Greedy P and O ferry no alcohol rule

markwood1969

My family recently booked a mini cruise from Hull to Zeebrugge via P and O ferries. In order to keep costs down we took some of those ready made cans of gin and tonic for consuming in the cabin. When we booked in at Hull we were asked if we had any alcohol. When we said we had we were told that we could not take it on boeard and it had to be left behind ( in fact they confiscated it). They claim it is "company policy" but from speaking to staff it seems that they want more people spending money in the bar! I can understand not being aloowed to drink your own alcohol in the bar but in your cabin? Even more strange is that if you buy alcohol from the so called duty free shop ( more expensive than supermarket) you cannot collect it until the following morning, again to stop you drinking your own purcheses.
This is them being greedy. the stupid thing is that there is nothing illegal about it and on the return leg you can bring back what you like because they know they cannot stop you. Be aware

jpsartre

They're a business, of course they want people to spend their money at the bar! I'll never understand these types of "they're-just-doing-this-to-make-money" complaints against businesses when their only reason to exist is to make money.

zagfles

Were you foot passengers or in a car? We've used P&O loads of times from Hull to Rotterdam and they never asked us - good job as a few times we've had loads of booze.

Do they not realise that some people's main reason for travelling to the continent is to load up on booze? :beer:

whatmichaelsays

The ship is their property. They can allow who or what they like onto it.

As for the Duty Free, I suspect that this is down to some spurious rules about the goods being exported. I've seen it in the states for example when I have purchased duty free in the airport, I've been given a ticket and can only collect my goods at the boarding gate.

jacques_chirac

Can people not manage without a drink for thirteen hours? :eek:

zagfles

whatmichaelsays wrote: »

The ship is their property. They can allow who or what they like onto it.

Yes but they have to tell people if there are items they don't allow aboard. Under the "carriage of specific items" in the FAQ it makes no mention of booze not being allowed. It mentions loads of other stuff. Perhaps mini-criuses have different T&Cs?

ETA having just read the T&Cs http://www.poferries.com/tourist/content/pages/template/_footer_Other_terms_&_conditions_terms_&_conditions.htm It does state

No alcohol may be brought on board for consumption on your crossing. We reserve the right, at our discretion, to confiscate without compensation any alcohol believed to be for this purpose. Alcohol may only be consumed on board that has been purchased from the onboard bars or restaurants. We reserve the right to confiscate any other alcohol being consumed on board (including alcohol purchased from the on board shops), without compensation.

Well, I've broken that rule at least half a dozen times even drinking my own beer openly in the bar, none of the staff said anything!

david39

It was the same with Norwegian Cruise Lines when we were travelling with them on a Caribbean Cruise.
If you bought any alcohol in any of the ports of call, it was collected from you as you re-boarded and only released to you on the day you left the ship.

It didn't bother us as we hardly ever drink alcohol, but many people were upset at the ruling, especially as some of the ports of call were just an island with a few shacks selling cheap booze.

budgetflyer

If you owned a cafe, would you be happy if a customer bought a kit kat, and then opened their bag and brought out their flask and sandwiches?

zagfles

budgetflyer wrote: »

If you owned a cafe, would you be happy if a customer bought a kit kat, and then opened their bag and brought out their flask and sandwiches?

Silly comparison, the primary purpose of a ferry is transport, not selling booze. What next, should they stop people bringing food on because they sell it? What about toothbrushes, toothpaste, razors, shaving foam etc? They sell those onboard too. Should people not be allowed to use their own onboard?

Guess the solution is just to disguise it better

Gloomendoom

zagfles wrote: »

Silly comparison, the primary purpose of a ferry is transport, not selling booze.

I thought the OP was on a cruise.

Being ripped off for drinks is all part of the cruising experience... as is devising ever more devious ways to smuggle your own booze on board.

zagfles

Gloomendoom wrote: »

I thought the OP was on a cruise.

Being ripped off for drinks is all part of the cruising experience... as is devising ever more devious ways to smuggle your own booze on board.

Ah, maybe that's it! They let people taking the "ferry" treat it as transport, but for people taking a "cruise" on the same ship they create the authentic cruising experience! Makes sense! Do they have to wear a tie for dinner too and try to get a seat on the Captain's table?

I'll stick to the "ferry", much more civilised

Seriously though - we love the P&O ferry across the north sea - it's a great way to start or end a holiday, and as I remember the food and drink was reasonable value onboard and was excellent. Far better than DFDS which was very expensive (they used to be good when the sailed to Sweden and Norway). Hope P&O aren't going the same way...I blame Ryanair...