2/20: Changes, Price Increases, etc. MEGATHREAD

[PacnGoNow]

1 hour ago, MsSoCalCruiser said:

Thank you again.  In over 20 cruises I have never been able to have a sandwich made for me.  I have been told to wait until the next day to eat when the dining room is open.  The avocado toast just may be the ticket!  

Room service also.  Tell them what you want on the sandwich.  

IC, if you talk to the IC manager, he/she is always nearby…you can ask for some dairy free items for the next day, say for lunch items.  They are so good about this.

 

 

 

 

 

[Cruise Raider]

On 2/25/2023 at 8:16 AM, PacnGoNow said:

Big change.  Could you verify with the Baristas if the coffee package (15 drink) is definitively discontinued?

 

Also, what your choices are for the elite mini bar switch out?

 

TIA

In case I haven’t yet mentioned this on this thread, the coffee grounds package is definitely discontinued.  It’s now included as part of the zero alcohol package.  You’re probably still better off purchasing the plus package, though, if you purchase WiFi.  
 

I asked three different room stewards about what you can swap your minibar out for .. 

all there said the same thing.  We could get a digital coffee card OR swap out non alcohol drinks for other non alcohol drinks, alcohol for other alcohol drinks or non alcohol drinks.  None mentioned that you could swap it out for a bottle of wine.  
You used to call room service for the swap, now you just ask your room steward.  

BTW, the reason I asked so many room stewards was because they are so new to the policy, I thought I might get different answers, but I didn’t.  
 

[JimmyVWine]

2 hours ago, Cruise Raider said:

There are new menus from several bars posted by @HaveDogWillTravel on the Live From the Royal 2/25 - 3/12 post.

In looking at those menus, it looks like the limit increase to $15 is largely illusory.  The wines that are "complimentary with Plus" are still listed as generic varietals and are priced the same as before, ($10-$11).  There are no $13, $14, or $15 wines listed, so what's the point?  They could have kept the limit at $12 and gotten to the same place.  The only benefit is for people who want to upgrade and order wines by name.  Instead of paying $4 extra for a $16 glass, they will now pay $1 extra, so I guess that's a good thing.  But I didn't  imagine that raising the limit to $15 was only going to reap a benefit for people who plan on going over that limit.  Seems kind of duplicitous.  At least now I know that my bar tab at the end of the cruise might only be $30 in overages instead of $100.  Still way cheaper than paying for Premium. 

[Cruise Raider]

On 2/24/2023 at 12:52 PM, SSAtlantic said:

Please post current wine selections if at all possible. 
thanks and enjoy your cruise

@HaveDogWillTravel posted all the new drink menus on the Live From the Royal 2/25 - 3/12 thread.  
The Royal had a very nice wine selection at Vines but not so much at other bars.  I was very pleased with their Hartford Chardonnay, in the absence of Rombauer.  They also had Mer Soliel in the dining room, though the waiter was trying to push the Canyon Road. My DH found a lot of reds that he liked including Seghesio Zin, Meomi Pinot, Substance cab, etc. in Vines. There was a nice bubbly in Bellinis, but I can’t recall the name of it.  They also had a decent Pinot Gris there that went well with the pizza next door at Alfredo’s.   I was very pleased with my selections on the Plus Package this trip.  
 

The wine selection on the Diamond was horrible but they also don’t have a Vines.  

Most of the wines went up maybe a $1 or $2, whereas the limit went up by $3 dollars on the packages.  
 

[MsSoCalCruiser]

6 minutes ago, PacnGoNow said:

Room service also.  Tell them what you want on the sandwich.  

IC, if you talk to the IC manager, he/she is always nearby…you can ask for some dairy free items for the next day, say for lunch items.  They are so good about this.

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you.  
 

I always call in my room service orders and they are great about making sure I have dairy free items.  

 

I always request but am never able to get a dairy free sandwich (turkey, ham or beef) at the IC.  I have talked to management and onboard Guest Services, I have sent pre-cruise requests, and talked to after cruise customer service but it never happens in over 20 cruises.  I was so happy when I saw posts from the Sky Princess showing the IC and buffet had Vegan sandwiches and desserts, but it doesn’t look like it is available and all ships.  I am not vegan, I am just dairy free, but I would be all over those desserts.  

 

Yes, I can always use the app to order something and wait for it but it would be wonderful if I could walk up to the IC counter with my group and be able to have something too.  I do get a bit jelly when I have to sit there and watch everyone else eat. Food allergies stink!  

[PacnGoNow]

12 minutes ago, Cruise Raider said:

asked three different room stewards about what you can swap your minibar out for .. 

all there said the same thing.  We could get a digital coffee card OR swap

They said you could get a digital coffee card????

That’s what the new grounds coffee package was…a digital coffee card.  
 

Don’t see how that’s possible, if it’s discontinued, except on the Discovery Princess, where they are still selling it.

 

I sure hope we can swap for a digital coffee card…

 

Thank you so much for checking this!

[Cruise Raider]

Just now, PacnGoNow said:

They said you could get a digital coffee card????

That’s what the new grounds coffee package was…a digital coffee card.  
 

Don’t see how that’s possible, if it’s discontinued, except on the Discovery Princess, where they are still selling it.

 

I sure hope we can swap for a digital coffee card…

 

Thank you so much for checking this!

I hope so for you as well.  That’s why I asked three different stewards, because I heard the sales of the digital coffee cards was discontinued.  

[Cruise Raider]

2 hours ago, tutumomickey said:

Cruise Raider ,It seems you booked plus at 50$ a day. If so, were you charged 3$ for every 15$ drink?

I did get the package for $50 per day pp. 

And no, everybody with the plus package, regardless of what they paid for it, received drinks with a limit of $15.  While the wine prices on most labeled wines went up by $1 or $2 a glass, the cap was raised by $3 a glass.  This, wines that may have been slightly over the limit prior to the change fell within the limit now.  
I am just hoping the wine selection remains as good as we had on this last sailing.  

 

 

[MsSoCalCruiser]

1 minute ago, Cruise Raider said:

I did get the package for $50 per day pp. 

And no, everybody with the plus package, regardless of what they paid for it, received drinks with a limit of $15.  While the wine prices on most labeled wines went up by $1 or $2 a glass, the cap was raised by $3 a glass.  This, wines that may have been slightly over the limit prior to the change fell within the limit now.  
I am just hoping the wine selection remains as good as we had on this last sailing.  

 

 

I’m glad you posted this because my Packages on the app still shows that my drink limit is $12.  It’s no wonder that everyone is confused.

[chubbypiggy]

12 minutes ago, Cruise Raider said:

I hope so for you as well.  That’s why I asked three different stewards, because I heard the sales of the digital coffee cards was discontinued.  

So what did those three different stewards tell you how the "new" digital coffee card work?  Still can get 15 specialty coffee?   Thank you. 

[chubbypiggy]

32 minutes ago, Cruise Raider said:

I asked three different room stewards about what you can swap your minibar out for .. 

all there said the same thing.  We could get a digital coffee card OR swap out non alcohol drinks for other non alcohol drinks, alcohol for other alcohol drinks or non alcohol drinks.  None mentioned that you could swap it out for a bottle of wine.  
You used to call room service for the swap, now you just ask your room steward.  

BTW, the reason I asked so many room stewards was because they are so new to the policy, I thought I might get different answers, but I didn’t.  
 

Which ship gave you those information?  Discovery?   Thank you.

[Cruise Raider]

3 minutes ago, chubbypiggy said:

Which ship gave you those information?  Discovery?   Thank you.

I was just on the Royal and yes, they said I could swap it out for a digital coffee card.  I have never gotten one as I always get the package but I’m assuming it is 15 specialty coffees.  

[chubbypiggy]

Just now, Cruise Raider said:

I was just on the Royal and yes, they said I could swap it out for a digital coffee card.  I have never gotten one as I always get the package but I’m assuming it is 15 specialty coffees.  

thank you. That is nice to know.  We will be on Majestic next April for 27 days; hopefully will be able to swap our mini bar for 2 coffee packages (each person gets a package, just like what we've been getting on past cruises).

[JimmyVWine]

3 hours ago, Cruise Raider said:

While the wine prices on most labeled wines went up by $1 or $2 a glass, the cap was raised by $3 a glass.  This, wines that may have been slightly over the limit prior to the change fell within the limit now.  

The menus that are posted on the Live thread show wines by the glass as generic selections for $10-$11. Where did you see selections that used to be over the limit ($13-$15) that are now included?  I know every bar can be different but the wine lists posted in the other thread are fairly consistent with little change noted. 

[EconDoc]

2 hours ago, JimmyVWine said:

The menus that are posted on the Live thread show wines by the glass as generic selections for $10-$11. Where did you see selections that used to be over the limit ($13-$15) that are now included?  I know every bar can be different but the wine lists posted in the other thread are fairly consistent with little change noted. 

There are wines on each ship (vary by ship and bar) in the $13-15 range that are better than the generic Plus listing but not listed on the printed menus. These will be covered by the Plus package but you have to ask for them. If you don’t ask, you will normally get the generic one. For example, the generic Pinot Grigio is something like Canaletto at $11 (really bottom of the barrel) but a lot of ships also stock Meomi Pinot Noir (very decent although not premium) and that’s $15 or under. Some ships (in Adagio or one select bar) stock Nipozzano Chianti Reserva (quite decent) which is now $15 up from $14, and now covered instead of $2 up charge. 

 

There are also the noticeably better Premier wines that are mostly $16-19, so you can get these for a small up charge above $15. 
 

If you visit the better stocked wine bars early in the cruise they can show you what they have on board in each price range. I also ask the bartender whether the MDR a has them so I know if I should walk in with my glass or order there. The MDR usually has some but not all of the ones in this range. 
 

A number of the medium fancy cocktails are now $14-15 like the special Bellinis. 

Edited March 4, 2023 by EconDoc

[JimmyVWine]

1 hour ago, EconDoc said:

There are wines on each ship (vary by ship and bar) in the $13-15 range that are better than the generic Plus listing but not listed on the printed menus. These will be covered by the Plus package but you have to ask for them. If you don’t ask, you will normally get the generic one. For example, the generic Pinot Grigio is something like Canaletto at $11 (really bottom of the barrel) but a lot of ships also stock Meomi Pinot Noir (very decent although not premium) and that’s $15 or under. Some ships (in Adagio or one select bar) stock Nipozzano Chianti Reserva (quite decent) which is now $15 up from $14, and now covered instead of $2 up charge. 

 

There are also the noticeably better Premier wines that are mostly $16-19, so you can get these for a small up charge above $15. 
 

If you visit the better stocked wine bars early in the cruise they can show you what they have on board in each price range. I also ask the bartender whether the MDR a has them so I know if I should walk in with my glass or order there. The MDR usually has some but not all of the ones in this range. 
 

A number of the medium fancy cocktails are now $14-15 like the special Bellinis. 

Thank you. Very, very helpful. I definitely see wines on those lists for which I would gladly pay an extra buck or two. But it would also be nice to find some wines within the Plus range that I can order by name. No how, no way am I going to spend my hard earned vacation money ordering generic barrel bottom plonk just because it is “included”. If I can order decent wines and finish the cruise with a bar bill of $50 I will be perfectly happy. Far better than upgrading for $20 x 8 days. 

[Cruise Raider]

21 hours ago, JimmyVWine said:

The menus that are posted on the Live thread show wines by the glass as generic selections for $10-$11. Where did you see selections that used to be over the limit ($13-$15) that are now included?  I know every bar can be different but the wine lists posted in the other thread are fairly consistent with little change noted. 

I am not sure they were even listed on a menu but they were available when we asked for them.  We’ve cruised quite a bit since the restart and have noticed the same wines we used to pay a bit more for are now covered.  
the wine selection on the Royal was great for us but on the Diamond, just terrible.  
so, I think every ship is also different.  

[suzyed]

17 hours ago, JimmyVWine said:

Thank you. Very, very helpful. I definitely see wines on those lists for which I would gladly pay an extra buck or two. But it would also be nice to find some wines within the Plus range that I can order by name. No how, no way am I going to spend my hard earned vacation money ordering generic barrel bottom plonk just because it is “included”. If I can order decent wines and finish the cruise with a bar bill of $50 I will be perfectly happy. Far better than upgrading for $20 x 8 days. 

On our last 15 day sailing we had the Plus package and on 1 or 2 occasions  ordered the "red blend" from the generic Plus menu.  It was ok.  But beyond that we ordered off the regular wine menu and just paid the difference between the $12 (at that time) and the $15-$22 for wine we really enjoyed. 
On our 10 day Enchanted cruise over NYE we did the same.  Our folio balance at the end of that sailing was well under $100.  And the several hundred dollars in casino winnings in my pocket was a nice bonus!

Edited March 4, 2023 by suzyed

[Flo71]

On 3/3/2023 at 7:28 PM, Cruise Raider said:

I did get the package for $50 per day pp. 

And no, everybody with the plus package, regardless of what they paid for it, received drinks with a limit of $15.  While the wine prices on most labeled wines went up by $1 or $2 a glass, the cap was raised by $3 a glass.  This, wines that may have been slightly over the limit prior to the change fell within the limit now.  
I am just hoping the wine selection remains as good as we had on this last sailing.  

 

Thank you, I booked my cruise on Sky for July 2023 way back and paid £30 for plus (I'm from UK) so I am hoping that I still get the $15 limit for drinks - I prefer the odd cocktail to wine. I did ask on Princess' Facebook page and they said I would get drinks up to $15 but not the desserts or fitness classes.

 

[HaveDogWillTravel]

On 3/3/2023 at 6:22 PM, JimmyVWine said:

Thank you. Very, very helpful. I definitely see wines on those lists for which I would gladly pay an extra buck or two. But it would also be nice to find some wines within the Plus range that I can order by name. No how, no way am I going to spend my hard earned vacation money ordering generic barrel bottom plonk just because it is “included”. If I can order decent wines and finish the cruise with a bar bill of $50 I will be perfectly happy. Far better than upgrading for $20 x 8 days. 

I sailed Royal Jan 6-16, 2023 and again Feb 25- March 2, 2023. Here are photos of the MDR wines by the glass that have vineyards listed.
 

In January the whites and roses were between $2-$4 over and the reds were $4 -$6 over. 

 

In Feb those same wines were now $1-$4 over for whites & roses and $2- $4 over for reds. 
 

The price of the port went up $3 so it stayed $1 over Plus. 

[Steelers36]

All these increases in the wine menu just make it more justified than even to BYOW which is what I do.

I appreciate that Princess allows us to do this and hope it continues.

[wowzz]

7 minutes ago, Steelers36 said:

All these increases in the wine menu just make it more justified than even to BYOW which is what I do.

I appreciate that Princess allows us to do this and hope it continues.

As I posted elsewhere, the issue we have is that it is not always easy to carry on a minimum of 18 bottles of wine. We therefore buy Princess Plus, and pay the extra for the Premier wines by the glass.

Edited March 5, 2023 by wowzz

[Steelers36]

49 minutes ago, wowzz said:

As I posted elsewhere, the issue we have is that it is not always easy to carry on a minimum of 18 bottles of wine. We therefore buy Princess Plus, and pay the extra for the Premier wines by the glass.

Yes, it can very much depend on the supply needed and length of voyage.  Depending on voyage, supplies can be replenished at ports of call.  Most I ever brought on at check-in was two cases.  We don't drink much for dinner.  I can say it was a challenge to handle two cases in the terminal but we were heading out for two months.  I could get additional in South America.  If I wasn't bringing on wine, I'd have to re-evaluate because I would have done the Plus at $40 if no BYOW, but at $60, I pass as we would have $73/day to spend on drinks and it takes us at least two days to finish a bottle for certain.  I know as always it comes down to personal consumption and habits.

[JimmyVWine]

1 hour ago, Steelers36 said:

All these increases in the wine menu just make it more justified than even to BYOW which is what I do.

I appreciate that Princess allows us to do this and hope it continues.

For domestic departures we do. For European departures it is impossible for me to bring that volume of wine with me. 

[Steelers36]

49 minutes ago, JimmyVWine said:

For domestic departures we do. For European departures it is impossible for me to bring that volume of wine with me. 

I bought my supply in Civitavecchia and picked up one or two elsewhere during our travels.  IDK how easy other ports are to obtain wine before the cruise.  I will say that Civi is not the easiest place to find decent wine at reasonable pricing.  But I did find some good values at a FCO duty-free in one of the concourses we walked through after returning from Sicily to board the next ship.