Shore excursions

[r1955]

We're thinking of taking a cruise to the Canarys on the Iona in February. We've cruised a few times but only on American ships. We've never taken a ship shore excursion but thought of doing it this time. Can someone tell me if the P&O shore excursions are as expensive as the ones on Royal Carribean for example? I know not all excursions are the same but what are the prices more or less? Is there anywhere I can find details of the ship's offered excursions before I book? 

[Host Sharon]

UK lines shore excursions are much less expensive than US lines as a general rule. Sample tours can be seen on P&O's website - roughly £35 for half day but depends on whether food is included or not.

[r1955]

Thank you. I tried to find it on P&O's website but couldn't. Also P&O does not sell their cruises on their website to non-British citizens and on a British travel agent's website I saw the same restriction. Do you happen to know if that's something to do with Covid or are P&O cruises to non British always sold outside of Britain? Is that the case with all British travel agents' website?

[david63]

23 minutes ago, r1955 said:

something to do with Covid

It is certainly nothing to do with Covid as this was a problem pre Covid - certainly with those from USA

[r1955]

I'm actually from Israel.  Some cruise companies (like Princess) give exclusivity to local travel agents so maybe that is the case here. They actually give an Israeli phone number in their website, supposedly a travel agent but that number is disconnected. I emailed P&O to ask but they haven't answered me. I sometime book a cruise with an American TA  so I'll try there. Just thought maybe British travel agents do sell P&O cruises on their websites to "foreigners" 🙂  but it seems that's not the case.

[Bill Y]

19 hours ago, r1955 said:

We're thinking of taking a cruise to the Canarys on the Iona in February. We've cruised a few times but only on American ships. We've never taken a ship shore excursion but thought of doing it this time. Can someone tell me if the P&O shore excursions are as expensive as the ones on Royal Carribean for example? I know not all excursions are the same but what are the prices more or less? Is there anywhere I can find details of the ship's offered excursions before I book? 

I have not been on Royal Caribbean but P&O are cheaper than Princess or Holland America,

 

Excursions for Madeira range from £49 to £185

 

2 hours ago, r1955 said:

I'm actually from Israel.  Some cruise companies (like Princess) give exclusivity to local travel agents so maybe that is the case here. They actually give an Israeli phone number in their website, supposedly a travel agent but that number is disconnected. I emailed P&O to ask but they haven't answered me. I sometime book a cruise with an American TA  so I'll try there. Just thought maybe British travel agents do sell P&O cruises on their websites to "foreigners" 🙂  but it seems that's not the case.

I have heard that its difficult to book from the USA but there evidently is a preferred travel agent see How to "Booking P&O cruise" thread. Maybe pose the question on there.

 

I don't know aboult UK travel agencies not selling outside the UK, I would have thought that some of the big online cruise specialists may

 

P&O cruises are sold to Australians but then there is a sister company P&O (Australia)

 

 

[Host Sharon]

I have certainly met people - not many admittedly - from many other countries on board P&O ships so it should be possible but only P&O can really answer you. Maybe email them  customerservices@pocruises.com

[Cruisemeister2002]

It genuinely depends on what you are looking for with regards to price. You get transfers to places like Disney World for £40 per person, but you also get those that include a snack and a drink, a meal, private tours and you can get some that are the same with no meal. Prices vary from £36 per person up to several hundred pounds. I would say that in general between £60-£70 for tour type excursions. Maybe £20 cheaper for conch train and as I say transfers. I remember our first venture to Disney World Florida was £100 per person inclusive of transfer and entry. We were due to go earlier this year and it was £40 transfer to Disney World and you were advised to purchase tickets separately which were about £125 per person. I know I have only really covered the US. But tours in other countries are a similar prices from £36 up to £100 each. 

[r1955]

I'm sure that there are people from other countries on board P&O. I just wondered if I have to find a way to book the cruise outside Britain or if there are travel agents in Britain who would sell to other countries. I've tried to ask P&O but they haven't answered yet. I'll try again.

[r1955]

From all the replies it sounds as if the shore excursions on P&O are less expensive than on American ships.

[r1955]

How do I find the "booking P&O" thread or any thread for that matter?

[silversurf]

It may be difficult for non Brits to get travel insurance that meets P and O requirement and also COVID vaccination proof as you need to get that from the NHS.

[r1955]

Are you sure I need to get that from the NHS? We've been to Europe a few times this year and we have proof of vaccination in English which is accepted in all European countries by agreement with Israel. Is it different in Britain?

As for travel insurance, what special requirements does P&O have?

[david63]

14 hours ago, r1955 said:

How do I find the "booking P&O" thread or any thread for that matter?

I don't think that you can if you are outside the UK.

 

You might get more response if you send an email to one or two of the cruise TAs in the UK that you can find from a Google search (not allowed to name names on here!)

[Gettingwarmer]

15 hours ago, r1955 said:

How do I find the "booking P&O" thread or any thread for that matter?

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2883994-booking-po-cruise/#comment-64116352

 

[Bill Y]

15 hours ago, r1955 said:

How do I find the "booking P&O" thread or any thread for that matter?

The

 

"Booking P&O Cruise

By ONECRUISER, September 27"

 

Thread is on this forum, Although it was primary to ask about booking from the USA, people reading it may have knowledge of booking from other countries.

 

Alternatively ask the question directly in a new thread on this forum as you did with "Shore excursions".

 

[r1955]

Thanks for all the replies.

[Cruisemeister2002]

18 hours ago, r1955 said:

I'm sure that there are people from other countries on board P&O. I just wondered if I have to find a way to book the cruise outside Britain or if there are travel agents in Britain who would sell to other countries. I've tried to ask P&O but they haven't answered yet. I'll try again.

Can you not access the P&O website ? . Originally I always booked via a travel agent or on certain days of the week our newspapers have various companies that advertise P&O cruises. I would imagine many of them are quoting Early Saver fares rather than Select fares. The difference being Early Saver means you don't get onboard credit, free coach travel or parking at the port (One of not all). Choice of cabin number and priority dining along with shuttle buses at selected ports which you do get with Select price although this can be several hundreds of pounds more.

I now tend to book via the P&O website or phone the number supplied on P&O brochures. 

[david63]

1 hour ago, Cruisemeister2002 said:

Can you not access the P&O website ?

Not sure if things have changed, but I suspect not from comments that have been made, but you are unable to access the booking page from outside the UK. It has been like that for years.

Edited October 11, 2022 by david63

[r1955]

I can just get to the stage where it gives details and basic prices for the cabins and then it gives an Israeli  number to call which is supposedly a travel agent but is a disconnected number. It also says that you can get PDF brochures only for British citizens (google knows where you are 🙂)

I tried mailing P&O twice to get a valid phone number but never received an answer. I do now have an offer from an American travel agent but it's more expensive than various  British  website offers which also sell only to British. I'm still shopping around. 

 

[sleepingcat]

just to mention, if it is Southampton to Canaries that you w ant, there are a number of other companies which offer this route out of Southampton, and they may be easier to book than with P and O which appears from the comments above to make it difficult for you.  

 

Certainly we have been on cruises ex Southampton where we have met non British passengers, so it must be possible. Hope it works out for you. 

 

 

[r1955]

Do you mean other cruise companies or other travel agents? Because we've cruised out of Southampton to Norway for instance with Norwegian cruise line . But this time we would like to try cruising with P&O Iona.