P&O new check in procedures

[ChrisR42]

We have a long journey and sometimes are unable to travel the day before and stay over. Consequently we start our journey to Southampton at stupid o'clock and often arrive well before our allocated check-in time which, I understand, is linked to the class of cabin booked. If there was a waiting area we would be quite happy to sit and wait until it is our check in time. This would be far less stressful than either risking a delay on our journey or leaving our car unattended as we have a very small boot and our luggage is on view.

[Dancing Queen]

I remember the days when no-one boarded until 3.00pm there was never a problem then you knew if you arrived at noon you had a 3 hour wait, there was also a very limited afternoon tea once on board but did anyone care ... No !!!

People have become used to boarding at noon, so that's the expectation - this is one area where people don't want to return to the old days

And that is where the problem is Gill it is what we expect but whether people want to return to the old days or not there has to be some sort of system in place to accommodate bigger ships and a larger number of passengers.

I appreciate it isn't always easy to time your arrival at the port and most of us like to give ourselves a couple of hours leeway for the 'unexpected' but instead of moaning maybe people should try to come up with an alternative solution and advise P&O accordingly, I'm sure they are not doing this just to upset people.

[Raybosailor]

Absolutely agree about the buffet being well-presented and the staff most definitely friendly and efficient. You must have been on different ships to us, though, Ray as many of the passengers are far from polite and orderly, especially on embarkation day. Maybe we hit rush hour but it was usually a case of every man for himself and bug*er the others. OK, maybe just a personal preference but I would much rather sit in a quiet and civilised environment than have to battle for a bite to eat !

It's a weird thing about buffets.

Throughout the cruise, I quite happily use the buffet for most breakfasts and lunches, and rarely, if ever, see any of this bad behaviour.

Yet people who 'never' go in the buffet, 'always' see bad behaviour!

Quite right Gill, to be honest I rarely use buffets anywhere else but I am quite happy to use them on P&O ships, If someone wants to push by me to get the last egg in the tray that's fine because I know I will be first in line for the fresh ones.

The only people that do annoy me are the buffet surfers, by that I mean the people that walk into the buffet and do a grand tour looking at whats on offer, they walk up and down without any real purpose getting in peoples way and then they dive into the que at the place they want to be. Then they realise that if they had joined the que at the start they would be in possession of a tray and cutlery, so off they go again to get a tray and rejoin the que where they start loading only to realise that further back in the que there is something else they need. They remind me of bees in a flower bed hopping from flower to flower sometimes bumping into other bees.

[gravy1955]

I remember the days when no-one boarded until 3.00pm there was never a problem then you knew if you arrived at noon you had a 3 hour wait, there was also a very limited afternoon tea once on board but did anyone care ... No !!!

People have become used to boarding at noon, so that's the expectation - this is one area where people don't want to return to the old days

And that is where the problem is Gill it is what we expect but whether people want to return to the old days or not there has to be some sort of system in place to accommodate bigger ships and a larger number of passengers.

I appreciate it isn't always easy to time your arrival at the port and most of us like to give ourselves a couple of hours leeway for the 'unexpected' but instead of moaning maybe people should try to come up with an alternative solution and advise P&O accordingly, I'm sure they are not doing this just to upset people.

It was the cruise lines that decided to go with mega sized ships so they should have ensured that they had the infrastructure in place to cope with 4000 passengers.Earlier posts have suggested an alternative solution; open more security decks, open more check-ins, and generally employ more staff to cope with the passenger expectations.

[towny44]

Got to keep harking back to my maint point.
Its not about numbers of staff and operating costs either on the ship or in the terminal, the numbers in the terminal seem to be the same for P&O and Celebrity, although I do feel that whoever employs them the Celebrity check in and security staff are more efficient than those used by P&O.
The main point is that other cruise lines do the same job better than P&O, and without antagonising their customers, so wake up P&O and get your act together.

[david63]

This whole issue is caused by trying to control boarding by check-in which in turn is due to bad terminal design.

The system should be more akin to an airport - you check in at whatever time suits you. You then go into the departure lounge to await your boarding time and it is only then that you board. Very easy to control by scanning cruise cards.

Oh yes, I have just remembered, this is how it used to be done 15 years ago.

[Kendhni]

This whole issue is caused by trying to control boarding by check-in which in turn is due to bad terminal design.

The system should be more akin to an airport - you check in at whatever time suits you. You then go into the departure lounge to await your boarding time and it is only then that you board. Very easy to control by scanning cruise cards.

Oh yes, I have just remembered, this is how it used to be done 15 years ago.

So then we have to wonder why it was changed from that system? I am sure there were valid reasons.

It still wouldn't stop various people from complaining about not being able to sit/stand for more than 5 minutes and complaints from people who arrived several hours before their allotted time complaining about those who have arrived at the right time being allowed to board first.

I would be certain that the time slots are to stop the terminal turning into a cattle market.

[Quizzical Bob]

This whole issue is caused by trying to control boarding by check-in which in turn is due to bad terminal design.

The system should be more akin to an airport - you check in at whatever time suits you. You then go into the departure lounge to await your boarding time and it is only then that you board. Very easy to control by scanning cruise cards.

Oh yes, I have just remembered, this is how it used to be done 15 years ago.

So then we have to wonder why it was changed from that system? I am sure there were valid reasons.

It still wouldn't stop various people from complaining about not being able to sit/stand for more than 5 minutes and complaints from people who arrived several hours before their allotted time complaining about those who have arrived at the right time being allowed to board first.

I would be certain that the time slots are to stop the terminal turning into a cattle market.

I strongly suspect it's an attempt at money-saving by trying to get away with using fewer staff. Unfortunately they don't seem to understand the difficulties of getting a couple of thousand people to turn up to the nearest ten minutes.

[towny44]

Copied from a CC post comparing Royal Caribbean system to P&O, apparently check in staff are now mobile and use ipads to check in passengers, this comment relates to boarding Anthem OTS, which has more passengers than any P&O ship.

Yes the minor scan of the passport is done by staff in the lobby, they are standing up and a lady at the front door pointed us to a free one. The photo is already taken, the on-board account is already set up, no need to hand out sea passes as they are waiting outside the cabin with the wow bands on the bed. We literally didn't sit down from getting through the front door to being on the ship. Its that organised.

So clearly boarding can be and is done better than P&O.

[Stephen]

What's a WOW band.

[Quizzical Bob]

What's a WOW band.

I think they brought out a charity single last Christmas.

[emjay45]

Ok, fireproof undies on and flack jacket tightened up ....... and apologies before I start, BUT the cruise line is there for the convenience and enjoyment (and safety) of the passengers. People don't pay good money for a cruise holiday to be treated unpleasantly and patronised

We all pay our money, we all look forward to our holiday, and none of us can be blamed for our residential location - we all live wherever we live, and that's that. Travel can be a worry and stressful for some people, and we all do our very best (insurance companies being the artful dodgers that they are) to ensure that we get to the checkin terminal with plenty of time to spare. I think that is the correct thing to do, planning to arrive before any time allotted by some office bound twit (or his computer) gives everyone an opportunity to undertake their surface travel to the port SAFELY, and it allows for any hold ups caused by mechanical failure, traffic problems - or map problems.

So, would this mega omnipotent prat like to order the lives (on check in day) of all the passengers on a minute by minute basis, and at the same time control the lives and movements of absolutely anyone who is likely to being in the same area of any given passenger whilst they are travelling to the port?
Maybe this bloke should come down out of his ivory tower and try just being an ordinary passenger before he starts meddling.



Rant over. Sorry. Power to the passengers.

Gosh EM you've certainly changed your tune since Dec last year. Although I presume you mean Power to the suite passengers? I'm a little surprised you are SO incensed on behalf of us P&O passengers too as you no longer cruise with P&O.

From our point of view - and I'm not being snooty - we pay for a suite, and simply because of that we expect early embarkation and early delivery of luggage.
It's just part of what we thought was part of the 'package' for having a suite - or a mini suite, and I do like to 'enjoy' all the promises made when we book a cruise being upheld and kept by the cruiseline and their agents.

Meanwhile, here's hoping that everyone arrives at terminals safely, has a hassle free embarkation - and that we all enjoy our cruises.

Em

Keep Calm & Sail On

I agree with you though, I think suite passengers should still have priority and I don't relish the thought of this 'Queue jumping system' at all.

[Frank Manning]

Ok, fireproof undies on and flack jacket tightened up ....... and apologies before I start, BUT the cruise line is there for the convenience and enjoyment (and safety) of the passengers. People don't pay good money for a cruise holiday to be treated unpleasantly and patronised

We all pay our money, we all look forward to our holiday, and none of us can be blamed for our residential location - we all live wherever we live, and that's that. Travel can be a worry and stressful for some people, and we all do our very best (insurance companies being the artful dodgers that they are) to ensure that we get to the checkin terminal with plenty of time to spare. I think that is the correct thing to do, planning to arrive before any time allotted by some office bound twit (or his computer) gives everyone an opportunity to undertake their surface travel to the port SAFELY, and it allows for any hold ups caused by mechanical failure, traffic problems - or map problems.

So, would this mega omnipotent prat like to order the lives (on check in day) of all the passengers on a minute by minute basis, and at the same time control the lives and movements of absolutely anyone who is likely to being in the same area of any given passenger whilst they are travelling to the port?
Maybe this bloke should come down out of his ivory tower and try just being an ordinary passenger before he starts meddling.



Rant over. Sorry. Power to the passengers.

Gosh EM you've certainly changed your tune since Dec last year. Although I presume you mean Power to the suite passengers? I'm a little surprised you are SO incensed on behalf of us P&O passengers too as you no longer cruise with P&O.

From our point of view - and I'm not being snooty - we pay for a suite, and simply because of that we expect early embarkation and early delivery of luggage.
It's just part of what we thought was part of the 'package' for having a suite - or a mini suite, and I do like to 'enjoy' all the promises made when we book a cruise being upheld and kept by the cruiseline and their agents.

Meanwhile, here's hoping that everyone arrives at terminals safely, has a hassle free embarkation - and that we all enjoy our cruises.

Em

Keep Calm & Sail On

I agree with you though, I think suite passengers should still have priority and I don't relish the thought of this 'Queue jumping system' at all.

Well said Em. If you can afford a suite, and want one, then enjoy it and all the perks.

[emjay45]

Hi Frank
The second quote was EM (Boris) not me I know you sometimes call me EM. Like you though I agree that if someone pays for a suite they should still have priority boarding. I just can't see us elbowing our way to the front of a queue. Why can't P&O do what British Airways do (If they still do). They had a check in desk for 1st class, another for club class and the rest for economy. If the 1st class desk was free they would call people from economy to check in. P&O could still have a priority embarkation desk and if it was free other passengers could use it.

[david63]

Why can't P&O do what British Airways do (If they still do). They had a check in desk for 1st class, another for club class and the rest for economy. If the 1st class desk was free they would call people from economy to check in. P&O could still have a priority embarkation desk and if it was free other passengers could use it.

Stop trying to use common sense - it is not a term P&O are familiar with

[Gill W]

The only people that do annoy me are the buffet surfers, by that I mean the people that walk into the buffet and do a grand tour looking at whats on offer, they walk up and down without any real purpose getting in peoples way and then they dive into the que at the place they want to be. Then they realise that if they had joined the que at the start they would be in possession of a tray and cutlery, so off they go again to get a tray and rejoin the que where they start loading only to realise that further back in the que there is something else they need. They remind me of bees in a flower bed hopping from flower to flower sometimes bumping into other bees.

Yes, that sort of thing is a bit annoying, and I think it's generally people disengaging their brains, rather than being badly behaved.

My pet 'brain disengagement' annoyance is when you are following someone out of the food area of the buffet, and they suddenly stop dead, to look for somewhere to sit. Many's the time I've had to take evasive action to avoid cannoning into someone gazing round the buffet. ( normally, if they just proceed to the further end of the buffet, there'll be plenty of seating, no need to stop at all!)

Back to check-in.

I agree that people in suite's should have some sort of priority, as they've paid a premium price

My suggestion is, that they should be able to choose their time in the cruise personaliser.

This would also be a good perk for the loyalty scheme, so Caribbeans, Baltics and Ligurians could also do this, with a cut off point about 2 months before the cruise.

Then that'd give P&O plenty of time to allocate the rest of the boarding times to everyone left, and to issue the etickets.

[oldbluefox]

Why can't P&O do what British Airways do (If they still do). They had a check in desk for 1st class, another for club class and the rest for economy. If the 1st class desk was free they would call people from economy to check in. P&O could still have a priority embarkation desk and if it was free other passengers could use it.

Isn't that something akin to what we already had with a priority desk(s) for 'Goldies' and suite passengers which was used by others when it was free? Why do companies try to complicate matters?
Personally I see no reason why those paying premium prices for their suites should not enjoy a simple perk of early embarkation and access to their cabin. Good heavens it will delay my embarkation by very little and once I have arrived at the terminal and dropped off my car I can relax, sure in the knowledge that the ship will not leave without me. What's the rush?
Having journeyed down to Southampton for the best part of 6 1/2 hours and stayed overnight I will arrive at the terminal around midday. If they want to be pedantic and keep me in the terminal until a 3.30 embarkation slot then so be it but I would think it easier and in their own interests to clear passengers through as quickly as possible rather than enforce a holding system. I fail to see an issue with having to patiently wait my turn if it is busy. I presume those who moan so vehemently have little else to occupy them.

[oldbluefox]

The only people that do annoy me are the buffet surfers, by that I mean the people that walk into the buffet and do a grand tour looking at whats on offer

You have probably come across me Raybo!!! I always go and have a look at what's on offer then once I get my tray I know exactly where I am going. That seems to be preferable to those who stand in the queue and then can't make up their minds what they do want so everybody has to wait whilst they dither.
However they are preferable to those who seem to want to take charge of the whole buffet range whilst they go back and forth getting what they want and everybody else is expected to get out of their way. Give me the ditherers over the aggressive and ill-mannered any day.

[Manoverboard]

Person or persons unknown who stop and then stare vaguely into space are deffo not restricted to P&O's buffet line, why, only last week in Sainsbugs I nearly shunted into several of the species ...

[Stephen]

What's a WOW band.

I think they brought out a charity single last Christmas.

[Kendhni]

Why can't P&O do what British Airways do (If they still do). They had a check in desk for 1st class, another for club class and the rest for economy. If the 1st class desk was free they would call people from economy to check in. P&O could still have a priority embarkation desk and if it was free other passengers could use it.

Stop trying to use common sense - it is not a term P&O are familiar with

I took it that is what Christopher Edgington meant when he said "we've changed the concept slightly from a number of dedicated desks to a queue jump system which will ensure the wait to check-in is even shorter."

[Peter D]

But thing is.

You have waited an hour in the Terminal, you have been called forward and finally got to the front of the queue, then someone who has just walked in takes your check in desk. Well....

[Manoverboard]

... you post your considered thoughts on Facebook, obviously

[oldbluefox]

But thing is.

You have waited an hour in the Terminal, you have been called forward and finally got to the front of the queue, then someone who has just walked in takes your check in desk. Well....

Is it better to have a few extra checkin desks or fewer since some are dedicated to suites and Goldies? Maybe the old system was better.

[Quizzical Bob]

Why can't P&O do what British Airways do (If they still do). They had a check in desk for 1st class, another for club class and the rest for economy. If the 1st class desk was free they would call people from economy to check in. P&O could still have a priority embarkation desk and if it was free other passengers could use it.

Stop trying to use common sense - it is not a term P&O are familiar with

I took it that is what Christopher Edgington meant when he said "we've changed the concept slightly from a number of dedicated desks to a queue jump system which will ensure the wait to check-in is even shorter."

That can only be 'even shorter' if the priority desks regularly had spare capacity that could then be used for the 'plebs'. In our experience if there is a vacant desk then it is used for those in the main queue although the on the cruises we tend to take there are more priority passengers than ordinary mortals.