Portunus Club Changes

RJChatsworth · #1 February 21st, 2011, 01:18 PM

When we were on Artemis last August Carol Marlow gave a talk and the Portunus Club featured heavily. She said that changes were necessary (too many at the Gold lunches perhaps!) and getting the right balance was proving difficult, but she would be announcing a new structure for the Portunus Club early in the New Year (2011). Has anyone seen anything please?

SeaSickGill · #2 February 21st, 2011, 01:24 PM

Hi
All I've noticed is that I've got two memberships numbers, 1 for my 2005 and another one for April (?)

LEESRE · #3 February 21st, 2011, 03:43 PM

Rumour has it that it should be this month, February, when they will announce.
But don't hold your breath.

cruiseanywhere2 · #4 February 21st, 2011, 04:12 PM

It's supposed to be on the 28th February.

terrierjohn · #5 February 21st, 2011, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cruiseanywhere2

It's supposed to be on the 28th February.

I heard it was 29th Feb!!!!!!

Rum Rat · #6 February 21st, 2011, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by terrierjohn

I heard it was 29th Feb!!!!!!

31st

southwinds · #7 February 22nd, 2011, 01:39 PM

I never understand how there can be too many people on a GOLD lunch? when we would all be eating lunch on board anyway... just arrange smaller groups on different days if you want to limit the numbers attending.. simples.. no need to create a GOLD with knobs on tier...

RJChatsworth · #8 February 22nd, 2011, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by southwinds

I never understand how there can be too many people on a GOLD lunch? when we would all be eating lunch on board anyway... just arrange smaller groups on different days if you want to limit the numbers attending.. simples.. no need to create a GOLD with knobs on tier...

Not simple for P&O - you haven't taken into account the free booze they drink! Also, it is usually the best three course meal served on the ship - all the stops are pulled out to impress the frequent travellers.

Denarius · #9 February 24th, 2011, 07:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by southwinds

I never understand how there can be too many people on a GOLD lunch? when we would all be eating lunch on board anyway... just arrange smaller groups on different days if you want to limit the numbers attending.. simples.. no need to create a GOLD with knobs on tier...

The numbers attending the Gold lunch apparently vary widely by ship. In August on Ventura (West Med) there were 60, in Dec on Oceana (Panama Canal) there were only 19. Our loyalty manager told me however, that on Oriana and particularly Aurora there had often been over 200. If P&O wish to limit the numbers attending the easiest way would be to invite to the lunch the (say) 100 passengers with the most Portunus points on that cruise.

tom_uk · #10 February 24th, 2011, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Denarius

The numbers attending the Gold lunch apparently vary widely by ship. In August on Ventura (West Med) there were 60, in Dec on Oceana (Panama Canal) there were only 19. Our loyalty manager told me however, that on Oriana and particularly Aurora there had often been over 200. If P&O wish to limit the numbers attending the easiest way would be to invite to the lunch the (say) 100 passengers with the most Portunus points on that cruise.

I think that would be a hard sell to the 101st and onward Portunus members, especially as, on Oriana and Aurora especially, that they had done many, many cruises.

I think this is an issue all the lines are facing as the number of multiple repeat customers gets very high. Inevitably, I think, the rewards will be scaled back.

cruiseanywhere2 · #11 February 24th, 2011, 01:05 PM

Have a look at the p and o forum the changes are on there, look very complicated. It doesn't affect us as we are only on Ruby but i can see some of the gold members being very underwhelmed.

cruiser1955 · #12 February 24th, 2011, 01:06 PM

There are a couple of threads on the P&O website forum as some information is now available. According to the P&O admin, details will be sent out in the next few days. It looks to be a more complicated system with six tiers. The top two tiers require 80 or 200 nights in the last 3 years plus 2001 points. Guess we will see the full detail soon.

Host Sharon · #13 February 24th, 2011, 01:57 PM

If what has been posted on the P&O site is correct those of us in the lower level of Gold will be demoted and lose many of the benefits currently available - 8.5% discount instead of 10%, no special lunch, no priority check in, no embarkation lounge......... not impressed at all. I expected an extra tier above with perhaps extra priviliges but not to lose them!

southwinds · #14 February 24th, 2011, 02:20 PM

Looks like the Gold Lunch has been dropped so that should please those who said too many people were attending !!

jeanlyon · #15 February 24th, 2011, 02:47 PM

Think I will be staying where I am, Sapphire, albeit with another name. No problem to me. Certainly wouldn't be bothered about the lunch.

tom_uk · #16 February 24th, 2011, 03:13 PM

I've read the P&O forum thread. For me, the most interesting thing is that new P&O cruisers will need to have done 15 nights before they qualify for any benefits. So not only will that initial party cruise, or the Fjords cruise, not qualify them for benefits for their next cruise, but neither will a 14 night W Med cruise, if that's the first cruise they do. In fact the worst-off passengers would be those who did two 14-night cruises as their first cruises: as I read it, they won't get any benefits until they start their next cruise after that.

Hmm - that's quite hard. But I suppose they need to strike a balance between encouraging really loyal customers, and trying to encourage 2nd cruise passengers. And as I mentioned in an earlier post, the number of Portunus members must be costing them.

Denarius · #17 February 24th, 2011, 04:48 PM

According to the post on the P&O community site the new Peninsular Club, replacing Portunus, comes into being in April 2012. Is this correct, or a slip of the finger? If it is correct they are giving plenty of notice and doing the right thing by those who have already booked cruises from the current brochure, and were expecting certain perks.

Denarius · #18 February 24th, 2011, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by southwinds

Looks like the Gold Lunch has been dropped so that should please those who said too many people were attending !!

According to the post on the P&O forum the new Caribbean tier (2001 points and over) get a "senior officer hosted dining experience on cruises 8+ nights". Sounds like the Gold lunch to me, but the bar for attening is being raised from 1501 to 2001 points.

Rum Rat · #19 February 24th, 2011, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Denarius

According to the post on the P&O forum the new Caribbean tier (2001 points and over) get a "senior officer hosted dining experience on cruises 8+ nights". Sounds like the Gold lunch to me, but the bar for attening is being raised from 1501 to 2001 points.

1990 points here

????