No exchanges anymore for mini bar to coffee?

[PacnGoNow]

1 minute ago, AE_Collector said:

We’re Elite and all of our grandkids have one.

Some Elites I know, collect them from each ship. 

[billco]

8 hours ago, caribill said:

 

Posters on Cruise Critic have said they are no longer available on board. Not known is if they have a supply problem or just do not want to sell them anymore.

They were available on my recent cruises on the Discovery Princess.

[Ombud]

Courtesy of another CC member:

It's not THAT expensive by the cup!!

[JimmyVWine]

14 hours ago, Ombud said:

Courtesy of another CC member:

It's not THAT expensive by the cup!!

Right?  I was told earlier in this thread that the prices were $5.00 if not more.  

[pompeii]

14 hours ago, Ombud said:

Courtesy of another CC member:

It's not THAT expensive by the cup!!

 

17 minutes ago, JimmyVWine said:

Right?  I was told earlier in this thread that the prices were $5.00 if not more.  

Well, the blended coffees are $5.  I'm wondering though if these prices will hold once they make the switch to Lavazza.  

[Ombud]

26 minutes ago, pompeii said:

 

Well, the blended coffees are $5.  I'm wondering though if these prices will hold once they make the switch to Lavazza.  

Yeah but a large pot of tea is $2.36 all in

[dreams_of_travel]

15 hours ago, Ombud said:

Courtesy of another CC member:

It's not THAT expensive by the cup!!

Though they will add that pesky 18% gratuity onto that price if you don't have the drink package.  So the cafe latte is really $4.13.  Still not that much compared to Starbucks.  YMMV

[Happiest when cruising]

26 minutes ago, Ombud said:

Yeah but a large pot of tea is $2.36 all in

I believe it was me that said up to 5.00 for the coffee that I like. I stick to my word and see I was correct for my favourite fancy coffee drinks. I don’t care how much the tea is, as I don’t really care for it. I do also like a large fresh brewed coffee in the morning, which is a reasonable price. Of course..they are adding on 18% for the gratuities on top of that. I won’t go into how I also need to add on about 38% to my final cost as I am Canadian. So…approximately 8.15 for my daily fix of a fun coffee drink. It’s easy to see why I will miss being able to use the old “coffee card” system and how I’m a little sad that I won’t be able to change out the mini bar, since it was finally going to be available to me in the next couple of weeks. But…time goes on and things change, I’m still going to have a great time. 

[Happiest when cruising]

1 hour ago, JimmyVWine said:

Right?  I was told earlier in this thread that the prices were $5.00 if not more.  

That would probably be me..and it is. 5.00 for the blended, which is what I am most interested in. 

[AE_Collector]

13 minutes ago, Happiest when cruising said:

I believe it was me that said up to 5.00 for the coffee that I like. I stick to my word and see I was correct for my favourite fancy coffee drinks. I don’t care how much the tea is, as I don’t really care for it. I do also like a large fresh brewed coffee in the morning, which is a reasonable price. Of course..they are adding on 18% for the gratuities on top of that. I won’t go into how I also need to add on about 38% to my final cost as I am Canadian. So…approximately 8.15 for my daily fix of a fun coffee drink. It’s easy to see why I will miss being able to use the old “coffee card” system and how I’m a little sad that I won’t be able to change out the mini bar, since it was finally going to be available to me in the next couple of weeks. But…time goes on and things change, I’m still going to have a great time. 

Yeah that part really adds up. We’ve almost always booked using the Princess CAD price so it’s 35% currently and most of the time it is a little below the real bank exchange rate. And that covers cruise price, port fees and taxes, and can cover all onboard spending including gratuities and excursions if you prepay and/or pre purchase OBC to cover it all. BUT…+35% is still a big hit. We were cruising a lot in the 2011-2018 time frame and there were a lot of times that CAD and US $’s were at par. We didn’t know how well we had it then. 
 

We primarily do Back to Back cruises and would have coffee cards from previous cruises to use (almost exclusively for the punches) so we would get the minibar swapped to our liking on the first cruise of alcohol/non alcohol items and could usually stretch it over two cruises (yes we are light weight drinkers) and then we would swap our second cruise minibar for coffee cards to use on our next B2B. So we easily accomplished having a cold alcohol or non alcohol drink or a specialty coffee over both cruises. But that came to a full stop as the coffee card went online. We had about 4 cards left to get coffees for everyone in our last cruise before they expired. Now we choose which we want, mini bar or coffee cards not understanding why we couldn’t choose one coffee card and half minibar but they have “solved” that now too.
 

Terry (in Coquitlam)

Edited April 6, 2023 by AE_Collector

[Happiest when cruising]

1 minute ago, AE_Collector said:

Yeah that part really adds up. We’ve almost always booked using the Princess CAD price so it’s 35% currently and most of the time it is a little below the real bank exchange rate. And that covers cruise price, port fees and taxes, and can cover all onboard spending including gratuities and excursions if you prepay and/or pre purchase OBC to cover it all. BUT…+35% is still a big hit. We were cruising a lot in the 2011-2018 time frame and there were a lot of times that CAD and US $’s were at par. We didn’t know how well we had it then. 
 

Terry (in Coquitlam)

It’s all good, cruising is something we enjoy and just have to deal with it as it comes. I tuck away as much USD as I can during the year and have a USD bank account and credit card. My husband is better at just forgetting about it it and thinking USD once we are away. I am an old banker and my mind automatically still converts it, at the time I make a purchase. Then I have to decide if it’s worth it, that goes the same for excursions and any shopping we might do while we are away. These days, I definitely think twice about purchases. I also remember when the exchange was even higher than today. 

[AE_Collector]

2 minutes ago, Happiest when cruising said:

It’s all good, cruising is something we enjoy and just have to deal with it as it comes. I tuck away as much USD as I can during the year and have a USD bank account and credit card. My husband is better at just forgetting about it it and thinking USD once we are away. I am an old banker and my mind automatically still converts it, at the time I make a purchase. Then I have to decide if it’s worth it, that goes the same for excursions and any shopping we might do while we are away. These days, I definitely think twice about purchases. I also remember when the exchange was even higher than today. 

Yes for sure, around $1.60 at one point. We gave a cabin in WA at Pt Roberts that we bought at $1.42 exchange rate in 1995. While horrible to be locked in at 1.42 the good part of that is that the US selling prices plummet there when exchange is bad as its 80% Canadians. 

[Ombud]

34 minutes ago, Happiest when cruising said:

I believe it was me that said up to 5.00 for the coffee that I like. I stick to my word and see I was correct for my favourite fancy coffee drinks. I don’t care how much the tea is, as I don’t really care for it. I do also like a large fresh brewed coffee in the morning, which is a reasonable price. Of course..they are adding on 18% for the gratuities on top of that. I won’t go into how I also need to add on about 38% to my final cost as I am Canadian. So…approximately 8.15 for my daily fix of a fun coffee drink. It’s easy to see why I will miss being able to use the old “coffee card” system and how I’m a little sad that I won’t be able to change out the mini bar, since it was finally going to be available to me in the next couple of weeks. But…time goes on and things change, I’m still going to have a great time. 

But on land I get 8.75% tax added on & if I tip i round up .... so how is this different? I was upset about not being able to trade for it but think Princess is losing out as I now get a bottle of wine .... supposedly 🤫 .... I'll see next week 

 

Anyway talking pennies here. Literally 9 pennies per pot or 23c cup

 

 

Edited April 6, 2023 by Ombud

[Sea Hag]

On 4/5/2023 at 7:16 AM, startedwithamouse said:

Another reason why Princess should get rid of standard and just sell fares with Plus.

 

Slows down the server. 

Well that's a big no from me! Why should I be forced to pay for things I don't want, need or use? Specifically, we don't drink alcohol, so I definitely resist the notion that I should be forced to pay for it.

[Happiest when cruising]

11 minutes ago, Ombud said:

But on land I get 8.75% tax added on & if I tip i round up .... so how is this different? I was upset about not being able to trade for it but think Princess is losing out as I now get a bottle of wine .... supposedly 🤫 .... I'll see next week 

Hmm. I’m not even sure we pay tax on coffee in Canada. It’s also very rare that I purchase it at a restaurant or get one at a fast food or drive though type place. I just enjoy my coffee at home in the morning, for the most part.  I just fill up my travel mug and take it with me, if I have an early start.
I plan to purchase my one large coffee on board in the morning, and pour it into my own cup. If by chance the coffee in the buffet and MDR is drinkable this time, even better.  I’ll enjoy the fancy coffee, instead of a dessert later in the day. 
 

Will we be seeing you on the Crown next week? 

Edited April 6, 2023 by Happiest when cruising

[pompeii]

On 4/5/2023 at 10:16 AM, startedwithamouse said:

Another reason why Princess should get rid of standard and just sell fares with Plus.

 

Slows down the server. 

Oh, not on your life!  I understand that simply by paying a basic fare I subsidize certain things on board that I don't use or participate in, but I have no interest in subsidizing other people's alcohol consumption.

[MsSoCalCruiser]

17 hours ago, AE_Collector said:

We’re Elite and all of our grandkids have one.

I am also Elite and my grandkids do not have one… I probably should book another cruise so I can purchase some. Win, win.  😂😂😂

[cr8tiv1]

1 hour ago, MsSoCalCruiser said:

I am also Elite and my grandkids do not have one… I probably should book another cruise so I can purchase some. Win, win.  😂😂😂

 

I am also elite.  My grandkids do not have one.  I was tempted on my recent cruise, but had absolutely no room to spare.  I keep booking.  Maybe one day.

[travelin.sisters]

4 hours ago, cr8tiv1 said:

 

I am also elite.  My grandkids do not have one.  I was tempted on my recent cruise, but had absolutely no room to spare.  I keep booking.  Maybe one day.

my sissy bought them for all the grandkids when they first came out...it was a Panama Canal cruise & we lost 3 ports (2 to tropical storms & 1 an earthquake messed up the harbor) so she had tons of OBC & wanted to do some shoping therapy...but when you get off at home rather than needing to fly, it's easy not to have to worry about space...they are one of the few things Princess sells that don't seem terribly overpriced to me...I was tempted when the Sapphire had the Cherry Stanley left over from her Japan cruises (she is pink like cherry blossoms) but traveling with 3 is already excessive.

[cr8tiv1]

17 minutes ago, travelin.sisters said:

my sissy bought them for all the grandkids when they first came out...it was a Panama Canal cruise & we lost 3 ports (2 to tropical storms & 1 an earthquake messed up the harbor) so she had tons of OBC & wanted to do some shoping therapy...but when you get off at home rather than needing to fly, it's easy not to have to worry about space...they are one of the few things Princess sells that don't seem terribly overpriced to me...I was tempted when the Sapphire had the Cherry Stanley left over from her Japan cruises (she is pink like cherry blossoms) but traveling with 3 is already excessive.

 

Oh, is that her name.   Cherry....I loved how pink she was.  Just couldn't do it.  Tough when you have only one free luggage and $100 for the second one.

[Ombud]

8 hours ago, Sea Hag said:

Well that's a big no from me! Why should I be forced to pay for things I don't want, need or use? Specifically, we don't drink alcohol, so I definitely resist the notion that I should be forced to pay for it.

Yep. It takes me a week to drain 1 bottle so I'm still ahead trading my minibar. Plus on those cruises from home port (SF) I don't need to buy wifi. I don't want any distractions while donating to the casino

[travelin.sisters]

4 hours ago, cr8tiv1 said:

 

Oh, is that her name.   Cherry....I loved how pink she was.  Just couldn't do it.  Tough when you have only one free luggage and $100 for the second one.

ohh...adding $100 for her flight home, would make her very expensive...she is cute though

[Sea Hag]

13 hours ago, Ombud said:

 I don't want any distractions while donating to the casino

Definitely, you shouldn't want any distractions to that! 🤣

[BETELVE]

This morning at Customer Service on the Caribbean Princess I was able to exchange my mini-bar for a $40 credit.

[Steelers36]

14 minutes ago, BETELVE said:

This morning at Customer Service on the Caribbean Princess I was able to exchange my mini-bar for a $40 credit.

A fall-back for sure.  I wonder if they get that from approx value of 20 waters?  I get more value from 10 beer and 10 Perrier.