P&O drop prices, ‘Getaway’!!!

So less than a year into the Vantage Fare campaign P&O and Cunard slash prices on 31 cruises, fantastic news…. Or is it?

What happened to the Vantage Fare being the best deal to the customer? When I questioned this with a P&O account manager there response was ‘by booking an advantage fare the customer will be able to choose their cabin number and deck, have the flexibility to amend or cancel their holiday with minimum impact financially and get 1 of 3 added benefits, free coach transfers (normally about £85pp), on-board credit (on average about £70pp per cruise) or free car parking (about £105 on a 14 night cruise), but with the reduced Getaway fares there are no added benefits, no choice of cabin location and 100% cancellation or amendent charges.

So here’s a scenario based on the above.

P&O Azura, 17 night Med cruise from and to Southampton. 31st May 2013

Vantage Fare £2949pp

Getaway Fare £2199pp

Difference £1500 per couple!!!!

But they will not get to choose their cabin or get any added benefits, at best £160 worth.

So P&O how does this work? Why are clients going to book early with you? Why no loyalty to the loyal passengers?

And to add to this, if you paid £2949 to pick your cabin, well then you get that cabin, pay £2199 for P&O to select your cabin and you may even get an upgrade, that would make for an interesting conversation at a table for 10.

I have spoken to so many customers this week that have lost confidence in P&O and they are not the only ones, so have many agents.

What do you think to it? Are you a winner from this or a loser. Let me know.

To view these deals and other deals, visit Cruise.co.uk