Megabear2

I wasn't actually arguing with your point! My comment refers to historically the booking conditions have always been thus (albeit I think unfair). I have never agreed with long term bookings being locked into only upwards pricing (the same applying to property leases and being a big influence on our empty shops). The rules are more or less what they were apart from no charge to change. They have always been rigid. Personally I will not book anything else long term as the world is far too unstable so will take my chances on late savers. I feel very sorry anyone genuinely caught up in the change as new cruisers in particular will not be used to the must cost more clause.

This has always been the old chestnut, long before covid. The terms have always been totally against the consumer as in some cases - a world cruise for instance - it is virtually impossible to find a more expensive voyage and you were expected to pay a penalty for moving your cruise as well. Traditionally voyages going on sale 2 or even 3 years ahead offered lower prices. Covid has seen this off because of all the FCC washing around in the system. As a result select prices in particular have been extremely high and as has been discussed elsewhere a massive gap has opened for those booking on launch to secure cabins and those being tempted very late to fill the ships up. The downside of this for P&O etc al has been the generous terms they offered to move cruises in an effort to keep people on side. With some clearly having been "playing the game" and abusing the system to their advantage the door has been closed and genuine people are back in the trap albeit without a fee at this stage. It has always been this. I was charged £100pp to move a cruise when my father was dying and a further £50pp to change the passenger name from my mum to my husband. P&O did have the good grace to be embarrassed but still charged it!

You might find this interesting! https://ironcladapp.com/journal/contracts/terms-and-conditions-legally-binding/ https://www.law365.co/blog/can-i-change-my-terms-conditions

Hmmm. This is exactly the scenario I foresaw last week! You will most certainly not have been the first and no doubt won't be the last. They tried to distinguish between bookings before 3 August and those after but the only real difference is that if you book after 3 August only select fares are free to move. I think it is probably legal but as to whether its ethical a totally different matter. However my straw poll showed the majority were happy with the reintroduction of the more expensive only option. For my part I've always thought it unfair but there you go.

At the end of the day we all want different things from a holiday. As someone who never had one until I was 23 (a prize won by my new husband in a work competition) even a week in a caravan at Leysdown sounded like a huge treat when my friends at school talked about it. I never had children and after I had the good fortune to recover against expectations from cancer at 38 holidays became my lifeline when a lot of other pleasures were stopped. Life moved on thankfully and after becoming unofficial carer to my parents these holidays started to take them in and became different - cruises with my mother became very dominant. My mum left the UK for her first real holiday on her 80th birthday for a trip on the QE2 to the Canaries. She was a child in a sweet shop after that. Absolutely nothing would coerce me to go on a holiday I wasn't going to enjoy it. I feel very sorry for Aldousmo that their holiday looks like a chore rather than a joy. The real problem for them is they like small ships and cruise lines have very few that aren't adult only, a difficult conundrum. This forum is littered with people saying they want small adult ships and here we have someone who wants a small family ship. You clearly can't please all of the people ...

Some pretty interesting carpet patterns here Graham! Regarding Iona I cannot remember which decks for the aft cabins you recommended. Looking at her for late October and there seems to be quite a few on offer.

Doesn't sound like much of a family holiday if you're going to hate it. Hopefully better than you think and you can enjoy your family time. The ship probably won't seem so important if you are all having a good time together.

Not done it on P&O but Princess did it easily last month. Can't see why it couldn't be done if you go yo reception.

Congratulations.

Exactly. Completely mad. It was originally £70 until an hour before and then the announcement of the concert date change and kaboom. In fairness they aren't alone, Hilton was £890 but sold out. Someone insane must have paid it though because every room in Wembley is booked out for that date.

It wasn't serious about slumming it! I use Premier Inn and Travelodge frequently, as much as the boutique hotels. Audley End is for an outdoor concert so nearest hotel is Premier Inn. I was just replying to the comment about turndown and the fact there are UK hotels who offer it and reinstated it. The Premier Inn in Saffron Walden is brand new so I'm expecting it to be excellent. I use chain hotels of all types and I travel more or less every month. However I treat myself to nice accommodation when I want and I like to think of cruising as one of those times. With fluid pricing the chains are often dearer, just been quoted £734 for a night Premier Inn Wembley on 21 August after a tube strike moved Coldplay concert to that date. A 5* boutique hotel at Kings Cross £250, still expensive but not such a RIP off.

Doesn't that affect climate change? Energy use surely.

Interesting point. How many of us receiving the extra booked some time ago? Could be a reaction to all those who mentioned how disgruntled they are with their high prices and seeing price drops and huge OBC offerings. Personally doubt I'll see anything having had mine taken away in October. I'd be amazed if Christmas cruises are allocated funds.

I was actually referring to lack of choice if you want something not already available. Your comment confirms exactly what I meant and also why the chances of getting smaller ships are fewer due to cost. The market wants big so that's what's there at this time. Anything small would assumedly be off the cuff and far more expensive as a result. A bit like there's only one Queen Mary 2 and the vast cost involved to create her.

It seems likely! Look at Queen Anne, as far away from a traditional Cunard ship as you can get.

Very nice. I sailed on Allure transatlantic in 2018 and loved the carousel which was free. However the sideshows on the Boardwalk were payable like a fairground. I've never sailed on Independence or Anthem with the bumper cars and things so can't comment on those. I thought that ifly and north star used to be chargeable. I'm told there was a charge for the escape room on a recent RCI cruise by niece travelled on earlier this year. I haven't sailed RCI since 2018 but did consider Wonder of the Seas earlier this year. The price was 30% higher than the Celebrity Edge cruise we eventually chose and 50% more than Princess and P&O. To be truthful at my age I'm not too concerned about bumper cars etc!

Most of the luxury land based hotels I use home and abroad have now reverted to evening turndown. Last year at a b&b in Dartmouth we returned to find the owners had carried out turn down and left us a box of locally made sweets on our pillow. My Celebrity and Princess cruises both offered turn down every night. Those that don't like it can presumably say they don't require it but truthfully many do and really if that was part of the offering making people feel special then P&O should bring it back.

The American ships are more expensive though. Also as has been said elsewhere formulaic. Even MSC is like a one armed bandit with extras - 10 pin bowling, arcade etc spring to mind. As pointed out by Moley British passengers aren't so keen to pay for the extras like the flow riders etc. As I said before all these zip lines etc come st a cost.

We are getting reports that Ionas pools are full with kids at present. If you stick water slides in there won't be much room for people like me sho just enjoy a leisurely poodle up and down. As for the early morning keep fit swimmers slides would be devastating for their turns etc. There are no lifeguards in P&O ships, there are on RCI and MSC ships with slides. As someone with big time swimmers, judges and swim teachers all around them I'm told its because the slides are more of a drowning/accident area.

I had it for 8 October but when I had to change to a single when my aunt couldn't travel sadly lost it.

Neither myself or the other half drink much wine so not much use to us when we are alone. Last year on staycation with the family we bought the wine package to share with the family (there were 10 of us) particularly as it had prosecco and we hadn't met up for 2 years. Paid for it before sailing and got 15% discount. Great until we got onboard where the waiters in the restaurant refused to accept the vouchers as they were too busy to collect the wines in the package which were not apparently kept there. Whole thing became a farce and we ended up with 8 out of 12 unused. We complained onboard and was met with blank stares. On return I complained and mentioned it on the questionnaire. Eventually we were refunded and given £150 FCC as an apology. Ironically when we sailed on Britannia at Christmas one of my "gifts" from P&O on the insurance issues was another wine package. We managed to use 6 of the 12 bottles, mainly in Epicurean and Limelight.

Yes. One for each family member. Your travel insurer will expect you to have it in the event of medical care. It's not valid in Norway or Switzerland but talks are ongoing, just got lost in the Brexit paperwork. If you get ill in Europe it pays emergency care only. Your insurer picks up the rest. In your insurance policy it will state you must have it.

Yes, it takes 2 weeks and you have to pay the bill until it comes. Here is the voice of experience....

I'm probably one of the smallest spenders onboard as I book/pay for everything up front, particularly on ships using US$ as I can pay in sterling. My average bill for drinks on P&O comes in well under £150 in 14 nights when I'm on my own. My bill on Regal included one very expensive excursion booked last minute and still came in below £200. I generally end up offloading any OBC on the Retreat or the spa.

I'm not so sure! I had to ask for a sandwich to be removed from display on Regal Princess after a lady lifted its lid and tasted the insides with her finger! She was blatant and just shrugged her shoulders when I suggested she now remove the sandwich.