seawitch 291 Posted June 28, 2017 Report Share Posted June 28, 2017 I have just found out they are withdrawing the 'future cruise deposit' option from this weekend,very short notice. To get the small amount of extra OBC you now have to book a cruise on-board. A bit discriminating against people who work and have to get written authorization before they can risk booking a holiday. And not everyone wants to spend several hours time on their holiday queueing up to book another one. With customers not tied to booking with them again will some of their customers look elsewhere? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cruise addict 164 Posted June 28, 2017 Report Share Posted June 28, 2017 Seems harsh. Is this P and O? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cruise chef 865 Posted June 28, 2017 Report Share Posted June 28, 2017 It will be interesting to see if they have a cooling off period for people who have to check with work regarding their holidays when they get back, if not it may discourage people from booking onboard Quote Link to post Share on other sites
sammy sun 1084 Posted June 28, 2017 Report Share Posted June 28, 2017 Personally, I can't see this being a success. I think the option of being able to apply a future cruise credit to a booking when you've had more time to choose is a better concept than just allowing bookings whilst on board. I can imagine some people will do it but like seawitch says, I can't see many people wishing to give up half a day on board to firstly queue up and then secondly sit down and decide on something till they're ready to book. Many people like to take their time, check their dates and decide on their own, not under pressure whilst on board. I think it's a mistake to remove them. oldbiddy1 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
2torts 344 Posted June 28, 2017 Report Share Posted June 28, 2017 In the e-mail link that they sent out on Sunday it states that the low deposit will be £50 with a two week grace period on your return home when you can change it to a different cruise of equal or higher value free of charge. 2 weeks would not have been good enough when I was at work as we couldn't book annual leave until the start of the year & it took longer than that to get a reply! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
sammy sun 1084 Posted June 28, 2017 Report Share Posted June 28, 2017 Exactly the same for me 2torts. I would need more time to confirm annual leave and whilst I appreciate that they cannot provide a grace period of too long, and that two weeks is often a regular cooling off period amount of time, it doesn't seem enough to me given the circumstances of booking a holiday. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Scranman 21 Posted June 28, 2017 Report Share Posted June 28, 2017 Well I am a little bit disappointed in P & O with this. We said exactly the same about wanting to queue up and discuss holiday requirements while the sun is shining and the bar is open!! I for one can't book leave from work more than 12 months in advance. Hopefully they will have a change of mind but I'm not holding my breath. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
sammy sun 1084 Posted June 28, 2017 Report Share Posted June 28, 2017 I don't think it's a good idea but it won't directly impact me too much as I've never been one for future cruise credits. It's not something I've done much of in the past so won't discourage me from P&O in the future. I do think it's a mistake though as I know a few people on here have discussed future cruise credits in the past and I'm sure this will impact them going forward. I don't see why P&O would remove them, what benefit are they getting from it? Apart from creating some form of urgency to get people to book on board. I can see this having the opposite effect and most people becoming frustrated rather than inspired to book there and then. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
seawitch 291 Posted June 28, 2017 Author Report Share Posted June 28, 2017 3 hours ago, cruise addict said: Seems harsh. Is this P and O? yes Quote Link to post Share on other sites
seawitch 291 Posted June 28, 2017 Author Report Share Posted June 28, 2017 1 hour ago, sammy sun said: I don't think it's a good idea but it won't directly impact me too much as I've never been one for future cruise credits. It's not something I've done much of in the past so won't discourage me from P&O in the future. I do think it's a mistake though as I know a few people on here have discussed future cruise credits in the past and I'm sure this will impact them going forward. I don't see why P&O would remove them, what benefit are they getting from it? Apart from creating some form of urgency to get people to book on board. I can see this having the opposite effect and most people becoming frustrated rather than inspired to book there and then. They are giving a 2 week cooling off period where you can change your booking without any admin charges. All other terms and conditions apply, so if you book you have to get approval for time off within 2 weeks and if you can't you can switch to another cruise within the 2 weeks but it has to be more expensive. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bosunsmate 0 Posted June 28, 2017 Report Share Posted June 28, 2017 Apparently this is down to pressure from the travel agents as they feel they lose out on commission. So I'd like to thank Bolsover for their help in getting this withdrawn. Time to withdraw my custom from them methinks. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
sammy sun 1084 Posted June 28, 2017 Report Share Posted June 28, 2017 Is that true? I'm surprised P&O have buckled to demands of agents on something like this, considering the amount of repeat business future cruise credits must generate. If they book on board, or use a future cruise credit, surely the same booking conditions apply so the agents will not be making any gains? It's my understanding that either with a future cruise credit or when booking on board, you can apply the booking to an agent of your choice, is that still the case? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
sinbad10 757 Posted June 29, 2017 Report Share Posted June 29, 2017 21 hours ago, sammy sun said: Is that true? I'm surprised P&O have buckled to demands of agents on something like this, considering the amount of repeat business future cruise credits must generate. If they book on board, or use a future cruise credit, surely the same booking conditions apply so the agents will not be making any gains? It's my understanding that either with a future cruise credit or when booking on board, you can apply the booking to an agent of your choice, is that still the case? No in future you will not be able to purchase a FCD for future use you will have to book an actual cruise onboard. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Captain Kidd II 797 Posted June 29, 2017 Report Share Posted June 29, 2017 21 hours ago, Bosunsmate said: Apparently this is down to pressure from the travel agents as they feel they lose out on commission. So I'd like to thank Bolsover for their help in getting this withdrawn. Time to withdraw my custom from them methinks. This comment is not true as, if you book on board which you still can, the booking goes back to your TA. The staff on the ships are paid by Carnival so commission does not come into it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Countrygirl 233 Posted June 29, 2017 Report Share Posted June 29, 2017 I agree with Captain Kidd, I have booked on board with P&O and the bookings have always been handed over to Bolsover. I would like to add that the last cruise I booked onboard has now been greatly reduced, having only paid the small onboard deposit I was able to rebook and even losing the deposit I paid for myself and my husband we have saved just about £2000.( and managed to keep the same cabin) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sea Cruiser 89 Posted June 29, 2017 Report Share Posted June 29, 2017 I am shocked they are doing away with the FCD's, not alot of people onboard know what they want to do that quickly! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cruise chef 865 Posted June 29, 2017 Report Share Posted June 29, 2017 It would be the first time I have ever heard that a large company like this has buckled to minnows like agents, I think its probably more the other way round that they want to take more a slice of the business away from their for their own shareholders, loved to know where you got that response from Bosunmate. It is usually my agent that fights for me when the cruise companies have messed up so sorry but I would believe more the opposite Quote Link to post Share on other sites
peterspill 2 Posted July 2, 2017 Report Share Posted July 2, 2017 I don't know what planet the other respondents come from but on Royal Caribbean you can book a time slot to visit a future cruise consultant and should take no more than an hour of your time to book your next cruise. What is all this rubbish about spending half a day queuing up to see a sales consultant. For the last few cruises we have booked on the cruise and there are some fabulous offers available and takes very little time Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Davybe 529 Posted July 2, 2017 Report Share Posted July 2, 2017 On 29/06/2017 at 3:28 PM, cruise chef said: It would be the first time I have ever heard that a large company like this has buckled to minnows like agents, I think its probably more the other way round that they want to take more a slice of the business away from their for their own shareholders, loved to know where you got that response from Bosunmate. It is usually my agent that fights for me when the cruise companies have messed up so sorry but I would believe more the opposite The Reality is the agents may be selling more cruises than P&O do by selling direct. We did look at it when on Britannia and to many queuing so gave it a miss, will wait for a late deal ? I did a future cruise purchase with Celebrity last year (Cruise Now they call it) and have had to cancel due to wife being unwell I moved the booking out to 2018 no problem and at no extra cost,Why P&O cannot do this is beyond me , they do seem to like ticking of there customers who continue to put up with it...Davybe Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Davybe 529 Posted July 2, 2017 Report Share Posted July 2, 2017 17 minutes ago, peterspill said: I don't know what planet the other respondents come from but on Royal Caribbean you can book a time slot to visit a future cruise consultant and should take no more than an hour of your time to book your next cruise. What is all this rubbish about spending half a day queuing up to see a sales consultant. For the last few cruises we have booked on the cruise and there are some fabulous offers available and takes very little time It's P&O not RCI or Celebrity , they have plenty of people attending on Celebrity and a place to sit and wait if you need to? On Britannia two desks stuck on a corridor and very few seat's if you wanted to wait....Davybe Quote Link to post Share on other sites
june63 107 Posted July 2, 2017 Report Share Posted July 2, 2017 (edited) As far as I am concerned I would rather loose £50 that 15% of the cost of a cruise (if it came to that) if I had to cancel for whatever reason. It's these draconian employerts that are the problem not P & O Edited July 2, 2017 by june63 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Occasional Cruiser 6 Posted July 2, 2017 Report Share Posted July 2, 2017 We have cruised on the Arcadia before and have an Adonia cruise booked for this Autumn. However, we had never been on the Oriana, so we arranged a ship visit on Oriana recently. Whilst on board, we were told about FCD's and that we could apply on board if we wished. Liking what we saw on Oriana, we decided we would but unfortunately there was no opportunity to fully complete the process during our brief period on board, so we were asked to fill in the form with our phone number and e-mail address, etc as we were assured that P&O would contact us in the next few days to finish the process. We were also told that the booking could then be transferred to our chosen TA to complete the arrangements, once we decided on what cruise we were going for. That was on 21st May and P&O has not chosen to follow this up, although, like everyone else, we continue to get the usual stream of e-mails and brochures from them. So this seems to fit in with this concept that they have now ceased offering these FCD's Disappointing but never mind! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BobTroll 43 Posted July 2, 2017 Report Share Posted July 2, 2017 I have never contemplated purchasing a future cruise credit with P&O, for the simple reason that the payment is non-refundable, if circumstances change and you cannot book a cruise. P&O's sister company, Princess Cruises still offer a similar facility (£75 per credit), and if you wish, you can pay for multiple credits. Future Cruise credits on Princess are valid for two years - and can be extended, if you have not booked your cruise before the initial expiry date. Furthermore, the payments are fully refundable, if you decide not to travel. Yet another reason to patronise Princess, in preference to P&O. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogtheDodge 3 Posted July 2, 2017 Report Share Posted July 2, 2017 Its really simple, if the cruise line doesn't do or offer that which is suitable for you, go somewhere else. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jack7374 11 Posted July 2, 2017 Report Share Posted July 2, 2017 Princess scores again. Just paid my future cruise deposit on our current cruise. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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