I wrote a post last year called Vantage fares - Stage two and three, (you can click the bolded letters to read the original post). With the launch of the 2014 cruise season just around the corner I've just had an interesting update that I thought I'd share with you all..............
Some of what I've heard is definite information, other things are still just rumours but with the way things have been going I'm pretty sure they'll all be reality sooner rather than later.
Last September I told you that stage two of P&O and Cunards vantage fares would be to remove the dining option choice from their Getaway fares. This will now be the reality from the launch of their 2014 cruise season.
So in effect if you book on one of their Vantage fares you will be able to pick your cabin number, dining time and table size etc but you will pay a higher price. If you book a getaway fare you'll save some money, (sometimes quite a lot), but you wont find out which cabin number you're in till you arrive at the ship. Also, from April 2014 forward, (launch), you wont find out what dining option you're on till you arrive at the ship. First dining, (6:30ish), late dining, (8:30ish), and Anytime dining, (as it sounds), will be randomly assigned to you on the day of embarkation.
So far that's all fact, it is happening soon. The next bit though is just gossip and rumours I've heard but with the direction P&O and Cunard have been heading in it makes a lot of sense to me.
At the moment Getaway fares, (the cheaper options), are only released last minute, normally about three months before the sail date and are only released when P&O and Cunard are worried about filling their ships for a sailing, (no cruise line want's a ship to sail with empty cabins).
The rumour is that for 2014 Vantage fares and Getaway fares will be released together, (or at least Getaways will be released much sooner), and people will be able to choose which option they want when they first book.....
Vantage fares will be more expensive but you can pick a cabin, dining time and the choice of OBC, free carparking or coach transfers and you will get all your past passenger benefits.
Getaway fares will be cheaper but you can't pick a cabin number, your dining time and not only wont you get your existing past passenger benefits, the cruise you've just booked on a Getaway fare wont count towards your existing membership level. Also only the Vantage fares still be subject to P&O and Cunards price promise guarantee.
As I've said that last bit, (in italics), is just rumour at the moment but I can see it becoming reality very soon, (my opinion only), with the way things have been going.
What do you think? Would you be happy with this two tier system of good/bad prices, good/bad terms and conditions or will this latest move annoy P&O and Cunards loyal guests?
But don't forget, that bit about the dining isn't a rumour, it's now confirmed!
Happy cruising
Not good. So all this does it end in a scrum at the Maitre D's desk when you get on board. So things we used to get as standard are now being built into hyper inflated fares whilst the real deals have some basics now removed.
ReplyDeleteYes booking last minute means guaranteed cabins but they can easily sort out dining options. There should be much more discounting on launch sale events as they then sit all the deposit money for 12 months +... why leave all the discounting to the last minute. I kept a close eye on Wave Season this time round and the profit taking was breath-taking.
I think the idea is to 'force' people to book early for just that reason - So they can sit on the money
ReplyDeleteThere's always the option not to buy? It seems to me that everything we liked about cruising is gradually gone, that prices are definitely going higher and higher, some people (the ones that never dress for dinner), will just go to the self service restaurants. There's no real benefits now for loyal custom. The only thing is...that there are so many boats to fill and soon it will be the time for moth balling ships that cannot be filled. For me, I shall just bide my time. I can wait to be tempted, and until then holiday elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteAll this VANTAGE FARES has done is make me purchase a land based holiday for 2014,off to the DOMINICAN REPULIC for 2 weeks instead
ReplyDeleteJust another way to lose loyal customers who used to book early as there were decent discounts available and no late discounts available. You used to be able to book what was known as a stand by option which gave you some discount but you had to be flexible regarding dates and itineraries. I still managed to use this for my family during the summer school holidays. There were also fares known as friendly fours whereby four passengers sharing a cabin all got a nominal discount.
ReplyDeleteThe next thing P and O will start charging people to book a specific cabin number as Thomson do already.
This will certainly make me look at other cruise lines if they are taking past passenger benefits away aswell, who do they think they are?!
ReplyDeleteTaking away past passenger benefits as well will certainly make me look at other cruise lines after being a loyal P & O passenger for many years it is bad enough not being able to choose cabin and dining options, they have even stopped you receiving any on board credit when you put down a deposit on board on a future cruise unless you pay the vantage fare. What I would like to known who is the person/persons who have made so many changes recently (none to the good) and are totally destroying a once great company to cruise with. When all the loyal P & O passengers desert them perhaps they will think about what they have done. They will not need their peninsular club there would be no incentive to stay loyal if even this would be taken from getaway paying passengers who have stayed loyal.
ReplyDeletethis is some thing very good thing to do in Dubai. the best yacht charter Dubai comapny always welcome his loyal customers.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if the management of P&O and Cunard read these comments, or even care what loyal customers say. We have always cruised with P&O, but we can see standards are slipping. we have booked a cruise with Celebrity in October to compare quality. P&O do not take us loyal customers for granted. There are plenty of options.
ReplyDelete