Summer 2020 on sale dates

The only comment I will make about the maiden season being in Norway is that having been lucky enough to call in to Geiranger & Olden on a ship carrying 600 pax, I would hate to be there when Iona disgorges her 5000+ pax....

Me neither! We have just been saying the same thing.

Thank you. We're aware that it's new as we've been travelling with them for 17 years. It was always much easier to get on a maiden cruise back then!

 

It is weird as you are essentially making a booking with P&O when you pre-register as they take a deposit then. The only thing you cannot do at that point is book a particular cabin (which you certainly used to be able to do) so what on earth is the point of saying top tiers can 'book' on Monday 10th (and 17th) when you have, presumably, already booked!

 

Very weird.....:confused:

If you pre register with a cruise TA you can give a choice of cabins that you would be happy to book and then they will do their very best to book one of them and only then is the deposit taken. It is only if you pre register direct with P&O where they will only let you choose a grade of cabin and then they can book you anyone within that grade anywhere on the ship. For this reason I have always pre registered with the same cruise TA and given them 4 or 5 cabin numbers and we have sailed on Aurora, Arcadia,Ventura, Azura and Britannia Maiden cruises and always got a cabin within 4 or 5 given. Would never pre register in advance with P&O for that reason.

If you pre register with a cruise TA you can give a choice of cabins that you would be happy to book and then they will do their very best to book one of them and only then is the deposit taken. It is only if you pre register direct with P&O where they will only let you choose a grade of cabin and then they can book you anyone within that grade anywhere on the ship. For this reason I have always pre registered with the same cruise TA and given them 4 or 5 cabin numbers and we have sailed on Aurora, Arcadia,Ventura, Azura and Britannia Maiden cruises and always got a cabin within 4 or 5 given. Would never pre register in advance with P&O for that reason.

We pre register with P&O and our former Personal Cruise Specialist (who, very kindly, still performs the same service for us) checks what we have been allocated the minute that the cabin is allocated and then grabs one of our preferred cabins if we haven’t already been allocated one. Thankfully it’s worked for us every time.

We have always booked with our specialist cruise agent. She has a list of the cabins we'd be happy with - usually about 5 or 6 and on the day booking opens she has usually phoned us by 10-11am confirming our specific cabin - and I would say over 98% of the time it's our first choice of cabin. I can't be doing with P&O's habit of only confirming the grade - there are cabins even in the top grades I wouldn't be happy with.

We have always booked with our specialist cruise agent. She has a list of the cabins we'd be happy with - usually about 5 or 6 and on the day booking opens she has usually phoned us by 10-11am confirming our specific cabin - and I would say over 98% of the time it's our first choice of cabin. I can't be doing with P&O's habit of only confirming the grade - there are cabins even in the top grades I wouldn't be happy with.

Unless you are saying that your cruise agent manages to secure your specific cabin number during the pre registration period, the scenario that you describe is identical to the process that we have, even though we book direct with P&O.

During the pre reg process we secure the grade and tell our contact which cabins we prefer within that grade. Usually she manages to make sure that we are allocated our first choice but if the system has allocated us another she changes it within the first hour of the Cruises going on full sale and calls me to say that she has done so. Sometimes she does it so quickly that I only ever see the booking confirmation showing the cabin we ended up with and would have been oblivious to the fact that it had changed.

Admittedly, we are lucky that we have a former Personal Cruise Specialist who, whilst we have never met her, knows me instantly when I call her and couldn’t be more helpful, but anyone else booking direct with P&O during the pre reg period can still call P&O as soon as they have been allocated their cabin and switch it if they prefer another within the same grade (if still available).

I’m certainly not suggesting that people shouldn’t use TA’s or cruise specialists that they have good relationships with, especially if they get a good discount from them, but booking direct with P&O isn’t the bum deal that some imply! We usually secure a discount, often get some extra OBC thrown in and have changed bookings where the £100 fee has been waived!

I should, of course, have said that one definite benefit of booking direct with P&O is that the balance due date is usually some weeks later than the date you have to pay the balance if you use a TA or agent.

However, as I have said, there is no right or wrong way. We each do what works for us.

I should, of course, have said that one definite benefit of booking direct with P&O is that the balance due date is usually some weeks later than the date you have to pay the balance if you use a TA or agent.

 

However, as I have said, there is no right or wrong way. We each do what works for us.

Selbourne there is one advantage of using certain TA’s in that as I posted before they get to book cabins an hour before P&O.

Say there are 20 cabins in a grade. P&O will have pre bookings for say 8 of them. This leaves 12 for the TA’s. At 8.00 on day one the TA’s go in and claim their allocation and they can pick the cabins they want. But only up to the 12 allocated to them. At 9.00 the company comes in and allocates their 8 bookings.

Now for most cruises and cabin grades this makes little difference. But if you want an adapted cabin or a suite for a popular cruise it becomes more important.

I have got the first cabin on my list every cruise we have been on for the last 8 to 10 years. And you know what we have to book.

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Can't see them letting her in to Venice -- I thought there was a size restriction. They're not happy with ships the size of Oceana ....

No, they wouldn't let her in to Venice but they have been talking about constructing a facility for larger ships outside the lagoon area for years. Maybe the advent of LNG will actually spur them on to do something about it!

Selbourne there is one advantage of using certain TA’s in that as I posted before they get to book cabins an hour before P&O.

 

Say there are 20 cabins in a grade. P&O will have pre bookings for say 8 of them. This leaves 12 for the TA’s. At 8.00 on day one the TA’s go in and claim their allocation and they can pick the cabins they want. But only up to the 12 allocated to them. At 9.00 the company comes in and allocates their 8 bookings.

 

Now for most cruises and cabin grades this makes little difference. But if you want an adapted cabin or a suite for a popular cruise it becomes more important.

 

I have got the first cabin on my list every cruise we have been on for the last 8 to 10 years. And you know what we have to book.

 

 

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We’ve been lucky every time as well Dai, but I can certainly see that the scenario you describe could indeed be useful. We reach Caribbean tier next year so will be able to book a day or two earlier as well.

Thank you. We're aware that it's new as we've been travelling with them for 17 years. It was always much easier to get on a maiden cruise back then!

 

It is weird as you are essentially making a booking with P&O when you pre-register as they take a deposit then. The only thing you cannot do at that point is book a particular cabin (which you certainly used to be able to do) so what on earth is the point of saying top tiers can 'book' on Monday 10th (and 17th) when you have, presumably, already booked!

 

Very weird.....:confused:

That's why I always use a Travel Agent. Tell him which cruise we want, what cabins we want and he does the rest. Have always got what we wanted. Plus we always get extra discount with them after our Peninsular discount and other P&O bits have been applied. Also our TA doesn't want the full balance weeks before, only a couple of weeks before P&O, so with interest rates like they are, it hardly matters, particularly when paying on a credit card.

That's why I always use a Travel Agent. Tell him which cruise we want, what cabins we want and he does the rest. Have always got what we wanted. Plus we always get extra discount with them after our Peninsular discount and other P&O bits have been applied. Also our TA doesn't want the full balance weeks before, only a couple of weeks before P&O, so with interest rates like they are, it hardly matters, particularly when paying on a credit card.

Yes TA for us every time, and we can normally persuade our TA to wait a few days extra for payment, if it will push us into the next month's statement as well.

Yes, same here. I think it goes back to the days of cheques when they had to clear before they sent the money to P&O. It's one of the reasons we stopped booking with the company that gives cruise miles. They took a 20% deposit when it's only 15% and they wanted the balance a very long way ahead. Not playing that game.

Sort of. The booking you make on 3rd will be a confirmed booking. That means that you are guaranteed a suite of the specific grade that you requested, along with the launch price, OBC offers etc. All that happens on 19th (or whenever) is that you will be allocated the specific suite number. If you aren't happy with it, then ask your TA to try to change it to one that you will be happy with. Many of us have a relationship with a TA or P&O adviser where we can give them our preferred choice of cabin when we pre-reg and they will do their damnedest to make sure that you get the one you want. It's always worked for us. Good luck.

Thanks for the advice! That's not going to work for me, then, because I'm looking for particular suites, rather than a specific grade of suite. If I can't be sure of the actual suite, I can't take the risk of making a confirmed booking. It's the location that matters to us - it's crucial - and I assumed I could specify that to the TA in advance. ie - only book one of the suites I've specified, or none at all.

Thanks for the advice! That's not going to work for me, then, because I'm looking for particular suites, rather than a specific grade of suite. If I can't be sure of the actual suite, I can't take the risk of making a confirmed booking. It's the location that matters to us - it's crucial - and I assumed I could specify that to the TA in advance. ie - only book one of the suites I've specified, or none at all.

Before we understood how pre-registration works (because P&O doesn't explain it at all), we used to book as soon as general bookings opened and still managed to get our first choice, so you may be OK. Even with pre-reg you run the risk of the higher tier loyalty members nabbing your number one choice suite before you can. If I recall, you usually book much later, so you haven't got much to loose if you wait until the full launch date. I have a hunch that you will be fine, as long as you have a choice of 2 or 3 suites that you'd be happy with.

Sort of. The booking you make on 3rd will be a confirmed booking. That means that you are guaranteed a suite of the specific grade that you requested, along with the launch price, OBC offers etc. All that happens on 19th (or whenever) is that you will be allocated the specific suite number. If you aren't happy with it, then ask your TA to try to change it to one that you will be happy with. Many of us have a relationship with a TA or P&O adviser where we can give them our preferred choice of cabin when we pre-reg and they will do their damnedest to make sure that you get the one you want. It's always worked for us. Good luck.

No it doesnt or at least it doesnt with the cruise specialist TA I have used many times for pre registering. When the day opens for pre registering I have rung the TA and given them 4 or 5 cabins that I would be happy to book on a particular cruise and if successful with one of those cabins they only then take deposit for booking and it is a confirmed booking on the day of sale. If none of those cabins would have been available they have always said we will ring you on morning of sale to discuss what is available and whether you would be happy with other cabins before confirming a booking.

Thanks for the advice! That's not going to work for me, then, because I'm looking for particular suites, rather than a specific grade of suite. If I can't be sure of the actual suite, I can't take the risk of making a confirmed booking. It's the location that matters to us - it's crucial - and I assumed I could specify that to the TA in advance. ie - only book one of the suites I've specified, or none at all.

Ring a specialist cruise TA and tell them your requests of suites you would be happy to book and they will try and book them only. It is only if you book direct that they will only let you tell them a cabin grade and not actual cabin number one of the main reasons that I would never pre register direct with P&O and also if you book with cruise TA it will be cheaper than booking direct with P&O.

Mon Sep 3 - pre registration opens

Mon Sep 10 - Iona for top tiers

Wed Sep 12 - Iona other tiers

Mon Sep 17 - Existing fleet for top tiers

Wed Sep 19 - Existing fleet general sale May-Jun departures

Thur Sep 20 - Existing fleet general sale Jul-Oct departures

Hi there,

Just out of interest, may I ask where you obtained the above information? I can't find it anywhere on the P&O website.

Many thanks.:)

CP

Hi there,

 

Just out of interest, may I ask where you obtained the above information? I can't find it anywhere on the P&O website.

 

Many thanks.:)

CP

Our TA sent that information out to us via email a few days ago.

Our TA sent that information out to us via email a few days ago.

Ah, of course. I probably should have realised that. :rolleyes:

Many thanks. :)

Thanks for the advice this morning on pre-booking, guys - I think I get the system now. :D

Although I have cruised the Fjords many times I love them. So fingers crossed after much thought and advice from CC on this board my TA got my go ahead to get a suite for solo travelling to a £££££ on IONA Not yet top tier but will be in December so no advantage this year. Just one of my friends has just been asked re making his contract as a manager on board and 2 of my friends kids are hoping to be head liners on board, they are currently headliners on a Cunard ship so sucking in my breath and jumping - when my husband died I thought for a while life had ended my brother roasted my backside and said get on with it. Know what I have and did. 2020 Iona new experience well out of my comfort zone but just holding my nose and jumping in to deep unexplored cruise waters. If I hate...I doubt it..... you live and learn..as my Dad always said stay at home stagnate.

Although I have cruised the Fjords many times I love them. So fingers crossed after much thought and advice from CC on this board my TA got my go ahead to get a suite for solo travelling to a £££££ on IONA Not yet top tier but will be in December so no advantage this year. Just one of my friends has just been asked re making his contract as a manager on board and 2 of my friends kids are hoping to be head liners on board, they are currently headliners on a Cunard ship so sucking in my breath and jumping - when my husband died I thought for a while life had ended my brother roasted my backside and said get on with it. Know what I have and did. 2020 Iona new experience well out of my comfort zone but just holding my nose and jumping in to deep unexplored cruise waters. If I hate...I doubt it..... you live and learn..as my Dad always said stay at home stagnate.

What a very inspirational and positive post.

I'm sure you will be fine.:)

Although I have cruised the Fjords many times I love them. So fingers crossed after much thought and advice from CC on this board my TA got my go ahead to get a suite for solo travelling to a £££££ on IONA Not yet top tier but will be in December so no advantage this year. Just one of my friends has just been asked re making his contract as a manager on board and 2 of my friends kids are hoping to be head liners on board, they are currently headliners on a Cunard ship so sucking in my breath and jumping - when my husband died I thought for a while life had ended my brother roasted my backside and said get on with it. Know what I have and did. 2020 Iona new experience well out of my comfort zone but just holding my nose and jumping in to deep unexplored cruise waters. If I hate...I doubt it..... you live and learn..as my Dad always said stay at home stagnate.

Great advice!

The more you do, the easier it will get. My Mother-in-Law is now on her own after being with her girlhood love for over 50 years. She has done magnificently and got on with different things. She now has a number of new friends, and even does small dinner parties for them. You go for it! I'm sure you will enjoy it with your positive attitude! :)

Cunard 2020 Cruises appear to have been leaked and are detailed on the Cunard community pages. Has anyone seen the P&O Cruises?

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I remember someone saying last year that Gibraltar port always has their cruise schedule up early - so I googled it. Britannia and Azura seem to be stopping frequently there in 2020. I hope this doesn't mean Britannia is not going to Norway as Iona is going constantly?? Also noticed Ventura not stopping there after March so wondering where she's going - stuck with Canaries all year?