kywildcatfanone

This is sort of us. By not purchasing plus, because we wouldn't get the benefit of it, I can pay for most of one of us to go on a second cruise. It's simple math/economics that each has to decide for themselves.

Some of us have tried.

Document and take pictures of what you send off. You might not get it all back 🙂

There seems to be little to no benefit to being Elite anymore. Laundry is still there I guess, but we quit using it because they lost clothing. Swapping the minibar used to be decent with the coffee exchange, but now you don't get much. If they are giving priority boarding to package people, then that is gone too.

I could never justify a package at these prices, even the non alcoholic one. I understand the cruise line charges $12-15 for a drink as a price without package, but that pour costs them very little to purchase themselves, so it's almost completely profit. Same as a can of soda. .$50 at the grocery, and $3.50 on board or so? Even if you say it costs another .$50 to get that soda on board, that is still a huge profit. While a bit of effort, at least for now, you can bring onboard non alcoholic drinks and water and that is what I choose to do. I can't look at it as "this is what Princess charges, so this is my baseline". I'm just not wired that way. Same as restaurants that charge $4 for iced tea. I just can't do it and know I'm throwing away all that money. But I do understand that is a personal preference for me, and not everyone sees it that way. The cruise line needs people buying packages, so I in no way want to discourage it.

Yep.

Elites are losing priority boarding without a package?

Facts

Yep, but you still are getting tremendous value, and even though you aren't saving anything and it's costing you more, value, value, value, savings, savings, savings.

I agree with you, but I suspect they have what 20% of the ships are mini or suites, but 80% are buying packages. While they make a lot off the suites, I suspect in sheer volume, they are making more from the packages. But that's just sort of a guess. They make a lot either way off of cabin class and packages.

The non alcohol drink package is $30/day per person. For a 7 day cruise that is $210 or for a couple $420. Three packs of soda at a store near the port is $15. Coffee will cost me $80 last I checked. So $95 vs $420. And we used to get the coffee free with minibar trade in. Ah, another benefit lost. I consider the savings worth the effort. Not to mention the limited options onboard. And for clarity, just like everyone else, I pay what Princess charges for the cruise fare, tips, wifi, etc. If I choose not to take ship excursions or pay exorbitant prices for drinks, or pay food upcharges, they currently are not requiring me to. When it ceases to be optional, then I will vacation elsewhere. They are headed there for sure.

I don't take this as harsh. I view it more as my being savvy in my booking. With that said, they make money off me regardless of what I use or do not use. Even as frugal as I try to be, I still spend money I didn't plan to. Everything is a money maker. Some more than others. If I buy a can of coke, that costs what ,$3.50 or so? They paid less than .50 for it. Typically with our obc, we buy stuff in the gift shops. So, yes, they might make less from me, but every customer is profit. Some might be 10% and some might be 80%.

In the last year the 50% discount has doubled in price.

Sadly, can see that coming. Chair by the pool - $5 Elevator -$1 Buffet entry - $5 Movies under the stars -$5 Popcorn to go with it -$3

While not the same as Alfredo's, the pizza by the pool is the best on a cruise I have ever had.

Is this new? If I could trade minibar setup for it would save me a stop at the grocery on my way to the port?

Must be using starlink

I think the same people that do marketing for the company I work for, also do Princess marketing. 🙂

Would be great if all cruise lines agreed to do the same.

I never said they were, and my next sentence was they have that choice. Cruise lines have changed. Years ago it was about the cruise experience and alternative options to land vacations, and they had to make it special to draw people. That is no longer true. People are now conditioned to pay higher prices with little to no thought or concern of the true cost. Sort of a credit card mentality. This was accelerated by the pandemic shutdown, and now they are looking to maximize profits in every way. That's why things are changing every 3-6 months now on pricing and options. They are just working to wring every last dollar out of you they can. As long as you know that and are okay with it, everyone can make their own choices.

I agree 100%. They really don't want me anymore. We typically book inside cabins, don't frequent the casinos, and bring our own soda and water onboard( we don't drink sugary drinks anymore and they don't offer zero coke products. We also don't do ship excursions and typically have enough obc to pay tips. They now hose me on internet, but I need it unfortunately. They really do want me gone. I'm okay with that. They can get thousands of more dollars from someone else taking my spot.

Did you pay in full a month ago?

New ships look to be carnival and royal Caribbean like. They should have left it more like previous. They are merging their lines and competing with themselves.

If you follow the conversation, the answer is they are not concerned about loyalty. They have determined they do not have to be and that is their choice. Customers can continue to buy their product and that is their choice. While I do not like the changes, it's pretty clear that they don't care and instead are more interested in new cruisers who have no history of being able to cruise without packages and cruising being a value vacation. It is what it is.

Princess has no need anymore to be loyal. Trading black for blue makes them more money. Simple economics. How you respond as a past passenger is up to each person.