Windsurfboy

The real comparison is what you can get on both lines for same money. So Fred vs P&O bigger balcony cabin , plus eating in speciality restaurants each night. Fred food is better than MDR, but how does it stack up to Epicurean, Sindhu, or limelight club

P&O isn't the only line to have kept number of dishes constant, but now have 3 vegan/vegetarian options. Cunard and Saga are similar. Vegans, vegetarians are 15% of UK population. So either that means 1 dish in 7 . Or a separate menu, as they deserve a choice , but not at the expense of the 85% meat fish eaters

One thing always let Saga know how much luggage, if you're not sure better to give them a generous estimate. This will ensure a big enough "car"

Did this happen to you , I see your signature doesn't include Saga

We had a shared transport last time, comfortable big merc 8 seater for 4 , nice company to chat to. Added 30 mins max. Certainly not worth the extra £600 for private transport

But your comments are all about itinerary not about the cruise line. If Fred was the only cruise line to go up north then comparisons are irrelevant. But there are other cruise lines that go there with small ships, perhaps not P&Os mega ships. So you must compare Fred to these. But in general its Fred vs P&O for similar cabins and similiar itinerary that is relevant.

There are sea view cabins on P&O you can compare with Fred. However my cursory examination of prices, Fred is up there with many better lines , but these have no insides. So if you want a balcony cabin, then Fred price is up there or perhaps above Saga, but no comparison in terms of the Saga better offering. Clearly given smoking we'll never touch Fred. But we'd never pay their prices when there's Saga , or for a little more other lines with small ships and great service . Or even big ships with ship within ship. If you want a better offering than P&O, and willing to pay Fred prices, you have a lot of choice of better lines , especially if you want a balcony. Fred seems to want to charge luxury prices for a average line. Like P&O of old is not luxury Or you can stick with P&O and use difference in price for speciality restaurants, treat yourself to great wine and perhaps a bigger cabin. Yes the Savoy is far superior to premier Inn. But is it worth the extra is a more complex equation

No one's arguing that Fred is not better than current P&O If its like old P&O worth may be just 25% more pushing it at 50% more It would need far far better food and service to be worth double. Comparison without price is not useful.

Not all wine is available by the glass

On Arvia

If you eat in Epicurean two days in a row, can you keep bottles to next night. My wife only drinks white , I like a red.

Don't need to know what you paid. But for the same cabin size , and position (ie inside vs inside , balcony vs balcony) what are relative prices. If P&O is 100 per night, what does Fred cost. If Fred is 105 then choosing Fred is a no brainer, if Fred is 200 then it's a more complex equation. Can you let everyone know relative cost

Suites on Saga don't sell that fast.

Shows the advantage of preregistering. However as someone said earlier, it's not a good policy if they want to encourage new to Saga cruisers. By the time they see it Saga looks expensive.

When I started work it was drilled into us by safety officer use handrail. Falling down stairs is serious especially as we get older , even more dangerous on moving ship. I wonder how many accidents caused by people not using handrails for fear of covid , noro. Officers showing off by not using handrails, not a good example. Use hand rails , keep hands away from face, and wash them often. As someone whose been windsurfing in UK waters for 30 years, the odd dirty handrail seems a minor risk. Perhaps this has strengthened my immune system never had problem on cruise ship , or hotel. So answer is get in the sea

English heritage members 5% discount, I didn't know about it till after I'd booked. Well worth the membership fee if we book another Saga cruise

Just looked at my next cruise, not gone to guarantee, but still showing discount% , also now showing how many cabins available at each level, which it hasn't for a while. 7 months to go, is their a time when guarantee appear

I agree it's annoying. Saga has got itself into a hole. Prices start off reasonable at 35% off, it then reduces the discount. So Amost No one buys at higher prices, everyone waits then for guarantee which they know will come.. Which annoys anyone who didn't get 35% off. Once promotions become routine, no incentive to pay normal price.

We used the butler most lunchtimes, quite often ordered just a starter and occasionally a desert off the main menu, had it mainly on the balcony. Saves the bother of going to MDR especialy if you dont want full meal . Very relaxing. We are on Arvia next and to avoid chaos of bigger ship will use butler most lunchtimes.

Completely agree, the lower the more stable. Wish they'd have some midships suites on D , view is fine. Why you have to pay more to wobble ?

What would definitely put me off , it the idea that allocating times is somehow unfair on some people, so everyone come when they want and join a 6000 people queue

The idea of choose your own boarding time sounds nice BUT The majority of people would like to get on early. It is impossible to board 5000 people at once at 12pm without chaos so everyone can't get the times they want. Therefore times must be allocated . Every cruise line has a pecking order. MSC Yacht club get on first...

Going round in circles again. Nearly everyone would like to get on first, but 6000 people at 12pm won't work. It would be overcrowded chaos. Hence they give you a time. If getting on first means so much, then wait till you are Liguirian or book a suite.

Everyone is different, we avoid stopovers like the plague you are either dashing with a short connection time or adding 3 or 4 hours to journey... Even if it means flying BA, who in my opinion aren't that bad (but would never fly out of Gatwick on old planes) .

As the man who mentioned thousands I've only asked Cunard on one route, that was business to Capetown. The difference for the two of us was nearly £2K. OK we wanted the direct non stop flight and the preferred Cunard was via Dubai and yes was not that much more expensive. But for the direct non stop BA it was. We were going 3 months earlier risk therefore zero.