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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

P&O just cancelled my half term holiday because I have kids !

176 replies

IhatePandO · 30/09/2021 15:50

I am furious, just received a notice from P&O saying they had cancelled my booking for a 7 day cruise during half term week because they have decided to reduce the number of unvaccinated passengers. Unless my 11 year old child complies with their vaccination policy of 2 vaccines we have been turfed off. I called and clearly explained that there is no approved available vaccine for children under 11, only to be told "yes we know that". I'm bloody furious, they must have known this when we booked weeks ago and now they are selling my cabin off on their website at a much higher price. I didn't expect this from a company like P&O. AIBU to never travel with them again?

OP posts:
BoomChicka · 30/09/2021 15:52

Arseholes! Thank you for the warning though I almost booked a cruise including dd who will be 12.. I won't be booking now.

PaperhouseLegs · 30/09/2021 15:54

Shock that's awful!

toocold54 · 30/09/2021 16:18

So basically it’s nothing to do with the vaccination it’s just so they can get more money! I’d be fuming!!!

Ploorfuzzle · 30/09/2021 16:21

@toocold54

So basically it’s nothing to do with the vaccination it’s just so they can get more money! I’d be fuming!!!
Seems that way doesn't it, outrageous!
lescompagnonsdeloue · 30/09/2021 16:24

I don't know, the cruise industry has been hard hit. There's far less risk to them if they take fewer people who are unvaccinated, and there is also less risk to other passengers in a small environment. I don't think this will lose them many customers, I would be far more likely to go on a cruise if they only took vaccinated travellers and staff. That said, I do understand the disappointment.

quitefranklyabsurd · 30/09/2021 16:28

There’s no licences vaccine for a child of that age so how on Earth can they enforce that?

2021namechanger · 30/09/2021 16:29

This is one time I hope the daily mail picks up a thread.

Smartiepants79 · 30/09/2021 16:33

I’ve no idea where you stand with holidays that have already been booked but going forward I would have thought they can ‘get away with it’ because they can make the terms and conditions of the booking whatever they like.
The can say ‘no unvaccinated travellers’ that’s their call. They may lose business. They may not….
They have treated you badly though and I’d be upset and cross too.

Mindymomo · 30/09/2021 16:35

I’ve been following P&O and their recent cruises. I think they’ve known for a while that having unvaccinated children onboard may cause problems, but they should have made a decision a while ago. I’ve also seen a couple who are taking their 3 year old next week have been told they have to stay with child in the kids club. Also passengers have had their cabins downgraded either due to overselling or needing to keep balcony cabins for isolated people.

Not great PR and it’s not looking good for half term with families wanting to go on a cruise.

Beseen22 · 30/09/2021 16:35

Surely they can reduce the number of unvaccinated people who have been offered but declined the vaccine rather than those that cannot physically have it yet

MrsColon · 30/09/2021 16:36

That's disgraceful! I'd be furious.

At least I know not to book with P&O now (we're booking a cruise for May next year).

Dollywilde · 30/09/2021 16:38

That’s awful. Surely if they want to reduce unvaccinated travellers they should be targeting those who are eligible but have declined.

DriftingBlue · 30/09/2021 16:39

I’m surprised they are taking any unvaccinated passengers.

SquareYellow · 30/09/2021 16:39

@2021namechanger

This is one time I hope the daily mail picks up a thread.
This!

That’s really shitty OP. Clearly just wanting to make more money, and is it all kids, or did they have a ballot or just the rooms with kids that could make the most money?

Explosivefarts · 30/09/2021 16:43

Shame on them speak with your feet don’t book them again

CyclingIsNotOuting · 30/09/2021 16:43

Discrimination!

Janaih · 30/09/2021 16:46

That's some bullshit. I'm pretty sure disney cruises won't be doing this!

Shame on you P and O!

ArrrMeHearties · 30/09/2021 16:49

I'd been toying with booking a cruise for the first time, will know with having a 6yo to now stay clear of p & o

Noogar · 30/09/2021 16:54

@DriftingBlue

I’m surprised they are taking any unvaccinated passengers.
Same here. If there's an outbreak on a cruise ship that's the sector decimated again.
AwaAnBileYerHeid · 30/09/2021 16:55

As shit as it is for you OP, it does reassure me a little. My gran and her sister are going on a P&O cruise shortly and it reassures me that there will be more vaccinated on board. Although if it were me and my kids, I'd be pissed off.

candlelightsatdawn · 30/09/2021 16:56

I mean I get that vaccinations a choice. I suppose by the flip side people forget that PO also have a choice and they have chosen to minimise their risk for other people's safety including their staff.

It sucks but I suppose that people wanting to go on a cruise and potentially spreading Covid around doesn't trump people's need to not catch Covid and potentially get very sick. People's safety and health comes above people's right for a holiday.

Daisyhoney · 30/09/2021 16:59

We've got a cruise booked with them next September and tbh the amount of hoops you need to jump through now is making me feel like it's not worth the bother. The list of requirements is getting beyond a joke - they are now stating you have to bring a device ( smartphone or tablet ) - since when was that a condition of going on holiday?
If you check their health protocols it states clearly that children between 5 - 17 who aren't vaccinated yet just need to produce a negative PCR test within 120 hours of sailing so there's no reason why they should cancel your holiday for this.
I would point this out to them and see what they say, it's clearly stated on their website.

Goingdriving · 30/09/2021 17:00

It’s an fair enough policy but not fair enough to enforce it so late. At the very least you should have been told earlier that the place was contingent on your child being fully vaccinated. They may have been waiting out to see what the government did and are hampered by. A government that makes everything up as it goes along.

The bigger issue is that 12-16 can’t get fully vaccinated even if they want to as the government - for no clearly articulated reason - - is not double vaccinating kids in the 12-16 age group. There aren’t even plans to vaccinate them. Which means the US and Italy (for example, as we have family there) are still out of bounds as anywhere that has a national policy of double vaccinating over 12s also expects foreigners to comply.

That seems like the real daily mail story to me. I Singh et why the newspapers aren’t up in arms about brits being restricted on holidays because of their incoherent vaccination policy. If you’re going to vaccinate the kids at least give us the option to do it properly!

RussianSpy101 · 30/09/2021 17:01

We’ve just had our February carribean cruise cancelled too as were travelling with DC. Gutted!

RussianSpy101 · 30/09/2021 17:01

My email said that as we are travelling with children under 17 and there’s no vaccine available; they have to cancel.