Why is everyone still cruising with P&O ?

[Lucysnan]

Thank you Megabear2, let’s hope so

[AndyMichelle]

7 minutes ago, Lucysnan said:

We have booked our first cruise at the end of June to the Norwegian Fjords on Britannia and were so excited and looking forward to it, but now, having read all the posts recently, we are extremely worried and not so sure we have done the right thing booking this cruise as everything seems so negative.

It's not all bad... We are on Britannia end of June too😂

This will be our first cruise since lock down, but am still confident we will have a great time. 

It's a lovely ship and the Fjords are stunning. 

The truth is, P&O have never been perfect but we have had many great holidays with them. 

I'm expecting standards to being a bit lower, but we can cope with that. 

Andy

[Lucysnan]

1 minute ago, AndyMichelle said:

It's not all bad... We are on Britannia end of June too😂

This will be our first cruise since lock down, but am still confident we will have a great time. 

It's a lovely ship and the Fjords are stunning. 

The truth is, P&O have never been perfect but we have had many great holidays with them. 

I'm expecting standards to being a bit lower, but we can cope with that. 

Andy

 

[Lucysnan]

Thank you Andy, I think we must be on the same cruise and I feel a bit more confident now that I have had some reassurance from experienced cruisers.

[Winifred 22]

10 minutes ago, Lucysnan said:

We have booked our first cruise at the end of June to the Norwegian Fjords on Britannia and were so excited and looking forward to it, but now, having read all the posts recently, we are extremely worried and not so sure we have done the right thing booking this cruise as everything seems so negative.

I had a week on Britannia to the Fjords and a few weeks ago and loved it. I booked last minute and had a obscured balcony but wasn’t that blocked. Food was served hot and more than enough for me. If you want bigger potion just ask for more. I found plenty of choice from restaurants, buffet to grill and pizza bar. I had fixed dining table for one,  my choice. I never felt second class as I was on my own as I have heard others say.Plenty to do around the ship. My cabin was clean and spacious. I would book again on Britannia no problem. 

[Selbourne]

18 minutes ago, Lucysnan said:

We have booked our first cruise at the end of June to the Norwegian Fjords on Britannia and were so excited and looking forward to it, but now, having read all the posts recently, we are extremely worried and not so sure we have done the right thing booking this cruise as everything seems so negative.

Don’t panic. I’m sure that you’ll have a fabulous time. Most of the current problems are on Arvia. Also, not having cruised before you won’t be making comparisons as to how it used to be!

[Winifred 22]

18 minutes ago, Megabear2 said:

I've just read all this with great interest after being bitten on the rear end by the cheap fare fly.  In no way taking sides but I followed the link out of interest and the saver fare is currently at £1698 and is a fully obstructed balcony while the clear one is £1958.  The select fare would take it to £3084 with £480 obc.

 

Knowing Britannia very well the obstructed balconies are as described fully obstructed and of course they are very narrow so you might as well be inside.

 

I also note that most of these extremely reduced fares are on what I would call "cold weather" itineraries and we go back to what I said many months ago, all the cruise lines are offering a vast number of cruises up that way from the UK so there may well be an over supply.

 

Up until two weeks ago (not been checking since as I've been away) the average difference between a saver and select fare balcony has been hovering around the £1,000 to £1,200 mark.

I had an obscured balcony a few weeks ago  on Britannia and the centre view was completely clear. Took some wonderful photos in the fjords just had to capture the right angle. Fabulous late deal and so worth it. 

[Megabear2]

Just now, Winifred 22 said:

I had an obscured balcony a few weeks ago  on Britannia and the centre view was completely clear. Took some wonderful photos in the fjords just had to capture the right angle. Fabulous late deal and so worth it. 

That was good, as you'll appreciate though a lot of those balconies are completely blocked.  If I'm booking select I deliberately check the view on the CC check obstructed views thread it's very helpful.  However if it's a saver you are of course relying on P&OS choice and some are unfortunately totally blocked.  

 

 

[Lucysnan]

Thank you all for taking the time to offer reassurance 

[AndyMichelle]

7 minutes ago, Winifred 22 said:

I had an obscured balcony a few weeks ago  on Britannia and the centre view was completely clear. Took some wonderful photos in the fjords just had to capture the right angle. Fabulous late deal and so worth it. 

We chose G407 as have stayed in it before, there is no obstruction, despite being classed as obstructed... 

Mid ship, low down, large room at a bargain price, what more can you ask for... 

We are just hoping they don't commandeer it for isolation as they have done previously. 

Andy 

[Megabear2]

2 minutes ago, Lucysnan said:

Thank you all for taking the time to offer reassurance 

I'm sure you will love it.  Come back and tell us all about it when you return. It's refreshing to hear views from new people. Some of us have been around a long time and the thrill of that first cruise is in the distant past.  Have a great time.

[Winifred 22]

Just now, AndyMichelle said:

We chose G407 as have stayed in it before, there is no obstruction, despite being classed as obstructed... 

Mid ship, low down, large room at a bargain price, what more can you ask for... 

We are just hoping they don't commandeer it for isolation as they have done previously. 

Andy 

 

Just now, Megabear2 said:

I'm sure you will love it.  Come back and tell us all about it when you return. It's refreshing to hear views from new people. Some of us have been around a long time and the thrill of that first cruise is in the distant past.  Have a great time.

That’s good to know I think that was near mine. Perfect spot for getting to Oriental to eat. Think mine was G614. 

[daiB]

31 minutes ago, Lucysnan said:

Thank you Andy, I think we must be on the same cruise and I feel a bit more confident now that I have had some reassurance from experienced cruisers.

And we are on as well so it is sure to be a good cruise. Only we are doing the next one as well.

[Lucysnan]

Hopefully it will be daiB, it will all be new to us anyway

[happy v]

54 minutes ago, Lucysnan said:

We have booked our first cruise at the end of June to the Norwegian Fjords on Britannia and were so excited and looking forward to it, but now, having read all the posts recently, we are extremely worried and not so sure we have done the right thing booking this cruise as everything seems so negative.

Don't worry you will love it and be back for more.

We were on in October. I was looking on the boards before we went. Everything was doom and gloom. We had one of our best cruises. Not because of the ports but the atmosphere on the ship. After a rubbish couple of years everyone was determined to enjoy themselves. I think that is still happening.

Also I have been coming on here for a few years now and people have been complaining all that time!😄

 

[Lucysnan]

12 minutes ago, happy v said:

Don't worry you will love it and be back for more.

We were on in October. I was looking on the boards before we went. Everything was doom and gloom. We had one of our best cruises. Not because of the ports but the atmosphere on the ship. After a rubbish couple of years everyone was determined to enjoy themselves. I think that is still happening.

Also I have been coming on here for a few years now and people have been complaining all that time!😄

 

🙂🙂

[Yorkypete]

4 hours ago, Jennizor said:

I am not sure why you are so obsessed with decisions other people have made regarding their cruises. We are all entitled to make our own decisions (as you are). We have been on lots of cruises (Princess and P & O). Some have been brilliant, some slightly less so but never had a bad one. At the end of the day you pay your money and take your choice. We have three more booked, two this year and one next. The next one is in 8 weeks and we are really looking forward to it. My glass is half full, not half empty.

Sorry to say I am not obsessed about anything, save getting value for money and not being taken for an idiot. My replies have been in answer to questions and in some cases correcting duff info . , as my point about hotels illustrated. I agree each to their own and if people are actually satisfied with the behaviour of P&O then so be it. I do reserve the right to point out things about the cruiseline especially with my experience and that of others on the cruises.

[Yorkypete]

4 hours ago, Landon90 said:

Click the link I added, £1698 for two adults in a balcony room. 
 

Why have you suddenly gone to ‘select’ bookings to try and justify your one sided point. 
 

£1698 for two adults for two weeks on a balcony room, if they don’t drink alcohol or won’t spend £600 on booze it’s cheaper than your ‘land holiday’. 
 

I take some gin on with me to have while I’m getting ready and have a few beers throughout the cruise, no more than £100-£150 worth. 
 

Clutching at straws. 

I am comparing it like for like. Why do I need to justify things by 'suddenly' going to select. Select is what I have always used . Why are you quoting the cheapest price possible? If I was to do the same then the hotel I am going to will only be £1,500 for both of us. By the way, I did 'click the link' and quoted the price most would pay.. My point is so 'one sided' it is 100% correct.

[Yorkypete]

3 hours ago, zap99 said:

You really draw the short straw don't you?. I'm sure we can understand why you will never, ever cruise again.🤔

I can't quite understand your point. My comment was to correct information posted by someone else other than you.

[Megabear2]

7 hours ago, Yorkypete said:

I am comparing it like for like. Why do I need to justify things by 'suddenly' going to select. Select is what I have always used . Why are you quoting the cheapest price possible? If I was to do the same then the hotel I am going to will only be £1,500 for both of us. By the way, I did 'click the link' and quoted the price most would pay.. My point is so 'one sided' it is 100% correct.

As I said above I checked the link too and in fairness neither statement of you is correct or incorrect either!  Sounds stupid? Yes, but then so is this protracted he said, I said argument that you seem determined to proliferate.  The fact is everyone is not looking for the same thing.  Landon90 is stating pure facts based on his requirement that the cheap price is all he's looking for when he books; you're looking at a different angle - selection of room type offering exact requirements and quality - and the rest of us are walking the tightrope somewhere inbetween!  

 

The interesting fact remains that many of these headline grabbing prices are big bargains if the dice falls your way and you get for instance the clear view balcony not the one with the lifeboat immediately outside.  Yorkypete, I know you love the casino yourself. It might now be a good time to admit that some are more willing to gamble than you are on this particular issue and if the wheel is fixed in the house's favour (P&O) then it's for the individual to decide if he wants to play or not.  You've made your choice some time ago, let others make theirs without interference.  We all learn, be we make a mistake or not.

 

We should remember while going down this rabbit hole that there are actually people coming here to garner advice for maybe their first ever cruise.  

 

Ironically most commentators on this thread (myself included) normally wouldn't touch the saver fare with a barge pole and yet here we all are shouting the odds about who's right and who's wrong on P&O's headline price.

Edited May 18, 2023 by Megabear2

[zap99]

12 hours ago, Lucysnan said:

We have booked our first cruise at the end of June to the Norwegian Fjords on Britannia and were so excited and looking forward to it, but now, having read all the posts recently, we are extremely worried and not so sure we have done the right thing booking this cruise as everything seems so negative.

You will have a great time. I absolutely guarantee it. Fjords are magnificent, ships are lovely. Don't believe everything negative.

[zap99]

9 hours ago, Yorkypete said:

I can't quite understand your point. My comment was to correct information posted by someone else other than you.

Sorry, are we still unhappy about the bingo?🤔

[jaydee6969]

12 hours ago, Lucysnan said:

We have booked our first cruise at the end of June to the Norwegian Fjords on Britannia and were so excited and looking forward to it, but now, having read all the posts recently, we are extremely worried and not so sure we have done the right thing booking this cruise as everything seems so negative.

 

Go with an open mind, as others have already mentioned, most people don't have issues or problems.  We have done the Fjords twice, on Azura in 2018 and Iona last year.  We will be going again in June 2024 on Britannia.  Can't wait to go back.

 

The negative posters seem to repeat a common thread over and over, and inject their mantra into any topic they can.  The neutral and positive posters tend to ignore these now.

[Adawn47]

12 hours ago, Lucysnan said:

We have booked our first cruise at the end of June to the Norwegian Fjords on Britannia and were so excited and looking forward to it, but now, having read all the posts recently, we are extremely worried and not so sure we have done the right thing booking this cruise as everything seems so negative.

Don't take everything you read on here as fact. Some people expect perfection in an imperfect world. 

I love P&O, and yes it has had it's problems, but what holiday hasn't? Don't let the personal opinion of others spoil your cruise. Go with an open mind and take everything in your stride as all first time cruisers do, and judge for yourself. You're going to a spectacular place, one which I have yet to see, so I'm envious.

I'm sure you will have a lovely time and post when you get back to let us know how your first cruise went.

Avril

[kalos]

11 hours ago, Lucysnan said:

Hopefully it will be daiB, it will all be new to us anyway

 

Polite request .Nothing would please us more than to read your experience of how 

you did or did not enjoy your cruise, as you are a fresh canvas being a new cruiser.

Same as others say ,they think you will love it.

Please come back and tell us all about it .🙂