pisces14

Ooh sorry I sincerely hope I never encounter a table for 12 in the Queen's grill.

On 11/11/2018 at 9:32 PM, terrierjohn said:

I have to agree with jody75s comment about how P&O react to a problem compared with our experiences on other cruise lines.  P&O seem to feel that passengers are a nuisance to the smooth running of their ships, whereas other lines, like RCI and Celebrity, put customer service at the top of their list, and go the extra mile to put things right.

Now before the cheerleaders descend on me I would point out that, as a Yorkshireman, I am more than capable of handling this sloppy attitude, and still manage to enjoy all my cruises on  P&O, and these incidents just add to my cruising stories.

I have to agree with your comment that passengers on P&O seem to be a nuisance. I've always said to my husband that we are a necessary inconvenience. Necessary because the officers can't sail around the world at our expense and an inconvenience because we get in the way of maintaining their ship. Maintenance always seemed to be done to suit the staff and not the paying customer. I've just had my first cruise on Cunard in the Queens grill. Yes much more expensive than a suite on P&O but the difference in treatment was worth every penny. I won't be going back to P&O. 

8 hours ago, majortom10 said:

Dont think you will find it was cooked at your table the duck was pre prepared because you after order it in advance by lunch time normally. All they do is bring it to your table and finish it off by pouring the orange on to finish off the dish. That is what they did on QE last year it would take too long to cook Whole Duck a la Orange at your table.

 

Still worth having as is the Dover sole, Crepe suzette, and Baked Alaska mmm!

17 hours ago, Windsurfboy said:

Wanted a med cruise in early summer out of Southampton ,  no Cunard ,  P&O Had good itinerary 19 days some new port for us. Cunard didn't have similiar cruise till Autumn. P&O suite 9 grand cheaper,  half price of Cunard. P&O suite similiar to Q3 midship. Suite just as nice but not QG dinning or QG deck. On other hand hand can eat in speciality restaurants every night, drink champagne and still be £1000s quids in, lets see?

We've always cruised with P&O in a suite but really never felt we were getting our monies worth. All you really get is a larger cabin and a butler. This year we tried the Queen's grill on Cunard for the first time. We found the attitude of both the passengers and the staff far better than on P&O. Of course the food and service in the Queen's grill was way above anything we've experienced on P&O even in the speciality restaurants.Yes the price was double the amount we would have paid on P&O but at least we felt we were getting value for the money paid. While £9000 isn't to be sneezed at I only hope you won't be too disappointed.

Myself and a few others on here emailed P&O several times and got to speak to their Guests Relations manager regarding adding tips into the price because we were paying autogratuities but plenty of people were very happy to stop theirs.

I am delighted that what was told to me is actually being implemented albeit not until May 2019.

I will still tip very well in cash to everyone who makes our cruise Special.

I remember that you as well as myself and others spoke to Guest Relations. So perhaps we did make a difference. I like to think so.:)

It will be interesting to see what people booked before next May will do. I suspect that even more people will remove auto tips in the coming months. We're booked for April!

I wondered that as we are booked before next May too. We'll leave the auto-tips on as usual but we may well be in the minority.

That is true too.

I think P&O could charge more for their suites and increase their perks offered to their guests and still be very competitively priced.

If nothing else they could give double loyalty points for staying in mini and full suites.

Exactly. Or they could offer free wi-fi or free laundry. I don't think that's asking too much. I'm sure they must be losing customers to other companies who do offer a little extra perk.

You make a great point. The 2 Penthouses on Aurora are the best suites in the fleet and we love them (Aurora is our favourite P&O ship so far) and your post has reminded me that I have seen prices advertised for one of these suites at the same (or even more) than a Royal Suite on Celebrity. So whilst it is true that P&O is predominantly much cheaper than lines offering more perks this is not always the case.

The RS is as impressive as the Piano Suite (in different ways) but the big balcony with hot tub probably means it slightly tops it, and the perks......

I highly recommend Celebrity, Pisces14. The Silhouette, which sails from Southampton is about the size of Ventura/Azura and as the higher end suites are midships everything feels close at hand....not sure why? So it doesn’t feel like a huge ship.

I agree that P&O should give more perks.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Well at least someone agrees with me.;) I have been looking at the Celebrity ships since I saw your comments. I do like the sound of a hot tub.:DWho knows maybe in the future. The Aurora is our favourite ship too.

But not value for money. As my post above shows. Paying three times the P&O price cannot be value.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

It depends on what you consider value for money.

Which is all you pay for.

On P&O. My point is on other cruiselines you pay more and get more than that.

Agreed.

 

Anyway, I think we digress. The OP asked if there were any extra perks which might be expected, if not openly advertised, when booking a suite with a P&O. The answer is, sadly no.

There used to be more - more champagne, more parties, more freebies, I think you just get what is advertised these days. Which is fine, as Dai says, fewer bucks, less bang!

We will still sail with P&O and enjoy ourselves - of that I am sure. [emoji4]

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Although Celebrity may be a little more expensive from what you've said they certainly give quite a few perks to suite passengers. The only problem I have with Celebrity is that I prefer a smaller ship. I'm not saying P&O should give the same amount of perks just something extra. I like P&O for the itineraries but they should realise that not everyone is simply looking for a cheap deal.

P&O offer nothing to suite passengers regardless of how much they pay. We have done world cruises in the Penthouse suite on the Aurora paying £17000 more that the other suites. The last one it was £20,000 more. Can people really say that the fact we had more space was worth £20,000 more. I think other cruise lines seem to deliver better value for the money paid.

If you have a butler, he will give you your excursion tickets if not I would assume they will be given to you by your cabin steward. We've never printed our emails so I wouldn't bother if I were you.

Blimey, what a fuss - LOL. I pack everything in my suitcase and a carry bag for bits. I usually lose a couple of pounds on the cruise. I met someone who reckons they put on a stone? I simply cannot believe that. You would have to stuff yourself like mad to gain that kind of weight in 18 days.

I lost a half stone on a world cruise, in spite of having a 3 course meal every evening. At home I never eat desserts so I agree how do people put so much weight on when they are on a cruise?

We are cruising with Cunard for the first time this year having only ever been with P&O. I booked it over 18 months ago. I decided to upgrade to a different suite and worked out how much extra it would be from the price showing currently on their website. Like you I was surprised that it was going to cost so much more and was told that I had to pay the price it had been when I first booked which was higher than the price now showing. I did pay it and also the £100 charge. I'm not new to cruising but new to Cunard so like you I've learned a lesson for next time.

On RCCL Suite passengers get access to a concierge or Suite Lounge with unlimited free drinks for 3 and a half hours nightly.

They also get lunch in a speciality restaurant.

It is the same with loyalty where you get double points for staying in a Junior or full Suite and after 80 points you have access to a loyalty lounge for unlimited free drinks for 3 and a half hours nightly.

Thank you for that information. I think that's the point I'm trying to make. Unfortunately people don't seem to understand quite what I'm getting at. Apart from P&O other companies offer a little extra to their suite passengers. I believe Celebrity offer varying amounts of loyalty points depending on the cabin you book. Why do P&O offer nothing.

Very well put and we also find really good service each time we sail. Not as often as you though. Yes suites are what you make of them and like you we certainly make the most of the experience. I guess though for many guests not accustomed or new to this next level of service they may not appreciate what the offer can provide. While other lines offer a good experience, in my experience its not a lot different and you pay considerably more. Horses for courses eh!

Left out

Absolutely. Horses for courses. If P&O suits you and others that's fine. For the record I've actually never had any complaint about the service I've received while on a cruise and I've only ever booked a suite. However if I can get more 'perks' for booking a suite from another cruise company, I'm more than happy to pay their price. So we are all happy with what we want and receive. Isn't life wonderful.:D

Well we must agree to differ as I do.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

As you seem to be P&O's number one fan, I didn't expect you to agree with me.

Well you are the one who mentioned other cruise companies? The difference between queens grill and Britannia on Cunard is far more than suite to balcony on P&O so you get what you pay for.

 

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Yes I did and perhaps I didn't make myself clear. I suppose I meant that other cruise companies treat passengers in their more expensive cabins better that P&O. On Cunard there are 4 classes with each one getting more favourable treatment than the other. So you do get what you pay for. On P&O I don't think you do.

Interesting, guess it comes down to what you want to get out of it. Frankly we have had suites on more than 60 occasions with P&O and find we are looked after fantastically, not just because we are 'regulars' but we know what we want. We used to have a 'butlers request' list that we would give to the butler on the first day but now they know our requirements and ensure that the service we get is superb. We also tip them extremely well.

If you 'don't ask you don't get' is quite a good motto.

Bal

Perhaps that's my trouble I'm not very demanding.

The next time there's no sun on my balcony I'll be sure to ask the captain to turn the ship around.;)

And the most expensive cabins are far mor than those on P&O which is why they offer more. If they in fact do. Do you not get what you pay for.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Of course other cruise lines are more expensive. I was comparing being in a suite to being in another grade of cabin on P&O. My point was that you really don't get much for the extra you pay. Our next cruise is in the Qgrill on Cunard. It's certainly costing more than P&O but I'm sure that for the money we are paying we will be getting a better experience for our money than if we'd booked a balcony cabin in Britannia class. As I said on P&O all you really get is a bigger cabin and a butler.

Absolutely agree, depends on who the Captain and Senior officers are. Many times on the Bridge and yes, the Captains balcony for a little gathering and for sure, the occasional 'discreet' party. Once we were having a lunch time drinks party on our stern suite when one of the Captains changed course to ensure we had the sun on the balcony. Obviously it helps if you are a regular traveller as you get to know the officers, the butlers and indeed the Hotel team so when you swap between the P&O ships there are always welcoming faces. Enjoy the suite life.

Bal

Enjoy the suite life? While we've had a few perks from being in a suite I think the only reason I'd book with P&O is for the itinerary now. I personally think P&O have no idea how to treat the passengers who pay for their most expensive cabins. A bigger cabin, a butler and somewhere to eat breakfast doesn't really count for much compared to what is on offer from other cruise companies.

We have been invited to the Bridge to meet the captain. That was on a world cruise and we were in the Penthouse suite. On our last cruise with P&O in 2016 on the Oceana, we were invited to a cocktail party with the officers which was for suite passengers only but some other people were also invited because there are only six suites. On the Oriana in 2012 on a Med cruise suite passengers were invited to the Captain's balcony for a buffet breakfast for the sail in to Venice. So I think it must depend on the cruise or the captain whether suite passengers get any little perks.

Some of my favourites are Sydney, San Fransisco, Montevideo, Akaroa and Moorea. I agree with the poster about the sail in and out of Kotor. I'm sure there are others I can't think of but I'd love to go back to the all of the one's I've mentioned.

The Aurora is my favourite ship. We've had a couple of world cruises on that ship. In my opinion it's exactly what a cruise ship should be. I know people moaned about the Cafe Bordeaux becoming a Glasshouse but I'm another who likes it. I think those who generally like a traditional cruise will cruise on the Aurora. Certainly anyone who loved the Oriana will love the Aurora. Slightly different but the same in my opinion. Although for me the Aurora had the edge over the Oriana. I'm not a fan of the Oceana and have never been on the larger ships, because I much prefer the mid sized ships in particular of course the Aurora. The people on even world cruises are of mixed age groups and certainly aren't 80+ including us.

I'm not surprised either. We haven't been on Oriana for a few years now, as the last time we thought she was past her sell by date. If they get rid of Aurora that's when we'll be saying a permanent farewell to P&O.