2024-25 Cruises

[Host Sharon]

Normally, with bookings opened yesterday for the next tranche of cruises up to 2025, there is a post filled with discussion over which cruises have been booked and the pros and cons of particular cabins. This time - nothing, zilch!  Is that telling of the direction P&O is taking with its new ships and increased capacity or of the uncertainties of the cruise industry in general?

[yorkshirephil]

33 minutes ago, Host Sharon said:

Normally, with bookings opened yesterday for the next tranche of cruises up to 2025, there is a post filled with discussion over which cruises have been boked and the pros and cons of particular cabins. This time - nothing, zilch!  Is that telling of the direction P&O is taking with its new ships and increased capacity or of the uncertainties of the cruise industry in general?

For a lot of people I think it is the unknowns that are making them wary. Cruise prices have been cut over the last year and a lot have been caught out especially with cruises booked on day 1 or 2 which used to yield the best price. I don't think it is too bad for some of us pensioners as we know where we stand financially and not affected by mortgage rates or risk of loosing our jobs, in fact with interest rates some of us will be better off. We would usually book our 35 night winter Caribbean cruise now but as we are cruising next week we will likely book onboard for any extra OBC and £50 deposit.

[bee-ess]

Lots of uncertainty - we did not book anything and are prepared to see what offers/extra OBC  is available later on.

 

We did look yesterday fleetingly at the 22 night Caribbean TA on Arvia in October 2024 but there seemed hardly any cabins available . I cannot believe that they are all booked, they are either keeping loads back or they have not allocated many cabins to the 22 nighter. Anyway we did not book, going to wait and see what happens

 

[wowzz]

I for one, do not want to commit so far out, given the way P&O have been dropping prices recently.  If the deposit was £50, I might take a punt, but not at 5%.

[Megabear2]

Totally agree.  No way will I commit any money to P&O after this year's hefty reductions to late select bookers.  I feel very used and abused!

 

I will however hopefully book with Cunard for Queen Anne when she goes on sale as there is apparently (if the leaks on Cunard forum are correct) a cruise covering our wedding anniversary and my birthday.

 

At this stage we won't even book a Christmas Caribbean which we normally do.

[terrierjohn]

We have booked 2 cruises, but needing an accessible cabin we can't wait, and we can't take advantage of any saver fares. Both are on Iona, its first winter Canaries cruise in September, and the 35 night round trip Caribbean cruise in January, all helped by booking on board last month at only £50pp deposit each cruise plus a bit of extra OBC.

Edited November 2, 2022 by terrierjohn

[zap99]

55 minutes ago, wowzz said:

I for one, do not want to commit so far out, given the way P&O have been dropping prices recently.  If the deposit was £50, I might take a punt, but not at 5%.

We did just the for Iona next October. £50pp deposit, booked on board. If prices drop we can cancel,if not OK. All our cruises will be booked closer to sailing date.

Edited November 2, 2022 by zap99

[Otter18]

We have booked Aurora's 65 night Amazon cruise in 2025. We like a particular cabin so we chose to book early. We do tend to book the longer cruise in advance. But we like to go on some cruises at short notice. The quickest so far was 16 hours from booking to boarding.

[Mad4WDW]

This is the first time in years we haven't pre registered. I lost count of the cruises Ive transferred/rebooked over the past 6 months. Literally thousands cheaper than the prices I got for booking on release day. I don't think they've looked after their most loyal customers, in fact we've been treated pretty shoddily I think. I'm not booking anything until after fully paid date in future and if the prices are higher than now I simply won't book. We're fortunate that we can wait like this, total sympathy for anyone like terrierjohn who needs a specific cabin type etc. 

[gsmt47471015]

25 minutes ago, Otter18 said:

We have booked Aurora's 65 night Amazon cruise in 2025. We like a particular cabin so we chose to book early. We do tend to book the longer cruise in advance. But we like to go on some cruises at short notice. The quickest so far was 16 hours from booking to boarding.

Booked yesterday at 08.17 via ta with first choice cabin 🙂 

[jeanlyon]

This is the first time we haven't booked on launch and won't be booking anything at all, until we have done our October 2023 cruise.  I hardly have any desire to sail.  If we do enjoy it, then we will try for a Fred O cruise that we have seen, but it will be last minute.

[Son of Anarchy]

2 hours ago, yorkshirephil said:

For a lot of people I think it is the unknowns that are making them wary. Cruise prices have been cut over the last year and a lot have been caught out especially with cruises booked on day 1 or 2 which used to yield the best price. I don't think it is too bad for some of us pensioners as we know where we stand financially and not affected by mortgage rates or risk of loosing our jobs, in fact with interest rates some of us will be better off. We would usually book our 35 night winter Caribbean cruise now but as we are cruising next week we will likely book onboard for any extra OBC and £50 deposit.

Pretty much on the same song sheet as Yorkshirephil.

 

Looking to book a Ventura TA for 2025, but will wait till we're on Iona later this month.

 

Did a dummy booking yesterday afternoon to check prices and noticed that a couple of balconies had gone.

[mrbluesea]

Had a lucky escape (I think).  Yesterday I agreed a pre release price with an on line travel agent for Aurora in Nov 24 for the Penthouse Suite at £169 pppn (saver fare) which I was happy with (and paid a deposit). As there are only 2 such suites available on Aurora the price was conditional on the travel agent securing the accommodation. They failed to get either of the 2 suites, but this morning the price on the P and O website for the Penthouse Suite was considerably lower.  Yes,  I would have liked to get the Suite at the agreed price with the travel agent, but I would have been a bit annoyed to have booked it at the higher price. Deposit now being refunded.  This is the first time I have pre registered for a cruise,  not sure if I will do it again.

[cruiseluvva]

We booked to Sydney. Prices seemed pretty reasonable, and we wanted a particular cabin.

[Cristaltips]

First time we haven’t booked something on first day for years. It’s all a bit samey (is that even a word?😂). Feel like itineraries are a bit stale and having done four cruises post Covid, feel that they’re cutting things to the bone, especially food choices. We’ll sit tight and wait and see for a bit 

[Megabear2]

Out of interest price a mid forward Britannia balcony with sofa for Christmas 2024.  Price is £7265 for two with £120OBC.  That's actually cheaper than this year on Britannia but much less OBC and only £165 dearer than my 2023 Arvia Christmas cruise.  However looking today at both my booked cruises its £2,000 cheaper for my this year's cruise at present and £350 for next year's. Make of it what you will, these are all select prices based on F deck balcony with sofa.

[wowzz]

25 minutes ago, mrbluesea said:

Had a lucky escape (I think).  Yesterday I agreed a pre release price with an on line travel agent for Aurora in Nov 24 for the Penthouse Suite at £169 pppn (saver fare) which I was happy with (and paid a deposit). As there are only 2 such suites available on Aurora the price was conditional on the travel agent securing the accommodation. They failed to get either of the 2 suites, but this morning the price on the P and O website for the Penthouse Suite was considerably lower.  Yes,  I would have liked to get the Suite at the agreed price with the travel agent, but I would have been a bit annoyed to have booked it at the higher price. Deposit now being refunded.  This is the first time I have pre registered for a cruise,  not sure if I will do it again.

I'm confused !

If the suites are still showing as being available,  why was your booking not accepted ?

 

[terrierjohn]

28 minutes ago, mrbluesea said:

Had a lucky escape (I think).  Yesterday I agreed a pre release price with an on line travel agent for Aurora in Nov 24 for the Penthouse Suite at £169 pppn (saver fare) which I was happy with (and paid a deposit). As there are only 2 such suites available on Aurora the price was conditional on the travel agent securing the accommodation. They failed to get either of the 2 suites, but this morning the price on the P and O website for the Penthouse Suite was considerably lower.  Yes,  I would have liked to get the Suite at the agreed price with the travel agent, but I would have been a bit annoyed to have booked it at the higher price. Deposit now being refunded.  This is the first time I have pre registered for a cruise,  not sure if I will do it again.

If both suites were sold on launch, then why has the price dropped??

[crompton21]

May just be a coincidence but mini suites for the only Aurora November departing cruise are currently priced at £169 pp.  It might be possible to put two and two together and come up with a theory I suppose.

[Cathygh]

I looked at the itineraries, nothing appeals atm. I am more interested in long haul destinations that P&O don't go to but I would consider a late deal nearer the time. 

[mrbluesea]

If the suites are still showing as being available,  why was your booking not accepted?

 

    The suite was shown as available today at 08.30 am on the P&O website at a (very good) lower price than the online travel agent had quoted yesterday but showed as unavailable when I tried to complete the booking today.

 

If both suites were sold on launch, then why has the price dropped??

 

    The price difference I am referring to is between the online travel agent (yesterday) and P&O website today.

 

Yesterday P&O were not showing a price for the Penthouse Suite so I going to take a risk with the online travel agent who were offering a price. If I had been successful I would have got the Penthouse Suite but at a higher price than if I had been successful today.

[Otter18]

I'm not advocating that people should book early, but this is my own experience. I was curious about the change in price of my previously preregistered cruises, and the actual price today. R217 has virtually doubled in price. J301 is now sold out, but the price did increase before becoming unavailable. R320 is £500pp more for a lower grade cabin but there is more OBC. R401 again more expensive for a lower grade cabin but loads more OBC. All of these are select fares after shopping around. So for me, right now, I haven't lost out by booking early on any of these cruises, in fact I would say I got the best deal on these particular cruises. Having said that, if you want the cruise, and happy to pay the price, then don't be put off if the price drops. It's swings and roundabouts. Sometimes you win.

[Megabear2]

2 hours ago, Otter18 said:

I'm not advocating that people should book early, but this is my own experience. I was curious about the change in price of my previously preregistered cruises, and the actual price today. R217 has virtually doubled in price. J301 is now sold out, but the price did increase before becoming unavailable. R320 is £500pp more for a lower grade cabin but there is more OBC. R401 again more expensive for a lower grade cabin but loads more OBC. All of these are select fares after shopping around. So for me, right now, I haven't lost out by booking early on any of these cruises, in fact I would say I got the best deal on these particular cruises. Having said that, if you want the cruise, and happy to pay the price, then don't be put off if the price drops. It's swings and roundabouts. Sometimes you win.

Glad that you are happy. I note all your cruises are on Aurora and Arcadia and as such are more specialised. They are also able to carry fewer passengers than the remainder of the fleet and as such are limited in choice of cabins.  Whilst delighted to hear you have been successful in booking early and achieving the best price unfortunately this has not been the case in many instances on the larger ships.

 

So, yes, swings and roundabouts but a very difficult decision if you are booking anything other than the smaller ships and also a very fine balancing act.

[wowzz]

5 hours ago, mrbluesea said:

If the suites are still showing as being available,  why was your booking not accepted?

 

    The suite was shown as available today at 08.30 am on the P&O website at a (very good) lower price than the online travel agent had quoted yesterday but showed as unavailable when I tried to complete the booking today.

 

If both suites were sold on launch, then why has the price dropped??

 

    The price difference I am referring to is between the online travel agent (yesterday) and P&O website today.

 

Yesterday P&O were not showing a price for the Penthouse Suite so I going to take a risk with the online travel agent who were offering a price. If I had been successful I would have got the Penthouse Suite but at a higher price than if I had been successful today.

Sorry, I am completely confused. 

I suspect the problem is that you are using an online agency. Why not use a specialised cruise agency and actually talk to someone ?

Many of us here use certain agencies, but they all entail an actual verbal interaction. I book most of my travel arrangements through the internet,  but for cruises, I prefer the personal touch.

[mrbluesea]

7 hours ago, wowzz said:

Sorry, I am completely confused. 

I suspect the problem is that you are using an online agency. Why not use a specialised cruise agency and actually talk to someone ?

Many of us here use certain agencies, but they all entail an actual verbal interaction. I book most of my travel arrangements through the internet,  but for cruises, I prefer the personal touch.

It was an online agency which had a human interface who I spoke to to agree the pre release price (should they secure the suite on release date).