Essex Racer

If the document above is correct for the 2014 shuttle charges it does make very interesting reading, given the Select fare make a big thing of shuttles included free, when the reality is very few stops will have a paid for shuttle service for those who have booked cheaper fare options - time will tell and I am sure we will start hearing soon the reality of the situation!

From my understanding fare types now are -

Select - old Vantage with all options except the disastrous price guarantee

Early Saver - new type of fare - not always available but when available will be before 3 months of sailing, cheaper than Select, choose cabin grade but not specific cabin, dining option can be selected nearer the cruise date no promises and find out onboard and pay for shuttles (these are the main differences for me)

Saver - old getaway within 3 months of sailing, bargain price and no options

Like Asda ours is a 4 berth cabin and booked under early saver, also it's a DA grade of which there are only approx 50 so these two factors together probably require them to be allocated sooner rather than later. We also have a GA grade booked under early saver fare on the same cruise for daughter and this has not been allocated yet.

Booked early saver fare in December for sailing in July and received email confirmation today with our cabin number, excellent position in the grade paid for.

By pre-registering with P&O direct as far as I understand you have given a commitment to sail and your cannot cancel or amend the registration and pay the full 15% deposit at the time, in return you receive a full booking confirmation with the only difference being that your cabin is to be allocated in due course.

What's this if not a confirmed booking, all be it hidden behind the words 'pre-registration'?

Makes total sense to me, if you want a pretty much guaranteed cruise then pre-register with the seller direct, by going through a third party you are reliant on them securing a booking for you.

In the past by pre-registering with p&o they have also guaranteed that if your selected grade is full by the time you get allocated then complimentary upgrade to the next level, and the price is fixed, with an agent if your selected grade is full or fluid pricing kicks in then you have to pay the extra amount and I am guessing further delay with phone calls between you and the agent to confirm what you want to do. Don't know how this works this time around.

:-)

Having accepted we would not be receiving any additional OBC on our booking, I had one last phone call to try again, and guess what - very helpful gentleman who did everything required swiftly their end, new booking created with exactly the same cabin etc and £150 better off - thank you P&O

If you like what you get for the price quoted then why not book it and enjoy!

Pre-registered and paid deposit today directly with P&O as want a specific voyage to celebrate our 25th Anniversary. P&O did say they were inundated with calls this morning with the maiden voyage pretty much allocated.

Our cruise is only 7 nights so if we get split up, we just won't eat in the MDR everynight, as on Ventura will use the Buffett and The Beach House and of course sail away bar-b-q night so won't be to bad. Not so much fun if you are on a longer cruise, likewise half empty MDR not good for the atmosphere or food waste. As I say let's wait and see!

Seeing that Ventura sails out of Venice at 20:30 the day we fly in and we are due to land mid morning so should be onboard by midday, what's the chances of us doing a quick turnaround and getting into Venice for a few hours in the afternoon?

Wherever they sail Britannia I am sure it will be sailing full at least for the first season as us P&O faithfulls will be booking as soon as the intinery goes on sale. The rumour is sometime February?

Linked bookings in the past have always worked for dining arrangements for us, when we this time booked 2 early saver cabins we were assured linked bookings will work the same for dining arrangements all be it we won't have a say in 1st / 2nd sitting or freedom dining. Won't know until July though but have faith.

My email to customer services sent on 23rd Dec received the standard we understand but sorry no change.

You are quite right amitch3000 - it's the so called Vantage fare price promise they talked up so much to encourage you to book early and if the fare reduced like for like you would receive additional OBC or an upgrade.

By offering the now renamed Vantage / Select fare with the same terms etc but with additional OBS they have effectively reduced the fare - IMO!

The last couple of 2 nighters we have done have had a formal night on the second night, but no captains drinks reception, with a high percentage of fellow cruisers dressing accordingly.

If you look at a deck plan you will see the GC cabins are spread over 6 decks at both back and front of the ship. I found for very little extra cost I could book a GA cabin which are spread over the same 6 decks but will be more central.

Given ESF only guarantees the grade, you will be in P&Os hands as to which deck you are allocated, but you will have the ability to influence back / front or more central depending on the grade you opt for. I am with you though deck C is the best at these grades!!!

We booked onboard Aurora at the end of December and yes received the extra onboard credit on top of the other offers available at the time of booking. Also purchased 2 future cruise deposits in anticipation of making another booking when the new brochure comes out around April.

The Early Saver Fares have come and gone over the last few weeks, however since the extra OBC promotion, the ESF have shown less than normal although again they have come and gone - are they trying to encourage Select Fare bookings?

Just booked an early saver which works out £1000 less than the Select fare - 4 ports with only 1 of these likely to need a shuttle transfer so I am sure Early Saver worth it here.

Yes noticed that as well, have emailed P&O and received one of their holding replies, let's wait and see what they come back with. IMO price and Select fare is exactly the same as when I booked however now £240 OBC instead of £90 so where is the promise now!!!