What kind of people are p&o trying to attract?

[Ilovemygarden]

Interesting thread.  On our first (of many) cruises in 1997 we were told the average cruiser was “well bred, well fed and nearly dead”.   
thank goodness things are different now!   

[Interestedcruisefan]

49 minutes ago, windra06 said:

Untill recently I had the impression that P&O were a budget line (in my mind I had lumped them with carnival) but having now watched hours of reviews I think we will enjoy our upcoming cruise.

 

We did our fist cruise with Celebrity 10 years ago when we were in our early twenties, it was a little sedate but we loved how quiet it was, it suited our preference. We took the stairs everywhere to avoid the mobility scooters which were usually queing for the lifts, It felt like we were the youngest couple on board by around a 20 year margin and we got the gym almost exclusively.

 

This time around, we were attracted to P&O by the interesting itinerary, good veggie food and low price! Feels like a middle ground between the family oriented ships and those with a little luxury.

Based on reviews Green and Co (although it's speciality) is offering  vegetarian food far better than you will have had before on other cruises

 

But let us know if that's the case or not!

 

I will review on Iona next cruise. My wife's Pescatarian so she's used to trying lots of vegetarian food in the past. 

[Interestedcruisefan]

52 minutes ago, windra06 said:

Untill recently I had the impression that P&O were a budget line (in my mind I had lumped them with carnival) but having now watched hours of reviews I think we will enjoy our upcoming cruise.

 

We did our fist cruise with Celebrity 10 years ago when we were in our early twenties, it was a little sedate but we loved how quiet it was, it suited our preference. We took the stairs everywhere to avoid the mobility scooters which were usually queing for the lifts, It felt like we were the youngest couple on board by around a 20 year margin and we got the gym almost exclusively.

 

This time around, we were attracted to P&O by the interesting itinerary, good veggie food and low price! Feels like a middle ground between the family oriented ships and those with a little luxury.

With your attitude you will love it.

 

Which ship are you on?

[Yorkypete]

3 hours ago, Britboys said:

Indeed and that is something we have discussed on this board in the past. They are a cruise line very much in a state of change and where they are at present is that they are trying to be all things to all passengers. To a degree this works but it is a difficult balancing act and won't work all the time. They have some long-standing pax who are determined to try the new ships knowing that they won't like them and then they will have some who cruise on the new ships and then try the likes of Aurora and will be disappointed.

Fortunately they are big enough to withstand this crossover time and in a few years I expect the two smallest ships will have been disposed of and the style on all the others will become more casual as per Iona & Arvia.

I agree with much of what you say. However when the two smallest ships disappear and P&O are left with only a couple of large ships that will begin the downward slope for those over 60. The two big ships will not be able to, or prevented  from, berthing at many ports. They will be virtually floating Butlins or Disney  parks catering for children and those who like to just eat and drink on sea days.Remember P&O have not ordered any new ships and will be down to two in a couple of years.

Edited April 12, 2023 by Yorkypete

[Interestedcruisefan]

Just now, Yorkypete said:

I agree with much of what you say. However when the two smallest ships disappear and P&O are left with only a couple of large ships that will begin the downward slope for those over 60. The two big ships will not be able to, or prevented  from, berthing at many ports. They will be virtually floating Butlins or Disney  paks catering for children and those who like to just eat and drink on sea days.

They will just dock at ports big enough to accommodate them. 

 

Like they do now?

 

And they will only aim the cruises at families in school holiday time 

 

Like they do now?

 

 

[windra06]

11 minutes ago, Interestedcruisefan said:

Based on reviews Green and Co (although it's speciality) is offering  vegetarian food far better than you will have had before on other cruises

 

But let us know if that's the case or not!

 

I will review on Iona next cruise. My wife's Pescatarian so she's used to trying lots of vegetarian food in the past. 

We are going on Britannia so I don't think we have green & co. Even so I looked at lots of MDR sample.menus and there wasn't a night I wouldn't have something nice to eat so I'm optimistic.

 

Also planning to book Sindhu as soon as it's available to pre book.

[Megabear2]

1 minute ago, Yorkypete said:

I agree with much of what you say. However when the two smallest ships disappear and P&O are left with only a couple of large ships that will begin the downward slope for those over 60. The two big ships will not be able to, or prevented  from, berthing at many ports. They will be virtually floating Butlins or Disney  paks catering for children and those who like to just eat and drink on sea days.

It will still leave Azura, Ventura and Britannia which very few over 60 dislike.  There are only one or two on here who are adamant nothing other than Aurora and Arcadia will do.  

 

My aunt returned to Fred in January on Bolette.  Although her experience was complicated by catching covid she has stated she won't ever sail on an older vessel again because it simply didn't compete with her Princess cruises in Regal and Sky last year.  We are now looking at round Britain cruises for her later in the year but the older ships are not featuring on any line.

 

Not a good idea to just write off P&O based on the two big girls, many are very happy with her smaller mid sized sisters.  Judging by how many on here are enjoying Azura's fly cruises I'm guessing itinerary changes are more likely to be a problem than the ships.

 

[solentsam]

we are both over 60 well I am 70 this year but we like Iona been on her 3 times and Arvia once but have 2 more booked on her. Azura was our favourite but now its the big girls, so much more to do

[daiB]

To say that P&O will only cater for those under 60 is just barmy. We have just come off Iona with the average age being 64. This is a bit false as there were many years young children bringing the average down. 

 

The cruise line cannot leave out the over 65’s as they are the ones with the money and time to cruise. Our 2nd cruise, 1 week, had a younger element and a slightly different feel. Both however were great. No problems with children or teenagers, in fact I found them to be very polite. 

 

But what a fantastic ship with so many places to eat and so much entertainment. I suspect it would take a great deal of things to be right before my OH would want to book the 2 small ones again.

[jeanlyon]

I suppose it comes down to what you want.  Eating in loads of different places is not why we cruise.  Neither is it the daytime entertainment.  Just happy to be floating along (or bumping if it's rough!) on a ship, visiting different places and enjoying the sun.  We also like to do different ports, so with the Greek places on Aurora in October and a few others we haven't been to on Bolette next April, that's what suits us.  If Aurora and Arcadia go, then we will be on Fred or possibly Ambassador.

Edited April 12, 2023 by jeanlyon

[Vampiress88]

6 hours ago, Bobblehat71 said:

You may not think they're worth twice the price but your kids probably will 😉

RCL and P&O are not really comparable , for me they are totally different experiences.

they aren’t the ones paying though! 
seems it might be between for royal Caribbean and Disney flying to Florida and cruising from there. Hopefully in 2025

[Vampiress88]

4 hours ago, Bobblehat71 said:

A good friend of mine took his first ever cruise last year on Iona. He loved the cruise experience so much so that when he got back he booked a cruise on MSC Virtuosa. When he got back from that he booked another cruise,  on MSC! He loved his P&O cruise but he said MSC just offered more.

We had the opposite. Had been on 3 p&o cruises. Found two deals on MSC virtuosa and preziosa and still came back to p&o. 
there are pros and cons with both though, I wouldn’t say no for the right price. 

[Vampiress88]

1 hour ago, Yorkypete said:

I agree with much of what you say. However when the two smallest ships disappear and P&O are left with only a couple of large ships that will begin the downward slope for those over 60. The two big ships will not be able to, or prevented  from, berthing at many ports. They will be virtually floating Butlins or Disney  parks catering for children and those who like to just eat and drink on sea days.Remember P&O have not ordered any new ships and will be down to two in a couple of years.

I wouldn’t say it’s disneyworld or butlins. 
I will pay big bucks for Disney- far more than I have a cruise. Wouldn’t go back to butlins. 
 

also apart from the pool and the kids club there isn’t a whole lot to do aimed at kids other than eat and drink. Not recently anyway. There was some good stuff on Britannia last April. 

[davecttr]

1 hour ago, Yorkypete said:

I agree with much of what you say. However when the two smallest ships disappear and P&O are left with only a couple of large ships that will begin the downward slope for those over 60. The two big ships will not be able to, or prevented  from, berthing at many ports. They will be virtually floating Butlins or Disney  parks catering for children and those who like to just eat and drink on sea days.Remember P&O have not ordered any new ships and will be down to two in a couple of years.

News to me that Arcadia, Aurora, Azura and Ventura are leaving the fleet within two years.

[terrierjohn]

1 hour ago, Yorkypete said:

I agree with much of what you say. However when the two smallest ships disappear and P&O are left with only a couple of large ships that will begin the downward slope for those over 60. The two big ships will not be able to, or prevented  from, berthing at many ports. They will be virtually floating Butlins or Disney  parks catering for children and those who like to just eat and drink on sea days.Remember P&O have not ordered any new ships and will be down to two in a couple of years.

I wonder if the advertised refreshing of both Aurora and Arcadia help to maintain their popularity, whether P&O might extend the refurbishment even further.  If so it is possible that both ships could continue for much longer than has been the expectation on this forum.

It will be expensive for P&O if they are to improve the onboard experience, but the likes of Oceania and Azamara do manage to maintain a luxury pricing on ships that are quite elderly.

[Sonyar]

2 hours ago, Interestedcruisefan said:

Based on reviews Green and Co (although it's speciality) is offering  vegetarian food far better than you will have had before on other cruises

 

But let us know if that's the case or not!

 

I will review on Iona next cruise. My wife's Pescatarian so she's used to trying lots of vegetarian food in the past. 

Green and Co is plant based (Vegan). We are there 3 times. Wonderful food, but shows up how poor the rest of the Vegan food was onboard.

[Megabear2]

Multi million pound ships are not exactly Ford Fiestas to be traded in every 3 years.  Times do move on but a cruise line won't invest in something that will easily last 20+ years and not expect that it's clientele will change or the ship updating.  Aurora and Arcadia were once state of the art and market leaders and not adult only, they may not be now but then neither are the Freedom class RC ships or even Independence of the Seas who one correspondent waxes lyrical about.

 

Of course the newer builds are going to follow latest trends just like other transport options. Lots loved Boeing 707 aeroplanes but it's mainly nostalgia and if their flight to New York tomorrow trundled one out they'd scream blue murder they want a nice 787 or Airbus 350.

 

Who's to say come the next time Carnival decide to treat P&O to a shiny new ship they won't pick something smaller and more innovativein different ways? We can't and should not assume.  I'm pretty sure they know what's successful and the indication of money being spent on the older ships says they're not being written off just yet.

Edited April 12, 2023 by Megabear2

[Britboys]

2 hours ago, Yorkypete said:

I agree with much of what you say. However when the two smallest ships disappear and P&O are left with only a couple of large ships that will begin the downward slope for those over 60. The two big ships will not be able to, or prevented  from, berthing at many ports. They will be virtually floating Butlins or Disney  parks catering for children and those who like to just eat and drink on sea days.Remember P&O have not ordered any new ships and will be down to two in a couple of years.

Not sure why you think they will only have a couple of ships two years or so. I see Azura, Ventura and Britannia being around for quite some time yet and once the two smallest ones have gone, it is not beyond the bounds of possibility that a Princess Grand or (earlier) Royal Class vessel could transfer to P&O.

Whilst my association with P&O will end after Aurora and Arcadia have gone, many more long-standing pax happily travel on the other three three.

[Vampiress88]

14 minutes ago, Megabear2 said:

Multi million pound ships are not exactly Ford Fiestas to be traded in every 3 years.  Times do move on but a cruise line won't invest in something that will easily last 20+ years and not expect that it's clientele will change or the ship updating.  Aurora and Arcadia were once state of the art and market leaders and not adult only, they may not be now but then neither are the Freedom class RC ships or even Independence of the Seas who one correspondent waxes lyrical about.

 

Of course the newer builds are going to follow latest trends just like other transport options. Lots loved Boeing 707 aeroplanes but it's mainly nostalgia and if their flight to New York tomorrow trundled one out they'd scream blue murder they want a nice 787 or Airbus 350.

 

Who's to say come the next time Carnival decide to treat P&O to a shiny new ship they won't pick something smaller and more innovativein different ways? We can't and should not assume.  I'm pretty sure they know what's successful and the indication of money being spent on the older ships says they're not being written off just yet.

The ships are getting bigger though everywhere is seems on every line. 
 

there’s me pricing up royal Caribbean holiday for 2025- only need a good £15000ish. Anyone sending donations 😂 

[Megabear2]

7 minutes ago, Vampiress88 said:

The ships are getting bigger though everywhere is seems on every line. 
 

there’s me pricing up royal Caribbean holiday for 2025- only need a good £15000ish. Anyone sending donations 😂 

Not on every line, no. Celebrity Beyond has 3,260 passengers, Queen Anne 3,000, Rotterdam 2,700. Granted RC and MSC are going for giants which dwarf even Arvia and Iona but plenty of other lines are going smaller with of course the specialists like Saga going even smaller.

 

It mustn't be forgotten a lot of the very big ships were ordered before the pandemic as well.  What comes next we will have to wait to see.

 

[Angel57]

3 hours ago, Ilovemygarden said:

Interesting thread.  On our first (of many) cruises in 1997 we were told the average cruiser was “well bred, well fed and nearly dead”.   
thank goodness things are different now!   

I was cruising in the 1990s - thankfully, I’m still alive! 🤣🤣

[Megabear2]

23 minutes ago, Vampiress88 said:

there’s me pricing up royal Caribbean holiday for 2025- only need a good £15000ish. Anyone sending donations 😂

Are they on sale now?  I hadn't realised.  I've directed my friend's to look at them for 2025 so I'd better tell them to crack on. They're hoping for the £99 kids places which were on offer for this year.

[Vampiress88]

4 minutes ago, Megabear2 said:

Are they on sale now?  I hadn't realised.  I've directed my friend's to look at them for 2025 so I'd better tell them to crack on. They're hoping for the £99 kids places which were on offer for this year.

Only on sail to April. But I was just pricing up same dates for 2024 and then adding some on for inflation 😂 need a figure to work with in general cos I can’t get flight prices etc yet. 

Edited April 12, 2023 by Vampiress88

[Yorkypete]

4 hours ago, Interestedcruisefan said:

They will just dock at ports big enough to accommodate them. 

 

Like they do now?

 

And they will only aim the cruises at families in school holiday time 

 

Like they do now?

 

 

They will certainly NOT dock at ports big enough. Many if not all ports in the Med are due to ban all vessels which do not comply with the new regulations voted for at the 2020 convention re pollution and air quality. Many other areas have or are following suit inc most of Norway.

[Megabear2]

4 minutes ago, Yorkypete said:

They will certainly NOT dock at ports big enough. Many if not all ports in the Med are due to ban all vessels which do not comply with the new regulations voted for at the 2020 convention re pollution and air quality. Many other areas have or are following suit inc most of Norway.

At least their clean. Following on if your concerns are correct all the RCI and MSC ships won't be welcome either.  Might as well shut up shop all round!

Edited April 12, 2023 by Megabear2