More P&O Budget cuts

I've written a few posts now on cruise lines cutting corners, making budget cuts or just, in my opinion, lowering the overall standard of the cruise. However some changes are just so small and petty that you're just left asking
"What's the point?"
Such is the case with the notification email I had from P&O this morning.

P&O customer service

Far too often here you read about all the examples of bad customer service that I hear about from time to time with the different cruise lines. The thing is though we all know how great the service is onboard a cruise ship, so rather than moaning again I thought I'd share an example of some of the best customer service I've ever experienced whilst on a cruise.

Win a free World Cruise for P&Os 175th anniversary!

Did you know P&O is 175 years old next year? I know they're part of the Carnival corporation now but they're still British run and there's not many other companies that can claim a record that long.
As you'd expect for their cruises 2012 they've got a lot of plans with new cruises, destinations and deals planned.
The bit I'm most interested in for 2012 though has to be the date of their anniversary, 03rd July 2012!

More fuel surcharge increases

Just found out today that P&O, Cunard and Princess cruise lines will be putting their fuel charges up to £6 per day, up to a maximum of £200 per voyage. Unlike other cruise lines, who shall remain nameless however, (cough Fred Olsens cough), they wont be applying this charge to cruises already booked, just any new bookings made after the 28th Feb 2011.
The good news is that the increase will only apply to certain voyages, normally the longer ones, but todays top tip definitely has to be:
If you're looking to book a P&O, Cunard or Princess cruise this year do it before the 28th of Feb.

Strangely I'm on the side of the cruise lines with this one, if the price of fuel does go up clearly they need to put their prices up, it only annoys me when they apply it to bookings that have already been made.
But what do you think?

Happy Cruising

Who'd of thought it - Part two

Got that Monday feeling? Take a read of this and see if it brings a smile to your face as well.
Carrying on from my post the other day, (click here to see it), about some of the surveys to be found in our new Complete Cruise Brochure 2011, I'll be talking today about the ships with the best child facilities onboard. This being a post written by me however you just know the results aren't going to be what you expected.

Catching up with an old friend.

It’s been several months now since that last cruise disembarked and Ocean village is nothing more than a distant, but fond, memory.

For those of you who are clued up on your cruise news you’ll know that the Ocean village ships were ‘shipped off’ (pun intended), to P&O Australia to be rebranded, refurbished and then enjoy some sun in the Southern climes.
I thought it might be nice today to catch up with the old brand and see what the ships are up to.

Why is P&O called P&O?

I thought I’d share a bit of pub trivia with you today, ready for your next cruise. Do you know what the initials P&O stand for and where the name comes from?

P&O Aurora

I'd been looking forward to visiting a P&O ship for a while. I've been on a Royal Caribbean ship, two Cunard ships, but had  yet to see any P&O ships, the most popular cruise line in the UK.

As you're reading the following review you may get the sense that I was slightly disappointed with the ship. This wasn't true at all, she was fantastic and delivered 'everything it said on the tin'. My disappointment, I think, was my own fault. My last two cruises had been on Cunard ships and I couldn't help but compare them; which isn't fair. They're two different brands offering completely two different things. So if you're looking for a recommendation for the Aurora I'm happy to give it. She did everything a cruise ship should do and whilst personally I prefer the bigger ships like Azura or Ventura I'm happy to say anyone booking aboard should have a great time.

Don’t call, I’m busy cruising

Just a really quick one this morning to let everyone know I'm off down to Southampton today to board the P&O ship Aurora for the Cruise.co.uk Christmas party, (it’s a two nighter over to Bruges and back). All going well I should be back in the office Monday afternoon, so if you need me you wont be able to reach me till then. For all you hardened P&O fans I'll try to get a review written early in the week so check back to see all my pictures and see what I thought of her; I've never been on a P&O ship before so it will be interesting to compare it to the Cunard ships I’ve seen.

Happy Cruising  

Will Muslims say no to P&O?

I was booking a P&O cruise for a client late last Friday when he asked me if P&O would be ok to serve him and his wife Halal, (food suitably prepared for Muslims), food on the cruise. Assuming this wouldn’t be a problem as I had done the same with other cruise lines I went ahead and booked the cruise for him.
Calling P&O first thing Monday morning to add the request I was shocked to discover this wasn’t a dietary request they offered on any of their ships.