P and O cruises - price significantly lower than when we booked!

travellerboy

PompeyPete wrote: »

Excellent info in your posting.

Any particular reason you're going with MSC?

We have done more than 15 cruises with Celebrity, most booked with americandiscountcruises but in the last 18 month Celebrity price rises have been ridiculous. The same cruise we took in Jan 18 was 60% more this year, and enough was enough so we tried MSC early this year.
I would emphasis that I would only book MSC Yacht Club and the experience was second to none. Subsequently we have booked for 2020 and 2021 on the MSC Seaside out of Miami. Also have booked MSC Preziosa fly/cruise Barbados for later this year (cheaper than a balcony cabin on P&O) and we get luxury, real luxury that is alien to P&O.
Unfortunately the genie is out of the bottle, a lot of people know about the YC and today it is extremely difficult to get a YC cabin as they are sold out into 2021. The best deal afloat is a YIN cabin on Seaside or Seaview, the inside cabin is cheap and you get all the YC perks, free drinks top shelf including champagne, private lounge, private dinning room, private sundeck with pool - plenty of sun loungers with no hoggers, absolute paradise.

Give it a try, you'll never regret.

PompeyPete

Travellerboy.....Thanks for the details. I hope others found it useful too.

mickey234

harz99 wrote: »

What's not correct..........

You said beware they are drifting towards non-refundable deposits. That's NOT CORRECT - they are offering BOTH not drifting either way. You choose which is best for you, if the cruise is a long way off then refundable is a great option otherwise the cheaper deal of non refundable if the cruise is in a month or two.

We don't get that choice in the UK, just ripped off and lose all our deposits, that's why booking in the States is the best.

harz99

mickey234 wrote: »

You said beware they are drifting towards non-refundable deposits. That's NOT CORRECT - they are offering BOTH not drifting either way. You choose which is best for you, if the cruise is a long way off then refundable is a great option otherwise the cheaper deal of non refundable if the cruise is in a month or two.

We don't get that choice in the UK, just ripped off and lose all our deposits, that's why booking in the States is the best.

Please don't shout, it's perfectly possible to make your point without doing so.

As someone who takes several cruises a year, I have and do, book across both sides of the pond, and sometimes the offer is better one side than the other, so I have to disagree that US is best as it isn't necessarily so.

mickey234

harz99 wrote: »

Please don't shout, it's perfectly possible to make your point without doing so.

You obviously like an argument.......!
Maybe you could post something useful like Travellerboy rather than pour cold water

harz99

mickey234 wrote: »

You obviously like an argument.......!
Maybe you could post something useful like Travellerboy rather than pour cold water

And maybe you can accept two things, firstly that your viewpoint isn't the only one, and secondly the intention of my OP was a gentle warning combined with another US agent to look for alongside those named, not to pour cold water anywhere.

allways_injured

I have been on 2 P&oO cruises before but would like to try MSC. We are looking to go nov or dec, Travellboy do you book direct with MSC or an agent to get best price?

travellerboy

allways_injured wrote: »

I have been on 2 P&oO cruises before but would like to try MSC. We are looking to go nov or dec, Travellboy do you book direct with MSC or an agent to get best price?

First contact MSC to get a Loyalty Match, since you have done 2 P&O cruises you will get a minimum Classic Level of their Voyager club. All levels of MSC Voyager Club get 5% discount off all cruises whether booked direct with MSC or via a travel agent. You need your Voyager Club Membership Number to get the discount.

It is definitely better to book via a travel agent.

Vivavoyage.co.uk give a 11% discount on MSC prices before you take the Voyager Club Discount into account. Goto to my previous post for US, U.K. and EU website then compare their prices for the cruise of your choice before you book.

When you become a member of their Voyager Club you gain access to Voyager Selection Cruises which give you up to an extra 15% discount, check these first (the cruise you want maybe listed) and you will save even more. These cruises are still available via your travel agent as well as direct with MSC.

Trust that helps, enjoy your cruise.

allways_injured

Thanks for info, I will do this rightaway

allways_injured

I have been on MSC website and it appears you have to have booked a cruise in the past with them or have one booked to be able to join club, unless I am doing something wrong.