molecrochip

I know - just sharing the updated Cunard viewpoint timings which Cunard announced in the last hour or so. This confirms beyond doubt that she is coming in via the Nab Tower.

Note: times are subject to change. Ryde and Gosport 1745 Lee on Solent 1810 Cowes 1810 Calshot 1820 Hamble 1830 Royal Victoria Country Park & Weston Shore 1900 Hythe 1915 Mayflower Park 1930 Mayflower Cruise Terminal 1945

The old process involved staff in each brand validating as best as they could. It was not outsourced, the process was slow, open to manipulation and errors occurred. With Stockperks standardised data is provided to the staff in each brand. If the evidence meets the rules, Stockperks can provide a validated result which allows the staff member to just add the credit if the booking is an eligible tariff. If Stockperks can’t validate the rule, it’s passed to the staff member to do in full. Where Stockperks is clever is that if connected to a broker account, it can check share ownership in real time. There is some debate internally about this however I believe that the Ts and Cs will be tightened the next time they are issued to require ownership at point of application and departure. This will enable validation to be redone at the time of departure (or shortly before). For anyone updating evidence manually, you may be told to take a copy of your evidence to embarkation/check-in.

To add, Marine Traffic also has its own calculated ETA. This is purely distance between last port and next port pilot station dividend by average speed since last port. This is currently showing 1am on the 1st May. This should slowly come back towards the reported ETA as more hours spent at full speed thus increasing average speed since last port.

Southampton port advertising 14:45 arrival at berth however latest AIS update from ship suggests Nab Tower at 14:15. Currently advised timings from Cunard Press Office are: Note: times are subject to change. Ryde and Gosport – 12:45 Lee on Solent – 13:10 Cowes – 13:10 Calshot -13:20 Hamble -13:30 Royal Victoria Country Park & Weston Shore -14:00 Hythe -14:15 Mayflower Park – 14:30 Mayflower Cruise Terminal – 14:45 I expect these formal timings to nudge back slightly.

New show is called Unbelievable.

A new show is coming to all ships this year - it’s replacing Astonishing. A new show cycles in every couple of years. Slowly, each ship has been upgraded with respect to video screens on stage which make it easier to roll out shows. When shows change, it’s in conjunction with the headliners cast as they learn the routines etc in Southampton. Therefore, it will take 6 months to cycle the new headliners casts across all ships.

If you’re getting free coach travel from P&O then let them know someone is travelling with their chair and discrimination laws would require P&O to ensure that a suitable transfer is provided.

I like the cabins and would happily take one if it’s similar in price to highest grade deluxe balcony.

Very much this I believe. Part of the ‘don’t tell me what to do - it’s not been a problem since Southampton’ brigade if my info is correct.

Captain has tried very hard to restrict the travel of the virus but some passengers have been very abusive to crew when asked to maintain standards. I believe a couple of people may have also been disembarked because of it.

Many of you will remember Captain Charlie Carr who retired around 2015. Sadly, he passed earlier this month. His last full time ship was Ventura before he was promoted to Fleet Captain. As Fleet Captain he popped up on random ships, shared his knowledge and covered for other captains who were unexpected unavailable. He regularly travelled with his wife "Mrs Captain" and both would be seen around the ship chatting with passengers. As he sets off on his travels in the sky, I imagine he will "put another twist in the big elastic band" and suggest he "pours himself a G&T". RIP Captain

Certainly merchant responsibility i.e. cruise ship. Holds clear after 7, 14, or 28 days depending upon banking company. Some hotels and Petrol stations do the same.

The contact centre should be able to sort/cost this for you. You are likely on a charter flight so extending your holiday is likely to have a flight cost attached. I would suggest costing your own flight back with BA/Virgin first so that you have the comparison handy.

Specifically, cruises are selling well with expectations that most will sell out - so no need to sell cheaply. Demand exceeds supply therefore prices increase.

I’ve suggested this many a time. It’s something Saga offer.

There is a limit on the number of fully accessible cabins based on evacuation requirements. Additionally, every 2 accessible cabins take up 3 standard cabin spaces. When ships are already sailing fairly full, there is little commercial argument to reduce capacity.

This has been tightened up now. Has been for a while, but it’s happened post Covid.

P&O are really hot now on who books a fully accessible cabin. Whilst you may get occasional last minute upgrades/purchases, this is very uncommon. Some people require specific beds or pieces of furniture for their wellbeing and accessible cabins are the only ones that fit. Doesn’t necessarily mean they can’t walk. The most common scenario are people needing an electric scooter to use in ports but can slowly walk around the ship. They need the cabin purely for the scooter. There is nowhere near enough cabins for actual demand and this is why you’re finding they are sold out - not because they are regularly being mis-sold.

Oceana (as opposed to the high end cruise line Oceania) was built for Princess when Princess was part of P&O. She was due to operate Winter Caribbean and Summer Alaskan cruises so was designed for passengers to be outdoors either in the sun in the Caribbean or sightseeing in Alaska. When Carnival merged with P&O Princess, there was a reorganisation of the Sun Class ships. In 2002, Ocean Princess became Oceana and Sea Princess became Adonia. Adonia was the temporary replacement for Arcadia which became Ocean Village. Later, Adonia would transfer back as Sea Princess once the new Arcadia arrived.

Oh ok. I wasn’t being judgemental- just know that there is a massive variety in Southampton but most accept kids.

Southampton is a wonderfully inclusive city that serves a thriving, generally family, cruise market. Unless you want to go to Wetherspoons (which explicitly bans under 18s), you may struggle to find a specific 18+ restaurant/pub eatery. I would suggest dropping your no kids requirement, looking at some of the restaurants around the West Quay area. Ask for a quiet table by all means.

If true, some of Carnival Corp’s US based ships have been caught not enforcing the clear evacuation route aka ‘no scooters/wheelchairs/buggies in the corridors’ rule and have been given til the end of this month to retrain their crews and enforce across all brands.

It’s interesting that both Oceana and Oriana have moved for the first time in years(?) in the past 10 days.

Said it before, will say it again. ANY ship is available to purchase at the right price. SeaJets opportunistically purchased a number of ships and are probably now looking to shed a couple before launching the rest as Greek island tourist ships. That said, these websites usually act as brokers - they act on basis of any ship for sale and look to match buyer and owner. They are not proper listings. I’m trying to think how much of a refurb a ship would need if it has been in cold layup for four years. I see some port to port movement so mechanically it may be ok. But what about the galleys and bars, are their equipment still fit and serviceable? What about the cabins? One thing is for sure, Carnival Corp will have wanted more than $45m for Oriana when they sold it.