Is P&O Cruises (UK) Next?

[john watson]

2 hours ago, Cruisemeister2002 said:

Although it has been pointed out that P&O UK passenger levels are supposedly far greater than Australia I for one know from experience that they have been dumbed down. Gone are many of the nice things that used to be part and parcel Of a P&O cruise. If it hasn't gone it's charged for and I wouldn't be surprised given we also have Princess, Carnival and Cunard all sailing from the UK if P&O didn't suffer the same fate as Au P&O.

All cruise lines have had things dumbed down because of Covid 19 and the huge losses from that period need recovering. Whilst Princess, Carnival, Cunard and P&O UK all sail out of the UK, they do not do so in such an exclusive way as P&O Australia do out of Australia. 

 

Regards John

[Mycruiseobsession]

8 hours ago, Cruisemeister2002 said:

Gone are many of the nice things that used to be part and parcel Of a P&O

Yes I think this is happening across all companies,  everything  costs so much more and they have to make some kind of profit but also have enough funds for the future.

 

P&O Au definitely dropped a lot of previous inclusions over the decade, this started prior to COVID and then well we all know everywhere  land and sea has changed post COVID.

 

Carnival Au includes more, longer dining hours, free icecream etc however their fares have often been higher that P&O Au and they don't do temporary/seasonal homeports like P&O Au were doing e.g. Perth, Cairns, Adelaide and across to New Zealand. With Carnival absorbing P&O Au and rebranding 2 of their ships but disposing of the 3rd we assume the seasonal homeporting will stop as it was this 3rd ship that would rotate around the country. Carnival are yet to confirm  that this is the case.

 

Princess Au has limited ports and itineraries as well, and whilst they have reduced their inclusion  offerings and Captains Circle Benefits the experience is still good.

 

Having the 3  sister brand names enabled them to offer a 3 tired experience. You get what you pay for. Now there will be 2.

 

Interestingly though, the P&O au ships that are being rebranded as Carnival will for next year at least still only be a P&O experience  - no Carnival inclusions. No free icercream. 

 

I think that yes, we are the guinea pigs and you may find some things will change over your way however culturally your experiences offered have been different to ours for a long time anyway.