Special perks with Princess PVP?

[ehogan]

We have been assigned a Princess PVP.  Several emails to us have indicated that the PVP can get us some extra perks (not specified) that are not available if you just call in to Princess or book online.  Any experience with this?  I have my doubts and bring this up because I have always received excellent immediate service without the PVP and prefer to do it this way (faster) or book directly online.

[voljeep]

I have canceled the booking as per you request. There is a rate that does not include the OBC. Please let me know if you want a booking with no OBC and if you prefere it to be refundable or nonrefundable. I am sorry but there is nothing additional that I can add on in addition to the current amenities offered.

 

My crack PVP working on a 10 cruise at about $1800 pp under Landmark promo

[crystalspin]

If you want to apply one of the other three fares (Refundable Promo, NRD no-promo, RD promo) you need to either work through a travel agent, or call Princess and if you're going to call Princess, you might as well deal with the PVP -- they *will* remember you and do help you out. At least mine really knows her stuff.

 

So it's not really extra perks in my experience, but the ability to tickle the system and get ALL of the current fares when the website gives you only NRD! Big deal for me!

 

Also, I haven't had this experience on Princess, but my HAL PCC got me cabins that were not showing on the website, but were not booked. I don't know if this ever happens on Princess, but TWO different cruises on HAL!

[Thrak]

One of them got hold of my name.  He called me and wanted to sign up as my PVP. He thought I had never cruised but "noticed I had been looking at Princess cruises online". I told him that (at that time) I had 12 completed and 2 more booked. He was totally surprised and confused. I told him I don't need a PVP but he keeps sending me stuff. Of course he sends stuff to me at my wife's email address and stuff to her at my email address. I am soooooooooooooooooooooo not impressed. I just wish he would go away and leave me alone.

[Steelers36]

11 minutes ago, Thrak said:

One of them got hold of my name.  He called me and wanted to sign up as my PVP. He thought I had never cruised but "noticed I had been looking at Princess cruises online". I told him that (at that time) I had 12 completed and 2 more booked. He was totally surprised and confused. I told him I don't need a PVP but he keeps sending me stuff. Of course he sends stuff to me at my wife's email address and stuff to her at my email address. I am soooooooooooooooooooooo not impressed. I just wish he would go away and leave me alone.

I had one like that several years ago, looking to attach themselves to me/us.  Was not interested.

 

I do agree with the above posters that you need to talk to someone at Princess if you want other fare plan alternatives.  They have "always" had the "no frills" stripped-down low fare with no "goodies" like OBC drinks, etc.  And it is always non-refundable.   That said, TA''s have access to all those plans as well.

 

I would prefer to see all pricing plan options available, but I guess Princess wants more contact with customers in hopes of booking them directly.  At least I can see all the available pricing plans at my TA's website.  I can even see the pricing for sold out categories FWIW.

Edited July 19, 2019 by steelers36

[Thrak]

7 minutes ago, steelers36 said:

At least I can see all the available pricing plans at my TA's website.  I can even see the pricing for sold out categories FWIW.

 

Wow. That is pretty interesting. Obviously one can't name a TA but that's pretty cool to have access to that information.

[voljeep]

6 minutes ago, steelers36 said:

I had one like that several years ago, looking to attach themselves to me/us.  Was not interested.

 

I do agree with the above posters that you need to talk to someone at Princess if you want other fare plan alternatives.  They have "always" had the "no frills" stripped-down low fare with no "goodies" like OBC drinks, etc.  And it is always non-refundable.   That said, TA''s have access to all those plans as well.

 

I would prefer to see all pricing plan options available, but I guess Princess wants more contact with customers in hopes of booking them directly.  At least I can see all the available pricing plans at my TA's website.  I can even see the pricing for sold out categories FWIW.

I wouldn't be bragging about that too much if I were you ... unless you also have your TA cred's

 

if found out, your TA could have their Princess privileges pulled for letting unauthorized people accessing information

 

at least I hope so

 

jealous ? ... Damn Straight I am

[Steelers36]

2 minutes ago, Thrak said:

 

Wow. That is pretty interesting. Obviously one can't name a TA but that's pretty cool to have access to that information.

They recently redesigned the booking interface.  Prior to this new one, they only showed the current Princess pricing plan.

[Steelers36]

6 minutes ago, voljeep said:

I wouldn't be bragging about that too much if I were you ... unless you also have your TA cred's

 

if found out, your TA could have their Princess privileges pulled for letting unauthorized people accessing information

 

at least I hope so

 

jealous ? ... Damn Straight I am

Not bragging at all.  Actually it is often possible to figure out the pricing levels for sold out cabin categories on Princess website even if not explicitly shown.  As long as the cruise is not entirely sold out, there is typically a set price increase from F to E to D, etc in  each cabin type (Inside, OV, Balcony for example).  Honestly, this isn't very useful info unless one is hoping a cabin might come open and wants to waitlist.... but pricing can always change anyway.

 

And to be clear this is a website interface for booking a cruise, similar to Princess and other third party providers.  It is not the site or access that agents use.  The main thing is, i can easily see - and select - different pricing plans such as the current Landmark with NRD and RD. 

 

I like doing my own thing and much prefer this over making phone calls and asking twenty questions on pricing.

 

Edited July 19, 2019 by steelers36

[ehogan]

Thanks for your comments, much appreciated.  This PVP also seems a bit aggressive which is off putting.  Think I will stay with my current self help system.  Has been satisfactory in the past.

[memoak]

Some PVP’s are really great and some are really ho him.  Mine calls and emails me whenever a promo comes up that will help our rates or perks

 

 

[bemis12]

3 hours ago, Thrak said:

One of them got hold of my name.  He called me and wanted to sign up as my PVP. He thought I had never cruised but "noticed I had been looking at Princess cruises online". I told him that (at that time) I had 12 completed and 2 more booked. He was totally surprised and confused. I told him I don't need a PVP but he keeps sending me stuff. Of course he sends stuff to me at my wife's email address and stuff to her at my email address. I am soooooooooooooooooooooo not impressed. I just wish he would go away and leave me alone.

 

I didn’t just wish. I told mine to go away

[suekel]

I loved my old PVP but he got transferred elsewhere.  The new one is totally unimpressive so I switched to a TA for 2 out of my 3 next cruises.  Next cruise is a casino comp so just called princess directly.  

[Colo Cruiser]

5 hours ago, ehogan said:

Thanks for your comments, much appreciated.  This PVP also seems a bit aggressive which is off putting.  Think I will stay with my current self help system.  Has been satisfactory in the past.

They have no more power than a regular phone rep and can offer nothing more.

Not interested in all the OBC gimmicks.

Just give me the % off the up front and off the top of the Princess cruise price.

[voljeep]

11 hours ago, bemis12 said:

 

I didn’t just wish. I told mine to go away

Got a new one "assigned" within an hour after sending this email to my former PVP...

 

 ... And also please pass along to Princess that it would be beneficial to Princess customers if all these 4 different

ways of booking the same cabin were easily available for viewing on the Princess website ... that's about the nicest way I can put it

 

XXXXX, I will not be contacting you again in regards to this or any other future cruises ... please remove me from your list of clients

 

I need a PVP who will offer me ALL combinations of cruise prices without having to play 20 questions and can be able to even offer something as simple as a bottle of wine or a specialty dinner for a 10 day , $ 4k cruise

[Ombud]

My PVP gets me 'extra' OBC ... I'm sure it's in some hidden promo, I just can't see it. She's also advised a shift of a week in booking (Japan) when that negated part of the solo 'penalty.' That was huge! Anytime the actual cruise can be less than 2× rate I'm extremely happy. Plus I have a favorite location and she normally ONLY brings up 1 of those 3 cabins. For next weekend's 13 night cruise she did recommend the opposite side of the ship (even not odd # rooms) but was right as usual 

[Steelers36]

53 minutes ago, Ombud said:

My PVP gets me 'extra' OBC ... I'm sure it's in some hidden promo, I just can't see it. She's also advised a shift of a week in booking (Japan) when that negated part of the solo 'penalty.' That was huge! Anytime the actual cruise can be less than 2× rate I'm extremely happy. Plus I have a favorite location and she normally ONLY brings up 1 of those 3 cabins. For next weekend's 13 night cruise she did recommend the opposite side of the ship (even not odd # rooms) but was right as usual 

A rose among thorns, perhaps?

[Ombud]

When she leaves in 1.5 yrs I'll be on the lookout for a TA 

[Colo Cruiser]

4 minutes ago, Ombud said:

When she leaves in 1.5 yrs I'll be on the lookout for a TA 

IMO and FWIW you are leaving $$$ on the table in the meantime.   Just sayin.  

[CineGraphic]

2 minutes ago, Ombud said:

When she leaves in 1.5 yrs I'll be on the lookout for a TA 

I'll be happy to give you my TA's info when we sail next week. He discounts fares all fares by about 8-10%, so he's not "full service", but as long as you know what you want, he's more than happy to accommodate.

[Ombud]

8 minutes ago, Colo Cruiser said:

IMO and FWIW you are leaving $$$ on the table in the meantime.   Just sayin.  

Not really.  Its different for solos. 580 OBC + free dinner on next cruise. 

 

See you onboard, CineGraphic. And yeah, I've had worthless ship reps b4

Edited July 20, 2019 by Ombud

[Colo Cruiser]

1 minute ago, Ombud said:

Not really.  Its different for solos. 580 OBC + free dinner on next cruise. 

Like I said earlier the OBC is a gimmick.

I will take that plus the 8% or more off the price of the cruise up front.

The dinner is pretty much a given on most cruises for us.

[Ombud]

That's why minimizing solo penalty is so valuable to me. Anyway, I'm happy with her.