Is booking direct with P & O the most economical option?

I can't believe some people would prefer to book with P&O and go without a 5% discount from a Travel Agent. Our TA knows exactly what cabins are available, gets us all our P&O discounts and then gives us 5% on top of that. Why would I book direct?

I can see me making a few phone calls tomorrow - we are thinking of a deluxe superior balcony cabin on the Ventura - have a couple of cabin numbers in mind after doing some research. :)

Thanks insanemagnet. I think I found it. Does it help that I am over 50? ;)

Funnily enough, yes it helps having grey hair and liking big waves.

My personal experience is that the website they point you to is good for browsing, but easier to phone P&O with the code. You don't have to call the higher rate number they advertise, P&O's hidden 0800 number works fine.

I can't believe some people would prefer to book with P&O and go without a 5% discount from a Travel Agent. Our TA knows exactly what cabins are available, gets us all our P&O discounts and then gives us 5% on top of that. Why would I book direct?

Because you can book directly with and get the same 5% discount your TA gives you!

Sure, shop with your TA because of the service they give you, but don't fool yourself it is cheaper.

 

 

Because you can book directly with and get the same 5% discount your TA gives you!

 

Sure, shop with your TA because of the service they give you, but don't fool yourself it is cheaper.

Agreed, no cheaper but, IMO, friendlier and much more efficient, and just how would your P&O contact deal with your Princess, Celebrity, Azamara, Oceania, Seabourne, RCI etc ...etc...cruising requirements??????

Agreed, no cheaper but, IMO, friendlier and much more efficient, and just how would your P&O contact deal with your Princess, Celebrity, Azamara, Oceania, Seabourne, RCI etc ...etc...cruising requirements??????

YMMV but I have never found P&O's direct sales to be unfriendly or inefficient, and the same is true for the other companies I have dealt with.

No it's not the most economical option, but with a bad experience of TAs in the past, I don't like going through an agent and much prefer to book direct without a middleman. I have been booking direct for a few years now and have a brilliant PCS (Personal Cruise Specialist) looking after our bookings who knows all our preferences and gives us a very friendly and efficient service. Agreed we don't get any extra discount that a lot of you mention that you get via your TAs, but as I have never been quoted any such discount at all from a TA I have nothing to miss. As long as I continue to get the excellent service with P&O, I shall continue booking with them.

No it's not the most economical option, but with a bad experience of TAs in the past, I don't like going through an agent and much prefer to book direct without a middleman. I have been booking direct for a few years now and have a brilliant PCS (Personal Cruise Specialist) looking after our bookings who knows all our preferences and gives us a very friendly and efficient service. Agreed we don't get any extra discount that a lot of you mention that you get via your TAs, but as I have never been quoted any such discount at all from a TA I have nothing to miss. As long as I continue to get the excellent service with P&O, I shall continue booking with them.

I did a comparison with P & O and a TA that was indirectly mentioned on here,

The price was identical.

Now it may be there is some wiggle room for discounts but the actual published price is no different than P & O

I did book through a TA a few years ago and told them that we didn't want to be moved as we had researched this room and it was on Azura deck C (bigger balconies)

The TA had forgotten to tick that box and P & O 'upgraded us', :mad: Long story short we did eventually get the room back but not without some serious grovelling. :p

I did a comparison with P & O and a TA that was indirectly mentioned on here,

 

The price was identical.

 

Now it may be there is some wiggle room for discounts but the actual published price is no different than P & O

 

I did book through a TA a few years ago and told them that we didn't want to be moved as we had researched this room and it was on Azura deck C (bigger balconies)

 

The TA had forgotten to tick that box and P & O 'upgraded us', :mad: Long story short we did eventually get the room back but not without some serious grovelling. :p

Often the price quoted by a TA is the same price as P and O offer but if you ask for a discount you usually get one because they presume you are phoning round for the cheapest deal! :)