Did anyone get an email from Princess about the increase for Beverage Package?

Did you get an email regarding the price increase and other changes regarding the beverage package and if so what did it say and when did you get it? Thank you.

 

From other threads on this forum I have surmised that on Sept 15 someone noticed that the AIBP was gone from the personalizer and that there was intermittent and different ways of "finding" it up until the 20th. Then on the 21st the NEW beverage package appeared. I can not find any mention where someone says they got an email. Just rumors from TA's.

 

I spoke with Princess about the fact that the beverage package price was increased by $11.40 a day without so much as an email giving us an opportunity to purchase at the old price for our upcoming cruises. The agent who answered the phone insisted several emails had been sent out, one on Sept 13th. I did not get any emails regarding this, not my inbox, not spam, not quarantine, nowhere. I have saved every email from Princess since my first cruise in 2015. When auto gratuities increased I got that email and was able to prepay them at the lower price for all my cruises.

I told the agent bottom line I wanted to be given the option to purchase the beverage package on 3 of my upcoming cruises (I have 5, 2 are Sip & Sail and don't need it) at the old price.

 

Then a customer service representative came on the line and said that notification was emailed out Friday the 22nd, which would have been too late to buy at the old price. I did not get this email.

 

Then she offered to let me pay the higher price for the beverage package and she would give me OBC for the difference. This would mean on my 14 day holiday Eastern Caribbean cruise I would get an additional $319.20 of OBC (two of us) on top of the $1050 OBC I already have!! I have been using the OBC to pay for some excursions and even then still had $500 left of the $1050. Also, given the devastation of the ports in the Eastern Caribbean I am not planning on being able to take my planned excursions. Even if this is a refundable OBC (I don't know if that is the case as I did not ask) why should they hold my money for over 3 months? I absolutely do not need anymore OBC. She said I could not wait to buy the package onboard (allowing me spend OBC) and get this accommodation.

 

Bottom line, I told her I felt Princess should allow me to purchase the beverage package at the old price and she said that she could not do that.

I told her that $10,000 is not a trivial amount of money to spend and I had choices on where to spend it. I said I understood that the Eastern Caribbean has been devastated by the hurricanes and for all we know more are coming. I understand we may not even sail to the Eastern Caribbean, I understand we might have more sea days than expected.....I am fine with all that. But, I told her that I can choose where to spend my $10,000 and would be shopping Cunard, Celebrity, Viking Ocean..........If I find a good deal I will cancel this trip. If not, we will still take it, but I will definitely not be adding more Princess cruises. Thank goodness my final payment date is Oct. 6th!

Wow, quite a post.

I thought twice about replying, never like to be contentious but my oh my.

 

I don't think any pax were actually notified of the increase. There was speculation on these boards when it disappeared and reappeared from the cruise personaliser that changes may be afoot.

 

I am in the UK, and intended buying the AIBP when on board if the exchange rate was favourable. On my cruise personaliser the rate locked in is poor compared to today's exchange rate.

 

However, as it is refundable up to 3 days before sailing, I decided to buy it last week, with cancelling prior to sailing if that worked in my favour.

 

Yes, the price has now gone up, and at the moment I am happy with my purchase. I do not cruise with Princess until May 18.

 

I am unsure what more your TA can do to help you. I am pretty sure in the UK most, if not all TA's wouldn't have done anything.

 

I appreciate you have more OBC than you feel you can spend at the present time, how fortunate you are!

When offered more OBC, for the price difference, which I consider to be very generous, rather than coming on here and moaning, perhaps the best thing to do would be to find out if any of your OBC was refundable?

 

I agree the poor residents of the Caribbean islands have have their lives devastated, yet those fortunate to be spending 1000's on holidays, get so worked up about a couple of $100.

 

Really? As I said Wow! Good luck finding a company that thinks you deserve better treatment than the one, I feel, has been more than fair.

Princess does not send out emails about price increases for anything as far as I know.

It is very generous of them to offer you OBC. Better take it while you can. :cool:

I also think Princess made you a very fair offer, but of course you decided not to take it. I have the Ship and Sail promotion on my upcoming cruise. Perhaps others should call and see if they can get your offer.

With all your OBC it might be better to just pay for your drinks.

Good luck.

 

No, I did not receive any e mails. I will find out in a few weeks whether the new package provides any benefit to me. I am hoping for increased drink options.

Princess does not send out emails about price increases for anything as far as I know.

It is very generous of them to offer you OBC. Better take it while you can. :cool:

 

The last two times the DSC was increased Princess notified those with future bookings that they could pre-pay by a certain date and pay the DSC rate in effect at time of booking. No such courtesy done with the current Beverage Package increase.

 

But I agree that what the OP was offered was more than fair and for them to respond with further threats is pure sour grapes.

Should have taken the OBC. They didn't have to offer anything. Enjoy whatever other cruise line you decide to sail. I'm sure they will never do anything to upset you. :rolleyes:

I am sorry the lack of notice for a price change and compensation were not to your liking; I do wish you luck on finding a more suitable cruise line.

If you really wanted the beverage package you should have taken the OBC. Any non-refundable OBC can be recovered using the casino route. Holding money? Float on funds these days is very small. On the $400 OBC it is less than 50 cents.

The last two times the DSC was increased Princess notified those with future bookings that they could pre-pay by a certain date and pay the DSC rate in effect at time of booking. No such courtesy done with the current Beverage Package increase.

 

But I agree that what the OP was offered was more than fair and for them to respond with further threats is pure sour grapes.

Fishy, has Princess sent out price increase emails on any onboard services besides the DSC? Specialty restaurants, soda packages, spa treatments, etc? I am thinking the DSC was the exception rather than the rule, and may have happened only because, while technically removable, the DSC is automatically applied to everyone, where the other choices are individually selected.

The last two times the DSC was increased Princess notified those with future bookings that they could pre-pay by a certain date and pay the DSC rate in effect at time of booking. No such courtesy done with the current Beverage Package increase.

 

 

 

But I agree that what the OP was offered was more than fair and for them to respond with further threats is pure sour grapes.

 

 

 

I'm guessing those emails were sent because every passenger will be paying the DSC (well they should, but that's another topic) but not everyone will be purchasing the beverage package.

 

 

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I do not hold it against Princess for raising the price of the beverage package. Giving a heads up notice and the option to buy before the price increase would have been a good public relations tactic but not required.

What I find to be a bad act on the part of Princess is applying the terms of the new package to all of the old packages that had already been purchased or given as part of a promotion for cruises booked for the future. People bought the old package expecting to be able to get a canned coke or buy a bottle of wine for 40% off of very high Princess retail price. Now there will be no canned cokes and a bottle of wine will only have a 25% discount.

This is no different than selling someone a home advertised as fully furnished and then when the buyer goes to move in he finds you have removed some of the furnishings. I consider it an unethical practice. Having some fine print stating that Princess can change the terms and conditions without notice may shield Princess from legal action but it does not make an unethical act ethical.

I have been a loyal Princess cruiser with 30 cruises taken and 6 more booked for the next 18 months. I have had a lot of respect for Princess. They have lost that respect now.

$1050 OBC for a 14 day cruise and complaining about a $11 increase in the AIBP and they give him $300 more OBC - I would be thankful for all that. Looks like they got him for the cruise - $10K for a 14 day cruise - something sounds fishy here

If you really wanted the beverage package you should have taken the OBC. Any non-refundable OBC can be recovered using the casino route. Holding money? Float on funds these days is very small. On the $400 OBC it is less than 50 cents.

 

I wish people would keep their mouths shut about the "casino route". Princess monitors boards, and next you'll see that avenue blocked. Sssshhhhh.

I wish people would keep their mouths shut about the "casino route". Princess monitors boards, and next you'll see that avenue blocked. Sssshhhhh.

 

It probably will be with the medallion thing

fishy, has princess sent out price increase emails on any onboard services besides the dsc? Specialty restaurants, soda packages, spa treatments, etc? I am thinking the dsc was the exception rather than the rule, and may have happened only because, while technically removable, the dsc is automatically applied to everyone, where the other choices are individually selected.

 

dsc????

dsc????

 

 

 

Discretionary service charge

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

I do not hold it against Princess for raising the price of the beverage package. Giving a heads up notice and the option to buy before the price increase would have been a good public relations tactic but not required.

What I find to be a bad act on the part of Princess is applying the terms of the new package to all of the old packages that had already been purchased or given as part of a promotion for cruises booked for the future. People bought the old package expecting to be able to get a canned coke or buy a bottle of wine for 40% off of very high Princess retail price. Now there will be no canned cokes and a bottle of wine will only have a 25% discount.

This is no different than selling someone a home advertised as fully furnished and then when the buyer goes to move in he finds you have removed some of the furnishings. I consider it an unethical practice. Having some fine print stating that Princess can change the terms and conditions without notice may shield Princess from legal action but it does not make an unethical act ethical.

I have been a loyal Princess cruiser with 30 cruises taken and 6 more booked for the next 18 months. I have had a lot of respect for Princess. They have lost that respect now.

 

That's exactly how I feel!!

I think the offer to give the difference back in OBC was fair.

I think the offer to give the difference back in OBC was fair.

Exactly. The old price was being given back.

$1050 OBC for a 14 day cruise and complaining about a $11 increase in the AIBP and they give him $300 more OBC - I would be thankful for all that. Looks like they got him for the cruise - $10K for a 14 day cruise - something sounds fishy here

 

Maybe in the Penthouse/Owners full suite, like $5000 x 2 = 10K. Not sure.:halo:

Not yet and we sail in weeks.

The two biggest issues you all seem to have missed are that the agent insisted it was my fault for not upgrading before the increase as Princess sent an email regarding this.

Seems everyone has had all sorts of comments but only one person has actually answered my original question. And with a NO.

The second point being that this was a slimy move on their part. It was bait and switch.......and I don't do business with companies like that.

I'm glad Princess has y'all to support her. I've found better itineraries, better cabins for the price and waaaaaaaaaay better customer service elsewhere.

Peace out and happy cruising.

Sorry, NO I did not get an E mail and have a Sapphire cruse booked for next year.

 

Sorry to see you go from Princess. You will not be able to 'Escape Completely and Come Back New' on any other cruise line.:D

 

Happy cruising anyway my friend.:*

No, no e-mail about the change in the beverage package; we sail this coming Wednesday 9/27 on the Coral, and if it weren't for Cruise Critic, we would have boarded with no clue about the change to the AIBP on the Sip & Sail promotion. Husband and I don't drink enough to every purchase the AIBP, but it is a great promotional perk. We'll see how the changes are applied once on board.

$10K for a 14 day cruise - something sounds fishy here

 

Definitely NOT fishy.

 

I am on that cruise, which is a Christmas cruise, and $10K is 30% less than I am paying ON THAT CRUISE for a Penthouse Suite booked from the UK. I also noted that a couple of aft facing Penthouse suites came available a few days after this thread was started, though they quickly disappeared, so I guess the OP may have found the better deal they were looking for and cancelled.

 

If so, it looks like Princess resold the OP's suite rather easily, but that is always the case with Christmas cruises (for example, all the suites on our 2018/19 Christmas cruise are already sold out). However, that will not always be the case, and alienating a high revenue client who cruises in a suite up to five times a year doesn't seem to me like good business strategy.

 

Methinks that Princess would do well to remember something that the airlines have well understood for a long time, namely that:

".. it costs 10 times more marketing dollars to win a client from a competitor than it does to keep your existing clients loyal

AND,

once you have lost a client to a competitor, it is almost impossible to win them back".