Booked select fare but can't select cabin?!

[Plastowc]

I think noise is going to take priority over sea sickness. There's medication for husband but nothing to cancel out the noise of being below the bars etc ! 

[Selbourne]

4 minutes ago, Plastowc said:

I think noise is going to take priority over sea sickness. There's medication for husband but nothing to cancel out the noise of being below the bars etc ! 

 

Thats exactly our view, which is why we choose a specific cabin of our choice and decline any upgrade options. 

[Plastowc]

Update 

Called and spoke to a lady who said she could chose our cabin. Discovered it was £60 up upgrade to a mid ship inside cabin and she could offer riviera deck, the phone then cut out! I remember reading this deck could be noisy. 

 

Called back and second lady said for £10pp could chose our room and there was a room available on c deck, which would be above and below cabins so shouldn't be any noise at such. It's at the back of the ship so will stock up on anti sickness tablets for husband! It's C737 

 

Have I made a good choice based on my available options?! 😬😬😬

[Selbourne]

19 minutes ago, Plastowc said:

Update 

Called and spoke to a lady who said she could chose our cabin. Discovered it was £60 up upgrade to a mid ship inside cabin and she could offer riviera deck, the phone then cut out! I remember reading this deck could be noisy. 

 

Called back and second lady said for £10pp could chose our room and there was a room available on c deck, which would be above and below cabins so shouldn't be any noise at such. It's at the back of the ship so will stock up on anti sickness tablets for husband! It's C737 

 

Have I made a good choice based on my available options?! 😬😬😬

 

C737 looks good to me. I cannot foresee any issues with that cabin. I think you have done the right thing. Far better to pay a bit more and get a good cabin in a good location rather than leave it to chance. Were you able to choose your preferred dining (e.g. Freedom) and has that been confirmed for you? Also, note my comments earlier re upgrades as if you haven’t opted out of upgrades P&O could move you from C737 to what they classify as a higher grade cabin but might be in a noisy location. You may be happy to take that chance with an ‘Upgrade but only if to a different TYPE of cabin’ but that’s not the default. I would either request this option or specify ‘No Upgrade’ 

[Plastowc]

5 minutes ago, Selbourne said:

 

C737 looks good to me. I cannot foresee any issues with that cabin. I think you have done the right thing. Far better to pay a bit more and get a good cabin in a good location rather than leave it to chance. Were you able to choose your preferred dining (e.g. Freedom) and has that been confirmed for you? Also, note my comments earlier re upgrades as if you haven’t opted out of upgrades P&O could move you from C737 to what they classify as a higher g SWrade cabin but might be in a noisy location. You may be happy to take that chance with an ‘Upgrade but only if to a different TYPE of cabin’ but that’s not the default. I would either request this option or specify ‘No Upgrade’ 

Phew!!!! 

Yes we have freedom dining. 

Ok will change to that preference - can that be changed on the cruise personaliser site? 

[Harry Peterson]

1 hour ago, Plastowc said:

Update 

Called and spoke to a lady who said she could chose our cabin. Discovered it was £60 up upgrade to a mid ship inside cabin and she could offer riviera deck, the phone then cut out! I remember reading this deck could be noisy. 

 

Called back and second lady said for £10pp could chose our room and there was a room available on c deck, which would be above and below cabins so shouldn't be any noise at such. It's at the back of the ship so will stock up on anti sickness tablets for husband! It's C737 

 

Have I made a good choice based on my available options?! 😬😬😬

I think you’ll find C737 just fine. No noise problems, and frankly we’ve never had any problems with seasickness in an aft cabin. Far better, I’d say, than a potentially very noisy midships cabin.

 

I’d also echo Selbourne’s very sensible comments about restricting upgrades.

 

I think you’ll enjoy Ventura, and Freedom Dining’s hugely more flexible than the alternative.  Time to sit back, relax, and anticipate now.........☺️

[Selbourne]

34 minutes ago, Plastowc said:

Phew!!!! 

Yes we have freedom dining. 

Ok will change to that preference - can that be changed on the cruise personaliser site? 

 

Sadly, no, but a quick phone call to P&O will resolve. Just quote your booking reference and it will be done immediately. Then relax and look forward to your cruise in the knowledge that you have wisely sought advice and covered all bases. Good choice with Freedom dining also. We’ve done both many times but it’s Freedom every time for us now. You can vary dining times to suit your mood, hunger, departure time from port, desire to see sailaways etc. 

[Plastowc]

22 minutes ago, docco said:

I think you’ll find C737 just fine. No noise problems, and frankly we’ve never had any problems with seasickness in an aft cabin. Far better, I’d say, than a potentially very noisy midships cabin.

 

I’d also echo Selbourne’s very sensible comments about restricting upgrades.

 

I think you’ll enjoy Ventura, and Freedom Dining’s hugely more flexible than the alternative.  Time to sit back, relax, and anticipate now.........☺️

 

Great to hear. 

It's a year away but already very excited! We were actually going to book a week in bulgaria, but for some reason I woke in the middle of the night and had an urge to look at a cruise! I had looked last year but was surprised that my daughter would be paying the near adult fare (she would have been 2 then) so decided against it. I was therefore surprised to find we are only paying £99 for her on this cruise so we booked it the next evening , hence me now doing the research after booking 🤣

Roll on June 1st 2020! 

[kerryincork]

I also chose select, got to pick my cabin grade (mid-range) and dinning times but not the actual choice of cabin.

 

I booked through a well known cruise agency.

 

On the p&o site it says select, dining time etc, but they will allocate the room

[P-L-B]

Reading through some of the responses in this thread it appears fairly common not to be able to select your cabin when booking a select fare.

As I have previously said we must be lucky as we have always been able to pick our cabin and is one of the reasons for us booking a select fare.

This is particularly (very) important to us as we often travel with friends and therefore we book adjoining cabins in our preferred location on the ship.

So far we have been able to do that but I am a little concerned now that this may change.

[Cristaltips]

I’ve recently booked a cruise on Arcadia on the new website and have been able to book select, specific cabin, freedom dining and no upgrades with no trouble

[P-L-B]

6 minutes ago, Cristaltips said:

I’ve recently booked a cruise on Arcadia on the new website and have been able to book select, specific cabin, freedom dining and no upgrades with no trouble

Thanks for the confirmation.👍

Have a great cruise.

[Cristaltips]

6 minutes ago, P-L-B said:

Thanks for the confirmation.👍

Have a great cruise.

 

Thank you. You too 👍

[Harry Peterson]

A lot of this seems to be down to the new website, which makes it difficult to see all the available cabins.  It's possible, certainly, but you shouldn't have to work at it - they should all show immediately as options.

 

Seems a crazy way to do business. Websites should make it easier for customers to book, not more difficult.

[Cristaltips]

36 minutes ago, docco said:

A lot of this seems to be down to the new website, which makes it difficult to see all the available cabins.  It's possible, certainly, but you shouldn't have to work at it - they should all show immediately as options.

 

Seems a crazy way to do business. Websites should make it easier for customers to book, not more difficult.

 I actually didn’t find it at all difficult. I was able to pick any available cabin with choice of deck and position on ship.

[Harry Peterson]

10 minutes ago, Cristaltips said:

 I actually didn’t find it at all difficult. I was able to pick any available cabin with choice of deck and position on ship.

That's excellent news. It hasn't always been bringing up all the available cabins - just a small selection.

[Selbourne]

38 minutes ago, docco said:

That's excellent news. It hasn't always been bringing up all the available cabins - just a small selection.

 

True. The old website only ever brought up a small selection, but there was a box where you could enquire about specific cabins. Problem was, it rarely worked and/or was inaccurate - for years! Have to say that I hate the new website. The menu options are poor and illogical and search functionality is well hidden. This may be because I use an iPad but over half of website users these days access websites via mobile devices rather than desktops, so if it’s due to that the boffins at P&O need firing. I have felt for years that P&O’s IT needs a complete overhaul and this new website only confirms my view. 

[Harry Peterson]

45 minutes ago, Selbourne said:

 

True. The old website only ever brought up a small selection, but there was a box where you could enquire about specific cabins. Problem was, it rarely worked and/or was inaccurate - for years! Have to say that I hate the new website. The menu options are poor and illogical and search functionality is well hidden. This may be because I use an iPad but over half of website users these days access websites via mobile devices rather than desktops, so if it’s due to that the boffins at P&O need firing. I have felt for years that P&O’s IT needs a complete overhaul and this new website only confirms my view. 

There is a 'Search for a specific cabin' box on the new website (see below) - at least on Chrome - but you have to go through several screens to get at it.  Maybe it doesn't appear on the iPad though.

 

As you say, though, it's a very badly executed website and you have to wonder how a company the size of Carnival can get something like this so badly wrong.  I suspect it's the usual story - short-term savings to boost careers, the share price and directors' bonuses, at the expense of longer-term profitability.  Much like the UK really.

 

[the english lady]

19 hours ago, P-L-B said:

Reading through some of the responses in this thread it appears fairly common not to be able to select your cabin when booking a select fare.

As I have previously said we must be lucky as we have always been able to pick our cabin and is one of the reasons for us booking a select fare.

This is particularly (very) important to us as we often travel with friends and therefore we book adjoining cabins in our preferred location on the ship.

So far we have been able to do that but I am a little concerned now that this may change.

It is not changing , its just an option who chose to book a grade that is near to selling out. You will always be able to book your choice of cabin if you book early enough . Or on a cruise that is same as, same as. People who are offered guarantee could pay more to pick a higher grade that is not close to selling out and chose their cabin. People always want more whilst paying less. This is what guarantee gives them. There is every change they will end up the next grade above, whilst paying the lesser fare, but still having the select add ons.

Edited May 27, 2019 by the english lady

[terrierjohn]

3 minutes ago, the english lady said:

It is not changing , its just an option who chose to book a grade that is near to selling out. You will always be able to book your choice of cabin if you book early enough . Or on a cruise that is same as, same as. People who are offered guarantee could pay more to pick a higher grade that is not close to selling out and chose their cabin. People always want more whilst paying less. This is what guarantee gives them. There is every change they will end up the next grade above, whilst paying the lesser fare, but still having the select add ons.

You are right EL but the problem with the new site is that where guarantee cabins are offered these are the default option, and those who are not familiar with the system can end up booking this type without realising that they do have the option to choose a cabin, although it might cost a bit more.

Which is why I would always advocate using a TA or at least ringing P&O and discussing their needs with an agent.

[pete14]

23 minutes ago, terrierjohn said:

You are right EL but the problem with the new site is that where guarantee cabins are offered these are the default option, and those who are not familiar with the system can end up booking this type without realising that they do have the option to choose a cabin, although it might cost a bit more.

Which is why I would always advocate using a TA or at least ringing P&O and discussing their needs with an agent.

 

I do agree that booking with a good cruise specialist agent or direct with P&O are both effective, indeed they are pretty much the only way, but I would never book anything as potentially complex and expensive as a cruise without talking it through with somebody who is able to answer questions and provide the chance to get exactly what you want. Booking online does not provide this, booking by phone or face to face does. If you don’t get the answers that suit you, try with another agent or with P&O, or look elsewhere for your holiday. If what you book is not what you want or need, you are making an expensive error and your holiday may be ruined.

[bee-ess]

I think the new website is designed to allocate cabins without too much intervention from the customer. A lot of new customers will not even realise that you can choose your cabin. Eventually that will be the norm - allocated cabins, which makes life very easy for P&O.

My big complaint with the new site is that it does not easily show the cabin grades and prices - we always book Balcony HA or HB depending on the price differential and on a launch day booking will book a HD or HE on the cusp of the HB's. We always book with an agent anyway but it was still useful to use the P&O site first for prices. It is now a nonsense that I have to look at the TA website to see the cabin grade prices that are not shown on the P&O website. It may not be so for everyone but for us se ing the grades and prices is essential.

[Plastowc]

1 hour ago, the english lady said:

It is not changing , its just an option who chose to book a grade that is near to selling out. You will always be able to book your choice of cabin if you book early enough . Or on a cruise that is same as, same as. People who are offered guarantee could pay more to pick a higher grade that is not close to selling out and chose their cabin. People always want more whilst paying less. This is what guarantee gives them. There is every change they will end up the next grade above, whilst paying the lesser fare, but still having the select add ons.

I certainly don't want more for paying less. 

 

I selected the cruise, chose inside cabin, and then select fare. It took me directly to the payment page. I had no option of choosing a room, or even the grade of inside room, so it's the site at fault. After booking it let me select dining preference and beds as twin or queen but no cabin selection. 

I booked using a mobile, maybe that's why 🤷

Anyway, it's all sorted now, I paid my £20 and chose my room. Iv done some comparisons on a few other sites and I haven't paid over the odds for this cruise, but will of course bear it in mind for any future cruises. 

I can't vouch for the old website as never used it, but I 100% was not given an option to chose cabin grade or the cabin.  

[P&O SUE]

I think you've done the right thing Plastowc, I'd much rather pay that little bit more and make sure I wasn't above the nightclub etc!

 

The new website is a pain and it's only because I know how it used to work that I could find a cabin number. It does try and not let you find your own cabin, you have to click the "edit cabin" and even then it is a bit of a faff.

I often do dummy bookings but don't book the cruise as I'm looking at various cruises, so it's not convenient for me to phone up as I wouldn't be booking! I would call them myself if I definitely wanted to book it but I can see people being put off if they just tried the website.

Edited May 28, 2019 by P&O SUE

[miniyorkie]

1 hour ago, P&O SUE said:

I think you've done the right thing Plastowc, I'd much rather pay that little bit more and make sure I wasn't above the nightclub etc!

The new website is a pain and it's only because I know how it used to work that I could find a cabin number. It does try and not let you find your own cabin, you have to click the "edit cabin" and even then it is a bit of a faff.

I often do dummy bookings but don't book the cruise as I'm looking at various cruises, so it's not convenient for me to phone up as I wouldn't be booking! I would call them myself if I definitely wanted to book it but I can see people being put off if they just tried the website.

P&0 SUE I agree with you entirely as I do exactly the same as you. It used to be so easy to find all the required information, on several cruise options, in order to make the best personal  decision and then book accordingly (either online direct or with a TA)