While on Britannia we heard many passengers talk about their cruises to the Baltic and as we both wanted at some point to visit Scandinavia and Russian and both are on the Baltic so that made it obvious what we should look for.
There aren't many cruises to the Baltic so we decided to book sooner than later if we wanted a specific cabin. We found a 14 night cruise to the Baltic on board P&O's Azura in June departing on a Sunday. The itinerary is departing from Southampton, Belgium, Finland, Russia, Estonia, Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Southampton.
We never book direct with P&O but through a cruise broker. We got an additional 2% off the P&O price. Best of all is that we were able to book our favourite cabin E225 and when we received confirmation we have been given an on board credit of £520. I knkow it is 11 months away but I can't help being a tiny bit excited!
Saturday, 4 July 2015
Prescription medication to be stamped "Funded by UK taxpayer"
I'm starting not to want to turn on the breakfast TV as it seems there is aways something our government is trying to take, bring in or change and Thursday was no different. Today it was the turn of the Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt who has proposed that a price tag is to be put on prescription medicines in the UK under a plan to cut waste in the NHS and reduce the £300 million bill for "wasted" prescription medication that is not used. All medicines over £20 will have an "Indicative cost" and "Funded by UK taxpayer" stamped on the packaging. This proposal is being rolled out in 2016.
In a speech to a local government association in Harrogate, Yorkshire Jeremy Hunt said that "This will not just be reduce by reminding people of the cost of medicine, but also improve patient care by boosting adherence to drug regimes" and also added "Everything we are proud of in the NHS is funded by taxpayers and every penny we waste cost patients more through higher taxes or reduced services" He also stated that "initiatives such as these aim to increase transparency, and fit into government to put increase awareness of cost and choices involved in public spending". Mr Hunt also stated that while integration of health and social care was vital to delivering high standard of health care. Personal responsibility needs to sit alongside system accountability.
I don't know about anyone else but I feel as if Jeremy Hunt is making a dig again at the most venerable people in society with this words "funded by taxpayers". I am currently taking 23 tablets a day, I have CP, chronic pain from spinal stenosis and a permanently damaged rotator cuff and Diabetes. It was a long process to find a pain medication regime that worked for me and this was done with my pain management clinic. The medication I am currently using has enabled me to take back a small part of my life. It means I am not bent over but can stand upright. I am still in pain daily but it is more manageable and I can enjoy life and smile. So how dare he try and make people like myself feel guilty.
I know there is a lot of concerns over the elderly and the fear is that they will worry about the cost they are causing the government and stop taking their medication.
Waste is something that will always happen because of things like allergic reaction and unused and unopened boxes that are destroyed, why not put them back into system or back to the companies of manufacture. Changes in dosage can create waste if you are part way through your prescription. These things cannot be helped. Am I going to think twice about asking for my repeat prescription when I see the price tag on my medication no and I don't see it will making a blind bit of difference to others.
In a speech to a local government association in Harrogate, Yorkshire Jeremy Hunt said that "This will not just be reduce by reminding people of the cost of medicine, but also improve patient care by boosting adherence to drug regimes" and also added "Everything we are proud of in the NHS is funded by taxpayers and every penny we waste cost patients more through higher taxes or reduced services" He also stated that "initiatives such as these aim to increase transparency, and fit into government to put increase awareness of cost and choices involved in public spending". Mr Hunt also stated that while integration of health and social care was vital to delivering high standard of health care. Personal responsibility needs to sit alongside system accountability.
I don't know about anyone else but I feel as if Jeremy Hunt is making a dig again at the most venerable people in society with this words "funded by taxpayers". I am currently taking 23 tablets a day, I have CP, chronic pain from spinal stenosis and a permanently damaged rotator cuff and Diabetes. It was a long process to find a pain medication regime that worked for me and this was done with my pain management clinic. The medication I am currently using has enabled me to take back a small part of my life. It means I am not bent over but can stand upright. I am still in pain daily but it is more manageable and I can enjoy life and smile. So how dare he try and make people like myself feel guilty.
I know there is a lot of concerns over the elderly and the fear is that they will worry about the cost they are causing the government and stop taking their medication.
Waste is something that will always happen because of things like allergic reaction and unused and unopened boxes that are destroyed, why not put them back into system or back to the companies of manufacture. Changes in dosage can create waste if you are part way through your prescription. These things cannot be helped. Am I going to think twice about asking for my repeat prescription when I see the price tag on my medication no and I don't see it will making a blind bit of difference to others.
Monday, 29 June 2015
Great Cruise P&O - But improvements need to be made!!
After we returned from our recent P&O cruise I felt that somethings on board could be improved so I wrote a quite lengthy email to their customer service. The main issues were:
The issue of cabin stewards not manoeuvring their housekeeping trolleys so that people can pass is going to be addressed by giving the stewards some awareness training. I was a bit astounded to be told they are the only crew members who do not receive this. Being as they are the ones who have day to day contact with passengers I found this a bit odd?
Lack of information for passengers who have registered a disability will be looked into and the proposal is that P&O will produce a pre-cruise information pack for passengers.
The issues with The Cookery Club were still being looked into so this was not really discussed but was happy to leave that there for the moment.
The main surprise was that as the call was ending the chap said that he would like to give me some on board credit which would be added to my next cruise and I accepted the £100 credit. I was promised that a confirmation email would be sent detailing our conversation and I was more than happy to leave it there. That was on 16th June and by the 20th June I had still not received a confirmation email and so I sent an email asking in a polite but firm manner for confirmation of the OBC offer and details of what we had discussed. I did receive an email on the 26th June as promised and some more information regarding TheT
Cookery Club, my comments and concerns have been passed onto the Disability and Mobility Management Team for further investigation as P&O who are fully committed to providing all their passengers with equal facilities and opportunities. The email states that they will be able to take action with regard to this.
On so many occasions I am told something will change and it never does, but with this I am determined to get it changed. I have the chaps direct email and will be contacting him again shortly if I don't receive an undate. For far too long disabled people have been happy with their lot but I am not and I will continue to fight for equality.
- Not enough room in the accommodation corridors to manoeuvre a wheelchair or walker around housekeeping trolleys without scrapping wheels along walls or damaging your knuckles. To ask a cabin steward to move his trolley into an alcove was like talking to a brick wall, apart from one or two that were extremely helpful.
- Lack of information for passengers who had registered a disability with regard to gangways at ports, emergency procedures and access to the sports deck via a lift on deck 17.
- The Cookery Club is not accessible to anyone who is disabled as they do not have an adapted workspace.
The issue of cabin stewards not manoeuvring their housekeeping trolleys so that people can pass is going to be addressed by giving the stewards some awareness training. I was a bit astounded to be told they are the only crew members who do not receive this. Being as they are the ones who have day to day contact with passengers I found this a bit odd?
Lack of information for passengers who have registered a disability will be looked into and the proposal is that P&O will produce a pre-cruise information pack for passengers.
The issues with The Cookery Club were still being looked into so this was not really discussed but was happy to leave that there for the moment.
The main surprise was that as the call was ending the chap said that he would like to give me some on board credit which would be added to my next cruise and I accepted the £100 credit. I was promised that a confirmation email would be sent detailing our conversation and I was more than happy to leave it there. That was on 16th June and by the 20th June I had still not received a confirmation email and so I sent an email asking in a polite but firm manner for confirmation of the OBC offer and details of what we had discussed. I did receive an email on the 26th June as promised and some more information regarding TheT
 |
| The Cookery Club |
On so many occasions I am told something will change and it never does, but with this I am determined to get it changed. I have the chaps direct email and will be contacting him again shortly if I don't receive an undate. For far too long disabled people have been happy with their lot but I am not and I will continue to fight for equality.
Wednesday, 3 June 2015
It Seems like a lifetime Away!
We have only been home 18 days from our last cruise but it seems such a long time ago now. In that time we have been very busy and not with the usual post-cruise activities such as clothes washing.
We had a friend come and stay with us for 9 days during half-term. I also found our new
addition to our family, a British Short Haired x Ragdoll kitten who we are calling Abby Luna. We are nervous-excited as we are picking her up Saturday afternoon. Since my last post we have been busy buying for Abby and we are just about there. She has her playpen, basket with heat pad,a large cuddly bunny, blankets, bowls, toys and and endless amount of love waiting for her when she comes home on Saturday.
Having Abby means that we won't be going far these next few months but that is a sacrifice we are willing to make for this georgeous bundle of fluff. It just gives me more time to look and plan. In any case we live near a coastal resort so we can go and see the sea anytime we wish.
We had a friend come and stay with us for 9 days during half-term. I also found our new
Having Abby means that we won't be going far these next few months but that is a sacrifice we are willing to make for this georgeous bundle of fluff. It just gives me more time to look and plan. In any case we live near a coastal resort so we can go and see the sea anytime we wish.
Friday, 29 May 2015
Becoming A Pet Parents Again!
It is nearly a year since we lost our beautiful boy Byron and it was not ruled out that we would not have another furby but it never seemed the time was right. I am a big believer in fate and that things happen for a reason. Last Friday I was surfing the Internet and came across a advertisement for a British Short haired x Ragdoll kittens and the location was right so I contacted the seller and reserved a kitten and arranging a time for viewing her.
On Wednesday (27th May) with my friend Paula I travelled to the view to our new kitten.
The seller is a lovely lady and I was passed our kitten straight away and boy is she gorgeous! She truly has that wow factor. We have chosen her name and she is now Abby Luna. She is one of a twin and her twin sister is called Sparkle. Her mum Luna (Ragdoll) also had another set of twins Bill and Teddy and a single girl called Luna. Her Dad is called Max (British Short haired) and is a very handsome cat.
It is nearly twelve years since we last had a kitten and believe me preparing for Abby's arrival on 6th June is like preparing for a new baby and the list is never ending. We have made several visits to pet shops and pet superstores and so far we have a playpen, pet carrier, litter tray, bowls, play tunnel, tiny toys and kitten food. We still need a cave, blankets, brush and many many more things.
Next thing on the agenda is to start making the bungalow kitten friendly. We are so excited but nervous at the same time even though we have done this three times before. Its a new chapter in our lives that I can honestly say we are looking forward.
On Wednesday (27th May) with my friend Paula I travelled to the view to our new kitten.
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| Abby Luna |
It is nearly twelve years since we last had a kitten and believe me preparing for Abby's arrival on 6th June is like preparing for a new baby and the list is never ending. We have made several visits to pet shops and pet superstores and so far we have a playpen, pet carrier, litter tray, bowls, play tunnel, tiny toys and kitten food. We still need a cave, blankets, brush and many many more things.
Next thing on the agenda is to start making the bungalow kitten friendly. We are so excited but nervous at the same time even though we have done this three times before. Its a new chapter in our lives that I can honestly say we are looking forward.
Tuesday, 19 May 2015
Accessibility Information on Cruising Page Updated
I have now returned from my cruise on Britannia (B506) and have now updated "The Muster Drill" with the correct information.
Tuesday, 28 April 2015
New Page Added
I have added a new page to this blog "Accessibility Information on Cruising" I want to give people as much information as possible about accessibility on cruise ships. The questions and queries that I have are nothing out the norm and I cannot understand why cruise lines do not give this information out freely to disabled customers before their cruise.
I am not criticising any one website but I have found much information on facilities to be generalised, I want to give specific information on cruise ships.
I am not criticising any one website but I have found much information on facilities to be generalised, I want to give specific information on cruise ships.
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