P & o shore excursions - can I book before I go - using on board spend?

[ChrisPBacon]

I see this argument put forward do often on this forum. The fact that it's in the T&Cs and we are faced with a 'take it or leave it' situation, doesn't make it ok. The fact that we still cruise with them doesn't make it acceptable when they make sure everything goes in their favour, such as loyalty discount only kicking in after OBC has been spent.

 

The latest manifestation of this is them still charging a Select fare, and the advertising blurb STILL saying you pick your own cabin, but you go through to pay and they say you are only getting a guaranteed cabin. I think it might have been Selbourne that mentioned the Britishness of the P&O cruises, and I guess that goes for most of us. So we are left with little option but to accept it.

 

But for us, we choose not to pay a price that even after deducting the increased OBC, is still £1000 higher then my last cruise, which I returned from last week. That represents around a 20% increase in one year. We can now take three one-week holidays...decent holidays, for the price of a single cruise with a balcony. So we are opting to give cruising a rest for a while and we'll see what happens to prices, perhaps when Branson enters the market and the price war starts. Perhaps P&O are making their money whilst they can?

 

 

 

 

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[daiB]

Selbourne I never doubted your maths on this,but without wanting to sound too much like my friend Dai, chief P&O cheerleader,you did sign up for this as it is in the T&C's, but of course who ever reads them.

Now if you want to improve the loyalty scheme I am fully behind you, but IMHO at least with our level of spending and OBC the loyalty discount is trivial.

However I would like to see some of the Princess and RCI group benefits rolled out to P&O., 50-250 mins free internet on Princess and Celebrity, one off mini bar set up for Elite members on Princess, free pre-dinner drinks on the RCI group, anytime embarkation for all members on Princess and RCI group, to name but a few.

And finally I hope any review will not slow down my elevation to the Caribou peerage, which should happen after my 2018 Caribbean cruise.

 

 

Great idea John, I would like all of those as well and a car (free) from home for all my cruises. And of course 50% discount on all future cruises booked and new..

 

:). :)

 

 

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[daiB]

On the other hand as I have said many times before any benefits from loyalty schemes are little bonuses, extras nice to have but not enough to keep someone cruising with one company.

 

What keeps me with P&O, well a company who sails from the UK for 12 months a year, has a very wide range of itineraries, in a range of different cruise ships. and is scooter friendly. Also it provides a product which I enjoy

 

 

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[PRINCESSTHE BEST]

Selbourne I never doubted your maths on this,but without wanting to sound too much like my friend Dai, chief P&O cheerleader,you did sign up for this as it is in the T&C's, but of course who ever reads them.

Now if you want to improve the loyalty scheme I am fully behind you, but IMHO at least with our level of spending and OBC the loyalty discount is trivial.

However I would like to see some of the Princess and RCI group benefits rolled out to P&O., 50-250 mins free internet on Princess and Celebrity, one off mini bar set up for Elite members on Princess, free pre-dinner drinks on the RCI group, anytime embarkation for all members on Princess and RCI group, to name but a few.

And finally I hope any review will not slow down my elevation to the Caribou peerage, which should happen after my 2018 Caribbean cruise.

 

 

Don't forget the priority tender embarkation on Princess. Oh and the free laundry. :D

[aliandy]

Not exactly related directly to the above but can anyone clarify whether the OBC is used when ordering wine in the dining rooms? Thanks.

[Selbourne]

Not exactly related directly to the above but can anyone clarify whether the OBC is used when ordering wine in the dining rooms? Thanks.

 

 

Yes it is. In fact it's virtually any on board spend, including auto gratuities.

[Cruise Puss]

Not exactly related directly to the above but can anyone clarify whether the OBC is used when ordering wine in the dining rooms? Thanks.

 

 

Yes.

 

The only thing I know you cannot use it against is getting currency on board. The only other thing may be chips for the casino. Everything else you can.