funinhounslow

So FO provide a superior product to P&O but charge more?

Guinness and Koppaberg are both <0.05% as are various lagers. As a teetotaller I wouldn’t purchase a drink with 0.5% alcohol. As there are increasing numbers of non drinkers around I wish P&O would cater to us more, in particular stocking the AF Guinness - on my last cruise I had the choice of Koppaberg (not bad but a bit sweet), mocktails, or soda water!

Ok maybe it works for some people but I’ve had the thing for almost 2 years and never used it as I can usually find better deals elsewhere. Sonos are forever having sales for example, this from an email I received the other week…

I think this is the case with most BLC “offers” - they can be beaten elsewhere with a bit of effort. Mine expires soon and I won’t be renewing. Waste of a fiver imo…

Typo

I would suggest rent/mortgage, household bills, food on the table are even higher on the list. Inflation running at 6%+ means cruises are pretty low on the list for a lot of people these days. Let us know when Warren Buffet buys shares in cruise lines - he’s definitely someone who uses his brain rather than his gut when making investment decisions.

Oh I agree if you’ve already got them you may as well keep them. I was taking issue with the suggestion that they’re a “safe haven” rather than a risky punt.

These two things don’t go together, have you seen what’s happened to interest rates recently? High rates are bad for companies that are billions in debt in particular those selling a discretionary product that will be the first to get binned when household budgets are squeezed… People on index linked pensions are immune from this of course but I’d imagine they aren’t buying those profitable drinks packages and excursions.

I was on the same cruise and I think I know which dessert you’re referring to. It was ridiculously good! Made rather a pig of myself wirh it I’m afraid much to the amusement of my companions…! This was also our first cruise since Covid and we were curious to see how much has changed. The short answer is “not much”, it’s probably 90% as it was. Staff seemed rushed and under pressure in the MDR I’m afraid but apart from that very little to moan about. We ate in Sindhu twice and Glass House and they were wonderful as always. Thoroughly enjoyed an evening in the Epicurean too. All the things we like P&O were present and correct- “fair” bar prices, enjoyable quizzes, decent variety of entertainment and the itinerary- in particular the overnight in Lisbon. The self check in greatly speeded up embarkation too - it took us about half an hour from leaving the car to getting to our cabin which is a record for us! On the basis of our experience with this cruise we looking forward to booking with P&O again

How should I know I don’t work for them. You were the one listing business costs while ignoring the massive elephant in the room - tens of billions of debt…

You are overlooking the fact that Carnival is over US$30 billion in debt

But you are paying a lot less in real terms than “years gone by”, so again it’s an unfair comparison - you aren’t comparing like with like. Stick the cost of a cruise from 5-10 years ago into the BofE’s inflation calculator and prepare to be taken aback. About the only thing that hasn’t gone up in price significantly over the past couple of years is my P&O cruise. I don’t consider the MDR food “below acceptable standard”. If anyone does they can hit the buffet or pony up for the Epicurean. Or pay extra and go on Celebrity or whoever. Like I said you pay your money and take your choice.

I quite like the enforced break from my phone but occasional access would be nice. It will be interesting to see what the Starlink roll out brings to the table…

Just back from Ventura - our first since C***d and was wondering how things had changed. The myP&O app or whatever it’s called was only used to check our balance. No need to use it for booking meals, shows excursions etc… Food - I would echo the comments about a noticeable reduction in quality in the MDR - it’s still fine, just not as good as it was. The extra charge items were excellent though - as they should be. The waiters seemed over stretched though and service could be rushed. I felt sorry for them… We also ate in Glass House, Epicurean and Sindhu (twice). Exactly the same as before and prices don’t seem to have been hitched too much either. All were wonderful. Buffet as it always was - absolutely fine. Bar prices also fine - comparable to what we pay in pubs. We thoroughly enjoyed our cruise and look forward to going away again with P&O. I would say with inflation running at what 10%+ recently I haven’t noticed P&O’s prices going up by a similar amount. Obviously something “has to give” and if the tactic is to keep headline prices low and “nudge” passengers into paying for specialty restaurants or the odd extra charge “treat” in the MDR that’s fine by me. I think comparisons with cruise lines that charge a lot more are unfair. You pays your money and makes your choice. Nobody would stay at a Best Western and expect Mandarin Oriental standards would they?

Isn’t there also a 20% “service charge” for drinks on Cunard?