Princess Coffee Cards now have expiration dates

[floridalover5623]

I am Elite and always get 2 coffee cards by trading mini bar.

 

Regal in Dec 2017 - both the cards had Regal Dec 2017 written on the back in pen. Only used part of one card.

Ruby Jan 20-27 both coffee cards were blank on the back. No expiry on any of the cards. I used up 2 partial cards and the unused marked one from Regal. They punched for regular and special coffee which is fine by me.

 

At the beginning of the cruise they were giving multiple regular coffee and tea to people without punching a card. Last 2 days they were saying only one complimentary beverage per punched beverage ordered.

 

It seems to me that that only thing for sure is that every ship is different, sometimes same ship different day does it differently!

 

It sounds like the supervisor corrected their baristas.

No big deal. You get one, turn around & get back in line to get another.

It only makes extra work for everyone involved.

[land lover]

Yes, but the coffee cards are slightly different. They can be purchased/received and then used by anyone without any proof of having been on the particular ship.

I do see an end to any transfer of coffee punches when the ***** takes effect but at the rate it's progressing it'll be years. Even when the ***** is in full swing the old coffee cards will still be able to be used. (at least one more time if they take the card & enteer the remaining punches in the system)

 

I do agree the situation is different....because some cards are purchased. But Royal coupon books were given as a perks just like the coffee cards are to elites and like the coffee card many people sold the booklets on ebay. Even though the original booklets said only good for this voyage...people still sold and purchased them on e-bay.

 

My speculation in the future...coffee on all ships will improve, thus no need for fresh brewed and the coffee card will be gone...certainly they will let stragglers use up remaining punches. But pay as you go at the IC makes it easier all the way around.

[land lover]

I am Elite and always get 2 coffee cards by trading mini bar.

 

Regal in Dec 2017 - both the cards had Regal Dec 2017 written on the back in pen. Only used part of one card.

Ruby Jan 20-27 both coffee cards were blank on the back. No expiry on any of the cards. I used up 2 partial cards and the unused marked one from Regal. They punched for regular and special coffee which is fine by me.

 

At the beginning of the cruise they were giving multiple regular coffee and tea to people without punching a card. Last 2 days they were saying only one complimentary beverage per punched beverage ordered.

 

It seems to me that that only thing for sure is that every ship is different, sometimes same ship different day does it differently!

 

We had drink package in Dec on Emerald. we did not request the exchange until the last night. Same thing happened to us...they wrote The ship name and voyage number on the back of both of our cards...in the past we have always received blank ones...which included 3 voyages, last summer. Probably are preparing us for the expiration date.

 

I necessary don't think it is the ship...I believe it is the servers and baristas...sometimes they are new, sometimes it is so busy they don't have time to punch and sometimes they just like you so you get freebees....Just like life off the ship.

Edited January 31, 2018 by land lover

[kendon]

Feb 25 will be our first cruise with Princess and I had planned on buying at least one for my wife and possibly a second one for myself. With an expiration date I no longer plan on purchasing any and therefore probably no coffee either. We both can live without special coffee for a week.

Why don't you just buy one and share it...that's what we do, therefore you won't have any unused cards to worry about.

[kendon]

Personally, I never assumed that Princess meant to sell me a "Free coffee for life" card. It just didn't seem to make good business sense and I figured they made a mistake in labeling/marketing that they would eventually correct. That's not to say I haven't taken advantage of it as long as the ride has lasted but it's no surprise to me they're working to close the loopholes.

 

(y) Good post.

[land lover]

I am Elite and always get 2 coffee cards by trading mini bar.

 

Regal in Dec 2017 - both the cards had Regal Dec 2017 written on the back in pen. Only used part of one card.

Ruby Jan 20-27 both coffee cards were blank on the back. No expiry on any of the cards. I used up 2 partial cards and the unused marked one from Regal. They punched for regular and special coffee which is fine by me.

 

At the beginning of the cruise they were giving multiple regular coffee and tea to people without punching a card. Last 2 days they were saying only one complimentary beverage per punched beverage ordered.

 

It seems to me that that only thing for sure is that every ship is different, sometimes same ship different day does it differently!

 

We had drink package in Dec on Emerald. we did not request the exchange until the last night. Same thing happened to us...they wrote The ship name and voyage number on the back of both of our cards...in the past we have always received blank ones...which included 3 voyages, last summer. Probably are preparing us for the expiration date.

 

I necessary don't think it is the ship...I believe it is the servers and baristas...sometimes they are new, sometimes it is so busy they don't have time to punch and sometimes they just like you so you get freebees....Just like life off the ship.

 

Totally missed the part about this month getting cards with no expiry.........we will be on Ruby in Mar and May..drink package on the first one....so I think it might benefit me to ask room service before I exchange...

 

Thanks for the info....

[kendon]

Princess is in business to make money, not give coffee for life.

[Cindy]

Princess is in business to make money, not give coffee for life.

 

 

 

I certainly don’t expect Princess to give coffee for life. I do, however, expect them to honor punches that have been purchased or given as a perk.

 

 

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[FritzG]

Princess is in business to make money, not give coffee for life.

 

That hasn't happened for several years. Now you can only get free coffee and premium tea for the current cruise. However the unused punches can/could be used until all 15 punches were gone.

 

 

I don't know how Princess could know how many cards were bought or used as others have suggested. They have no name on them, no serial number, and there is no way to know if any crew members gave them away to friends. When you use up a card the staff member just tosses it in the trash so no one is tracking it then either.

[floridalover5623]

I do agree the situation is different....because some cards are purchased. But Royal coupon books were given as a perks just like the coffee cards are to elites and like the coffee card many people sold the booklets on ebay. Even though the original booklets said only good for this voyage...people still sold and purchased them on e-bay.

 

That was quite a while ago & I hadn't realized that people were selling the coupon books also.

 

My speculation in the future...coffee on all ships will improve, thus no need for fresh brewed and the coffee card will be gone...certainly they will let stragglers use up remaining punches. But pay as you go at the IC makes it easier all the way around.

It already has improved...at least on the Royal and Regal.

The brewed coffee is OK but the specialty coffees are still better so as long as I continue to get it included, I'll go with the better option.

[aussiecruiselover67]

I just got of Golden on the 25th Jan bought a new coffee card ready for next cruise on the Sea for world cruise no expiry date and i don't cruise until 2019

 

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[Globehoppers]

The Ocean Medallion will remove any need for coffee cards...

[barriedavis]

I'm on the Sapphire in May 2018. I expect to swap the mini bar for 2 cards. I don't drink coffee but my wife does. I will offer other passengers a free coffee from my cards as I believe in karma. Its a benefit which will be time limited but insignificant against the cost of the cruise. Understandable action by Princess but not a deal breaker. There are many other things they could do which would be far more annoying

[Redwing55]

The Ocean Medallion will remove any need for coffee cards...

This may come to pass, but I don't think that ***** is the reason these things are currently happening.

 

For one, the CCard is one of the few items that can (or used to be) something that can be used over multiple cruises. ***** is currently a one cruise feature. (starts and ends on each cruise.)

 

The Ccard can be used by ANYONE and is transferable. ***** is person specific.

 

It will be several years before ***** is implemented fleetwide. There are valid CCards that are 10+ years old.

 

IMO, Ccards may go by the wayside, but it won't be due to *****. Still I think we'll see Ccards for sale for a number of years.

[pablo222]

The Ocean Medallion will remove any need for coffee cards...

 

Possibly.

 

But, as the original poster is planning on cruising in 2019, there is little chance they would be affected.

[Globehoppers]

This may come to pass, but I don't think that ***** is the reason these things are currently happening.

 

For one, the CCard is one of the few items that can (or used to be) something that can be used over multiple cruises. ***** is currently a one cruise feature. (starts and ends on each cruise.)

 

The Ccard can be used by ANYONE and is transferable. ***** is person specific.

 

It will be several years before ***** is implemented fleetwide. There are valid CCards that are 10+ years old.

 

IMO, Ccards may go by the wayside, but it won't be due to *****. Still I think we'll see Ccards for sale for a number of years.

 

Isn't that the idea behind the *****? To be able to walk up and buy an alcoholic drink, coffee, expensive bauble in the shops, gamble in the casino, etc. without having to show or swipe a cruise card? Including the "Coffee Card" is likely the easiest of these actions. We are traveling on Regal in April and may, or may not, experience the *****. To me, the ***** is way ahead of its time and difficult and expensive to implement with current technology. Obviously, Princess sees financial benefit in the ***** long term. We have several old cards somewhere and will have to dig them out for the April cruise, but spending $35 for a new one is not a deal breaker. Spending $2.33 for a cappuccino after a meal is within any cruiser's budget. This obsession of some to buy a "discounted" card on eBay with the idea they are getting away with putting "one over on Princess" is nuts.

[land lover]

Isn't that the idea behind the *****? To be able to walk up and buy an alcoholic drink, coffee, expensive bauble in the shops, gamble in the casino, etc. without having to show or swipe a cruise card? Including the "Coffee Card" is likely the easiest of these actions. We are traveling on Regal in April and may, or may not, experience the *****. To me, the ***** is way ahead of its time and difficult and expensive to implement with current technology. Obviously, Princess sees financial benefit in the ***** long term. We have several old cards somewhere and will have to dig them out for the April cruise, but spending $35 for a new one is not a deal breaker. Spending $2.33 for a cappuccino after a meal is within any cruiser's budget. This obsession of some to buy a "discounted" card on eBay with the idea they are getting away with putting "one over on Princess" is nuts.

 

I so agree..........and this ***** really? Why not simplicity first...put it on the cruise card!!!!! .Mailing out a medallion, I just don't get it... cost and effort vs benefit really?..Pax leaving them at home etc...Princess has been behind the curve forever.....having now to pay out 100 bucks OBC because they did not deliver.....let the complainers cancel without penalty lf they only booked for the *****, ... those that think they should receive compensation...heck, who wants them as a guest..... I'll stop venting now...

 

Enjoy...L:Dri

Edited February 2, 2018 by land lover

[cruzsnooze]

The Ocean Medallion will remove any need for coffee cards...

Please refer me to where this information is posted. I will not use the medallion so need to know about this.

[floridalover5623]

Please refer me to where this information is posted. I will not use the medallion so need to know about this.

You'll probably just use the card that they'll scan & the coffee punches will still be stored in their computer system. Either with an ***** or the card, they'll both give id for your account.

[Redwing55]

Isn't that the idea behind the *****? To be able to walk up and buy an alcoholic drink, coffee, expensive bauble in the shops, gamble in the casino, etc. without having to show or swipe a cruise card? Including the "Coffee Card" is likely the easiest of these actions. We are traveling on Regal in April and may, or may not, experience the *****. To me, the ***** is way ahead of its time and difficult and expensive to implement with current technology. Obviously, Princess sees financial benefit in the ***** long term. We have several old cards somewhere and will have to dig them out for the April cruise, but spending $35 for a new one is not a deal breaker. Spending $2.33 for a cappuccino after a meal is within any cruiser's budget. This obsession of some to buy a "discounted" card on eBay with the idea they are getting away with putting "one over on Princess" is nuts.

I get your perspective, but like I mentioned above, the CC is not person or cruise (albeit the brewed coffee issue) specific. It's not like the Soda or Soda and more "sticker."

 

As for the selling of cards, etc. that's a valid, though different issue. However, your point about discounts IMO, is a bit off point. Why buy a CC in the first place if one isn't searching for a discount in the first place?

[DBSDSS]

Just got on Star. No expiration dates on coffee cards.

[moki'smommy]

OK, now I'm getting a little confused. In the description of the "soda and more" package, it says that it includes hot chocolate. Last cruise, on board, I was told that it didn't (this time I've printed it out, but I'm hoping to buy daughter the "soda only" on board.

 

On the coffee card description, it says 15 punches + unlimited fresh brewed coffee and tea for the duration of the cruise. No mention of hot chocolate (which people here have said is included), and no mention of the unlimited coffee and tea dying if you use the last punch.

 

SO...is hot chocolate included with the coffee card and does it require a punch? or is it one of those "it depends on the barista" things?

[koko1]

OK' date=' now I'm getting a little confused. In the description of the "soda and more" package, it says that it includes hot chocolate. Last cruise, on board, I was told that it didn't (this time I've printed it out, but I'm hoping to buy daughter the "soda only" on board.

 

On the coffee card description, it says 15 punches + unlimited fresh brewed coffee and tea for the duration of the cruise. No mention of hot chocolate (which people here have said is included), and no mention of the unlimited coffee and tea dying if you use the last punch.

 

SO...is hot chocolate included with the coffee card and does it require a punch? or is it one of those "it depends on the barista" things?[/quote']

 

I was able to get hot chocolate at specialty coffee area in the buffet area adjacent to the pastry shop on Royal. I do not think they punched my card. The beverage was not as good as it had been on Regal. In fact it tasted exactly like the free hot chocolate from the machine that is at the very aft of the buffet any one can use. Very disappointed as I love HC. I would not buy a card to get HC. It is no better than what you could make at home with a powdered mix & hot water. Only fountain soda on

non-alcoholic pkg so it was a bit of a waste for me. They told m you could get canned root beer but you can't.

Edited February 3, 2018 by koko1

[land lover]

OK' date=' now I'm getting a little confused. In the description of the "soda and more" package, it says that it includes hot chocolate. Last cruise, on board, I was told that it didn't (this time I've printed it out, but I'm hoping to buy daughter the "soda only" on board.

 

On the coffee card description, it says 15 punches + unlimited fresh brewed coffee and tea for the duration of the cruise. No mention of hot chocolate (which people here have said is included), and no mention of the unlimited coffee and tea dying if you use the last punch.

 

SO...is hot chocolate included with the coffee card and does it require a punch? or is it one of those "it depends on the barista" things?[/quote']

 

 

Best bet is to go to the IC when you get on board talk to a lead server and ask how the ship is handling the package and the coffee card. A lot of changes took place the first part of November...some ships are playing catch up.

[umuva]

Travel agent gifted us 2 coffee cards. When we got them from IC had Dec expiry.

 

 

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