Direct booking with P and O to be stopped

Someone just posted on P and O information page that they are stopping direct booking. Has anyone else heard this or us it a rumour?

What is the address for that site?

I have not seen anything even remotely suggesting that and I would doubt they would do so unless there is a very good commercial reason for doing it.

Rumours do the rounds and they are usually not correct......but the odd one turns out to be true, like the limit on alcohol last year which did happen.

I tend to wait until I see something on an official site or from an extremely reliable source before I take much notice of it.

Ummmm unsure about this one, however they have stopped the Personal Cruise Advisors which is a bit of a disappointment, these folk have now been merged into the reception team. More hands to the pump I guess and tough cheese to those regular cruiser who want continuity with their bookings.

Bal

Someone just posted on P and O information page that they are stopping direct booking. Has anyone else heard this or us it a rumour?

Interesting?

As we had a conversation with a couple in The Commodore Club over Christmas, who worked for a well known TA. They mentioned P&O and Cunard direct bookings were down because of TA's additional benefits etc. Thought it was a sales pitch, and did not take much heed until now.

Possibly another re-organisation on the way?

Cunard PCS also taking P&O bookings?

Interesting?

As we had a conversation with a couple in The Commodore Club over Christmas, who worked for a well known TA. They mentioned P&O and Cunard direct bookings were down because of TA's additional benefits etc. Thought it was a sales pitch, and did not take much heed until now.

Possibly another re-organisation on the way?

Cunard PCS also taking P&O bookings?

Interesting you suggest Cunard PCS are still in place as when I asked the question of a senior Cunard/P&O manager did Cunard still offer PCS, I was told no. Have you any experience to the contrary?

Also interesting point about the TA's as several years ago P&O/Cunard reduced the TA commission from 15% to 5% in order to get potential cruisers to book direct as there was limited scope for agents to give a kick back for booking with them. The TA's were not happy bunnies. Perhaps the commissions have been increased in recent times. I've only booked direct as the PCS was so excellent, maybe time to consider other options.

Bal

Interesting you suggest Cunard PCS are still in place as when I asked the question of a senior Cunard/P&O manager did Cunard still offer PCS, I was told no. Have you any experience to the contrary?

l

Just called my Cunard PCS, asking are you still there?

Answer was a "Yes".

Just called my Cunard PCS, asking are you still there?

Answer was a "Yes".

Well that is very interesting so what are P&O up to! If you go into a car showroom every year to buy a new Mercedes, the staff would be falling over themselves to look after you and keep your business. So, we effectively spend that sort of money each year, now 137 cruises with P&O and, they can't be bothered to ensure their top spenders and regular travellers are happy bunnies at the point of sale. Think it is time to go elsewhere.

Bal

Ummmm unsure about this one, however they have stopped the Personal Cruise Advisors which is a bit of a disappointment, these folk have now been merged into the reception team. More hands to the pump I guess and tough cheese to those regular cruiser who want continuity with their bookings.

 

Bal

I didn't know that. I booked our cruise next year with our PCS but that was last year. You'd think P&O would tell people they were going to do that.:(

... Also interesting point about the TA's as several years ago P&O/Cunard reduced the TA commission from 15% to 5% in order to get potential cruisers to book direct as there was limited scope for agents to give a kick back for booking with them. The TA's were not happy bunnies. Perhaps the commissions have been increased in recent times....

As a non resident who books an 'on line' company, I think you may have a point for they are more than eager to get us aboard. I wonder too if this might be a corporate step to absolve themselves of the direct OBC's, leaving that to the agents?

Well that is very interesting so what are P&O up to! If you go into a car showroom every year to buy a new Mercedes, the staff would be falling over themselves to look after you and keep your business. So, we effectively spend that sort of money each year, now 137 cruises with P&O and, they can't be bothered to ensure their top spenders and regular travellers are happy bunnies at the point of sale. Think it is time to go elsewhere.

Bal

Consider Cunard?

Their PCS people work for you. Nothing is too much trouble.

Little touches on ship, and off, like phone call prior to Cruise with good wishes, akso asking if there is anything one wished organised. Then on return a personal welcome back and "how did it go" call.

One feels wanted and respected.

Someone just posted on P and O information page that they are stopping direct booking. Has anyone else heard this or us it a rumour?

I’m sorry I don’t know what P&O information page is. Is it here, or on the P&O website or what?

I’m meaning, is this likely to be true or yet another Chinese Whispers thing?

I’m sure I remember similar rumours a while back. Hasn’t happened yet and I can’t see the commercial benefit, which is always the bottom line

I’m sorry I don’t know what P&O information page is. Is it here, or on the P&O website or what?

 

I’m meaning, is this likely to be true or yet another Chinese Whispers thing?

 

I’m sure I remember similar rumours a while back. Hasn’t happened yet and I can’t see the commercial benefit, which is always the bottom line

Commercial benefit of outsourcing?

No salaries

No NI contributions

No healthcare

No pension contributions

No training costs

No heating costs

No electricity costs

Sublet office space

Larger executive performance bonuses

Etc

Etc

RCL did it

As I always prefer to use a TA who gives me another 5% discount, they can keep their direct booking. Even when I book on board, they send the booking through to my TA.

As I always prefer to use a TA who gives me another 5% discount, they can keep their direct booking. Even when I book on board, they send the booking through to my TA.

Same here. Better service, better continuity, and an additional 5% discount over and above the other discounts. Why would I want to book direct? On the one occasion that I did the customer service was appalling and the lack of accurate information astounding.

Yes me too. Absolutely useless.

Yes me too. Absolutely useless.

I always book directly with P&O and have found them to be very good. If you always book with an agent, how do you know P&O direct booking is useless? Maybe you had a problem with one booking in the past but don’t judge the service in light of one possible bad experience. Clearly they are not useless because I and many others find them to be extremely useful. If they are to be discontinued, I will not be happy.

I always book directly with P&O and have found them to be very good. If you always book with an agent, how do you know P&O direct booking is useless? Maybe you had a problem with one booking in the past but don’t judge the service in light of one possible bad experience. Clearly they are not useless because I and many others find them to be extremely useful. If they are to be discontinued, I will not be happy.

they would certainly have been more expensive than a TA for my booking.

I always book directly with P&O and have found them to be very good. If you always book with an agent, how do you know P&O direct booking is useless? Maybe you had a problem with one booking in the past but don’t judge the service in light of one possible bad experience. Clearly they are not useless because I and many others find them to be extremely useful. If they are to be discontinued, I will not be happy.

But why throw away a 5% discount that you simply cannot get if you book direct?

But why throw away a 5% discount that you simply cannot get if you book direct?

There are several promotion schemes which give the same 5% discount TAs give and these require you to book with P&O directly. That is what I always do.

There are several promotion schemes which give the same 5% discount TAs give and these require you to book with P&O directly. That is what I always do.

That sounds interesting. I've never found a discount that requires booking direct with P&O, though - can you tell us more please?

But why throw away a 5% discount that you simply cannot get if you book direct?

It’s not necessarily the case that you cannot get discount booking direct. I book direct with P&O and get 5% discount. Sadly, I cannot detail how I achieve this as it violates the rules of this site and when some of us have tried to do so previously our posts have been deleted and we have had our wrists slapped.

Although the P&O Personal Cruise Specialist roles have indeed been scrapped, the individuals are still working for P&O and will still deal with their regular customers in exactly the same way as they have always done.

Our PCS is fantastic. Whenever I call her she knows who I am immediately and knows our needs and preferences. Although we aren’t Caribbean loyalty status, so can’t book as early as some, she will take a pre-booking from us during the Caribbean only booking window and then on the morning that bookings open to us plebs she immediately checks which cabin we have been allocated and then, if necessary, swaps it to our first choice and calls me to let me know what she has done.

Two other examples spring to mind. We always try to book at time of release to get the lowest prices and best choice of cabins, but last year we decided to book a cruise at relatively short notice. We couldn’t get an accessible cabin so had to go on a wait list. Our PCS regularly checked availability and very quickly snapped up a cancellation for us. Secondly, there have been several occasions when we have had to change our booking from one cruise to another. Our PCS has waived the amendment fees every time.

There are other examples as well.

I am not in any way suggesting that people shouldn’t use a TA that they have a good relationship with, who gives them discounts and perhaps does all of the above and more as well, but I just wanted to give a different perspective for those who think some of us are foolish for booking direct with P&O.

I always used to book another cruise while on the current cruise and it was always transferred to my TA. However just recently I realised that the TA I used had firstly, changed the way you pay your balance making it harder for us as we live outside of the UK, and secondly the final payment date is 6 week's earlier than the date given by both P&O and Princess. I showed the price offered by the TA to the future cruise sales staff and they matched it. Also needing to contact them over a small Military OBC matter I got to speak direct with the office rather than having to go through the TA

No longer booking through a TA.

That sounds interesting. I've never found a discount that requires booking direct with P&O, though - can you tell us more please?

If you have an HSBC advance account P&O are supposed to give you the 5% discount.

If you have an HSBC advance account P&O are supposed to give you the 5% discount.

I have this account. I think the 5% offer was only a short term thing, some time ago. No sign of it now:

https://advancemembers.hsbc.co.uk/offers