Price for 2012 cruises from TAs

[tom_uk]

I've now had a couple of quotes from TAs for cruises listed the newly-published 2012 programme. In both cases the TA has quoted the brochure price; they haven't offered any further reduction. One of them said that this was because of 'increased prices from P&O', by which I guess they meant 'increased wholesale prices' i.e. lower commission levels.

 

Has anyone else got any experience regarding quotes for 2012?

[jazzbabe]

We have been quoted the same price as P&O online fares.:mad:

 

We won't book early but wait for offers and extras to come flooding into my e-mail box! :)

[the english lady]

There is a thread on the pando site. TA's do not get commision now from PANDO (that they can use to deduct the fare for the customer) they just get a flat rate payment for each booking that they do, so in future the prices should be the same, where ever booked.

[u2cruiser]

How will the TAs be competitive if this is the case? :confused:

[jeanlyon]

I don't know they will be competitive with any Carnival booking, but I got 11% off my Fred Olsen booking.

[the english lady]

How will the TAs be competitive if this is the case? :confused:

That is what the people on the pando site are saying. only plus point pando will only want the money 8(?) weeks before where as TA 's usually want it a lot sooner. If you have a TA that is particually helpful people may stay with them, but usually these days it always comes down to money..money money.

[millykin]

Hi Tom, had email from P&O re 2012-2013 bookings, going for Azura A229 15th Dec 2012 from Southampton to Canaries 12 nights, my TA said P&O are cutting the TAs commission from 15% to 5% and offering customers who book direct the extra 10% for early booking,

TA can't book this till April 8th but P&O can book from around 21st March if you pre register, the prices on the email are just a guide, I shall still wait till the 8th to get quote's from TA, Gills and a couple of other cruise specialists

Millykin

[millykin]

Hi Tom, see reply further down list

Brenda

[amajaa]

We won't book early but wait for offers and extras to come flooding into my e-mail box! :)

 

If you don't mind me asking what are you signed up to that means you get e-mails about cruise offers flooding in. Sounds good to me.

[kevinyork]

With little incentive for the travel agent to push P&O I think P&O are going to regret this move. However, I do have to say it has alway puzzled me why P&O encourage early bookers when those booking later through an agent would get a much better price. Seemed to me the early booking incentives were just not good enough.

 

I wouldnt expect this new TA commission structure to stay in place for long when P&O see how it affects their bookings.

 

Combining these changes with the changes to their loyalty program at the same time is somewhat risky.

[southwinds]

http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/Articles/2011/02/15/36129/cruise+giant+cuts+commission+to+tackle+discounters.html

 

Reading this you can see some of the agents ( see the comments below) are saying they wont sell P&O... so this could be why some agents arnt giving discount.. because some people are saying they are seeing 1 or 2% less the P&O prices...

Years back the agents would get a 'volume' discount which they passed on to customers.. so the larger ones could sell cruises cheaper ie the cruise clubs etc. Not sure if this will start happen again...

I am still getting loads of emails and brochures from TA re next years cruises.

[daiB]

Well what a lot of hot air about nothing. It is just a different way of doing things. We are not going to lose and neither are the TA's.

 

I posted this on another thread:-

 

Well I have just compared a 2011 cruise with a 2012 cruise of the same length and number of ports and it is at least 25% cheaper, for the cabin we want. That is the 2012 is cheaper.

 

So that could be a big % off for early booking + a price drop to account for the change in TA discounts.

 

And no I am not telling you lot which one it is ......find your own bargin.

 

BTW as far as I can see the TA's do not lose out at all.

 

Before .....15% discount and give 10% away.

 

Now..........5% discount and give nowt away.

 

Therefore status quo A 5% booking fee. and the prices are less so we get the same price.

 

 

If all other things are equal then go with the TA which gives you the best service. That is what I will do.

 

and this:-

Inflation is about 4.5% at the moment. The price of P&O cruises to the customer is around 3% higher this year.

 

Now however we pay for our cruises or from whom, we are getting a good deal in fact we could say we are getting a discount on inflation.

 

The TA's were getting 15% to book us onto our cruises. They are now getting 5%. Before they gave us 10% to book with them leaving them with errrrrrr 5%. The only TA's who can complain are those who were ripping cruisers off by not giving the discount, no wonder they are up in arms.

 

What we have is the Status Quo with a much simpler system ie the price you see in the book is the price you pay.

 

An interesting concept.................. it will never catch on.

 

 

:)Gan Canny:)

 

 

:cool:

 

 

Dai

 

[Gerrym]

Dai, your posts are so often written wearing those rose coloured spectacles with the P&O corporate logo on them.

 

P&O could go bust and I think you would put a positive spin on it!

 

LOL

 

 

 

 

I hope this is a disastrous move for P&O as that is what they deserve.

 

 

 

 

:)

[daiB]

Dai, your posts are so often written wearing those rose coloured spectacles with the P&O corporate logo on them.

 

P&O could go bust and I think you would put a positive spin on it!

 

LOL

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I hope this is a disastrous move for P&O as that is what they deserve.

 

Your opinion of course.

 

I have rarely been proved wrong:rolleyes:

 

I was told very forcibly, on a cruise board, that Arcadia was hated by P&O cruisers and that it would leave the fleet in a few months. I am still waiting.

 

I only make comment when others also make comments which are clearly not true. There is no reason for P&O to suffer when the cruiser is not losing out and the TA is not losing out. They are only doing what I have seen asked for, on a number of threads over time. ie producing a price list which means you pay the price which is printed in the brochure.

 

If you do not like this then ..................

 

 

 

:):)Happy Cruising:):)

 

 

 

:cool:

 

 

Dai

[Gerrym]

 

 

if you do not like this then ..................

 

 

You have every right to a view?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

:) :) :)

[terrierjohn]

I think P&O have badly misjudged how their customers like to purchase a cruise, everyone likes to think that they got a great deal, and seeing a discounted price from your TA against the brochure price is the best way of achieving this.

I can only imagine that this new process is going to disincentivise customers and make them hold off making a booking. Time will tell but I expect to see panic stricken faces and sweaty palms in the P&O boardroom over the next few months, which hopefully will llead them to slash their prices to the bone.

As to those posters who have been making favourable comments about this years prices vs last years, maybe that's because they are comparing against last years brochure price, rather than the special deals and TA discounted prices that most people paid. I only know that for Med cruises over next summer P&O's price for the cheapest balcony grade ranges from £145 to £159 pppd; I am just about to book the Eclipse for £110 pppd for their 3rd tier balcony grade.

Now I know that gratuities and drinks will be higher on Celebrity, but we would both need to be raging alcoholics to spend over £1300 on booze in 2 weeks; and the Solstice class of ship is much more luxurious than any of P&O's fleet, AND all standard balcony cabins have 2 seater sofa's as well as spacious balconies.

[daiB]

I think P&O have badly misjudged how their customers like to purchase a cruise, everyone likes to think that they got a great deal, and seeing a discounted price from your TA against the brochure price is the best way of achieving this.

I can only imagine that this new process is going to disincentivise customers and make them hold off making a booking. Time will tell but I expect to see panic stricken faces and sweaty palms in the P&O boardroom over the next few months, which hopefully will llead them to slash their prices to the bone.

As to those posters who have been making favourable comments about this years prices vs last years, maybe that's because they are comparing against last years brochure price, rather than the special deals and TA discounted prices that most people paid. I only know that for Med cruises over next summer P&O's price for the cheapest balcony grade ranges from £145 to £159 pppd; I am just about to book the Eclipse for £110 pppd for their 3rd tier balcony grade.

Now I know that gratuities and drinks will be higher on Celebrity, but we would both need to be raging alcoholics to spend over £1300 on booze in 2 weeks; and the Solstice class of ship is much more luxurious than any of P&O's fleet, AND all standard balcony cabins have 2 seater sofa's as well as spacious balconies.

 

 

No, the price comparisons are between what was paid last year and what was paid this and the increase is about 3%.

 

However if you read all the threads on here then some people say the lowering of prices has lead to a dumming down.:mad:

 

So P&O would be dammed if they did and dammed if they did not.

 

Whatever, they are still cheaper than when I started cruising 10 years ago.

 

I am having to look at suites to be allowed to pay more;):D

 

 

 

:)Happy Cruising:)

 

 

 

:cool:

 

 

Dai

[feebee_71]

Hi Tom, had email from P&O re 2012-2013 bookings, going for Azura A229 15th Dec 2012 from Southampton to Canaries 12 nights, my TA said P&O are cutting the TAs commission from 15% to 5% and offering customers who book direct the extra 10% for early booking,

TA can't book this till April 8th but P&O can book from around 21st March if you pre register, the prices on the email are just a guide, I shall still wait till the 8th to get quote's from TA, Gills and a couple of other cruise specialists

Millykin

 

Millykin,

 

This is an interesting spin put on the situation by your TA.

 

My TA has given me quotes that are the same as on the P&O site - which, if you look closely, already includes the early booking discount and the 175th Anniversary 10% extra discount included in the prices. Whether I book with my TA or P&O the price won't change.

 

From a friend who rang P&O to enquire about pre-registration for a cruise next year this is the process she will have to go through

 

- Ring now to get added to the pre-registration list, giving P&O details of the cruise/cruises they want to be booked on and the cabin grade they are interested in - note, only grade not specific cabin numbers!!

- On March 21st she will receive a phone call requesting details of her credit/debit card to pay the deposit/s

- On the opening day of cruises - for her April 6th - P&O will have made a guarantee grade booking for her, she has to ring P&O to be given a choice of cabins available to her - if she doesn't like what's on offer too bad - they have her deposit and she's already committed to the booking!!

 

For anyone pre-registering with my TA the process (for the same cruise) is..........

 

- Ring them now with details of specific cabin numbers you are happy to be booked into. Give them details of the method of paying the deposit and details of any FCD's to use for deposits.

 

- On April 6th sit back and wait for contact from TA to confirm booking into cabin from list provided previously.

 

The reason your TA can't book the cruise until April 8th is that is when they go on general sale. I don't think P&O can actually make the bookings prior to them going on sale to Gold Portunus members on the 2nd April because there could be issues to be investigated by trading standards if, for example, all suites on Azura for your chosen cruise had sold prior to first sale day.

 

I don't know what you think you will gain waiting until April 8th and then asking cruise agents for quotes - prices aren't going to suddenly drop as TA's have been told by P&O that they cannot reduce them. Any reductions would have to come from P&O, and that isn't likely until later in the year (if at all) when they realise sales aren't at a level they hope for.

 

Feebee_71

[feebee_71]

That is what the people on the pando site are saying. only plus point pando will only want the money 8(?) weeks before where as TA 's usually want it a lot sooner. If you have a TA that is particually helpful people may stay with them, but usually these days it always comes down to money..money money.

 

The time before balances need to be paid to P&O is going to become one of the reasons for booking with a TA, people are going to start asking the question and you may find some TA's drop the time closer to balance due date to look more attractive. A while ago on another site there was a thread asking this question and the answers came out that some TA's ask for balances 10 weeks before departure whereas others ask for it up to 16 weeks before departure. My TA are one of the 10 week bracket - 2 weeks for them to received cleared payments and then process them to P&O. If you consider people do pay by cheque still and these can take a week to clear to the TA then 2 weeks is a reasonable timeframe. Obviously other payment methods are quicker but even bank transfers can take 4-5 working days to clear if fast transfer services aren't available.

 

Another reason to use TA's is the fact you are more likely to speak to the same person whenever you ring up whereas, if you use P&O you will have to speak to whoever picks up the phone so may never speak to the same person twice. TA's get a feel for people's specific wants and needs - can you imagine one of the reservation team at P&O ringing you if the cruise you are particularly interested in is suddenly filling up as a TA would (and this was a personal experience of mine so qudos to the TA!!)?

 

For me, I will not turn my back on my TA because P&O have decided to change the amount of money they are paying to them for selling me the cruise. I book my cruises early because I either need multiple occupancy cabins or because I need single supplement prices. Therefore I will be looking at the 10% 175th anniversary discount as being the equivalent to my TA giving me 10% discount on the P&O early bird price.

 

I am happy with the prices I have been quoted and surely that is the most important thing.

 

Feebee_71

[terrierjohn]

No, the price comparisons are between what was paid last year and what was paid this and the increase is about 3%.

Dai, you don't say whether you normally book with P&O or a TA, and I presume you mean what you will pay for a 2012 cruise since they are not actually on sale yet.

However if you read all the threads on here then some people say the lowering of prices has lead to a dumming (dumbing) down.:mad:

All cruise lines look to make economies, but P&O is clearly Carnival's mass market line for the UK and will aim to compete with the likes of Royal Caribbean and Celebrity. They have Cunard and Seabourne for the more discerning cruiser.

So P&O would be dammed (damned) if they did and dammed if they did not.

I think my above comment covers this point.

Whatever, they are still cheaper than when I started cruising 10 years ago.

 

I am having to look at suites to be allowed to pay more;):D

 

:)Happy Cruising:)

 

Dai

Dai, you have not commented on my price comparison with Celebrity for 2012, nor have you addressed the more salient point I make about people wanting to book a cruise at a bargain price, or my point about Celebrity having a better product.

I await your response with interest, oh and please no more Welshism spellings of our beautiful English language.

 

John.

[daiB]

Dai, you have not commented on my price comparison with Celebrity for 2012, nor have you addressed the more salient point I make about people wanting to book a cruise at a bargain price, or my point about Celebrity having a better product.

I await your response with interest, oh and please no more Welshism spellings of our beautiful English language.

 

John.

 

John,

 

First, it is not considered good form to comment on spelling.

 

Second, Celebrity are cheaper, that is called competition. I have no problem with that at all, generally accepted to be of a better standard than p&o.

 

My comments are about p&o:-

 

TA's ate not losing and we are paying the same as last year + 3%.

 

We pay the price in the book. Simples.

[lancashire_cruisers]

Yesterday I pre-registered with my TA for 2 cruises next year and comparing on a like for like basis with ones we booked for 2010/11 they work out cheaper and we're cruising for slightly longer overall too.

 

It's a win-win situation as far as I'm concerned:D.

 

Debbie:)

[Gerrym]

Debbie, is Dai your boyfirend?

 

:)

[daiB]

Debbie, is Dai your boyfirend?

 

:)

 

Debbie you must not say anything positive Gerry does not like it.

 

Gan canny

 

Dai

[lancashire_cruisers]

Debbie, is Dai your boyfirend?

 

:)

 

No. Do you wish he was yours?

 

Debbie:)