Mad4WDW

Personally I wouldn't be cancelling just because of what you've read online. We've had a lovely Caribbean cruise on Arvia in February with no problems at all. Just back from the Mediteranean on Arvia which was also lovely. Had a bit of noise from the cabin next door with the TV volume at 6:30am on several mornings but thats not the ship its inconsiderate self-centred idiots which are a sad fact of life in 2023.

Yep the price drops are annoying, I cancelled and rebooked about 6 last year but not sure I'd do it for £50. Maybe if there's something else you've saw you could transfer your deposit then just rebook and be £350 better off?

1 hour ago, rattla said:

Have put this list together of the available cocktails, that shows where they have them and which package they are on.  I think it’s got most venues on there now.

 

Thanks for taking the time to compile this, very useful to know 👍

6 hours ago, DamianG said:

All a question of taste but there is nothing on the Deluxe Package that will entice us to pay the extra for it either. 
As much as I think P&O is better than most when it comes to fair drink prices I do find it disappointing that they serve Cante Prosecco (currently £8 a bottle in Sainsburys) when there are so many alternatives available. I’d love to see a nice Cremant de Bourgogne for example.

They didn't serve Cante on Arvia a few weeks ago its was something else. Probably cheaper. The Peller Ice in the glass house is nicer I think

23 hours ago, terrierjohn said:

How can pre purchase ever be cheaper than paying with free OBC?

When you plan on spending the OBC on a watch or something?

On 5/22/2023 at 10:13 AM, JeanieC,Aston said:

And a Prosecco has risen from £6.25 to £6.45.

A package is becoming a no brainier.

 

The only thing thats risen faster than the P&O Prosecco prices in the last 2 years is shares in Apple lol

The following dates are when the new packages will be available on each ship:

20 May 2023 – Iona (G315)
20 May 2023 – Ventura (N313)
28 May 2023 – Arvia (K311)
6 June 2023 – Arcadia (J306N)
9 June 2023 – Britannia (B315N)
22 June 2023 – Aurora (R311)
6 July 2023 – Azura (A319)

1 hour ago, Tigger689 said:

So can anyone confirm if the deluxe drinks package includes Long Island iced tea? Could be a deal breaker! 😁

They haven't had Long Island Iced Tea for years, P & O have a terrible choice of cocktails. The best ones aren't on any of these packages either.

4 minutes ago, pete14 said:

Like most other products, the price of alcoholic drinks, especially in pubs / restaurants, has risen over the last few months. Wine is likely to cost even more soon as the duty on most wine is going to rise, especially those with a higher alcohol content (ABV). 

 

Unfortunately yes price rises are inevitable. The ship is mostly duty free isn't it? So UK tariff rises won't make a difference. They must make a killing on alcohol sales even at the fairly reasonable prices P & O currently charge compared to other lines. 

21 hours ago, Kip family of 4 said:

Not sure but I do remember a small New Zealand Sav Blanc being £6.95 last year 

The New Zealand Wakapapa was £6.95 a couple weeks ago. Prosecco is up 20p as are all the classic cocktails. Looking at the menus posted so far it looks like the wines are all up 20p on a 175ml glass. 

This actually looks like it makes the previously named ultimate drinks package, now called classic drinks package better value. They have also now included more mixers and premium soft drinks in that package although some of the costa drinks are now excluded that were previously included,

Notwithstanding that it is still a price rise for everyone. They are slowly moving in the same direction as the other cruise lines of having higher prices on the drinks to make the packages look better value IMHO

34 minutes ago, Happy afloat said:

Just wondering if anyone has been refused a drink because they'd had their allowance of 15?

We've never been refused a drink and have definitely been over 15 on a card. Ive had more than that charged to my card within 30 minutes at Christmas. All on the drinks package with no account charges

53 minutes ago, pete14 said:

It is a price rise, but as I understand it, it includes higher price drinks. In that case, I don’t see why PAYG prices should rise (although I expect they will just like in pubs and bars throughout the country). 

No it doesn't include higher price drinks in the classic package formerly known as ultimate package. It is more expensive with even less options.

Yes, there are more drinks including large glasses of wine and doubles of spirits etc included in the new even higher prices "deluxe" drinks package. The deluxe package now includes some of the stuff thats been removed from the package formerly known as the ultimate package. And its £15 Per person per day more expensive.

I'm guessing we've taken the previous "Ultimate" drinks package about 12 times since the July 2021 restart and even I'm now questioning whether it's worth doing a drinks package. The Classic is too restrictive and the deluxe is very expensive 

As far as PAYG prices not changing I don't even know what to say to that lol I've lost count of the price rises over the last 2 years ish There's been times we got back on the same ship on the same itinerary 2 weeks later and the menus had changed with new prices. From month to month there's been a steady rise in prices. The Prosecco index has risen from £5.25 to £6.25 in 18 months 🤦‍♂️

3 hours ago, Selbourne said:

 

I read a review recently from someone who purchased the previous top tier package on the ship (which is then non-refundable) and was bitterly disappointed with all the exclusions and restrictions. Given the lack of clarity about the exemptions, I can see this issue re-occurring with the new deluxe package!

Hi, 
Re: Exclusions etc. In fairness to P & O on all the occasions we've brought the drinks package the staff selling it have gone out their way to explain the restrictions, they have menus on the counter where they're selling it for guests to look through and see what's included or not. If someone took the drinks package and didn't like it they only really have themselves to blame.

Just to add as well, the previous "Ultimate" drinks package, now renamed "Classic" drinks package seems to work out at 50p per day more expensive each with the 10% pre cruise discount applied and has even more exclusions than before. From what I can see it looks like the new packages/menus will have prices for anyone not using a drinks package. The new symbols R A C D will be on the menus indicating which package any given drink will be included in. They seem to be moving away from price limits to a system that just indicates what's included or not.

Alas this is a price rise, no doubt the PAYG prices are going to be higher on the new menus as well. As such people should wait to see the new prices and do the maths themselves based on their own tastes and habits. 

4 hours ago, Scots Couple said:

Prices for the new drinks packages are now on the P&O website. The price for the top package is £49 per day.

 

Its actually £54.95 less 10% if purchased at least 3 days prior to sailing then your peninsular club discount is also applied to the discounted price at checkout

1 hour ago, No pager thank you said:

As a simple rule of thumb, it appears to be the case that (based on the higher of the pre-pay price levels quoted, and keeping in mind that buying in advance both means you cannot use OBC or gain the up to 10pc Peninsular Club discount)...

 

Ive logged into our personaliser for a future cruise and the prices get discounted 10% if prebooked 3 days before sailing. At checkout the Peninsular Club discount is then taken off the already discounted price.

At full price the classic drinks package is £44.95. The Deluxe Package is £54.95 at full price. I think some of the confusion with all the different prices is because if your logged into your account its showing the discounted price, then when you aadd it to your basket it takes the further discount. But there is also a page of info showing the full prices 🤦‍♂️

New terms and conditions PDF attached

Terms-and-Conditions-Drinks-packages-2023.pdf

39 minutes ago, Yorkypete said:

 Why is everyone still cruising with P&O?

 

I’m still cruising with P&O because I like it and it’s good value for money. 

On 5/15/2023 at 9:46 AM, Cheshire Blue said:

 

Where / when can I find details of the new package proposals ? 

 

Current package is much too restrictive (single measures / small glasses of wine etc) so I'd happily pay a bit more to loosen these up (come in to line with Princess / Celebrity). 

 

Appreciate the package is not for everyone but .............my wife and I (and our travelling companions) will generally achieve the £45 per day (most days anyway - we don't "count") so think the package is good value for us.   Note : we are not alcoholics - we drink very moderately at home but a few coffees during the morning, glass (or 2) of wine at lunch, a couple of beers in the afternoon and then pre dinner drinks / cocktails and 1/2 bottle of wine each at dinner - we are pretty much there.  Add a post dinner drink (or 2) and a couple of bottles of water / soft drinks throughout the day and think we are well there ! 

 

The only issue in the past has been the restrictions on cocktails / mixers - so hopefully this will now be improved. 

 

 md    ar 

There’s no details available yet, it goes on sale on Arvia at least on May 28th so more details should be available then

On 5/14/2023 at 4:01 PM, molecrochip said:

Interesting point. Main dining rooms on Iona now open at 17:30 on busier cruises to ease the flow of guests. To do this has required axing afternoon tea in the Aqua restaurant to free up waiters / galley staff for the earlier opening.

 

I believe something similar on Arvia is also now in place.

5:30 dining times are already available to book on Arvia from 2 weeks before the cruise sails. Much better imo. 

I personally don’t think they will go back to gratuities not being included. This caused way to much resentment etc 

I think they might eventually go for a bundled package with the new deluxe drinks package, starlink, and a specialty dining option included for each 6 or 7 days and also throw in some fitness classes etc

The guy next to me spoke to the manager about having 1 person on the alcohol package and another not. It was sorted out at the counter without a trip to reception. He had the receipt etc from when he did it previously with him. Manager applied some common sense and everything was done in a jiffy without a scene

Before people kick off about how you “need to be an alcoholic” or “you can’t possibly drink 15 alcoholic drinks a day” Pleae keep those type of options to yourself as we’ve all heard it before.

Some info for you. As per the title. The drinks packages are changing, a. New tier will be added from 28th May(On Arvia) might be a different start date on other ships.

There will be a deluxe package which will have a raised price cap, include all the premium mixers, include doubles of spirits and include all the premium soft drinks in bottles etc 

The new highest tier will be £44.99 per day with a discount offered if booked landside.

New menus are going out no doubt with higher prices, but more cocktails will be included within the price limit on the new menus. I’ve attached a couple of menu scans from our cruise (ended 14th May) for reference if anyone gets eyes on the new ones and can upload at some point we can compare to see how the prices have changed

Olive Grove Arvia May 2023.pdfArvia Amber Bar May 2023.pdf

Arvia Pool Bar Drinks Menu.pdf

On 5/9/2023 at 5:52 PM, Denarius said:

In some ports the shuttle bus is provided by the port authority rather than P&O, in which case it is free for all passengers. Only those provided by P&O charge.

The P&O shuttle buses were not being charged for, the bus provided by the port is a little bit further away from the ship, we drove past the queue of people waiting for it. No one was charged, no cards were asked for or scanned.

For some reason they did it complimentary. 

Ok, back in Southampton with mobile signal and can confirm that biscuitgate appears to just be due to operational reasons. Since our final port of call we have had substituted biscuits.

Stand down people, all is good 👍 

On Arvia at the moment there have been shuttle buses in Barcelona, La Spezia, Marseilles and Alicante so far. No one has been scanning or checking cruise cards so they have be free for select fare and saver fare passengers 

On Arvia at the moment and can confirm the trays have been removed from Horizon, they’re not available even if you ask. Manager said if you need assistance then ask one of the staff who will be happy to help we.

Not sure how that will pan out when we’re onboard at Christmas in a party of 8 who all want a cup of tea with breakfast and one person normally gets them all in one go with a tray lol

22 minutes ago, Fionboard said:

I always take my own preferred brand! 

That centre section of the tea caddy thingy looks like it would be the perfect size to empty a pack of Aldi Chocolate Oaties into. I’m going to see if I can source a tape measure