navylark Posted November 5, 2011 #1 Share Posted November 5, 2011 Earlier this year the UK supremo of Carnival - P&O's parent company - announced that in future the commission paid to agents would be reduced to 5% so that all agents would have to quote similar fares - not having large commissions enabling them to offer various discounts and deals. So in future no matter where you booked the prices would be more or less the same. Today some friends have booked the Aurora 36 night cruise departing Nov 14th for £1399 per person - inside cabin, with a well known high street agent. But the P&O official site shows £2600 for the same deal! So what happened to the level playing field? What experiences have others had with the so called 'level playing field'? Is it working or not. Does anyone have any views. Many thanks Navylark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianI Posted November 5, 2011 #2 Share Posted November 5, 2011 The new system only kicks in for cruises from April 2012 so current cruises are still under the old commission. Brian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
navylark Posted November 5, 2011 Author #3 Share Posted November 5, 2011 Sorry Brian - but my travel agent has assured me that it applies to all bookings made for departures after September 2011 Navylark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeanlyon Posted November 5, 2011 #4 Share Posted November 5, 2011 Quite simply, because P&O have told the agents to get rid of these remaining cabins. It happened on our Arcadia cruise at the last minute as well. In general the 5% rule is there, but when they need to fill cabins, they chop them out to agents for last minute deals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruiseLuvver Posted November 5, 2011 #5 Share Posted November 5, 2011 P&O's own site is always massively more expensive, and double the price doesn't surprise me in the least. Always go to a TA! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southwinds Posted November 5, 2011 #6 Share Posted November 5, 2011 i've never understood why any one pays extra to book via P&O... many agents show the up to date prices online... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattyBarlow Posted November 5, 2011 #7 Share Posted November 5, 2011 Sorry Brian - but my travel agent has assured me that it applies to all bookings made for departures after September 2011Navylark I'd double check that. The new pricing was introduced from April 2012 as Brian says. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brayman Posted November 5, 2011 #8 Share Posted November 5, 2011 If anyone has tried booking a cruise for next summer they won't find much difference between TAs and P&O Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stocktonmackem Posted November 5, 2011 #9 Share Posted November 5, 2011 If anyone has tried booking a cruise for next summer they won't find much difference between TAs and P&O I agree, we tried 3 differant TA's and P & O for our september cruise and all the prices came out the same. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helpthejuggler Posted November 5, 2011 #10 Share Posted November 5, 2011 So which price has changed? If there used to be a big difference has P&O reduced, TAs risen or have they met in the middle? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terrierjohn Posted November 6, 2011 #11 Share Posted November 6, 2011 I agree, we tried 3 differant TA's and P & O for our september cruise and all the prices came out the same. Quite, but P&O can be firm about prices which are nearly 12 months away, closer in they may need to heavily discount to fill a ship. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brayman Posted November 6, 2011 #12 Share Posted November 6, 2011 What happens is: The brochure comes out with reasonable prices together with a 20% discount which makes them good prices, as the months go by the price rises quite regularly making them look quite expensive, then getting close to cruise time, those unsold cabins are put up at bargain prices. Things like On Board Credit and Free parking/Coach Travel are also thrown in to the mix to help or complicate matters. You may find some TAs offering OBC but no Car Parking, and others doing the opposite. You really need to be on the ball yourself and not rely on the TA only. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daiB Posted November 6, 2011 #13 Share Posted November 6, 2011 Remember some of the very good deals are for cabins already paid for once. Say couple pay £2000 each for a cruise and then cannot go for a medical reason. They get their money back from the Insurance company and P&O have an empty cabin which has been paid for. So they sell it at a huge discount very late and get £2300 more for the cabin they have already been paid £4000. Every one is a winner I do not see a problem. From April 2012 I think it will be much fairer, it is good to know what the price is. :):)Happy Cruising:):) :cool: Dai Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmic Rays Posted November 6, 2011 #14 Share Posted November 6, 2011 I have booked a repo from Barbados to Southampton on Azura next March and the price was the same wherever booked, P&O or TA. It will be our first experience of P&O..... No OBC or parking offered, only a return coach to Manchester Airport from Southampton to pick up the car as part of the fare............ Gone are the days of 10%/11% discounts I was able to negotiate in the past with TA's for different cruise lines. Carnival are trying to level the playing field for all........... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C at Sea Posted November 7, 2011 #15 Share Posted November 7, 2011 We booked straight away for a Fjord cruise in June '12. We now find free coach travel being offered! This is annoying because we always use the coach and this would save us close on £150. I emailed P&O but no go! They encourage very early booking then change it so you lose any advantages. Shan't book early ever again! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
annieuk Posted November 7, 2011 #16 Share Posted November 7, 2011 We booked as soon as bookings for next year opened - this was for June 2012, going from Southampton. We got free car parking, a good amount of OBC and the specific cabin we wanted and the dining time we wanted. This is why we book early. Yes good deals may be offered right at the last minute and if people are able to go at the last minute and don't mind about the cabin or dining sitting then yes there might be good offers when someone has to cancel a cruise. Carole Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silver service Posted November 7, 2011 #17 Share Posted November 7, 2011 yes carole, just as we, and many others do. usualy up to 18 months ahead! we need to have our choice, wheelchair cabin, so in the T A the first couple of days of the bookings being available. if the chancers get a good deal, at the last minute, jolly good luck to them! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LibraLass41 Posted November 7, 2011 #18 Share Posted November 7, 2011 I agree, we tried 3 differant TA's and P & O for our september cruise and all the prices came out the same. yes I've been pricing up a Oriana cruise for next May since Friday, and I agree with you. I booked this morning, my 12th P&O cruise in 5 years, and there wasn't much lee-way atall. And I like to get a good deal! P&O direct, high street TA's and a handful of well know internet TA's ALL quoted the brochure price to me with no obc... I did manage to get a little disc and some obc in the end but it was very hard work for such a little deduction, on a 7n cruise which is costing MORE than the 30+ Aurora bargain... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lostinvegas Posted November 9, 2011 #19 Share Posted November 9, 2011 There will always be last minute deals. If a cruise company has 50 cabins left and their is 3 weeks until the cruise the quickest, easiest and cheapest way to fill them is to offer them to the agents at a very cheap rate. The agent will still make 5% but 5% on a lot less. The agents do all the advertising for the cruise lines and the cruise line gets a full ship. From the cruise lines point of view they would probably rather have someone in the cabin at a ridiculously low fare than have it empty. They have to pay for their staff and costs anyway. A passenger will spend money on drinks and excursions so its worth having them their. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daiB Posted November 9, 2011 #20 Share Posted November 9, 2011 There will always be last minute deals. If a cruise company has 50 cabins left and their is 3 weeks until the cruise the quickest, easiest and cheapest way to fill them is to offer them to the agents at a very cheap rate. The agent will still make 5% but 5% on a lot less. The agents do all the advertising for the cruise lines and the cruise line gets a full ship. From the cruise lines point of view they would probably rather have someone in the cabin at a ridiculously low fare than have it empty. They have to pay for their staff and costs anyway. A passenger will spend money on drinks and excursions so its worth having them their. I get the impression that, especially when the web site has shown full that the spaces are because of people having to cancel ay the last moment. Gan canny Dai Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auntiebones Posted November 9, 2011 #21 Share Posted November 9, 2011 I agree, we tried 3 differant TA's and P & O for our september cruise and all the prices came out the same. sorry to be a nerd but which company is TA. thanks vanessa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dorsetlad Posted November 9, 2011 #22 Share Posted November 9, 2011 TA is merely an abbreviation of Travel Agent. Brian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daiB Posted November 9, 2011 #23 Share Posted November 9, 2011 sorry to be a nerd but which company is TA. thanks vanessa Not nerdy at all. A TA is a Travel Agent. Or sometimes especially on Cunard a Transatlantic Cruise. BTW on these boards we are not allowed to mention individual TA's by name. Gan Canny :cool: Dai Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balernocalling Posted November 10, 2011 #24 Share Posted November 10, 2011 An interesting thread. The change in travel agent commission is theoretically going to give a level field. However from my perspective the big issue is not the commission but fluid pricing. At this moment we are not seeing just a few last minute deals due to cancellations or trying to fill the last few cabins on a ship but hundreds of reduced prices due to over capacity on cruise ships combined with the poor economic climate. This is particularily true in October to December and April. Balcony cabins around £60 per night and insides at £40 per night are not unusual. There is no reason to believe this will not continue. Indeed every reason to believe it will increase. Booking early used to be the best bet now I am not so sure. If you want a particular cabin you will normally pay substantially more for it and have to book early. We have never had any problem getting our dining preference even when booking last minute. We have learnt it is best not to discuss the price paid for a cruise when on board. Our normal tack when asked is - at the end of the conversation either we will be upset or you will so lets talk about something else! Whatever price paid we thought it fair at the time and can't change it so we just get on with enjoying the cruise. Personally in the current climate if we are paying more than £100 a day for a balcony including flights we believe we are paying over the top. That may not stop us paying it but at least we know whether or not it is truly good value. Happy cruising Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weatherman46 Posted November 10, 2011 #25 Share Posted November 10, 2011 I totally agree with everything Balernocalling has said. We also have never had any trouble getting our dining preference (usually anytime). £100 pppn or less is the figure we use as well, but for an outside cabin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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