The official reason for the lack of turndown service.

[wowzz]

1 minute ago, terrierjohn said:

Have you been away or visiting the naughty step again?

Couldn't possibly comment !

[Cruise Puss]

3 minutes ago, wowzz said:

As have the prices !

Not all of them. 

 

Arcadia's Suites are a lot more than they were in 2009, probably because she is now Adult Only.

 

 

[wowzz]

4 minutes ago, Cruise Puss said:

Not all of them. 

 

Arcadia's Suites are a lot more than they were in 2009, probably because she is now Adult Only.

 

 

I obviously have no knowledge of that. But if the fares increased by 30%, in real terms the price would be the same. 

[Trevor Fountain]

In 1993 I paid a little over £4000 for an outside cabin on Canberra 15 nights. That was for two of us. Admittedly it was full brochure price, and I think at that time just about everybody got at least 30% off and in some cases a much higher discount.

My current cruise (select fare) 15 nights with a balcony £3900 for three of us, plus OBC. 

[wowzz]

29 minutes ago, Trevor Fountain said:

In 1993 I paid a little over £4000 for an outside cabin on Canberra 15 nights. That was for two of us. Admittedly it was full brochure price, and I think at that time just about everybody got at least 30% off and in some cases a much higher discount.

My current cruise (select fare) 15 nights with a balcony £3900 for three of us, plus OBC. 

So, today, your 1993 cruise would cost over £9,000 !

 

[Trevor Fountain]

7 minutes ago, wowzz said:

So, today, your 1993 cruise would cost over £9,000 !

 

Correct. Hard to believe isn't it. I was going through some old stuff that I had kept from various cruises, and found the receipt amongst a pile of menus.

[twotravellersLondon]

16 minutes ago, wowzz said:

So, today, your 1993 cruise would cost over £9,000 !

 

Try the Hargreaves Landsdown inflation calculator... the cost with about 30 years inflation would be closer to £10,000!

[wowzz]

2 minutes ago, twotravellersLondon said:

 

Try the Hargreaves Landsdown inflation calculator... the cost with about 30 years inflation would be closer to £10,000!

Yes, different calculators use slightly different methodologies. 

Regardless, I think it shows that those who complain about falling standards on P&O can easily find what they are looking for, on upmarket cruise lines, if they are prepared to pay, in real terms, 1993 fares. 

[Trevor Fountain]

6 minutes ago, wowzz said:

Yes, different calculators use slightly different methodologies. 

Regardless, I think it shows that those who complain about falling standards on P&O can easily find what they are looking for, on upmarket cruise lines, if they are prepared to pay, in real terms, 1993 fares. 

Ironically I am one of those guilty of complaining about falling standards on P&O. The problem is many of us loved P&O the way it was, and amongst the things we loved is it's Britishness. I have tried other cruise lines, and  have enjoyed all of them for different reasons, but nothing really compares to P&O back in the day.

I have twice done the suite experience with NCL (Norwegian Spirit), and I suppose that was the best I have encountered in recent times, but at a cost (around 8k for 14 days). Which looking back is a bargain compared to my 1993 cruise! 

 

[wowzz]

9 minutes ago, Trevor Fountain said:

Which looking back is a bargain compared to my 1993 cruise! 

It does put things into perspective! 

I actually find that P&O is still far too British for my liking,  and prefer Princess due to the more cosmopolitan passenger mix, but that is just an individual preference. 

Having said that, during my sabbatical I booked another cruise on Britannia,  which means we will be cruising on her twice next year.  That is a complete "U turn" from my position even 12 months ago.

[terrierjohn]

37 minutes ago, wowzz said:

It does put things into perspective! 

I actually find that P&O is still far too British for my liking,  and prefer Princess due to the more cosmopolitan passenger mix, but that is just an individual preference. 

Having said that, during my sabbatical I booked another cruise on Britannia,  which means we will be cruising on her twice next year.  That is a complete "U turn" from my position even 12 months ago.

We are on Britannia again next year, to the Baltic in June.

[wowzz]

1 minute ago, terrierjohn said:

We are on Britannia again next year, to the Baltic in June.

Same cruise, but in September, then Caribbean in December.

[Eglesbrech]

1 hour ago, wowzz said:

Yes, different calculators use slightly different methodologies. 

Regardless, I think it shows that those who complain about falling standards on P&O can easily find what they are looking for, on upmarket cruise lines, if they are prepared to pay, in real terms, 1993 fares. 

No one disputes that prices have dropped along with the range of amenities. I don’t think I have seen anyone argue that point?

 

I think many who are looking for something different have already defected to other lines. As you say SAGA, Viking and the “ships within the ships” etc are offering what P&O used to - at a price.

 

P&O are probably happy to lose some of these customers as they are no longer their “target” market (in spite of travelling with the company and spending a lot of money with them, in some cases for decades).

Given the current recession and cost of living crises let’s see what happens next.

[crompton21]

It's not so much being happy to lose past customers, more a case of finding new ones.  The sad fact of doing nothing would be that their target market would naturally reduce through time.  They need new customers to ensure their future.  New (younger) customers will have differing views on what appeals.  

[FangedRose]

51 minutes ago, crompton21 said:

It's not so much being happy to lose past customers, more a case of finding new ones.  The sad fact of doing nothing would be that their target market would naturally reduce through time.  They need new customers to ensure their future.  New (younger) customers will have differing views on what appeals.  

Past customers cost P&O money. Peninsular discount, free cocktail party, Peninsular lunches etc etc. Plus as long term cruisers they are less likely to pay for shore excursions (been there, done it, got the t-shirt), rarely frequent the shops or the spa, or bother with photographs. They know the tips and tricks to get extra OBC.

 

New cruisers do not get discounts, parties and dinners. Much more likely to buy shore excursions, souvenirs from the shops and photographs, indulge in special venue dining etc.

 

So it is in P&O interests to encourage new cruisers rather than try to keep experienced cruisers.

[Megabear2]

1 hour ago, crompton21 said:

It's not so much being happy to lose past customers, more a case of finding new ones.  The sad fact of doing nothing would be that their target market would naturally reduce through time.  They need new customers to ensure their future.  New (younger) customers will have differing views on what appeals.  

On the loyalty question and if its valued my experience is very good.  Two days ago I received a call from the Executive office, not someone I've dealt with before.  The reason for the call was to thank me and my family for our loyalty and to enquire after my aunt's health.  Considering the events did not even happen on a P&O cruise I thought this was outstanding customer service.

 

The caller also went on to thank me and our family members for making final payment on our respective cruises in October and December and to check that all our FCC allocations had been applied correctly.  I can't fault that service.

[terrierjohn]

18 minutes ago, FangedRose said:

Past customers cost P&O money. Peninsular discount, free cocktail party, Peninsular lunches etc etc. Plus as long term cruisers they are less likely to pay for shore excursions (been there, done it, got the t-shirt), rarely frequent the shops or the spa, or bother with photographs. They know the tips and tricks to get extra OBC.

 

New cruisers do not get discounts, parties and dinners. Much more likely to buy shore excursions, souvenirs from the shops and photographs, indulge in special venue dining etc.

 

So it is in P&O interests to encourage new cruisers rather than try to keep experienced cruisers.

Cynical, but probably true.

[davecttr]

15 minutes ago, FangedRose said:

Past customers cost P&O money. Peninsular discount, free cocktail party, Peninsular lunches etc etc. Plus as long term cruisers they are less likely to pay for shore excursions (been there, done it, got the t-shirt), rarely frequent the shops or the spa, or bother with photographs. They know the tips and tricks to get extra OBC.

 

New cruisers do not get discounts, parties and dinners. Much more likely to buy shore excursions, souvenirs from the shops and photographs, indulge in special venue dining etc.

 

So it is in P&O interests to encourage new cruisers rather than try to keep experienced cruisers.

A survey a number of years ago by I think Princess backs that up. The onboard spend reduces with the number of cruises taken. On my last 7 night cruise my net onboard spend was just over £30 and i won more than that in the casino. The OBC covered most of the alcohol and speciality dining.

[yorkshirephil]

5 hours ago, FangedRose said:

Past customers cost P&O money. Peninsular discount, free cocktail party, Peninsular lunches etc etc. Plus as long term cruisers they are less likely to pay for shore excursions (been there, done it, got the t-shirt), rarely frequent the shops or the spa, or bother with photographs. They know the tips and tricks to get extra OBC.

 

New cruisers do not get discounts, parties and dinners. Much more likely to buy shore excursions, souvenirs from the shops and photographs, indulge in special venue dining etc.

 

So it is in P&O interests to encourage new cruisers rather than try to keep experienced cruisers.

I agree with most of what you say, however they also need the experienced cruisers as there will never be enough new cruisers to keep the ships afloat. 

[Eglesbrech]

5 hours ago, FangedRose said:

Past customers cost P&O money. Peninsular discount, free cocktail party, Peninsular lunches etc etc. Plus as long term cruisers they are less likely to pay for shore excursions (been there, done it, got the t-shirt), rarely frequent the shops or the spa, or bother with photographs. They know the tips and tricks to get extra OBC.

 

New cruisers do not get discounts, parties and dinners. Much more likely to buy shore excursions, souvenirs from the shops and photographs, indulge in special venue dining etc.

 

So it is in P&O interests to encourage new cruisers rather than try to keep experienced cruisers.

P&O could do away with some of these costs at the stroke of a pen. They have changed the goalposts several times over the years for the loyalty schemes so there is nothing to stop them getting rid of them altogether (as Thomson/ TUI/ Marella did after just the first few years).

 

My guess would be that they won’t because if they do there is nothing to stop these shiny new cruisers trying the different lines if there is no loyalty incentive for them to come back time after time. If they find one they prefer….

 

 

[AnnieC]

13 minutes ago, yorkshirephil said:

I agree with most of what you say, however they also need the experienced cruisers as there will never be enough new cruisers to keep the ships afloat. 

Especially outside the school holidays.

[daiB]

21 hours ago, Cruise Puss said:

Not all of them. 

 

Arcadia's Suites are a lot more than they were in 2009, probably because she is now Adult Only.

 

 

Was she not always adult only??

[daiB]

3 hours ago, AnnieC said:

Especially outside the school holidays.

So true, we cruise in March and October most years on a family ship. The passengers are just as old as they have always been on P&O very few younger cruisers at that time of the year. I am sure that Iona next year will be full of existing cruisers with very few younger ones. 

 

Without the older generation cruising in the winter there would be no P&O

Edited August 19, 2022 by daiB

[jeanlyon]

have to agree with the poster above.  We have been cruising for about 12 years.  We don't do excursions, almost never did, much prefer to DIY, we don't spend anything in the shops, don't really need anything apart from duty free booze to take home.  We have drinks in the evening and that's about it with the occasional coffee.

[grapau27]

On 8/19/2022 at 11:21 AM, FangedRose said:

Past customers cost P&O money. Peninsular discount, free cocktail party, Peninsular lunches etc etc. Plus as long term cruisers they are less likely to pay for shore excursions (been there, done it, got the t-shirt), rarely frequent the shops or the spa, or bother with photographs. They know the tips and tricks to get extra OBC.

 

New cruisers do not get discounts, parties and dinners. Much more likely to buy shore excursions, souvenirs from the shops and photographs, indulge in special venue dining etc.

 

So it is in P&O interests to encourage new cruisers rather than try to keep experienced cruisers.

The older customers are more likely to stay loyal to P&O so they have a good base to start with.