Where does P&O see itself.

[towny44]

Well its clear where Carnival sees it in their latest sales offers, P&O's working class passengers are given M&S vouchers to buy their undies, whilst Cunard's middle class passengers get JL vouchers to spend on their waitrose groceries.

[Silver_Shiney]

Well its clear where Carnival sees it in their latest sales offers, P&O's working class passengers are given M&S vouchers to buy their undies, whilst Cunard's middle class passengers get JL vouchers to spend on their waitrose groceries.

Could be worse, John, it could be Ann Summers...

[Boris+]

Hi Alan,

Let's get real - why not Screwfix vouchers?

Em

[Gill W]

Oh, is M&S considered down market and JL upmarket?

I never knew that - I thought they were about the same.

I must be bottom of the pile, sitting here in my M&S pyjamas, amongst my M&S bedding, and my m&s bedroom furniture.

[Onelife]

Hi John,

Pretty low down in my estimation, especially so now that we have missed out on £240 worth of vouchers just becuse we chose to book early....not forgetting the alternative £900 we could have saved if we were given the option of booking "early saver"

Oh and before anyone says ..." you were happy with the price when you booked it" well "no l wasn't" but that was the price of the cruise then and l if l had known what l know now l would have waited a few months and saved myself £900 .

As l have said in the past l do believe the new pricing structure is a better way forwad but for those of us who booked unaware of what was about to be introduced we in my opinion should be entiltled to some from of compensation....

Regards

Keith

P.s....Then they have the audacity to write to me... and in so many words suggest that l havn't missed out due to booking early.

[davecttr]

Of course you could consider that offering M&S vouchers is so that it is easier to buy one of their dinner suits.

P&O hope that having bought your 'free' penguin suit you will attend formal night. An attempt to hold back the inevitable tide of casualisation.

Or they got a good deal from M&S

I am quite happy with my M&S vouchers, Lots of people buy their smalls there or in the case of cruise passengers might we say larges.

[Quizzical Bob]

Of course you could consider that offering M&S vouchers is so that it is easier to buy one of their dinner suits.

P&O hope that having bought your 'free' penguin suit you will attend formal night. An attempt to hold back the inevitable tide of casualisation.

Or they got a good deal from M&S

I am quite happy with my M&S vouchers, Lots of people buy their smalls there or in the case of cruise passengers might we say larges.

They don't stock my size any more

[Kenmo1]

Keith have you tried challenging PO about this ---On Cruise Critic forum under the PO thread there is an entry called New OBC Promotion and a lot of people have said that PO have responded quite well to their complaints and they have gained more OBC.

I wasn't sure from your entry whether you had already tackled them or whether you had received just a general type letter from PO saying you had saved by being an early booker. It might be worth a try.

Good luck

Maureen.

[barney]

Like most people, I'm not remotely interested in sales gimmicks.

Vouchers, OBC, 'free' parking. ???

Just the overall price interests me.

I always break it down to a price per night format, then if I'm happy with that, I book.

I'm fortunate in being able to travel at relatively short notice so that isn't an issue.

I used to love the anticipation of booking as much as eighteen months in advance but am happy to sacrifice that for the incredible savings made.

I sympathise with Keith but would also add, if you don't have to book early, i.e work, then don't.
If for any reason you can't get the holiday you want because it sells out, then choose something else.

Where does P&O see itself ?
Shamelessly British and appealing to thousands of happy customers.

[Onelife]

Apologies John,

I know this is off topic.

HI Maureen,

I've just taken a look at cruise critic and find myself unable to find the link you are refering to. Any chance of giving me some directions?

I've had two drawn out conversations with P&O representative both of which resulted in the same old twaddle although the one representative did say he understood where l was coming from on this matter.

I think my next step will be to write to them so any guidance from cruise critic that may bolster my argument can only help. Failing this P&O better make sure everything is screwed down as l'll be getting my compensation one way or another.....make no mistake about that ....but please don't tell them l've said that

Regards

Keith

[Kenmo1]

Keith, I don't know how to do links but this is how I found it

Cruise Critic then choose Community and under that choose Forums. Then under Cruise Lines P-Z choose P&O Cruises UK Then go down the thread until you see New OBC promotion. There 8 or 9 pages of complaints and towards the end people start saying PO have responded quite well to their complaints.

Your booking may be completely different but it might be useful - I got the impression that some people had rebooked but each case is different.

Maureen

[Dancing Queen]

Apologies John,

I know this is off topic.

HI Maureen,

I've just taken a look at cruise critic and find myself unable to find the link you are refering to. Any chance of giving me some directions?

I've had two drawn out conversations with P&O representative both of which resulted in the same old twaddle although the one representative did say he understood where l was coming from on this matter.

I think my next step will be to write to them so any guidance from cruise critic that may bolster my argument can only help. Failing this P&O better make sure everything is screwed down as l'll be getting my compensation one way or another.....make no mistake about that ....but please don't tell them l've said that

Regards

Keith

Think this might be the thread Keefy, there was also a lot of talk about it on the P&O fb page and as far as I recall several people were given extra OBC.

http://cruiseforums.cruisecritic.com/sh ... ?t=1959551

[BrianI]

Try this link
http://cruiseforums.cruisecritic.com/sh ... ?t=1959551
Brian

[Onelife]

Maurren, Jo, Brian

Thanks for the link l'll have a browse through some of the comment's then decide on the best cource of action.

Thank you

Keith

[Dark Knight]

M&S, John Lewis?

I would have thiought middle england would be delighted at getting vouchers for those stores, aren't they the mainstay of PandO cruisers shopping, shame they missed Waitrose, then every body would be happy
Mind you the way PandO is going with the cheap deals, it will be JJB sports and Matalan vouchers next year, with a food voucher for Aldi

[lioness]

We received an extra £200 OBC because we asked the question. Very happy indeed. Our cruise price had actually gone up by £20 pp, so in all we are £160 better off.

[GillD46]

We asked the question too, only we asked Cunard. Instead of $190 pp we have now got $1530 pp for our Black Sea cruise.

Definitely worth asking!

[lioness]

Blimey - can you spend all that. We definitely couldn't.

[GillD46]

Well tips are $27 dollars a day between us x 24 nights, so that will eat into it. We'll buy gifts or jewellery if necessary.

[barney]

Like you GillD, Mrs Barney & I rarely have problems spending money

She always sees something she fancies, a couple of days into the cruise, and eventually capitulates.
Last time was a rather nice handbag but jewellery has been know as well.

[Frank Manning]

Come on P&O, there were days when Cunard weren't fit to lick your boots. Now where are the Harrods vouchers?

[Dancing Queen]

Come on P&O, there were days when Cunard weren't fit to lick your boots. Now where are the Harrods vouchers?

You're a lovely man Frank but I have to disagree with you there

We cruised on QE2 through much of the 90's ...there will never IMO be a ship to match that, we also cruised on the Crown line when Cunard owned that, I won't knock P&O because we have had some wonderful cruises with them especially on Aurora, Oriana and the 'old' Sea Princess ( Victoria ) sadly P&O stopped ticking all the boxes for me so we went back to Cunard and quite honestly I wondered why we had ever left them

I would like to think we will return to P&O at some point .... Harrods vouchers - now you're talking, I could be tempted !!

[Frank Manning]

Ah maybe recently, but I am probably older than you DQ, and while Cunard had the old Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary, and the Green Goddess Caronia, they were just the prestige ships, but that was all. We had crew from a Cunard cargo ship on our chartered tramp ship in New York in 1960, asking for a meal, because the food was so bad on their proud Cunard ship. One of my friends was on Cunard and he confirmed that once you were off the Queens, it was pretty average. You would never have said that about any ship in the P&O group, they knew how to provide service and good food throughout their fleet, and their subsidiaries.

In the real Merchant Navy of those days, P&O were the cream... its just a shame that they are being Carnivalised now. Having said that we have never had a bad experience with P&O so far. We are going to give the Adonia a try, this summer. We might try QE or QV next year if the itinerary is right.

[Dancing Queen]

I was but a babe in the 60's Frank and it wasn't until many years later I was introduced to cruising so I accept what you say

We never got around to Coronia although we did go on her one year in Barbados ( in the days when if another ship was in port they were more than happy to let you have a look round, I also remember looking round a Princess ship but for the life of me can't remember which one ) that would never happen today !!

Personally I think it was a sad day when Carnival got their hands on our ships but I guess it had to happen, I wonder how different it would have been had it gone in RCI's favour if any different at all.

Both QE and QV are lovely ships I'm sure you wouldn't be disappointed, some great itineraries this year IF I wanted to fly/cruise which I don't so I'm hoping there will be more choice from Southampton in 2015, I have a couple to look forward to on QV though.

Did anyone see the programme on TV a couple of nights ago about the QE2 final voyage, it brought back a lot of happy memories even the tiniest inside cabin had special memories for me I had to smile at the comment Tony Curtis made about a corned beef sandwich ( up there in the grills ) I bet he didn't realise that even those of us in steerage got 'caviar' if we asked for it, I remember one lady on our table having it every night just because she could

[Frank Manning]

Caviar is nice with finely chopped onions and sour cream, and a shot of ice cold vodka, Jo. We had corned beef sandwiches at about 9.00pm every night in Donaldson Line. Then we used to make toasted cheese sandwiches in the chart room at about 11.30pm. Happy days! Sue and I must do a Cunard cruise before too long.

I watched the programme on QE2, and I agree she was a real beauty. They dont make merchant ships with hull shapes like that these days. BBC South are running a 3 part series 'Sea City' at present with lots of shots of cruise ships in Southampton. I think it is going to be networked. Last sunday was about the I.O.W, ferry Red Eagle on IOW festival weekend. They earn their money those boys.