Pathetic charges

[Brian Raine]

Just returned from a cruise on FO Braemer.

We requested early dining as I have a gastric problem, but were given late dining (2015).

Call me stingy if you like , but on requesting a change to 1st from 2nd we were advised that would be a £2 pppn charge. In all my cruises, some 55 plus, have I ever come across this ploy. Needless to say we retained the 2nd dining option but ate mostly in the Palm Café at night, at a time conducive to my system.

The "all inclusive" drinks package was a farce, it included house wines/spirits/some soft drinks/draught lager/ beers/ 1 branded lager and 1 branded beer no cocktails or specialist coffees/tea.

You could not request a non wine drink in the restaurant on the AI package however if you paid for it you could have one delivered.

All in all it is the first time I have been glad to disembark a vessel, I suppose being unwell did not help,

[Mark_T]

Had you booked this cruise some months in advance or was this a late availability 'Anchor Fare' ?

Edited December 23, 2013 by Mark_T

[heywood]

It sounds as though you booked the Anchor Fare- which explains the dining arrangements in the small print.

We were fortunate that we got late sitting which is what we prefer but would not have paid extra to swap.

Other cruise companies have introduced two fare categories and restrictions according to fare paid, so it is not just FO.

With regard to the AI - we read on here and on FO's information and decided that it wasn't for us- we didn't want to drink something we didn't want.

[bobstheboy]

Join the club.

 

Of course you must pay full price to get all the goodies with Fred as the regulars will tell you. I hope you did get a good deal the thought of paying top dollar for my recent Fred cruise would upset me for ever. They are like Ryanair, additional money wherever they can get it.

[Mark_T]

Join the club.

 

Of course you must pay full price to get all the goodies with Fred as the regulars will tell you. I hope you did get a good deal the thought of paying top dollar for my recent Fred cruise would upset me for ever. They are like Ryanair, additional money wherever they can get it.

 

Not at all actually, just pay attention to the terms of any special pricing and you won't get unpleasant surprises ...

 

We certainly didn't pay full price when we got two cruises this year for the price of one, but you have to pick your offers carefully to make sure they fit with your needs.

 

I Just don't have a lot of sympathy when people ignore the published terms of an offer then complain about it later on (if indeed it is the case for this poster).

 

Fred has a long way to go before the Ryanair comparison would have any validity.

Edited December 23, 2013 by Mark_T

[bobstheboy]

Not at all actually, just pay attention to the terms of any special pricing and you won't get unpleasant surprises ...

 

We certainly didn't pay full price when we got two cruises this year for the price of one, but you have to pick your offers carefully to make sure they fit with your needs.

 

I Just don't have a lot of sympathy when people ignore the published terms of an offer then complain about it later on (if indeed it is the case for this poster).

 

Fred has a long way to go before the Ryanair comparison would have any validity.

 

You are probably right.

 

My cruise is still a raw memory so I am being very critical. Just can't believe they would want £2 a day to ensure a particular sitting for dinner. We were in the Avon on the Balmoral and had what we wanted, 2nd sitting. I know at least one couple who wanted to change from 1st and were ask to pay the charge, they refused and kept 1st sitting and there was space in the restaurant for them on 2nd, pathetic.

[Willow1686]

I was on the same cruise, and since I got a substantial price advantage from a late booking I really did not object to their request for £2 per night if I wished to change my dining sitting. I gather that P&O does something similar, so it's not confined to FO.

 

I also did the all-inclusive which I thought was good value at £10 per night; I wouldn't have paid more for it, but I knew what was included from the information on the website.

 

I went down with the laryngitis bug which was doing the rounds at the end of the cruise, but I was impressed with the efforts that FO make to reduce the chances of viral transmission onboard; I really cannot think of anything more they could do.

 

I hope that you feel better soon, and wish you all the best for Xmas and 2014...

[Brian Raine]

Like most people we booked via an agent, Planet Cruise in this instance. My wife does our bookings and is very savvy on detail. At no time during the chat was "anchor fare or any other variation mentioned, as for the AI package, we seldom imbibe whilst aboard but the agent suggested speciality coffees were included( which are not).The booking was paid for instantly and we received a copy of the terms and conditions via e mail, a little late as the pennies were already with PC, so any queries would have been a waste of time.

I appreciate that there are variations on pricing as used by P&O/Princess/Cunard but at no time have any of these companies stated "reduced fares means add on's else where".

This cruise was not full and they were offering heavy discounts on balconies, approx. £600, which was way less than the difference between our grade of cabin and the normal balcony fare.

Whilst the cruise was enjoyable in parts, getting an infection ( how I do not know all precautions were taken) in Banjul, did not help my overall enjoyment.

As a seasoned long time cruiser I know what to expect but FO threw a couple of curve balls this time.

[Mark_T]

With respect, I'd be most annoyed with the agent rather than Fred.

 

The Agent gave you poor and incomplete advice.

[heywood]

I agree, the agent seems to be at fault if all was not explained.

I understand that from next year, P and O will charge for shuttle buses for those on Getaway and similar fares.

I was surprised that FO charged for shuttles on our recent trip but we have paid for these previously on Cunard.

[1160451]

Sometimes I can't believe what I read on these forums.

The all inclusive a farce ? I just don't agree. But it's my opinion.

If the OP wanted a firm dining then pay for it.

We are always served non wine drinks in the dining rooms.

Surprised the OP didn't grumble about not getting any OBC like those of us who pay the full price to ensure we get the cabin, dining, shuttle buses etc etc.

And yes I am a Fred Olsen Fan, no apologies.

Happy cruising which ever line we all choose.

[bobstheboy]

Sometimes I can't believe what I read on these forums.

The all inclusive a farce ? I just don't agree. But it's my opinion.

If the OP wanted a firm dining then pay for it.

We are always served non wine drinks in the dining rooms.

Surprised the OP didn't grumble about not getting any OBC like those of us who pay the full price to ensure we get the cabin, dining, shuttle buses etc etc.

And yes I am a Fred Olsen Fan, no apologies.

Happy cruising which ever line we all choose.

 

It is your choice to pay full price and I am sure punters like you keep the cruise lines solvent.

 

I prefer to pay bottom dollar and even if I have a cruise which is below par for me I can still smile that I paid far less than others. My last cruise with Fred Olsen, excuse the pun, cost me £450 and I know others in a similar cabin paid over a £1000 - each. Happy days.

[1160451]

Hi Bob, that is exactly the point I was trying to making.

We often pay full whack to make sure we get what we want, but we also do as you do and pay bottom dollar and take what we are given.

Great cruise to Norway in September for around 400 (full price 950) but no idea which cabin and couldn't choose dining time or venue.

What I don't do then is grumble that I don't get the benifits of the people who paid full whack.

Going with P and O in January paid 1800 each with obc and all the benifits of booking early. Same cruise you can get for 999 today. But bet there will be somebody grumbles on the P and O forum that they couldn't pick first or second dining and their cabin was at the back/front and next to the thrusters.

[bobstheboy]

I wasn't grumbling because I, or others don't get all the benefits, it is just the principal of paying £2 a day for choice of seating. If it was prior to the cruise and I choose not to, it is pot luck, but when on board I would expect that if vacancies were available on my choice of sitting the cruise line would oblige. There were people on 1st and 2nd sitting who would gladly have swopped but would have had to £2 a day for the privilege. That to me is petty and greedy.

 

Anyway, have a lovely Christmas and here's to many more cruises !!

[1160451]

Yup, that is a fair point I hadn't read your post too well.

No skin off their nose to swop you if there was room on either sitting.

Take it easy and best wishes.

[Brian Raine]

The agent has been told of their inappropriate sales techniques, but that does change the point. We requested 1st sitting and a double bed( so we could have pushed the 2 singles together).Having seen a seating layout for the 1st sitting showing gaping holes with tables empty I still wonder why FO persist in the charge.

There was a charge for the shuttle bus in Praia and Dakar but no one checked the tickets , certainly on the Praia run, we went into town twice.

I would love to know how many posters actually read the "small " print in the T&Cs, if they do they may never bother to cruise again.

I suppose being an Elite member of Princess's Captains club with all of the attendant benefits does spoil you for any other line. Yes we have paid below the brochure fare , "getaways or whatever catch phrase they are using now" with Cunard/P&O/Princess ,we have never been singled out for additional charges.

As Iam now under instructions not to mention cruising for at least 3 months I better just fade into the background.