Quite a few latish bargains back again - less than £50 pp per night

[Harry Peterson]

Just a heads up really, in case anyone’s interested. There really are quite a lot of incredibly cheap deals available at the moment, with insides at below the £50 pppn mark.

 

Not for everyone, but an absolute bargain for some!

[Megabear2]

The Norway cruises across the board running into May are especially cheap on a saver. Even a 12 night Arcadia sailing 2 May can offer a deluxe balcony for £1498 for two with a select coming in at an astonishing £1880 per cabin extra!

 

However as discussed elsewhere a lot of these May cruises take in the bank holidays including the Coronation weekend and a lot of in particular older cruisers don't wish to be away and miss that event.

 

What is interesting however is how this year the Azura fly cruises are holding their prices unlike last year when the were slashed.  I wonder whether this is because they are offering a far more varied port itinerary unlike their ex Southampton sisters?

Edited April 8, 2023 by Megabear2

[zap99]

37 minutes ago, Megabear2 said:

The Norway cruises across the board running into May are especially cheap on a saver. Even a 12 night Arcadia sailing 2 May can offer a deluxe balcony for £1498 for two with a select coming in at an astonishing £1880 per cabin extra!

 

However as discussed elsewhere a lot of these May cruises take in the bank holidays including the Coronation weekend and a lot of in particular older cruisers don't wish to be away and miss that event.

 

What is interesting however is how this year the Azura fly cruises are holding their prices unlike last year when the were slashed.  I wonder whether this is because they are offering a far more varied port itinerary unlike their ex Southampton sisters?

We are off next week on a TA deal on Azura. £726pp balcony, 3 nights hotel and BA flights. As our Britannia Caribbean in December is now about £600 less than we paid, we won't be booking any P&O cruises well in advance.

[Megabear2]

Just now, zap99 said:

We are off next week on a TA deal on Azura. £726pp balcony, 3 nights hotel and BA flights. As our Britannia Caribbean in December is now about £600 less than we paid, we won't be booking any P&O cruises well in advance.

Yes, know the feeling.  No early bookings any more, not prepared to subsidise the latecomers to that extent. My now cancelled and replaced Christmas Arvia cruise has dropped over £1,000 since we booked a month into it going on sale.

 

The cruise lines have treated us for mugs unfortunately so late bookings it is. Lesson learned, my Arvia cruise in May just ticked over £1,000 for me alone, I'm happy with that as I chose it for the extra port as I wasn't interested in overnight in Barcelona.

[Harry Peterson]

4 minutes ago, zap99 said:

We are off next week on a TA deal on Azura. £726pp balcony, 3 nights hotel and BA flights. As our Britannia Caribbean in December is now about £600 less than we paid, we won't be booking any P&O cruises well in advance.

It’s looking very much as if the old days of cheaper late deals has returned, for whatever reason.

 

Dynamic pricing and consequent very low prices on early bookings took over for a few years, and it was extremely difficult to better those prices, but maybe there aren’t enough people prepared to book that far ahead now to make higher prices after that stick.

[Ladyshopper23]

If anyone wants a short break I've just seen 4 nights on Ventura on 18th April for £188 per person (and even cheaper if 4 people go, it's £117 each!). Pretty much giving them away at that price!

[wowzz]

50 minutes ago, Ladyshopper23 said:

If anyone wants a short break I've just seen 4 nights on Ventura on 18th April for £188 per person (and even cheaper if 4 people go, it's £117 each!). Pretty much giving them away at that price!

Without being contentious  (me !) even if you paid me £188, I wouldn't go on a four night cruise.

[Ladyshopper23]

Just now, wowzz said:

Without being contentious  (me !) even if you paid me £188, I wouldn't go on a four night cruise.

Why not? Genuine question.

We did quite a few of the shorter ones when cruising re-started after being shut down for so long. They were restricted numbers though (our first one was on MSC Virtuosa and was restricted to 1000 passengers which was amazing!). Did Britannia for 4 nights over my birthday (was our first ever P&O cruise), and also Disney and Princess. We also did the maiden voyage on Valiant Lady, which was a 3 night cruise. 

If the dates were right we would definitely do another short cruise. My husband doesn't work Fridays, so if there was one over a bank holiday weekend it would be ideal, as no annual leave required (or minimal 1 night). 

Obviously we prefer longer cruises, but if it was a choice of a short hotel break somewhere or a short cruise somewhere, I'd pick the cruise. And especially at that price!

 

[July morning]

We live in Scotland so it wouldn't be a cheap cruise after adding flights etc but I did do a 5 night with my daughter and grandson last year (it was a trial😂) we drove down and had to add on hotel stops in both directions and just as well we did because the weather was terrible when we got of the ship.  If I lived reasonably near the port you wouldn't be able to keep me off 😂😂

[purplesea]

3 hours ago, July morning said:

We live in Scotland so it wouldn't be a cheap cruise after adding flights etc but I did do a 5 night with my daughter and grandson last year (it was a trial😂) we drove down and had to add on hotel stops in both directions and just as well we did because the weather was terrible when we got of the ship.  If I lived reasonably near the port you wouldn't be able to keep me off 😂😂

We are in a similar situation, as living in the far South West we need to travel up the day before so that adds on train fares and an overnight hotel. 

[Valfan]

13 hours ago, Megabear2 said:

Yes, know the feeling.  No early bookings any more, 

The cruise lines have treated us for mugs unfortunately so late bookings it is. Lesson learned, 

I couldn't agree more. After years of booking things at launch, I've not even looked at the last two P&O new season launches, and I won't do so ever again. I go on Arcadia this Thursday but the price has plummeted to £880 less than I've paid and that's just for the cheapest inside cabin. I can't work up any enthusiasm for the cruise at all. I feel used and taken for a mug.

[kalos]

22 hours ago, Harry Peterson said:

Just a heads up really, in case anyone’s interested. There really are quite a lot of incredibly cheap deals available at the moment, with insides at below the £50 pppn mark.

 

Not for everyone, but an absolute bargain for some!

 

Looks like others are doing the same .

For example .. MSC from Southampton 14th April 7 nights inside £337 pp (£48.14)

 

or splash out on a balcony £440 pp (£62,85)

They do status match  as well .

 

Again the ship is not for everyone but the prices are good

[davecttr]

When I cancelled my two Marella cruises last week saving over £6000 my TA said she was going on a MSC cruise from Southampton and as I don't want to fly I might consider them. She will report back and I will consider them for an alternative to P&O.

[CarlaMarie]

That is understandable @Valfan, but I do hope you thoroughly enjoy your cruise once you are onboard. Arcadia is a lovely ship. 

 

 

[zap99]

22 hours ago, wowzz said:

Without being contentious  (me !) even if you paid me £188, I wouldn't go on a four night cruise.

We pay more than that for a one night cruise on Britanny ferries. No food, but we can take the car.

[Harry Peterson]

39 minutes ago, zap99 said:

We pay more than that for a one night cruise on Britanny ferries. No food, but we can take the car.

Possible with P&O Cruises too, Zap. Quiet word with the butler and an appropriate tip…..

[TigerB]

I just want give a big 👍 to the OP; after reading one of his similar posts on another thread we bagged ourselves a bargain deal for next weekend. 🙂

[NavyPanda]

Of the 750 cruises on sale at the moment:

 

10 are under £50/night

28 are under £60/night (including the above)

120 are under £70/night (including all the above)

244 are under £80/night (including all the above)

 

The average (mean) cost per night for the cheapest cabin is £99.25, the median is £92.71. The most expensive per night is currently Caribbean (K326C) on Arvia at £304.14/night! 

 

All the prices are the P&O direct prices. Go to the right travel agent and you will save another 6% or 10% on Arvia cruises.

 

As this has been popular before, here is the current list of cruises under £60/night

 

Cruise	Nights	Ship	Date	Amount	Per Night
Mediterranean (K308)	14	Arvia	16-Apr-23	£599	£42.79
Spain And Portugal (G338)	14	Iona	25-Nov-23	£649	£46.36
Spain And Portugal (G438)	14	Iona	23-Nov-24	£679	£48.50
Amsterdam (N308)	4	Ventura	18-Apr-23	£199	£49.75
Spain And Portugal (N311)	10	Ventura	06-May-23	£499	£49.90
Norwegian Fjords (J303)	12	Arcadia	02-May-23	£599	£49.92
Spain And Portugal (N335)	12	Ventura	05-Dec-23	£599	£49.92
Spain And Portugal (J319)	12	Arcadia	09-Dec-23	£599	£49.92
Spain And Portugal (G402)	14	Iona	27-Jan-24	£699	£49.93
Northern Europe And Scandinavia (R307)	16	Aurora	02-May-23	£799	£49.94
Mediterranean (J304)	19	Arcadia	14-May-23	£999	£52.58
Spain And Portugal (G336)	14	Iona	28-Oct-23	£749	£53.50
Spain And Portugal (N429)	13	Ventura	05-Nov-24	£699	£53.77
Norwegian Fjords (R310)	12	Aurora	10-Jun-23	£649	£54.08
Spain And Portugal (N333)	12	Ventura	11-Nov-23	£649	£54.08
Mediterranean (J302)	19	Arcadia	13-Apr-23	£1,049	£55.21
Northern Europe And Scandinavia (J306N)	16	Arcadia	06-Jun-23	£899	£56.19
Spain Portugal And Canary Islands (J420)	16	Arcadia	28-Nov-24	£899	£56.19
Mediterranean (K309)	14	Arvia	30-Apr-23	£799	£57.07
Northern Europe And Scandinavia (B312)	14	Britannia	12-May-23	£799	£57.07
Mediterranean (K311)	14	Arvia	28-May-23	£799	£57.07
Northern Europe And Scandinavia (B322)	14	Britannia	01-Sep-23	£799	£57.07
Spain Portugal And Canary Islands (G437)	14	Iona	09-Nov-24	£799	£57.07
Spain And Portugal (B325)	13	Britannia	06-Oct-23	£749	£57.62
Spain And Portugal (B309)	12	Britannia	16-Apr-23	£699	£58.25
Spain And Portugal (N432)	12	Ventura	05-Dec-24	£699	£58.25
Spain And Portugal (G341)	14	Iona	30-Dec-23	£829	£59.21
Mediterranean And Canary Islands (A326F)	23	Azura	12-Oct-23	£1,379	£59.96

[Son of Anarchy]

Thank you NavyPanda for your research and number crunching.  Certainly some good prices per night out there.

[Megabear2]

Thank you for your efforts in providing this.  I'm quite surprised at the number of Arcadia sailing in your list. I'd assumed it would be the bigger ships with the large cuts.

 

Regarding K326C I was surprised last week to see the only currently sold out cruises on Arvia are two 7 night Antigua sailings. 

 

I was intrigued after seeing your research and as I was booked originally on the 22 December K326 14 night sailing over Christmas took a quick peak to see current prices. The current balcony select fare for this is now £1,000 cheaper than when my booking was made but apparently with only Manchester flights remaining.  Christmas/New Year in the Caribbean is clearly selling well this year.

[yorkshirephil]

10 hours ago, NavyPanda said:

Of the 750 cruises on sale at the moment:

 

10 are under £50/night

28 are under £60/night (including the above)

120 are under £70/night (including all the above)

244 are under £80/night (including all the above)

 

The average (mean) cost per night for the cheapest cabin is £99.25, the median is £92.71. The most expensive per night is currently Caribbean (K326C) on Arvia at £304.14/night! 

 

All the prices are the P&O direct prices. Go to the right travel agent and you will save another 6% or 10% on Arvia cruises.

 

As this has been popular before, here is the current list of cruises under £60/night

 

Cruise	Nights	Ship	Date	Amount	Per Night
Mediterranean (K308)	14	Arvia	16-Apr-23	£599	£42.79
Spain And Portugal (G338)	14	Iona	25-Nov-23	£649	£46.36
Spain And Portugal (G438)	14	Iona	23-Nov-24	£679	£48.50
Amsterdam (N308)	4	Ventura	18-Apr-23	£199	£49.75
Spain And Portugal (N311)	10	Ventura	06-May-23	£499	£49.90
Norwegian Fjords (J303)	12	Arcadia	02-May-23	£599	£49.92
Spain And Portugal (N335)	12	Ventura	05-Dec-23	£599	£49.92
Spain And Portugal (J319)	12	Arcadia	09-Dec-23	£599	£49.92
Spain And Portugal (G402)	14	Iona	27-Jan-24	£699	£49.93
Northern Europe And Scandinavia (R307)	16	Aurora	02-May-23	£799	£49.94
Mediterranean (J304)	19	Arcadia	14-May-23	£999	£52.58
Spain And Portugal (G336)	14	Iona	28-Oct-23	£749	£53.50
Spain And Portugal (N429)	13	Ventura	05-Nov-24	£699	£53.77
Norwegian Fjords (R310)	12	Aurora	10-Jun-23	£649	£54.08
Spain And Portugal (N333)	12	Ventura	11-Nov-23	£649	£54.08
Mediterranean (J302)	19	Arcadia	13-Apr-23	£1,049	£55.21
Northern Europe And Scandinavia (J306N)	16	Arcadia	06-Jun-23	£899	£56.19
Spain Portugal And Canary Islands (J420)	16	Arcadia	28-Nov-24	£899	£56.19
Mediterranean (K309)	14	Arvia	30-Apr-23	£799	£57.07
Northern Europe And Scandinavia (B312)	14	Britannia	12-May-23	£799	£57.07
Mediterranean (K311)	14	Arvia	28-May-23	£799	£57.07
Northern Europe And Scandinavia (B322)	14	Britannia	01-Sep-23	£799	£57.07
Spain Portugal And Canary Islands (G437)	14	Iona	09-Nov-24	£799	£57.07
Spain And Portugal (B325)	13	Britannia	06-Oct-23	£749	£57.62
Spain And Portugal (B309)	12	Britannia	16-Apr-23	£699	£58.25
Spain And Portugal (N432)	12	Ventura	05-Dec-24	£699	£58.25
Spain And Portugal (G341)	14	Iona	30-Dec-23	£829	£59.21
Mediterranean And Canary Islands (A326F)	23	Azura	12-Oct-23	£1,379	£59.96

Thank you for putting this together, some tempting offers, some will likely be even better nearer to sailing. The thing you have to be wary of is that these are lead in prices and great for people like us who are happy with an inside but sometimes when you do a dummy booking the higher grade cabins can be not much cheaper than previous times. It is a bit like select being several hundred pound more that saver on some cruises and actually cheaper on others when the OBC is taken into account. Some great prices regardless.

[TigerB]

38 minutes ago, yorkshirephil said:

Thank you for putting this together, some tempting offers, some will likely be even better nearer to sailing. The thing you have to be wary of is that these are lead in prices and great for people like us who are happy with an inside but sometimes when you do a dummy booking the higher grade cabins can be not much cheaper than previous times. It is a bit like select being several hundred pound more that saver on some cruises and actually cheaper on others when the OBC is taken into account. Some great prices regardless.

 

Yes Phil, lead prices as you say, to draw folk in.

Requiring an accessible cabin, we have no option but to call; and that is when some folk, when a higher grade cabin is suggested to them, feel the pressure when put on the spot, and opt for such without properly thinking about it; thus, they started the call intending to pay £1200 but finished it after shelling out £3000. A win-win for P&O!

When I called on Saturday for the cruise next weekend, I asked about balcony cabins; they had all sold out but she did say that, if they were available, a suitable one for us would have been an extra £1000 each, and that was still at the saver rate.

We were more than happy with what we paid, and very surprised that we could get an accessible cabin this close to sailing. It won't stop me going to reception on the first day though and asking that question, the cheeky sod that I am. #Yorkshire!😉

 

[1trainer1]

Where do people find these late deals?

 

we have a cruise booked for the 19th May and it looks like the price is similar to what we booked over a year ago, we are looking for the same time next year and this time i am thinking of leaving it closer to the time of travel

[Hampshire Steve]

Inspired by this post and another regarding prices I checked our cruise to Canada September this year and found it was worth me cancelling our current booking, losing our booked onboard deposit of £100 to then re-book exact same cruise in the exact same cabin for a saving of just over £1,000 from our original booking.

Thank you!

[yorkshirephil]

41 minutes ago, Hampshire Steve said:

Inspired by this post and another regarding prices I checked our cruise to Canada September this year and found it was worth me cancelling our current booking, losing our booked onboard deposit of £100 to then re-book exact same cruise in the exact same cabin for a saving of just over £1,000 from our original booking.

Thank you!

One of the advantages of booking while onboard. We booked Iona while onboard Arcadia for 2025, our cruise is still the same price but come Oct 24 when the balance is due it may not be plus we have seen another cruise that may cause us to cancel. The cruise you have booked to Canada used to be one of P&O's most popular cruises and carried a significant price loading, many years ago if you were not high enough on Peninsular/Portunas points you would not have been able to get on that cruise at general release. How times have changed.