P&O Cruises CHANGE their Alcohol Policy! What does it mean for you?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 พ.ค. 2024
- P&O Cruises CHANGE their Alcohol Policy as on 7 May 2024! What does it mean for you? Here are the new regulations, what it means for you and WHY P&O made the change. I also cover what this means in terms of purchases made during the cruises, corkage fees and whether drinks on room service remains unchanged. What do you think about these changes?
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#pando #cruise #alcohol #travelblogjamie #pandocruises #drinkspackage
Responsible is NOT having a drinks package that allow 15 drinks per day and pricing it so that you have to drink almost that much to make it worth the price! More money grabbing in my opinion. Prices go up yet service and quality goes down. Long time loyal passenger looking elsewhere.
We're the same. 18 P&O cruises done, 2 booked and that'll be it I think.
I totally agree
Yep, I've never bought a drinks package yet, drink as much as I want and never spend anywhere near the daily price of the package. I do however know other people who always buy the package as they consider it 'good value' based on how much 'they' drink. I don't understand how they manage it!
Work is the curse of the drinking classes
P&O are a shambles, driving austerity.
Utterly shambolic business plan. Customers that know how much has changed, are moving on. Those that are new to cruising, will stay for a while, until they realise what they can get elsewhere for similar money.
As my dad would say, don’t in my ear and tell me it’s raining. Just say you need to make more money. Don’t insult my intelligence.
True - smart dad
Will be looking for another cruise line now as P & O seems to be making cuts to quality for more profit.
Understood
Hey Jamie, it was lovely to meet yourself and Matthew on Arcadia, we loved our cruise and have cruised with P&O for 3 years running now, it's still our favourite cruise line.
Completed you had a good time and lovely to meet you too ❤️❤️❤️
Thanks for the information
Very welcome 🙏
We saw you on MSC virtuosa at the weekend talking to the ladies on deck at back of the ship taking a video of us sailing out of southampton. Fun cruise and our first
Glad you enjoyed!
We’re off in Jan 25 and to be honest This was something that swayed me to book for a big family trip in 2026 ….. tbh I don’t want to drink the value of a drinks package… just enjoy a nice tipple or 2 while getting ready in my cabin….. so disappointing as it’s another erosion of its uniqueness 😮
It was a unique feature, true
Great blog as always glad to have met you in Hythe today 👍
Oh hey Gary 👋
Goodbye P&O it was nice knowing you. You totally ckufed up ! All about the money AS ALWAYS !
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Is that because your a get as much down you as you can never remember a single hour good bye to your sort
Hi Jamie, thanks for letting me know. I am going on Aurora next Wednesday and had no clue. It's a shame but i can neck the sambuca when i return from my 3 day jaunt!
You’re welcome
Thanks Jamie for clarifying the alcohol allowance we can bring on board on embarkation. As in the past we have usually flown to board the ship so we haven’t really taken alcohol on board. I understand their reasons but it is definitely still in the small print and I won’t have noticed if i had not seen someone mentioning it online. I wonder if you can take non alcoholic gin! 😂
You’re welcome
Hi Jamie , it’s Percy ,, I’m not surprised at this announcement to be honest ,, there has been so many changes over the last few years with the whole cruise industry,, it’s just about money these days ,, hope you and maffoo are well ,, keep up the good work P
It’s been on the cards for sure
Didn’t have drinks package on cruise in January , taking litre bottle on was great for other half , I’m not much of a drinker with alcohol, on Ventura in feb mini cruise and Iona in September won’t have drinks package on Iona hoping still allowed take soft drinks on board , @TravelBlogJamie thanks for update ❤
You’re welcome
We booked a year ago, sailing Sunday and P&O have not advised us of this change. Thank you for telling me, there are going to be so many caught out by this on Sunday. I wonder if they will return or keep as now a prohibited item. Free bar stock if they keep !
I’d imagine there’ll be a grace period especially as people haven’t been told?
We did ten cruises in in ten years all with P&O , not any more they have no loyalty any more , year by year they have eroded the service that at best is 3 star plus, it’s such a shame for this once great British cruise line.
🙏🙏🙏
So which cruise line do you recommend within the same price bracket that offers more loyalty and better service?
@@ianmarsh_uk FRed Olsen for sure.
Unfortunately P&O are under orders and policies directed by Carnival and that was always going to be bad news! Life time cruiser and I totally agree with your comment.👍
Shame on you big boozer
P & O are like most cruise lines just a bunch of crooks, and hypocrites.
Responsible is NOT having a drinks package that allow 15 drinks per day. Pricing it so that you have to drink almost that much to make it worth the price, this is all about screwing the customers as much as possible.
It’s hypocritical and disingenuous to suggest it’s about drinking responsibly, I agree
I totally disagree. Responsible drinking is about personal responsibility and attitude. If you're the type of person who has to be drunk to enjoy yourself then you'll get off your face whether you have a drinks package or PAYG. We've seen drunk people onboard and staff have always been quick to refuse further service. We always have a deluxe package as we feel it's more economical, but we don't find ourselves rushing to get as much down our neck as we can as we pace ourselves during the day - and don't forget that the package includes soft drinks, Costa Coffee, etc, so it's not all about alcohol. Different people drink different amounts - it's a personal choice. If you feel P&O and other cruise lines are crooks and hypocrites, why do you cruise?
I can confidently tell you that if a governmental body or corporation tell you it is for your safety or security …………..IT ISN’T.
Ha! I concur 😂
Hi Jamie i can imagine that this isnt going to go down well with some im not a great drinker and wine is ok with me thank you for the update 😊
Welcome 🙏
I quite liked that you could bring a litre of spirits onboard for the cabin, however I usually end up bringing some home with me as hubby only drinks beer or the occasional cocktail. I’ve taken a bottle regardless of whether I’ve had the drinks package or not. However, with the drinks package price hike I will rethink whether to take it or not going forward, especially as my daughter is now 18 so doesn’t benefit from the free refresh package. It won’t stop me from choosing P&O though as they still represent good value for money for the cruise.
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Hi Jamie, thank you for your honest blog. Like other commenters on here, one of the unique benefits of booking with P & O was the initial allowance for a bottle of spirits/per person , because grown adult offspring with us, this would have helped with the cost of the bar bills. I'm miffed that we have not had any official notification from P & O; we sail in early July. My husband and I are not going to buy a drinks package, but the others in our party might. What I don't understand, maybe you can clarify this ... if 2 people share a cabin and I person pays for a drinks package, does the other person also have to have a drinks package? The P & O website seems to imply this. If this is genuinely the case then I'm not happy at all.
Yes they both have to have the package I’m afraid
Oh no! We're off on Saturday on Iona in the cabin you had 😮. We purchased two bottles of spirits only the other day, which I wouldn't have bothered with otherwise 😢. Properly hacked off I've got to say. My first Pando cruise too so not starting with the best impression! They've not informed me of any changes, and I checked their rules just before buying. Enough ranting from me. I love your blogs, keep up the great work 😊
Enjoy your cruise 🚢
Thank you. On a more positive note I've just checked the weather forecast and it's just perfect 👌. Obviously organised by customer services to ease the drinks policy shocker (no David, just leave it, move on, hehe)
Yeah, i think its the appalling lack of communication that is winding me up - AND, I wasn't even taking anything!!!
I tried calling customer services, but it rings out with a message that they're too busy! I wonder why?
Next they will tell you to turn up naked as you can only wear what’s purchased from the onboard boutique’s. Sick of these companies trying to enforce rules, that we all know, are simply to maximise profit. Hope it backfires to teach them that their ‘loyal customers’ are sick of it.
We are boarding Britannia on May 10. Seeing this post just in time as we were going to buy a bottle of vodka and some mixer tomorrow. I guess now we will buy 2 bottles of wine instead. I think there are going to be a lot of unhappy passengers in smelly old Southampton on Friday!
You might be right!!
Put your vodka in a wine bottle. The game of capitalism has 2 players 👍
This is nothing more than P&O wanting to increase their bar sales . Nothing to do with responsible drinking . As you say they turn a blind eye to excessive alcohol consumption of their provided alcohol . Doesn’t really bother me frankly , but just another reason for not cruising on penny pinching P&O .
Thanks for your comments
We are leaving Saturday. I’ve received the final checklist e mail and there is no mention of the change. If we weren’t on social media we would have absolutely no clue. My friend and I bought a 75cl bottle of gin to have a glass when getting ready for the evening. It’s a little annoying that we have not been informed officially. I suspect there will be many turning up Friday and Saturday with no idea.
Absolutely true
Summed up perfectly. What about those who dont do social media? Truth is P & O have been relying on social media to spread this message. I phoned them on the 7th May and was told there is no change to alcohol policy on embarkation and that there were no changes to drinks package prices. Three hours later the change was put into effect so I was lied to the telephone which I do not appreciate. They will never see my business again after this cruise.
Just come off a P and O ship and I enjoy a drink on the balcony. I tried to buy from room service and they kept putting obstacles in my way, trying to tell me that a brand wasn't available when every bar sells it. I got what I wanted to buy because I made a big fuss but you shouldn't have to. They'd way underestimated the number of guests who would want to buy bottles and ran out. I have written to P and O to demand that they stock properly in future. Or it will be another line for me.
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As have 2 cruises next year with P&O this will be interesting to see what changes have been made
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I was on Iona April 2023 and a pint of lager was around £4.50. Just came from Ventura last month (I was also on her 18 months ago) and the amount of pump drinks from what I remember has been reduced and if you order a can (Budweiser), then you will pay over £5 for it. That means that a pint (2 X 330ml cans) will now cost over £10! The last 3 cruises have been with P&O but after this policy change I will be using other cruise lines from now on.
The prices continue to rise for sure (and on other cruise lines)
TBH after over 10 years with P&O we are done with them. The last couple of cruises we did the food was a very mixed experience and the quality of service is not what we have previously enjoyed.
We found a real inconsistency in our last 2 as well - I think things can easily be fixed but there’s a missing link somewhere
Back in 1999, P&O was a class act, but not anymore. Those days are long gone. Certainly, a different type of cruisers have entered the P&O market over the last 10 years. I've moved on myself to a much better brand, even Cunard, which I have done many, even more than P&O has changed to, not as much as P&O, though. The company I prefer now, I'm not telling you, I enjoy that why it lasts, because that too may go downhill in the future.
@@andrewjohngriffiths This reflects everything I have said about P&O. I too am keeping my new cruise line to myself. I will never return to P&O.
All cruise lines have been making cuts since the pandemic whether it be food or drink.
@@mcglone70 but our P&O cruises have suffered more than any other cruise line we’ve sailed with
I’ll be taking some very STRONG wine on board then in a twisty cap bottle 🤫
😮 😂
Cheers for the video. This is no doubt in response to their previously absurdly overpriced and over complicated drinks packages not selling. So they squeeze from a different angle.
I disagree on this occasion - it’s in response to the fact almost no other cruise line allows this and therefore P&O are losing money in not following suit. Drinks packages have been doing well by all accounts.
Was expected to happen for cruise business reasons which becoming more tighter on customers . First class blog for several reasons . If you on travels again soon have great time 🍕🍹☀️
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Less than 30 days to my first P&O cruise. As you said, it is in line with out CCL brands. Going on Cunard in 2 weeks and hopefully they don't do a similar thing.
Have a great voyage with Cunard
Cunard don’t allow spirits but wine or champagne a bottle per person is fine
We’re going on Iona on 18th and the bottle of Baileys we were going to bring is only £1 dearer onboard, although I expect a price rise as the drinks packages have gone up , as the drinks and packages do every May. I’m going to enjoy my holiday on pay as I go for drinks using our OBC as planned.
Have a great time
Am I right in thinking though if oyu buy a bottle in duty free, you cant take it back to the cabin and drink it? Dont they hold it for you until disembarkation?
@@robandsue no - you can’t (all explained in the vlog)
@@robandsue I meant ordered on board from the room service menu , sorry for the confusion, any alcohol bought in duty free is store u til the end of the cruise.
travelled to malta on the 9th and bought alot of spirits at the port's duty free before we got on Azura - never stopped once from taking on board as the security bag scan is before the duty free shop. everyone had white bags from duty free so P&O could clearly see but never stopped a single person
They are not ones for enforcing things
Can you get drinks in when on a port day. For example if in Rotterdam, shopping in the local supermarket market. How will they know what’s in your luggage?
You have to walk through a security arch and put your things through the screeners when you get back on board.
Jamie - Do you think P&O will retain the full bottles of Spirits on the Room Service drinks options? I've always previously opted to simply purchase a litre of Grey Goose Vodka for only £35 onboard using this method as this is cheaper than the cost of the same bottle from a supermarket! If so, there's not really much of a difference with this new announcement from P&O. Simply buy when onboard!
Yes, it makes them a lot of money (but of course range and brand of drinks offered can and does change)
Watched it thank you for this video this will be my 2nd cruise this year I am ok with this change cos I like my wine.
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Thanks Jamie, personally as I can't drink much due to medication it doesn't bother me, but I am interested in your opinion who you think I ought to try besides P&O as I cruise solo and have only done P&O.
I don’t think it matters which cruise line - I’m dictated my solo prices more than anything
One could buy a glass of wine in any bar and take it to the Horizon buffet to drink with the meal presumably, cant see how anyone would know if it had been purchased in a bar or brought from the cabin?
They wouldn’t know, you’re correct
Here’s me looking to take on a nice whisky from my collection next month- just going to have to save it for the Scottish mountain trips- just for them to make money!
❤️
Just a thought about holiday booking conditions/contract with P & O....for all passengers who had booked and even fully paid up for a cruise prior to May 7th. By issuing this directive is P & O breaking the terms of those holiday contracts? Is this legal? Just wondering?
I think it’s perfectly legal if you read their T&Cs
@TravelBlogJamie Thankyou. What a shame.
It's a shame but not entirely surprising, I think another thing that's potentially led to the change is that it will likely end bucket of ice deliveries on an evening which will mean less work for cabin stewards
Yes, another factor
Someone on a Facebook group I'm in rang and was told categorically by their staff that there were no changes in policy and it was a scam. Within two hours of posting that, p and o had changed their website. Go figure.
I don’t actually think some of the customer services team are in receipt of key info
Thats the spirit 😊
Boom boom 💥
Wait though...you can still by a bottle of spirits from the room service menu?...at just a few pound more than supermarket prices....so, not much difference ...or am I missing something?
Well it was twice the amount of what I paid actually but either way I don’t care much
Forgot to put Marella on my list. The so called expensive cruise lines can be quite good value when you consider what is included in the price eg flights, transfers, WiFi , gratuities,drinks, speciality dining and shore excursions. Yes they are still more expensive but the service and quality is so much better.
I find there are cruise lines the bridge both those markets that are more affordable for me
The thing is Jamie you are a lot younger than we are and obviously you want to travel more but we are at an age where we would rather do one or two trips a year and probably spend less than you do!!!
@@user-nr4df1eo4u that absolutely wouldn’t work for me
Hi Jamie. Is martini classed as a spirit or fortified wine. Was thinking of taking a bottle. First cruise next year
Martini is fortified wine??? When did this happen? I’m sure martini is a spirit
@@TravelBlogJamie I thought it was a spirit but my husband said no it's a fortified wine. He doesn't drink so don't know where he got that from. Best not to take any. Thank you for replying 🙈🙊
Just google it. This came up FORTIFIED WINE MARTINI BIANCO
@@TravelBlogJamie Martini is a brand of vermouth, a fortified wine that is flavoured with various botanicals, including herbs, spices, and fruits.
@@g4ryaf and there was me thinking martini was made with vermouth and gin
Does that mean you can still take wine on board and drink in cabin?
All in vlog
We have booked a "taster" cruise with P&O for September. Just 4 nights to see if we enjoy it. I was going to take a bottle of vodka with us. We will now take a bottle of wine each.
It is clearly a money driven policy but it will not change our approach to spending on board.
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I am not loyal to p&o and sailed on quite a few different lines now (although got 2 booked with P&O this year 🙈). This is pretty standard across most other lines now and they all make little extras as best they can. The thing is cruise prices themselves have come down in price from years ago and now appeal to most budgets. They have to either up their general prices or make changes to bring in more money.
Yes, exactly what I was saying in the vlog 👍
We went on the lona in Feb, on every port stop we brought back local wine/spirits, our rucksack was never checked. Wouldn't have been a big deal if they were confiscated anyway as the bar prices were cheaper than going out on Leeds! We just like trying different drinks....
Drinks prices continue to rise onboard
@@TravelBlogJamie I think a pint of beer (Moretti l think) was about £5 on the ship, l paid over £13 for 2 pints in Leeds last weekend, can't remember the last time l got 2 for a tenner!
@@saltaireorangebicyclechopp8555 I don’t doubt it but prices onboard have risen quite considerably in a short space of time and I expect them to rise again with further changes to the drinks packages
TBF I always thought it was very generous that you could take a bottle of spirits on board with P&O. We sail mainly with NCL and such a thing does not exist though going Free At Sea is also considerably more cost effective than a P&O drinks package with less restrictions. No more vodka. sugar free red bull and disco lights Jamie!
Well I can take the red bull still and either bring vodka back to cabin from a bar or buy a bottle onboard 🤔
Thanks Jamie, so long as P & O continue to offer a broadly well priced product these tweeks are of little consequence to me.
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Hi Jamie, love the blogs! This is diverting a little from the topic...
Please correct me if I'm wrong but from what I understand P&Os policy on bringing alcohol on board when purchased at a port was you had to hand it over when getting back on the ship, there was always a table out at the top of the gangway for you to declare it (we've not been inboard since before the pandemic). We have often bought a top up of wine or beer to have in the cabin mid cruise and never declared it, never been challenged. So it will be interesting to see if they challenge anyone bring a sneeky bottle of vodka onboard and how they deal with it.
Finally sailing in June on iona and can't wait! 😆.
Partly true but very inconsistently applied / often no tables and no challenge about bringing anything back
.
We gave up P&O a decade ago (after taking nofly Caribbean cruises with them annually - sometimes twice a year - for 12-years). We usually had mini-suite, sometimes a suite and spent money on excursions and the occasional fine dining. We also liked a cocktail or two each evening.
We became friends with many many people over the years who we met on board each year but who have also stopped sailing with P&O. Between us all we spent (c) approaching £100k a year with P&O. But then the joke became that the ship was full of earrings and tattoos - but the earrings were on the men and the tattoos on the women!! Then the Formal Nights became a disappointment as the staff were afraid to question those not adhering to the Dress Code. Doubt that there even is one now!!
We all now meet up on Cunard (Princess Grill) but sadly not the Caribbean. I doubt that Carnival could care a toss though - as they also own Cunard - but at least standards are being maintained.
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Hi I go on p&o a lot I'm not a big drinker but do have three kids and have to have two cabins and do spend some time with the kids watching film's in the cabin and normally have pop and a bottle of whiskey in the cabin on a cruise for two weeks so I do think this is over the top . will I be able to take a bottle of port in stead???? Thanks John
Port is fortified wine so don’t see why not
@@TravelBlogJamie thanks for your reply 👍👍👍👍👍
When I traveled with P&O for the first time a few weeks ago I was surprised to read that you could do this, is it really that important to some people to take bottles of alcohol onboard?
For some it’s their way of making the onboard experience more affordable
Yes I know ,it's like wanting to see a show on board ,you could go to Broadway instead and leave more space for things that are actually interesting
@@1957bumpy I don’t think you’ve commented on the correct section
They have taken a unique selling point of theirs, that the British really liked (Cheeky Prink whilst getting ready) and ruined it. Call it like it is, Responsible consumption of *OUR* Alcohol.
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The only surprise is that it took Carnival 20 years to bring in P&O Cruises drink allowances in line with the rest of the carnival corporation.
It surprises me too
Am I the only person who has realised that I don’t see a 1 litre size bottle of wine but they are normally 75cl. I suppose you can make it up almost a litre with a couple of small individual bottles.
Oh I’ve bought litre bottles before!
Have been on p & o several time over the last 12 years, have been on Queen Mary one way with 6 weeks coming home & Queen Elizabeth. My husband can't drink for health reasons, i agree i like a drink, but feel guilty if i have to buy at full price. The staff are not happy if you enjoy a drink, i think they need to rethink their policy's and make sure you have different bands, one for me and soft drinks for partner. There is a huge difference now, as what it was, especially with the food and snack's, not picking on P & O, have travelled with different companies and the standard is not the same. In the last 20 years we have travelled most of Europe with our kids & my paid for the family to go on a weekend trip and really enjoyed it and also had a fantastic time. So going on my father passed away and she still wanted to travel, but the price for a single cabin was really over the top, my son is recently registered blind and living in supported living, so we paid for twin beds & a single & he went on his first cruise & loved it! So a lot of positive & a little negative. We are now enjoying plane trips, sorry.
Thanks for sharing
Oh no have to tell hubby he can’t bring his Talisker with him on Saturday
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To be honest yes it’s all about the bottom line 🚢 but personally for us it would not bother us for the cost of 2 bottles of spirits. There’s so much more to a cruise 😊 great post keeping people updated though 👍
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just read all the reviews p and o have been cutting and putting up prices . there are plenty other cruise lines so look around .
I am definitely not loyal to one brand and always recommend people shop around ❤️
This has put me off trying P&O I feel. It’s not that I drink a lot, far from it, but I do enjoy a nice wee dram or gin on the balcony as I relax and read/enjoy the view. It’s a lovely part of the holiday for me. I am getting the feeling that they are really cost cutting what with this and the flights. A little off putting.
Not in defence but I don’t know any other cruise line that allows you to take spirits onboard their ships and many don’t allow any alcohol to be taken on board
@@TravelBlogJamie ahh thanks for clarifying, I’ve only cruised with Marella so far and still a cruise newbie. Worth knowing thanks 🙏
Im going on first cruise next year.
Can i take a half liter of vodka onboard. I'm confused
Officially no...but, nobody checks.
No.
Just how expensive are drinks on a cruise ship? UK ships.
Have a look at my drinks package vlog which has bar menus / prices too
We are sailing next week for the first time with p and o and this is really disappointing to find out 11 days before we go, we have already purchased the 2 litres of vodka and whiskey.
I have one question, what’s port classed as. Officially it’s fortified WINE but will they see it the same way. 😢
Thanks for the vids. ❤
I have to be honest if you put it in your case it’s highly likely no one is going to check
@@TravelBlogJamie yeah I’m pretty tempted, what’s the worst. Claim ignorance then get it back a week later. Thanks Jamie
@@bencluroe4183 I mean that’s the worst isn’t it - you’ll get it back
@@TravelBlogJamie sold. I’ll be a chancer and report back. Could even take 2 wines on and declare them, throw them off the scent maybe?
I do enjoy a G&T in my cabin, so I will have to buy a bottle on board. Such a nuisance but Princess have used these rules for years so I suppose this was to be expected. I think doing it without any warning is rather poor though.
An email in advance would have solved a few issues for sure lol 😂
Just been on Arvia and to be fair the prices for a litre of gin or whisky from the room service menu seem quite reasonable.
Double the amount I paid tbh but I’m not really fussed either way - it’s still not too bad
P&O isn’t for me but when I did sail with them last summer people were taking containers with alcohol in and mixing it into their drinks. It didn’t bother me. So make sure you drink from your water bottle now or you could get a surprise 😂
😮 😂
So don't cruise on ANY P&O ships. Then watch them go into full reverse in the blink of an eye.
I would not ever not cruise on a line because they don’t allow you to take on board spirits - wouldn’t leave many cruise lines left to sail on (if any)
That’s a BIG disappointment in my opinion…..thanks for clarifying 😢
No problem
@@TravelBlogJamie currently on Arvia and enjoying my G&T each night in my cabin before dinner 🍸 gonna miss that 🥲
Going on our first cruise this weekend on arvia and tbh doesn't really change how we feel. We are not drinkers so I guess it's not a issue but the short notice is out of order. There should have definitely been a grace period for anyone already booked.
Enjoy ☺️
Enjoy
Ha, ha. Some of the comments on here are class! 18 years with P&O (also with RC, HAL, Marella, Cunard) and I have no issue with this. Love a bottle of wine with dinner plus maybe three or four drinks afterwards. Definitely more very drunk people on our recent P&O cruise than back in 2006 and I suspect that's a root cause, as well as competition in the market. I agree that extremely drunk passengers causing disturbance needs to be addressed more by the crew. But people never using P&O again because of this change!!! (Used to have the wine package when it was available but never a full drinks package, as we can't drink that much for that many days!)
Yup, a bit extreme, especially as there’s no other line that would allow this
I agree with you. The way some people moan makes me wonder why they bother going on a holiday. We've got four cruises booked this year and three of them are with P&O. Yes, there have been changes but we still enjoy P&O. Like you we've been with other lines and they all have good and bad points but if you're a 'professional moaner' you can find fault with even the smallest thing.
Noticed on our last cruise how weak the cocktails were and bar staff using pre-mixes. All pina and no colada ,That being said, should put off the booze cruisers. Only hope passengers do not take new policy out on the crew.
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P&O could sadly be yet another case where a business has accidentally (or not) ventured into shareholder first customer second. Additionally in this case customer health and wellbeing not even on the list. It appears that excessive drinking is being encouraged?
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I’m a bit pissed off as we go on Saturday but, As we are first time cruisers I remembered being surprised that they let people take alcohol in the first place. No big deal really
Enjoy your cruise
Does anyone know how many cans of Pepsi we can take onboard?
However many you want
Just put it in your hand luggage!
Pre departure screening are looking for different prohibited items.
I'm type 1 diabetic and always take a new unopened bag of glucose powder through security, never once been questioned. On x-ray must look like coke.
Worst case, they store it until you return, it's not a felony 😂
I don’t think anyone is suggesting it’d be a felony lol
No official email from PO yet so I’ll still be packing a bottle on Saturday.
Go for it
The Captain (Morgan) made it safely aboard 😂
From what I can see the room service provide 1 Litre spirits in the menu, not a lot of difference to prices you would pay in major supermarkets. Do you have experience from buying bottles of spirits to drink in your room? Surely this is the same as bringing on your own 1 litre bottle anyway.
But you’re paying their prices to then have them delivered to your cabin - I paid half what they charge for vodka in my local - essentially P&O are looking to make more money (I don’t blame them tbh)
Being a cruiser since 1974 I have seen many changes taking place over the years, many of them not that great. This all accelerated once Carnival's influence over many brands started to take a foothold on a lot of the cruise industry. Sadly I no longer feel that I can cruise because of this. I have though perhaps enjoyed the best years of cruising when commercial exploitation was not more important than the loyalty of the passengers......
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It's a money making exercise. Remember ALL booze on a ship is duty and vat free so, a bottle of gin that costs £26 in your local supermarket should only be about £15 on a ship.
All true
Not strictly true, as when in Spanish ports you will pay Spanish tax etc, but I get the gist.
@@DaveEP I suppose I really meant to say at sea. P&O usually close bars and shops when they are in port.
@@derekvenus I came off Arvia 3 weeks ago and had several days in Spanish ports. Bars and restaurants continued to sell alcohol while in port but added Spanish VAT. Shops were closed in ports as expected.
Even so, we all know what duty free means.... it means a bit more profit margin for them!
Why do you feel you aren’t the target audience? I would think you would be exactly their target. I’ve only cruised with P&O so interested to hear which line/s you feel better suited to. Thanks👌
I’m absolutely not - I’m the ‘previous’ audience who experienced P&O when they offered something to what they do now. They are wanting fresh blood now that have nothing to compare things to
Thanks for this Jamie. I was surprised when I heard about this, and a bit disappointed initially - it was a unique perk that P&O offered which we always made use of. But they have finally followed the market and are finding new ways to make more money… As long as their overall cruise prices stayed competitive, I’m ok with it.
They are definitely competitive
What you never mentioned is the drinks packages have also went up.
Does this mean the bar prices will rise also?
Because this isn’t about drinks packages
The drinks packages are a RIP OFF now. April 2023 I paid £7.99 a day for the basic draught drinks packets. Now it’s nearly £15!!!! No thanks 🤬
@@reececollison5101 there are draught drinks packages on P&O U.K.? I’ve never seen these.
that’s what the refresh package is, draught drinks and juices only. Used to be called the child’s drinks package (which adults could have lol), but they’ve doubled it in price from £7.99 pppd to nearly £15!! Rip off 🤬
We’re going on a P&O cruise in August and have pre-booked the classic drinks package. The T&C’s state a maximum of 15 alcoholic drinks per day per package, ALL non-alcoholic drinks are unlimited. Only one drink may be ordered per package at any one time at a minimum of 15-minute intervals.
We have been talking to someone who has just been on a P&O cruise in April. They have said that when they ordered a gin & tonic they were told that this was 2 drinks!
Do you know if this is correct, what’s your experience with having the drinks package? Surely you’re not expected to order a gin, wait 15 minutes to go back for the tonic?! 😂
A spirit and mixer is one drink
Maybe they’d asked for a double?
Hi Jamie. Can i get my deposit back because P& O have changed their drinks policy. Thanks.
No, mentioned this in the vlog. Usual T&Cs
Have been cruising with p and o for 10 yrs and have never taken any alcohol on boarding so won’t worry me at all.
Awesome
I was suprised how cheap a bottle was from roo service tbh!
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Thanks for the info, I hadn't noticed. We have a cruise on Iona in 9 weeks and we're planning on brining some spirits for the cabin 😭😭
I get why they're doing it, does irritate me a little but nothing major
Have a great cruise
I think this is due to the small number of people on cruises spoiling it for others by bringing spirits out with them or even taking empty glasses back to cabin - filling from their own stocks and then bringing into venues
I don’t think this - it’s because most other cruise lines do this already and P&O are about making money
Maybe stupid question but I wonder does this policy also apply to Alcohol free "spirits"?
They fall under soft drinks
Excellent thanks for info. Good news. I'm quite partial to a Morgan's 0.0 and coke now I've made peace with going alcohol free😅
Anyone going to carabian in march on p and o
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No I was there in January on Arvia ship is Beautiful you will love it
Regardless of what they do. We still wouldn't drink enough to make the extortionate costs of the drinks packages worth while. We sailed on Ventura very recently and they still gave you what you bought in the shop straight away and coming back on ship from port they wouldn't confiscate any alcohol you had bought. It seems they say one thing and do another. P&O all over.
Oh gosh, and these drinks packages are actually cheaper than many other lines
While myself and my wife are by no means big drinkers, we enjoyed a nice Grey Goose and mixer in the cabin whilst getting ready to go out. Shame its now off the menu (unless you buy it off them for twice the price). Code of conduct, yeah right....
Oh I love Grey Goose - good choice
We quite often buy bottles of spirits from the room service menu and not much dearer than tesco . That wont put us off .
We have only cruisef with p&o but thats all change , we have booked 3 cunard cruises and looking at azamara as well , need to move crusing back to the old p&o 😁 happy cruising and boozing ❤️
I totally agree
This is really sad, we love a cruise and have had many over the years, quite a few with Pand O. The drinks policy was a big part of our decision, mainly because I hate feeling ripped off and the drinks prices on board are exactly that. P and O prices were among the most reasonable so it was less of an issue but I always enjoyed having a bottle of something in the cabin for a night cap or whatever. We first cruised on Ventura when she was a year old, we got silver service, great food, bed turn down service, chocolates on the pillows, the ability to take a drink on board. All that has gone now, we switched to Princess for the last cruise, it was a much better all round experience. Given that in this statement P and O have decided to bullshit their valued customers I doubt we will go back.
It’s definitely not been done because of responsible drinking, that’s for sure lol
What a load of rubbish we have always taken a bottle of gin board. This last is the 3 of us for the 2 week cruise. We do buy the very odd beer or a bottle of wine on formal night. This is all about money. The kettle tea and coffee will go soon. Thanks for the video Jamie.
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