Balance paid

[Mervyn and Trish]

Well we've bitten the bullet. Just paid the balance on our May British Isles cruise on Queen Victoria.

It has two pluses. It goes nowhere near Ukraine. And if we did happen to get put ashore because of Covid at least we are in the UK.

Some trepidation but we can't stay locked up forever. We'll decide whether to book any tours nearer the time. Oddly a coach for 4 hours feels more risky than a ship for 12 nights.

[Manoverboard]

Itinerary please Sir Merv

[Mervyn and Trish]

Southampton, Newcastle, Edinburgh (from Newhaven), Isle of May (cruise by), Inverness (from Invergordon), Isle of Skye (cruise by), Isle of mull (Scenic cruising), Glasgow (from Greenock), Belfast, Liverpool, St Peter Port, Southampton.

(Or alternatvely cabin, bar, dining room, bar, theatre, bar, cabin, buffet, bar, dining room, bar, cabin, bar, dining room, bar, casino, bar, theatre, bar, cabin and repeat.....)

[Manoverboard]

Done all those so would just have to stay on board, hey-ho.

I deffo agree with you about the greater risk of a coach vs the ship.

[barney]

Well done Merv.
We’ve got a decision to make next month

[Stephen]

Agree Merv about the pluses with, if you are unfortunate to get off loaded at least your in you own country.

We are still undecided what to do about our Norway cruise in July. As much as I'd like to go there is that niggle putting me off about being off loaded.

Final decision time next month. or

[towny44]

Agree Merv about the pluses with, if you are unfortunate to get off loaded at least your in you own country.

We are still undecided what to do about our Norway cruise in July. As much as I'd like to go there is that niggle putting me off about being off loaded.

Final decision time next month. or

So far it seems mainly Spain that is requiring positive tested passengers to be disembarked to a local quarantine hotel, I have not read of any other countries doing the same, at least in Europe.

[screwy]

We’ve got 2 weeks before we pay for our June Canaries cruise.

I was hospitalised in the Carribean for 2 weeks, quarantine can’t be much worse.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Agree Merv about the pluses with, if you are unfortunate to get off loaded at least your in you own country.

We are still undecided what to do about our Norway cruise in July. As much as I'd like to go there is that niggle putting me off about being off loaded.

Final decision time next month. or

We've got Norway in August. Hope we can do that as we're taking our granddaughters for their first cruise experience.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Done all those so would just have to stay on board, hey-ho.

I deffo agree with you about the greater risk of a coach vs the ship.

We've done some. We'll definitely be visiting the Titanic exhibition in Belfast. And we don't know Glasgow or Newcastle so we'll do something there. The rest we may well choose to enjoy the half empty ship. Definitely won't bother with St Peter Port. Been a few times and it's a tender.

[Kendhni]

Hopefully we head off in another couple of weeks, so if there is anything you want investigated, just ask.

[towny44]

Hopefully we head off in another couple of weeks, so if there is anything you want investigated, just ask.

What ship are you on Ken, if its Britannia just check if they still have Sliders on the Glass House menu.

[poole boy]

hi mervyn we paid our balance for this cruise 2 weeks ago wife went on this cruise in 2019 but as I was ill and could not go we let our niece go with the wife the wife thought it was a great cruise and wanted to go again so we booked the same cabin we have booked 3 excursions and are really looking forward to it now we have also booked to go to norway on arcadia in august

[Stephen]

Agree Merv about the pluses with, if you are unfortunate to get off loaded at least your in you own country.

We are still undecided what to do about our Norway cruise in July. As much as I'd like to go there is that niggle putting me off about being off loaded.

Final decision time next month. or

So far it seems mainly Spain that is requiring positive tested passengers to be disembarked to a local quarantine hotel, I have not read of any other countries doing the same, at least in Europe.

It seems a strange scenario that a country would want you to disembark from a ship if you have Covid. You would think they would say ‘keep on board’. If a country is willing to accept you then isn’t it still the cruise lines decision whether they off load you or not.

I’m just speculating John. I don’t know the rules.

[david63]

It seems a strange scenario that a country would want you to disembark from a ship if you have Covid. You would think they would say ‘keep on board’.

I don't think that anyone, except someone getting a "backhander" in Spain, understands that logic.

then isn’t it still the cruise lines decision whether they off load you or not

Apparently not. The cruise line have no say in the matter - it is in some protocol agreed by the cruise lines before cruising restarted.

[Stephen]

Thanks David

[Manoverboard]

My guess would be that the Cruise Lines would want everybody with Covid dumped off into a Hotel but only the Spaniards, thus far, will go along with the idea.

[towny44]

Agree Merv about the pluses with, if you are unfortunate to get off loaded at least your in you own country.

We are still undecided what to do about our Norway cruise in July. As much as I'd like to go there is that niggle putting me off about being off loaded.

Final decision time next month. or

So far it seems mainly Spain that is requiring positive tested passengers to be disembarked to a local quarantine hotel, I have not read of any other countries doing the same, at least in Europe.

It seems a strange scenario that a country would want you to disembark from a ship if you have Covid. You would think they would say ‘keep on board’. If a country is willing to accept you then isn’t it still the cruise lines decision whether they off load you or not.

I’m just speculating John. I don’t know the rules.

Apparently not Stephen, the port authority decision is final, but I agree in the current situation it is bizarre. It is
I understand an EU directive, but I suspect it was made to avoid another Diamond Princess incident, but as in many Brussels directives it is now pointless.

[MaureenB]

Hopefully we head off in another couple of weeks, so if there is anything you want investigated, just ask.

Assuming you are on Britannia could you please find out if the Retreat is open, and if so are there any restrictions Covid wise? I am on her at the end of May and hope to have the cruise long pass as I have always done.

Many thanks Ken, and also for the help with my speed problems on this site

Maureen

[Jan Rosser]

Message from son "up north" this morning - he's got Covid - felt under the weather and luckily his school is on half term this week so he's been confined to the kids' playroom to isolate. We are all due to go on Britannia on the 8th April for 7 days and when the balance was due decided to pay but must confess I'm nervous about it but by then I hope that testing/isolation/offloading etc will all be different - I'm just desperate to get away !!!

[Manoverboard]

We've done some. We'll definitely be visiting the Titanic exhibition in Belfast. And we don't know Glasgow or Newcastle so we'll do something there. The rest we may well choose to enjoy the half empty ship. Definitely won't bother with St Peter Port. Been a few times and it's a tender.

Belfast - The Titanic Exhibition is excellent and well worth seeing

Glasgow - didn't float our boat but Loch Lomond with The Trossachs did.

Newcastle - has plenty of Heritage along the Tyne but you may prefer Cragside near Rothbury.

[david63]

We are all due to go on Britannia on the 8th April for 7 days and when the balance was due decided to pay but must confess I'm nervous about it but by then I hope that testing/isolation/offloading etc will all be different

Not sure that anything P&O side will have changed by then as they state that the current protocols are up to the 30th April - hopefully there may be some relaxation after that date, but that is probably more wishful thinking on my part!

[Mervyn and Trish]

Thanks for tips Moby. We've done Cragside on a land holiday and it was great, so we may well do something by the river in Newcastle. Not sure about Glasgow. We've done Loch Lomond on a holiday staying in the Trossachs. The ship docks in Greenock so not sure how far that is from the City. May or may not bother. Titanic is a must. Not sure whether to do it as part of a tour or on our own. Don't know how far away the ship docks.

[Stephen]

This is the reply I had from Paul Ludlows executive correspondence that I thought I would share with you, especially those cruising soon after I made enquiries about Covid and being off loaded which some may find interesting. This was from the 1st Feb and as we all known things change.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Thank you for taking the time to contact Paul Ludlow, President here at P&O Cruises. Mr Ludlow has taken note of your comments and has asked for me to review and respond on his behalf.

I have taken careful note of your comments and I appreciate the concerns you have raised. Similar to the protocols for international travel, should a guest test positive for COVID-19 whilst on board, you and your close contacts would be required to self-isolate for yours and other guests well-being. This would be for either the duration of the required isolation, the next port of call or to the scheduled port of disembarkation. Any instances of positive tests on board are managed by our on board medical teams in conjunction with local port authority requirements and protocols to determine the most appropriate course of action. The framework of protocols for cruise ships can differ slightly to those on land or to other forms of travel and some ports, such as those in Spain, require guests and their close contacts who have tested positive to disembark to continue the period of isolation ashore in that country.

In situations where guests are required to disembark the ship, we shall always work with the local authorities to secure the most appropriate accommodation to continue the period of isolation. In most instances, these will be pre-determined hotels which have been identified as ones able to accommodate positive cases of COVID-19. The guest’s travel insurance provider will handle all matters in relation to their isolation stay and repatriation home, providing they took adequate COVID-19 coverage on their policy. Guests will be able to make a complimentary call from the ship to their insurance provider to advise of their disembarkation and should email their positive test result to them as soon possible. Our dedicated support team will provide ongoing support to any guests in these circumstances.

All UK resident guests who test positive for COVID-19 between the final port of call on their voyage and returning to Southampton will be able to travel home after disembarkation in Southampton. This can be in your own car (if you have parked in Southampton) or via a private hire car which would be organised by P&O Cruises and paid for at your expense. In these instances, we ask guests to check with their insurance provider as they may reimburse for travel costs associated with a positive COVID-19 test.

If guests are required to isolate during their time on board, they will be given a non-refundable Future Cruise Credit (FCC) pro-rated for the duration of their isolation period. This FCC, which for UK guests is not ABTA or ATOL protected, can be used on any new booking made and is valid for two years from the date of issue.

I do fully appreciate your concern and I regret that I am unable to confirm how long this protocol will be in place for.

[Manoverboard]

Thanks for tips Moby. We've done Cragside on a land holiday and it was great, so we may well do something by the river in Newcastle. Not sure about Glasgow. We've done Loch Lomond on a holiday staying in the Trossachs. The ship docks in Greenock so not sure how far that is from the City. May or may not bother. Titanic is a must. Not sure whether to do it as part of a tour or on our own. Don't know how far away the ship docks.

Greenock is a fair distance, a tour to / of the City of Glasgow is a better option than DIY.

Back to Newcastle ... have you been to the ' Beamish Open Air Museum ' ?