Who has decided to take a summer staycation cruise?

[thornegirl]

17 minutes ago, Son of Anarchy said:

Interesting point.  Does anyone know whether Caribean + tier status pax still had priority boarding or did they have to stick with their allocated time?

 

We're hotelling it the night before and going by train, so will be getting booted out 12:00 at the latest and going straight to the terminal.

We are Caribbean tier and our check in time was 2.45.  After testing etc we got to terminal building about 12.30 where we sat waiting for the test results (20 mins).  After getting the all clear we were sent straight through to check-in.  Once checked in we went to another holding area and were then boarding at about 1.15.  As others have said boarding for everyone didn't start until just after 1pm.

[Son of Anarchy]

1 minute ago, thornegirl said:

We are Caribbean tier and our check in time was 2.45.  After testing etc we got to terminal building about 12.30 where we sat waiting for the test results (20 mins).  After getting the all clear we were sent straight through to check-in.  Once checked in we went to another holding area and were then boarding at about 1.15.  As others have said boarding for everyone didn't start until just after 1pm.

Thank for posting.  Very helpful.  Did you still get the Welcome on Board lunch?

[thornegirl]

29 minutes ago, Son of Anarchy said:

Thank for posting.  Very helpful.  Did you still get the Welcome on Board lunch?

Yes we did get the Welcome on board lunch, but there was no invitation in our cabin so we just went down to the Peninsular restaurant.  The food was delicious and so was the free wine.

[davecttr]

Remember to not eat or drink for 30 minutes before your lateral flow test.

[Son of Anarchy]

37 minutes ago, thornegirl said:

Yes we did get the Welcome on board lunch, but there was no invitation in our cabin so we just went down to the Peninsular restaurant.  The food was delicious and so was the free wine.

Thanks again.

[majortom10]

3 hours ago, davecttr said:

Remember to not eat or drink for 30 minutes before your lateral flow test.

Never heard of that one before is there a reason. Makes our plan to go for breakfast in a pub before boarding a bit awkward.

 

Edited July 12, 2021 by majortom10

[zap99]

17 minutes ago, majortom10 said:

Never heard of that one before is there a reason. Makes our plan to go for breakfast in a pub before boarding a bit awkward.

 

It may be tosh, but I was told similar and that school kids have hit in the Orange juice scam. Drink Orange juice before the test, get a positive, 2 weeks off school.🤔

[delgirl]

27 minutes ago, zap99 said:

It may be tosh, but I was told similar and that school kids have hit in the Orange juice scam. Drink Orange juice before the test, get a positive, 2 weeks off school.🤔

are they drinking it or putting it straight into orange juice

[davecttr]

1 hour ago, majortom10 said:

Never heard of that one before is there a reason. Makes our plan to go for breakfast in a pub before boarding a bit awkward.

 

It is in the NHS "Your step-by-step guide for COVID-19 self-testing", page 6. Apparently eating or drinking can spoil the test result.

Edited July 12, 2021 by davecttr

[ann141]

5 hours ago, thornegirl said:

We are Caribbean tier and our check in time was 2.45.  After testing etc we got to terminal building about 12.30 where we sat waiting for the test results (20 mins).  After getting the all clear we were sent straight through to check-in.  Once checked in we went to another holding area and were then boarding at about 1.15.  As others have said boarding for everyone didn't start until just after 1pm.

Do you know what happens for those who arrive by taxi rather than private car.We are travelling to Southampton by train and then will get a taxi to the port .Normally the taxi drops us off where our bags are taken and we go into the terminal building.Presumably we can't go into the terminal building until after we have been tested?

[sagaris]

We were speaking to a couple on our cruise who arrived by taxi and they went straight to Ocean terminal. They were tested there.

I noticed when we were going into the terminal building they were asking if you had been tested and noticed that some people were going in a different area, which I assume were the ones who needed testing.

[Cathygh]

If you use cps parking you are tested at Mayflower Terminal and you have to put a white v=band around your wrist so whwen you arrive at Ocean Terminal they can see you have been tested. People who are tested at Ocean are sent to a separate area for the test

[rumbalizw]

8 hours ago, delgirl said:

are they drinking it or putting it straight into orange juice

Either or, depending if mum or dad are around

[debsjc]

Does anyone know if the The Retreat will be open in August, and what the cost is please? Thanks

[Guest Snaxmuppet]

On 7/12/2021 at 4:59 PM, ann141 said:

Do you know what happens for those who arrive by taxi rather than private car.We are travelling to Southampton by train and then will get a taxi to the port .Normally the taxi drops us off where our bags are taken and we go into the terminal building.Presumably we can't go into the terminal building until after we have been tested?

There is a walk-in testing area immediately inside the terminal before you go upstairs to check-in. 

[davecttr]

Apparently you have to upload a photo, any special requirements for it

[ann141]

15 minutes ago, Snaxmuppet said:

There is a walk-in testing area immediately inside the terminal before you go upstairs to check-in. 

Thank you  🙂 

[Guest Snaxmuppet]

42 minutes ago, davecttr said:

Apparently you have to upload a photo, any special requirements for it

I took ours with a phone with our back to a plain, light-coloured, wall, shoulders and head only, facing the camera... seemed to work. There are other restrictions such as regarding spectacles. You get a full list when you go to upload yours but there is nothing there that would be difficult for anyone. Just do it like a passport photo is the best way to describe it.

[AndyMichelle]

On 7/12/2021 at 3:04 PM, majortom10 said:

Never heard of that one before is there a reason. Makes our plan to go for breakfast in a pub before boarding a bit awkward.

 

Just go to a pub a 30 minute walk away... Sorted... 😊

Andy 

[kevcharben]

2 days to go before we board.

 

Cant wait to get bcak cruising albeit a very short one. (shame we cant visit anywhere).

Really cant complain though looking at the forecast for the next week😎😎😎😎

[zap99]

28 minutes ago, kevcharben said:

2 days to go before we board.

 

Cant wait to get bcak cruising albeit a very short one. (shame we cant visit anywhere).

Really cant complain though looking at the forecast for the next week😎😎😎😎

You should get the best weather. We go on Thursday. It doesn't look quite as good, but don't really care as we have another one a few weeks later. I saw they were doing a 15% off deal for booking on board, so Iona in early September may be on. As you will see We don't find these cruises to nowhere particularly appealing.🤣🛳️

[jaydee6969]

2 hours ago, davecttr said:

Apparently you have to upload a photo, any special requirements for it

 

You can opt to have your photo done at the terminal, you do not have to upload one.  We have done this, will see how it goes on Thursday.

[majortom10]

1 hour ago, AndyMichelle said:

Just go to a pub a 30 minute walk away... Sorted... 😊

Andy 

We planned to go to Walnut Tree and then have a slow drive to Dock Gate 20.

[AndyMichelle]

5 minutes ago, majortom10 said:

We planned to go to Walnut Tree and then have a slow drive to Dock Gate 20.

Well, traffic has been bad along the Millbrook bypass, so will probably take you half an hour😊

I hope Walnut Tree Farm has upped its game, it was not great the last time we visited, but that was for Sunday lunch. 

Have a great time, 

Andy 

[majortom10]

6 minutes ago, AndyMichelle said:

Well, traffic has been bad along the Millbrook bypass, so will probably take you half an hour😊

I hope Walnut Tree Farm has upped its game, it was not great the last time we visited, but that was for Sunday lunch. 

Have a great time, 

Andy 

We have been previously in the evening when we have stayed at Holiday Inn Express and it was OK. I thought as we are not staying overnight pre cruise this time it would be a convenient stop for breakfast and you cannot go much wrong cooking breakfast.