Should we book P&O?

[wowzz]

9 minutes ago, davecttr said:

I agree, according to Which the only 5 star item P&O would miss out on would be the lack of 80% of cabins with a bath.

Although 5* hotels don't have buckets in the corridors to collect leaks,  ripped and stained carpets, bathrooms that need regrouting, etc.

[Interestedcruisefan]

Many of the small luxury hotels of the world don't have 5 star ratings. 

 

Yet level of service in them blows away service in large 5 star hotels including Mandarin Oriental 

 

Star rating does not always reflect service levels at all

 

Best hotels in England for service aren't necessarily 5 star rated 

 

Gilpin Lodge and Linthwaite House in the Lake District great examples

 

Both 4 star but way superior to vast majority of 5 star hotels in UK 

 

But they don't come cheap !

 

 

[Bazrat]

21 hours ago, wowzz said:

Although 5* hotels don't have buckets in the corridors to collect leaks,  ripped and stained carpets, bathrooms that need regrouting, etc.

So p&o are the equivalent of pontin’s at sea

[Britboys]

52 minutes ago, Bazrat said:

So p&o are the equivalent of pontin’s at sea

Think I'd say Premier Inn with added restaurants and entertainment...

[Bazrat]

Just now, Britboys said:

Think I'd say Premier Inn with added restaurants and entertainment...

That’s good enough for me than

[Interestedcruisefan]

20 minutes ago, Bazrat said:

That’s good enough for me than

I would say Hilton more like

 

With the gyms, spa facilities etc and speciality restaurants and cocktails etc way better than Hilton for a fraction of the price

[Bazrat]

5 minutes ago, Interestedcruisefan said:

I would say Hilton more like

 

With the gyms, spa facilities etc and speciality restaurants and cocktails etc way better than Hilton for a fraction of the price

Listen are you after my job, I’m the one to antagonise the seasoned cruisers on here 🤣🤣🤣

[evitacruiser]

We were just about to book a cruise in Feb departing Barbados, but then the issue of being offloaded at the next port if you tested positive for Covid reared its head. 

 

Additionally, it seems that if you are the travelling companion but don't test positive your expenses are not routinely covered, even by the P&0 recommended insurers.

 

To me, there is a major difference between having to quarantine onboard and being offloaded (particularly in the Caribbean) and the lack of insurance cover is a worry too.

 

Iona has offloaded passengers to Cadiz and they are in quarantine hotels in separate  rooms according to fb posts and other threads on here. To me, that is not a great situation, but better than being put off in for example, St Martins where medical care may not be as good.

 

For these reasons we have delayed booking.

 

Thoughts?

[Interestedcruisefan]

15 minutes ago, evitacruiser said:

We were just about to book a cruise in Feb departing Barbados, but then the issue of being offloaded at the next port if you tested positive for Covid reared its head. 

 

Additionally, it seems that if you are the travelling companion but don't test positive your expenses are not routinely covered, even by the P&0 recommended insurers.

 

To me, there is a major difference between having to quarantine onboard and being offloaded (particularly in the Caribbean) and the lack of insurance cover is a worry too.

 

Iona has offloaded passengers to Cadiz and they are in quarantine hotels in separate  rooms according to fb posts and other threads on here. To me, that is not a great situation, but better than being put off in for example, St Martins where medical care may not be as good.

 

For these reasons we have delayed booking.

 

Thoughts?

My thoughts

 

I think we all assume if we catch Covid it will only be mild

 

For that reason we picture ourselves with mild Covid spending a few nights in a cabin with nice food and drinks regularly served. Having a choice etc 

 

But 100 per cent I've read enough and know enough people who have had Covid to think I would rather have specialist hospital treatment on hand asap to treat me or a loved one if needed 

 

I also think it's too big a burden for cruise ship medical staff to be expected to monitor and treat potentially numerous Covid cases on board a ship at the same time without specialist facilities. 

 

It's hard enough for medical staff to deal with in hospitals. Not only that the staff themselves are at risk. These quarantine cabins arena designed for this purpose

 

People who are unlucky can deteriorate very quickly with Covid

 

So on that basis it makes sense why the cruises would be irresponsible in the current situation NOT to disembark positive cases and close contacts

 

Secondly it makes sense for close contacts not yet positive for covid to be quarantined in separate places to their partners

 

If they've not get Covid they should be trying to not catch it either for their own safety

 

I wouldn't want my wife to catch from me and vice versa if avoidable

 

So thinking about it even whilst waiting to disembark close contacts should be kept apart

 

Shouldn't they?

 

 Any one who chooses to cruise has to take the risk they won't get infected and accept the consequences if they do

 

We all have to take that choice 

 

At least if you follow these debates you are making a more informed choice than the vast majority of cruise passengers who have no idea about any of these issues by and large

 

The cruise lines can't win tbh

 

If they impose rules to keep us safe people complain about the rules

 

But run a cruise where lots get Covid and God forbid some even die as a result and people will complain even more about the cruise line not keeping them safe

 

Am I wrong on that last bit ?

 

 

 

Ps are the medical staff on board even trained to treat Covid?

 

 

Edited October 9, 2021 by Interestedcruisefan

[Harry Peterson]

2 hours ago, Interestedcruisefan said:

My thoughts

 

I think we all assume if we catch Covid it will only be mild

 

For that reason we picture ourselves with mild Covid spending a few nights in a cabin with nice food and drinks regularly served. Having a choice etc 

 

But 100 per cent I've read enough and know enough people who have had Covid to think I would rather have specialist hospital treatment on hand asap to treat me or a loved one if needed 

 

I also think it's too big a burden for cruise ship medical staff to be expected to monitor and treat potentially numerous Covid cases on board a ship at the same time without specialist facilities. 

 

It's hard enough for medical staff to deal with in hospitals. Not only that the staff themselves are at risk. These quarantine cabins arena designed for this purpose

 

People who are unlucky can deteriorate very quickly with Covid

 

So on that basis it makes sense why the cruises would be irresponsible in the current situation NOT to disembark positive cases and close contacts

 

Secondly it makes sense for close contacts not yet positive for covid to be quarantined in separate places to their partners

 

If they've not get Covid they should be trying to not catch it either for their own safety

 

I wouldn't want my wife to catch from me and vice versa if avoidable

 

So thinking about it even whilst waiting to disembark close contacts should be kept apart

 

Shouldn't they?

 

 Any one who chooses to cruise has to take the risk they won't get infected and accept the consequences if they do

 

We all have to take that choice 

 

At least if you follow these debates you are making a more informed choice than the vast majority of cruise passengers who have no idea about any of these issues by and large

 

The cruise lines can't win tbh

 

If they impose rules to keep us safe people complain about the rules

 

But run a cruise where lots get Covid and God forbid some even die as a result and people will complain even more about the cruise line not keeping them safe

 

Am I wrong on that last bit ?

 

 

 

Ps are the medical staff on board even trained to treat Covid?

 

 

Should you be unlucky enough to contract COVID, and be even unluckier in its becoming serious (and it can happen, even to the fully vaccinated) the last place you want to be is on a ship or in some far flung country where access to the latest potentially life saving drugs, and CPAP machines or ventilators, is limited or nonexistent.

 

But since it’s probably going to be one or the other, it’s difficult to say which is the least bad option.

[Interestedcruisefan]

47 minutes ago, Harry Peterson said:

Should you be unlucky enough to contract COVID, and be even unluckier in its becoming serious (and it can happen, even to the fully vaccinated) the last place you want to be is on a ship or in some far flung country where access to the latest potentially life saving drugs, and CPAP machines or ventilators, is limited or nonexistent.

 

But since it’s probably going to be one or the other, it’s difficult to say which is the least bad option.

Have to agree

 

Seriously ill with Covid in a hospital in the Caribbean might not be a great option tbh

[evitacruiser]

Yes, we do all have to make choices and they can be difficult choices if you like to holiday and cruise.

 

I would have no issue with being offloaded at a European destination, but I would feel much less happy about being offloaded in the Caribbean.

 

We have a cruise booked for September (around the Med) and I am not too worried about that one, but I am much less likely to book a Feb cruise (with any cruiseline)than I was yesterday before I knew about how the Covid protocols are being followed.

[Adawn47]

On 10/6/2021 at 1:41 PM, terrierjohn said:

Mandarin does prefix itself as Luxury 5 star, and having stayed in a far east Madarin hotel they do offer far better service and food standards than very many other 5 star hotels, so maybe it's the classification system that's wrong  which is probably why the cruise industry have added 6 and 7 star classes to the smaller luxury and boutique cruise lines

 

I agree John. The star hotel classifications vary considerably because each country uses it's own guidelines. We've only stayed in 5* hotels whilst holidaying in the far east, and the difference between a 5* in Bali or Sri Lanka was markedly different from a 5* in Malaysia or Thailand. 

Avril

[davecttr]

I was on a world cruise segment 6 years ago, Sidney to Singapore, most expensive and possibly worse cruise I have been on. Anyway I contracted norovirus toward the end of the cruise and the ships doc said I could not fly for two days. Then I had to persuade them that as I was on a package they would have to organise accommodation and re arrange flights. The hotel was a Mandarin one, very nice indeed. They never did rearrange the flights so I had to do it myself with the help of a very nice local TA lady, the problem was it was a weekend and of course Carnival UK HQ was closed at weekends. Later on considerable sums of money changed hands.

[brian1]

From experience,the worst culprits for hotel overrating are Turkey and Egypt.5 star there are probably 3 elsewhere.

[Interestedcruisefan]

9 hours ago, brian1 said:

From experience,the worst culprits for hotel overrating are Turkey and Egypt.5 star there are probably 3 elsewhere.

In fairness to Turkey they also have some of the most luxurious 5 Star all inclusive hotels in the world  with incredible  facilities 

 

Where they certainly  do warrant the 5 stars 

 

Expensive though and very popular with the Russian wealthy classes 

 

 

Edited October 10, 2021 by Interestedcruisefan

[swjumbo]

On 10/7/2021 at 2:44 PM, Britboys said:

Think I'd say Premier Inn with added restaurants and entertainment...

Absolutely spot on!

The other contributor who rates them as 5 star seems to have only travelled with Marella and P&O unlike yourselves who appear to be well travelled.

I have been with Celebrity many times, RC, Cunard, Seadream and P&O.

Premier Inn with restaurants and average entertainment is how I’ll describe P&O from now on as well.

US carrier trading under a historic good name.

 

[brian1]

On ‎10‎/‎10‎/‎2021 at 8:53 PM, Interestedcruisefan said:

In fairness to Turkey they also have some of the most luxurious 5 Star all inclusive hotels in the world  with incredible  facilities 

 

Where they certainly  do warrant the 5 stars 

 

Expensive though and very popular with the Russian wealthy classes 

 

 

Well it was 1970 last time I was there,lol.No only joking but it's been a few years.Things have improved by the sound of it.Sorry for late reply didn't see notification.

[Interestedcruisefan]

29 minutes ago, brian1 said:

Well it was 1970 last time I was there,lol.No only joking but it's been a few years.Things have improved by the sound of it.Sorry for late reply didn't see notification.

Yes these were all built in recent years

 

Each one trying to out bling the previous one

[Interestedcruisefan]

1 hour ago, swjumbo said:

Absolutely spot on!

The other contributor who rates them as 5 star seems to have only travelled with Marella and P&O unlike yourselves who appear to be well travelled.

I have been with Celebrity many times, RC, Cunard, Seadream and P&O.

Premier Inn with restaurants and average entertainment is how I’ll describe P&O from now on as well.

US carrier trading under a historic good name.

 

Comparing any of the above cruise lines (including P and 0) to Premier Inn is just plain ridiculous and very misleading to anyone who has never cruised before

 

And thats no disrespect to Premier Inn who are actually a great brand and deliver exactly what they promise

 

In fact Premier Inn have a much higher customer satisfaction rate than ALL of the cruise brands you mention above

 

All if the cruise lines you mention including P and O offer far more and better facilities than the vast vast majority of 5 star hotels in the world

 

Simple as that. Gyms, spas, restaurant choice, bars, theatres, cinemas, pool options, casinos, kids clubs and more 

 

Premier Inn aims to offer a clean bedroom and a good nights sleep at a good price. Normally with a restaurant attached or nearby

 

Nothing more and nothing less

 

To compare any cruise line to Premier Inn is like comparing chalk to cheese 

 

They aren't even in  the same ballpark

 

Like I say no disrespect to Premier Inn.  They are very good at what they actually do

 

 

 

Edited October 18, 2021 by Interestedcruisefan

[Interestedcruisefan]

1 hour ago, brian1 said:

Well it was 1970 last time I was there,lol.No only joking but it's been a few years.Things have improved by the sound of it.Sorry for late reply didn't see notification.

Here's a link to one of the best

 

 

Cheapest room for two people will cost approx £900 per night in the busy summer months

 

I don't think they built them like this in the 1970s

 

Comes with a Colin Montgomery designed golf course used by the European Tour

 

Playing a round of golf not included in the £900 per night cost though ! Thats extra.

 

They fill their 5 star hotels with facilities and restaurants galore and great stuff for kids in Turkey now.

 

Have been doing for a while now tbh

 

 

[brian1]

12 hours ago, Interestedcruisefan said:

Here's a link to one of the best

 

 

Cheapest room for two people will cost approx £900 per night in the busy summer months

 

I don't think they built them like this in the 1970s

 

Comes with a Colin Montgomery designed golf course used by the European Tour

 

Playing a round of golf not included in the £900 per night cost though ! Thats extra.

 

They fill their 5 star hotels with facilities and restaurants galore and great stuff for kids in Turkey now.

 

Have been doing for a while now tbh

 

 

Blimey,we did a QE 19 day Singapore to Cape Town worldie segment in club.Hotels in Sin and CT and a Victoria falls landtour in a AI bungalow on the Zambese.All flights and expenses inc for less than 2 weeks at that place.Good job I can't play golf,lol.Cheers,Brian.