Lee Jones Jnr

You mean P&O Ohisay

Perhaps so.

WELL... I don't think it's quite a question of better or worse, I was just interested to see where people see P&O fitting into the cruising landscape but it is interesting to have a Quick Look at that list.

https://www.pocruises.com/find-a-cruise/R525/R525.cabin

MSC perhaps?

Today, 2024, which lines would you consider to be P&Os rivals? In the manner of 'Audi/BMW/Mercedes' or 'Mars/Snickers', which lines do you consider to be a sideways move from P&O?

I would imagine that it is as simple as 'add simplicity and save costs'. (Genuine question) Is one brand that he likes not enough? Is it normal to mix and match?

It does actually sound like it could be a shorex doesn't it

Ah, well in that case 'its a scandal that this is the policy when cabins are £999.60pppn' (the cost of a solo suite on the first Aurora cruise that I clicked on). I dunno, I suppose the whole concept is difficult for me to empathise with because it would never occur to me to take bottles of spirits onboard or to a hotel or take popcorn from home to the cinema etc.

Okay, you know best. I don't really drink, however I do own a few bars and at one time owned eleven. My experience talking to bar tenders, mixologists, reps from suppliers and customers is different to yours. I am sure that there are some people who can tell the difference between some vodkas in the same way that I am sure there are some people who can tell which variety of potatoes were used to make their French fries. I suppose I, like many people, hold many contradictory views at the same time. For example somewhere on this thread someone said that they drink quality not quantity whilst also complaining that P&O don't sell Southern Comfort.

Perhaps so. BUT... I really don't mean this to sound as bad as I feel it does, but if the prices go up I think the 'new P&Oers' will just go back to all inclusive package holidays.

Do you happen to which cruise or cruises that is? I haven't looked at every single cruise but a random selection of half. dozen Aurora and half a dozen Arcadia cruises all come in at £189 or less so perhaps thats a rare anomaly? I suppose it's difficult to know what to do with pricing and policy as they must feel like the same rules have to apply to all ships whilst at the same time being quite different products.

It was a perfectly earnest question. I'm not sure that I have spoken to someone who told me about their discerning palate before who also enthused about Southern Comfort. Cognacs yes, though you said that you are satisfied with that, vodka is vodka, people pretending that they can tell the difference between Smirnoff and Grey Goose or higher are drinking the emperors new vodka. All in all it sounds like you, like me, will be cruising elsewhere, though our reasons are different.

You aren't factoring in the cheap cruise prices

If gin, whisky and brandy drinkers are well catered for, vodka famously tastes the same from the bottom to the top, what spirits are you asking P&O to add?

You can take it away and bring it back but it won't be stored for you

Cunard are decent value if you don’t mind a slightly dressier definition of smart casual

Which lines will you be cruising with instead?

Erm… does drinkable wine come in litre bottles?

Yep, there are cruise lines that suit everyone. It appears from this thread that I am in the minority in that I am a little disappointed that P&O has moved to a different market. I am not against lines appealing to whomever, I suppose that its just a shame for me that it is P&O who has changed the product rather than a line that I wasn't as affectionate towards. At the moment there are plenty of lines that fill the space that P&O were in, so ultimately very little change in the market other than an extra line for MSC passengers to try.

I think its not really quite as mercenary as that, its in order to make the revised business model work, all in all its probably around the same but they are trying to offer low headline cruise costs

The P&O website still shows A-OK to take spirits onboard for me, maybe I need to clear internet history or summink. EDIT It appears that one part of the website has been updated and one has not.

WELL... P&O want to change the game IMO, they are changing where the line sits in the market by offering bargain basement cruises and then recouping via extras, sort of a little more in the MSC direction.

If the drinks package changes and implementation dates are correct then it does seem hugely short notice, one would expect there to be a longer notice period rather than 'with immediate effect'.

Possibly a more ‘like for like’ comparison might be QV/QE/QA or NCL or similar, something closer in size?