PO Cruises are now too expensive

[mickey89]

Just compared Celebrity Eclipse, PO Britannia and PO Azura for February 2018. Completely gobsmacked PO are charging £1950 more for a balcony cabin than Celebrity. The Celebrity price includes the Classic Drinks package but excluding the flight which costs only £850 for a couple. HAL prices are even better, now that balcony smoking has been banned definitely worth considering. Both are a cut above P&O in all the cruise ratings.

 

Why are PO Cruises prices so high ?

[dallas16]

Just compared Celebrity Eclipse, PO Britannia and PO Azura for February 2018. Completely gobsmacked PO are charging £1950 more for a balcony cabin than Celebrity. The Celebrity price includes the Classic Drinks package but excluding the flight which costs only £850 for a couple. HAL prices are even better, now that balcony smoking has been banned definitely worth considering. Both are a cut above P&O in all the cruise ratings.

 

Why are PO Cruises prices so high ?

 

 

I think P &O believe that there are some people who would never cruise with anyone else apart from P & O and therefore think they can charge whatever they want because those people will pay the prices. Celebrity offer a much better standard of cruising than P & O and Eclipse is one of the highest rated ships on this site

 

 

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[daiB]

The prices are high because the demand is high.

 

 

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[Thejuggler]

Prices change all the time. What is cheap one day can be expensive the next when compared to others, its the free market which gives us the choice.

[terrierjohn]

Not sure where you got the prices but checking a major on line TA I found that Eclipse cruise only prices are similar to P&O fly cruises, but £1000pp more for fly cruises.

There are many Caribbean cruise only prices which are up to £1000pp less than P&O, but not sure I agree that flights to Florida, Dom. Rep or Puerto Rico can be had for only £850 per couple.

[ChrisPBacon]

P&O are getting ridiculously expensive. We just got back from the Caribbean on Azura and went to the cruise desk for a deal they were offering. Even deducting the extra £100 each OBC they were offering, a cruise at the same time next year was £1000 more expensive for a balcony.

 

It's a sellers market as far as P&O are concerned right now. Many people prefer the Britishness and they sell the whole package for the Caribbean. I think they are raking it in now, in case Branson undercuts them in 2020. But we worked out we could (if we wanted) afford three really decent holidays for the cost of one Caribbean cruise.

 

If we cruise again in the next 12 months, we'll be looking elsewhere.

 

 

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[jeanlyon]

That's why I take an inside cabin. Still great deals on those :-)

[ChrisPBacon]

£1800 for an inside cabin. Not that great a 'deal' but not as expensive as a balcony.

 

 

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[Tom Baker]

I'm returning to P&O because I found the Celebrity Eclipse poor compared to Britannia. The red wines they serve in the MDR on Celebrity is gross, no matter what it says on the bottle it's all the same bad blend AND all tastes like vinegar, best avoided unless you like cystitis!

[Port out]

Guess some folk go to Lidi and Aldi and are happy as Larry with their basket. Others prefer Marks and Spencer and Waitrose which is our preferred choice. Of course if cost is an issue go to the supermarket which meets your expectations but don't slag off M&S and Waitrose just because you can't afford to shop there.

 

Left out

[john watson]

I think P&O are now marketing their cruises further into the future than they previously used to do. The reason for this is that if your competitors launch six months, or whatever ahead of you they can catch the early doors bookings whereas you are offering nothing during that six months. Not many people book that early but cruise lines are not going to offer risky marginal prices that may work out around the break even point, they will offer premium prices for pick of the best cabins. If you look at other bigger lines which have more ships they are in a position to market on a regional basis which is less risky and also being global operators can put more cruising capacity into a different part of the world. I cant see P&O doing this with UK based sales being their customer base. Big players can also dump cruises on a specific market if they want to use that strategy for some sort of tactical reason. I wonder if the US Dollar, Euro and Pound have led them to be more cautious this coming season with Brexit and more difficult prices due to this.

 

Nearer to sailing date the cruise line will more likely become sensitive to not selling sufficient cruises to date on their anticipated sales figures. In the fullness of time I foresee prices falling back to similar to last year but this wont happen until nearer sailing date. Meanwhile if people want to pay premium prices then they will continue for a bit.

 

Regards John

[ChrisPBacon]

I think P&O are now marketing their cruises further into the future than they previously used to do. The reason for this is that if your competitors launch six months, or whatever ahead of you they can catch the early doors bookings whereas you are offering nothing during that six months. Not many people book that early but cruise lines are not going to offer risky marginal prices that may work out around the break even point, they will offer premium prices for pick of the best cabins. If you look at other bigger lines which have more ships they are in a position to market on a regional basis which is less risky and also being global operators can put more cruising capacity into a different part of the world. I cant see P&O doing this with UK based sales being their customer base. Big players can also dump cruises on a specific market if they want to use that strategy for some sort of tactical reason. I wonder if the US Dollar, Euro and Pound have led them to be more cautious this coming season with Brexit and more difficult prices due to this.

 

Nearer to sailing date the cruise line will more likely become sensitive to not selling sufficient cruises to date on their anticipated sales figures. In the fullness of time I foresee prices falling back to similar to last year but this wont happen until nearer sailing date. Meanwhile if people want to pay premium prices then they will continue for a bit.

 

Regards John

 

 

 

Basically, those saver fares that haven't been such good value for the last couple of years, will again become good value. People will stop paying those select fares (they've even removed the chance to pick your cabin on some cruises) and just wait and wait until prices are reduced.

 

 

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[tartanexile81]

You have to compare like with like. P&O cruises on Azura in Feb will include all flights and transfers to the Caribbean whereas Celebrity's price is cruise only. We've cruised with Celebrity a few times ad we certainly spend significantly more onboard Celebrity ships than we do on P&O

[The Wolfman]

I absolutely agree with Port Out - if you want to pay down-market prices and then pay them by all means, but stay away from P&O. I am happy to pay for a top-quality product… and it's not all about the accommodation/food/service. It's also about top quality health and safety. We recently had an issue whereby there was a fall crew alert - our first ever after 30 years at sea. My only thought at the time was; '....thank goodness we are on a P&O vessel!" You get what you pay for ........

[ChrisPBacon]

You have to compare like with like. P&O cruises on Azura in Feb will include all flights and transfers to the Caribbean whereas Celebrity's price is cruise only. We've cruised with Celebrity a few times ad we certainly spend significantly more onboard Celebrity ships than we do on P&O

 

 

Fair point. But I'm not intending to go to the Caribbean with another cruise line. Out of principle, I'm not paying around 20% more for my cruise than I have this year. I haven't even looked at any other prices. By the way, most other cruise lines offer free internet and drinks packages.

 

 

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[ChrisPBacon]

I absolutely agree with Port Out - if you want to pay down-market prices and then pay them by all means, but stay away from P&O. I am happy to pay for a top-quality product… and it's not all about the accommodation/food/service. It's also about top quality health and safety. We recently had an issue whereby there was a fall crew alert - our first ever after 30 years at sea. My only thought at the time was; '....thank goodness we are on a P&O vessel!" You get what you pay for ........

 

 

You are talking as though P&O are the ultimate in cruising. But if you are actually saying that no matter how much P&O raise their prices, you will pay it, that makes you very gullible, with much more money than sense.

 

Have you been on another cruise line where the crew went into meltdown due to an alert, or are you saying that because this crew dealt with it.....that makes their health and safety better than others?

 

 

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[daiB]

Basically, those saver fares that haven't been such good value for the last couple of years, will again become good value. People will stop paying those select fares (they've even removed the chance to pick your cabin on some cruises) and just wait and wait until prices are reduced.

 

 

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You can pick your cabin with a select fare on all cruises. If you book early enough. Saver fares are not going down because they are filling the ships. Most saver fares are not worth it because with a select fare the OBC often takes you down to the level of the saver. So you might as well book select in the first place.

 

Clearly the price increase and the lack of late deals are an indication of how well sales are going.

 

If you want a cheaper deal then cruise November or early December they are always cheaper than February.

 

 

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[tartanexile81]

Fair point. But I'm not intending to go to the Caribbean with another cruise line. Out of principle, I'm not paying around 20% more for my cruise than I have this year. I haven't even looked at any other prices. By the way, most other cruise lines offer free internet and drinks packages.

 

 

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The cruise difference quoted by the OP was for Azura in February and therefore the Caribbean - hence my reply. A cruise is worth what you're willing to pay for it and as I only cruise from Southampton the choice is limited in the Winter especially and I've always been happy with what i've paid. It may not be obvious from the base line prices how much obc is offered - although no free internet or drinks. For our cruise next Feb on P&O we've got £1500 obc which, in anybody's book, is not to be scoffed at

[daiB]

I think P&O are now marketing their cruises further into the future than they previously used to do. The reason for this is that if your competitors launch six months, or whatever ahead of you they can catch the early doors bookings whereas you are offering nothing during that six months. Not many people book that early but cruise lines are not going to offer risky marginal prices that may work out around the break even point, they will offer premium prices for pick of the best cabins. If you look at other bigger lines which have more ships they are in a position to market on a regional basis which is less risky and also being global operators can put more cruising capacity into a different part of the world. I cant see P&O doing this with UK based sales being their customer base. Big players can also dump cruises on a specific market if they want to use that strategy for some sort of tactical reason. I wonder if the US Dollar, Euro and Pound have led them to be more cautious this coming season with Brexit and more difficult prices due to this.

 

Nearer to sailing date the cruise line will more likely become sensitive to not selling sufficient cruises to date on their anticipated sales figures. In the fullness of time I foresee prices falling back to similar to last year but this wont happen until nearer sailing date. Meanwhile if people want to pay premium prices then they will continue for a bit.

 

Regards John

 

 

John that may be true that they are getting their marketing in early But the cruises which started this discussion are in February 18 and have been on sale for 10 months.

 

Looking at the brochure the inside price is at least £200 down on today's price. So booking on day in this instance would appear to be a winner.

 

 

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[ChrisPBacon]

You can pick your cabin with a select fare on all cruises. If you book early enough. Saver fares are not going down because they are filling the ships. Most saver fares are not worth it because with a select fare the OBC often takes you down to the level of the saver. So you might as well book select in the first place.

 

Clearly the price increase and the lack of late deals are an indication of how well sales are going.

 

If you want a cheaper deal then cruise November or early December they are always cheaper than February.

 

 

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You're wrong on a couple of points there dai. You cannot select your cabin on ALL select fares any more. Check out some of the recent P&O threads on here. Whilst on my cruise, about 10 days ago, after going to the loyalty desk, I went online to check availability on the P&O website. I chose a select fare, went all the way through to the section that said 'choose your cabin'. I clicked to proceed and got a message across the page saying I could only have a guaranteed cabin.

 

The second point you are wrong on is that when you take off the OBC, it brings you down to the saver fare. I've never had that on any cruise and I've done a few. I got close once, but the gap is growing. If that was the case, they'd never need saver fares. You are right about the rest though. It is indeed down to good sales that the saver fares are few and not great value.

 

But let me just clarify something, just for the snobs we have talking about Aldis and M&S, and those suggesting I go at a cheaper time. I can afford to go exactly when I like, but I am choosing not to pay 20% more than this year....this last cruise was about 10-15% more than the same one the year before this. Just because I take that stance and I use it as a debating point in a thread, doesn't invalidate my argument about P&O taking the p*ss. Now.....if you are saying that no matter what, I will pay it, you either have more money than sense or you're gullible. If it's the latter, I have some rocking horse dung to sell you for my garden.

 

 

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[dallas16]

You are talking as though P&O are the ultimate in cruising. But if you are actually saying that no matter how much P&O raise their prices, you will pay it, that makes you very gullible, with much more money than sense.

 

Have you been on another cruise line where the crew went into meltdown due to an alert, or are you saying that because this crew dealt with it.....that makes their health and safety better than

 

 

I agree, I certainly wouldn't pay £000's more to cruise with P & O over other cruise lines. I like cruising with them however if the price and itinerary are right

 

In regards to health and safety, I have never experienced any health and safety issue on any cruise line. The best example I have of a crew dealing with an incident was on a cruise with NCL. We had an announcement one day to say that a person needed rescuing from a stranded sailboat and we were the nearest vessel, we cruised for over two hours at full speed to get to the vessel, the captain then manoeuvred the ship to block the wind while the crew went out with the lifeboat to rescue the people from the yacht

 

 

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[ChrisPBacon]

The cruise difference quoted by the OP was for Azura in February and therefore the Caribbean - hence my reply. A cruise is worth what you're willing to pay for it and as I only cruise from Southampton the choice is limited in the Winter especially and I've always been happy with what i've paid. It may not be obvious from the base line prices how much obc is offered - although no free internet or drinks. For our cruise next Feb on P&O we've got £1500 obc which, in anybody's book, is not to be scoffed at

 

 

We got a total of £500 OBC on this cruise. Next year, we were offered a total of £700, but the cruise was £1200 more expensive. No matter how you look at this, that's a hell of a price hike in a single year. P&O are there to make a profit for their shareholders, so good luck to them for making money whilst they can. And yes, I know I have the choice to take it or leave it. But this forum has the word 'critic' in its title, so I'm here being critical of that strategy. That's what forums are for. It will be interesting when Branson comes in, if he chooses to discount cruises in the first year, to build the brand. One thing Virgin (the airline at least) excel at is customer service.

 

 

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[galeforce9]

We left p&o as Caribbean members 4 years ago. Tried seabourn and on a late booking basis £ for £ no comparison. Seabourn every time when comparing the whole cost of the holiday. The experience is on another level.

 

 

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[ChrisPBacon]

I agree, I certainly wouldn't pay £000's more to cruise with P & O over other cruise lines. I like cruising with them however if the price and itinerary are right

 

In regards to health and safety, I have never experienced any health and safety issue on any cruise line. The best example I have of a crew dealing with an incident was on a cruise with NCL. We had an announcement one day to say that a person needed rescuing from a stranded sailboat and we were the nearest vessel, we cruised for over two hours at full speed to get to the vessel, the captain then manoeuvred the ship to block the wind while the crew went out with the lifeboat to rescue the people from the yacht

 

 

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Most of my cruises have been with P&O. I like the ships, the service and as someone else said, the Britishness. Particularly when it comes to the entertainment. The comedians are geared towards a British audience for example. I have no issue with the recent cruise we've taken. Maybe I wouldn't save too much going with someone else?

 

We've been to the Caribbean on P&O for the last four years. Although I can afford the price they are quoting me, I also want to take other holidays. I want a few city breaks this year. So I look at the price increase and say, well as much as I enjoy it, a £1000 hike is £1000 I can spend on another holiday or city break. I then think what is the best value, and I reason that I could have three really decent holidays for the price of one balcony in the Caribbean.

 

My choice and I accept that others would choose differently.

 

 

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[ChrisPBacon]

We left p&o as Caribbean members 4 years ago. Tried seabourn and on a late booking basis £ for £ no comparison. Seabourn every time when comparing the whole cost of the holiday. The experience is on another level.

 

 

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Are Seabourn one of those that throw in excursions and such galeforce? I haven't checked their prices, but if they are all inclusive, I wonder how close they are to P&O now.

 

 

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