I don’t know but I’ll supply the stones
Tipping After Covid
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- Third Officer
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- Location: Cardiff
Re: Tipping After Covid
We have done 3 cruises since Covid - all p and o - sadly none of them worthy of any tip..
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- Senior Second Officer
- Posts: 762
- Joined: January 2013
- Location: Ellan Vannin
Re: Tipping After Covid
Why, LadyP, if you don't mind me asking? Was it still Covid issues, or something else?LadyPCruiser wrote: ↑13 Jun 2022, 18:05We have done 3 cruises since Covid - all p and o - sadly none of them worthy of any tip..
We are due next month to pay the balance on J219, Eastern Med and Greek Islands, and are still in two minds, having cancelled two cruises last year. What would you advise?
Last edited by kaymar on 15 Jun 2022, 20:47, edited 1 time in total.
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- Commodore
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Re: Tipping After Covid
I’d say go for it kaymar.
We are off to Norway on Auroara next month. Like you we were in two minds about not paying the balance and cancelling, but then thought, at some point we’ve got to take the plunge if we want to carry on cruising so why not now.
We are off to Norway on Auroara next month. Like you we were in two minds about not paying the balance and cancelling, but then thought, at some point we’ve got to take the plunge if we want to carry on cruising so why not now.
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Topic author - Site Admin
- Posts: 9443
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- Location: Lancashire
Re: Tipping After Covid
To add some balance - on our b2b Britannia cruises last week we had some of the best service that I have ever seen on P&O - yes there were a few areas with issues but overall the staff and service was excellent.kaymar wrote: ↑15 Jun 2022, 20:46Why, LadyP, if you don't mind me asking? Was it still Covid issues, or something else?LadyPCruiser wrote: ↑13 Jun 2022, 18:05We have done 3 cruises since Covid - all p and o - sadly none of them worthy of any tip..
We are due next month to pay the balance on J219, Eastern Med and Greek Islands, and are still in two minds, having cancelled two cruises last year. What would you advise?
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- Third Officer
- Posts: 136
- Joined: September 2017
- Location: Cardiff
Re: Tipping After Covid
Our only gripes were with the waiters ( or lack of them) and just general lack of experience ie champagne served in a hot bucket and then served in tumblers… cold soup - frozen cheese - I am led to believe from friends that have cruised recently that standards have greatly improved and it’s business as usual - we will still be cruising with p and o again
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- Senior Second Officer
- Posts: 762
- Joined: January 2013
- Location: Ellan Vannin
Re: Tipping After Covid
Thanks, Stephen. I think we are probably 60/40 in favour, we just want to be as sure as we can that we will be able to get off the ship at all the scheduled ports of call. Sea days are OK but the itinerary is more important to us. We're also booked on Aurora to Norway in March next year, hoping to see the Northern Lights. Have a great trip and we look forward to your report.
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- Senior Second Officer
- Posts: 762
- Joined: January 2013
- Location: Ellan Vannin
Re: Tipping After Covid
Thanks, LPC. A tumbler of warm champagne might put me off as well and there is no excuse for frozen cheese. Glad it hasn't turned you off all together, though.LadyPCruiser wrote: ↑16 Jun 2022, 14:30Our only gripes were with the waiters ( or lack of them) and just general lack of experience ie champagne served in a hot bucket and then served in tumblers… cold soup - frozen cheese - I am led to believe from friends that have cruised recently that standards have greatly improved and it’s business as usual - we will still be cruising with p and o again
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- Senior Second Officer
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- Location: Ellan Vannin
Re: Tipping After Covid
Thanks for that David. Wrong thread but thank you also for your very useful reports on your B2B which appeared to have improved as it went on (the cruise, not the reports, which were all good ) All very relevant and informative.david63 wrote: ↑16 Jun 2022, 08:03To add some balance - on our b2b Britannia cruises last week we had some of the best service that I have ever seen on P&O - yes there were a few areas with issues but overall the staff and service was excellent.kaymar wrote: ↑15 Jun 2022, 20:46Why, LadyP, if you don't mind me asking? Was it still Covid issues, or something else?LadyPCruiser wrote: ↑13 Jun 2022, 18:05We have done 3 cruises since Covid - all p and o - sadly none of them worthy of any tip..
We are due next month to pay the balance on J219, Eastern Med and Greek Islands, and are still in two minds, having cancelled two cruises last year. What would you advise?
As I said earlier to Stephen, we are still a little wary of covid on board but also want clarification on ports of call before we commit. Having said that, we are told that the infection rate on the Isle of Man right now, following TT fortnight, is 4x higher than anywhere else in the UK so maybe the sooner we get away the better! Even a coach journey from the Tickled Trout to Southampton should be safer
Last edited by kaymar on 16 Jun 2022, 14:56, edited 1 time in total.
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Topic author - Site Admin
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Re: Tipping After Covid
That may be a bit more difficult as no cruise line will be able to do that "for operational reasons". From my recent experience it would appear that some of the European cruise ports have not, as yet, got their act together after Covid and are struggling, and in fairness P&O are aware of this and will divert as necessary.
Hope you have better luck than we did - standing out gazing at the a cloudy midnight sky when the temperature was -16C was not my idea of fun - but with the Northern Lights there are no guarantees. (if you do go use a private company to go and try to see the lights rather than a P&O trip - we did and they were brilliant. Can try and find them if you want more details)
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- Commodore
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Re: Tipping After Covid
LadyPCruiser wrote: ↑16 Jun 2022, 14:30Our only gripes were with the waiters ( or lack of them) and just general lack of experience ie champagne served in a hot bucket and then served in tumblers… cold soup - frozen cheese - I am led to believe from friends that have cruised recently that standards have greatly improved and it’s business as usual - we will still be cruising with p and o again
I assume you sent it all back and requested one of my compo forms
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- Senior Second Officer
- Posts: 762
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- Location: Ellan Vannin
Re: Tipping After Covid
Yes, there is an element of pot luck about it, isn't there? There is a theory that around the equinox tends to have a decent success rate, but we shall see (or not!) I did some research on Glod but if you have a good experience of another private company, it would be good to compare. Like you, we used a private company in St Petersburg and didn't regret it for a moment - they were also brilliant. I'm afraid the P&O excursions just don't appeal for something like that.david63 wrote: ↑16 Jun 2022, 15:18That may be a bit more difficult as no cruise line will be able to do that "for operational reasons". From my recent experience it would appear that some of the European cruise ports have not, as yet, got their act together after Covid and are struggling, and in fairness P&O are aware of this and will divert as necessary.
Yes, David, I'm hoping that either P&O or Bolsover will be able to give us at least some sort of update before final payment is due.
Hope you have better luck than we did - standing out gazing at the a cloudy midnight sky when the temperature was -16C was not my idea of fun - but with the Northern Lights there are no guarantees. (if you do go use a private company to go and try to see the lights rather than a P&O trip - we did and they were brilliant. Can try and find them if you want more details)
Keith
Last edited by kaymar on 16 Jun 2022, 22:19, edited 1 time in total.
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Topic author - Site Admin
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- Location: Lancashire
Re: Tipping After Covid
It was Glod that we used and they were good. Despite what they originally told us about meeting up in town they picked us up from the ship and returned us back there. Would certainly use them again - if we ever went to try and see the NL
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- Deputy Captain
- Posts: 8977
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- Location: Huddersfield
Re: Tipping After Covid
We are on Britannia at present and going ashore is back to pre covid normality in Spain so far, we have Italy and France over the next 3 days, so will see how they are. No masks needed for passengers, and crew usage will be reviewed next month.kaymar wrote: ↑16 Jun 2022, 14:38Thanks, Stephen. I think we are probably 60/40 in favour, we just want to be as sure as we can that we will be able to get off the ship at all the scheduled ports of call. Sea days are OK but the itinerary is more important to us. We're also booked on Aurora to Norway in March next year, hoping to see the Northern Lights. Have a great trip and we look forward to your report.
John
Trainee Pensioner since 2000
Trainee Pensioner since 2000
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- Commodore
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- Location: Down Souf. The civilised end of the country :)
Re: Tipping After Covid
How is the temperature where you are John. It's a scorcher here today. 34deg in the shade
Have a great time
Have a great time
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- Ex Team Member
- Posts: 11360
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- Location: Cumbria
Re: Tipping After Covid
It's a balmy 17° here, raining and blowing a gale. Just think what you are missing.
Have a good cruise.
Have a good cruise.
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- Deputy Captain
- Posts: 5613
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- Location: Instow Devon
Re: Tipping After Covid
27c here and sunshine but rain all day tomorrow
Empty vessels .. and all that
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- Deputy Captain
- Posts: 8977
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- Location: Huddersfield
Re: Tipping After Covid
35 deg today in Palma Mallorca, too hot to do much but sit in the shade and keep hydrated, I understand your heatwave at home ends today!
We will probably give our steward a tip, maybe £20 or a bit more if he continues to excel.
We will probably give our steward a tip, maybe £20 or a bit more if he continues to excel.
Last edited by towny44 on 17 Jun 2022, 17:07, edited 1 time in total.
John
Trainee Pensioner since 2000
Trainee Pensioner since 2000
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- Senior Second Officer
- Posts: 762
- Joined: January 2013
- Location: Ellan Vannin
Re: Tipping After Covid
Thanks, David, that's good to know.
K
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- Commodore
- Posts: 15992
- Joined: January 2013
- Location: Down Souf. The civilised end of the country :)
Re: Tipping After Covid
Not quite John. 24 deg tomorrow with a real feel of 27
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- Ex Team Member
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- Location: Dorset
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- Ex Team Member
- Posts: 11360
- Joined: January 2013
- Location: Cumbria
Re: Tipping After Covid
No wonder they turn their nose up when I give them a fiver.
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- Commodore
- Posts: 15992
- Joined: January 2013
- Location: Down Souf. The civilised end of the country :)
Re: Tipping After Covid
Ow much
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- Commodore
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Re: Tipping After Covid
I must just be a mean bugger. I'm a decent tipper but firm believer that if they are included I'm not paying twice.
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- Ex Team Member
- Posts: 13014
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- Location: Dorset
Re: Tipping After Covid
Exactly ...
For the non believers ; next time you pay the final balance don't forget to add £50. It'll make you look a real dipstick good.
For the non believers ; next time you pay the final balance don't forget to add £50. It'll make you look a real dipstick good.
Keep smiling, it's good for your well being