Shareholder benefits denial

[Bill Y]

21 hours ago, molecrochip said:

I can shed some light on this. Firstly, the answer from P&O is correct - this appears to be what they consider a reduced rate cruise and therefore is not combinable with shareholder or other benefits.

 

There are many types of reduced rate cruise, nett cruises are one, casino or concession (TA staff) cruises are others. For the avoidance of doubt, this also includes any discounted cruise booked by staff, their friends and family. So it really is across everything. These rules have been in place for as long as I remember but the difference is that since the pandemic, the company has been sticking to them.

 

There are two types of cruise which a TA can buy from an operator such as P&O. A standard cruise, where they act as pure agent for the cruise line. A hotel/flight can be added to these but it is typically arranged through the cruise line. The TA gets their standard commission margin, and the passenger travels under the cruise line's ABTA and/or ATOL protections. Any problems and the claim is to the cruise line (although the agency relationship may require you use them as a conduit).

 

There is then a nett fare. This is where a cruise line sells the TA the cruise for use as a component in the TAs own product - usually Cruise & Stay type holidays.

 

The TA is the creator of the package (essentially the Tour Operator). They will package nett fares from hotels, cruise lines, and airlines into one bundled package. The passenger will travel under the TA's ABTA/ATOL protections - the cruise operator is purely one supplier of many in the booking. The TA takes the risk of the booking in this case and crucially, if something goes wrong your claim is against them, and they then have to claim against the individual components. The TA gets their commission from the difference between the sales price to customer and the price of the constituent parts.

 

Wrapping back to the OP, they have not purchased a cruise from P&O - they have purchased a cruise and stay package from the TA. They are not legally P&O's customer hence why the shareholder benefit does not apply. (for clarity, the TA is the customer of P&O, the TA just nominates their customer/the OP to stay/use the booking).

 

The way to tell the difference is when booking through a TA as agent, your booking should be with the company direct via the TA as agent. On a TA package, your booking is solely with the TA however it may then refer to the cruise line as a supplier.

 

Finally, this is separate to some online retailers who state that they are acting as agent in relation to each and every part of the booking and hence book each part separate just on your behalf. In this case you loose a lot of your protections and have to rely on travel insurance.

Thanks for explaining what a net price is. If I had had to guess I would have thought net of tax and port charges as sometimes advertised in the USA.

 

As someone who has done a few “Stay and cruise” holidays involving P&O, Princess and HAL over the last eight years and always been awarded share holder benefits. Some of these holidays have involved cruises the were aimed at the American market where I believe it’s normal to buy a cruise then have your TA book flights and transfers, but our last one in 2019 involved the golden triangle then P&O back from Dubai. Is this refusal to allow share holder benefits on these “net” cruises a new thing?  

 

If this is now being enforced by P&O etc surely the onus is on the TA to inform their customers that certain packages on not eligible for this standard benefit. It’s not that easy to spot if a TA is acting solely as an agent for P&O rather than selling their own package, as even for cruises that involve no one apart from P&O you are supplied with the agents T&Cs and their reference number. Now that we are pre warned I suppose if in doubt ask.

Edited July 15, 2023 by Bill Y

[molecrochip]

The rule has been there for as long as I remember however you often could get away with it being added. Post pandemic, the Company is keen that its brands only apply the credit in the correct circumstances. 

[terrierjohn]

35 minutes ago, molecrochip said:

The rule has been there for as long as I remember however you often could get away with it being added. Post pandemic, the Company is keen that its brands only apply the credit in the correct circumstances. 

It's a pity the company are not as keen on all their lines providing the same customer service. We are on Sky Princess at present and staffing levels seem much higher than on P&O, and the standard of service is significantly better.

[mrsgoggins]

1 hour ago, terrierjohn said:

It's a pity the company are not as keen on all their lines providing the same customer service. We are on Sky Princess at present and staffing levels seem much higher than on P&O, and the standard of service is significantly better.

 

As you know, I'm on the same Sky Princess cruise, and having taken 2 P&O cruises this year (with a further 2 in the pipeline), it gives me no satisfaction to agree with you, but I do. Wholeheartedly.

 

 

 

 

[elmsliebev]

I think I'm even more confused now! We are on Azura in October and booked directly with P&O as they price matched the TA. We have already had the OBC applied. 

In June 2024 we are on Cunard Queen Anne, booked through a TA with no add-ons like staying anywhere. Cunard wouldn't price match until after we'd bought it from the TA and we would have to claim the difference back! So we booked with the TA - will I still get the OBC on this one? It wasn't a cheap deal. 

[Bill Y]

1 hour ago, elmsliebev said:

I think I'm even more confused now! We are on Azura in October and booked directly with P&O as they price matched the TA. We have already had the OBC applied. 

In June 2024 we are on Cunard Queen Anne, booked through a TA with no add-ons like staying anywhere. Cunard wouldn't price match until after we'd bought it from the TA and we would have to claim the difference back! So we booked with the TA - will I still get the OBC on this one? It wasn't a cheap deal. 

I presume that you mean the shareholder benefit rather that general OBC that may have been offered at time of booking. Any small discount or extras offered by the TA are normally funded out of the TA’s profits. This also happens when you book on board with P&O they will transfer the booking back to the TA who you booked the current cruise with. Most TA’s will then give you a thank you discount, if not ask or better still ask before you go about booking on board, but I digress. But in light of what we have recently heard its best to ask the TA to confirm that you still will be eligible for your shareholder benefit and if not why was this not pointed out at the time of booking

Edited July 15, 2023 by Bill Y

[sandancer]

5 hours ago, terrierjohn said:

It's a pity the company are not as keen on all their lines providing the same customer service. We are on Sky Princess at present and staffing levels seem much higher than on P&O, and the standard of service is significantly better.

I have to agree. Our last 2 cruises were on Enchanted Princess and then Arvia and although we really enjoyed Arvia there was a definite lowering of service. Our next is on Azura so at least we know what to expect. 

[majortom10]

2 hours ago, elmsliebev said:

I think I'm even more confused now! We are on Azura in October and booked directly with P&O as they price matched the TA. We have already had the OBC applied. 

In June 2024 we are on Cunard Queen Anne, booked through a TA with no add-ons like staying anywhere. Cunard wouldn't price match until after we'd bought it from the TA and we would have to claim the difference back! So we booked with the TA - will I still get the OBC on this one? It wasn't a cheap deal. 

Yes you will be able to get shareholder benefit if you have booked a normal cruise fare with a small TA discount which is given from their commission and nothing to do with Carnival.

[sandancer]

We sometimes us a US cruise travel agent when we can get a better deal, but have not done this since acquiring our Carnival shares as our recent cruises have been with P&O. Does anyone know if we can still get the shareholder obc if we book in the US for a ship in the Carnival group (not P&O)? It’s not a deal breaker but if we can get it we would apply. 

[david63]

2 hours ago, sandancer said:

We sometimes us a US cruise travel agent when we can get a better deal, but have not done this since acquiring our Carnival shares as our recent cruises have been with P&O. Does anyone know if we can still get the shareholder obc if we book in the US for a ship in the Carnival group (not P&O)? It’s not a deal breaker but if we can get it we would apply. 

As I understand it if you have 100 Carnival shares then the shareholder OBC applies to all brands - you just have to apply to the correct department.

 

If, as you say, it is not a deal breaker then you have nothing to lose by applying.

[sandancer]

Thanks David. My concern was that they would not recognise the booking if it was made through a US travel agent. 

[Winifred 22]

19 minutes ago, sandancer said:

Thanks David. My concern was that they would not recognise the booking if it was made through a US travel agent. 

As mentioned before you will need to email the USA department . C U K wouldn’t be able to,apply it. 

[Bill Y]

21 minutes ago, Winifred 22 said:

As mentioned before you will need to email the USA department . C U K wouldn’t be able to,apply it. 

See for addresses

https://www.carnivalcorp.com/static-files/50351a91-4dc0-4f6b-bfec-684647e6129f

[Cruisemeister2002]

I do wonder seeing as there seems to be more and more shareholders with the required 100 shares to get extra OBC how long this particular benefit will remain. On my last cruise I got the maximum OBC of £150 for a 35 night cruise to the Caribbean and USA. On returning home the shares had gone up from my initial purchase price of £6.99 per share to £13.40 therefore I cashed them in. My reason was two fold. Firstly the obvious £600 + interest and secondly my thought regarding how many more cruises I will go on. Currently I am almost 73, will I still be cruising beyond 77 ? or four years at maximum £150 OBC, the £600 profit divided by 4. Added to that if I spend £150 onboard due to Caribbean tier I would receive a discount of £15 on that amount. I suppose for those taking more cruises than one per year the benefits would be more on the side of retaining the shares and the other thing is eventually the share price will no doubt go much higher. So it's an individual choice. 

[slug33ukuk]

Just like to add a point to this conversation if I may.....I recently booked a PO cruise with a 4 night hotel stay ( Barbados), when I asked for my MILITARY credit I had the same answer and it was denied, but I had my shareholders credit......We then booked a Princess cruise and had BOTH added with no problem .

[Gettingwarmer]

2 hours ago, slug33ukuk said:

We then booked a Princess cruise and had BOTH added with no problem .

This has changed. 
https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2944533-military-and-shareholders-obc-no-longer-combinable-soon/

 

[Britboys]

7 hours ago, sandancer said:

Thanks David. My concern was that they would not recognise the booking if it was made through a US travel agent. 

I would have thought that the US TA will still be dealing with P&O UK. If your booking reference looks a standard P&O Booking Reference, then the Shareholder Benefits Team in Southampton shouldn't have a problem dealing with it. Is your P&O Invoice the usual style on P&O logo paper?

[sandancer]

It’s a Princess cruise. Haven’t got the invoice yet. Waiting for confirmation of our chosen cabin. Once I have it I’ll check it. First time booking Princess with our US TA although we’ve booked other cruise lines with her. Shareholder benefits weren’t an issue then. 

Edited July 19, 2023 by sandancer

[Britboys]

Hope folks won't mind me initiating a bit of thread drift. Just wanted to say how efficient the process is at times. I emailed my proof of shareholding to the team in Southampton on Tuesday and got confirmation that it had been added yesterday. About half an hour later I received the amended invoice from my TA, the one many of us use...

[LifeonMars]

1 hour ago, Britboys said:

Hope folks won't mind me initiating a bit of thread drift. Just wanted to say how efficient the process is at times. I emailed my proof of shareholding to the team in Southampton on Tuesday and got confirmation that it had been added yesterday. About half an hour later I received the amended invoice from my TA, the one many of us use...

Carnival UK shareholding Dept,  Can Beat that, Booked yesterday through the online section of a well known TA at 3.30pm for a cruise in 90 days, received booking confirmation almost immediately, they obviously have good IT dept,  at 3.45 pm  emailed Carnival UK shareholders  asking for shareholder benefit and at 5.30pm received email from them that it had been applied to my booking and that I should contact my TA for updated confirmation. Contacted my TA by email (Only way) and this morning had acknowledgement from them that the additional trip obc had been added  and was showing in the add on section of My trip. 

 

[PRINCESSTHE BEST]

On 7/20/2023 at 11:27 AM, LifeonMars said:

Carnival UK shareholding Dept,  Can Beat that, Booked yesterday through the online section of a well known TA at 3.30pm for a cruise in 90 days, received booking confirmation almost immediately, they obviously have good IT dept,  at 3.45 pm  emailed Carnival UK shareholders  asking for shareholder benefit and at 5.30pm received email from them that it had been applied to my booking and that I should contact my TA for updated confirmation. Contacted my TA by email (Only way) and this morning had acknowledgement from them that the additional trip obc had been added  and was showing in the add on section of My trip. 

 

My experience is quite the opposite. Being a Baltic level cruiser I cruise on average 4 times a year. My carnival shares are held in certificate form and each time evidence of share ownership is required my TA just emails a Copy to the shareholders benefits dept. Last week my TA did just that and received a reply saying that the certificate was unacceptable as it was not dated in the last three months. It’s obvious that P&O staff have no idea what they are doing!

 

 

[Gettingwarmer]

46 minutes ago, PRINCESSTHE BEST said:

My experience is quite the opposite. Being a Baltic level cruiser I cruise on average 4 times a year. My carnival shares are held in certificate form and each time evidence of share ownership is required my TA just emails a Copy to the shareholders benefits dept. Last week my TA did just that and received a reply saying that the certificate was unacceptable as it was not dated in the last three months. It’s obvious that P&O staff have no idea what they are doing!

 

 

We had that once. We just resent it and all went well. 

[gloala]

I was just denied the Shareholder OBC for a Carnival cruise. Booked it directly on their website and yes, it was discounted but it was their discount, not a TA discount. I think its gotten to where you won't get the Shareholder OBC unless you pay full fare. Who does that? I've been getting the OBC for Princess for years, never had an issue.