S1971

Well tomorrow is the day it apparently starts on Britannia. If you're planning to take a tipple good luck. Have a great cruise either way.

So who would P&O rather have. Someone who cruises once a year outside of school holidays and spends for instance £500 onboard or someone who cruises 2 times a year in school holidays with no onboard spend? I don't think it's self evident at all.

I would imagine Tui put the price up to incorporate the all inclusive, so yes they would be more expensive. But P&O aren't all inclusive, so you'd need to take that into consideration to make a reasonable comparison, P&O currently advertise 14nt European cruise for £1,100pp add a drink package x2 and travel to port probably not much it to be honest.

I'm not comparing to other lines, the point I'm making is pay less on the baseline price and get less which is fine, but when they then take away the option of taking a tipple onboard and increase drink prices it is not fine, it's pure profiteering. If you are on the older ship then you are definitely paying more for less. Each to their own I suppose, but I certainly couldn't defend that.

Thanks for the info, once onboard I'll see what the inclusive menu includes, but £320 to upgrade 14nts isn't beyond affordable 👍

Absolutely cracking post, for me it's about principle. Post covid P&O have downgraded or taken away several things, less choice menus, some shuttle services, turn down services, no alcohol takes ons, increased drink prices ete, etc. Whilst I agree with others on this thread that baseline prices on the newer ship are lower, standards reflect that, so in effect you pay less and get less, which again is fine. But judging by some if the described behaviours, it's attracted a different type of audience which I wouldn't particularly feel comfortable around.

That's my understanding, we also paid, certain brands were on the AI list, other premium brands carried a surcharge. Incidentally, it's similar now , albeit you can upgrade to premium AI which apparently includes a quite extensive list of premium brands and cocktails. I believe from my travelling companions the upgrade price is £90pppw, all in the same cabin have to have it. I think it's a wait until August and see for me.

With Thomson you had the opition to pay to upgrade to all inclusive, my first ever cruise was on the Destiny, not totally sure when they went totally all inclusive though.

A large Ribena bottle may help 🤪 Just don't get caught 😁

Fair point, I thought I'd put the idea out there as most on this thread appear to be that older generation who much prefer a tipple of their own brand prior to their meal or a night cap, which has now been taken away from them. P&O all inclusive and no restriction on carry ons may of suited many of them.

Back people into a corner and they'll always find a way round it. By your own experiences, it seems highly unlikely they'll deny boarding for booze smuggling, I very much doubt they'll even have time to do a detailed check on all cases anyway. Perhaps Marella's got it right, should P&O go all inclusive?

I couldn't for one minute put a figure on their break even costs, but I'd be very sceptical that 60% would break even, but only to accountants could confirm that, even then not a good business plan.

But the younger generation generally have their one main holiday a year during the school holidays, most financially are not able to travel multiple times. The older generation on the other hand tend to be more regular cruisers and sail out of term times, especially during winter, that's possibly when P&O will feel the pinch, especially on a ship that needs to fill to its 5200 capacity regularly. "Biting the hand that feeds you" rarely pays off. As previously said, time will tell.

Quite possibly, but that's totally reliant on new cruisers becoming regular cruisers. The younger generation in my opinion are choppers and changers, they'll enjoy themselves then move on to something more exotic, unlike those P&O appear to be alienating regular older cruisers who cruise very regularly. Time will tell I guess.

Agreed, short term additional revenue, long term shooting themselves in the foot.

Like you, I'm a real cynic, I remain of the opinion that this is purely profit lead, however as people have mention they will not check luggage on embarkation day so the whole policy is pointless. The hypocrisy of the whole change of policy issue and reading stories such as yours has totally changed my opinion of a once "very good" cruiseline. The policy change doesn't overly impact on me, but the failure and incompetence to deal with incidents such as yours does, P&O will no longer be my comfort blanket as such, perhaps land based holidays for a while with the hope things will change. Just got to get a Marella one done first in August with friends, hopefully they will hit the right spot, ironically all inclusive with no carry on restrictions to the best of my knowledge!!

So yet another policy P&O have no intention of enforcing. Let face it, if they are not going remove passengers for some of the behaviours witnessed as described on this thread, then I'm of the opinion anything now goes on P&O. Shame really as they used to be such a reputable cruiseline.

In there lays the problem, after reading @Megabear2 experiences and P&O's lack of action it doesn't fill you with any confidence.

Posts 202 & 204.

Depends what ship though. The older ships are pricing at times up to £350pppn as previously posted 😳

Nothing surprises me anymore about the lengths not just P&O will go to extract your money. That said P&O (Carnival) seem to be getting experts at it recently.

Wow, extreme or not, I'm not normally shocked but what you have encountered and the absolute shocking response from P&O would put me off them for life. Regardless of how the alcohol was purchased, no one should have to endure such behaviour anywhere, let alone a cruiseship. I applaud your resilience, if it happened to me I'd never set foot on a P&O ship again.

In the grand scheme of things I'm of the opinion that it is the odd bottle in the odd cabin.

But would P&O then stop you purchasing on your cruise card, I suspect not. This is what makes the change pointless, they are not going to stop rowdy behaviour by banning to odd in cabin bottle, they need to deal with those who create the behaviour by removing them at one next port.

I totally agree. But what's has suprised me is the number of posts that suggests the frequency of booze related anti-social behaviour has risen so much. If that's the case, P&O need to address this by removing those individuals instead of removing the odd cabin bottle.