Steelers36

They used to allow a couple of appetizers and perhaps even an extra dessert. If it's 1-1-1, that's inflation plus shrinkflation combined.

Your perception will no doubt be correct. You certainly paid for that package. Why didn't you ask the cruise price for Standard and then you would know what you really paid to upgrade? I always know my prices - Princess' price, TA price - so I know exactly my discount and savings.

No. When ordering on board, only the 50% cost is charged to cabin folio. It used to be (back when this all started), that the App was incapable of charging the discounted rate, so guests had to pay full rate and receive OBC back on board. Refundable OBC, BTW, although even that was an issue on one or two ships for a very brief period. This was a real bone of contention and Princess IT Ocean team ultimately came up with a new feature that recognized guest's CC Member level and provided a cash discount on the spot when ordering if Platinum or Elite. When this feature did not work, it was usually due to the App not recognizing the guest's true Member Level (another bug or data corruption issue). As long as things are working, the App should be offering MedallionNet at 50% off pricing whether pre-cruise or on the ship. Just to be clear - the pricing is the same pre-cruise as on board, but be aware that PCL could implement a price increase prior to your sail date. Hopefully, there will be an announcement and you could then jump on a purchase before the effective date if desire to save the price increase. (PCL used to provide a discounted pricing scheme when booking pre-cruise, but that was done away with at the last price increase). PS - I never had the experience of incorrect Member Level as my profile in the App always showed black Seawitch logo. I have not had a new booking for sometime now and I have noticed since the last major redesign of the App (the whole new look/feel from last year I think), that I show blue logo, so I do wonder when I book again if it will revert to black.

Same here. Our dining time has generally been sometime between 5:30 and 6:00, but we would normally be there before 6pm... like 5:45. Always get to the early main theater show if that was the plan. We don't eat six courses and always let the wait team know we want to move things along. (I believe we can still book a table for 5:30pm if really want to make the request - I always had our own TD start time that was not that same as official ship time ever since they moved to 5pm which is way too early).

If they did, then they would have fired some people a long time ago, but there doesn't appear to be any evidence that happened. Or, they replaced with just as bad. That said, my sense is that the App is performing much better than it did in 2021 & 2022.

As the resident expert in what's happening in each ship's DRs, I am wondering if you - or anyone else who has been on a ship recently - knows if they are reinstituting the "Meet the DRO" session on Embarkation afternoons where guests would go and request a change to their dining arrangements? Perhaps they are leaving it as it has been since DMW began - up to guests to ad hoc work with a DR Mgr or Host to make a change.

OTOH, we have never spent that much time in a SD. Usually, they need the table for the next res as well.

This depends on how you look at it. PCL has not actually relaxed their "dress code" (it is actually a section entitled "Clothing Recommendations") at all if you go by the written word. Unofficially, the accepted clothing has been changed for years now - I just couldn't say exactly when. I would say that the acceptance of shorts has been much more recent than the expectation of full suits and so forth, but I couldn't pin it down other than likely post-pandemic restart. Prior to that, men could expect to be sent back to the cabin to change into pants, but women were never turned away no matter how short the dress or skirt AFAIK. IIRC, the clothing recommendations for women did not include slacks/pants until more recent years. No judgment or position here - just noting historical fact. Also, IMO, the reason the clothing discussions still persist is because PCL has not changed documentation to match the reality of the situation on the ships. The reality is that both Formal and Smart Casual wear are acceptable in all venues on all nights.

That's fine but don't advise folks that they ought to go elsewhere to eat just because they don't "dress up".

My rec would be to find a new TA that gives a cash discount off the fare instead of rebating it back as OBC.

Agreed. So, upon finding this thread, I am wondering why it goes on for four pages. 🤔

I think you missed my obtuse (insider?) reference to not having any non-refundable OBC left over no matter the situation? 😉

Agree on the confusion of the word "reserve" when a restaurant is involved. It sounds more elitist and up-scale to call this class "Reserve", rather than "Club" I suppose. They probably never considered the consequences at HQ. It can take a while for newbies to understand everything important about Princess and how it works.

That is not right at all. Who was demanding money? EZAir is a self-serve webpage within the Cruise Personalizer and when making flight changes, it either refunds or collects the difference. I have NEVER seen that process attempt to collect 100% of a new fare quote.

In my experience, prices often change up and down when shopping in EZAir - particularly for overseas. From some limited checking and mostly from posted anecdotes, I wouldn't expect to be saving much on air for domestic travel to FLL or other US ports. In this case, I think the only advantage of EZAir is that changes and cancellations are free until 45 days out.

They want to be able to drive around - not just go from airport to port. I suppose you may realize this and thinking perhaps they are not really going anywhere much outside the hotel. My presumption is with three days planned, they have plans.

What's this this thing called non-refundable OBC? Don't think I have ever had such a balance left over. I have heard of OBC being spent before the hubby got unpacked (it was a joke --- I think).

Or Octordle. ETA: You can play all three (Wordle, Quordle, & Octordle) on a cell phone if you have Medallion Net. Had to get the phone in there somehow ... 😉

Did you use the Cruise Personalizer to shop for flights on your own? There is no need to call Princess. You can cancel your own flight booking. Also, EZAir is not going to match an airline price - they have their own prices. They may have sold out the seats they have at their original price. You didn't say if flying to FLL/MIA or overseas. Only three months out roughly. I cannot say for certain, but seems to me it won't take until after the voyage to get the airfare refund. Even so, is the savings worth the wait?

This is the sort of off-topic amusing story I don't mind seeing sometimes.

I agree that other lines are charging more, but I am not in a position to comment on relative value. I was simply documenting what PCL did with SD pricing. As for AI packages, I recognize that they comprise a different value proposition for each guest. For me, the value is not there.

Same as served in CG. Plate comes from there.

Yes, we all know to trust the Princess App implicitly. 😉

IDK about the changes for SD locales. The competition for a table may rival getting a Sanctuary lounger in the winter on a Caribbean voyage. Perhaps if I want a better steak, I will just order it in the MDR (hopefully, they will keep that option available). Lot less hassle and so what if I miss the CG dessert choices?

It's kind of like shooting fish in a barrel to find conflicting or out-of-date info on Princess.com.