Saver Fares?

[longjohn]

Hi cruisers,
Has anybody been on a cruise under the new 'Saver' fare rules yet? How has it worked out for you not knowing if you are on 1st or 2nd sitting ? can you change once on board? How much are they going to charge for shuttle service at ports?
Cheers John

[Capt Black]

Some friends of ours booked a Saver Fare. They have been able, after booking, to request a dining preference. They don't sail until July, so they have to wait until they found out whether they get what they requested.

Personally, I think that not allowing Saver Fare bookers to choose a dining preference makes life harder for PandO. At least when people have expressed a preferance the restaurant manager has something to work with, rather than just guess. Maybe that's why our friends, have since booking, been able to make a request.

[Suekersh]

Some friends of ours booked a Saver Fare. They have been able, after booking, to request a dining preference. They don't sail until July, so they have to wait until they found out whether they get what they requested.

Personally, I think that not allowing Saver Fare bookers to choose a dining preference makes life harder for PandO. At least when people have expressed a preferance the restaurant manager has something to work with, rather than just guess. Maybe that's why our friends, have since booking, been able to make a request.

That's very interesting. There are 2 types of saver fare. One is Early Saver where according to P & O you are asked for your preference of dining before you travel ( but not on booking) then there is the lowest fare which is shown at approx the 90 day mark depending on how well sales have gone where they have said there is absolutely no choice of dining times and if you don't like what you are given it cannot be changed on board. This appears to have changed recently and on checking the web site under How can we help there is a form to complete to show your preferred dining. Not guaranteed but better than nothing.

We are about to book one of these Saver fares for June so time will tell.

Sue

[Quizzical Bob]

We're very interested in how these Saver fares are going to work out. Dining time is not important for us although we prefer Freedom and Late sitting in that order. I understand that late sitting is less popular anyway.

[david63]

I understand that late sitting is less popular anyway.

I think that it is more ship/cruise related than a generalisation.

My belief is that first sitting is more popular on the adult only ships and on the other ships where the cruises attract an "older" passenger demographic.

[Mervyn and Trish]

That's pretty much how we find it too. We've been on trips where our preferred late sitting has been over-subscribed and wait-listed, and yet on our last it was a bit sparse because apparently it was early that was in favour. A number of the crumblies who couldn't get on that sitting were doing buffets every night so they could have their cocoa and be in bed by 9.00! Okay so I exaggerate, but only a bit. But yes David is right. It definitely varies cruise to cruise