Just jumped ship (again) over to Princess

[Sestar]

I am also considering jumping ship. Been eying on Celebrity Summit. Their sky suite is not big but their perks and current promos are pretty awesome. Found 7 days Caribbean in sky suite for about $3350 all in for Two. It comes with $300 OBC, premium drink package, unlimited internet for two, and I forgot the last perk.

 

My TA can give me another $300 OBC. Gosh! So temping. I'm waiting until this end of month to make my decision. Wanna see what the prices would be for Dawn in 2017.

 

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Edited June 19, 2016 by Sestar

[All-ready2cruise]

Thank you for the reminder on MSC status match. I just completed the form. What did you do to prove your NCL status? I attached a screen shot of my Latitudes Rewards Cruise History page.

 

There is so much more out there, and I'm excited to try the suite life on PCL. Even if NCL made the math work within a few hundred bucks, I'd be hesitant to switch that reservation. How many times do I have to walk through the Fyzz Lounge on the Jewel, anyway!

 

The screen shot is all you should need. Give it about a day and check your status by logging into your account. If you don't see your status just call. Their site is not the best. You'll be Black, highest level, I'm sure.

 

Cheers

[DMH15]

Thank you for the reminder on MSC status match. I just completed the form. What did you do to prove your NCL status? I attached a screen shot of my Latitudes Rewards Cruise History page.

 

 

 

There is so much more out there, and I'm excited to try the suite life on PCL. Even if NCL made the math work within a few hundred bucks, I'd be hesitant to switch that reservation. How many times do I have to walk through the Fyzz Lounge on the Jewel, anyway!

 

Yes, that is exactly what I did. I submitted a screenshot. Was confirmed quickly.

 

I read on one thread after you cruise once on MSC you revert to "welcome". Maybe the match is "one and done"??? Still worth a try.

[Aquahound]

I read on one thread after you cruise once on MSC you revert to "welcome". Maybe the match is "one and done"??? Still worth a try.

 

I looked into that recently. You can maintain the status if you cruise with MSC at least once every 36 months. Otherwise, if you go beyond that 3 years, you lose the perk.

[omc329]

I also have found prices on NCL to have jumped too far. Unless you are a big drinker, it just isn't worth it anymore. Our Panama trip with Princess, (balcony), is very close in base price to what we would have paid on NCL, but with free gratuities and around $800 in obc to spend whichever way I choose, Princess was a MUCH better value!

 

I'm glad to read from the poster that said shirt and tie is fine on formal night though. The Princess boards have some old hats in there that would have one believing a suit jacket is imperative. Sorry, but my 30+ son doesn't even own one!

 

I've been an NCL die hard for years, but a time comes when things shift and better values are found. Time to branch out.

[cruisebie]

Formal nights are not our thing either. We're doing a 10 Day Alaska on Princess leaving from our home port, San Francisco. So I don't mind schlepping extra clothes since I'm not flying anywhere.

 

But for the 7 day Alaska leaving from Seattle... there's enough extra stuff to carry so I'm not really looking forward to lugging along formalwear. We'll probably just skip formal nights and hit the bar instead... :cool: Who the hell wants a suit and tie in Alaska???

 

I'm doing Princess this year for Alaska as well. I just couldn't get price & NCL's ship from Vancouver to work for me.

 

I hear that you can eat in the specialty restaurant on formal night without the formal wear, so we may do that. I'm flying across country and don't want to schlep formal wear all that way. I'm there for the scenery & wildlife, not to impress people with my finery.😊

[cruzsnooze]

Having sailed in suites on NCL and Princess in the past year I can compare my prospective. Princess wins but NCL has some pluses too. The cabins on Princess are much bigger and much nicer. I don't use a butler but NCL has one available if that's something you want. Both have priority tender and priority embarkation. Both have priority disembarkation at the end of your cruise.

NCL beats Princess with the specialty dining every night for suites. NCL also beats Princess on lunch in the specialty dining for suites, Princess only does breakfast in the specialty dining room for suites. You can order anything from the MDR menu on formal night for your suite if you don't want to dress formal which isn't so formal anymore. A collared shirt and long pants will do for your hubby, not everyone bothers packing a suite anymore.

The spa on Princess with the hot thermal beds are my favorite. Princess is more upscale in appearance with an understated decor.

You will get complimentary laundry and dry cleaning so you can pack light.

If prices are comparable I would choose Princess over NCL YMMV.

[triptolemus]

Having sailed in suites on NCL and Princess in the past year I can compare my prospective. ...snip...

 

Thank you for this! I appreciate your perspective.

[cruzsnooze]

Thank you for this! I appreciate your perspective.

 

I'm better at cruising then spelling :)

[triptolemus]

I'm better at cruising then spelling :)

 

I hear ya. I think spell check keeps me employed and out of the looney bin...

[Linda the Book Lover]

My last few cruises on Princess ships have shown me that their dress codes are very much relaxed. I was welcomed in the MDR with long sleeve dress shirt and slacks on all three cruises this year. No tie and no jacket was needed for formal nights.

 

Wow that is nice to know. We have thought of Princess since SF is right down the freeway but the thought of dressing up stalled our possible future Princess plans. The DH wants to go to Hawaii again and even though it would be a long cruise especially boarding our four legged family it would be worth it to drive and park.

Edited June 19, 2016 by Linda the Book Lover

[Freespir8]

I totally understand where you are coming from. My 2/2017 cruise was booked in 3/2015, and although I was cancelled and rebooked twice, I orig booked about $4,200 and it worked itself up to $6,300, quite a jump.

 

It seems those of us who prefer suites see that NCL is charging us much more with the left hand and giving others cheap upsells with the right hand. I am not willing to gamble. So, what to do?

 

I got "matched" on MSC and I am looking at X again as the lure of a smoke-free casino is always in the back of my mind. There are also some great "last minute deals" that include suites and single supplements on many lines. I love the NCL suite life but I am shopping around. There is so much out there I have not tried yet.

 

This is exactly what we did. The prices for NCL suites prompted us to look elsewhere. We ended up booking Princess for our Alaska cruise and MSC for our annual sisters cruise next year. MSC matched us to Black status.

 

We have sailed NCL exclusively and would have not thought to try another line until the pricing for suites became so high. Now that we are branching out, I am actually more excited to try a new line.

[dexddd]

The MSC status match took me about a week when I did it a couple weeks back. Reminds me I still have to do DW's status on MSC.

 

Others have reported getting it next day. NCL Plat = MSC Black.

[Annmeat]

DW and I were looking at Alaska 2017. She wants to see Tracy Arm again.

 

SF aft PH suite on NCL Jewel, $3300 (with usual perks). It's worth noting that I once paid $1749 for the same thing just a couple of years ago.

 

I love the NCL suite life and I love cruising NCL in Alaska, but the financials are starting to make sense less and less. We shall see...

 

We are right behind you. Unless the prices on NCL get real, we are also jumping ship. Our coming aft PH is a splurge for a special occasion and then we are done. Didn't want to risk losing the suite we wanted and waiting for upsell, but not happy with the price. Since we aren't taking the kids we decided "what they heck" but I am not plunking down all that cash again when so many are taking up sells for way less. We'll see how much bang we get for our buck!

[cruzsnooze]

I just booked an Alaska cruise on Princess because it is round trip from Los Angeles. I took a mini suite which is comparable to the size of the sky suite I had on the Jewel. With no airfare the price was okay, not great.

Edited June 19, 2016 by cruzsnooze

[triptolemus]

I just booked an Alaska cruise on Princess because it is round trip from Los Angeles. I took a mini suite which is comparable to the size of the sky suite I had on the Jewel. With no airfare the price was okay, not great.

 

Make sure you check back on 6/21 - their free beverage package promo starts on Tuesday. PCL easily allows you to add the current promo.

[Perini3]

Just booked MSC Seaside Yacht club for 2000.00 less then NCL suites

[mafig]

Just booked MSC Seaside Yacht club for 2000.00 less then NCL suites

 

I was so close to booking the Yacht Club on Divina. It sounds amazing.

 

However, I got cold feet because of all the complaints I've read on CC about how bad the pre-cruise experience is on MSC. Overcharging of CC, messing up cabin assignments, one person stating they couldn't book a beverage pkg. because MSC said they weren't old enough, they had their birthdate listed as 2050 and it couldn't be changed, passport info. compromised .... being sent to other passengers. I just wasn't brave enough to deal with it.

 

However, please come back and let us know if YOU have any issues. I am so intrigued by MSC and the Yacht Club, but I'm not as brave as you. If more people have a issue- free pre-cruise experience, I will take certainly book MSC.

Edited June 19, 2016 by mafig

[deladypilot]

I am also considering jumping ship. Been eying on Celebrity Summit. Their sky suite is not big but their perks and current promos are pretty awesome. Found 7 days Caribbean in sky suite for about $3350 all in for Two. It comes with $300 OBC, premium drink package, unlimited internet for two, and I forgot the last perk.

 

My TA can give me another $300 OBC. Gosh! So temping. I'm waiting until this end of month to make my decision. Wanna see what the prices would be for Dawn in 2017.

 

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We are looking at this same deal. Just waiting to see what the Dawn price tag comes out. Celebrity has some pretty nice perks with their suites and while it may not be the same "suite life", im not much for using the Butler and Concierge anyway. The last perk was the pre-paid gratuity

[ileys]

It is competition and the customer's willingness to utilize that competition that will keep prices low on all lines. The only entity that I am loyal to is myself, and I will go to whichever line offers the best experience for the best price. If everyone did that, all of the lines might make a few decisions a bit differently.

[triptolemus]

It is competition and the customer's willingness to utilize that competition that will keep prices low on all lines. The only entity that I am loyal to is myself, and I will go to whichever line offers the best experience for the best price. If everyone did that, all of the lines might make a few decisions a bit differently.

 

Brand loyalty is a thing, and there is definitely a science behind it. Brands of all kinds work hard to make sure people do not do what you are describing. Sometimes, despite a consumer's best effort to avoid it, they can find themselves caught up with irrational emotional attachments.

Edited June 19, 2016 by triptolemus

[cruzsnooze]

Make sure you check back on 6/21 - their free beverage package promo starts on Tuesday. PCL easily allows you to add the current promo.

 

I will do that thanks. The price has gone up $200 already so it may not pay to rebook with a "sale". My Hawaiian cruise has the beverage package which I traded for a nice OBC instead.

[triptolemus]

I will do that thanks. The price has gone up $200 already so it may not pay to rebook with a "sale". My Hawaiian cruise has the beverage package which I traded for a nice OBC instead.

 

Mine went up to $50 since yesterday. The price is now in alignment with what's on the Sip and Sail TA promo sheet. Perhaps Princess has began loading the promotion prices... I dunno.

 

See here:

 

http://mrose.org/cc/SIPSAILFarechart.pdf

[queenschick9b]

We are looking at this same deal. Just waiting to see what the Dawn price tag comes out. Celebrity has some pretty nice perks with their suites and while it may not be the same "suite life", im not much for using the Butler and Concierge anyway. The last perk was the pre-paid gratuity

 

 

I went on the summit to Bermuda and I loved the experience, but I will say it is one of their older ships and pretty small- age and size very similar to ncl sun. I have heard the newer ships have many more bells and whistles.

[Sestar]

We are looking at this same deal. Just waiting to see what the Dawn price tag comes out. Celebrity has some pretty nice perks with their suites and while it may not be the same "suite life", im not much for using the Butler and Concierge anyway. The last perk was the pre-paid gratuity

 

 

Dawn doesn't have Haven. So summit suites life will be pretty similar. Celebrity has butler and concierge too. Their suite lounge (Michaels club) provide free alcohol drinks regardless of your drink package. MDR has designated area for suite passengers. They don't have formal nights too. It's called Chic night. Designer jeans are allowed. Summit is a tag smaller. NCL, please don't be overpriced on your sailings in 2017. I would like to stay with NCL.

 

 

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