Not Happy P&O [Pre Paid Drinks]

[bakerbj]

Not Happy with P&O.
Booked for voyage V307 on Pacific Adventure (xx_xx_). As seasoned travellers we like to pay in advance for drinks, etc. Sadly P&O have changed the rules and now expect us to pay in advance for EVERY day of the voyage. They also force each of us to pay the same, regardless of whether we have different needs, e.g., if one of us is non-alcoholic or one of us drinks primarily coffee or tea with the occasional wine at main meal. Further compounding the problem, on a 13 day cruise, only 6 days are actually at sea when we would avail ourselves of the on board facilities, the other 7 days are either transferring or in port somewhere where we would mostly not be on the ship but trying to “support the local economy” ha, ha.

If P&O was smarter they would offer a prepay drinks option whereby a passenger can buy a non-alcoholic card for, say $30 which will buy $60 of drinks on board at ship prices (perfect for kids?) and a $60 prepay option that covers ALL drink categories, including barista options and alcoholic drinks, etc. to the value of $100 on board at ship prices. These pre-purchased cards would, of course, be locked in to the individual passenger and printed on their on-board ID card that you have to carry everywhere, so couples could each choose the option that suits the individual. No doubt there may be the occasional friend/partner buying a drink for a friend/partner but so long as they charge it to their card, that’s the joy of sharing the voyage with a companion. For the heavy drinkers, let them buy more than one prepay if they want to drink that much while on board, no refunds, of course if you don’t spend the lot. Bottom line, my wife and I would be quite happy to each take the $60 prepay option which would allow us to drink what we feel like, when we feel like it, throughout the voyage and I’m very confident we are not alone.

So come on P&O, dare to offer a distinctly different approach for your passengers to enjoy while sailing with you.

Bob Baker

Why post this here? I reckon we are all travellers who sometimes go by ship

 

[Guvner]

Might want to remove your booking reference from the post.

 

[bakerbj]

Might want to remove your booking reference from the post.

whoops, would if I could figure out how to edit it

 

[Pushka]

That’s the way most cruise lines handle drink packages and has been that way for years in our experience. Certainly on Celebrity and Viking. I’ve paid for the two of us (both have to have it) for 21 days. I’m surprised P&O haven’t done this earlier.

You need to do the maths to see if it’s worth it for you.

There is a dedicated cruise thread here coz lots of us cruise. I’m on the phone or I’d post the link.

 

[p--and--t]

Not Happy with P&O.
Booked for voyage V307 on Pacific Adventure (xx_xx_). As seasoned travellers we like to pay in advance for drinks, etc. Sadly P&O have changed the rules and now expect us to pay in advance for EVERY day of the voyage. They also force each of us to pay the same, regardless of whether we have different needs, e.g., if one of us is non-alcoholic or one of us drinks primarily coffee or tea with the occasional wine at main meal. Further compounding the problem, on a 13 day cruise, only 6 days are actually at sea when we would avail ourselves of the on board facilities, the other 7 days are either transferring or in port somewhere where we would mostly not be on the ship but trying to “support the local economy” ha, ha.

If P&O was smarter they would offer a prepay drinks option whereby a passenger can buy a non-alcoholic card for, say $30 which will buy $60 of drinks on board at ship prices (perfect for kids?) and a $60 prepay option that covers ALL drink categories, including barista options and alcoholic drinks, etc. to the value of $100 on board at ship prices. These pre-purchased cards would, of course, be locked in to the individual passenger and printed on their on-board ID card that you have to carry everywhere, so couples could each choose the option that suits the individual. No doubt there may be the occasional friend/partner buying a drink for a friend/partner but so long as they charge it to their card, that’s the joy of sharing the voyage with a companion. For the heavy drinkers, let them buy more than one prepay if they want to drink that much while on board, no refunds, of course if you don’t spend the lot. Bottom line, my wife and I would be quite happy to each take the $60 prepay option which would allow us to drink what we feel like, when we feel like it, throughout the voyage and I’m very confident we are not alone.

So come on P&O, dare to offer a distinctly different approach for your passengers to enjoy while sailing with you.

Bob Baker

Why post this here? I reckon we are all travellers who sometimes go by ship

Every cruise line on every ship to every destination I have been on (lots) - has exactly the same rules as you described.

( I haven't been on the exclusive luxury cruises where they have free booze)

 

[Franky]

Not Happy with P&O.
Booked for voyage V307 on Pacific Adventure (xx_xx_). As seasoned travellers we like to pay in advance for drinks, etc. Sadly P&O have changed the rules and now expect us to pay in advance for EVERY day of the voyage. They also force each of us to pay the same, regardless of whether we have different needs, e.g., if one of us is non-alcoholic or one of us drinks primarily coffee or tea with the occasional wine at main meal. Further compounding the problem, on a 13 day cruise, only 6 days are actually at sea when we would avail ourselves of the on board facilities, the other 7 days are either transferring or in port somewhere where we would mostly not be on the ship but trying to “support the local economy” ha, ha.

If P&O was smarter they would offer a prepay drinks option whereby a passenger can buy a non-alcoholic card for, say $30 which will buy $60 of drinks on board at ship prices (perfect for kids?) and a $60 prepay option that covers ALL drink categories, including barista options and alcoholic drinks, etc. to the value of $100 on board at ship prices. These pre-purchased cards would, of course, be locked in to the individual passenger and printed on their on-board ID card that you have to carry everywhere, so couples could each choose the option that suits the individual. No doubt there may be the occasional friend/partner buying a drink for a friend/partner but so long as they charge it to their card, that’s the joy of sharing the voyage with a companion. For the heavy drinkers, let them buy more than one prepay if they want to drink that much while on board, no refunds, of course if you don’t spend the lot. Bottom line, my wife and I would be quite happy to each take the $60 prepay option which would allow us to drink what we feel like, when we feel like it, throughout the voyage and I’m very confident we are not alone.

So come on P&O, dare to offer a distinctly different approach for your passengers to enjoy while sailing with you.

Bob Baker

Why post this here? I reckon we are all travellers who sometimes go by ship

Thanks for the heads up - will be cruising with Carnival at the end of the month, will read the fine print on the booking more closely...

 

[Pushka]

Thanks for the heads up - will be cruising with Carnival at the end of the month, will read the fine print on the booking more closely...

Carnival have the same rules. Every adult in cabin must buy and for the length of the cruise. People were clearly rorting the system where they'd buy one package and then share.

 

[odysseus]

As above.

Never heard of a line just offering a package by the day - as obviously most people would then only buy on sea days, which would change the overall economics and pricing of it.

Regarding the second option, the packages are not sold as discount options. Obviously as a flat price, if you drink lots you will come out ahead, but for many it's neutral or more expensive to get the package. They're just sold as conveniences, for those who wish to pay a single amount upfront then not worry about individual prices during the cruise, and can have a fixed budget in mind, without having to pay the costs afterwards.

 

[maia200]

Every P&O cruise I have been on has the full trip package or none at all for every person in the cabin. This is going back to 2013 when I first started cruising. All cruise lines since then offer a full package, including alcohol, or possibly a soft drink and coffee package. I have never seen a card with value on it.

 

[Buzzard]

On MSC a couple of years back, you could purchase vouchers for drinks at a discount, as many as you wanted. The vouchers were either for wine or speciality drinks, maybe coffee too. The vouchers were not attached to a particular passenger, you simply exchange a voucher for a drink. We made a few friends on the cruise and used to shout each other drinks.

 

[p--and--t]

On MSC a couple of years back, you could purchase vouchers for drinks at a discount, as many as you wanted. The vouchers were either for wine or speciality drinks, maybe coffee too. The vouchers were not attached to a particular passenger, you simply exchange a voucher for a drink. We made a few friends on the cruise and used to shout each other drinks.

Ah yes, I have seen on a few cruises you can get the equivalent of a "beverage: card" for tea and "specialty" coffee - AKA not Americano, also soft drink cards for kids (and big kids).

Not been on MSC, but on other cruise lines I have used, have never seen an ad hoc voucher for alcoholic drinks offered. Learn something every day.

The standard offering on the likes of RC , Princess, HA, PO, etc is a package of alcoholic drinks or premium alcoholic drinks for a fixed payment for all 18+ in the cabin for every day of the cruise or just pay as you go.

 

[Buzzard]

On the MSC cruise we did, you could buy the vouchers at any time, pre departure or while sailing. I can see why MSC did it, if you purchased the vouchers they had your money. Buying drinks ad hoc you may not spend as much. The vouchers, which came in a booklet (10 drinks IIRC) were non refundable.

 

[dk4]

IMO - Cruise Ship Drink Packages aren't about saving you money, quite the opposite, they are a way of extracting more money from you!

For all but the biggest drinkers, they rarely offer better value than - pay as you go, per drink.

 

[Pushka]

IMO - Cruise Ship Drink Packages aren't about saving you money, quite the opposite, they are a way of extracting more money from you!

For all but the biggest drinkers, they rarely offer better value than - pay as you go, per drink.

It depends on the number of sea days. We have 8 on our next cruise. Three Drinks a day and the fee is covered. If It's port intensive then unlikely to get value.

 

[p--and--t]

It depends on the number of sea days.

true

Three Drinks a day and the fee is covered.

If expensive drinks like coughtails etc and both of you drink

Could never make it stack up on any of the cruises with non-drinking partner and just drinking a couple of bourbons each day

 

[Buzzard]

On our MSC cruise we probably got stuck in a bit, especially on the many sea days.
A drink with lunch, one or two by the pool, we were part of a pre dinner drinks group so another couple, always a bottle of wine with dinner. A few more drinks into the evening or another bottle of wine sitting at one of the live music venues, nightclub or even karaoke.

 

[larrymull]

All inclusive cruises are the way to go, unfortunately they are a lot more expensive to sail on.

 

[p--and--t]

All inclusive cruises are the way to go, unfortunately they are a lot more expensive to sail on.

Yep, my next cruise is 14 days for 1,600 without booze.

On similar trip an all inclusive luxury ship I have seen fares of 17,000. I can buy a lot of booze and other cruises for that variance.

Horses for courses

 

[bPeteb]

I haven't ever heard of what you're suggesting. We haven't cruised P&O for a few years but they didn't offer similar on that cruise.

We're cruising with Royal Caribbean in three weeks and have bought the drinks package. As others have said it's both or none. The only exception is if you can provide a medical certificate/ justification for the second cruiser being unable to consume alcohol.

We usually wouldn't but we're celebrating (?) my 60th. We did the sums and even with one port day in three full days we'll cover the cost of the package. A couple of coffees, some juices, then whatever alcoholic beverages we consume and serve didn't more than the daily pre-purchased cost.

 

[love_the_life]

Yep, my next cruise is 14 days for 1,600 without booze.

On similar trip an all inclusive luxury ship I have seen fares of 17,000. I can buy a lot of booze and other cruises for that variance.

Horses for courses

The luxury lines have more going for them than say P&O. Horses for courses but I know what I would prefer to spend my money on. People have to compare apples with apples. For a mainstream itinerary (ie not adventure cruising), fares are a lot less (unless you are cruising solo or in a large suite). Hard to know if you are quoting a per person or total fare.
I am doing a 'cheapie' line in July - we shall see how it goes.