Select or Early Saver?

I'm looking at options for a suite, (Select or Early Saver) and appreciate that you can't select a particular one with Early Saver. I'd be quite happy with all the possible options, though, so that isn't an issue.

I'd miss out on the free parking/OBC of course, and I'd have to pay for the shuttle buses - a small price to pay, though, for a saving of £1500.

Couple of questions - presumably these shuttle bus charges are pretty minimal? £5 or so?

And presumably also if you're not allocated Freedom Dining it's a simple matter to get that changed on embarkation?

Anybody with any knowledge on these points, please?

 

Couple of questions - presumably these shuttle bus charges are pretty minimal? £5 or so?

 

And presumably also if you're not allocated Freedom Dining it's a simple matter to get that changed on embarkation?

Yes the buses are cheap, usually something like £3.50 each way but although advertised as a price each way sneakily P&O will only sell a return at twice the price "for your convenience".

As for changing dining, it is not always straightforward.

Whether you are allocated Freedom or Club will depend on what everyone else doesn't want, and also how many restaurants of each types.

So on Ventura with two Freedom restaurants and one Club, you are more likely to be offered Freedom. However on Oceana with one of each, the demand for Freedom will probably put you in Club.

As for changing on board, any requests are dealt with in priority order of who booked first and whether they booked Select, Early Saver, or Saver.

When I was on Oceana earlier this year there were a lot of people who had booked Early Saver and had expressed a preference for Freedom to be told they were in Club. When they asked to change they were told there was no chance.

That was probably due to a larger number of relatively younger people on board. The previous year on Oriana (also one of each) with the very elderly people on board who all wanted Club, Freedom was not an issue.

So the question is "do you feel lucky".

As a PS, you would like to think that P&O would give some priority to people who book an Early Saver suite over an Early Saver inside (or even a Select inside), but who knows.

We were recently allocated Club Dining after having requested Freedom Dining on an Early Saver on Oceana. Being in a Suite seemed to make no difference to the outcome of our expressed preference when booking.

Two years previously on Oceana we had been given the Freedom Dining we wanted in a Mini Suite, also booked by Early Saver.

Luckily our Butler was able to change us to Freedom Dining but we don’t know if this is often the case.

We were recently allocated Club Dining after having requested Freedom Dining on an Early Saver on Oceana. Being in a Suite seemed to make no difference to the outcome of our expressed preference when booking.

Two years previously on Oceana we had been given the Freedom Dining we wanted in a Mini Suite, also booked by Early Saver.

Luckily our Butler was able to change us to Freedom Dining but we don’t know if this is often the case.

Good point about the butler - hadn't thought of that!

Whether you are allocated Freedom or Club will depend on what everyone else doesn't want, and also how many restaurants of each types.

 

So on Ventura with two Freedom restaurants and one Club, you are more likely to be offered Freedom. However on Oceana with one of each, the demand for Freedom will probably put you in Club.

 

Thanks - good point. I'm looking at Azura and Ventura.

Thanks - good point. I'm looking at Azura and Ventura.

Exactly when are you looking for as suites tend to get booked up fairly quickly.

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We're in exactly that situation for next year, when we've booked a suite with an early saver, saving about £1400 for a 7 day cruise. We wouldn't normally book a suite but this is for a special wedding anniversary, and we can't afford the select price. We have requested Freedom Dining, as we would prefer a table for two and it's not very romantic sitting with others all the time. If we get allocated Club and don't get on with the people we are seated with, then we can always utilise the butler service and eat in the suite.