Premier Beverage Plan - Rehashed

[bafinegan]

3 hours ago, Geoffa30 said:

We’ve just spotted on our booking booked some time ago that we’ve now been downgraded to the plus package when it clearly stated on our original booking that we had the premier package. Our final payment date is 26 June so seemingly around when any changes might be known onboard so too late for us to know before paying for our $13,000 cruise. This is a 25 night cruise on Sky Princess in September. We will be speaking to our Princess cruise specialist on Monday to say that unless the premier package is reinstated on our booking, we will be cancelling. Whether this works or not, we won’t be booking a Princess cruise ever again. The product has diminished too much since the pandemic and, whilst we know they have to recoup their money, we feel they are going too far. Best internet at sea? Not according to our last cruise it isn’t. Although I now see they are advertising it as best Wi-Fi at sea 🙄 What next, you have to pay for your bed linen to be changed?

Under the contract terms for the "old" premier package, it states beverages up to $12.  Under the new "plus" package, it states beverages up to $12.  Same package with just a name change.  Princess should just have used a different name for the "new" premier package to avoid confusion.

[rhblake]

My premier is now plus. However my concern is does this also bring about new pricing for things like Bombay Sapphire Gin and Grey Goose Vodka and now put them above the $12 limit and into the premium category?

[JimmyVWine]

5 hours ago, Geoffa30 said:

We’ve just spotted on our booking booked some time ago that we’ve now been downgraded to the plus package when it clearly stated on our original booking that we had the premier package.

You weren’t downgraded. The term “Plus Package” did not exist when you booked. It does now so that is what they call what you bought. At the time you booked you purchased a plan that included drinks $12 or less, no Specialty Dining and no photos. (Although during the Best Sale Ever you did get one Specialty Dining thrown in.). The Plus package that now shows on your booking contains all the same features. If they gave you the Premier Package, you would get drinks up to $18, two Specialty Dining credits and photos. You did not pay for that and there is no reason why they should just hand you that simply because they changed their naming convention. 

[Geoffa30]

33 minutes ago, JimmyVWine said:

You weren’t downgraded. The term “Plus Package” did not exist when you booked. It does now so that is what they call what you bought. At the time you booked you purchased a plan that included drinks $12 or less, no Specialty Dining and no photos. (Although during the Best Sale Ever you did get one Specialty Dining thrown in.). The Plus package that now shows on your booking contains all the same features. If they gave you the Premier Package, you would get drinks up to $18, two Specialty Dining credits and photos. You did not pay for that and there is no reason why they should just hand you that simply because they changed their naming convention. 

My concern is about whether drink prices are going to rise meaning I have less choice because the $12 price limit is no longer sufficient to cover the higher prices. I’m not worried about all the other bells and whistles of the new premier package.

[uspearls]

14 minutes ago, Geoffa30 said:

My concern is about whether drink prices are going to rise meaning I have less choice because the $12 price limit is no longer sufficient to cover the higher prices. I’m not worried about all the other bells and whistles of the new premier package.

 

The OP is correct in that you (and I) weren't "downgraded".  That said, many of us are wondering whether this change will be accompanied by a repricing of premium brands.  My take is that, in the context of the total cost of a cruise trip, it's not worth worrying about.  Even if $12 per drink is no longer sufficient to cover top shelf brands, Princess' policy allows you to pay the difference over $12 and, in the aggregate with included gratuities, the Plus Package still represents excellent value.

Edited June 4, 2022 by uspearls

[JimmyVWine]

2 hours ago, Geoffa30 said:

My concern is about whether drink prices are going to rise meaning I have less choice because the $12 price limit is no longer sufficient to cover the higher prices

The key word is “whether”. You posted that you were prepared to cancel your cruise and give up on Princess forever but you admit that you don’t know if there will be any worrisome change. How about doing what the rest of us are doing and test drive the new system before making any drastic changes. And if it turns out that your favorite drink is $1 more than the $12 limit, drink 100 of them and your cruise will cost $118 more. Is that the hill you are going to die on?

Edited June 4, 2022 by JimmyVWine

[Phantom of the Seas]

Well said....

[music]

Are the martini's at the Martini bar $12? 

 

[candydane]

How much is Gentleman Jack on the rocks?  How about Jack Daniels?  Thanks.

[tonit964]

1 hour ago, candydane said:

How much is Gentleman Jack on the rocks?  How about Jack Daniels?  Thanks.

On my 4/17 Discovery Princess cruise, Jack Daniel's was $7.50.

[memoak]

1 hour ago, candydane said:

How much is Gentleman Jack on the rocks?  How about Jack Daniels?  Thanks.

Jack Daniels is one of the cheaper whiskies on board

[candydane]

Thanks.  My husband usually drinks Gentleman Jack but will drink Jack.

[memoak]

15 minutes ago, candydane said:

Thanks.  My husband usually drinks Gentleman Jack but will drink Jack.

6weeks ago on the Majestic Makers Mark, Bulliet and Buffalo Trace were all included in the Plus plan

 

[toofewcruises]

On 6/4/2022 at 7:43 AM, uspearls said:

 

The OP is correct in that you (and I) weren't "downgraded".  That said, many of us are wondering whether this change will be accompanied by a repricing of premium brands.  My take is that, in the context of the total cost of a cruise trip, it's not worth worrying about.  Even if $12 per drink is no longer sufficient to cover top shelf brands, Princess' policy allows you to pay the difference over $12 and, in the aggregate with included gratuities, the Plus Package still represents excellent value.

My best guess is that current drink prices $10 and over will increase to over $12...

[memoak]

23 minutes ago, toofewcruises said:

My best guess is that current drink prices $10 and over will increase to over $12...

You really think prices are going to go up more than 20% ? Even if they do you can get what you want and only pay the difference unless you are convinced that will change also. Why don’t everyone wait till the roll out on June 25 ?