When is a cabin really unavailable????

[Mysticalmother]

I have read this thread with interest. Friends of mine have picked my brains over cabin location etc on a cruise on Azura for April 2016. They have used ( and now booked through:rolleyes:) a TA but have been told that there are NO available cabins on C deck, they have all been sold along with most on B deck. I find this slightly strange......

 

What do I do? Tell them to go back to their TA and push for a c deck cabin? They were very keen for a larger balcony.

[Presto2]

I have read this thread with interest. Friends of mine have picked my brains over cabin location etc on a cruise on Azura for April 2016. They have used ( and now booked through:rolleyes:) a TA but have been told that there are NO available cabins on C deck, they have all been sold along with most on B deck. I find this slightly strange......

 

What do I do? Tell them to go back to their TA and push for a c deck cabin? They were very keen for a larger balcony.

 

Ironically we had looked at a cruise on Azura and were surprised that none of the C deck cabins we wanted were available....

 

I have learned today that nothing ventured nothing gained.

 

Ask their TA to phone P&O and if it doesn't work phone P&O. If that doesn't work phone someone else in P&O !

[Presto2]

I can understand them wanting to split cabins into 7 and 14 night groups as they need to do that to balance the outgoing and return flights. however it is obviously possible to swop cabins between the categories!

 

It might not be possible if there were no longer any cabins left to swop with.

 

Have just checked and this is what they have done - swapped the cabin we wanted to a 14 night cabin and the one we were offered which is now available on both 7 night cruises just for 7 days.

 

Have to say a 'thank you' for whoever changed this for us --- whoever that was has made our day and earned P&O some Brownie points from us. :)

 

Customer care as it should be ....

[wilson2579]

Have just checked and this is what they have done - swapped the cabin we wanted to a 14 night cabin and the one we were offered which is now available on both 7 night cruises just for 7 days.

 

Have to say a 'thank you' for whoever changed this for us --- whoever that was has made our day and earned P&O some Brownie points from us. :)

 

Customer care as it should be ....

 

Glad you got it sorted out.:cool:

[Scriv]

I am a great believer in not being at the mercy of an automated 'system'! We pre registered for a high up front balcony for June 2016 and the system put us in an aft cabin low down and said ours didn't exist!! Message to P&O, this 'system' needs sorting before it upsets too many people.

 

As I have said, I did book direct with P&O - with our excellent Personal Cruise Specialist - and a phone call sorted it out immediately.

 

Mysticalmother, I endorse Presto's advice to your friends.

Edited April 30, 2015 by Scriv

[Mysticalmother]

Thanks for your advice guys - I will suggest it to my friends and let you know how they get on.

 

In the meantime I am off on Azura next week, in the cabin of my choice!! :) Can't wait!

[BalkanCruiser]

Have just spoken to a lovely young lady named Angela (thank you) who then spoke to someone else for us who has ------ agreed to change it :D:D:) We are now in the cabin we wanted in the first place.

 

Common sense has prevailed and it has restored my faith in P&O customer service. We will be more careful next time though.

 

Sad that they didn't change it for the TA but she spoke to someone else who had been a bit more matter of fact - i.e. this is the way it is so live with it.

 

Am very happy now though - but am very sick of hearing the P&O 'on hold' tune...:D

 

Off to put the cruise clock on .......

 

So initially they lied to you and your TA ?

[Scriv]

No, they wouldn't have 'lied'.... the system would register the cabins as unavailable and the first people contacted would have accepted the system response at face value and would not have had the experience/expertise/confidence/knowledge to challenge/override it.

Edited April 30, 2015 by Scriv

[Presto2]

Hi I would think that was more the truth as the original employee sounded young. I will give her the benefit of doubt. Then again age should have nothing to do with it .... training does.

[Scriv]

Yes, you are right - training is the key thing.

 

(Presto, I have started a new thread re Oceana tips - didn't want to hijack this thread, so please do read it)

[Pink-belle]

I am really pleased you got the stateroom you wanted. Booking select that is how it should be.

 

However, having read this thread I actually like the way P&O have tried to handle the mix of 7 & 14 day cruises.

If the 7 day cruisers are all together that's where all the activity is as pax embark and disembark.

 

So if you are with others on a 14 day cruise you wouldn't have the cases in the hallways for the best part of 2 days, and the noise and disruption that goes with it. I know I would much prefer that, given the choice.

 

Perhaps where P & O are at fault here is by not actually being open about the way they do things. I am sure if there policy regarding this was transparent everyone would except it. Not nice when you are misled, it creates bad feeling, and in this case it could so easily have been avoided. If TA's were aware they could offer the option of booking two 7 days if a specific cabin is requested.

[Presto2]

I am really pleased you got the stateroom you wanted. Booking select that is how it should be.

 

Perhaps where P & O are at fault here is by not actually being open about the way they do things. I am sure if there policy regarding this was transparent everyone would except it. Not nice when you are misled, it creates bad feeling, and in this case it could so easily have been avoided. If TA's were aware they could offer the option of booking two 7 days if a specific cabin is requested.

 

We have just come back from the 7 day part of this cruise Venice to Venice and the way that they handled it was perfect to be honest. Our cabin was ready as soon as we boarded and the luggage with us within an hour I'd say. We were very impressed how they organised our first formal night etc - hence the booking for the 14 day version.

 

Totally agree with your comment above - if they had it in writing to explain how things worked then people may understand. Similarly, it isn't difficult to reassign a cabin from being a 14 day one to a 7 day one. We've checked and that's what they've done with the original one they gave to us. That has swapped places with A321 on their system. Thanks again to whoever it was who went the extra mile to help us - its the 'extra mile' stuff that makes happy, repeat customers. :):D