Do P&O release all cabins at the same time?

[Babybump09]

I was wondering if anyone knew if P&O release all there cabins at the same time?

I have tried to book a particular cruise but have been told there are no 4 berth cabins left, this cruise is not until 2018, and was wondering if I should retry booking in the next few months.

 

Many thanks Vicky

 

 

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[daiB]

I was wondering if anyone knew if P&O release all there cabins at the same time?

I have tried to book a particular cruise but have been told there are no 4 berth cabins left, this cruise is not until 2018, and was wondering if I should retry booking in the next few months.

 

Many thanks Vicky

 

 

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If this is in the school holidays then it is most possible that all of the family cabins have gone. They are very popular and the demand is high.

 

 

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[Babybump09]

Yes it's Feb half term, thanks for your reply

 

 

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[Mysticalmother]

I was wondering if anyone knew if P&O release all there cabins at the same time?

I have tried to book a particular cruise but have been told there are no 4 berth cabins left, this cruise is not until 2018, and was wondering if I should retry booking in the next few months.

 

Many thanks Vicky

 

 

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If you have been trying book direct, it could be worth trying a GOOD cruise specialist travel agent..... but DaiB makes a very valid point .

[Babybump09]

Ok great, Is there anyone you could recommend with regards to cruise specialist?

 

 

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[gadabout60]

Ok great, Is there anyone you could recommend with regards to cruise specialist?

 

 

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Unfortunately its against the rules of the forum I believe to recommend anyone

[ChrisPBacon]

I think they hold cabins back.

 

 

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[Mysticalmother]

Ok great, Is there anyone you could recommend with regards to cruise specialist?

 

 

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I am not allowed to recommend anyone on this forum. Are you by anychance on any of the P&o Facebook groups....as I can do there!

[john watson]

Sometimes it is possible to book two cabins at nearly the same price but this does change the dynamics somewhat.

 

Another issue which often comes up on half term break holidays ex-Southampton is that P&O turn down bookings which include children of specific ages because that children's club section is over subscribed. This comes up generally nearer to sail date.

 

Near sail date a good alternative, if you cannot get booked in is to look at Princess cruises. They are generally more expensive early on but again nearer sail date the prices on some of them plummet. It is a similar cruise experience from the UK.

 

In the meantime try and book the same 4 berth cabin on the same holiday itinerary through anyone you can find. Some agents buy batches of cabins in blocks then sell them on to the public. You might be successful.

 

Regards John

Edited January 9, 2017 by john watson

[Babybump09]

Thanks everyone for your replies. Much appreciated, I will look into it!!

 

 

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[tartanexile81]

The OP is looking for Feb Half-term JW. Princess won't be cruising out of Southampton.

 

The trouble is that there aren't many options at that time of year so I wouldn't be surprised if the 4-berthers have sold out already. There's probably just one ship available. I understand that P&O releases all their cabins although they may not all show on the website. The best thing is try ringing round some TAs and see what they say

Edited January 9, 2017 by tartanexile81

[Selbourne]

As a huge proportion of cabins can accommodate 4 people and hardly any cruise is sold out until very close to sailing, I think it highly unlikely that a cruise in 2018 has no availability. Yes it's a school holiday but in Feb, so not a peak time in the way that August would be.

 

You haven't said whether or not your enquiry has been with an agent or with P&O direct. If it's the former, try calling P&O. They will have access to all cabin availability. You might be using an agent who doesn't fully understand all the P&O quirks. 'Offers' promoted by agents are nearly always P&O offers anyway and I'm not convinced that there are significant benefits in booking with 3rd parties.

 

Finally, have you tried searching for specific cabins on the booking portal of the P&O website? Go through a dummy booking for the cruise and when you get to select a cabin the website shows a small selection of available cabins for the grade you have chosen, but not all that are available. Also, there are loads of different categories for the same grade of cabin - perhaps your agent just checked one? Now here's the important part. On this page there's a small box to check availability for a specific cabin. It hasn't worked properly for a couple of years but seems to be fixed now. Have a long list of all 4 berth cabins you would consider (varying grades) and check them one at a time. Be sure to click on the check button next to where you input the number each time. If you press 'enter' on your keyboard (or 'Go' on a tablet) for some reason the search doesn't happen and you still get the 'cabin unavailable' response from the last one you checked which is misleading.

 

I would try all of the above before giving up. As i said earlier, I just cannot believe it's sold out over a year in advance, school holidays or not. Good luck.

[the english lady]

As a huge proportion of cabins can accommodate 4 people

I don't think that is correct.

I think if it in the school holidays it is more likely to be the children's clubs being booked up for the posters children's ages.

[Selbourne]

I remain unconvinced. If it was Feb 17 then maybe. But Feb 18, no way. That's why you should call P&O and not rely on an agent. We can all guess or have our own opinions and most of us will be wrong! Only P&O can tell you the facts.

 

The kids clubs are no smaller in Feb than in August yet it is a significantly less popular time for family cruises. It just doesn't add up for me.

 

Please call P&O and then put us all out of our misery!

[davecttr]

I remain unconvinced. If it was Feb 17 then maybe. But Feb 18, no way. That's why you should call P&O and not rely on an agent. We can all guess or have our own opinions and most of us will be wrong! Only P&O can tell you the facts.

 

The kids clubs are no smaller in Feb than in August yet it is a significantly less popular time for family cruises. It just doesn't add up for me.

 

Please call P&O and then put us all out of our misery!

The number of staff manning the kids clubs in February will be less than in August therefore less total capacity for children.

[the english lady]

A few years ago I wanted to book a cruise for OH special birthday. I started looking over a year in advance. The grade we wanted had sold out...it was more of a 1 off destination..I did ring pando direct...but no we missed out on that one.

Maybe if I had been prepared to wait until final payment date something might have become available, but did not want to chance it..so I do believe if its a school holiday or a certain grade or type you want then sometimes they can sell out.

I also feel that where you have more than 2 adults wanting a cabin ,it would be easier to do that online with saver fares..but when people have tried that in the past it hasn't let them, because they cannot be slotted in anywhere.

Yes I hope poster does come back and let us know how she got on.

[daiB]

I remain unconvinced. If it was Feb 17 then maybe. But Feb 18, no way. That's why you should call P&O and not rely on an agent. We can all guess or have our own opinions and most of us will be wrong! Only P&O can tell you the facts.

 

 

 

The kids clubs are no smaller in Feb than in August yet it is a significantly less popular time for family cruises. It just doesn't add up for me.

 

 

 

Please call P&O and then put us all out of our misery!

 

 

If you read FB groups you will see this happens a lot. People are always posting that they cannot get a cruise they want because there are no cabins left which will hold 4 people. Remember the number of cruises families can do is very restricted.

 

 

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[tartanexile81]

 

The kids clubs are no smaller in Feb than in August yet it is a significantly less popular time for family cruises. It just doesn't add up for me.

 

The kids clubs are smaller. P&O recruits a lot of seasonal staff (students and the like) for kids clubs. Obviously there's far fewer people causing in February. Is the OP talking about Oceana? How many 4 berthers are there I wonder?

[Babybump09]

I have called P & O direct and they have said no 4 berths left. Also tried agents and then P & O again. All say no cabins.

Our kids are 7 and 1.

Cannot do a dummy booking on official website as it keeps coming back with error code…

I'm just shocked on that size ship that ALL 4 berth cabins have gone!

All they could offer was two separate cabins, but pay full price for child and infant!!

 

 

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[Selbourne]

Ah, I hadn't read anywhere that the OP was referring to Oceana. It does help if people provide as much info up front (ship, cruise type, cabin category etc etc) as it makes getting to the correct answer much quicker!

 

Oceana has very few 4 berth cabins with balconies and those that can accommodate 4 are mostly suites and mini suites, which I am guessing is not what the OP is trying to book.

 

So, I doubt it's got much to do with the kids club. The cabins that do exist will have been booked within weeks of the cruise going on sale.

 

There are around 70 4 berth outside and inside cabins on the lower 2 decks, if you don't mind having no balcony.

 

Why not look at one of the newer ships. They have hundreds of cabins that can take 4. Just look at all the double asterisks on the deck plans.

Edited January 10, 2017 by Selbourne

[Babybump09]

I don't want to go on the oceana, the cruise I am looking at, is on the Britannia on 17th Feb 18 round the Caribbean, we are not fussed about cabin but they say no cabins are left.

Edited January 10, 2017 by Babybump09

[john watson]

The problem with these cruises regarding availability of accommodation is that they run 7 and 14 day itineraries which start weekly and therefore some overlap. The shorter cruise, balcony is around £1560pp including flights.

 

However it might be worth looking at Princess, Royal Princess 18 Feb on an 8 day itinerary from Ft Lauderdale. Balcony around £895pp and 3rd/4th share is £349.

 

Regal Princess 18 Feb is doing a 10 day itinerary from same port. Balcony around £1389pp and 3rd/4th share is £399.

 

These are sisters to Britannia but prices do not include flights which would need calculating into the cost.

 

Its more complicated to do all the booking yourself but now internet is available you do not need to be an expert in travel like you did years ago.

 

I have been through the half-term problem in the past and ended up with some weird solutions, including the final leg of a world cruise on Queen Elizabeth, New York to Southampton and flying to Hong Kong for a fly cruise that just fitted the dates with flying home.

 

Regards John