Future Cruise Package: Any Experiences?

[fishmom]

14 hours ago, Luv2cruz1000 said:

Not sure who it is through but I had this sales pitch from my personal vacation planner when I contacted him with a question regarding my cruise. I should say former, I ended up getting a better price and canceling the one booked through him....partly because I don't need sales pitches!

 

Same thing happened to me.  I asked my personal planner a question about hotels pre and post cruise.  He came back with the $7000 package offer.  He was from Princess, or at least attached to them somehow, because he had all the details about my upcoming cruise.  I ditched him quick!

[milogurd]

You need to watch this:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izOmxu3StrI

 

[Luv2cruz1000]

7 hours ago, milogurd said:

You need to watch this:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izOmxu3StrI

 

Interesting...Just to repeat my above comment, it was a personal vacation planner (I called them!) that pushed this. Not sure how I feel about Princess Cruises at the moment!

[Guest ldtr]

Since O.N.E. has taken over the future cruise department on board they are now selling these on board.

 

From what I have seen there is a lot of disclaimers about the land portion. Things like may not cover full cost, may have limited availability, may not be available at all properties, will not cover resort fees, etc.

 

The couple that own O.N.E. sold their old business which allowed people to swap time share weeks for cruises. Might be why this reminds people of time share like offers

 

On my last cruise the person in the future cruise department seemed very surprised when I asked how long they had worked for O.N.E. that I even knew that. They had previously been doing future cruise sales for Viking.

Edited July 28, 2023 by ldtr

[Guest ldtr]

11 hours ago, milogurd said:

You need to watch this:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izOmxu3StrI

 

I do not believe his information is correct. There is another group called Princess Promotions.

 

The company doing these packages is ONE  Open Network Exchange. They now staff the on board future cruise sales department. They have also taken over the duties of the previous Captain Circle Host.

 

They have access to all of the cruise history and current booking information. Same as Princess customer service.

[Guest ldtr]

Have to do more checking. The old links to Princess Promotions no longer seem to work. Possible that ONE may have taken over that name as well.

[senior lady]

On 7/26/2023 at 8:59 PM, Carla3 said:

I’m trying to fully understand the benefits of the new future cruise package. Here’s my offer. For $7000 I get $6000 FFC plus $300 OBC plus $750 hotel credit. $6000 plus $300 plus $750 = $7050. So the first part is only really a $50 value. The second part of the package is 1 week stay certificate plus 2x 2 day certificates to be used at “highly rated hotel throughout the world”. I’m trying to find out the fine print on the “certificate” stays. Doesn’t seem realistic I could book a 5 star Honolulu hotel that’s $900 a night (7 x$900 = $6300) for “free” as an example. How is Princess or whoever the third party is making any money? My suspicion is the “stay certificate” is a time share property that’s hoping to reel you in

This is a 3rd party marketing firm.  Just like selling timeshares.  It's not a good deal, and has lots of exclusions and hard to book.   

[sandyoftheseas]

Just off the Caribbean Princess in July we stopped off at the future cruise desk to pick up a FCC form. The employee started talking to us about this option we quickly stated we were not interested, he gave us a FCC form and we left.

[Redwing55]

One might also consider the time value of money.  That's a pretty large "deposit" for what one is getting back.   And some of us have been able to get discounted gift cards (AARP for one, some credit cards) so it doesn't seem like a deal to take.

[Rick&Jeannie]

Something tells me that this "promotion" is not going to be long lived.  I just can't imagine many people agreeing to terms such as this.

[MustangGT]

I’ve been called several times and have always been polite when I tell the caller we are not interested.

In the past week, I have been called by Ruby with the same spiel.  The only reason I answered was because the caller ID showed my Princess Cruise Planner’s name and number!!  I told Ruby I was not interested, won’t be interested in the future and to take me off the list and not call again.

[rubyred1952]

Today, We received a phone call about New Princess Future Cruise Promotion. I reported the phone call/emai  with same info as #16 note to TA & Princess customer service. We are concerned that private information was available to this person. 

[Sulialto]

On 8/22/2023 at 9:23 PM, rubyred1952 said:

Today, We received a phone call about New Princess Future Cruise Promotion. I reported the phone call/emai  with same info as #16 note to TA & Princess customer service. We are concerned that private information was available to this person. 

SO, believe it or not, it’s not a scam but a 3rd party (Open Network) working with PCL offering you this “deal”. We were forced to use them (Open Network) by getting a $1000.00 gift certificate for a Princess Cruise from Verizon. Most of the staff was pleasant, but lacked any detailed knowledge about Princess… I certainly knew more than they did! In any event, “IF” you “REALLY” think you’ll use ALL they are offering and can put up with using them as your TA, go for it.

[PacnGoNow]

54 minutes ago, Sulialto said:

SO, believe it or not, it’s not a scam but a 3rd party (Open Network) working with PCL offering you this “deal”. We were forced to use them (Open Network) by getting a $1000.00 gift certificate for a Princess Cruise from Verizon. Most of the staff was pleasant, but lacked any detailed knowledge about Princess… I certainly knew more than they did! In any event, “IF” you “REALLY” think you’ll use ALL they are offering and can put up with using them as your TA, go for it.

It is real, but it has taken months of cold calls and some not as nice as others.  Acting as though they were PCL employees.  They are not. They are a 3rd party TA (O.N.E).  It would have been nice if PCL would have announced that they would be calling or emailing us.

 

We had to figure it out.  They have access to our information and now in the day of identity theft, we should have been told.

 

No transparency again.

 

JMO

[Melonn]

I got an unsolicited phone call today.  I asked caller for location & he said "Scottsdale AZ".  I felt the deal was very poor.  I have been disappointed in the pre-pandemic Princess but that's the new reality...get less but pay more.  The agent had access to my cruise history and even knew how much shipboard credit I was given on my most recent cruise.  Bah humbug!

[IndyKid]

I smell a  rat....

[nymshowdown]

Had a Princess rep call me the other night offering their "Future Cruise Package". When you run the numbers, it does sound like a decent deal if you're already planning on booking $3k worth of cruises over the next 24 months. You're basically paying $49 for a 5 night resort stay, but it's limited to "thousands of top rated resorts" and I'm skeptical on their definition of that. Could easily be $1,000+ in value there depending on what resorts are bookable. 

 

Here's a summary of what the package includes. Anyone with any experience booking this package? 

 

Princess Future Cruise Package provides incredible incremental value and flexibility by allowing you to reserve your next Princess cruise without having to commit to a specific sail date.   Priced at $3499, your package includes $3,000 Future Cruise Credits, $100 Onboard Credits, $350 Hotel Credits, and one 5-night Stay Certificate.

 

 

Future Cruise Credits (FCCs)

Future Cruise Credits allow you to purchase your Princess cruise(s) once you are ready to book. Each FCC is worth $1, allows you to sail over the next 24 months, and can be used towards any future cruise booking with Princess. FCCs may be applied to one cruise or multiple cruises - the choice is yours!

 

Onboard Credits (OBCs)

An Onboard Credit (OBC) is a dollar amount that will be credited to your account for the first cruise booked as part of your Princess Future Cruise Package.  Onboard Credits can be applied to expenses charged using your Princess Medallion during your cruise and can also be used as credit towards shore excursions, beverages, items purchased in the Shops of Princess, and services at the Lotus Spa.

 

Hotel Credits

Hotel Credits are exclusive to Princess Future Cruise Packages and allow you to save on hotel rooms found in the Princess Promotions hotel store. This booking engine includes tens of thousands of hotels around the world, including some of your favorite resort and island locations. Your Hotel Credits expire in 24 months, giving you plenty of time to find your next exciting destination.

 

Stay Certificates

Your package includes a 5-night Stay Certificate that can be used to reserve accommodations, at thousands of top-rated hotels and resorts around the world. You can combine your Stay Certificate as a pre- or post-stay with your cruise or use it for an entirely separate vacation. Like your cruise, you must complete your stay within 24 months of purchasing your package.

[Cruise Raider]

We also received the call but not worth it for us as we so very rarely stay in hotels. So, it would only offer us $3100 for $3500 worth of product we’d actually use.  
 

[cjpj]

They were offering these (or something similar) at the Future Cruise Consultant on board our last cruise.

[justafem]

On 12/29/2023 at 5:57 AM, nymshowdown said:

Had a Princess rep call me the other night offering their "Future Cruise Package". When you run the numbers, it does sound like a decent deal if you're already planning on booking $3k worth of cruises over the next 24 months. You're basically paying $49 for a 5 night resort stay, but it's limited to "thousands of top rated resorts" and I'm skeptical on their definition of that. Could easily be $1,000+ in value there depending on what resorts are bookable. 

 

Here's a summary of what the package includes. Anyone with any experience booking this package? 

 

Princess Future Cruise Package provides incredible incremental value and flexibility by allowing you to reserve your next Princess cruise without having to commit to a specific sail date.   Priced at $3499, your package includes $3,000 Future Cruise Credits, $100 Onboard Credits, $350 Hotel Credits, and one 5-night Stay Certificate.

 

 

Future Cruise Credits (FCCs)

Future Cruise Credits allow you to purchase your Princess cruise(s) once you are ready to book. Each FCC is worth $1, allows you to sail over the next 24 months, and can be used towards any future cruise booking with Princess. FCCs may be applied to one cruise or multiple cruises - the choice is yours!

 

Onboard Credits (OBCs)

An Onboard Credit (OBC) is a dollar amount that will be credited to your account for the first cruise booked as part of your Princess Future Cruise Package.  Onboard Credits can be applied to expenses charged using your Princess Medallion during your cruise and can also be used as credit towards shore excursions, beverages, items purchased in the Shops of Princess, and services at the Lotus Spa.

 

Hotel Credits

Hotel Credits are exclusive to Princess Future Cruise Packages and allow you to save on hotel rooms found in the Princess Promotions hotel store. This booking engine includes tens of thousands of hotels around the world, including some of your favorite resort and island locations. Your Hotel Credits expire in 24 months, giving you plenty of time to find your next exciting destination.

 

Stay Certificates

Your package includes a 5-night Stay Certificate that can be used to reserve accommodations, at thousands of top-rated hotels and resorts around the world. You can combine your Stay Certificate as a pre- or post-stay with your cruise or use it for an entirely separate vacation. Like your cruise, you must complete your stay within 24 months of purchasing your package.

Those are from a 3rd party travel agent.  They change their name every couple of years, because of the poor reviews.  I don't trust them.

[cr8tiv1]

This “promotion” has been around for over a year and yet no one has posted yay or nay about it.

 

 HMMMMM

[Rick&Jeannie]

I wouldn't touch it!  Even though they *appear* to be "blessed" by Princess directly (given that they have your entire cruise history & such) that old adage about "being too good to be true" comes to mind.  Plus...I prefer to not have any kind of "middleman" between myself and anybody that I do business with.  Can you really count on these people to "be around" if/when something goes wrong?

[Steelers36]

On 12/29/2023 at 8:57 AM, nymshowdown said:

Had a Princess rep call me the other night offering their "Future Cruise Package". When you run the numbers, it does sound like a decent deal if you're already planning on booking $3k worth of cruises over the next 24 months. You're basically paying $49 for a 5 night resort stay, but it's limited to "thousands of top rated resorts" and I'm skeptical on their definition of that. Could easily be $1,000+ in value there depending on what resorts are bookable. 

 

This offering was mostly panned in this forum when it came out and then a number of times afterwards when other random folks posted about it.  Seems like the story has not changed.  It is not something I would do.

[AussieOmni]

It’s not giving me any extra value so I don’t see the point in doing this. I just did one on Virgin but that was $300 for $600 booking credit and $600 on board credit.

[dog]

On 1/20/2023 at 1:33 PM, Calif. Cruisers said:

Would be nice if someone from Princess Cruises could confirm whether this is a legitimate promotion they are offering or not.  The caller I spoke to was calling from the UK and sent a link to what looks like it could be a legitimate website and has an @princesscruises.com email address.  

Yet, I am suspicious too- so would like to know more before considering these offers.

Here is the fine print in the email, so it makes me even more suspicious....:

The information contained in this email and any attachment may be confidential and/or legally privileged and has been sent for the sole use of the intended recipient. If you are not an intended recipient, you are not authorized to review, use, disclose or copy any of its contents. If you have received this email in error please reply to the sender and destroy all copies of the message. Thank you.

To the extent that the matters contained in this email relate to services being provided by Princess Cruises and/or Holland America Line (together "HA Group") to Carnival Australia/P&O Cruises Australia, HA Group is providing these services under the terms of a Services Agreement between HA Group and Carnival Australia.

My email says this too.