P&O Ferries - Shopping Price Hike!

tobybowes

Hello, i booked a holiday for my parents about a month ago for the 1st-3rd February. Although its a holiday they tend to buy cigarettes for family (not for profit). I have just popped on the P&O Website for the price list and im shocked to see that all cigarettes are "47.49 for 200's = £4.75 per pack of 20", surely this is almost the same price as here (i wouldnt know as a none smoker).

I heard a while ago that there is a tobbaco price comparision site for people going on the ferrys and buying whilst over there but cannot find it anywhere.

Theyll be going on the Hull to Rotterdam route so if anyone else can help itd be great!

P&O Ferries Tobacco Price List - http://www.poferries.com/tourist/content/pages/template/offers_shopping_offers_tobacco_offers_-_tobacco.htm


Btw although theyre upset theyre still happy about the holiday which was 2for1 and i even got almost £10 cash back on quidco for booking it

Tarry

I don't think duty free is as good these days is it, but that said I got some aramis aftershave for my Dad last February and I got it cheaper on board ship than you can on "land".

creased-leach

There's no duty free on the ferries any more. It was abolished in '99. We live near Dover, and you're just as likely to find a bargain by shopping around the supermarkets.

I take it you got them a mini cruise? In which case they're unlikely to have a car, but for future reference, the local bootleggers do runs to Belgium for cheap fags these days!

Hope they have a good trip.

Tarry

But it can be cheaper on board though even though it's not duty free? My Aunt used to do cigerette trips and just stay on board (never seen the point in that).

creased-leach

It can be- a little. However, I find a lot of the prices more expensive on board as the companies have a captive audience, and there's still a "we'll get some wine/cigs on the boat" mentality harkening back to the duty free days.

You may get a bargain, you may not- just depends what offers they have on.

We're off to a big party in March, and I've just had a return crossing offer for £19 from P&O through. Last year,being so close to the docks, it would have been worthwhile to jump on the boat & go to the supermarkets in Calais for some boxes of wine for everyone (not to mention the cheese & Cassoulet!) This year, with the Euro almost at parity with the Pound, I'd struggle to save the £19!

Tarry

I can get to Dover for around £5.50 But I guess it's just luck of the draw.

tobybowes

Yeh it was the mini-cruise, fantastic bargin. They went for the autumn/winter one bout 3/4 months ago. The cigarettes back then from the same on board shop to the same destination were £34.99 for 200 - £3.50 for 20 (which is duty-paid as stated but for people who dont know you actually pay the duty of the destination you are heading to). I dont understand how the price couldve been hiked £1.25 a packet in 3 months, i understand the pound/euro thing is weak at the moment but you have to pay in sterling on the ship and i dont think the conversion wouldve affected it that much in such little time....or is the pound/euro thing really got that bad in 3 months

The only things that are bargins in the on board shops (on the mini-cruises, the spain route etc have been affect but are still half the price of uk) are perfumes/scents etc.

Alcohol is often cheaper in your local supermarkets now especially with all the offers they run and chocolate/sweets/etc are about 2/3times more expensive than supermarkets. Just take this as a warning if you hadnt taken this into consideration and were planing a booze cruise with the cheap fares.

tobybowes

Oh to add.....

Last time when my parents were on the ferry (3ish months ago) they got a heads up from a nice member of staff.

Although the cigarettes were expensive in the shop (at the time £35ish for 200) they were told if you buy them from the bar (20cigarettes per person, per bar order) they were £2.50 for 20....now obviously this price will of gone up now but if its £47.50 for 200 in the shop it may well be cheaper at the bar and if your a big drinker just get 20 every time you go to the bar!! (ill try and confirm the bar price next week when they come back!)

Now thats what i call money saving!!

keith99_2

tobybowes wrote: »

Alcohol is often cheaper in your local supermarkets now especially with all the offers they run and chocolate/sweets/etc are about 2/3times more expensive than supermarkets. Just take this as a warning if you hadnt taken this into consideration and were planing a booze cruise with the cheap fares.

Most alcohol is usually better priced here, even beer if you shop around for deals but wine is still good value,especially if you are stocking up with a decent amount.
Tesco in calais had some excellent buys before christmas, 6 bottles for £10, and most of these were sold in the uk at a minimum of £3.99 a bottle, saving £14 a case, some cases were saving more than double.
It looks like they are still doing these deals.