Vantage Not So Much Of A Vantage To You?

Just over a year ago P&O and Cunard released details on there ‘Price Protected Promise’ which states ‘We Promise that, should we reduce a Vantage Fare for a holiday you have already booked, we will pass on the value of the reduction to you automatically’*. Here is the Catch – (For your cruise and cabin type with the same terms and conditions)

This was great news for regular cruisers when they brought this out as it had been a regular occurrence that cruises that went on sail came down in price and you got nothing that was just the way it was. So for you the Cruiser to get something but from the Cruise line was a bonus – A reward for booking early and staying loyal to a particular cruise line.

It was also said that they would still do the Getaway Fares but these would be very limited and not until the cruise was within a cruise proximity to sailing, but with P&O releasing them all the time this leaves people wondering whether to book early or leave it to last minute

For Example I had one the other day on Adonia,

14 nights Western Med Cruise

Vantage Fare Balcony – £2550pp

Getaway Balcony – £999pp – Finally reduced to £699pp

Although the Vantage Fares are not all bad as it sounds, if you book a Vantage Fare you will get to choose a Vantage Benefit these include ‘On Board Credit, Free Parking or Free Coach Transfers’ and you will receive money back in the form of On Board Credit or a Cabin upgrade should the Vantage Fare change in price. Also they offer much more relaxed terms and conditions.

So what do you do, book early or risk it. If you want to Guarantee your cruise then book early, yes you may pay slightly more but if its for a special occasion is it worth the risk, if may not go to a Getaway Fare and the main price may go up.

I am one of those people that cannot stand not knowing its booked, so even with the facts I would most likely go with a Vantage as long as you are happy with what you are getting – If you leave it you may not get what you want.

However if you find your self suddenly getting holiday last minute why not snap up one of these great Getaway Deals!!

Getaway deals are changing in 2014 so beware – Make sure you know what you are getting.

Changes include not being able to pick a dinning time, you will be allocated this by the cruise line and you will not be able to change this – This could really alter your cruise experience. Your cabin number will not be given to you until a day or two before your cruise – So it really is going to be a ‘No Frills’ Cruise. Everything will be down to pot luck.

Now we get to the Single Traveller, I quite often speak to people who say ‘I see you are advertising the Oriana for 14 nights at £999pp, I am a Single can I book?’ The answer is No, P&O and Cunard do not allow single travellers access to these deals which is ridiculous considering the other day I looked at the Queen Mary 2 Transatlantic cruise, It was £599pp on the Getaway fare for 2 but for a single traveller – £2199pp

The Getaway Fares are incredible strict terms and conditions state among not being able to make any changes to the cruise or who is travelling, 100% deposit and 100% cancellation, Getaway are only available when 2 passengers are travelling and are not available on single or family cabins – It really is not fair, what are you to do if you are a couple with a 2 year old? or a single passenger – most times this is not out of choice either.

But not to worry as I have heard there are talks of Getaway fares for single travellers and who knows maybe on family cabins – Royal Caribbean and Celebrity do it so why don’t they!

We will update you as soon as we hear more news on this

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