P&O Cruisers - What are things like where YOU are?

[Vampiress88]

Easter bunny’s been 

[davecttr]

4 hours ago, Josy1953 said:

I have a bus pass but we no longer have a bus service.  I got my bus pass because my sister-in-law told me that she was able to use hers when they went to Devon and Cornwall last year because there are reciprocal agreements in p!ace.

Each of the 3 nations bus pass is valid for the whole of the relevant country plus there are some reciprocal arrangements between countries. For example your Scottish pass can be used to get to Carlisle or Berwick upon Tweed?

[brian1]

12 hours ago, Josy1953 said:

I have a bus pass but we no longer have a bus service.  I got my bus pass because my sister-in-law told me that she was able to use hers when they went to Devon and Cornwall last year because there are reciprocal agreements in p!ace.

You can use any public bus service in England.There was a bloke that went the whole length of England using his bus pass.I don't know how long it took him,lol.Brian.

[Harry Peterson]

[P&O SUE]

Morning all, we managed to board! Currently all ready to go ashore in Zeebrugge. We are going to Ghent. 
 

View from our balcony early this morning, we’ve had stunning weather so far! 
 

PS there was food in the Glasshouse! Did have nearly an hour wait for it though!

 

 

[kalos]

1 hour ago, brian1 said:

You can use any public bus service in England.There was a bloke that went the whole length of England using his bus pass.I don't know how long it took him,lol.Brian.

 

Not sure if this was the same guy but ..

There was this bloke that took the bus every day and always bought two tickets.
The bus driver intrigued one day decided to ask:
"why do you always buy two tickets" and the man says:
" well its simple I put one ticket in my left pocket and one in my right that way if I

lose one I still have the other " and the driver asks:
" And what if you lose both tickets?" He replied " Oh don't worry I have my bus pass " 

 

               Everyone !   Take care 

[Snow Hill]

18 hours ago, Josy1953 said:

I don't have one because I rarely travel by train but one of my friends has one because she regularly goes to Manchester for shopping and says that it is well worth the money.  I would say that if you are considering getting one then work out how often you use the train and the annual cost of those trips and see if it is more than the cost of the rail card.  When I looked into it last year an over 60s annual card was around £30 and you get a third off every journey that you make.

I had one, it expired in August 2020, I haven’t renewed as I found I didn’t use it that much in the 3 years I had to justify another outlay of £70. 

[davecttr]

I just checked the rail pass online. Apparently there is no longer a hard copy and you need a smartphone to buy and use one, also can only buy tickets online via the app? The pass itself resides in the app and you also need to upload a photo.

[indiana123]

This is a long shot but worth a try.

 

When my mobility took a bit of a hit we booked the baggage service from home to the ship.  It was amazing,.  Said goodbye to luggage on our doorstep and then saw it onboard.  This was Southampton.

 

We are sailing from Tilbury, Essex soon and wondered if pre-pandemic when cruising  CMV, there had been a similar service, which could be active again now.   I've googled luggage handing/services but can't see anything.

[Splice the mainbrace]

Hazy sunshine and already 16c. Family lunch for 8, first time we have had all of the local family round for a sit down lunch for over 2 years. We have had a couple of buffets when covid rules allowed though.

Forgot to get Easter eggs for a garden hunt and local shops don't have any left so our 3 yo grandson may put his protruding bottom lip face on 😊

[Josy1953]

We have a lovely sunny day so have been out to Trentham Gardens for a walk.  I wanted to go to the garden centre but it was only open for the restaurant so I will have to go tomorrow to get the plants that I wanted.

[davecttr]

Pressure washed the patio and paths this morning and ended up soaked as usual. at least that is done for this year. Also planted my onion sets and re potted some large cacti that live outside. Now have several puncture marks - ow!

[davecttr]

1 hour ago, davecttr said:

I just checked the rail pass online. Apparently there is no longer a hard copy and you need a smartphone to buy and use one, also can only buy tickets online via the app? The pass itself resides in the app and you also need to upload a photo.

Apparently you can have a 1 year railcard in a plastic wallet but the 3 year one is digital only. The 1 year one can be bought online or at a ticket office. If you buy online it is sent by post

[Britboys]

I've had a railcard for for years. Initially a Network Railcard, which just covered the South East and then since turning 60 a Senior Railcard. Over the years I must have saved a fortune with regular trips into London for football and theatre. Wouldn't be without one.

[Snow Hill]

1 hour ago, davecttr said:

Apparently you can have a 1 year railcard in a plastic wallet but the 3 year one is digital only. The 1 year one can be bought online or at a ticket office. If you buy online it is sent by post

The FAQs indicate a plastic version is available for senior railcard. I went through the order process and it let me opt for a plastic card for 3 years, I would probably opt for digital version if I was going to get one, one less card to forget. 

 

https://www.senior-railcard.co.uk/help/faqs/?_ga=2.156777915.1898729372.1650180204-1607234259.1650180204

[P&O SUE]

Well it’s been a stunning day in the sunshine in Belgium! Can not believe our luck with the weather. Bear  in mind we’re 1 hr ahead here we’re just in the coach heading back to the ship.

This was our view as we enjoyed some waffles and Belgium beer! Home tomorrow 😞

Edited April 17, 2022 by P&O SUE

[Vampiress88]

7 hours ago, P&O SUE said:

Well it’s been a stunning day in the sunshine in Belgium! Can not believe our luck with the weather. Bear  in mind we’re 1 hr ahead here we’re just in the coach heading back to the ship.

This was our view as we enjoyed some waffles and Belgium beer! Home tomorrow 😞

hope your having an amazing time sue. Can’t wait to read all about it 😊

[DamianG]

On 4/15/2022 at 9:38 AM, Dermotsgirl said:

I don’t think you know anything about my attitude to cruising.

 

Following Damian’s recent blog and several photos I have seen posted on another site, I was feeling happy about my upcoming cruise on Iona next March

 

That had been dented a little by the recent change in pre- cruise testing, but I am sure that will bed in just fine in the upcoming months.

 

However, as I have long suspected, the biggest challenge to overcome will be fellow passengers 

 

We didn't closely interact with other passengers bar the odd brief conversation when someone was seated nearby in the restaurants. It's a shame as we really used to enjoy socialising onboard but for now we did what felt right for us. We only took the return shuttle bus once when you have no option to be near others and we wore our masks as did most but not all. However, I still received a test and trace notification stating that we'd been in close contact with someone who had tested positive though thankfully I've been fine and have got the all clear from a few tests since returning home. We can only guess that it was a lady constantly coughing who was seated about 5 metres away from us in the Glass House, which could be an example of what you suggested about passengers being ill but just carrying on as normal.

 

I think you're right to be appropriately cautious but at the same time looking forward to your cruise. I doubt that anyone on here would be blasé about being potentially contagious but ultimately we can only look out for ourselves. Keep looking forward to your next cruise!

 

 

[DamianG]

On 4/14/2022 at 11:06 PM, wowzz said:

Mrs W and I gave both tested positive.  

Felt a bit under the weather the last couple of days of our cruise, so kept ourselves to ourselves.

I had a sore throat for 48 hours, but no other symptoms,  other than being a bit lack lustre.

Mrs W had a chesty cough,  which has now gone, but her taste buds have gone awol. 

Overall, we've had worse colds, but accept that we have been fortunate.  

My feeling is  that however many tests are carried out prior to embarkation,  Covid will always be present on board. Mask wearing makes no real difference, and isolating people in cabins is shutting the stable door long after the horse has bolted. 

 

 

Just catching up, hope you're both on the mend.

[Eddie99]

[wowzz]

16 minutes ago, DamianG said:

 

Just catching up, hope you're both on the mend.

Thank you. We are both doing fine, just feeling a little lacklustre, but otherwise OK.

[Host Sharon]

22 hours ago, indiana123 said:

This is a long shot but worth a try.

 

When my mobility took a bit of a hit we booked the baggage service from home to the ship.  It was amazing,.  Said goodbye to luggage on our doorstep and then saw it onboard.  This was Southampton.

 

We are sailing from Tilbury, Essex soon and wondered if pre-pandemic when cruising  CMV, there had been a similar service, which could be active again now.   I've googled luggage handing/services but can't see anything.

Myybe go to your cruise line page. This is what it says with FO but they don't sail from Tilbury.

 

When you cruise with Fred. Olsen, why not let one of our recommended luggage handling service providers take care of your bags? They'll collect them from your home before you leave, and securely deliver them directly to your cabin on board. They'll do the same on the way home, too. 

Dover, Liverpool, Newcastle & Rosyth departures, book direct with: 
GAC Baggage UK
Tel: 0191 431 8976
Email: cruisebaggage.uk@gac.com
Please quote 'FRED. OLSEN' at time of enquiry.

Southampton departures, book direct with:
The Baggage Handling Company
Tel: 023 8087 3111
www.thebaggagehandlingcompany.com 
Please quote 'FRED' at time of enquiry.

[P&O SUE]

15 hours ago, Vampiress88 said:

hope your having an amazing time sue. Can’t wait to read all about it 😊

We’re back home now and had a lovely weekend. There were a few niggles but we didn’t let it spoil our break. Not sure if you’ll see this before you board but have a lovely  time. Things are different and service slower at times but on a longer cruise hopefully you’ll be fine. 
Britannia is the only ship we have had a balcony on and it really makes a difference to us, I hope you get on ok with your inside cabin.

[grapau27]

We got home a couple of hours ago after a near 7 hour drive home from Southampton.

We were on Britannia and had a lovely cruise to celebrate Pauline's late mam's 100th birthday.

There was a lot of young people on board and even though all the crew wore N95 masks very few passengers wore masks and were not required to wear them.

We overnighted in Zeebrugge and saw a Virgin ship on Saturday and a Viking ship on Sunday.

Food and service in Epicurean speciality restaurant was amazing.

Graham.

[P&O SUE]

We stayed in Southampton the night before our cruise, in the morning we took a walk to make sure Britannia had arrived and saw Arcadia looking lovely in the sun.