P&O revamp the Portunas club

From April 2012 the P&O Cruise loyalty club will be known as Peninsular Club.  The new club will retain the simplicity of the Portunas Club, and will give extra benefits to frequent travellers with added ship and shore benefits.

How does the new club differ from Portunas.  The club now consists of 6 different levels, whereas the Portunas was 3.  The names of these tiers have also been renamed to Pacific, Atlantic, Mediterranean and the Caribbean.  There are also 2 further levels,  Baltic and Ligurian.
Let me explain how these levels work.  For each night spent onboard a P&O cruise ship you will be awarded 10 loyalty points, once you have earned a minimum of 150 points  (15 nights onboard) you will automatically become a member of the Peninsular Club.  The further two levels are exclusively for passengers who have accumulated 2501 points or more and have cruised frequently in the 3 years preceding the start of their next cruise.  So why these names?  The tiers are named after oceans and seas of the world and are arranged in order of size with the smallest sea in the scheme, the “Ligurian Sea”, being the name of the most exclusive tier.  In order to keep membership of the Baltic and Ligurian tiers exclusive, membership is only ever granted on a cruise by cruise basis. So when a passenger becomes a member of one of these tiers, in order to remain so for their next cruise, they must have spent at least 80 or 201 nights onboard over the three year period prior to that cruise, if not then they will automatically go down to the Caribbean tier.

PACIFIC – 150 – 500 points
ATLANTIC – 501 – 1000 points
MEDITERRANEAN  – 1001 – 2000 points
CARIBBEAN  – 2001 + points
BALTIC – 2501 points plus 80 – 200 nights spent onboard in the 3 years preceding the start of their next cruise
LIGURIAN – 2501 points plus 201 or more nights spent onboard in the 3 years preceding the start of their next cruise

What are the benefits ashore:
Member cruises – P&O will select exclusive sailings giving special offers
Magazine – This will give you the latest news and views
Telephone Hotline – 0845 3 585 500 – They will have dedicated staff to answer any questions about the club, memberships and benefits
Your account online – You can access your points statement online by logging onto www.pocruises.co.uk/youraccount
Priority Booking – You will be given the opportunity to book new programmes or ships prior to general sale.
Priority to book preferred seats on charter flights prior to emabarkation – You will be given a priority of two days in which to select and book your preferred seats ahead of their general release.  You can be done online through cruise personaliser

What are the benefits at their homeport Southampton:
Embarkation hospitality area in all Southampton terminals – This exclusive area will have complimentary refreshements prior to boarding
Dedicated check-in – Enables a swift and effortless check-in at the beginning of your cruise
Priority embarkation – You will be given priority to board once you arrive at the terminal in accordance with your desginated boarding time
Early embarkation – You will be given the earliest possible boading time and will board as soon as the ship is ready
Embarkation lounge on board – Here you will be served complimentary drinks in a desginated lounge where you will be able to make reservations for any of the select dining venues.
Prioity cabin access -Your cabin will be ready as a priority and will be given access at a specified time after 1pm
Priority baggage to cabin – You will be given priority baggage labels to tie to your baggage so they can be identified and delivered to your cabin as a priority
Select your time of disembarkation and benefit from a separate baggage collection area in the terminal – Make the time you disembark the ship convient  for you and collection of your baggage easier and quicker.

What are the benefits you will receive onboard:
On board spend discount – You will receive discounts off any purchases made in the bars, shops, spa, salon and on shore excursions.  The discount will increase as you move through the tiers.
Loyalty Managers – These are available on every ship, so any queries or future onboard bookings they can be contacted via the Loyalty and Cruise Sales desk.
Glass of Champagne – You will receive an invitation to enjoy a compliemenatry glass of champagne at the sailaway party
Hosted cocktail party – All members from the Mediterrean tier upwards will be invited to a cocktail party hosted by Senior Officers.
Lapel pin – For any member moving up a tier for the first time will be given a commemorative lapel pin.
Complimentary half bottle of champagne (per cabin) – This will be placed in your cabin early evening on one of the formal nights
Complimentary formal attire pressing service – Your cabin steward will press your garment as long as it is handed 24 hours before you require it.
50% discount on machine washable laundry – Place your garments in a bag and hand them to your cabin steward

What are the benefits online:

• Manage your details and future holidays 
• Search and reserve your shore excursions
• Provide your pre-cruise information
• Review your cruise history
• Check your P&O Cruise Peninsular Club tier and points total
• Find out any eligible holiday offers
• Keep in touch with fellow cruisers