New confusion over fare structure.

[davecttr]

Remember the Vantage fare fiasco where late bookers were ending up in better cabins than early bookers and paying a lower fare for the privilage?

Well it might be happening again.

Apparently the cabin grades etc are 'different'. There are cabin types, inside, outside, balcony etc and within each type there are different grades according to position in the ship.

Simple so far...except

Buy a saver fare and you are allocated a cabin type with no option to upgrade

Here is the whammy

Are P&O repeating the Vantage fare fiasco by applying that saver fare restriction only to cabin grades within a cabin type? So you could buy a saver inside and end up in a balcony as it is not an up'grade' but an up'type'

Confused? I am

[towny44]

Dave I thought I was the most cynical anti P&O poster, but I think I have to defer to you.
Personally I think the new grades are better than the old, at least they better represent the difference in location.
Also I think the new prices seem lower than before, but only time will tell if early bookers continue to lose out.

[barney]

Just buy it and forget about Dave.

You'll never fathom out the madness that is cruise lines pricing structure.

In my opinion, late bookers will always get the best price on any cruise that isn't selling out, no matter the company.

I've a friend going on Voyages of Discovery in early May.
If I now booked the same holiday, their late saver price would have me about a grand better off than him.

It's exactly the same on land holidays. It's not unique to P&O

[Dark Knight]

The only time I would book with PandO again, is at the very last second and it would need to be an absolute bargain to et me on another PandO boat
I wouldnt trust them as far as I could throw one of their boats
there is no incentive to book early with them and there are plenty of other companies to choose from
too many people are blimkered when it comes to PandO, they should try something new

[oldbluefox]

too many people are blimkered when it comes to PandO, they should try something new

I don't think the other lines are any different to P&O when it comes to pricing. I have had a close look at what others have to offer and, unless you get a last minute bargain their prices are all very much similar despite P&O's rather chaotic pricing policy.

My view is, find a cruise line which suits your needs, going where you want it to go, at a price you are happy to pay and a date which is suitable to you and go for it.

Whilst I appreciate your love affair with Thomson it doesn't mean that anybody travelling with P&O is blinkered. They just have different tastes. It's as simple as that.

[Dark Knight]

No foxy
it is as simple as people banging on about PandO as though it were the only cruise line worthy of discussion and it is not
I have done 2 cruises with PandO and found them overpriced, over marketed and mediocre to say the least
all the fanfare and whohar from people devoted to PandO is frankly absurd, as they have no basis for comparison
perhaps if they were to try something else, they would realise PandO aren't as good as they pretend to be
My supposed love affair with Thomson is me expressing my opinion of an alternative, something a lot of people on here have never even tried
at least I have something different to offer on here rather than same,sorry old PandO related sycophancy

[Dancing Queen]

Dave I thought I was the most cynical anti P&O poster, but I think I have to defer to you.
Personally I think the new grades are better than the old, at least they better represent the difference in location.
Also I think the new prices seem lower than before, but only time will tell if early bookers continue to lose out.

I've only had a quick look but I tend to agree with you John prices do seem lower.

I priced a particular cruise ( not P&O ) for 2015 and it is £1500 pp cheaper than the same cruise this year, I could be tempted !!

[oldbluefox]

I had a quick look at prices and there do seem to be some good early offers.