Drinks package/policy changes?

[S1971]

5 minutes ago, JeanieC,Aston said:

Hi

I have sailed Thomson since 1997,,,54 cruises in all,last one 3 weeks ago,,,I can’t remember Thomson/Tui/Marella ever being anything but All Inclusive.

I also cruise P&O (Britannia in 4 weeks) and always buy the DP,,this time with the 20% discount was a no brainier.

Each to their own I say.

 

With Thomson you had the opition to pay to upgrade to all inclusive, my first ever cruise was on the Destiny, not totally sure when they went totally all inclusive though.

 

 

[JeanieC,Aston]

If this is all about those who take bottles of spirits on board to have a tipple on the balcony,,,,who are the ones who get in the lift on deck 5 with an empty glass,,go up to deck 9 then come back down with a full glass.

Or those who brag on social media about taking bottles of spirits on board then tell everyone they just come off a cruise and never spent a penny

 

Thats the real story…..the skinflints.

[JeanieC,Aston]

3 minutes ago, S1971 said:

 

With Thomson you had the opition to pay to upgrade to all inclusive, my first ever cruise was on the Destiny, not totally sure when they went totally all inclusive though.

Hi 

Never known them to be cruise only,,,,my first cruise was on Topaz in 1998 a great introduction to AI booze cruises.

 

 

[solentsam]

5 minutes ago, happy v said:

Definitely has not always been all inclusive. I stopped going when it changed and the prices went up

Agree not AI in 2006 and 2007 when we went with Thomson.

[solentsam]

On the subject of drinking in the cabin or on balcony, we never have, much prefer to socialise with others when having a drink and enjoy the company of our fellow cruisers, after all we are on holiday and that is what we like doing meeting new people.

[yorkshirephil]

1 minute ago, solentsam said:

Agree not AI in 2006 and 2007 when we went with Thomson.

It wasn't AI in 2012 and 2013, the first of the three cruises we took we paid to upgrade to find that there was a £1.50 surcharge on Captain Morgan rum. We just paid as we went following that. 

[S1971]

1 minute ago, yorkshirephil said:

It wasn't AI in 2012 and 2013, the first of the three cruises we took we paid to upgrade to find that there was a £1.50 surcharge on Captain Morgan rum. We just paid as we went following that. 

 

That's my understanding, we also paid, certain brands were on the AI list, other premium brands carried a surcharge.

 

Incidentally, it's similar now , albeit you can upgrade to premium AI which apparently includes a quite extensive list of premium brands and cocktails.

 

I believe from my travelling companions the upgrade price is £90pppw, all in the same cabin have to have it.

 

I think it's a wait until August and see for me.

[mickyc123]

One thing that I did notice that I didn’t see previously was the below

if you look at the very bottom of the room service drinks menu

it clearly states 

FOR ONBOARD CONSUMPTION ONLY

 

so if you do get a bottle from room service you can drink anywhere onboard in theory

 

they can’t even get that right😂

 

 

 

Edited May 9 by mickyc123

[daz1107]

2 hours ago, S1971 said:

 

Fair point, I thought I'd put the idea out there as most on this thread appear to be that older generation who much prefer a tipple of their own brand prior to their meal or a night cap, which has now been taken away from them.

 

P&O all inclusive and no restriction on carry ons may of suited many of them.

Would be preferable to me! 

[daz1107]

55 minutes ago, JeanieC,Aston said:

If this is all about those who take bottles of spirits on board to have a tipple on the balcony,,,,who are the ones who get in the lift on deck 5 with an empty glass,,go up to deck 9 then come back down with a full glass.

Or those who brag on social media about taking bottles of spirits on board then tell everyone they just come off a cruise and never spent a penny

 

Thats the real story…..the skinflints.

I would beg to differ on this. The thread is all about having something that was there taken away. 

Just because you don't do it, doesn't mean that no one should. Many people have explained that they enjoy a drink of something, not available on board, on their balcony. Me included. 

Personally I have no interest in black tie night and have never participated in it, but, if it was taken away, I would be sympathetic to the ones who do enjoy their evening dressing up. 

As for not spending a penny on board, I don't see the issue with this (I'm not one of those people by the way). 

Everyone has paid the required amount to board the ship and after that, what they do with their money is their own choice. Unless of course P&O decide each cruiser is required to spend £xxx whilst on board! 

 

[JeanieC,Aston]

51 minutes ago, S1971 said:

 

That's my understanding, we also paid, certain brands were on the AI list, other premium brands carried a surcharge.

 

Incidentally, it's similar now , albeit you can upgrade to premium AI which apparently includes a quite extensive list of premium brands and cocktails.

 

I believe from my travelling companions the upgrade price is £90pppw, all in the same cabin have to have it.

 

I think it's a wait until August and see for me.

Hi

For my cruise 3 weeks ago to upgrade to premium drinks was £80 pppn if booked pre cruise.its the same price today.

 

I upgraded last year and found out I didn’t really use it,,last month I was quite satisfied with standard.

 

Btw my other two favourite cruise lines Celebrity and P&O both have upgrade charges for premium drinks,,,,or in P&O case double measure spirits,,on Celebrity you don’t need that they are bigger US measures anyway.

 

Edited May 9 by JeanieC,Aston

[JeanieC,Aston]

14 minutes ago, daz1107 said:

I would beg to differ on this. The thread is all about having something that was there taken away. 

Just because you don't do it, doesn't mean that no one should. Many people have explained that they enjoy a drink of something, not available on board, on their balcony. Me included. 

Personally I have no interest in black tie night and have never participated in it, but, if it was taken away, I would be sympathetic to the ones who do enjoy their evening dressing up. 

As for not spending a penny on board, I don't see the issue with this (I'm not one of those people by the way). 

Everyone has paid the required amount to board the ship and after that, what they do with their money is their own choice. Unless of course P&O decide each cruiser is required to spend £xxx whilst on board! 

 

You ignore the point I was making,,,,it was those people who spend nothing because they take their own booze onboard.And brag about it.

Remember all those topics years ago re rum runners and people posting how to cheat the rules,,,,,they weren’t all a small tipple on the balcony drinkers.

 

Without any proof whatsoever I wager many of those complaining take booze onboard do so to save money.

I also wager that P&O think the same.

 

Of course if you could provide proof that I am wrong,,,please feel free.

Edited May 9 by JeanieC,Aston

[daz1107]

1 minute ago, JeanieC,Aston said:

You ignore the point I was making,,,,it was those people who spend nothing because they take their own booze onboard.

I actually covered your point by asking what the issue is, with not spending whilst on board.... 

 

[david63]

19 minutes ago, daz1107 said:

Unless of course P&O decide each cruiser is required to spend £xxx whilst on board! 

In a roundabout way they already do - it's called OBC

[S1971]

7 minutes ago, daz1107 said:

I would beg to differ on this. The thread is all about having something that was there taken away. 

Just because you don't do it, doesn't mean that no one should. Many people have explained that they enjoy a drink of something, not available on board, on their balcony. Me included. 

Personally I have no interest in black tie night and have never participated in it, but, if it was taken away, I would be sympathetic to the ones who do enjoy their evening dressing up. 

As for not spending a penny on board, I don't see the issue with this (I'm not one of those people by the way). 

Everyone has paid the required amount to board the ship and after that, what they do with their money is their own choice. Unless of course P&O decide each cruiser is required to spend £xxx whilst on board! 

 

 

Absolutely cracking post, for me it's about principle.

 

Post covid P&O have downgraded or taken away several things, less choice menus, some shuttle services, turn down services, no alcohol takes ons, increased drink prices ete, etc.

 

Whilst I agree with others on this thread that baseline prices on the newer ship are lower, standards reflect that, so in effect you pay less and get less, which again is fine.

 

But judging by some if the described behaviours, it's attracted a different type of audience which I wouldn't particularly feel comfortable around.

[daz1107]

Just now, david63 said:

In a roundabout way they already do - it's called OBC

What an excellent point! You Sir are 100% correct, they have already introduced this 😂!! 

[Mollag]

8 hours ago, Megabear2 said:

I hope you have a great cruise. Just to say events such as those I have experienced are very rare and P&O are still a good line to sail with. I've just been unlucky.

Won’t be any problems with us in August MB🤦‍♂️😂

[daz1107]

11 minutes ago, JeanieC,Aston said:

You ignore the point I was making,,,,it was those people who spend nothing because they take their own booze onboard.And brag about it.

Remember all those topics years ago re rum runners and people posting how to cheat the rules,,,,,they weren’t all a small tipple on the balcony drinkers.

 

Without any proof whatsoever I wager many of those complaining take booze onboard do so to save money.

I also wager that P&O think the same.

 

Of course if you could provide proof that I am wrong,,,please feel free.

I think you answered your own question, with your statement 'without any proof whatsoever...' 

Think we're going to have to agree to disagree on this one, which is something I'm happy to do, but many on here aren't. 

 

[S1971]

15 minutes ago, JeanieC,Aston said:

Hi

For my cruise 3 weeks ago to upgrade to premium drinks was £80 pppn if booked pre cruise.its the same price today.

 

I upgraded last year and found out I didn’t really use it,,last month I was quite satisfied with standard.

 

Btw my other two favourite cruise lines Celebrity and P&O both have upgrade charges for premium drinks,,,,or in P&O case double measure spirits,,on Celebrity you don’t need that they are bigger US measures anyway.

 

Thanks for the info, once onboard I'll see what the inclusive menu includes, but £320 to upgrade 14nts isn't beyond affordable 👍

 

 

[JeanieC,Aston]

Just now, daz1107 said:

I think you answered your own question, with your statement 'without any proof whatsoever...' 

Think we're going to have to agree to disagree on this one, which is something I'm happy to do, but many on here aren't. 

 

I’ll go with that.

There is a saying ‘Comment is free,Facts are Sacred’

[carlanthony24]

7 minutes ago, S1971 said:

 

Absolutely cracking post, for me it's about principle.

 

Post covid P&O have downgraded or taken away several things, less choice menus, some shuttle services, turn down services, no alcohol takes ons, increased drink prices ete, etc.

 

Whilst I agree with others on this thread that baseline prices on the newer ship are lower, standards reflect that, so in effect you pay less and get less, which again is fine.

 

But judging by some if the described behaviours, it's attracted a different type of audience which I wouldn't particularly feel comfortable around.

So like other cruise lines. Higher drink prices in falling in line with industry standards and inflation. Shuttle services what do you mean by that. If you mean paying other companies do the same thing. RCL for instance from the website make you pay for transfers from the airport. P&O don't do this. Turn down service other lines have also done the same. 

[JeanieC,Aston]

1 minute ago, S1971 said:

Thanks for the info, once onboard I'll see what the inclusive menu includes, but £320 to upgrade 14nts isn't beyond affordable 👍

 

 

Hi

I only drink Guinness,John Smiths and Jameson and my wife is OK with Prosecco so the standard was fine with me.Same on P&O,,,no need for double spirits and I absolutely never drink cocktails.

[daz1107]

10 minutes ago, JeanieC,Aston said:

I’ll go with that.

There is a saying ‘Comment is free,Facts are Sacred’

We are finally in agreement 🤣

[S1971]

4 minutes ago, carlanthony24 said:

So like other cruise lines. Higher drink prices in falling in line with industry standards and inflation. Shuttle services what do you mean by that. If you mean paying other companies do the same thing. RCL for instance from the website make you pay for transfers from the airport. P&O don't do this. Turn down service other lines have also done the same. 

 

I'm not comparing to other lines, the point I'm making is pay less on the baseline price and get less which is fine, but when they then take away the option of taking a tipple onboard and increase drink prices it is not fine, it's pure profiteering.

 

If you are on the older ship then you are definitely paying more for less.

 

Each to their own I suppose, but I certainly couldn't defend that.

 

[gsjnd]

We last went with TUI in 2012 when they weren't All Inclusive and the prices were similar to P&O. When they went All Inclusive they just put the price up so they are now more expensive than P&O.