Booking Fare Survey: Which Cruise fare do you book? With or Without the Princess Plus Pacakage

[Jeter02]

13 minutes ago, Steelers36 said:

Your note prompted me to do a mock pricing as a solo cruiser. 

 

The Saver Fare was equal to the quotation when booking for 2.

However, the PLUS fare was not.  It was only higher by the PLUS fare for one person.

 

It would seem that indeed a solo cruiser does not pay for 2 PLUS add-ons.

 

E.G. A Saver Fare is $1,000.  PLUS is $1,400 for a 10-night cruise.

 

Solo Saver = $2,000

Solo PLUS = $2,400

Thanks for being an additional checker for me!

[getting older slowly]

always saver fare....  particularly here in Australia..  The plus fare is barely break even...

 

Also enjoy wine by the bottle... and in a suite  better off with saver... as our OB Account is generally under the price difference between the fares....

 

Also it is each to his or hers own...  also pay as one goes suits us  

[jennybenny]

We've always added the drink package (Prior to Princess Plus), and we've always ordered water delivered to the room because I like to drink it at night. YES, I can get one bottle at a time during the day, but I prefer having the stash in the cabin. We've never had extra water left over, and we usually end up having to get some extras for the room by the end of a cruise. Too much hassle to stock up daily. 

[Jeter02]

8 hours ago, jennybenny said:

We've always added the drink package (Prior to Princess Plus), and we've always ordered water delivered to the room because I like to drink it at night. YES, I can get one bottle at a time during the day, but I prefer having the stash in the cabin. We've never had extra water left over, and we usually end up having to get some extras for the room by the end of a cruise. Too much hassle to stock up daily. 

Definitely so much easier and convenient to have a case of water in the cabin. I do like the grab and go whenever I need.

[pompeii]

18 hours ago, lesnpatty said:

At a cost of $40 pp a day, we have started doing the plus fare.  After WiFi and gratuities it is about $15.50 a day.  We don't drink alcohol, but that is a great price for my partner's  daily Red Bull, coffees, water, sodas, milk shakes and virgin drinks.   Our normal TA and Military OBC pays for every else.  We would never purchase the drink package alone at $59.99 a day because it would not be cost effective for us.  

Keep in mind that you are actually paying twice the $15.50/day for your partners Red Bull, coffee, etc, if you yourself don't indulge in those extras, since you both have to purchase the plus fare.

[Jeter02]

1 hour ago, pompeii said:

Keep in mind that you are actually paying twice the $15.50/day for your partners Red Bull, coffee, etc, if you yourself don't indulge in those extras, since you both have to purchase the plus fare.

This initially eliminates the problem of what other cruise lines were doing where if one person in your cabin gets a drink package then whoever else is in the cabin as well has to be charged for a drink package. So when you're doing the plus Fair both occupants are paying at that rate while getting the package as well.

[chabad]

Food for thought. How about this scenario... It has always troubled me and made me question when a solo passenger gets their own cabin, why do they still need to pay for double occupancy? Grant you I understand that everyone in the world would want to have their own room, and even some spouses as well would want separate rooms for the extra space (depending on the couple). Totally understandable. But..... I feel like if a solo passenger's already paying double occupancy, they may as well just give them the plus package on the house since they're already going above and beyond paying for a cruise fare so they can enjoy themselves on a cruise vacation. Instead they're just paying for an invisible person that's not existing in that cabin. 

Edited July 4, 2021 by chabad

[Jeter02]

3 minutes ago, chabad said:

Food for thought. How about this scenario... It has always troubled me and made me question when a solo passenger gets their own cabin why do they still need to pay for double occupancy? Grant you I understand that everyone in the world would want to have their own room in some spouses as well would want separate rooms depending on the couple. Totally understandable. But..... I feel like if a solo passenger's already paying double occupancy they may as well just give them the plus package on the house since they're already going above and beyond paying for a cruise fare so they can enjoy themselves on a cruise vacation. Instead they're just paying for an invisible person that's not existing in that cabin.

BRAVO 👏👏👏 I'd be all for this 🎉🎉🎉 Like you said, it's the things we solo travelers do to enjoy the cruise life and relaxing vacation. I vote for you as the next Princess CEO🏆

[CruisinFinsUp]

49 minutes ago, chabad said:

Food for thought. How about this scenario... It has always troubled me and made me question when a solo passenger gets their own cabin, why do they still need to pay for double occupancy? Grant you I understand that everyone in the world would want to have their own room, and even some spouses as well would want separate rooms for the extra space (depending on the couple). Totally understandable. But..... I feel like if a solo passenger's already paying double occupancy, they may as well just give them the plus package on the house since they're already going above and beyond paying for a cruise fare so they can enjoy themselves on a cruise vacation. Instead they're just paying for an invisible person that's not existing in that cabin. 

 

Yes, but the economic profitability model for cabin pricing requires every cabin with paid double occupancy, and the cabin only fares don't make a profit. 
On board spending makes the profit. 
 

Cruiselines are NOT about the passenger getting a deal or value for loyalty. 
Cruiselines are about profitability.  

[CruisinFinsUp]

48 minutes ago, Jeter02 said:

BRAVO 👏👏👏 I'd be all for this 🎉🎉🎉 Like you said, it's the things we solo travelers do to enjoy the cruise life and relaxing vacation. I vote for you as the next Princess CEO🏆

 

As CEO with that policy, chabad would be fired as the ships would lose money!  
Its all about the profitability and single pax in cabins don't pay the bills.  

[Jeter02]

16 minutes ago, cruisintoddler said:

 

As CEO with that policy, chabad would be fired as the ships would lose money!  
Its all about the profitability and single pax in cabins don't pay the bills.  

I know, but one can dream. 🤣

[chabad]

31 minutes ago, cruisintoddler said:

 

Yes, but the economic profitability model for cabin pricing requires every cabin with paid double occupancy, and the cabin only fares don't make a profit. 
On board spending makes the profit. 
 

Cruiselines are NOT about the passenger getting a deal or value for loyalty. 
Cruiselines are about profitability.  

Cruise lines make tons of money through casino spending and liquor sales. So for those cruise fare only passengers, they still most likely buy drinks, and gamble in the casino even though they didn't opt for the plus package. And we have no idea how much they are spending in shops, excursions, specialty dining, etc. So you can't exclude them, by saying that they're not going to spend a single penny while they're on board. Theoretically, the cruise lines are losing out by offering the Princess Plus package if you want to talk in terms of being profitable, They are charging half the price for the drink package and throwing in Wi-Fi and gratuities. So I'm not sure which way really is truly profitable here, as many passengers for years in the past had no problem laying out $500 per person for a drink package and paying their $100 gratuities and $100 for wi-fi. 

 

Lastly I think I would make a great CEO and I would be honored to take on that position. I'm about making the passengers Happy who cares about profits I'm all about having a good time. 

Edited July 4, 2021 by chabad

[norcalcruzr]

We book with the saver fare; we don't drink so it doesn't really make sense for us.  We switch out the minibar for coffee package, which offers lots of options besides just coffee [tea, iced tea, hot cocoa, blended iced coffee beverages]  pre-purchase the bottled water for $7 a 12 pack.  We use my husband's military credit toward crew incentive.

[Tedferg]

As someone else said, the Plus fare, especially applied to both passengers, must make economic sense for the cruise line. We rarely take Princess excursions and always have $200 OBC so do not find much to spend money on. DW will usually buy a memento or two but this is $50 at best.

[Mr Happy Toes]

Hello, we booked our first Princess cruise for Dec 2022 after 10 cruises on Carnival, I booked Princess saver not understanding what Princess Plus is. My question is am I able to change my booking to Princess Plus?

 

Thank you

[Jeter02]

13 minutes ago, Mr Happy Toes said:

Hello, we booked our first Princess cruise for Dec 2022 after 10 cruises on Carnival, I booked Princess saver not understanding what Princess Plus is. My question is am I able to change my booking to Princess Plus?

 

Thank you

Welcome to the Princess Family!

 

In order to switch the Princess Plus you most likely will have to cancel your booking if you can't refare, and then rebook under the princess plus fare. Unfortunately it's not like a package you could just add on to your current fare. Did you book through a travel agent or directly with princess?

Edited July 4, 2021 by Jeter02

[dreams_of_travel]

10 minutes ago, Mr Happy Toes said:

Hello, we booked our first Princess cruise for Dec 2022 after 10 cruises on Carnival, I booked Princess saver not understanding what Princess Plus is. My question is am I able to change my booking to Princess Plus?

 

Thank you

Yes, you are able to switch your booking to Princess Plus from the saver booking.  I did this last week after noting the removal of my internet minutes.  I paid the difference, and the slight increase in the travel insurance, but it was super easy via my Travel Agent. 

[dreams_of_travel]

1 minute ago, Jeter02 said:

In order to switch the princess Plus you most likely will have to cancel your booking and then rebook under the princess plus fare. Unfortunately it's not like a package you could just add on to your current fare. Did you book through a travel agent or directly with princess?

This wasn't my experience, however since my agent handled it while on the phone with Princess, it may be more complicated that I originally thought.  🤷‍♀️  My agent did this for two of my upcoming cruises that were originally booked at the saver rate.  I didn't lose any OBC that was given when I originally booked either, which is sometimes the case if you rebook.

[Jeter02]

Just now, dreams_of_travel said:

This wasn't my experience, however since my agent handled it while on the phone with Princess, it may be more complicated that I originally thought.  🤷‍♀️  My agent did this for two of my upcoming cruises that were originally booked at the saver rate.  I didn't lose any OBC that was given when I originally booked either, which is sometimes the case if you rebook.

No the way you mentioned it in your first post was beautiful. Overall it's a refare that your agent did which is great. I'm happy to hear you didn't lose any credits or anything.

[southamptoncruisers]

I booked a saver fare and decided to add the plus fare. A quick call to Princess and the plus package was added to my booking a very simple and easy process.

[Mr Happy Toes]

Thank you for all your replys. I booked myself on-line. I will call Princess tomorrow and see what they can do because I would like to keep the same cabin. I will let you know what happens.

[Jeter02]

10 minutes ago, Mr Happy Toes said:

Thank you for all your replys. I booked myself on-line. I will call Princess tomorrow and see what they can do because I would like to keep the same cabin. I will let you know what happens.

Good luck! You should have no problem at all especially with your cabin. 😊

[pompeii]

2 hours ago, norcalcruzr said:

We book with the saver fare; we don't drink so it doesn't really make sense for us.  We switch out the minibar for coffee package, which offers lots of options besides just coffee [tea, iced tea, hot cocoa, blended iced coffee beverages]  pre-purchase the bottled water for $7 a 12 pack.  We use my husband's military credit toward crew incentive.

Exactly what we do.  I'm surprised by the people who try to say that even though we're non-drinkers, it can still make economic sense for us to book the Plus fare.  No matter how you try to add it up, it doesn't.  Especially since we also get shareholders obc, plus some for using an fcc, so tips are already covered.  

[Jeter02]

5 minutes ago, pompeii said:

Exactly what we do.  I'm surprised by the people who try to say that even though we're non-drinkers, it can still make economic sense for us to book the Plus fare.  No matter how you try to add it up, it doesn't.  Especially since we also get shareholders obc, plus some for using an fcc, so tips are already covered.  

👏👏👏👏 agreed 👏👏👏👏

[southamptoncruisers]

Since a third of the the plus fare is the premium drinks package it is quite obvious that it does not benefit non drinkers. However myself on sea days as a minimum I will have 3 beers in the morning, a glass of wine with lunch, 3 beers in the afternoon, a pre-dinner beer, two glasses of wine and a beer with dinner and a couple of shorts for the theatre. £30 per day with wifi and tips is a bargain.