Revamped Tier Levels Coming Soon

[CruisinFinsUp]

12 minutes ago, dreams_of_travel said:

Mine doesn't show that part you've posted in red.  Is that b/c I haven't gotten to the level where they gave OBC?  🤷‍♀️

Mine neither ( is that gramatically ok?) 🤣🤣

 

We are elite, but not THAT elite so I guess they didn't mention what we are not supposed to know about yet! 😁

[Ombud]

3 minutes ago, cruisintoddler said:

Mine neither ( is that gramatically ok?) 🤣🤣

 

We are elite, but not THAT elite so I guess they didn't mention what we are not supposed to know about yet! 😁

I got it pre-pandemic and I still didn't get the separate paragraph so I have no idea. Seems to be a mass mailing 

[azbirdmom]

Just now, Ombud said:

I got it pre-pandemic and I still didn't get the separate paragraph so I have no idea. Seems to be a mass mailing 

 

Not so mass I guess.  I've been at the $75 OBC tier for the last couple of cruises and I didn't even get the email!

[skynight]

22 minutes ago, kb4683 said:

Excerpt from email just received from Princess 😡:

 

Your loyalty means the world to us. To show our thanks we've made sure your Elite member benefits reflect our latest offerings, including Dine My WaySMreservations and MedallionNet® Wi-Fi. We hope you enjoy these updates to your perks — because you deserve it.

What's new?

exclusive, early access to Dine My Way reservations (ability to make them before final payment!)

10% off shore excursions

10% off Lotus Spa® treatments

10% off Photo Gallery offerings

Discounts will be applied on board.

 

What's changing?

You’ll get a 50% discount on unlimited, premium Wi-Fi with MedallionNet. Enjoy the best Wi-Fi at sea (also included with PrincessPlus) instead of limited, free internet minutes. (No need to worry about logging on or off anymore!)

You'll notice a lot less paper. We're moving to electronic invites and announcements as part of our health protocols and commitment to protecting the environment.

 

We'll no longer offer onboard credit based on the number of cruises taken.

 

What hasn't changed is our commitment to earning your loyalty.

Received this e-mail also. Comments

The 10% shore excursion discount has fine print.

"Excursions booked pre-cruise will be discounted on board and the guest will receive a refund credit to their folio…. Discount is not transferable an has no cash value."

Will this mean that you receive non-refundable OBC, use it or lose it?

Also disappointed regarding the elimination of loyalty OBC.

[LACruiser88]

We got the email, there goes $100 obc!  Sucks!

[4cats4me]

No more loyalty credits, either.  

“ We’ll no longer offer onboard credit based on the number of cruises taken. What hasn’t changed is our commitment to earning your loyalty.”

 

🤣

Edited July 1, 2021 by 4cats4me

[CruisinFinsUp]

10 hours ago, Ombud said:

I think what gets me the most about these changes is that elites have to pay something to get something. So if I don't buy merchandise, go on their excursions, have a picture taken, or visit the spa there's no benefit to me.

 

 

Correct.   Most companies are going this way.  
 

Tommy Bahama used to send out reward gift cards $50 towards any purchase.  Now its $50 off a minimum purchase of $150. 
 

Cruises are priced such that cabin price only is below break even for the cruise line.  They require passengers to spend money to make a profit.  Its not about us, its about the profits / shareholders.    There are staff onboard whose job it is to monitor and increase on board sales.   Given the losses during the stoppages, there will be more and more "encouragements" to spend spend spend.  
 

I'm sure that every cruise company will be trying to increase cash flow. It won't be just Princess.   They have a lot of pretty new ships to pay for! 
 

 

[CruisinFinsUp]

27 minutes ago, kywildcatfanone said:

I also hate that their "deals" all have to include the alcohol package.  We don't drink, and would like an option there.  Also, having 80% of your passengers drinking all day and night isn't fun for some of us.

 All of the non- alcoholic drinks are included too.  Just sayin.  

[kywildcatfanone]

Yes, for the price of the alcoholic drinks

[PescadoAmarillo]

13 minutes ago, azbirdmom said:

 

Not so mass I guess.  I've been at the $75 OBC tier for the last couple of cruises and I didn't even get the email!

$100 level here, ten cruises booked and no email. Way to go Princess. 

[skynight]

Did you also notice this?

"You'll notice a lot less paper. We're moving to electronic invites and announcements as part of our health protocols and commitment to protecting the environment."

Princess Patter gone??

Does this mean you will have to keep checking your phone for invites, examples most travelled, free specialty dining, gift wine?

Will your phone now be loaded with advertisements?

What about passengers without phones?

[phabric]

Where on this new email or any other place where it says no loyalty OBC benefit, I don’t see it on my email received?

 

Was the loyalty OBC benefit ever listed under Captain Circle benefits?

[cnd crsr]

27 minutes ago, LACruiser88 said:

We got the email, there goes $100 obc!  Sucks!

We got it as well... very disappointing. 4 cruises booked so $400. OBC gone.

[kb4683]

51 minutes ago, Ombud said:

I did not get that separate paragraph. This is all I got and it link to the 2nd picture. No mention of losing loyalty OBC. I'll know 8/15/21

 

 

49 minutes ago, cruisintoddler said:

Mine neither ( is that gramatically ok?) 🤣🤣

 

We are elite, but not THAT elite so I guess they didn't mention what we are not supposed to know about yet! 😁

 

12 minutes ago, phabric said:

Where on this new email or any other place where it says no loyalty OBC benefit, I don’t see it on my email received?

 

Was the loyalty OBC benefit ever listed under Captain Circle benefits?

[jgd3rdbcfd]

39 minutes ago, cruisintoddler said:

Correct.   Most companies are going this way.  
 

Tommy Bahama used to send out reward gift cards $50 towards any purchase.  Now its $50 off a minimum purchase of $150. 
 

Cruises are priced such that cabin price only is below break even for the cruise line.  They require passengers to spend money to make a profit.  Its not about us, its about the profits / shareholders.    There are staff onboard whose job it is to monitor and increase on board sales.   Given the losses during the stoppages, there will be more and more "encouragements" to spend spend spend.  
 

I'm sure that every cruise company will be trying to increase cash flow. It won't be just Princess.   They have a lot of pretty new ships to pay for! 
 

 

 

[jgd3rdbcfd]

I just rec'd the referenced email with reduced benefits.  What I believe to be interesting is anyone who has a reservation made before this announcement should be entitled to 'old' benefits.  A contract is a contract!  I think it would make for a class action law suit against PCL.  Wish I were an attorney or knew more about my thought.

[azbirdmom]

27 minutes ago, PescadoAmarillo said:

$100 level here, ten cruises booked and no email. Way to go Princess. 

 

Yes sirree.  That's twice in the last two days that I've learned from social media about changes affecting my future plans.  Yesterday someone posted on FB about the cancellation of Australia cruises.  My TA much later forwarded an email to us right after she received it and in it Princess said they were giving her 24 hours notice of the cancellation.  Of course by then it had been up on their website for all to see for a couple of hours.  And now we haven't received direct notice of the loss of valuable benefits from them.  I get that the last year+ has been brutal for Princess and other cruise lines.  But for gosh sakes learn to communicate effectively with your loyal customers.

[Ombud]

Yes, MR my PVP just confirmed that I've lost internet minutes + loyalty OBC in the last few days. What's next to go???? 🤬

[dreaminofcruisin]

16 minutes ago, jgd3rdbcfd said:

I just rec'd the referenced email with reduced benefits.  What I believe to be interesting is anyone who has a reservation made before this announcement should be entitled to 'old' benefits.  A contract is a contract!  I think it would make for a class action law suit against PCL.  Wish I were an attorney or knew more about my thought.

 

Pretty sure you will see this everywhere, which covers them legally:

 

[Sea Hag]

12 minutes ago, Ombud said:

Yes, MR my PVP just confirmed that I've lost internet minutes + loyalty OBC in the last few days. What's next to go???? 🤬

From here on out, you and all the Elites have to sleep in lifeboats. 😂

[phabric]

47 minutes ago, kb4683 said:

 

 

My Elite email under “What’s changing?” only has the paragraph about the 50% discount for WIFI, nothing about less paper or no longer offering loyalty OBC benefits.

 

Strange different Elites are receiving different emails.

Edited July 2, 2021 by phabric

[Steelers36]

1 hour ago, skynight said:

Received this e-mail also. Comments

The 10% shore excursion discount has fine print.

"Excursions booked pre-cruise will be discounted on board and the guest will receive a refund credit to their folio…. Discount is not transferable an has no cash value."

Will this mean that you receive non-refundable OBC, use it or lose it?

Also disappointed regarding the elimination of loyalty OBC.

Logically, it should be refundable OBC since booking on board gets you a cash discount.  I also presume booking a ship tour pre-cruise and using OBC on file would also mean only charging 90% of cost to OBC - equivalent to a cash discount. 

 

Same thing is happening if pre-order Internet.  We used to get nothing back, but now will get the 50% discount as OBC.  Has to be refundable.  Only makes sense.  My bet is on refundable as booking on board gets you the discount.  Have to be treating people the same.

[Steelers36]

1 hour ago, skynight said:

What about passengers without phones?

Cabin TV?

[Steelers36]

1 hour ago, jgd3rdbcfd said:

I just rec'd the referenced email with reduced benefits.  What I believe to be interesting is anyone who has a reservation made before this announcement should be entitled to 'old' benefits.  A contract is a contract!  I think it would make for a class action law suit against PCL.  Wish I were an attorney or knew more about my thought.

In many places on website and in Cruise Contract, Princess says they have right to change any terms or offerings at any time.  (Paraphrased).  IOW, no legal leg to stand on.  Things have changed before without grandfathering.

[Steelers36]

I empathize with a lot of CC members who regularly post on Princess threads and who have lost the loyalty OBC for 21+ cruises.  It makes me think how different perspectives are yet again.  For example, I rejoice at the 50% off internet packages in lieu of lost minutes, but some hate that as they got by on the minutes.  As a shareholder, I didn't like losing my quarterly dividends, but I can understand why CCL suspended them.  I can understand why Princess looked for other savings and hope long-time customers will ride it out, just as they hope investors won't dump the stock over loss of dividend.  (Yes, stock went way down, and that hurt, but has been recovering).