Michael Hague

Hi Itchy and Scratchy

Unfortunately our Autistic Grandchildren would have remembered exactly what the ship was like on the video that is a part of there type of Autism.

Our only other option as it covers half term in the UK was a Royal Caribbean ship Navigator of the seas they have been on Crown princess 3 times and Caribbean Princess which are sister ships to Sapphire I agree but they would have known the difference on an RC ship having also cruised with us on Legend, Independence 3 times, Adventure and Harmony of the seas.

They are the type of children that remember all features.

I agree it is probably best to guarantee your cabins by booking directly with Princess but in the UK the Agents can be considerably cheaper that the line direct.

Appreciate your taking the time to let me know

Regards

Mike

Prices and available cabins can change from minute-to-minute. Your reservation should have been put through at the time of the quote and availability even if the TA needed to go to lunch. It’s a shame but I think the onus is on the TA, not Princess.

Hi Pam I partly agree but when a cruise line commits to a sale offer it should stick with throughout the campaign which was for 8 days but changed after 3 thanks for your kind comments

Regards

Mike:)

Hi Poo

Thanks for your kind words and advice I agree ta partly to blame but Princess should not pull sales prices so early after starting a campaign.

Still we are looking forward to our next one

Regards

Mike :cool:

Thanks for your kind comments - I could understand that if they said they had no 3 berth cabins left - but the Agent was told that they were holding them to sell to 4 people - wow that would get them another £199.00 for the 4th person. Clearly Princess desperately need the funds

Thanks anyway

Mike

My Wife has told me to just "Let it go" - yes we are looking forward to it but it will be my last Princess cruise.

Anyway the kids also love Royal Caribbean

Thanks for reading

Regards,

Mike

She had not had a lunch break and knew it would take a while to go through on live so asked if she could go and call back - no one expected Princess to pull its promotion prices between 4pm and 5pm that day after only 3 days - but yes you are correct perhaps she could have met me part way but I was so annoyed that I told her to cancel.

Just reposted as Princess contacted me again - thought they were going to offer a gesture but sadly nothing at all just reassurance that they value our custom.

Thank you reading my review

Regards,

Mike

I was trying tobook a cruise with my grandchildren for the half term break next year May 2018 after receiving an e-mail direct from Princess cruises offering children at £99.00 each and special prices for Adults, effective between 17th and 25th September. I must point out WE HAVE NOT YET TRAVELLED so any reference orratings are purely down to the cruise line Princess. I had been quoted pricesby my travel agent at 4pm on Monday 20th September and just before 4pm gave her all of our personal details, Passport numbers, Captains Table membership numbers etc and even gave our CREDIT CARD DETAILS to go ahead and book the cruise. We were booking 2 Balcony cabins 1 for 2 Adults and 2 children and 1 for 3 Adults the quoted prices were £2296 for the 4 berth and £2076 for the 3 berth. The lady had worked really hard as I had received prices from other agents and she was so helpful we decided to book with her. She explained she had not had a break and was going on her lunch but would call back around 5pm with the details and confirmation she had even given us the cabin numbers we had chosen as she was on the live system. We did not get a call until around 5.35 when she apologised and said that she could no longer do the deal as PRINCESS had increased its prices including increasing the 3rd Adult from £99t o £299 and the 2 children from £99.00 to £299.00. At that point I was furious so I told her to forget it. The following day we had explained to our 2 Grandchildren who are both Autistic that we were no longer going on the ship we had all watched on numerous you tube videos and they both became quite upset -they had loved the look of the ship and only wanted to go on that one. My wife told me to go ahead and book at the increased price, so rather than bother the lady as I felt embarrassed, I contacted our second best cost by only a few pounds. However, when we then tried to book the cruise (whilst on livebookings) we were told that although they had cabins suitable for 3 people they were holding them for 4 people to book and therefore forced us into an even higher bracket of a Premium Balcony rather than a standard balcony. Overall it cost us over £400.00 more but we went ahead and booked. I then wrote to Princess who returned my request for some sort of compensation by way of "on board spend or up grade cabin" with a complete REFUSAL of anything. So I sent a reply expressing my total disbelief in the attitude given this was SALE PROMOTION and only 3 days after it had started. I was then advised they were sending my complaint on the "Guest Relations". They also replied with details regarding there systems and live prices stating theycan vary at any time and referred me to there terms and conditions. I am totally disgusted with the attitude of Princess and have lost all loyalty and faith in them as a cruise line - they simply have no concerns other than"The best possible prices they can get" for every single cruiser.They are thoughtless, selfish and uncaring in every reply sent to me and once this cruise is over we shall NEVER CRUISE WITH THEM AGAIN. I could not have put my justified complaint in any more detail as per my review and I even gave the names of the staff to speak to in both Agents who would completely verify my story and complaint as TOTALLY TRUE - without any exaggeration. I am a man of principles and believe me I pointed out to them all they had to offer to makeus feel better was an on-board "Gesture of Goodwill". Instead we got an offer of ABSOLUTELY NOTHING AT ALL. Since writing I was again contacted by Guest Relations who said they wished to speak with me personally - I honestly thought that this time they were going to make a gesture. A lovely polite lady asked me to go through the whole experience again after which point she said that it was more personal to speak about issues rather just her send an e-mail. Then after nearly 25 more minutes of my time she said although she would love to offer some sort of on board gesture, her hands were tied. She reminded me that loyalty meant everything to Princess and that they valued our customer, but quite simply - if they were not offering WHAT WAS THE POINT OF THE CALL.

All it has done is anger me even more as initially it raised my hopes of a possible kind gesture - NO WAY - nothing coming forward from Princess whatsoever. My thoughts have not therefore changed - this next cruise with them will be our last and its back to Royal Caribbean.