P&o australia are dead, long live rci

[thied]

I like that one.:D

or perhaps just

All Cruise Lines Australia and NZ.

it makes one think about it:D

[Australian family]

I like that one.:D

or perhaps just

All Cruise Lines Australia and NZ.

 

Maybe Ausralian & New Zealand cruise lines.

[sludger]

Yes the title of this thread was obviously a bit of a joke.

 

Seriously Celebrity bringing a ship down here is fantastic news and P&O Australia WILL have to raise their game or lower their prices to better represent the value that they give.

I have recently (October) been on the Pacific Jewel and more recently (Jan) on the Rhapsody.

The Jewel had been toshed over quite nicely but underlying this, it is an OLD ship, with all the mechanical problems that exist with a ship of it's age. I too will be sad to see P&O go but unless they change, they will.

 

As for the American lines (lets face it they are all American let's not get all patriotic about it) having lots of American nationals on board, this has not the case on the 4 RCI cruises we have taken both here and in Singapore. There were very few US pax on board.

 

I think most people want the same things from a cruise holiday, I think with more cruise lines coming, people will get what they want.

[Cruisequeenoz]

I don't agree that if you sail on one of the other lines other than P & O you wont be able to cruise with "locals". On the Voldendam the Aussies and Kiwis far outnumbered anyone from anywhere else....

 

I sailed on the Costa Cruise line in September 2009. Out of a possible 800 passengers, 780 were Aussies!

[The_Big_M]

Seriously Celebrity bringing a ship down here is fantastic news

 

Celebrity announced they were bringing a ship down here over a year ago.

 

The news is that they're replacing that ship down here the following year.

[cruisin-m]

I for one love the P&O brand and hope they never leave. Yes I remember being disappointed when I found out that P&O had been taken over by Carnival, but the brand has grown since then and that's a good thing.

 

Everyone raves over these new ships coming down, and all this competition is good, but if you want to go on a local cruise with local currency and local food and wine, with locals, then P&O is the only option. And the best option. Lately they seem to be increasing the emphasis on their local feel, which is a good thing.

 

I wonder if anyone who has commented over recent times that P&O need to lift their game, etc etc, been on a P&O cruise recently to see that they have..(in my opinion, anyway.) Service levels on board have increased lately, we noticed on our December cruise.

 

If the Americans ever lose interest in coming to Australia and cruising around here, then the RCI will disappear back to the US fairly quickly afterwards.

 

This is just a personal view, but I would be very disappointed if the P&O brand disappeared. They are comfortable, relaxed ships with a good on-board atmosphere. They aren't the newest ships around, but they are not the oldest either, there are a lot more cruise ships in the world older than Pacific Sun. I can't understand what difference the age of the ship makes.

 

Can some people only have an enjoyable cruise if they are on a ship under a certain number of years old? If they are staying in a hotel on land, do they enquire when it was built? And do they realise that if they flew to the departure port, there is every chance they flew on a plane that is much older than any of the P&O Australia fleet!

 

Personally I prefer the older ships with history and character, to these ugly new boxes with people crammed in and ridiculous gimmicks like rock climbing walls, and real grass.

 

I know most people on here aren't all that fond of P&O for whatever reason, but they have given me lots of great cruises and I hope they can meet all the competition that we have now. Then we can all win with great deals and more choice.

 

Really well said!

In my honest opinion Royal Caribbean are the company that have a long way to go if they want to keep it up in the Australian market, on my recent cruise on Rhapsody, despite how much I completely enjoyed it I couldn't help but notice how much it felt like they were cost cutting and the severe lack of traditional cruise experiences they had cut back on. The ship itself was amazing, but that doesn't make or break a cruise holiday at all for me. It's the actual experience onboard.

 

P&O know their market and cater directly for it, the best entertainment, casual friendly atmosphere, and food/wine menus that appeal to Australians.

 

P&O lifting their game to compete with Celebrity is simply unrealistic and to be honest, the vast majority of Australian's would be disapointed in P&O for Celebratising their ships, not to mention the drastic price difference between P&O and Celebrity cruises. If anything it would be Princess that should be worried in the local market, they share the same market place.

 

Lets all remember that if it wasn't for P&O there wouldn't be a single cruise ship in Australia, if they are ripping us off so blatantly and giving us such a crap product then why hasn't any cruise company other then Carnival based lines based anything here permanently to capitalise on the profits/easy domination of the market with a superior product.

[The_Big_M]

P&O lifting their game to compete with Celebrity is simply unrealistic and to be honest, the vast majority of Australian's would be disapointed in P&O for Celebratising their ships, not to mention the drastic price difference between P&O and Celebrity cruises. If anything it would be Princess that should be worried in the local market, they share the same market place.

 

Royal Caribbean and Celebrity are entirely different brands. Don't base your judgement on Celebrity based on your experiences with Royal Caribbean.

 

Just like there's a place for Carnival in the US, with RCCL and Celebrity sailing there, I don't agree with the OP that P&O can be replaced just because another Celebrity ship is arriving. They're all serving different segments of the market.

 

Agree that Princess is a closer match for Celebrity, but globally there are more Princess ships so more opportunity for frequent cruisers to use Princess whereas Celebrity has fewer choices. Celebrity's a great product, but if you were to rely on it, your choices would be much smaller.

[Rolls]

I for one love the P&O brand and hope they never leave. Yes I remember being disappointed when I found out that P&O had been taken over by Carnival, but the brand has grown since then and that's a good thing.

 

Everyone raves over these new ships coming down, and all this competition is good, but if you want to go on a local cruise with local currency and local food and wine, with locals, then P&O is the only option. And the best option. Lately they seem to be increasing the emphasis on their local feel, which is a good thing.

 

I wonder if anyone who has commented over recent times that P&O need to lift their game, etc etc, been on a P&O cruise recently to see that they have..(in my opinion, anyway.) Service levels on board have increased lately, we noticed on our December cruise.

 

If the Americans ever lose interest in coming to Australia and cruising around here, then the RCI will disappear back to the US fairly quickly afterwards.

 

This is just a personal view, but I would be very disappointed if the P&O brand disappeared. They are comfortable, relaxed ships with a good on-board atmosphere. They aren't the newest ships around, but they are not the oldest either, there are a lot more cruise ships in the world older than Pacific Sun. I can't understand what difference the age of the ship makes.

 

Can some people only have an enjoyable cruise if they are on a ship under a certain number of years old? If they are staying in a hotel on land, do they enquire when it was built? And do they realise that if they flew to the departure port, there is every chance they flew on a plane that is much older than any of the P&O Australia fleet!

 

Personally I prefer the older ships with history and character, to these ugly new boxes with people crammed in and ridiculous gimmicks like rock climbing walls, and real grass.

 

I know most people on here aren't all that fond of P&O for whatever reason, but they have given me lots of great cruises and I hope they can meet all the competition that we have now. Then we can all win with great deals and more choice.

 

 

Excellent - well said - I agree with you 100%

 

Rolls

[The Fox]

I for one love the P&O brand and hope they never leave. Yes I remember being disappointed when I found out that P&O had been taken over by Carnival, but the brand has grown since then and that's a good thing.

 

Everyone raves over these new ships coming down, and all this competition is good, but if you want to go on a local cruise with local currency and local food and wine, with locals, then P&O is the only option. And the best option. Lately they seem to be increasing the emphasis on their local feel, which is a good thing.

 

I wonder if anyone who has commented over recent times that P&O need to lift their game, etc etc, been on a P&O cruise recently to see that they have..(in my opinion, anyway.) Service levels on board have increased lately, we noticed on our December cruise.

 

If the Americans ever lose interest in coming to Australia and cruising around here, then the RCI will disappear back to the US fairly quickly afterwards.

 

This is just a personal view, but I would be very disappointed if the P&O brand disappeared. They are comfortable, relaxed ships with a good on-board atmosphere. They aren't the newest ships around, but they are not the oldest either, there are a lot more cruise ships in the world older than Pacific Sun. I can't understand what difference the age of the ship makes.

 

Can some people only have an enjoyable cruise if they are on a ship under a certain number of years old? If they are staying in a hotel on land, do they enquire when it was built? And do they realise that if they flew to the departure port, there is every chance they flew on a plane that is much older than any of the P&O Australia fleet!

 

Personally I prefer the older ships with history and character, to these ugly new boxes with people crammed in and ridiculous gimmicks like rock climbing walls, and real grass.

 

I know most people on here aren't all that fond of P&O for whatever reason, but they have given me lots of great cruises and I hope they can meet all the competition that we have now. Then we can all win with great deals and more choice.

 

 

Hi,

 

I agree P&O have given me some good cruises but until you try another line you can not make a comparison or judgment.....sure rock climbing walls and mini golf and solariums might not be your taste but it may be others .try princess there are very similiar to P&O but the ships are more modern type of british cruise ship.

 

Col

[floatie]

Yet another ugly oversized monstrosity ship hits the seas of Australia and New Zealand. Give me the smaller older (real) cruise ships any day. P&O Australia Forever!!Rolls

 

These new mega ships all remind me of cattle carriers, so I agree with you on that.

I have to disagree on "P&O forever" though, not being a fan of their ships or product.

I prefer the size of the likes of Dawn & Sun Princess, ....justttt right! :D

[katkell]

I see it as value for money. That is not just how much you pay for the cruise but what you are getting for your money. We have been on Celebrity - value for money is excellent, Princess Australia - not so, and Costa, I am still trying to weigh that up,as it was off season.

 

The point is here, Australia has the South Pacific and New Zealand, apart from sitting on the ship and doing whatever pleases you, what are you getting at the destinations? A beach, an excursion to see.......what? So if people are happy to pay for laying around on the ship and then hopping off and seeing some markets and going to a beach, well they have nothing to whinge about, thats what they paid for. I prefer to see just a little bit more, not into beach stuff and not into local marketsl, which is why I prefer to go overseas (Europe) and check out those destinations. I don't find the Australian cruises affordable for what you are getting and that is because people keep booking the cruises, you can get a better deal on an overseas destination.

 

I believe the Australian P & O Cruises can be likened to having a family destination year after year "caravan down the coast". You keep going there and seeing the same stuff, but it is all about the people you know in the caravan park, thats where the real fun is. I reckon its cheaper to go to the caravan park...

[sludger]

I see it as value for money. That is not just how much you pay for the cruise but what you are getting for your money. We have been on Celebrity - value for money is excellent, Princess Australia - not so, and Costa, I am still trying to weigh that up,as it was off season.

 

The point is here, Australia has the South Pacific and New Zealand, apart from sitting on the ship and doing whatever pleases you, what are you getting at the destinations? A beach, an excursion to see.......what? So if people are happy to pay for laying around on the ship and then hopping off and seeing some markets and going to a beach, well they have nothing to whinge about, thats what they paid for. I prefer to see just a little bit more, not into beach stuff and not into local marketsl, which is why I prefer to go overseas (Europe) and check out those destinations. I don't find the Australian cruises affordable for what you are getting and that is because people keep booking the cruises, you can get a better deal on an overseas destination.

 

I believe the Australian P & O Cruises can be likened to having a family destination year after year "caravan down the coast". You keep going there and seeing the same stuff, but it is all about the people you know in the caravan park, thats where the real fun is. I reckon its cheaper to go to the caravan park...

 

Couldn't agree more, I see that you're from WA too, we have to fly most of the time anyway to get to board the ship, the cons of the extra cost and the longer flight are far outweighed by the quality of the cruises that are available overseas.

 

Haven't done a cruise all around the Med but it's on the list.

 

IF these new (down here) cruise lines (Carnival, Celebrity) employ the same pricing that they do overseas (It's a big IF), people will then realise that they are paying a Rolls Royce price for a Mini Minor when they cruise with P&O Aust.

 

P&O Aust will have to raise their game.

 

Good news about the relaxing of the on board casino law, isn't it? Maybe we will get a ships less than 20 years old based here now.

 

Paul

[Topaz_M]

P&O lifting their game to compete with Celebrity is simply unrealistic and to be honest, the vast majority of Australian's would be disapointed in P&O for Celebratising their ships, not to mention the drastic price difference between P&O and Celebrity cruises. If anything it would be Princess that should be worried in the local market, they share the same market place.

 

That is not true. The cost of my balcony cabin for a week on the Solstice (including gratuities) is LESS than for an inside on the Pacific Dawn.

 

This was with my favourite Aussie T/A as well (cheapest quote). I for one will be interested to see what happens to the Solstice prices once she gets here. Can't wait!

[bazzaw]

Moira

 

I am not doubting you - BUT we have to make sure that we are comparing apples with apples. I have in the past had inside cabins on Pacific Dawn and Pacific Sun for around $100 per day twin share Have just seen an Internet add for an inside on Pacific Pearl for $120 per day twin share. I think that these fares are reasonably common - although it is possible to pay much more that that IF you pay brochure price and early book with specific cabin requirements.

 

So - can I get a balcony on Solstice for this kind of Dollars ?? If so, I would like to know where (that does not require a $1000 aircraft ride to take advantage of it)

 

There really is no fixed price for anything these days - some of us manage to get deals, some of us walk into a travel agent and pay what the glossy brochure says.

 

I am looking forward to the increase of cruise ship supply to Australian waters - it can mean nothing but good for us customers. But we have to be careful when comparing what we paid for things - and not be unfair to either commercial entities.

 

Barry

[The_Big_M]

I have in the past had inside cabins on Pacific Dawn and Pacific Sun for around $100 per day twin share Have just seen an Internet add for an inside on Pacific Pearl for $120 per day twin share. I think that these fares are reasonably common - although it is possible to pay much more that that IF you pay brochure price and early book with specific cabin requirements.

 

Fully agree.

 

To get an idea you can have a look at Century's Australian pricing for the past year; I'd suggest Solstice will be priced similarly early on. As a rough guide, think from $1800 for a 12 night cruise, so around $150/night/person.

 

That said, Celebrity AU just put through some "Australia only" specials(*) as sales have been behind where they wanted them to be, particularly locally.

 

* For those who complain that only Americans get the deals - one thing that's funny is you never see Americans complain why do others get better pricing than they do sometimes, just as we do.

[bazzaw]

"$1800 for a 12 night cruise"

 

 

Big M

 

 

But would that pricing be for a balcony?????? There had been a statement that balconies on Solstice were cheaper than insides on P&O AUS.

 

 

Barry

[MMDown Under]

* For those who complain that only Americans get the deals - one thing that's funny is you never see Americans complain why do others get better pricing than they do sometimes, just as we do.

 

That is not a true statement. You only need to peruse CC to see evidence of complaints by Americans about selective pricing of special offers.

[The_Big_M]

That is not a true statement. You only need to peruse CC to see evidence of complaints by Americans about selective pricing of special offers.

 

Not never, but not to the obsession it has been here for some.

[The_Big_M]

"$1800 for a 12 night cruise"

 

Big M

 

But would that pricing be for a balcony?????? There had been a statement that balconies on Solstice were cheaper than insides on P&O AUS.

 

Barry

 

No, that statement would definitely not be generally accurate. Lead-in prices for balconies on Century here were from ~$2800 for 12 nights, i.e. $233/night.

 

You'd be hard pressed to find insides for that price or above on P&O, except perhaps when close to selling out on a holiday/New Years cruise. Even now, Pacific Jewel on New years (which is their dearest cruise) is $2635 for 12 nights. Also, the P&O price includes gratuities, whereas the Celebrity price they are extra.

 

Celebrity aint a discount line - but you'd expect that as you have a higher service and space ratio as just a couple of the extras.

 

That said, if you were sailing in the Caribbean the prices would be lower than the $2800 - but that's because of the location, not because of the ship. If, somehow P&O Dawn was to sail in the Caribbean its price would also be lower than at present. That's just because of the amount of competition there, and that their local market was decimated during the GFC, not because Celebrity cruises themselves are cheaper than P&O.

 

To demonstrate that further, compare the Solstice on 12 day itineraries in Mediterranean this year. That has a weaker market than here (look at how the GFC affected England, Italy, Greece, Ireland and so on) but is still better than the Caribbean. Prices for balconies there start around US$2600 and go up. This is nearer their normal pricing.

[bazzaw]

Thanks Big M - yes, there seems to be more to the eye in all this than what appears at first glance.

 

Barry

[Gold Coast Cruisers]

Celebrity Solstice is not an ugly oversized monstrosity' date=' not like the NCL Epic at all.

 

We enjoyed our Celebrity cruise on the Constellation last November. I for one am happy they are sending the Solstice to Australia. More Aussies will find out they are being charged too much for their cruises and Carnival Australia and Princess Australia will have to do big rethinks in regards to what they charge and the facilities they provide.

 

Look at the Pacific Sun at the moment...... need I say more?[/quote']

 

 

You're absolutely right about Pacific Sun. I saw some prices today and they are amazingly cheap. We all know why?

 

Jilly:)

[bazzaw]

Cheap cruises because of past problems ??

 

Our very first cruise (apart from my time in the Navy) was in 2007 on Pacific Star. 7 days to the usual places. This was the second time the ship had sailed after it had been badly beat up in the Tasman Sea , the first time after that event they had MAJOR airconditioning problems. My understanding is that for both those cruises, all the passengers had to be flown home ( from Vila??) .

 

So for this cruise - our very first, the prices were so low that it was cheaper to go on the cruise than to stay home!! Not joking!!!!!! And, for a ship that normally carried around 1800 passengers, this time we only had 900 onboard - with 600 staff!!!. This was without a doubt the very best cruise we have ever been on. After that one, we very quickly realised what it means to be on a FULL ship.

 

Please God - let us have Pacific Star back, with all her faults - but with only 900 passengers Please!!

 

Barry

[Guest012]

 

Please God - let us have Pacific Star back, with all her faults - but with only 900 passengers Please!!

 

Barry

 

can you add the Fair Princess to your wish list please.......:D:D:D shiona

[itsandreas]

Never sailed P&O but one thing about cruising that appeals to me is ... cruising! Not bobbing around the south pacific because the cruiseline doesn't know to start the engines.

 

Seriously, from all I heard about P&O Australia I'm not going to risk sailing with them. These are the ships Carnival rejects and we all know how low Carnival set's it standards.

 

Having sailed on the Solistice class before, and with two more cruises on the way, my take is that the ships are stylish, the public spaces are either cosy, intimate and personal or stylish and sophisticated (even the undercover pool feels refined, the food is outstanding, and the wine list unsurpassed.

 

From an admitted Celebrity fanboi

 

Yet another ugly oversized monstrosity ship hits the seas of Australia and New Zealand. Give me the smaller older (real) cruise ships any day. P&O Australia Forever!!

 

 

Rolls

[macca46]

Never sailed P&O but one thing about cruising that appeals to me is ... cruising! Not bobbing around the south pacific because the cruiseline doesn't know to start the engines.

 

Seriously, from all I heard about P&O Australia I'm not going to risk sailing with them. These are the ships Carnival rejects and we all know how low Carnival set's it standards.

 

Having sailed on the Solistice class before, and with two more cruises on the way, my take is that the ships are stylish, the public spaces are either cosy, intimate and personal or stylish and sophisticated (even the undercover pool feels refined, the food is outstanding, and the wine list unsurpassed.

 

From an admitted Celebrity fanboi

 

Perhaps some people have less disposable income and P & O is what they can afford and they are happy with what they get for the price?

 

I am sure many would love to Cruise up market cruise lines in exotic locations but are not financially able to.