Cases Are All Packed!!

Cruise day is almost here! We have 4 days until we leave our home for an overnight hotel stay in Kent before heading down to Southampton's Ocean Cruise Terminal to join Britannia on Saturday (May 2nd).

This is a "G" grade cabin type

Today (Sunday) we have just about finished packing.  We said that on this cruise we would cut back on the clothes that we would take but It doesn't seem to have happened.  We have 1 large case, 1 medium case, 1 small case and one large holdall plus a back pack, 1 wheelchair back pack and a vanity case.  The hardest part is that each piece has to weigh no more than 20kg and because of this restriction we had to do a bit of Juggling with the clothes but we finally got there and then next Saturday we have to unpack the lot; are we mad or what!!  Apart from a few bits and bobs we are ready to go.  I have created a reminder door with lots of post it notes stuck to it to remind me of things we have to do before Friday.  I am very organised when it comes to preparation and information, you can never do enough in my mind.
Both of us are now considered seasoned cruisers and know exactly what we want from this ship and have done extensive research of what facilities she has on offer.  I have my blue cruise folder ready to go with everything we need from E-Tickets to Passports and information about every port we are visiting.  
Tomorrow we are going into town to run a last few errands at the post office, bank and chemist.  Even though we are both good travellers we still like to have motion sickness tablets as a just in case thing.
 To be continued....
 

Just 2% (37) of Cabins on Britannia are Accessible

In 2008 cruising became a lifeline for me to have a holiday in the sun when I could no longer fly and cruising has been my chosen holiday of choice since.  All my P&O cruises have been in standard cabins as I can manage with a shower and my wheelchair (folded) fits inside my cabin.
A couple of years ago for reasons of health and safety P&O changed their policy regarding which cabins could be booked if you are an electric wheelchair or mobility scooter user.  Cabins that can be booked are accessible cabins and selected mini suites and suites.

Disabled cabin on Britannia

On Britannia there are 1,837 cabins of which 37 are accessible cabins that is just 2%.  If someone uses a folding manual or electric wheelchair and it fits their weight and size restrictions then they can book a standard cabin.
I am not a fan of mobility scooters because of the beeping, honking and the swearing I have suffered while being followed along a pavement and witnessed at other times.  Some of these scooters can do up to 8mph.  I have witnessed a lady in 3 inch heels get off her scooter and dance the night away but used her mobility scooter when it suited her.  I do have friends who genuinely have a need to use one and that is fine with me but the misuse by people who are just too lazy to walk and see a scooter as an alternative form of transport need shooting. 

The policy that was introduced by P&O and I believe it is not a blanket policy that covers other cruise lines.  Last October I was on RCI's Independence of the Seas and it was obvious that there were scooter users booked into standard cabins.  At times it was very difficult to walk down a corridor with my walker because of scooters left outside cabins which meant it was difficult to pass without closing my walker.  I was also aware that house keeping also found it difficult to manoeuvre around the scooters.
I can understand why P&O do not want scooters parked in corridors because they are a hazard to other people.  However, my opinion is that if a scooter fits the height and weight restrictions that have been set my P&O for electric and manual folding wheelchairs then I can't see why they cannot be included enabling users to book a standard cabin.
The other solution is that P&O should have more accessible cabins on their ships.  I do not know the percentage of people with mobility problems or disabilities that cruise but I would imagine it is fairly high.  I would have hoped that P&O would have considered this when building Britannia.

Accessible cabins on Britannia:
Suites:
B626 & B627

Superior Deluxe Balcony:
B426 & B427

Balcony Cabins (without sofa):
B429, B430, C440, C441, C446 & C447 (HA grade)
C301, C302, C303, C304, D301, D302, D303, D304 (HB grade)
B709, B719, C720, C726, D732, D733, F724, F725 (HD grade)
A110 (HF grade)

Inside Cabins:
C514, C515, D314, D315, D320, D321 (PB grade)
C723, C729, D730, D731 (PD grade)