Strawberry field

I'm pleased to hear you also got your outcome (apologies for only just seeing your post asking for the email address, but you've obviously got it sorted now).

 

I did book via one of the major cruise TA's and yes, I got their discount too, but on calculating what I thought the total was, it was different by the "infamous" 5% difference. The TA did phone P&O, and got no-where, to the point that they emailed me to say nothing could be done.

 

So I emailed Christopher Edgington directly, and 48 hours later, someone from his office phoned me back - ironically while I was working on board a Seabourn ship for the day - apologised for the confusion, admitted that they had had multiple enquiries about this, had now changed the wording on the P&O website and offered me the 5% difference as OBC.

 

For all the stick P&O customer services get - and I'm as guilty as the next person for being frustrated by it at times - on this occasion, they have held their hands up, so credit where it's due.

The gentleman explained what the original price was and how it had been reduced by 5% before being published and then how it had been further reduced by 5% He did however say that the website costings had not been explained and could lead to confusion. He then offered me extra OBC which I accepted. Ten minutes later I received a new cruise confirmation email and it was showing my new OBC. It couldn't have been easier to be honest and I'm so glad I read your earlier post. All credit to P&O for this.

Christopher Edgington's office phoned me today following my email to him. They acknowledged it had been misleading, and had been changed. I'm getting the difference in my fare ie the 5% back as OBC - which may not suit everyone - but I'm happy with.

Followed your lead and now have the same result as you. I'm very pleased with the outcome and the gentlemen from P&O could not have been more helpful.

John,

 

They had a plan????

 

Which is why i use my TA.

 

Still dont understand why anyone would book any other way

 

 

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We all see things differently don't we. My TA offered the same price as booking direct and wasn't interested in finding out about the 10 % or 5% thing. In fact they didn't seem interested in my booking at all so I went direct again. Ok it might've been the wrong TA but I couldn't be bothered to ring companies I have no knowledge of. Each to their own

At the moment it's taking just 30 minutes longer to get into town which is pretty good but it's only 10am so that may change.

We tried Britannia recently and loved it but I would say you need to be reasonably fit as lots of walking around a very large ship. We were midship but the lack of lifts and no stairs meant we often walked all the way back and then up and across back again :-) But it was very smooth despite rough weather.

Last time I was on her I had my phone pedometer app switched on out of curiosity. Not including going ashore I was doing between 4-5 miles a day but we are out and about all day and only used the cabin for changing and sleeping, not bad for two pensioners :')

An email written by a local Councillor

 

“M27 CLOSURES

 

I thought I should share with you information regarding the closure of part of the M27 (and M3) over the weekend 28th September to 1st October 2018. Also further works will be carried out over 26th to 29th April 2019 and 18th to 21st October 2019.

 

In short, two bridges over the M27 need to be replaced. This will necessitate the total closure of the M27 in both directions between Jct. 3 (M271 Junction) and Jct. 5 (Southampton Airport junction) from 2000hrs on the Friday until 0600hrs on the Monday through the above dates.

 

The main diversion route for this closure is around 58 miles and takes you through Salisbury and onto the A34. There is a local diversion which is shorter but will most likely be subject to traffic jams.

 

Special arrangements are in place for emergency vehicles throughout the closures, it is inevitable that long queues of traffic will occur in all directions.”

Thanks for that, it looks like it's a week prior to our cruise next year.

Guess getting the ferry from Portsmouth to IOW and then one back to Southampton might help .......just a thought! Probably wouldn’t take much longer.

 

 

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Never thought of that, very clever if expensive idea :)

For any of the locals do you happen to know the closure dates next year?

 

If anyone has them I will note in my diary and avoid cruises at that time. I’m sure others would like to do the same.

No I'm trying to find them out myself as I am sailing in October next year. Even though I live here if the dates coincide with my cruise I will be staying in a Southampton city centre hotel the night before.

Two cruises on Britannia B deck and right at the front and never felt any movement at all except a very slight sideways movement when returning from Brodie's :)

Don't worry the Britannia is just fine whatever deck you are on in my opinion unlike Aurora which can feel a little bit rocky at times. Of course in the end it's down to the individual person isn't it.

Agree with Strawberry field's post but beware the A27 between Portsmouth and Fareham, this can have some horrendous queues but it's a bit hit and miss. It might be worth checking traffic and leaving the M27 at junction 11 for Fareham.

I do tend to agree in what you say about junction 11 Zoe but my reasoning for saying avoid the M27 all together is I live on J11 and if the motorway backs up to there then I have been stuck there for hours. At least on the A27 you can turn off or stop for the toilet etc. Once you get to Bursledon on the A27 you can drop down to Woolston and the Itchen bridge to get to the docks. Whatever way you go this is going to be chaos I'm afraid. :(

Having said that a lot of local traffic will be avoiding Southampton this weekend. I know I'm going nowhere near it myself.

Christopher Edgington's office phoned me today following my email to him. They acknowledged it had been misleading, and had been changed. I'm getting the difference in my fare ie the 5% back as OBC - which may not suit everyone - but I'm happy with.

This is a step in the right direction isn't it. Could you let me know what the email address is if that's possible?

I live in Southampton and am battening down the hatches for the weekend, it is going to be a nightmare....

I would suggest coming down the A3 towards Portsmouth and heading across, rather than the M3, at least there is a few options to the docks from the East rather than the West...

Good luck everyone.

Andy

Being another local this advice given by Andy is absolutely spot on. Just to add when coming off the A3 don't be tempted to use the M27 as it could be and probably will be blocked by traffic further on closer to Southampton so take the A27 and follow dock signs when you get to Southampton but expect it to be busy.

Try to get a window seat on the train obviously but if you don't do your best to avoid someone taking pictures with an iPad. I spent most of the trip looking at the scenery on a woman's iPad while she took photos! I did mention it but it fell on deaf ears. The coach trip back to the ship is magical and in my opinion worth the cost on its own :)

I have just telephoned P&O after booking a cruise earlier this week and was told the old story about 5% being taken off before the price was advertised on the website. I asked her to check with her team leader and they said the same. They said if I'm not happy then my only option is to write to customer services and they would forward it to their legal department. What a waste of time that would be as they never answer anyway. I have two cruises booked with P&O with three already done and this leaves a bad taste in the mouth and in future will seriously shop around before booking P&O again. Then after shopping around probably still book with P&O as they suit us:o:)

As the O.P. I have now emailed as well and hoping for an answer before 2020 :o

Thank you so much for your help and that clears it up for me. It is a bit confusing isn’t it. If Iona is half as good as Britannia then I will be happy. Enjoy Britannia it’s a lovely ship. Thanks again:)

Hi

It's possibly me not understanding correctly but I'm confused about the 10% discount for past guests who book Iona in 2020. I phoned pando direct to make a booking listed on their website at £2240 they quoted me 5% off as the other 5% has already been taken off the listed price before its advertised on their website? I have now used P&O three times with another booked so are definitely a past guest.

I then contacted a TA who did a quote for me and they quoted the same plus their small discount but said the extra 5% comes off at the end of the booking?

Has anybody else had this or am I just confused?

Thanks for any help you can give

Posted in error

I can recommend the Botleigh Grange Hotel, Hedge End, Southampton. It can be a bit expensive but price comparison sites do bring the price down a fair bit. I have never stayed as I live barely two miles away but family members have over the years.

I am sad to say this thread almost from the start has degenerated into a bit of a free for all which is silly and unnecessary. Could we not just end this thread now? What's the point in continuing it? Everyone has different views and quite rightly they can voice those views but it's getting us nowhere.

I am beginning to think that the Cruise Critic forum is no longer the place it was or indeed where I want to be anymore. I came here to get help and now in turn I attempt to help others in a small way. So come on let's end this thread while we all still get along.........hopefully

Just wondering whether to book another P and O cruise but reading these posts ...

I do appreciate all the points made re disability (visible or hidden) but the distrust and intimidating behaviour written about is not encouraging - a foot in the door; an implied threat by a wheelchair user and blank looks from other passengers.

If you read over this thread it is quite depressing.

Couldn't agree more with you its a depressing and disappointing thread isn't it. However in my limited experience of only three cruises and one booked we have had nothing but good manners in the lifts or waiting for the lifts. I'm beginning to wonder where I am when all this is going on........:rolleyes::)

What a pathetic thread this is. Lifts are there to be used, just use them and try to get on with others using them, simple really.

We had an extra £3 or £4 charged to us a few days after returning home and checked our receipts and it turned out to be a hand written receipt by the steward for water we had asked for. The total was correct as it's always been. We always ask for the minibar stock to be removed.

Hi...apologies Jean but I thought I had read your comments on different threads about Aurora...must have confused it with another ship.

 

Thank you Strawberry Field for your comments....we usually cruise on bigger ships although we have been on the Oceana a couple of times and thoroughly enjoyed it so thought we would give the " smaller" ships a try.

You are welcome, to be honest Aurora was a little too small for me but my wife loved it. She liked Britannia but not as much as Aurora. What I did find with Aurora was how friendly people were on her where Britannia was friendly but not like Aurora was. We will sail on her again for definite.

Janny, sorry to disappoint you but we are on Aurora for the first time next April, so have no idea. However, the layout looks very similar to Oriana, so D deck, not too far forward should be OK.

We had D deck inside cabin last year and it was fine and ours was towards the front. Biggest disappointment was lack of seating in the atrium area which is too small. Best bit was the crows nest in the evenings and the entertainment of course.