Can Martin or the team take on the so called big Boys of cruising

wideshoes

Where to begin, other than ask Martin, or his team for advice :money:

I seem to have exhausted avenues for resolving the issue but wondered if it would be possible to take it to the small claims court?

We bought a P & O Vantage Cruise ticket that promised,
"Our promise to you...
If the Vantage Fare for your cruise reduces after you've booked, we'll give you on board spending money or an upgrade to the value of the reduction."

We booked tickets that cost us £2998 and yesterday we saw various cruise agents advertising the same grade of cabin on the same C deck for £ 1000 less. They did not advertise them as getaway prices!!!
I have spoken to my travel agent who had spoken to the P & O company at 10.30am this morning and they said, there was nothing they could do as the prices now advertised were classed as getaway fare. In other words there was a way around why they did not have to meet their obligations!!!!
This is what it says in the terms and conditions,
"
The Price Promise applies to Vantage Fares published by P&O Cruises, where the Vantage Fare on a holiday you have already booked has been reduced, and the new Vantage Fare applies to the same cruise and grade of cabin, sold under the same terms and conditions (such as the deposit and cancellation terms and whether it is possible to select a cabin number). The complimentary benefit applied shall be at the absolute discretion of P&O Cruises. The Price Promise does not apply to our Getaway Fares, holiday add-ons, nor where P&O Cruises is not the tour operator selling the holiday. Complimentary benefits are non-refundable and non-transferable. Cancellation fees are assessed on the original price of your booking. Peninsular Club fare discounts will continue to be offered but the resultant fare is not classed as a reduced Vantage Fare. If you are a Peninsular Club member your on board discount applies after all on board spending money has been used."

I then spoke to a guy called Miles at 12.15am 15th Feb, of P & O customer relations, who again said there was nothing they could do. He said I could speak to his manager a girl named Rachel who I did at 12.30 on the same date.
She appeared to be sympathetic and said she would look at my booking and see what she could do.
At 12 50 she phoned back to say there was nothing they could do. If I cancelled and re booked it would cost me £2000, so that was not an option. But as a gesture of good will they would give us a £50 on board credit.
I said that did not resolve the issue and what else could I do. She said nothing. Even though I was distressed and a pensioner, "if she gave me anything, others would expect it too". Again she made the offer of £50 on board credit which I did not accept. I told her I was not asking for anything other than what I expected under their price promise.
I asked her where I could write to discuss my issue with them and was told customer services at P & O. There is no email address for customer services and I had already spoken to one customer relations consultant ( Miles) and then his supervisor ( Rachel). She said the answer would be the same ....they could not do anything about it and after all there was only 4 weeks to departure date.
So much for price promises!!!!!!
I did not loose my temper with them. I said I did not expect anything for nothing, just to be treated according to their promised price code of practice. I did say, I was so upset I felt like cancelling the cruise altogether, and she said THAT would loose me money.
After a year of serious health issues, a parental bereavement and no holidays for two years I feel badly treated.
I do hope Martin or someone can help

Own_My_Own

wideshoes wrote: »

Where to begin, other than ask Martin, or his team for advice :money:

We booked tickets that cost us £2998 and yesterday we saw various cruise agents advertising the same grade of cabin on the same C deck for £ 1000 less. They did not advertise them as getaway prices!!!



At 12 50 she phoned back to say there was nothing they could do. If I cancelled and re booked it would cost me £2000, so that was not an option.

But isn't this the price you want.

budgetflyer

There is nothing for "Martin and his team" to take on.
It is quite clear in the t&cs that the price promise doesn't apply to last minute deals.
Just like every other travel company btw, discounting whats left over to fill empty places at the last minute.

You could of course book one of these next time - if its available.

https://ask.pocruises.com/help/PO/before-you-sail/getaway_fares

What are Getaway fares?
These may, or may not be offered on any cruise, closer to the departure of a cruise. These are restricted fares, which are not covered by our Price Promise.
With our Getaway Fares you can choose a cabin grade, but not a particular cabin number - this will be allocated by P&O Cruises no later than 14 days before departure (for bookings made within the 14 day period, your cabin number could be allocated anytime up to departure). These fares also require 100% of the cost of the holiday to be paid at the time of booking and, if cancelled, 100% cancellation fee will be applied.
For further information, please see https://www.pocruises.co.uk/pricepromise or "What are Vantage Fares and the Price Promise?"

photome

OP it sucks but thats life, they are sticking to the t and cs.

Not sure you being a pensioner has any relevance to your plight.

photome

Own_My_Own wrote: »

But isn't this the price you want.

It would cost £2000 to cancel and then still cost £2000 to rebook, at least thats how I read it

withabix

wideshoes wrote: »

Even though I was distressed and a pensioner

After a year of serious health issues, a parental bereavement and no holidays for two years I feel badly treated.

How are either of these bits relevant?

Don't forget to tell your travel insurance company about your 'serious health issues' by the way.


If the price had gone up, would you have sent them a cheque for the difference?


In answer to your overly-long post, NO, there is nothing you can do. Go and enjoy your holiday.

Caz3121

wideshoes wrote: »

We booked tickets that cost us £2998 and yesterday we saw various cruise agents advertising the same grade of cabin on the same C deck for £ 1000 less. They did not advertise them as getaway prices!!!
I have spoken to my travel agent who had spoken to the P & O company at 10.30am this morning and they said, there was nothing they could do as the prices now advertised were classed as getaway fare. In other words there was a way around why they did not have to meet their obligations!!!!
This is what it says in the terms and conditions,
"
The Price Promise applies to Vantage Fares published by P&O Cruises, where the Vantage Fare on a holiday you have already booked has been reduced, and the new Vantage Fare applies to the same cruise and grade of cabin, sold under the same terms and conditions (such as the deposit and cancellation terms and whether it is possible to select a cabin number). The complimentary benefit applied shall be at the absolute discretion of P&O Cruises. The Price Promise does not apply to our Getaway Fares, holiday add-ons, nor where P&O Cruises is not the tour operator selling the holiday. Complimentary benefits are non-refundable and non-transferable. Cancellation fees are assessed on the original price of your booking. Peninsular Club fare discounts will continue to be offered but the resultant fare is not classed as a reduced Vantage Fare. If you are a Peninsular Club member your on board discount applies after all on board spending money has been used."

So are you saying the issue was that you could not see that the price was a getaway price? you mention various agents selling at a lower price but that is irrelevant, what does P&O advertise it as

does your cruise appear on this list?
http://www.pocruises.com/find-and-book/getaway-cruise-holidays/#&&/wEXBgUCcG4FATEFAmlkBQU5ODcwOQUDaXBwBQIxMgUDcHNuBQExBQJzbwUHRGF0ZUFzYwUTc3BlY2lhbFByaWNlQ3J1aXNlcwUBMS4bQekd1O4AzmM8qK08aaMRPQWp

daveyjp

You did your homework, you priced up the holiday, you accepted the terms and paid a price you were happy with.

What's the problem again?

BTW first rule when going in a cruise. Don't talk about how much you paid. you will always end up talking to someone who paid £100 for two weeks by waiting until the day before to book!

withabix

daveyjp wrote: »

you will always end up talking to someone who paid £100 for two weeks by waiting until the day before to book!

...although they will be staying in the middle of the hull somewhere below water level next to the engine room!

They upgrade everyone else outwards and upwards first.

photome

[QUOTE=withabix;59396885]...although they will be staying in the middle of the hull somewhere below water level next to the engine room!

They upgrade everyone else outwards and upwards first.[/QUOTE]


takes me back to my days as a marine engineer in the Navy...home from home

Neil49

I can appreciate your annoyance (anger) in the way things have turned out, especially given the fanfare with which P&O announced the Vantage fares price promise last year.

Unfortunately despite the attraction of this 'promise' it was meaningless and many people on cruise related websites highlighted this from day 1 and poured scorn on the offer.

RCI have offered price promises in one form or another in recent years and although they have honoured some of them many passengers have been caught out by the small print in the T&C's just like you.

I have seen your posting on this subject on https://www.cruise.co.uk and you basically got a similar response as to the one on here.

The way around this in the future is to book at the last minute, typically a week or so inside the 12 week period prior to sailing date when full payment of the cruise has to be made and when cancellations start to appear.