Princess Cruises introduces all-inclusive Premier Package

[Steelers36]

3 hours ago, AtlantaCruiser72 said:

The press release is poorly worded. Looking at Princess.com specialty coffee and small bottles of water still included. I do expect bar menu prices to go up so that a number of spirits and wines currently included in Princess plus to now fall under premier 

 

 

Is there an unspoken deletion of a policy here?  Currently a $14 drink would cost a PLUS guest $2 + 18%.  Are they going to deny the drink, or charge the full $14 going forward.  THAT would not be nice at all.  

[Steelers36]

3 hours ago, AtlantaCruiser72 said:

The press release is poorly worded. Looking at Princess.com specialty coffee and small bottles of water still included. I do expect bar menu prices to go up so that a number of spirits and wines currently included in Princess plus to now fall under premier 

 

I do not think I have ever been able to choose from anything close to 25 different beer labels on board.

 

[Steelers36]

2 hours ago, voljeep said:

little 5 day cruise ... 25 x 5 x 2 = $ 250

 

photos - nah

4 device wifi - worthless to us - one worthless device is enough

Specialty dining - if you can book it when you want 29 x 2 x 2 = $ 116

 

not for us, at this time

Why would a couple in a cabin EACH need a 4-device pkg?  Real dumb.  We get ONE 4-device package and share for the same cost as 2 single-device packages.  If sailing with friends (sep cabins of course), ONE 4-device package can cover us all. 

Agree to photos - zero value to us.  Might buy one photo if really want one every once in a long while.

 

SD - I looked at the $58/pp over an average 10-day voyage, so about $6/day.  Whoop-Dee-Doo.  Even if I could justify the PLUS, there is no way on Earth I could see another $25 up-charge for the Premier. 

 

As long as they don't start letting Premier drink package people have priority boarding and tenders, I hope they sell a lot of them.  Sometimes I think there is a huckster at PCL HQ dreaming up ways to separate guests from their money aside from the Casino games.

 

Mr Padgett should be focusing on fixing the MC App and DMW instead of more lame-brained sales tactics.

 

[Steelers36]

2 hours ago, Mud_Shark said:

Yes, the cost of everything is up.  Gas, food, utilities.  I don't think it will come as a surprise if, by the end of the summer, drink prices are increased, daily gratuities (whatever they are called now) will go up (my prediction is $1 per day), specialty dining will go up (predict $5), and wifi will go up (Single $12 per day, 4 device $22-24).  Cruise lines must still be bleeding bad from the lost business and now the increased cost of fuel and supplies.

 

If my predictions are anywhere close, the $10 increase in Princess Plus makes sense.

 

Don

They probably need either the increase or to reduce the number of alcohol drinks per day.  It's such a deal for even a moderate drinker.

[Sea Hag]

3 minutes ago, Steelers36 said:

Sometimes I think there is a huckster at PCL HQ dreaming up ways to separate guests from their money aside from the Casino games.

 

You're way more charitable than I am or, more likely, less paranoid. I darkly suspect that there's a whole department - a large department - of hucksters dreaming up ways to separate guests from their money. 🤣

[GonzoWCS]

13 minutes ago, Steelers36 said:

Why would a couple in a cabin EACH need a 4-device pkg?  Real dumb.  We get ONE 4-device package and share for the same cost as 2 single-device packages.  If sailing with friends (sep cabins of course), ONE 4-device package can cover us all. 

Agree to photos - zero value to us.  Might buy one photo if really want one every once in a long while.

 

SD - I looked at the $58/pp over an average 10-day voyage, so about $6/day.  Whoop-Dee-Doo.  Even if I could justify the PLUS, there is no way on Earth I could see another $25 up-charge for the Premier. 

 

As long as they don't start letting Premier drink package people have priority boarding and tenders, I hope they sell a lot of them.  Sometimes I think there is a huckster at PCL HQ dreaming up ways to separate guests from their money aside from the Casino games.

 

Mr Padgett should be focusing on fixing the MC App and DMW instead of more lame-brained sales tactics.

 

Well said

[Steelers36]

56 minutes ago, marne-c said:

I just read the details of the Premier offering on the Princess US website.  I saw nothing under Plus that drinks over $12 could be had for the price+18% over $12.

 

Yes, that was how our drinks WERE changed with Plus in January.  Past 25 June, I’m not so sure…

 

—Marne 

I agree.  With the absence of language to cover this, PCL can simply decide to charge $13 + 18% for a $13 drink to someone on the PLUS package.  Not sure I have seen a bar drink > $18 on PCL - yet.  Certainly some premium wine by the glass would go over that if they are going to start pouring those.

 

ETA:  IGNORE ABOVE... deeper buried T&C seem to preserve the price difference policy.  🙂

 

 

Edited May 11, 2022 by Steelers36

[Steelers36]

45 minutes ago, MileHighAko said:

The Plus Beverage Package terms and conditions states:

• Items selected that exceed the $12.00 USD or $16.00 AUD price are charged according to the difference in price.

Yes, I found that after going down a couple of layers - which seemed to come up with the existing T&C.  I hope for guests' sakes on the package that the policy continues as it seems fair to both sides.

[marne-c]

More from the Terms & Conditions:

 

”Additional actions may be taken if guests: 

• Become intoxicateded “

 

Indeed!

 

—Marne 

[prmssk]

54 minutes ago, CarolCoupon said:

My July 2022 and June 2023 cruises were booked with Plus.  They both list "Premier Beverage Package Including Service Charges" drink package in the Personalizer under Onboard Services.  Terminology...

 

I have a June 18 cruise (before this new package goes into effect) and a June 25 cruise (day this goes into affect).  Both were booked under Princess Plus (or maybe the Best Sale Ever when they added a Specialty Dining) and both list the "Premier Beverage Package including Services Charges" that you mention.  I also have the option of purchasing the "Premier Beverage Package" for either cruise in the cruise planner which lists a $12 limit (not the new $18 limit on the higher package).  Someone needs to get their wording correct....

[VaCruzers]

Disappointed that the Princess Plus package can only be applied to new bookings. The $50 per day rate is way less than the Princess Plus rate at the time we booked. 

[defbref]

2 minutes ago, prmssk said:

 

I have a June 18 cruise (before this new package goes into effect) and a June 25 cruise (day this goes into affect).  Both were booked under Princess Plus (or maybe the Best Sale Ever when they added a Specialty Dining) and both list the "Premier Beverage Package including Services Charges" that you mention.  I also have the option of purchasing the "Premier Beverage Package" for either cruise in the cruise planner which lists a $12 limit (not the new $18 limit on the higher package).  Someone needs to get their wording correct....

 

Yep its pretty ridiculous at the moment, I have the Premier Beverage Package listed as complimentary from Princess (old Plus package) but do I have the Premier Beverage Package or the Premier Beverage Package ? 🙂

[Steelers36]

4 minutes ago, prmssk said:

 

I have a June 18 cruise (before this new package goes into effect) and a June 25 cruise (day this goes into affect).  Both were booked under Princess Plus (or maybe the Best Sale Ever when they added a Specialty Dining) and both list the "Premier Beverage Package including Services Charges" that you mention.  I also have the option of purchasing the "Premier Beverage Package" for either cruise in the cruise planner which lists a $12 limit (not the new $18 limit on the higher package).  Someone needs to get their wording correct....

If I login to my Cruise Personalizer, I can buy two "Premier Beverage Packages".  Really?  So, when booking a cruise fare, they had PLUS option which included the Premier Beverage Package.  Now, they have the PREMIER fare option which includes the "Premier Beverage Package".  Gee, those marketing types must have run out of superlatives, as you can order two different packages with the same name and different price points in the Cruise Personalizer.  Tell me how many guests are going to get confused with the word Premier used all over the place? 

 

Maybe we are seeing the next Captain Circle level above Elite.  Why it will be called Premier of course!!!

🤣

[Tedferg]

Regarding 'Sharing', was there a time limit before you could order a second drink under the previous Beverage Package? I think there was a 15-minute wait. I ask because I wonder if Sharing was a significant problem. My feeling is there was not as much sharing as people think. Which leads me to current Plus pricing. The old Beverage Package was not justifiable for me and certainly not for DW. However, I did the math and decided convenience was the tie breaker and so bought the package. With Plus both of us have to have it and I thought PCL was clever in pricing it at $40. Many pax would go for it, few would drink more than previously and so a win win. Plus at $50 and Premiere at $75 makes no sense. I am certain Basic fare will be best for us going forward.

[cruzin4us]

I booked a casino comped cruise and my "gifts and summary" page says I have this.    So, do I have the Premier or just the Plus?     Guess who'll be fighting this when I get on board.....LOL

 

 

[Coffeeluvr05]

1 hour ago, voljeep said:

then why continue to book that then???

I wasn't complaining when all the drinks were within my package.  I suspect now they won't be.  I'm super bummed about that.  With PP I felt like there was some value in that.  I didn't have to keep track of what I was spending because it was "included."  I guess if the service levels increased along with the cost one would be less concerned, but it seems to go the other way.

[CineGraphic]

30 minutes ago, Steelers36 said:

If I login to my Cruise Personalizer, I can buy two "Premier Beverage Packages".  Really?  So, when booking a cruise fare, they had PLUS option which included the Premier Beverage Package.  Now, they have the PREMIER fare option which includes the "Premier Beverage Package".

 

Our bookings now show Premier as well, with a higher list price, so it looks like they are upgrading folks to Premiere.

[Astro Flyer]

36 minutes ago, Steelers36 said:

Sometimes I think there is a huckster at PCL HQ dreaming up ways to separate guests from their money aside from the Casino games.

 

Mr Padgett should be focusing on fixing the MC App and DMW instead of more lame-brained sales tactics.

 

 

31 minutes ago, Sea Hag said:

You're way more charitable than I am or, more likely, less paranoid. I darkly suspect that there's a whole department - a large department - of hucksters dreaming up ways to separate guests from their money. 🤣

“John & the Hucksters”. 🤪

 

His zeal to turn Princess into a gambling booze cruise continues as they seek to differentiate the Princess experience between Carnival and HAL/Cunard. Been reading of many receiving casino rates including one who hadn’t sailed Princess in 10 years.

 

It’s already more difficult to make specialty restaurant reservations due to so many receiving it as a booking benefit & it will get even more difficult with these Premiere dinners.

 

DMW does not provide the experience promised & the app is unreliable for too many guests. Instead of solving these problems Padgett puts resources towards creating schemes such as Premiere & more ways to gamble. Obviously they need to return to profitability however Princess Premiere is not remotely cost effective for my way of cruising.

 

 

 

[Steelers36]

Just now, CineGraphic said:

 

Our bookings now show Premier as well, with a higher list price, so it looks like they are upgrading folks to Premiere.

I would not count on that!!! 

[CineGraphic]

Just now, Steelers36 said:

I would not count on that!!! 

 

I'm printing out my cruise summary!

[Phantom of the Seas]

Interesting....made final payment for August cruise last week and in my cruise personalizer shows having Premier Beverage Package and not Princess Plus......so which package do we have?

[Steelers36]

Just now, Astro Flyer said:

 

“John & the Hucksters”. 🤪

 

His zeal to turn Princess into a gambling booze cruise continues as they seek to differentiate the Princess experience between Carnival and HAL/Cunard. Been reading of many receiving casino rates including one who hadn’t sailed Princess in 10 years.

 

It’s already more difficult to make specialty restaurant reservations due to so many receiving it as a booking benefit & it will get even more difficult with these Premiere dinners.

 

DMW does not provide the experience promised & the app is unreliable for too many guests. Instead of solving these problems Padgett puts resources towards creating schemes such as Premiere & more ways to gamble. Obviously they need to return to profitability however Princess Premiere is not remotely cost effective for my way of cruising.

 

 

 

I was just thinking similar.  Does the Princess crowd choose Princess to do on a drinking cruise, or do we go to "Escape Completely" and "Come Back Renewed".  With increased emphasis on drinkers and gamblers (note the smoking policy), I am thinking Princess may no longer be a good fit for us.  But, still intend to follow through with the Fall 2022 voyages.  

[beg3yrs]

14 minutes ago, CineGraphic said:

 

Our bookings now show Premier as well, with a higher list price, so it looks like they are upgrading folks to Premiere.

No change to our upcoming booking ... 🤕 - Going back to last September said Premier Drinks With Service Charge.

 

Edit: Looked at bookings further out, no change there either. Language has been and remains 'Premier Drinks With Service Charge' and no change in price.

Edited May 11, 2022 by beg3yrs

[Astro Flyer]

7 minutes ago, Steelers36 said:

I was just thinking similar.  Does the Princess crowd choose Princess to do on a drinking cruise, or do we go to "Escape Completely" and "Come Back Renewed".  With increased emphasis on drinkers and gamblers (note the smoking policy), I am thinking Princess may no longer be a good fit for us.  But, still intend to follow through with the Fall 2022 voyages.  

I feel the same way & that’s why I’m exploring other options for cruising & are about 50/50 on canceling our 24 days in the Fall.

 

Too many decreases in the type of cruise experience many of us previously enjoyed on Princess. Those marketing slogans you wrote are what attracted many of us to be longtime loyal Princess passengers. I feel like President Reagan who stated that he didn’t leave the Democratic Party but they had left him…Princess is leaving me.

 

If I wanted a booze cruise would book Carnival…NOT!!! 🤨

 

[Tedferg]

30 minutes ago, Phantom of the Seas said:

Interesting....made final payment for August cruise last week and in my cruise personalizer shows having Premier Beverage Package and not Princess Plus......so which package do we have?

Where do you see Premier package? I looked at Travel Summary and see Premier listed there but I am sure it always said Premier. Isn't the package prior to Plus called Premier Beverage Package?

 

Premier Beverage Package$70.79 per person, per day

Enjoy a wide range of drinks for $59.99 per day plus a 18% service charge. The Premier Beverage Package includes any individual beverage item such as fountain soda, bottled water, cocktails, spirits, wine by the glass, beers, coffee and tea, up to $12 (retail value). A 25% discount is also offered on all bottles of wine when purchased in bars, dining room or specialty restaurants.

Edited May 11, 2022 by Tedferg