P and O Cruise "review"/info

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Smpl Mnmlst
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#3113496 8-Aug-2023 18:34

Oblivian: Don't quite get cruisers. They like the airport regulars.

Rather go pushing in to sit longer than you and screw up isles than uniform and save everyone mucking around time

They ain't leaving without you.. unless you're on a cruise and late lol. But for most stuff and getting on

Elitism shines

TBH I find this post very difficult to understand - not at all sure what you’re trying to say.

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

Oblivian

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#3113498 8-Aug-2023 18:44

eracode: TBH I find this post very difficult to understand - not at all sure what you’re trying to say.

Read other comments in thread and his analysis. And experience a cruise sometime.

People have already mentioned the crazies pushing into lines etc. Everyone is going to the same place. How fast you get there is irrelevant. Yet they do it like its a status right.

Same at airport. I sit and wait for my rows to be called. Yet every time held up by people jumping the gun or Rushing to the gate like they are more important than the next person going to the same place on the same vessel. They have grouped embarkment to back up efficiency. Long term users of Said services seem to stop thinking logically in favour of getting there before everyone else.

Clearer?

xpd

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#3113512 8-Aug-2023 20:04

Yes, there are always those who want to be first for everything, but the cruise I went on was quite good for keeping people in line when it came to tenders etc. If it wasnt your number called, go away.

Restaurants, we didn't have any issues with at all. Either booked or just walked up.

Gavin / xpd / FastRaccoon / Geek of Coastguard New Zealand

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eracode

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#3113524 8-Aug-2023 20:34

Oblivian:
eracode: TBH I find this post very difficult to understand - not at all sure what you’re trying to say.

Read other comments in thread and his analysis. And experience a cruise sometime.

People have already mentioned the crazies pushing into lines etc. Everyone is going to the same place. How fast you get there is irrelevant. Yet they do it like its a status right.

Same at airport. I sit and wait for my rows to be called. Yet every time held up by people jumping the gun or Rushing to the gate like they are more important than the next person going to the same place on the same vessel. They have grouped embarkment to back up efficiency. Long term users of Said services seem to stop thinking logically in favour of getting there before everyone else.

Clearer?

Yes - thanks. I had read the whole thread and have actually done a few cruises - ocean and river.

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

Eva888

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#3113557 9-Aug-2023 02:13

What’s a good website for finding cruises now. Had a great one but it died during Covid.

Apparently Princess are changing from all inclusive to different tiers for dining and guests aren’t happy. Certainly would put me off as I prefer being able to eat wherever and whenever with it included in the fare.

Also didn’t much like that half of the group got Covid. Thought that was all behind us now and wonder how cruise travel insurance covers it,if at all.

xpd

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#3113560 9-Aug-2023 06:40

We have a friend who works for a travel agency, so she digs out the best deals for us - saves the hassle of trying to find something ourselves and then discover the "cheap" deal you think you've got is missing some many fees etc it isn't funny and no longer a deal. (Applies to all "deal" sites)

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Stu

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#3113630 9-Aug-2023 09:27

Eva888: What’s a good website for finding cruises now. Had a great one but it died during Covid.

Apparently Princess are changing from all inclusive to different tiers for dining and guests aren’t happy. Certainly would put me off as I prefer being able to eat wherever and whenever with it included in the fare.

Also didn’t much like that half of the group got Covid. Thought that was all behind us now and wonder how cruise travel insurance covers it,if at all.

Was it cruisesalefinder.co.nz, by any chance? They were great to deal with. I notice they don't seem to have survived the lull in tourism brought on by Covid.

People often mistake me for an adult because of my age.

Keep calm, and carry on posting.

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Oblivian

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#3113675 9-Aug-2023 12:36

Wooowww

https://youtu.be/wBjUH_EMk3g

From August. If you booked ages ago the new pricing applies if you didn't upgrade to plus

This won't be as awesome a trip Afterall lol

There's a sorry, you agreed to changes so here's an entry upgrade price for a while.

Room service charges, some free specialist restaurants now pay for meal (included in premium naturally..)

networkn

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#3113677 9-Aug-2023 12:41

Norovirus is much more common and more easily transmitted. A number of people I know who have cruised picked it up. It's a bad time for all involved. I sort of like the idea of cruising, but wouldn't for a number of reasons including constant close proximity to people for transmitting illness.

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#3113694 9-Aug-2023 13:26

LOL - My partner and I just returned yesterday from a 9 night P&O Pacific Explorer Island Hopper cruise. Ocean View Cabin from $1829 Per Person with $300 cabin credit per cabin. Auckland - 2 Sea Days - Noumea - Lifou - Port Vila - Mystery Island - 2 Sea Days - Auckland. But we got a deal through Lets Cruise for $1226pp.

We made up a party of five, of which one was a cruise-a-holilic with over 46 cruises under her belt totalling about 1½ years of sea days. She has mostly always used Lets Cruise.

This was our first ocean cruise. We have done an 8 day Megong river cruise from Saigon to Siem Reap (Angkor) - absolutely fabulous.

We have also done a 2 night/3 day Halong Bay Junk cruise with kayaking - again absolutely fabulous.

Now as for this cruise aboard the Pacific Explorer. As already stated this ship is looking very tired. On the non raining and calm days the crew were actually painting all the metal work on the main walking deck (deck 7 which is 533.3 metres completely around the ship). The first days were nearly dead calm but the night of leaving Noumea it all turned to crap with 3 to 4 metre swells. So Lifou was skipped. Port Vila was damp with light rain and was able to dock. Mystery Island we skipped and then the weather slowly improved back to calm seas for our return home to Auckland. The skipped islands was because it was too rough for the ships transfer tenders.

Our outside cabin was on deck 5 forward. Sea sickness or ear balance problems were not a concern for us. This cabin was quite steady. However we were close to the bow thrusters which were quite noisy especially arriving and leaving ports.

We did not take any of the drinks packages. As has been covered before above. We drank more barrister coffee than alcohol (pre-dinner rum then a red wine with dinner) Nor did we take the internet packages which are outrageously priced. WiFi access in Noumea was expensive, did not use but Port Villa at Jill's Cafe was free, if slow.

Do go and see the onboard entertainment musical ensemble, they are really good. The comedians PG & R rated are so so, depends upon your sense of humour. The daily running game shows, trivia, sudoku, etc are also entertaining. Bingo cash price reached $10,400.

POINTS (for adults passengers)

1 - Take a multi board for all your charges
2 - Take your own neck lanyard ($8.99 ea on board)
3 - Do buy your duty free booze on board it is cheaper than land based duty free (A$) though choices are basic
4 - Warning - all the seminars on board are free but they want you to buy something at the end for outrageous prices
5 - The general dinning area is great but very crowded and busy. Do try the other free dinner areas but book especially for night.
6 - Research the restaurants prior to sailing and book all your restaurants on the very first day. You can easily change as you go.
7 - Take a mix of weather clothing including brollies and or rain poncho
8 - Take pain relief, anti-inflammatory, sea sickness med's and a basic first aid kit. On board medical you pay for.
9 - Do look at the on board theme nights and if interested take the appropriate costumes etc
10 - On board photography's are very expensive. 1 print A$30 then packages.
11 - Do read the FAQ page prior to sailing - they bury important stuff in there. And read it at least 14 days prior to sailing.
12 - The on board water was fine, however if you want to use bottled water, especially in cabin for med's etc, then buy the in cabin cruise deal once on board but otherwise it is still very expensive.
13 - Do watch the YouTube reviews for your pacific boat and cruise, they are mostly upto date and quite informative.

Now as I mentioned in point 11 do read the FAQ at least 14 days prior to sailing. In my case I discovered this:

Are there special offers for retired or serving defence personnel?
To thank the brave men and women of the Australian and New Zealand Defence Force for their service, P&O Cruises offers up to $250 free onboard spending money* for veterans as well as active and ex-serving personnel.

We only read this 6 days prior to sailing. Contacted our agent but there is a 14 day notification clause buried else where (hunt for the * explanation) so we (I) missed out. However I did do immediately onboard a feedback via the P&O app and was, within hours, contacted by the Customer Relations Director (thanks Duncan) who said he would contact HQ Aus and get back to me. Late next day (2nd sea day) he did and said sorry but it was under the 14 day notification limit BUT here is a bottle wine of my choice as a thank you for my service. The Shiraz arrived later that day. On board value was A$53.

Overall, including the crappy weather, we enjoyed ourselves and would/will do another cruise.

Whilst the difficult we can do immediately, the impossible takes a bit longer. However, miracles you will have to wait for.

MikeAqua

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#3113695 9-Aug-2023 13:27

Oblivian:

Long term users of Said services seem to stop thinking logically in favour of getting there before everyone else.

Frequent flyers get called to board after passengers with mobility issues but before everyone (unless it's a regional aircraft).

I always take that opportunity. The sooner on the plane, the more chance there will be locker space available. Depending on how tall you are getting your bag in the overhead locker can be the difference between a comfortable flight and an uncomfortable one.

Mike

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#3113698 9-Aug-2023 13:40

MikeAqua: Depending on how tall you are getting your bag in the overhead locker can be the difference between a comfortable flight and an uncomfortable one.

6.3. it's rubbish no matter what. But always consider others before myself. Window seat? In to the right row group - as they call it (so not stuck in isle waiting for the ones piddling about half way down who got on early when I'm down back) to make sure seated before them and dont need to make someone move. Middle/isle - try time it to avoid the same ones getting on earlier than they need to be, then remain standing/kneeling on seat out of way waiting for the other seats to fill if needed.

Forethought pretty much solves all. But me-ism takes over to the detriment of others.

MikeAqua

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#3113713 9-Aug-2023 13:58

Oblivian:

6.3. it's rubbish no matter what. But always consider others before myself. Window seat? In to the right row group - as they call it (so not stuck in isle waiting for the ones piddling about half way down who got on early when I'm down back) to make sure seated before them and dont need to make someone move. Middle/isle - try time it to avoid the same ones getting on earlier than they need to be, then remain standing/kneeling on seat out of way waiting for the other seats to fill if needed.

Forethought pretty much solves all. But me-ism takes over to the detriment of others.

Sorry, but I find that post almost completely unintelligible.

Mike

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#3113729 9-Aug-2023 14:16

Clearly I speak another language when attempting to portray actions performed in the first person. That's the 2nd time someones called me out.

But I don't know how to portray trains of thought any other way in a textual written format than list the action and consequence together - as I have.

Spelt out.

I'm tall.
Size should have no impact on trying to beat everyone else.
For me, it sucks no matter what. I deal with it.
I still don't race to beat others.
I do the aforementioned while others board to not impact on them. (Consider the seating and or position during to not hold up others)

Seems Everyone else considers making their own experience better instead. And suddenly it's chaos and noones experience is great.

My last Cruise missed out on seating for public events. Taken up by the regulars the hosts new by name, who forced anyone new out. Bad experience.

Last 3 flights departed late due to being full, and people not listening to calls, or sorting themselves when advised to by staff - jamming up isles. Bad experience for all.

johno1234

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#3113766 9-Aug-2023 16:31

networkn:

Norovirus is much more common and more easily transmitted. A number of people I know who have cruised picked it up. It's a bad time for all involved. I sort of like the idea of cruising, but wouldn't for a number of reasons including constant close proximity to people for transmitting illness.

Flying, public transport, cinema/theatre, restaurants, bars, amusement arcades, theme parks. If you wouldn't go on a cruise then you probably should avoid all the aforementioned.

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