Where have all the Porters gone?

[Harry Peterson]

8 hours ago, berlingo said:

Finally to make a major reduction to the service provided without notice or compensation as my brother and many others endured last week is sharp practice to say the least.

I agree in principle, but isn't that now the nature of cruising?  Every year something gets cut back or becomes chargeable in the ever-increasing desire to increase profits while keeping prices competitive.

 

It's what makes Ryanair so profitable, but it's what's also made modern air travel such a deeply unpleasant experience.

 

The trick for cruise companies, and related companies, is to try to achieve the profits without destroying the product.

[Angel57]

10 hours ago, berlingo said:

Finally to make a major reduction to the service provided without notice or compensation as my brother and many others endured last week is sharp practice to say the least.

 Agree with your post Julia. There will be many passengers not on this forum who will know nothing about any potential changes to the CPS parking arrangements. I would doubt CPS will advise everyone already booked with them.

[Flo71]

A possible compromise is to allow all pax to drop bags to the whole in the wall on arrival and then self park their car. Or am I missing something?

[Selbourne]

47 minutes ago, Flo71 said:

A possible compromise is to allow all pax to drop bags to the whole in the wall on arrival and then self park their car. Or am I missing something?

 

Yes, that would be possible, as it is exactly what many passengers (including ourselves) do when using operators other than CPS. 

 

The main problem, however, would be the confusion when customers meet the first parking marshall on arrival. Dependent upon whether passengers are dropping off or using CPS they are directed to different places. CPS customers would have to be explicit that they are parking with CPS but wish to drop off luggage first and hope that the marshall directs them to the taxi / drop off lane (the lane closest to the terminal building) and explains how to then get from that lane to the new CPS drop off. If the driver isn’t explicit enough, or isn’t aware of this change (and keep in mind that 99% of CPS customers will not have read this thread and CPS are not alerting customers to this change or suggesting that as a compromise), or the parking marshall just hears ‘CPS’, then the customer will have missed the opportunity to drop luggage at the terminal. 

 

As I said before, the biggest issue here, aside from the added inconvenience, is the fact that CPS is considerably more expensive than the other operators (certainly on 14 days or more, where it can be as much as twice the price) but currently has a unique selling point that it is the only provider where you can check your car in at the actual terminal. Some are suggesting that CPS will surely have to reduce their prices with that USP having been lost (at Ocean Terminal only). I would bet a significant amount of money that they won’t as, being the default provider for P&O, most people will continue to opt for ‘free’ parking, oblivious to the fact that it isn’t and it is dead easy to take additional ‘on board credit’ in lieu and then book parking with another operator at reduced cost. 

[AndyMichelle]

1 hour ago, Flo71 said:

A possible compromise is to allow all pax to drop bags to the whole in the wall on arrival and then self park their car. Or am I missing something?

I suggested this earlier in the thread.

It seems this is what you do with other companies but the consensus seems to be that CPS are more expensive and this was the only service that set them apart.

Andy

[majortom10]

2 hours ago, AndyMichelle said:

I suggested this earlier in the thread.

It seems this is what you do with other companies but the consensus seems to be that CPS are more expensive and this was the only service that set them apart.

Andy

It doesnt set CPS apart from the rest as we more often than not use P4C and we have always pulled up outside the terminal and unloaded our suitcases and the wife sits and waits with hand baggage after suitcases taken by porters. I then drive at Ocean terminal across to short stay car park and meet the P4C rep who takes photos and details exactly same as CPS and then I make the short walk across road to the wife and we walk into terminal. I hope this procedure carries on in the future.

 

Edited August 4, 2019 by majortom10

[besberry]

3 hours ago, Selbourne said:

most people will continue to opt for ‘free’ parking, oblivious to the fact that it isn’t and it is dead easy to take additional ‘on board credit’ in lieu and then book parking with another operator at reduced cost. 

The OBC offered to me is wayyy less than the cost of parking with any other operator, so I've opted to take the 'free' parking.  If it's as bad as they say then I'll have to get there at 8:30 to be on board in time for my lunch! 😂🛳️🍷  Seriously though, I'm not on Iona until September, so hopefully they'll have it running smoother by then.

[jeanlyon]

2 hours ago, majortom10 said:

It doesnt set CPS apart from the rest as we more often than not use P4C and we have always pulled up outside the terminal and unloaded our suitcases and the wife sits and waits with hand baggage after suitcases taken by porters. I then drive at Ocean terminal across to short stay car park and meet the P4C rep who takes photos and details exactly same as CPS and then I make the short walk across road to the wife and we walk into terminal. I hope this procedure carries on in the future.

 

Exactly, and when you get back it's usually quicker and nearer with P4C than it is with CPS.  What's not to like?  I have never taken our bags to the hole in the wall though.  We pull up, get them out on to the pavement and a porter arrives to take them.  I then leave husband and friend and take the car across to the short term with P4C and walk back.

Edited August 4, 2019 by jeanlyon

[moonstone01]

We are on the Ventura in September and have only just heard about the change in the parking/portering.  CPS replied to my email by saying that the change in the parking is to cater for when the Iona comes into service and that they have built a new covered drop off area.  The changes will make everything easier.  As for the issues with the portering they advised that we contact P&O as they employ the porters.  I suppose it wouldn't be too much hassle to take our own luggage but I do understand peoples complaints if they have difficulty with their luggage.  One of the reasons we used CPS was because of the ease of embarkation.

[terrierjohn]

On 7/28/2019 at 8:47 PM, Angel57 said:

What slightly annoys me is that when i opted to reduce my OBC and take the CPS car parking it was under the old regime of driving right up to the terminal and not having to manhandle my cases. Now, i am fit and able so it is not really an issue - but it is a point of principal that once again after having booked something (or at least a service that is offered by them) the rules change!!! Some passengers may turn up completely oblivious to any possible changes and this could potentially cause unnecessary stress. Anyway, let's hope the trial doesn't work......

Why are CPS not permitting dropping off the luggage then going to the car collection car park? There are plenty of drop off bays and it should be a much faster process if you don't have to wait for chauffeurs to be available. Seems a badly thought out procedure as usual by Carnival, why oh why did P&O not stick to their original plan to have  RCI take them over?

[Selbourne]

1 hour ago, terrierjohn said:

Why are CPS not permitting dropping off the luggage then going to the car collection car park? There are plenty of drop off bays and it should be a much faster process if you don't have to wait for chauffeurs to be available. Seems a badly thought out procedure as usual by Carnival, why oh why did P&O not stick to their original plan to have  RCI take them over?

 

I think you should be able to do that John, as long as there’s a clear route from the drop off exit to the CPS check in, without having to go back around again and re-enter the terminal area. Too much uncertainty for me, so I have cancelled the ‘free’ parking for our Iona cruise, taken more OBC and booked parking elsewhere. 

[daiB]

3 hours ago, terrierjohn said:

Why are CPS not permitting dropping off the luggage then going to the car collection car park? There are plenty of drop off bays and it should be a much faster process if you don't have to wait for chauffeurs to be available. Seems a badly thought out procedure as usual by Carnival, why oh why did P&O not stick to their original plan to have  RCI take them over?

Err RCI were not taking over P&O as P&O were to have 52% of the share capital. It was the other way round.

On another thread elsewhere P&O have been asked about dropping off first and have said  there is no problem with that as far as they were concerned. I suspect it may cause a great deal of congestion if a lot of people tried it.

Someone  also provided a link to the CPS website. Under the section what happens when I drop off, there is no mention of porters taking your luggage at all. So perhaps CPS are correct when they say, nothing to do with me ‘Gov.’

[daiB]

1 hour ago, Selbourne said:

 

I think you should be able to do that John, as long as there’s a clear route from the drop off exit to the CPS check in, without having to go back around again and re-enter the terminal area. Too much uncertainty for me, so I have cancelled the ‘free’ parking for our Iona cruise, taken more OBC and booked parking elsewhere. 

As we have so far to travel we always now book hotels with a car park, as we need a hotel anyway. Otherwise we would do the same as you.

Edited August 6, 2019 by daiB

[majortom10]

For those who use P4C or thinking of in the future I have contacted them with regards to the changes being made. They have told me that I will still be able when using Ocean Terminal be able to pull up in drop off lane outside terminal unload my car of luggage and wife will wait there while I take my car across to short stay car park to meet P4C rep as we have done in the past drop off car and walk back across to terminal. If there are no porters to take my luggage when I arrive will be no great hardship to find a trolley and take them to "hole in the wall".

[daiB]

3 minutes ago, majortom10 said:

For those who use P4C or thinking of in the future I have contacted them with regards to the changes being made. They have told me that I will still be able when using Ocean Terminal be able to pull up in drop off lane outside terminal unload my car of luggage and wife will wait there while I take my car across to short stay car park to meet P4C rep as we have done in the past drop off car and walk back across to terminal. If there are no porters to take my luggage when I arrive will be no great hardship to find a trolley and take them to "hole in the wall".

With the number of passengers I would have thought the place would come to a standstill without porters. They are going to there in the morning to unload the Baggage off the ship.

[Selbourne]

16 minutes ago, daiB said:

With the number of passengers I would have thought the place would come to a standstill without porters. They are going to there in the morning to unload the Baggage off the ship.

 

The porters will remain, but at the terminal where CPS currently check in cars. The problem is that they won’t be at the new CPS covered check in facility at Ocean Terminal. 

[daiB]

1 minute ago, Selbourne said:

 

The porters will remain, but at the terminal where CPS currently check in cars. The problem is that they won’t be at the new CPS covered check in facility at Ocean Terminal. 

Do we know this for certain as CPS do not mention porters on there FAQ’s now. So they cannot say where the porters will be. Who has said there will be no porters.

[Selbourne]

2 minutes ago, daiB said:

Do we know this for certain as CPS do not mention porters on there FAQ’s now. So they cannot say where the porters will be. Who has said there will be no porters.

 

I have had several email exchanges with CPS on this issue Dai and they are saying that customers will be expected to take their luggage to the terminal (as was experienced first hand by those on the cruises where this was trialled). This was also confirmed in a notice from CPS to P&O under the ‘what differences will customers notice?’ section (which was read to me over the phone by my P&O contact). They are saying that assistance should be available for disabled customers but fail to state how that will be delivered if no porters are stationed there. Perhaps they are called as required? Safest bet for disabled passengers using CPS would be to drop off first (passengers and luggage) in the drop off lane (where the porters will remain) and then drive to CPS check in, but they won’t suggest that because, as you say, chaos may ensue if everyone did it. 

[Chill Pill]

First post so please forgive me if I get this wrong. Thanks for all this info, am going on first cruise next weekend and have booked with CPS as I didn’t know any other. However I did get it in lieu of OBC for £140. From all your information I considered cancelling CPS, but what hasn’t been mentioned is that CPS charge a 10% cancellation fee. As this almost cancels any savings I will make, it isn’t really worth the hassle.

[P-L-B]

55 minutes ago, Chill Pill said:

First post so please forgive me if I get this wrong. Thanks for all this info, am going on first cruise next weekend and have booked with CPS as I didn’t know any other. However I did get it in lieu of OBC for £140. From all your information I considered cancelling CPS, but what hasn’t been mentioned is that CPS charge a 10% cancellation fee. As this almost cancels any savings I will make, it isn’t really worth the hassle.

Welcome to the forum.

If your cruise is 12 - 14 nights it's probably not worth cancelling CPS.

I understand that you chose the CPS parking instead of the £140 OBC.

If you cancelled and booked with P4C, the other recommended parking company, I doubt if their charges would be significantly less.

 

Edited August 6, 2019 by P-L-B

[P-L-B]

I have just checked and for 14 nights it appears that P4C charge £109 for their basic parking package and £115 for their standard package.

As regards to the CPS 10% cancellation fee i don't think that is applicable if you had the choice of the CPS or OBC options at time of booking.(Select Fare)

If you contact your TA or P&O direct they will be able to amend your choice.

[Selbourne]

7 hours ago, Chill Pill said:

First post so please forgive me if I get this wrong. Thanks for all this info, am going on first cruise next weekend and have booked with CPS as I didn’t know any other. However I did get it in lieu of OBC for £140. From all your information I considered cancelling CPS, but what hasn’t been mentioned is that CPS charge a 10% cancellation fee. As this almost cancels any savings I will make, it isn’t really worth the hassle.

 

Having cancelled a couple of CPS bookings, I can confirm that the 10% cancellation fee only applies if you have actually paid for parking yourself with CPS. Passengers who have opted for ‘free parking’ with their P&O booking are able to switch between free parking and additional on board credit (or vice versa) prior to the cruise and there is no penalty charge for this whatsoever (I book direct with P&O, but I assume it’s the same with a Travel Agent / Cruise Specialist). Whether you can do that within days of sailing I do not know. 

 

However, in your case, I would stick with CPS. It’s important to note that the change is still in the trial stage and will only affect 4 cruises at Ocean Terminal (until it becomes a permanent feature at that terminal). The change in CPS vehicle check-in simply makes them offer a service that is identical to several of the other providers, such as Parking4Cruises, so unless you are going to save a lot of money there would be no advantage in changing. 

 

The issue being flagged here is that the ability to check in the car directly in front of the terminal (where the porters are) is currently only possible with CPS and that facility will be lost. As the vast majority of drivers use CPS (as it is the default parking operator offered by P&O) it can also take a lot longer to check in your car with CPS (due to stacking lanes) than to drop off passengers and luggage and then drive to the short stay car park to check in with another operator and walk back to the terminal. The other operators are usually only cheaper than CPS on longer cruises. 7 day parking is usually no cheaper and with 14 day cruises the saving can be minimal. We did a 21 night cruise last year and saved well over £100 by not using CPS. 

Edited August 7, 2019 by Selbourne

[Eglesbrech]

1 hour ago, AndyMichelle said:

Just bumping this up for Eglesrech.

Andy

Thanks, I suspect that I will not be the only one who has been away and missed this.

 

We have actually been moved to Ocean terminal for embarkation from Mayflower later this year - just my luck!

[stocktonmackem]

I have just returned from Ventura. although they didn't do the new procedure for us I asked the question about what is going to happen in the future. The drop off area is the same place that you are sent to at present if there is a queue at the drop off lanes. The area is covered so not a major issue. I queried what happens if you are disabled and was told that you would be sent to the normal lanes and will get help from the porters to get your luggage taken out of the car. too be honest was a bit concerned at first but looking at the layout I think it will speed things up. How many of us have complained about having to wait to long to get into the 'lane' to drop off your car. 

Edited August 26, 2019 by stocktonmackem

[annieuk]

Am I right in saying that this change only applies to the Ocean Terminal and not Mayflower?