P-L-B

The fundamental problem of including gratuities in the cruise fare is that competitors do not. Many people look at cruise prices on the internet and compare them. This is never on a like for like basis. Some lines add gratuities or a drinks service charge or any number of charges onto the headline price others are all inclusive with drinks etc. but then that's not all drinks! P&O often include the air fare whereas others are cruise only prices. It is not as bad as the budget fare airline industry but that exposes the dilemma.

 

If you go for a fairly high headline price but people will look elsewhere at cheaper cruises and pay more as this is what most people like!

 

Regards John

John, I agree with the fundamentals of what you say but could you please clarify as I am a little confused.

I thought the argument put forward by some is that other cruise lines already include gratuities in their prices. This appears to be the reasons for some, to lobby and persuade others that this would be a good thing for P&O to do.:confused:

...and the standard response from PO is

 

It is spitting in the wind.

Was it your spell checker that auto corrected that word to spitting. ;)

We had an Eagle join us as we left St Maarten, it sat on a railing outside at the back by a window and didn't bat an eyelid until the next day when it left at St Thomas, it used us as a lift! I have a picture of it somewhere.

Actually those pictures were taken on-board Oceana in the Caribbean.

I and a few others e-mailed P&O to tell them to add gratuitys onto cruise price and a phone call back from P&O customer services acknowledged this.

Maybe more people need to email P&O regarding this.

 

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Can you elaborate on a few and would they be you average typical P&O cruiser.

Interesting! It quite made our day actually. We had other birds on board, but that is quite normal. Swifts, swallows, couple of pigeons.

We had a feathered friend with us on-board Oceana some years ago.

It stayed with us for several days if I recall.

We have also seen Swifts and Swallows on several occasions on other cruises.

Heard that from you sooooooooooooo many times.

 

I have come to the conclusion that PO will manipulate any system , because they will invent it and will invent what they want from it.

 

Secondly I am also sure that, whilst I want a good wage for the staff, it really is not for me to start questioning what other people do. If they want to leave AG's off and that means they go up for those who pay, then that is up to each individual, though the evidence is lacking that is the reason for increases. I cannot complain how others spend their money. I can say what I would do, try and raise arguments to change someone else's mind. But to have the gall as to complain about their freewill choice, because it affects my freewill choice and because I feel obliged to exercise my freewill to do something I can now say they are wrong and are costing me money is an insane argument.

You raise some very good points.

Just looking through these posts and it seems some are more focused on others Tips/ AG'S.

 

When some poster puts they remove AG'S as they like to pay in person (Their choice) and

 

pay more or the same amount in full, you then get posts reading "but do they ?"

 

Then we get a posters saying "we pay full AG's and more " ..... But do they ?

 

What's good for the Goose as the saying goes. Does it really matter ?

 

 

I think we should look at P&O as it is their rules that are making some think this way and this will suit P&O otherwise

why would they start printing these letters ?

 

For the poster who wants to e-mail the person who signed these letters off then you need to write to Paul Ludlow (senior vice president P&O cruises) and tell him about being stupid.;)

I am with you on that, and also came to same conclusion.

Best place for it.

You had already given your reasons when stopping AG as GS and that should have been enough.

 

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Agreed.

As has been already said there are lots of posts already on this subject.

In my opinion P&O have sort fit to introduce this policy because passengers have taken advantage of previous no restrictions on drink.

Just wondering if we would enjoy a Strictly Come Dancing cruise if we are not fans. We are restricted on travel dates and like the ports on Azura but it is a themed Strictly Come Dancing cruise. Have spoken to P & O who said it is Strictly orientated but we could enjoy all usual activities. So just asking if anyone can tell me if the cruise is really just for Strictly fans or if it is a normal cruise with Strictly add ons which we can avoid. (Travelling with a teenager who will not want to go anywhere near anything associated with Strictly and as adults we would also prefer other entertainment/shows.)

 

Thanks.

Just my opinion.

A lot of the activities, talks and exhibition dance shows are obviously aimed at Strictly fans and Dancers. (Which we are)

We thoroughly enjoyed are Strictly Cruise but it would be interesting to hear from non Strictly Fans and non dancers on their experiences of a Strictly cruise.

So if I’m understanding all this correctly. People don’t like the AG being add when on the ship. They definitely don’t a letter being left out their cabin. They don’t like the Highlighters shows or the sail aways My question is why do they cruise with P & O then. What do they like

As they say you can please some of the people some of the time but not all of the people all of the time.

Or something like that.:D

Undercover letters then?

 

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They wouldn't happen to be brown envelopes would they?

If so they could be recycled and used for putting the tips in.:D

Appreciate all your comments and thanks for reminding me that P&O is UK in name only :(

Although, thankfully you don't get that feeling or impression when cruising with them at the moment:D

Sorry about the apparent rant earlier, it's just our family and cruising friends have a soft spot for P&O, as we have many enjoyable memories cruising with them over the years and the experience works for us.

Back on topic (apologies to the OP for going off).

I do think it's a very bad idea for P&O to reintroduce these letters (if's that's what they've done) for the reasons previously stated.

As far as we are concerned, we will do as jeanlyon and bin them.

This is supposed to be a P&O cruises (UK) board and I find it slightly annoying to see that some are lobbying P@O into trying to change the way they operate (not just tipping) and bring them into line with "other lines"

Why, there are lots of passengers perfectly happy with the way P&O operates, warts & all and do not necessarily want to see them change to the way "other lines" operate.

We and our friends have been loyal P&O customers for many years and hope to continue to enjoy many more cruises with P&O.

If things are done differently on other lines that are perceived to be better than P&O then everyone has a choice to travel with said "cruise lines" and stop using P&O, it's their choice.

There were also no letters on Oceana when we were onboard 12th-19th April.

I think Mark Zuckerberg has already signed them up to run his new Facebook policing force.;p

 

PS I know I promised I would say goodbye to CC on the thread that vanished but honestly you seem to be having so much fun I thought I ought to join you.

Welcome back to the party.:D

Thank you. I think I know which one it is.;)

Me too :)

I wasn't saying they were your words, apologies if you got that impression. I just meant it seems to be the thinking by some people; not just on here but on other forums as well.

Sam.

Sadly I get that impression too.:(

Same here.

My card came through the post today.

All now sorted.:)

I didn't want to add that to my last comment, but yes, I agree that it does seem that on here and other forums there seems to be an opinion that if you remove the auto tips then it is assumed that you won't be tipping much or anything at all. I know there is a minority that this certainly will apply to but it is wrong to try and tar everyone with the same brush. At the end of the day is it really our business as to who opts out and why (unless they have already stated on a public forum ;))?

Sam.

Agreed:)

As DaiB has said, as long as you present one credit / debit card per cabin at check in, your accounts are ‘linked’ and it doesn’t matter which Cruise card is used on the ship. I tend to present my Cruise card for 90% of our on board spend but my wife’s OBC is always deducted from the final bill.

Yes, we do exactly the same and it works fine for us.

As far as I know apart from swiping the cruise cards there has been no changes since we started in 2001. You always were asked to try the life jackets on.

 

 

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Agreed, no other changes to the procedure on our recent Oceana cruise. Including the fact that some people still put on their life jackets before being asked to do so by the crew, much to their annoyance.:)

Yes you have to be quick to give them a tip, off like a shot they are.

 

 

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Yes, agreed they are usually very busy.:)

You also have your cruise cards scanned now to prove attendance.

I normally give them £1 a case. Not a lot I know, but to be fair to the porters, they do not seem to expect a tip, unlike their American cousins!

 

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We have used CPS quite a lot and do the same as you, but agree they don't hover expecting a tip and sometimes do seem surprised to receive one.:)