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AIBU?

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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:
Original poster
IhatePandO · 01/10/2021 11:04

@DottyHarmer

I agree with pp saying these are unprecedented times. If rules or booking conditions have to be changed at the last minute, then that’s just one of the many, many buggers of the pandemic.

I know some ships are pcr-ing like mad, but perhaps P&O are predicting a number of belligerent passengers who will object to the testing of their offspring.

Just to be clear I would have absolutely no issue with a daily PCR or lateral flow test. for either vaccinated or unvaccinated children
OP posts:
justasking111 · 01/10/2021 18:49

@DottyHarmer

I agree with pp saying these are unprecedented times. If rules or booking conditions have to be changed at the last minute, then that’s just one of the many, many buggers of the pandemic.

I know some ships are pcr-ing like mad, but perhaps P&O are predicting a number of belligerent passengers who will object to the testing of their offspring.

Well that's tough if Disney can do it why can't P&O.
Luckypoppy · 01/10/2021 20:12

Can you not quote their own terms and conditions?

Is this on the Iona?

P&O just cancelled my half term holiday because I have kids !
Jjj2323 · 01/10/2021 22:59

Hey I had exactly the same thing in the summer. My child is two and they said she cannot go on the cruise unless she been vaccinated...I explained there is no vaccine for 2 year olds....

They are giving out false information...its horrible .

saltinesandcoffeecups · 01/10/2021 23:32

So here’s a question (and it’s a legitimate question). If other countries nearby are allowing the second dose for kids… is it possible to take them to get it elsewhere?

I have a high tolerance for crap I’ll do for a holiday. This would be something I’d consider.

Ziegfeld · 02/10/2021 00:01

There is a simple solution to this and it’s not booking cruises.
They are appalling environmentally, as well as being unhygienic.

IGiveUpalready · 02/10/2021 00:34

I've booked a Royal Caribbean cruise in October half term with my unvaccinated 15 year old. We read the policy and its all fine - he will need to take an additional PCR test to us vaccinated lot butis still allowed on (this is a UK cruise thought) We can only utilise the day trips (Belfast and Liverpool) with an RC cruise so wont be doing that, but otherwise there are no other restrictions.

Curerofsouls · 02/10/2021 02:51

My husband has booked us a P and O cruise next October with our son who will be six.We are go8ng to France Spain and Portugal . Better check our emails.

Frazzled2207 · 02/10/2021 07:10

@IGiveUpalready

I've booked a Royal Caribbean cruise in October half term with my unvaccinated 15 year old. We read the policy and its all fine - he will need to take an additional PCR test to us vaccinated lot butis still allowed on (this is a UK cruise thought) We can only utilise the day trips (Belfast and Liverpool) with an RC cruise so wont be doing that, but otherwise there are no other restrictions.
Don’t understand- They’re not letting British teenagers disembark for day trips in the their own country?
Frazzled2207 · 02/10/2021 07:11

@saltinesandcoffeecups

So here’s a question (and it’s a legitimate question). If other countries nearby are allowing the second dose for kids… is it possible to take them to get it elsewhere?

I have a high tolerance for crap I’ll do for a holiday. This would be something I’d consider.

Even if you could you’re going to struggle to have it recorded correctly on the foreign government’s app. Unless you stay there and become a resident
notanothertakeaway · 02/10/2021 07:14

@lescompagnonsdeloue

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.
I would agree if they implemented this policy well in advance, but not at a few weeks notice
yetmorewaiting · 02/10/2021 07:20

YABU - for booking a cruise in the first place as they are horrifically environmentally damaging. foe.org/cruise-report-card/

RussianSpy101 · 02/10/2021 07:32

@Curerofsouls hopefully you’ll be okay. My email said the policy will be in place until May 2022.

VerbenaGirl · 02/10/2021 08:22

I get that companies have had to make some tough choices in uncharted circumstances to make their operations as safe as they can, but it does feel like some are using Covid as an excuse for poor customer service and questionable decisions. And the reselling at a higher price seems really dishonourable.

clarkkentsglasses · 02/10/2021 08:37

@STripleM

This makes no sense. Being vaccinated does not stop the transmission of Covid. Why are P&O being so unreasonable!?

I agree ... also it makes no sense for the fully vaccinated anywhere as they are the ones spreading it due to not having to provide negative tests.

ClareBlue · 02/10/2021 08:39

@saltinesandcoffeecups

So here’s a question (and it’s a legitimate question). If other countries nearby are allowing the second dose for kids… is it possible to take them to get it elsewhere?

I have a high tolerance for crap I’ll do for a holiday. This would be something I’d consider.

I don't think so. You have to tie the dose to your PRSI number in Ireland and I think that is common practice. We do all over 12s and that is the cut off for vaccine expectations as it is in European Countries. It doesn't seem right to drscriminate against children who can not actually get it. Deciding not to is different but if it is not available then you have to look at other options like testing.
ILoveAGlassofFizzy · 02/10/2021 09:08

[quote yetmorewaiting]YABU - for booking a cruise in the first place as they are horrifically environmentally damaging. foe.org/cruise-report-card/[/quote]
I love a cruise, if Prince Harry can take 21 private jets around the world, then Im going on my cruise!!

Moonlaserbearwolf · 02/10/2021 09:16

That’s awful of P&O to allow you to book and then cancel! If they were going to have this policy they should have never allowed families with young children to buy a ticket in the first place. I fancy a cruise one day - I shall avoid P&O now.

TakeMe2Insanity · 02/10/2021 09:43

Really surprised, we looked at them particularly as they were billed as half term holidays with unvaccinated children!

IGiveUpalready · 02/10/2021 12:55

@Frazzled2207 - We can disembark, but only through their tour operators which at £80 per person is too expensive, it would genuinely be more cost effective to fly to Belfast and spend the night to go to the same place and do the same thing :) - If the teenager was vaccinated we could have "self disembarked" and cost a fraction of the price!

saltinesandcoffeecups · 02/10/2021 14:13

@ClareBlue makes sense. We’re not that fancy here (US) your doses are logged by the CDC and you get a paper ‘proof of vaccine’. Really it’s just a card with your name, date, and who administered it. That’s all we need as proof.

We have had programs where Mexican citizens have been offered their vaccinations in the US as a shared resource in some of the border towns.

You can get an app to log everything for travel that is shred with the airlines and ‘other’ entities… but I don’t really trust that so don’t participate.

saltinesandcoffeecups · 02/10/2021 14:15

Shared not shred

kowari · 03/10/2021 14:51

I agree ... also it makes no sense for the fully vaccinated anywhere as they are the ones spreading it due to not having to provide negative tests.
I agree too. Why are they not testing the vaccinated the same as unvaccinated? Many unvaccinated would have had covid and be better protected than the people who are only double jabbed. Why ignore natural immunity?

Viviennemary · 03/10/2021 14:53

It's cheeky to move the goalposts.

worriedatthemoment · 03/10/2021 14:59

@Goingdriving my understanding is even the 16-17! They haven't decided if they will get 2 jabs yet as ny ds 16 had first but they were unsure in gap between 2nd or if they would get one

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