1cruiselvr

12 minutes ago, CruizinSusan70 said:

From looking at your cruise history, you're going to abandon Princess over a 14.99 charge?

It's not a $14.99 charge issue. Where did you get that #?

47 minutes ago, LittleFish1976 said:

I agree about having a preferred line which seems like better value as well as what you said about grandfathering.

 

To me part of the 'cost' of a holiday is the fuss and bother the company you're booking and/or travelling with puts you to. I've got my first Princess cruise coming up in a couple of months and I doubt very much I would book with them again (I have one very expensive and long cruise booked with them for next year but I plan to now cancel that). What a fuss! They've changed the inclusions in my package twice since I booked as well as altering the basics of service.

 

My own go-to line is not more expensive and still has free room service including an extensive hot breakfast (not just cereals and pastries; imo an egg mc muffin is not a cooked breakfast!).

 

I'm disappointed as I wanted to like Princess but this level of complication, fuss and disregard for the passenger is not worth bothering with. There are better and easier options out there.

 

 

I totally agree. This will be our last Princess cruise. 

1 hour ago, Oxo said:

Price wise Celebrity is much more expensive than Princess. That is our opinion as we cruise Celebrity and just got off of the Equinox and Apex. 

Other cruise lines charge more for their beverage package only, than what you are paying for the Princess Plus or Premium per day. You even get more with Princess.

Not a cheerleader for Princess. Just comparing apples to 🍎.

Happy Cruising! 

You are right, Celebrity charges more but we think it's worth it. We usually book when they have their special which includes perks in the pricing. I think we are done with Princess after this cruise. They should have grandfathered bookings and started their new program with new bookings. 

1 hour ago, dixiejen said:

I was/am in the same boat for our Jan. 2024 cruise. Had Plus-50, couldn’t upgrade online, said “PURCHASED”,  etc. Called to upgrade, she tried to charge me $60/pp/day. Told her nope - I should only have to pay an extra $10pp/day, she checked with whomever, and came back to say yes, it’s only the $10. So she added $140 to our cruise balance and I was now upgraded. Maybe.🤪  Shows the Plus-60 on the app (but no free room service), travel summary shows SOME of the new perks but no OceanNow, casual dining or room service (called again and was ASSURED that even though all the perks weren’t listed, we do have the new pkg with ALL the perks), and my “Reservations/Purchases under Onboard Services shows Plus Beverage Pkg-50, wi-if and staff gratuities, but no OceanNow, Room service, casual dining.  The only NEW things listed are premium desserts and fitness classes (as if!😖). AND then the cherry on top — received the email this evening which stated, 

“You currently have a package that doesn’t include these new benefits. But you can easily upgrade your package in the Cruise Personalizer® to take advantage of these additional perks.”

 

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!! At this point, I think I’m more upset about the sheer nincompoopery of this program roll-out than the cost to upgrade!  And I can’t help but worry that by the time MY cruise rolls around in 2024, this will be an even bigger cluster if they change perks and prices again!!

 

Best of luck to everyone who will be sailing as the staff tries to work out the kinks!!😆

Well said and exactly my point and how I feel. This is my last Princess cruise, IF I decide to make final payment and go. 

9 minutes ago, abbydancer said:

 

As long as what that's what you want.  If you don't you won't lose your 50.00 perks.  And I don't know when your cruise is, but if it's not in the next few weeks, you might wait to call.  But let me stress that you should only upgrade if any of the new perks matter to you.  (juice, classes, ridiculous desserts, free room service, casual dining, app activation).  For example for us, we'll probably just pay as we go because we'll probably activate the app (30.00), maybe do Planks (30.00).  That's 60.00 vs 200.00 to upgrade.  And the 60.00 will come out of OBC.

 

I hope this helps.

 

 

I don't think that's right - I ordered my medallion well before December 22, and chose shipping, which was free.  I'm still green lane and my order history still shows my shipping address.  We're 3 weeks out, so it should ship soon, or they'll move us to blue lane.  I guess we'll see.

I only reported what Princess said. I guess they are unorganized per usual. 

3 minutes ago, startedwithamouse said:

Not anymore. There's no option to ship with standard fare. 

That's what their presentation said. So they are already changing decisions?  Nice Princess. 

4 minutes ago, chamima said:

  
 

We don’t usually travel in suites but I definitely think that room service should be included for that category. 
It’s just tacky to charge for delivery to a suite!!!

I totally agree. For the amount we are paying to be in a Suite, it's insulting that we have to pay for room service if we dont pay $20 per day more. This will probably be our last cruise on Princess. 

To the person asking about the Medallion shipping, there is $10 shipping charge for standard, plus and premier is complimentary for those that booked on or after 12-14-22. Those booked prior have an option to upgrade, pay for shipping, or pick up at the pier. 

I hope that answers your question. 

24 minutes ago, abbydancer said:

That's exactly what we have.  Also on the app, when I go to the package tab, it has the 60.00 benefits.  My travel summary still only has the 50.00 benefits, so that's what I'm expecting.  You don't have to upgrade, you still get the tips, wifi and drinks.  I seem to remember that the dollar value limit on the drinks is now what the current 60.00 is, but I could be wrong about that.

I did what you said. Went on the app. It shows the old $50 Plus perks. I don't understand. Guess I'll call tomorrow. 

1 minute ago, dreaminofcruisin said:

 

You still have the Plus plan (the old  version).

You only need to upgrade IF you want all the "NEW" features, some of which used to be free.

You can also pay for only those things when/if you use them, which for most people is cheaper than upgrading.

I think you missed my point.  I tried to upgrade to the new Plus plan, with the new features, and their website won't let me.  It says PURCHASED but I haven't and it won't let me.  So I guess I have to call and wait on hold for hours as I'm sure everyone is calling trying to figure out their booking.

I got the notification email.  We had the old Plus plan, $50 pp.  It says we can upgrade to the new Plus plan which is $60pp so I click on upgrade now.  When I get to the page that offers plus or premier upgrades, it says PURCHASED under Plus.  But my booking shows the old Plus plan - $50.  So I'm confused.  They inform me I have to upgrade but then they tell me I've purchased it but I haven't.  They need to get their act together.  I'm not happy about spending more money and now this.  I'm seriously thinking of cancelling my cruise.  Adding perks I don't even want in order to keep my Plus plan is very irritating. 

21 minutes ago, Steelers36 said:

Okaayyy.  $5 going to chase you out of a cruise in a Suite?  I don't think we have seen the final word on this, but if I had the funds to cruise in a Suite, I am sure I'd be going Premier fare all the way.

 

It doesn't seem at all right for the charge, so let's wait until we see 2 or 3 guests in a Suite post having to pay without any discussion with GS.

It's $5 every delivery. We are on a 15 day cruise. We use room service probably 2x a day. It's the principle that counts. 

We already had plus but it was booked b4 the new policy. Now they want us to pay $10 a day pp to upgrade to their new plus program. I'm not a happy cruiser.

So if you are in a suite, you still have to pay $5 per room service order? Has Princess lost their minds. Room service is one of the luxuries we enjoy when crusing. I’m going to have to rethink our Jan 24 cruise. A suite is expensive enough without additional nickel and diming. 

28 minutes ago, happywhencruising said:

Is the bid amount per day pp or per cruise pp? For example $35pp for the entire cruise not $35 pp per day? TIA

No the bid is pp for entire cruise. 

45 minutes ago, dreams_of_travel said:

I placed a bid eons ago to move from an Oceanview/midship, to a balcony on the Crown leaving on Tuesday.  Today I got an email about getting approved for a mini suite, not quit forward but not quite mid ship.  Bid was $300/person.   Very happy about this.  

Confused. You bid on a balcony but you win a mini suite?

Personally, I'd wait and try for bidding on a category I wanted.  Seems the best way since they started this bidding option.  But not everyone is comfortable with waiting to see if they got their bid accepted.  Sometimes you can get a quick response, other times you have to wait awhile.  BUT the bidding option won't be available until after final payment, just so you know.

We used to get free casino offers too.  Now we get offers with 15% off and an OBC.  No big deal.  Not enough to motivate us to bite.  Guess Princess is getting cheap like everyone else.

1 hour ago, cruzsnooze said:

Does anyone know if they also do bidding on cruise tours?

No they don't. 

2 minutes ago, Carla3 said:

Does anyone know if everyone receives the same upgrade offer. example. everyone in a mini-suite can upgrade to a full suite for the same starting minimum bid OR is the minimum bid tied to your profile and your original base fair? I am currently in a reserve mini and the bidding system is offering an upgrade to premium suite for $1290 PP, is that the same for anyone in a reserve mini?

 Nobody knows for sure. We only know what's discussed here. You'd have to work for Princess to know that. I'm guessing it's a corporate secret. 😆 

2 hours ago, HiCCCs said:

Have a wonderful sailing aboard the Regal. I wonder if you could do a favor and inquire about something I've only recently discovered myself - it's called the Tuscan Dinner....and it's in certain/select (Royal Class ships maybe??) Sabatini's specialty dining. I believe it is about $50 or $60 pp. and I am told they had a special menu and bring alternative food out if you don’t care for what they are serving.  
Each course is paired with a different wine and a talk from the Maitre D’ about the wine and region.  
Unlike the Winemakers Dinner, you are seated with your own group of friends or family rather than those selected for the occasion.

 

Has anyone heard of this or have information to share???

You should post this on the princess general page instead of here. You'll have a better chance for an answer. This posting is about the bidding system. 

30 minutes ago, Amy G said:

Our bid was accepted today!  We originally had a balcony room on the Crown for July 25th and we placed bids for a premium balcony, mini-suite, and a mini-suite club class.  About a week or two ago I received a counteroffer for the Club Class mini-suite to bid on a penthouse suite for $650 a person.  We took the counter bid and it came through today!!!

Princess sent a counter offer to your bidding?  I've never heard of them countering offers, just accepting or rejecting. This is new to me. 

I’m bringing mine. I’m not going to look like a hot mess on my vacation. We will see if they confiscate it, which I doubt. I’ve been on many different cruise lines and it’s ok with them. I’m not stupid. I know it needs to be turned off after use and always place a towel underneath when using it. The only part that gets hot is inside the flat iron, unlike a curling iron that is hot on the outside. I agree with the terminology being misunderstood. I do think they are referring to clothes iron. We will see. Will I go to cruise pax jail? 

That’s ridiculous. A woman needs something for her hair. They provide a hair dryer, that gets hot so why not a simple flat iron?

It's been awhile since we have sailed with HAL.  They used to give out bags to use at the ports for shopping in our past sailings. Does HAL still do that or do I need to pack something to use? We are sailing in February after a long covid pause. 

We are sailing on Westerdam Feb 3 2023, boarding in SINGAPORE.  My husband has heard you can buy flower arrangements cheap there.  He wants to buy some to bring onboard for our cabin.  Does anybody have experience with that or knows whether they allow this?  Its a nice gesture but I'm not sure its allowed.  Thx for the help.