Fee to see Show

Pacific Explorer has news for us.....

http://www.cruisecritic.com.au/news/news.cfm?ID=7890

I think that's shocking news, next thing you know all cruise lines will follow suit, they also want to charge $10 to $15 for a lukes burger

P&O are nickel and dimers and will continue to push it further until cruisers vote with their wallets and cease booking onto their ships.

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Presumably it will be better than the shows we saw recently on the Pacific Dawn - they were shockers. :p

Is this lounge the old Vista lounge?

Just wondering where this is......do you eat dinner at those tables in the picture?

Yes Austraveller, the show would have to be really really good!!!

We have CC friends onboard in July and August so will be interested to hear their opinion.

The shows we watched certainly didn't cut the mustard, really ordinary no wonder people are leaving p&o in droves even when we have no other ships here in winter they still struggle to fill the ships

What next? If they keep this up, some bright innovative cruise line might introduce "all inclusive cruises" for the middle market!

What next? If they keep this up, some bright innovative cruise line might introduce "all inclusive cruises" for the middle market!

Princess, are you listening? :D

Wow, the quality of the show needs to be better than the ones that were on the Jewel if they are expecting ppl to pay for it. The special guests were great but the cast shows. Yawn!!!

They are certainly not the first to do this as NCL do it regularly with their Speigal tent shows.

Personally, I don't see a problem with them have special shows aside from the regular entertainment. Considering you get a drink and souvenir glass included it is hardly breaking the bank. I think it is mainly incorporated as they cannot fit everyone into the lounge to see it and this way it means only the people who are willing to pay will go.

"Tragedy of the commons'' in practice.

BTW, it is an adults only show as well.

Wow, the quality of the show needs to be better than the ones that were on the Jewel if they are expecting ppl to pay for it. The special guests were great but the cast shows. Yawn!!!

The ones we saw on the Dawn were worse than 'Yawn'. The problem with expecting people to pay, is how do we know how good the show is until we have seen it?

The ones we saw on the Dawn were worse than 'Yawn'. The problem with expecting people to pay, is how do we know how good the show is until we have seen it?

You will never know unless you go.

Better be good is all I can say.

I seem to remember someone saying that P&O tried to charge a fee for the Dragon Lady on the Pacific Aria, but when that didn't work, it became an 'inclusive' restaurant. I will be interesting to see if they get enough people to pay to go to a show to make it worthwhile.

I shall check it out when I am on her in 3 weeks time. Booked it a week ago with a great price for a solo, so couldn't resist. Dawn Princess was my first ship and that got me addicted, so I'll be interested in the differences now she is P&O.

I was also on Eden's inaugural cruise and from memory Angelo's and Dragon Lady only had a charge on the first night before they scrapped it.

Did my farewell cruise on Dawn last November and wasn't expecting to be going on Explorer , but a cruise is a cruise and I'm just happy to be able to indulge.

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Surprising move in one respect, but equally it's the way all the mainstream lines are going, with upcharges for everything, and the inclusions cut back.

I suspect it will be "worth it"... but it's another nail in the coffin of going on a cruise and not having to spend much once onboard.

Better be good is all I can say.

2 thoughts -

*They are just making hassle for themselves. Imagine the line at the Front Desk after a show as people complain that they did not like it and want their money back :mad:

*Word will get out that they show is stink and the performers will be performing to an empty room.:o

I seem to remember someone saying that P&O tried to charge a fee for the Dragon Lady on the Pacific Aria, but when that didn't work, it became an 'inclusive' restaurant. I will be interesting to see if they get enough people to pay to go to a show to make it worthwhile.

I hope it is a flop and does not work. Mass market cruising is supposed to be all inclusive.

It appears to me that P&O Australia has always always charged for things that other cruise lines give as part of the fare. Even worst you are sailing on a hand-me-down ship that has seen better days. It is kind of like wearing hand-me-down clothes with all the holes covered with patches. To add insult to injury, their clientele seem to embrace and celebrate this type of mediocrity. It is kind of like going to a casino and letting the dealer kick you in the balls after handing over you money and not placing a bet! They were supposed to get a brand new ship but their masters at Carnival realsised what suckers us Australians are and realised that we pay through the nose for second hand ships and pay more for things that we do not need. Knowing what suckers we are this is how we will always be treated by the likes of P&O Australia. Where one fool goes the other follows.

I for one will be happy to spend my money on cruise ships run by Celebrity, Princess, Royal Caribbean and maybe a few others rather than fall for the garbage that P&O Australia pulls on us.

Well I don't mind P&O for certain cruises (last minute weekend cruises), especially as they are here all winter, although do prefer other lines for the longer cruises. And I definitely prefer to cruise P&O as against 'going to a casino and letting the dealer kick you in the balls after handing over you money and not placing a bet! '.

I hope it is a flop and does not work. Mass market cruising is supposed to be all inclusive.

 

It appears to me that P&O Australia has always always charged for things that other cruise lines give as part of the fare. ...

 

I for one will be happy to spend my money on cruise ships run by Celebrity, Princess, Royal Caribbean and maybe a few others rather than fall for the garbage that P&O Australia pulls on us.

Given that in the past month or so, Celebrity have started charging for hot dogs and hamburgers, and RCL have added room service fees virtually all the time, as said P&O aren't alone in this (and they're not the only changes).

Mass market cruising is moving away from the idea of being all inclusive, from the cruise lines perspective. If you happily spend your money on those other lines in expectations otherwise, you'll likely be more disappointed when you get onboard.

Given that in the past month or so, Celebrity have started charging for hot dogs and hamburgers, and RCL have added room service fees virtually all the time, as said P&O aren't alone in this (and they're not the only changes).

 

Mass market cruising is moving away from the idea of being all inclusive, from the cruise lines perspective. If you happily spend your money on those other lines in expectations otherwise, you'll likely be more disappointed when you get onboard.

You are so right , Australia and NZ are the testing ground and if we suckers sit back and accept these extra charges , the bean counters at other cruise lines think they are missing out and so ...little by little ...step by step ...these changes creep in and are accepted as the norm.

I hope it is a flop and does not work. Mass market cruising is supposed to be all inclusive.

 

It appears to me that P&O Australia has always always charged for things that other cruise lines give as part of the fare.

I disagree with your comment that P&O Australia has always charge for things that other cruise lines give as part of the fare.

Charging for extras seems to be a recent part of P&O's business model. Prior to our recent cruise on Pacific Dawn, we hadn't gone on a P&O ship for well over four years. I cannot remember any extra charges then, other than the Luke Mangan restaurant and that had only been there a few years. I even remember when they first introduced a steak house onto the Pacific Sun. Prior to that there was not any extra-charge restaurant.

I think it is regrettable that they have brought in extra charges and may be bringing in more. Back in 1983, one of the senior officers on the Fairstar said they had to remove the extra charges that had previously applied (charging for deck chairs was an example). He said that Australians don't like to have to pay for extras all the time. I would agree with that. I think it is a retrograde step to bring back extra charges.

Given that in the past month or so, Celebrity have started charging for hot dogs and hamburgers, and RCL have added room service fees virtually all the time, as said P&O aren't alone in this (and they're not the only changes).

 

Mass market cruising is moving away from the idea of being all inclusive, from the cruise lines perspective. If you happily spend your money on those other lines in expectations otherwise, you'll likely be more disappointed when you get onboard.

Is there a news article or link to evidence about Celebrity changing their policy and charging for hamburgers and hot dogs?

Is there a news article or link to evidence about Celebrity changing their policy and charging for hamburgers and hot dogs?

http://boards.cruisecritic.com.au/showpost.php?p=53200322&postcount=32

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