Do you think it is fair for Sanctuary to be booked by B2B passengers PRIOR to cruise?

[Loonbeam]

Agreed. I have no problem paying $40 per day to have my 'spot' and extra great service. Of course, I also drink no alcohol on board, rarely use the spa, don't buy photos and rarely eat in specialty dining. It's all a matter of priority and budget.

 

Bidding may be the fairest but pre-booking the most practical at least for full cruise bookings, because if you can't get it, you have the option to upgrade to a balcony.

 

Princess may know what they're doing because a person like me would be willing to "pony-up" double the double price and more...I still think it should be first to book are first to be able to reserve online ahead of time. No running, no getting up early and no waiting in another line. If they REALLY knew what they were doing they would book ahead like they do the excursions and spa treatments.

[cccc1747]

Princess may know what they're doing because a person like me would be willing to "pony-up" double the double price and more...I still think it should be first to book are first to be able to reserve online ahead of time. No running, no getting up early and no waiting in another line. If they REALLY knew what they were doing they would book ahead like they do the excursions and spa treatments.

The Sanctuary appears empty because elites are booking cheaper rooms and B2B's and then running over to cheaply book it for the week...unfortunately most of them rarely even use it so the lounges are empty and people who couldn't are angry and mad as hell. If I could've reserved it on the day I booked I would pay top dollar for my mini suite AND my spot in the Sanctuary. I don't think Princess in visioned that elites would use this strategy when they built a ship with tons of balconies and crappy chairs.

[Dreamer333]

Agreed. I have no problem paying $40 per day to have my 'spot' and extra great service.

 

Unfortunately they've done exactly that on some ships. :(

[caber]

Just curious, but did you use the Sanctuary? If so, had the increased prices been implemented?

 

We didn`t use it but our friends did and I am sure they said it cost $10 for half a day.

[yoyosma]

Just curious, but did you use the Sanctuary? If so, had the increased prices been implemented?

I just got off the Emerald Princess. I had the sanctuary for 20 days, booked for 2 10 day cruises. Both cruises the Sanctuary was fully booked for the whole cruise allocation of beds. I am fairly certain that it was fully booked for the sea days. Most of the port days were not fully booked but had more people book the afternoon half-day.

 

An interesting fact on this cruise was that the loungers in the sun sold out first. The first 10 days they were all booked for the week. I'm not sure about the second 10 days but they seemed pretty full then as well. You can usually tell if a bed is booked, they don't "make up" the bed with towels if it's not booked unless it is threatening rain.

 

On the last day the Sanctuary stewards told me that the price would be doubling effective Feb. 7th which was my disembarkation day. That means it will cost $40 per day $20 per half day or $270 for the week. I will still probably buy it when I can afford to, especially if I am traveling alone in an inside cabin.

 

For those who say the Sanctuary is usually empty, please remember that at any one given time, a number of people will be doing something elsewhere - like getting some exercise, swimming in a pool or hot tub, using the bathroom, having lunch in the dining room, etc. I never got to the sanctuary much before 11am because I was busy sleeping in and having a late breakfast. Many people get off the ship on port days and don't get back to the Sanctuary until they return from shopping or an excursion. Few people are there constantly from 8 am until 5:30 pm every day of a cruise but almost everyone who is booked uses it daily at some point.

Edited February 19, 2014 by yoyosma

[!David!]

Can't please all of the people some of the time.:banghead::banghead:

[Pam in CA]

Can't please all of the people some of the time.:banghead::banghead:

The people have spoken: Princess has doubled the price. That makes it a whole lot fairer. :)

[Colo Cruiser]

I agree, and no to the bidding idea and booking before the cruise. :(