Pricing Model

[david63]

There has been much talk (and dissatisfaction) about the Vantage/Getaway pricing model - so if you were in a position to create a new pricing model, what would it be?

[david63]

I would like to see a fixed price that is somewhere between the current Advantage and Getaway fares that remained unchanged (subject to legislation) until a month before sailing when any unsold cabins could be "offloaded".

During the selling period there could then be "offers" such as 10% off balcony cabins for three days or free upgrade to the next level for this week only. Other "sweeteners" could be OBC, free laundry voucher, free internet voucher, select dining voucher. All of these just pop up when you book.

[The Monocled Mutineer]

A deep discount (50%) in the first week of bookings being opened with the cruise paid in full

Then NO discount at all until 3 months before the cruise for new bookings.

Then the cruise to drop by 5% each week until the eve of sailing. A Dutch auction where the first to bid gets the cruise at that price for the grade they've booked. If you sweat it out to the 12th week a £1k cruise would come down to about £540.

Abolish OBC, free parking, and other pre-booking enticements.

[towny44]

I would be quite happy if P&O used a similar model to the current Celebrity/RCI one, where brochure launch prices are discounted and sometimes extra perks are added for past passengers.
Then after the initial launch period prices generally edge upward until the January "wave" season when reductions start to apply, BUT even then the discounted price does not better the launch price until at least 3 months prior to the cruise.

[oldbluefox]

Saga do not have any price reductions at all, not even close to sailing date but I presume this is offset in their pricing system.

I applaud the suggestions made in some of the posts already submitted which encourage early bookings with incentives. At the moment there is little incentive to book early unless you have specific needs or work commitments. Other cruise lines offer all manner of incentives to encourage bookings but P&O's Vantage offering has little to commend it.

Personally I am quite happy to wait for Getaway fares as I am in the fortunate position of being able to go at any time and have no great preferences for a cabin in particular locations. However if there were attractive incentives I would not discount booking earlier.

Free parking or coach travel is common throughout the cruise industry. I doubt any cruise line would eliminate it from their incentive list unless offering bottom line prices.

[Kendhni]

Definitely early booking discounts.

I also remember suggesting that P&O should use the facilities of their old community site to 'auction off' last minute deals (wouldn't help us, but those that could go last minute could benefit)

[Gill W]

A deep discount (50%) in the first week of bookings being opened with the cruise paid in full

Then NO discount at all until 3 months before the cruise for new bookings.

Then the cruise to drop by 5% each week until the eve of sailing. A Dutch auction where the first to bid gets the cruise at that price for the grade they've booked. If you sweat it out to the 12th week a £1k cruise would come down to about £540.

Abolish OBC, free parking, and other pre-booking enticements.

That'd work for me - I like to book early and know exactly what I want. I'd be happy to pay in full at the time of the booking, as they only thing that will stop me going is an event that would be claimable on my travel insurance.


Also, there's something there for people who like to take a last minute chance.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Certainly good discount for booking in say first month on sale, though I suspect 50% is too optimistic, but certainly 20-30%.

When time for cruise approaches if cabins are still free offer existing bookers chance to upgrade to specific cabin of their choice on payment of the difference in Getaway fares for the relevant grades, retaining the benefits they got for their original booking (free parking etc). Give them a week to respond.

Then offer remaining cabins at Getaway prices to those who currently have another booking on the system (this year or next) on normal Getaway terms. Give them a week to respond.

Then implement any automatic complimentary upgrades.

Only then offer remaining cabins, which by this time should only be the least desirable to the general public.

[arcadialover]

I would like the early bookers to be rewarded with cabin upgrades (only if the passenger agrees to this) and/or a refund of the difference in price if the price is dropped 8 week before departure.

I am fed up of paying full price only to discover the cruise has been reduced by thosands of pounds and then someone who has booked a cheap getaway then gets upgraded as well.

I hope that next year when you can't choose your dinner sitting on a getaway fare that you aren't allowed to change once on board, only passengers who have booked a vantage fare should be able to do that. They definately need more difference between the two fares. Shuttle buses and having to pay on a getaway is a total farce.

On our last cruise we were amazed at how many people said they would be saying goodbye to P&O because of this stupid price debacle.

I really hope that a rep from P&O reads the posts on this and other sites, and for once takes note.

[arcadialover]

And another thing or two whilst I am on my soap box. I would like to see decent OBC again AND free parking/coach travel, not one or the other, for people who book within 12 weeks of the brochure coming out.

[arcadialover]

Certainly good discount for booking in say first month on sale, though I suspect 50% is too optimistic, but certainly 20-30%.

When time for cruise approaches if cabins are still free offer existing bookers chance to upgrade to specific cabin of their choice on payment of the difference in Getaway fares for the relevant grades, retaining the benefits they got for their original booking (free parking etc). Give them a week to respond.

Then offer remaining cabins at Getaway prices to those who currently have another booking on the system (this year or next) on normal Getaway terms. Give them a week to respond.

Then implement any automatic complimentary upgrades.

Only then offer remaining cabins, which by this time should only be the least desirable to the general public.

Totally agree I think you should copy this to david Dingle and suggest it at the next shareholders meeting if you are a member.

[emjay45]

I would like the early bookers to be rewarded with cabin upgrades (only if the passenger agrees to this) and/or a refund of the difference in price if the price is dropped 8 week before departure.

I am fed up of paying full price only to discover the cruise has been reduced by thosands of pounds and then someone who has booked a cheap getaway then gets upgraded as well.

I hope that next year when you can't choose your dinner sitting on a getaway fare that you aren't allowed to change once on board, only passengers who have booked a vantage fare should be able to do that. They definately need more difference between the two fares. Shuttle buses and having to pay on a getaway is a total farce.

On our last cruise we were amazed at how many people said they would be saying goodbye to P&O because of this stupid price debacle.

I really hope that a rep from P&O reads the posts on this and other sites, and for once takes note.

I agree with everything you say. We book early as we like to have our son as close to our cabin as possible. No wonder people are fed up if they find not only has someone paid much less but they have also been upgraded. What a way to run a business, alienating many of your customers. I really hate these getaway fares it might suit some people but it has in my opinion been a big mistake by P&O.