wowzz

When we were in club class, we went for dinner more or less the same time each night. We were normally placed in the same section each time, with the same waiters. We just gave a tip to our two waiters at the end of the cruise. They did a good job, but I personally wouldn't think they deserved $140 over a 14 night cruise.

I have to sleep sometimes!

So you are saying that P&O are not interested in maximising profit ?

Why would anyone want this as a gift ? It's not as if it is of any relevance to the crew member.

But P&O is only aimed at the UK market, so does not need to fit into any overall Carnival pricing strategy.

One problem is that there appear to be very few 14 day round trips out of Miami/FL. 10 days, or two b2b seven day cruises seem to be the norm, and in the case of the latter, much of the time you aren't actually in the Caribbean !

Again, I agree. Surely a suite passenger paying five times more than a passenger in an inside cabin should be rewarded accordingly ? At present there is no difference whatsoever. (Just a disclaimer- I have never had a suite, and doubt I ever will! )

I think with young children going with P&O is a better choice than an independent option, although I can see the attraction of an American ship. Waiting for three hours to pass through Miami border control is no way to start a holiday !

Or has a vivid imagination !

I just prefer a relaxed end to the holiday, rather than enduring the 8am scrum.

Which seems entirely fair.

But only if they make a profit for the cruise line. No one " deserves ' a cruise.

That is wrong. Filet Mignon is a cut taken from beef tenderloin, and is a superior piece of meat.

Just random thoughts ! But, heaven forbid, if I was an accountant, I would be looking long and hard as to the profitability of inside cabins. If they were not occupied, there would be no cleaning required, less food eaten, less serving staff required, fewer chefs etc etc.

You said you gave your steward $100 for delivering your robes - please at least try and remember what you posted !

The fact is that P&O is basically a 100% British cruise line. Therefore, the target market is much smaller than their multinational stablemates. P&O has to operate within a constrained geographic market, with relatively few ships, if compared to, say, Princess. So, they (Carnival) have taken the approach of launching two new mega ships, to attract new cruisers for the future, and let their more elderly client base continue to enjoy the older ships. In due course, both the older clientele and ships will disappear. The limited market that P&O operates within, means that they cannot take the more gentle approach to which you refer. However, i do hope that the next ship to be commissioned by P&O will be similar to the new Sun Princess, not another Iona.

I think many of us felt that we were having a rational discussion until you posted that remark. I, for one, am done.

Absolutely.

Well, the CG costs $39, so for the extra $20 you get a more relaxed, spacious environment, more personalised service, better choice of starters and desserts, and overall a feeling that you have been out for a meal, rather than being fed. Only you can decide. Personally, if I ws thinking of spending $19 for a steak to eat in the hub bub of the MDR, I would pass.

The same as us then. Getting home at 4pm or 5pm makes no real difference. We have beans on toast for supper regardless of when we get home, accompanied by a Pinot Noir (or equivalent) as officially we are still on holiday !

True - the point I'm making is that by waiting until the last minute, you can't always get the most convenient airport, especially if you don't live in the SE.

Well, for a start, a multi-generational games room with payg machines, bijou cinema rooms with payg sittings, craft rooms with payg sessions, cocktail making lessons, on a payg basis. Just strip out a whole tranche of loss making inside cabins, and use the space more productively. In fact, anything that generates more profit than selling the space for a non-revenue generating guest.

Yes, but P&O really don't care about them. They make a small contribution to the overheads. A bit like an airline. If BA or VS can fill their first class and business class seats, they will make a profit, even if the rest of the aircraft is empty. Inside cabin passengers who spend nothing on board are inconsequential to the profitability of the cruise line.

Possibly true for cruises from Southampton: not so much so for fly cruises where the choice of airport and seat choice is an important factor. Not sure a cheap cruise that involves a flight from Bristol in a rubbish seat is a bargain for us.

Excellent point. A couple or individual that have an interior cabin, don't drink, don't use the speciality restaurants, don't go on P&O excursions etc are of no interest whatsoever to P&O, or indeed, to any cruise line.