anything large..

I am so sad to hear your news Michelle. I am however certain he will continue to walk with you every day in whatever you are doing. We had a ginger cat who died at 26 and although she's been gone 14 years now we still talk about her virtually every day because to us she's still here. They never actually leave us and live in our hearts and minds forever.