An increase in marketing?

[davecttr]

I have a feeling that P&O UK was somewhat a cash cow for Carnival. Difficult to prove as Carnival don't publish individual profits for their cruise lines. The drop in the value of the pound means a drop in Carnivals dollar profits and their accountants won't like that. The response will be to cost save as much as possible whilst repositioning P&O UK to be a mid to low mass market operation and introducing economy of scale through new huge ships. If that does not work they will have to shed capacity, either by moving a large ship elsewhere or disposing of Aurora/Arcadia/Oceana. My money is on Oceana leaving as, although I like the ship, she does not have the facilities of many rival ships of the same size.

 

As far as an increase in marketing is concerned I am being bombarded by email offers and paper ones as well.

[bee-ess]

19 hours ago, davecttr said:

 

 

As far as an increase in marketing is concerned I am being bombarded by email offers and paper ones as well.

 

And another email today for Oceana this winter. Have certainly been bombarded over the last week

[emam]

On 9/10/2019 at 8:20 AM, dorsetlad said:

It's very easy to opt out of marketing if it becomes a problem. I opted out years ago, and when I want a cruise, I look to see what's available. Simples.

 

I would opt out, but if you do so, you don't receive your personalised cruise book. While those of you that cruise multiple times a year probably don't want them, I have only been on a small amount of cruises and like them.

[dorsetlad]

That is not true Emam. We always receive the booklet and luggage labels, even though we have opted out of ALL marketing communications.

[CarlaMarie]

I have been receiving near daily emails and brochures through the mail from P&O (I always wonder how much money this must cost them!). I have heard there is a general worry within P&O about filling Iona after her first season. Obviously the first will sell well as she is a new ship, but she is a big ship to fill in subsequent seasons along with all the other ships they have - and don't forget the increased competition for the UK market they have coming and Southampton sailings. 

[Denarius]

I have also noticed a vast increase in marketing material from P&O, both by email and by post. Hardly a day goes by without something. Apart from those publicising Oceana's new winter schedule, most seem to be pushing Azura and Ventura. I wonder if the majority of the bookings for Iona have not been from new P&O customers but from existing customers who would otherwise have booked on these ships. Passengers who sailed on Oriana however, are less likely to transfer to these ships which many of them regard as being too big. That may leave Azura and Ventura stuck in no mans land. Too small for the bigger is better brigade, but too large for the small is beautiful one.

Just a thought.

 

[AndyMichelle]

1 hour ago, Denarius said:

I have also noticed a vast increase in marketing material from P&O, both by email and by post. Hardly a day goes by without something. Apart from those publicising Oceana's new winter schedule, most seem to be pushing Azura and Ventura. I wonder if the majority of the bookings for Iona have not been from new P&O customers but from existing customers who would otherwise have booked on these ships. Passengers who sailed on Oriana however, are less likely to transfer to these ships which many of them regard as being too big. That may leave Azura and Ventura stuck in no mans land. Too small for the bigger is better brigade, but too large for the small is beautiful one.

Just a thought.

 

Great points, but, although they are pushing Azura and Ventura, the prices don't seem to be dropping that much? 

Perhaps that will change. 

Still seeing bargains on Oceana obviously and Iona, even Aurora has 7 nights for £428, but haven't seen this level of decrease on these 2.

Andy

[terrierjohn]

1 hour ago, Denarius said:

I have also noticed a vast increase in marketing material from P&O, both by email and by post. Hardly a day goes by without something. Apart from those publicising Oceana's new winter schedule, most seem to be pushing Azura and Ventura. I wonder if the majority of the bookings for Iona have not been from new P&O customers but from existing customers who would otherwise have booked on these ships. Passengers who sailed on Oriana however, are less likely to transfer to these ships which many of them regard as being too big. That may leave Azura and Ventura stuck in no mans land. Too small for the bigger is better brigade, but too large for the small is beautiful one.

Just a thought.

 

With the success that the major cruise lines have had in recent years, I would not try to second guess what their marketing priorities are, or why. The world economies seem to be slowly heading for a recession, so it is quite probable that efforts will be made by all parts of the travel industry to ensure each company maximises their revenues. So there might be some bargains available, we just have to wait and watch out for the opportunities.

[grapau27]

2 hours ago, CarlaMarie said:

I have been receiving near daily emails and brochures through the mail from P&O (I always wonder how much money this must cost them!). I have heard there is a general worry within P&O about filling Iona after her first season. Obviously the first will sell well as she is a new ship, but she is a big ship to fill in subsequent seasons along with all the other ships they have - and don't forget the increased competition for the UK market they have coming and Southampton sailings. 

I get daily emails from several TAs and airlines as well as from P&O and Royal Caribbean.

I also get daily emails from lots of companies trying to sell their wares.

Emails are cheap marketing costs and it is easy to delete the one's you are not interested in.

[daiB]

2 hours ago, grapau27 said:

I get daily emails from several TAs and airlines as well as from P&O and Royal Caribbean.

I also get daily emails from lots of companies trying to sell their wares.

Emails are cheap marketing costs and it is easy to delete the one's you are not interested in.

I am beginning to feel left out here. I have just had a count and in the last 2 weeks I have only had 6 emails from P&O and two pieces of advertising mail. When I look further 2 of the emails were regarding future cruises.

 

Who do I complain to.

[Clodia]

Just got back last night from a few days in the Lakes. 5 marketing emails and 2 brochures, mostly for Oceana this winter.

[Presto2]

The ones that make us laugh the most are the ones we keep getting from Oceania and Regent ---- in our dreams ;-)

[grapau27]

5 hours ago, Clodia said:

Just got back last night from a few days in the Lakes. 5 marketing emails and 2 brochures, mostly for Oceana this winter.

We get lots of emails and post from

Lake District Hotels Group.

[CarlaMarie]

18 hours ago, grapau27 said:

I get daily emails from several TAs and airlines as well as from P&O and Royal Caribbean.

I also get daily emails from lots of companies trying to sell their wares.

Emails are cheap marketing costs and it is easy to delete the one's you are not interested in.

I know emails are a cheap way of marketing to alot of people, but all the marketing via post must cost. We aren't just talking about 1 page leaflets/flyers, some of those I receive are small brochures. 

[grapau27]

5 minutes ago, CarlaMarie said:

I know emails are a cheap way of marketing to alot of people, but all the marketing via post must cost. We aren't just talking about 1 page leaflets/flyers, some of those I receive are small brochures. 

Most of the brochures come from various Travel Agents/ Cruise specialists.

[Eglesbrech]

Well yet more marketing in today.

 

The last lot was about a special offer that ended on 16 September so I should rush to book or miss out on this amazing deal, or words to that effect.

 

Well16 September has just passed and now on 18 September I have yet more marketing with a special offer ending on 2 December. 

 

Like buses if you don't get one special offer just wait a day or so a another one will come along!

[snaefell]

I would have thought that having a big new ship entering service would be reason enough to ramp up the marketing,one thing is for sure is that following these forums will not give too many clues one way or another IMO,the views are so erratic.

If you can cast your mind back to the announcement of Iona & her future sibling greeted by cries of 'we hate big ships,we won't go near them',along with Britannia being roundly criticised for the same reasons,now Britannia seems to have found a following that actually likes her & we are led to believe,Iona bookings are selling well,they don't really go together do they?

I know that at the time that Iona was announced there was a feeling on these forums that P&O were aiming at the so called 'Benidorm' crowd to fill their new bigger ships,the main problem I see with that is P&O's continued Formal attire code which I can't see going down very well with that crowd,living in shorts is more their thing surely.

As for the cost of cruises many people who are upset at RCI withdrawing Indy from the UK are even more upset as replacement cruises on RCI ships are apparently at very inflated prices.

Nothing is that simple!

[terrierjohn]

I imagine that since e-mails can be sent for free and the only cost is the admin charge, we should not be surprised that they are increasing.  Conversely we seldom receive direct postal marketing from P&O, not even Moments magazine, any P&O cruising offers seem to come from our TA, and not certain if P&O contribute to this. 

[daiB]

2 hours ago, snaefell said:

I would have thought that having a big new ship entering service would be reason enough to ramp up the marketing,one thing is for sure is that following these forums will not give too many clues one way or another IMO,the views are so erratic.

If you can cast your mind back to the announcement of Iona & her future sibling greeted by cries of 'we hate big ships,we won't go near them',along with Britannia being roundly criticised for the same reasons,now Britannia seems to have found a following that actually likes her & we are led to believe,Iona bookings are selling well,they don't really go together do they?

I know that at the time that Iona was announced there was a feeling on these forums that P&O were aiming at the so called 'Benidorm' crowd to fill their new bigger ships,the main problem I see with that is P&O's continued Formal attire code which I can't see going down very well with that crowd,living in shorts is more their thing surely.

As for the cost of cruises many people who are upset at RCI withdrawing Indy from the UK are even more upset as replacement cruises on RCI ships are apparently at very inflated prices.

Nothing is that simple!

To my knowledge every new ship P&O have brought in has been met with detractors. I do believe Oriana was criticised for not being Canberra. Arcadia was totally panned by lots of people on forums when she came into service. I was told very forcefully that Arcadia would not last 6 months and things were in place to get rid of her as the feedback had been so bad. Apparently this information came from the higher echelons of P&O and how dare I challenge this in any way. I may have won that one. Whatever people think the main bulk of cruisers on Iona will be exactly the same people on all the other ships, perhaps a little younger in the summer months and school holidays.

[Britboys]

I receive a paper-based mail-out by post in the region of once a week it seems these days and countless e-mails.  It is understandable that it has been ramped up a bit with the level of competition now sailing out of the UK and with Iona's berths needing filled.

 

In defence of the "we hate big ships" brigade, I am one of their 'members' and Dai - in general - have stuck to my guns.  I have sailed on Azura twice, once when there was little option for what we needed at the time and once on a short cruise with a large group of friends.  On both occasions I really did not like either the size of the ship or how crowded it felt to me.  I will not cruise again on either Azura or Ventura.  I may try Britannia at some stage but probably not for more than 7-nights, just to experience her.

 

Regarding Arcadia, I must say that she is the most 'marmite' ship in the P&O fleet.  I have enjoyed my cruises on her and have a long cruise on her booked for 2021 but generally speaking people either love or hate her.

 

It will be interesting to see what demographics are attracted to Iona after she settles in to the fleet.  She is going to be very different in many ways not just size.  There is no set dining restaurant at all and I do wonder how long she will operate formal nights.

 

I have no interest in Iona other then seeing her build process going on and I will be interested to see further renderings of her interiors when they are released by P&O but I already know I don't wish to cruise on her.  I am not being a detractor as I know the larger ships are very popular with a lot of people - just not for me.  I also know that P&O have to move with the times if they want to survive.

[snaefell]

We don't choose our cruise by the ship or the cruise line at the end of the day,merely by an itinerary that looks interesting at a time that is convenient,as such we have ended up on Britannia twice,first time was the school holiday cruise which was a bit of a nightmare,the other much quieter,we have enjoyed our time on board her.

[terrierjohn]

1 hour ago, snaefell said:

We don't choose our cruise by the ship or the cruise line at the end of the day,merely by an itinerary that looks interesting at a time that is convenient,as such we have ended up on Britannia twice,first time was the school holiday cruise which was a bit of a nightmare,the other much quieter,we have enjoyed our time on board her.

For us, since we no longer fly and my wife uses a wheelchair, we are the exact opposite, we choose our cruise by the ship and cruise line, and the accessibility of the ship.  Then we decide how hot we want the weather, and how few tender ports there are, zero being our preference, unless we can find a cheap offer on Royal Caribbean whose ships are geared up to make it easy for full time wheelchair users to get ashore, even by tender.

It's a good job there are lots of cruise lines to choose from to meet all our differing requirements.

[wowzz]

9 hours ago, Britboys said:

Regarding Arcadia, I must say that she is the most 'marmite' ship in the P&O fleet

I admit that I am not the most seasoned of cruisers,  but I find if hard to understand why people would dislike Arcadia.  Full prom deck, excellent theatre,  not too big, what is there to dislike?

[Eglesbrech]

8 hours ago, wowzz said:

I admit that I am not the most seasoned of cruisers,  but I find if hard to understand why people would dislike Arcadia.  Full prom deck, excellent theatre,  not too big, what is there to dislike?

I agree, we have always liked Arcadia for the reasons you describe and for her lovely art work.

[Harry Peterson]

One of the key reasons for the Thomas Cook collapse is being given as Brexit uncertainty.  So much concern about whether or not people are going to be able to afford future holidays. 

 

Older people are probably less worried than younger people, but P&O now depend much more heavily on younger people than they did following the acquisition by Carnival. 

 

Hence the heavy marketing and the low deposits. They may have a problem, and this is reflected in the Carnival share price over recent months.