Portunus Club Changes

[Denarius]

If it were a wind up, I would have expected the Admin of the P&O site to mount a damage limitation exercise as soon as the original post was seen, by denying it. The fact that this has not happened makes me tend to believe that it is true. On the other hand, why has only one person apparently received it? A rodent is smelled?

[dsrdsrdsr]

Did the loyalty scheme ever make any serious difference? Under the old rules, you spent say £3000 on a cruise for 2, then next time you went on a £3000 cruise for 2 you got 5% off the excursions and on-board spend. (Excluding casino and art, of course, because that's where you might spend a lot.)

 

So if you go on half a dozen excursions each, and spend a few hundred quid in the shops (God forbid!), you might rack up £1200 between you. Under the old rules, you get £60 discount. Under the new rules, you don't.

 

Question is, is that £60 enough to make a serious difference on a £4,200 holiday? I doubt it. Does the loyalty scheme ever make any difference to bookings at all? Again, I doubt it. Even if you get the max 10% off, worth £120 above, it wouldn't be enough discount if you decide another line has a better itinerary. Maybe it's just me, because I'm not affected, but there seems to be a huge overreaction by some of the posters on the P&O forum.

[Denarius]

The new scheme as posted on the P&O site has been confirmed as correct by a passenger currently on Oriana. It is said, however, that all current Gold members will get bonus points to take them to Caribbean (the equivalent section) on launch if they have less than 2000 points.

[LibraLass41]

I'm Sapphire and would be 'Atlantic' in the new scheme ....Portunus parties will now be not until the next tier - outrageous... All we get now is 'a glass of sailaway champagne'.... I've been to parties for the last 5 years in Ruby and Sapphire grade , now none.... what a way to treat a loyal cruiser although I still get the same % OBC discount which is ok, and not less than in the old scheme like new goldies, as Sharon Host says hers is going DOWN from 10% to 8.5%.

 

If the scheme was like a Tesco clubcard scheme with money spent with the Carnival brand instead of nights onboard being rewarded, then I would probably be on the next tier by now..as we sail in balconies and not inside cabins. A 14n cruise in a inside can be £999 pp and yet we pay £1999pp , and get the same number of points.

But I can also see why they do the present scheme for 'nights onboard'. Its never going to be fair for all.

 

I suppose we shall here for definite on Monday being the end of February.

[dsrdsrdsr]

I'm Sapphire and would be 'Atlantic' in the new scheme ....Portunus parties will now be not until the next tier - outrageous... All we get now is 'a glass of sailaway champagne'.... I've been to parties for the last 5 years in Ruby and Sapphire grade , now none.... what a way to treat a loyal cruiser although I still get the same % OBC discount which is ok, and not less than in the old scheme like new goldies, as Sharon Host says hers is going DOWN from 10% to 8.5%.

Happily, Sharon Host is wrong. Read denarius' post above.

[LibraLass41]

The new scheme as posted on the P&O site has been confirmed as correct by a passenger currently on Oriana. It is said, however, that all current Gold members will get bonus points to take them to Caribbean (the equivalent section) on launch if they have less than 2000 points.

 

 

oooh, so if ALL gold go up whats the point then? I thought the main problem was there were too many Goldies now and it wasn't special enough a tier....too many at priority check-in, too many at the gold parties etc?

 

Will pop over to PandO site and read up on this....thanks.

[LibraLass41]

phew! 247 posts to trawl through, that took me 1/2hr and now have eye strain lol...

 

Looks like I loose out on parties and gain a glass of sailaway champagne whoope-do, will have to do 2 more cruises to reach next level to gain another 1% OBC and be allowed to go to the Portunus parties again.

Loved all the fuss about the slippers. They are probably those 'throw-away' P&O spa slippers, anyway, worth about £2, people moaning on there they will have too many pairs of slippers if regular cruisers, but they are meant to be throw aways anyway.

[daiB]

phew! 247 posts to trawl through, that took me 1/2hr and now have eye strain lol...

 

Looks like I loose out on parties and gain a glass of sailaway champagne whoope-do, will have to do 2 more cruises to reach next level to gain another 1% OBC and be allowed to go to the Portunus parties again.

Loved all the fuss about the slippers. They are probably those 'throw-away' P&O spa slippers, anyway, worth about £2, people moaning on there they will have too many pairs of slippers if regular cruisers, but they are meant to be throw aways anyway.

 

Never mind pet I could send you some more Tea:rolleyes:.

 

We look as if we could come out quite well and should reach Baltic by Jan 2012. That will be great cos we have not been there. Does this mean we get a free cruise to go and see our sea???:confused:

 

Down side is that you have to go and eat with the crew again:mad: After spending all that money.

 

 

:)Happy Cruising:)

 

 

 

:cool:

 

 

Dai

[jeanlyon]

Well personally, I didn't think that much of the Portunus party. You get a couple of drinks and the crew say a few words. Can't say I would miss it that much

[southwinds]

Curious to know who is leaking this information. as only staff who are sworn to secrecy know about it.. why would Carol Marlow contact just one person.. I think its a crew member leaking it knowing it would start a rant.. especially as they had left out vital bits then posted them later on

i think we are in the Biscay Tier !! free sick bags !!

[Rum Rat]

Curious to know who is leaking this information. as only staff who are sworn to secrecy know about it.. why would Carol Marlow contact just one person.. I think its a crew member leaking it knowing it would start a rant.. especially as they had left out vital bits then posted them later on

i think we are in the Biscay Tier !! free sick bags !!

 

How do you know you are in the Bay of Biscay?

 

Crew member told you?

 

I have been reading all these rumours and contacted PandO asking for comfirmation or denial.

 

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.

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Not had an answer yet :-(

 

I guess they are all a rumour and that NOBODY knows for certain what is going on.

 

.

[LibraLass41]

The big day is tomorrow isnt it -28th Feb/end of Feb was mentioned as the press release day....

I wonder if we will have more Portunus cruisers getting their information on it? I agree its strange just this one person has had access to this info.

[MattyBarlow]

I can confirm that all this is correct. On Azura this morning we received the new Peninsular Club membership booklet and Captain misery Dowds confirmed the changes last night at the Portunus cocktail party ( quite ironic as many will now not be included in these from April 2012).

[Rum Rat]

All the details in the post this morning.

 

P&O Cruises "Peninsular Club"

[jazzbabe]

Received my booklet this morning.

I will reach Gold in March 2012 -just in time to be upgraded to Caribbean.:)

[capnpugwash]

Personally I think that the benefits offered by both the Portunis Club and this new scheme are paltry. A 10% saving on your on board spend, after using any obc, having spent 150 nights on board is pathetic. I like P & O but never go to the Gold lunch or cocktail parties. Maybe I am a bit like Groucho Marx in this regard. I enjoy the priority boarding but the rest of the benefits are rubbish. I see that the two top levels will only be granted on a cruise by cruise basis so you will have to have been on board for 201 nights in the previous 3 years to qualify for the Ligurian Tier or 80 for the second grade; absolute tosh imho. But the upside is that they do give you a lapel badge, who on earth are they kidding?

[Rum Rat]

Personally I think that the benefits offered by both the Portunis Club and this new scheme are paltry. A 10% saving on your on board spend, after using any obc, having spent 150 nights on board is pathetic. I like P & O but never go to the Gold lunch or cocktail parties. Maybe I am a bit like Groucho Marx in this regard. I enjoy the priority boarding but the rest of the benefits are rubbish. I see that the two top levels will only be granted on a cruise by cruise basis so you will have to have been on board for 201 nights in the previous 3 years to qualify for the Ligurian Tier or 80 for the second grade; absolute tosh imho. But the upside is that they do give you a lapel badge, who on earth are they kidding?

 

With so many complaints about their loyalty scheme, I guess you won't be cruising with P&O again?

 

.

[capnpugwash]

With so many complaints about their loyalty scheme, I guess you won't be cruising with P&O again?

 

.

 

Obviously reading is not one of your stengths, I quote "I like P & O", I just don't like their loyalty plan, why does that pose a problem for you. Do you really think that it is good?

[ROSEBASKETS]

Obviously reading is not one of your stengths

 

Nor is his writing :D

[jeanlyon]

Not sure I've ever seen more fuss about something so small. I'm glad with any discount I'm given, but it wouldn;t make me loyal just to P&O.

[Host Sharon]

Happily, Sharon Host is wrong. Read denarius' post above.

 

 

Yes - I was wrong, but I was going on what had been posted on boards. Now that I have the official letter and leaflet, those of us who have just made Gold will be awarded additional points to take us into the Caribbean level so we do not lose out.

 

For those however currently in the lower levels of Sapphire, it appears they do lose out on the Portunus Party until they reach Mediterranean!

[Melxx]

Yes - I was wrong, but I was going on what had been posted on boards. Now that I have the official letter and leaflet, those of us who have just made Gold will be awarded additional points to take us into the Caribbean level so we do not lose out.

 

For those however currently in the lower levels of Sapphire, it appears they do lose out on the Portunus Party until they reach Mediterranean!

 

Sharon,

 

As you know I was under the same impression after reading the posts on the boards. From what I read it did give the impression we would be demoted a tier. I will just make Gold after my next cruise. Now I have read the official letter it has made it much clearer how the new scheme will run.

[u2cruiser]

Got all the info this morning - I suppose everyone has by now.

Another 20 days cruising in 2012 until the champagne sailaway and lapel pin for us ;)

 

To those thinking the onboard spend discount is paltry, it's far more desirable for bar bills than the American lines and their 15% additional gratuity on top of already inflated prices. If anything, the low drinks prices and tipping system is what keeps many people coming back to P&O rather than slippers and a cocktail party.

 

Tip for new cruisers: If you're considering the 2012 Transatlantics, opt for the 15 nights rather than 14 nights and you're straight up to Pacific tier next cruise :)

[BrianI]

Tip for new cruisers: If you're considering the 2012 Transatlantics, opt for the 15 nights rather than 14 nights and you're straight up to Pacific tier next cruise :)

However, if the 15th night is on a plane you dont get any points. See clause 3.4.1

Brian

[u2cruiser]

However, if the 15th night is on a plane you dont get any points. See clause 3.4.1

Brian

 

Ah! yes, 15 nights onboard. On some TA websites the 14 nighter is shown as 15 nights and the 15 nighter as 16 nights.

Thanks Brian :)