Booking First Cruise - your opinion?

[Merry25]

Hi All,

 

We're ready to book our cruise to the Fjords next year on Iona.  We will be booking select as we want a specific cabin (having done loads of research!)

 

Could you please let me the know the pros and cons of booking with P & O vs a TA?  

[binman2]

Always used a TA never booked direct. Always got a further discount on the p and o price .They usually take payment 2 to 3 weeks earlier then p and o although I have had that extended due to illness . I usually book when the cruises come out and give my TA a number of cabin no and she has never failed in getting our first choice .Think its easier to contact her then p and o especially on release dates. If you are onboard a ship its worth looking at booking with low deposit and they will assign cruise to TA and further discount given .Hope this helps 

[jeanlyon]

5 minutes ago, binman2 said:

Always used a TA never booked direct. Always got a further discount on the p and o price .They usually take payment 2 to 3 weeks earlier then p and o although I have had that extended due to illness . I usually book when the cruises come out and give my TA a number of cabin no and she has never failed in getting our first choice .Think its easier to contact her then p and o especially on release dates. If you are onboard a ship its worth looking at booking with low deposit and they will assign cruise to TA and further discount given .Hope this helps 

Agree with everything.  Always get a discount and they always have access to all the cabins.

[Scorpio41]

We have never booked direct with P&O.

 

Reasons we like using a specialist cruise agent.
 

We drive to their offices, sit down with a cup of coffee and go through the cruises we have in mind. We have the brochure in front of us, check out cabins and availability. We can see on their screen the position and discuss any pro’s and cons. Price up more than one cabin and find one to suit our budget

We find it very easy, nothing is rushed and no question is too silly.

 

Personally for a first cruise I would use a cruise agent. One you can visit if possible.

Ask as many questions as you need.

 

If you want a specific cabin make sure they tick the  NO UPGRADE BOX.

[AndyMichelle]

We have done both and although all the above is correct, we had a major issue when things went wrong and we were due a refund. 

The specialist cruise agent said  'nothing to do with us'  and P&O wouldn't talk to us, referring us back to the agent. 

For our next cruise, we have booked direct online. It was very easy, selected the cabin we wanted etc and was happy with the price.

 

Andy 

[Merry25]

1 minute ago, AndyMichelle said:

We have done both and although all the above is correct, we had a major issue when things went wrong and we were due a refund. 

The specialist cruise agent said  'nothing to do with us'  and P&O wouldn't talk to us, referring us back to the agent. 

 

 

I think I'd read a few things like that on this forum which made me a bit wary about using a TA.   The only advantages that I can see are that we might get a better deal and I was told there would always be the same person available to answer our questions, though that might just be them trying to sell their services....

[jeanlyon]

I have just booked with a new agent and I have her number and email.  Can contact at any time.  Got a good discount too.

[Merry25]

6 minutes ago, jeanlyon said:

I have just booked with a new agent and I have her number and email.  Can contact at any time.  Got a good discount too.

 

Is it someone recommended on here?

[david63]

One big advantage of booking direct with P&O, or any other cruise line for that matter, is that should the TA go bust (as happened to me a few years ago) you do not have the hassle of trying to sort out your booking.

 

For me, and it is purely my preference, it is direct every time.

[alpha whiskey]

18 minutes ago, AndyMichelle said:

We have done both and although all the above is correct, we had a major issue when things went wrong and we were due a refund. 

The specialist cruise agent said  'nothing to do with us'  and P&O wouldn't talk to us, referring us back to the agent. 

For our next cruise, we have booked direct online. It was very easy, selected the cabin we wanted etc and was happy with the price.

 

Andy 

Likewise. I used to book with a TA but got unnecessary hassle and charges when cruises were cancelled during the pandemic.

I book direct now. Don't forget that P&O offer a price match promise if you are armed with screenshots and details. 

This is from their website https://www.pocruises.com/why-choose-us/price-promise 

I have found their advisors helpful and very easy to deal with.

Good luck. I'm sure you will enjoy Iona and everything else that cruising has to offer.

 

[jeanlyon]

7 minutes ago, Merry25 said:

 

Is it someone recommended on here?

Not allowed to recommend on here.

[Merry25]

14 minutes ago, jeanlyon said:

Not allowed to recommend on here.

 

I realise that but there is an article on here about best TA's.  Not trying to get you in trouble.  

[kalos]

41 minutes ago, AndyMichelle said:

We have done both and although all the above is correct, we had a major issue when things went wrong and we were due a refund. 

The specialist cruise agent said  'nothing to do with us'  and P&O wouldn't talk to us, referring us back to the agent. 

For our next cruise, we have booked direct online. It was very easy, selected the cabin we wanted etc and was happy with the price.

 

Andy 

 

That's what happened to us when I ended up in hospital and could not cruise, same as you 

referred back to the agent, then the agent telling us we are waiting for P&O to contact us .

When I thought I was well enough to travel and booked direct a simple phone call to P&O

sorted it in minutes. In my experience they do price match quotes as well.

If for any reason you were unsure of what you require then I would say then use a TA who

can help you but use a specialist, not a high street as most will not have been on a ship.

[terrierjohn]

1 hour ago, alpha whiskey said:

Likewise. I used to book with a TA but got unnecessary hassle and charges when cruises were cancelled during the pandemic.

I book direct now. Don't forget that P&O offer a price match promise if you are armed with screenshots and details. 

This is from their website https://www.pocruises.com/why-choose-us/price-promise 

I have found their advisors helpful and very easy to deal with.

Good luck. I'm sure you will enjoy Iona and everything else that cruising has to offer.

 

Unfortunately many TAs now only show discounts on your final invoice, I guess they are a bit cagey about providing a paper quote if they suspect you're going to use it to price match with the cruise line.  They will of course give you a quote of the cruise line price, which I am sure P&O are only too happy to confirm they will PRICE MATCH.

[AndyMichelle]

On 4/14/2023 at 12:10 PM, AndyMichelle said:

We have done both and although all the above is correct, we had a major issue when things went wrong and we were due a refund. 

The specialist cruise agent said  'nothing to do with us'  and P&O wouldn't talk to us, referring us back to the agent. 

For our next cruise, we have booked direct online. It was very easy, selected the cabin we wanted etc and was happy with the price.

 

Andy 

I take it all back, book through an agent!!! 😂

Only kidding, but after spending 55 minutes to get through to P&O to rectify a query we were unable to do online, I was very frustrated. 

Fortunately, the girl who answered was so helpful, sorted out the queries quickly and efficiently, explaining that they had I T issues, (surprise surprise), hence the delay in getting through. 

As you were... 😊

Andy 

[Merry25]

2 hours ago, AndyMichelle said:

I take it all back, book through an agent!!! 😂

Only kidding, but after spending 55 minutes to get through to P&O to rectify a query we were unable to do online, I was very frustrated. 

 

Was that this morning?  We started our booking online this morning (direct with P &  O) and then had to ring to check something during the process.  Only waited a few minutes and the young girl couldn't have been more helpful.  We decided to book direct as it's our very first cruise and it seemed the safer option.  I'm now very excited to have a P &O account!! 😂

[AndyMichelle]

Just now, Merry25 said:

Was that this morning?  We started our booking online this morning (direct with P &  O) and then had to ring to check something during the process.  Only waited a few minutes and the young girl couldn't have been more helpful.  We decided to book direct as it's our very first cruise and it seemed the safer option.  I'm now very excited to have a P &O account!! 😂

You was probably on the phone chatting while I was waiting😂

As previously said, there is plus points to booking through an agent, but I felt more secure booking direct this time. 

Have a fantastic time. 

Andy 

[Merry25]

1 minute ago, AndyMichelle said:

You was probably on the phone chatting while I was waiting😂

As previously said, there is plus points to booking through an agent, but I felt more secure booking direct this time. 

Have a fantastic time. 

Andy 

Sorry!!  😂 

Thank you, I'm sure we will.  Sometimes a bit of the negativity on here is a bit worrying -  but as we've never cruised before we are not full of expectations.  I just want to see the sea and the fjords and have someone else cook the dinner.  😁

[AndyMichelle]

P&O are far from perfect, but offer enough for everyone to have a great holiday. 

If you go with the right attitude, you will have a fantastic time. 

Andy 

 

 

 

[yorkshirephil]

23 minutes ago, Merry25 said:

Was that this morning?  We started our booking online this morning (direct with P &  O) and then had to ring to check something during the process.  Only waited a few minutes and the young girl couldn't have been more helpful.  We decided to book direct as it's our very first cruise and it seemed the safer option.  I'm now very excited to have a P &O account!! 😂

We were all new once, when we started cruising there were no forums we were aware of and we didn't have much idea what it was all about. We have booked both direct and with a TA depending on price and situation. I hope you enjoy your first cruise, note; it can become addictive and seriously affect your wealth, regardless of the doom and gloom portrayed by a few.

[Merry25]

13 minutes ago, yorkshirephil said:

We were all new once, when we started cruising there were no forums we were aware of and we didn't have much idea what it was all about. We have booked both direct and with a TA depending on price and situation. I hope you enjoy your first cruise, note; it can become addictive and seriously affect your wealth, regardless of the doom and gloom portrayed by a few.

I've been very lucky with this forum, able to research and ask  questions before booking.  I'm sure we will enjoy ourselves, I'm very excited and have already logged in twice (TODAY!!) -  just to see everything is there and note how many days away embarkation is.  😂

 

So, whilst I am a tad  envious of many of you with so many cruises under your belt and wonderful ports visited, I'm also happy because everything is new and exciting to me, I feel like a kid at Christmas!  As for your last point - I'm already looking at other destinations so I'm pretty sure you're right regarding the addiction comment.  

[alpha whiskey]

45 minutes ago, Merry25 said:

Sorry!!  😂 

Thank you, I'm sure we will.  Sometimes a bit of the negativity on here is a bit worrying -  but as we've never cruised before we are not full of expectations.  I just want to see the sea and the fjords and have someone else cook the dinner.  😁

You will have an absolute blast. I believe first cruises are always the best and most memorable!

I'll take a wager with you that as you get your cruise card scanned onto the ship you will say 'WOW' (out loud) and have a grin as wide as Cheshire cat as you enter the atrium! 

Enjoy! 

 

[janny444]

On 4/14/2023 at 12:35 PM, david63 said:

One big advantage of booking direct with P&O, or any other cruise line for that matter, is that should the TA go bust (as happened to me a few years ago) you do not have the hassle of trying to sort out your booking.

 

For me, and it is purely my preference, it is direct every time.

We had a cruise booked with a big cruise agent....Gill's ....that went bust in 2011. We had no hassle whatsoever....P&O just took over the booking automatically with absolutely no hassle and honoured the discounted price we had paid

[janny444]

1 hour ago, Merry25 said:

Was that this morning?  We started our booking online this morning (direct with P &  O) and then had to ring to check something during the process.  Only waited a few minutes and the young girl couldn't have been more helpful.  We decided to book direct as it's our very first cruise and it seemed the safer option.  I'm now very excited to have a P &O account!! 😂

Oh your first cruise....probably won't be your last !....enjoy....just being curious....which ship have you chosen ?

[Merry25]

Just now, janny444 said:

Oh your first cruise....probably won't be your last !....enjoy....just being curious....which ship have you chosen ?

Iona - to the fjords!