TerryDorset

No Nodwad, I was thinking to get tested in this country to enable boarding but then to have a second test on arrival if the Spanish authorities weren't happy with a slightly out-of-date certificate. I have since been in touch with BF and I understand they are contacting those booked up to 10th December to make them aware of the situation but after that date they hope to have something in place to make travel easier. My personal thinking is that as Spanish lockdown is to be reviewed on the 10th, they are hoping for less stringent measures to be in place from then. Stay safe.

Thanks Nodwad, I have done that. I understand that BF won't allow you to board without the certificate. But the Spanish government website indicates that you may be tested on arrival, so if they're not happy with the test being 84 hours old a retest may be possible. Since you will have been on an effectively covid-free ship for the excess hours, that should not be a problem. As David says, things should become clearer next week.

Thanks guys. I'll have to ponder. Suppose there is nothing to say I can't have the test on Saturday, or even Sunday am, so I have the results for check-in. If the Spanish authorities don't like the result being a few hours over their limit,they can always retest (Spain website says it's a one hour test).

Well, we're registered for the Covid test which we'll book in Fareham for the Monday morning if it's still required in January. That way, as we sail on Tuesday morning the results should be emailed to us by the time we arrive in Santander on Wednesday afternoon. It just fits the 72 hour timescale. But my question is, do we still collect the entry forms on board? Everything I have seen about the online version refers to arrival by air. Does anyone know what happens?

Beginning of January for us too. C Club cabin both ways.

I think I have a su-itable answer.

Same here☺️

Yup. Another factor was people who booked through the Club weren't notified direct, it had to go through the Club. Encountered this on an early outward journey (2014 I think) where we were informed direct of a delay but friends who booked through the club were completely unaware of the change. It was a Sunday in January and the Club travel unit weren't working!

Exactly the same situation. Excellent service from Red Pennant. We were at Camping Virgen del Mar with friends when the text from BF came in. Both our phones bleeped at the same time. We just looked at each other and said "uh-oh!"

I think we were in the same boat Cassie. Or rather not in it. BF were as you say very accommodating about the replacement sailing and in fact we changed it as we travelled up through France making better time than expected. As you say,we received the difference in the fares and a mileage allowance from BF plus a daily mileage, fuel and campsite fee refund from our insurance. We must have the same insurance company too - in fact the club rep we spoke to reminded us we could claim this.

Ours too. But they re-instated it yesterday.

Yes David, Jane has come to the rescue again. To quote her "booking Galicia on our system is slightly different to normal and the agent didn't add them on the outward. Every day we get a report where this has happened and these have now been added on". She is wonderful!

Back (almost) to the original topic. We received the third version of our Jan/March ticket, following CF being taken off our return sailing. It now shows our outward (PA) Commodore changed to a Galicia Commodore cabin and our return (PA) Commodore 'suite' changed to a Galicia Commodore cabin and Commodore lounge (as opposed to a Commodore suite). According to the BF ship guide, the lounge should be included automatically with the Commodore cabin. So why mention it specifically on the return leg but not the outward? Or, why not mention it specifically on both. I've asked Jane.

I found this very interesting as we received an email this morning telling us that our 5January crossing had been moved to the Galicia. Getting rather excited about it already and thinking if the government travel "advisory" is still in place I might invest in a travel insurance that would still cover us. Quite expensive I know but hey-ho you can't take it with you! Can't wait for the revised ticket to arrive.

Hoping beyond hope that it will be possible to have a week in France for Toussaint, we were booked onto Bretagne. At 1356 yesterday I received an email from BF confirming they had received by balance payment and at 1533 I received another one with an updated ticket, changed to Portsmouth/Ouistreham on a silly date that would have given us just 3 days. So just over an hour and a half to take the cash and then switch the booking! I suspect the silly dates arise from the availability of Commodore cabins on MSM/Normandie, as my attempted amendments showed virtually everything sold out for the