Payment for tours on world cruises

[Val1968]

On previous cruises we have booked tours in advance and payment has been taken from our on-board account on embarkation.

Looking to pre-book tours for our Arcadia 2014 Worldie we were surprised to learn that payment would be required IMMEDIATELY, with the threat of increased prices and tours not being available if we waited until we were on board.

Has anyone seen any publicity about this?

We would like to hear your views.

Val

[david63]

This is now the normal practice for all P&O cruises.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Not done it on a world cruise but certainly true on our 14 nighter this year that on board prices were around 10% above what we paid in advance and some excursions were sold out - so more advisory than a threat really. I can see, however, that you might be miffed by paying so far in advance on a worldie. On our trip we'd pretty much done the excursions before the bill hit our credit card statement.

[Suekersh]

We are on Arcadia 2014 world cruise segments. We have already booked our trips probably 2 months ago now. Full payment taken, discount given for Peninsular club tier. If you change your mind and cancel a trip the money is refunded directly to your credit card. One less thing to think about.

Sue

[Southwinds]

Do remember if you still have a tier to go up ...while on the world cruise you may want to get your slide rule out and decide if you pay before you cruise or wait until the cruise and go up a tier then book your trip on board with your new discount taken off.

[Quizzical Bob]

Do remember if you still have a tier to go up ...while on the world cruise you may want to get your slide rule out and decide if you pay before you cruise or wait until the cruise and go up a tier then book your trip on board with your new discount taken off.

Good point, but it gets a bit more complicated. Once you have sailed the cost comes out of your OBC if you have any left, and you don't get your loyalty discount until you have used up your OBC.

[Southwinds]

as you say complicated....you need get the slide rule out and calculate the best option.

[Manoverboard]

We are on Arcadia 2014 world cruise segments. We have already booked our trips probably 2 months ago now. Full payment taken, discount given for Peninsular club tier. If you change your mind and cancel a trip the money is refunded directly to your credit card. One less thing to think about.

Sue

The refund actually goes to the card that was used for the original purchase, be it debit or credit.

Also ensure that the expiry date is beyond the Cruise departure date else the refund may not work.

[emjay45]

Do remember if you still have a tier to go up ...while on the world cruise you may want to get your slide rule out and decide if you pay before you cruise or wait until the cruise and go up a tier then book your trip on board with your new discount taken off.

We booked all our excursions months before this year’s World cruise. We went up 2 tiers during the course of the cruise and we received the appropriate discount for each tier even though we booked well in advance.

[gilly88]

can only be a good thing, it spreads the costs out a bit.

[Val1968]

Thanks for all your replies. I think the best thing to do is book now!!!! then we wont have to think about it again for a while. Whilst writing has the policy on drinks changed since we last went on a world cruise in 2012?

Regards
Val

[Manoverboard]

The drinks policy has changed completely since our Worldie segment on Aurora in 2012.

Gone are the £10 and a bit Bombay Gins plus 75p x 9 for 12 Tonics etc, think £1 per can and £26 for a litre of Bombay ... less to take home but don't bother cos it's cheaper in Tesco.

[Val1968]

Thanks manoverboard I thought that was the case from reading the How can we help section on P & O's web page. We used to enjoy our G and T in the cabin at 6 p.m. and I suppose we still can but I'll just have to have a single instead of a double!! The onboard spending money wont last as long next year.

Regards
Val

[Manoverboard]

I would stick with the double ... it's only money.

[Val1968]

I quite agree cheers

[Manoverboard]

Should have added that the method of purchase has also changed. There is a form and a need to order, then collect, one's booze from an appointed place.

Hic ....

[Trixie68]

Do remember if you still have a tier to go up ...while on the world cruise you may want to get your slide rule out and decide if you pay before you cruise or wait until the cruise and go up a tier then book your trip on board with your new discount taken off.

We booked all our excursions months before this year’s World cruise. We went up 2 tiers during the course of the cruise and we received the appropriate discount for each tier even though we booked well in advance.

Thanks for that info.we have booked tours as some are already booked up on the Aurora,we did not want them all booked up when we boarded in Singapore,we are hoping to do a "Quickie" Cruise before we go in March,that would take us up a tier.
Some of the tours sound very expensive,i'm sure you could have a seperate holiday cheaper to these places.

[sunlover]

This sytem was in place last year for this years 2013 cruise. You get your discount when you book the tours and as you move up the laddder the discount is given so no need to wait till you are onboard to book. You can still book on board and if you change your mind the payment is refunded to
your credit card. Or if P&O cancel ports as they did a lot this year, the refund is made back to your card.

[Manoverboard]

This sytem was in place last year for this years 2013 cruise. You get your discount when you book the tours and as you move up the laddder the discount is given so no need to wait till you are onboard to book. You can still book on board and if you change your mind the payment is refunded to
your credit card. Or if P&O cancel ports as they did a lot this year, the refund is made back to your card.

The refund always goes back to the card that was used to make the original purchase ... .

[Janet-]

Thanks for all your replies. Whilst writing has the policy on drinks changed since we last went on a world cruise in 2012?

Regards
Val

This year we were given a voucher every 21 days ( give or take a day) for 2 bottles at duty free prices which you could drink on board