Unpopular Opinion: I'm excited about the changes to Plus and Premier

[rosevew]

5 hours ago, CruizinSusan70 said:

So that's a good reason to no longer cruise on a rust bucket and cruise on a Royal Class or, gasp, a Sphere Class ship.

Sky has very limited casual options (Alfredo's and Sushi) and certainly not an old rust bucket!  As for the new ships, they really don't appeal.

[brynmelyndavid]

5 hours ago, CruizinSusan70 said:

But that glass only gets refilled 14 times.

Frankly that should be more than enough for anyone....

[ExploringTheGlobe]

9 hours ago, Princessfan20 said:

 

OMG!  I am pretty sure just about everyone on the Princess CC boards are a shareholder.  Next!

Based on some of the shareholder slanted threads here, there are a lot of people on CC who are not shareholders. 

[ExploringTheGlobe]

2 hours ago, robncruise said:

The problem with these changes is that they are not "enhancements" to the Plus and Premier Packages.. They were already there for all cruisers. If you have the package and want to eat at Alfredos more than twice you will now have to pay 

The "spin" is so annoying. All  Princess needed to do was say we are introducing  charges for casual restaurants and Ocean now/ room service delivery. Would have been frank and honest and would not have created  all this for/against confusing discussion.  And if I book a cruise today on the NZ website it states quite clearly ( in 2 different pages of the booking process) that one of the benefits is "complimentary 24 hr room service"

Not true, actually!  I used to pay for sushi at Ocean Terrace and now it will be included.  And I booked the premier fare for my next cruise on the Regal so I won't have a limit of how many times I can enjoy the sushi either!

[KarmaCruisers]

9 hours ago, drwbrt said:

I think the medallion data gives them a home run.  My worry is that Princess employs base coaches that have never even watched the sport.

That’s a GREAT analogy! I’m going to start using that for things.

[Cruise Raider]

4 hours ago, cruise_critical said:

 

But yeah, I fully get why many people are upset by the change, and really, Princess should have grandfathered the benefits to previously booked customers, and only change/omit them for new bookings post-change-date.

 

Not being one that is at all upset about the changes, perhaps some common ground would have been to delay the implementation of these changes to occur after final payment date, so that would be 90 days out.  However, I’m sure they analyzed all the financial data and as I’ve stated, they chose the ‘rip the bandaid off approach’.  
The ones that are really voicing their ire about this are those with the standard package and have past final payment date.  It’s probably a small group in comparison.  I don’t really think that Princess would want those cancellations but they are still filling their ships and my guess is, they will continue to do so.  
 

[New2cruise2022]

1 hour ago, ExploringTheGlobe said:

Not true, actually!  I used to pay for sushi at Ocean Terrace and now it will be included.  And I booked the premier fare for my next cruise on the Regal so I won't have a limit of how many times I can enjoy the sushi either!

Un-lim-it-ed. 

[New2cruise2022]

25 minutes ago, Cruise Raider said:

Not being one that is at all upset about the changes, perhaps some common ground would have been to delay the implementation of these changes to occur after final payment date, so that would be 90 days out.  However, I’m sure they analyzed all the financial data and as I’ve stated, they chose the ‘rip the bandaid off approach’.  
The ones that are really voicing their ire about this are those with the standard package and have past final payment date.  It’s probably a small group in comparison.  I don’t really think that Princess would want those cancellations but they are still filling their ships and my guess is, they will continue to do so.  
 

Cruising is a unique product to market by the cruise lines because of the planning. The difficulty to forecast all-inclusive and semi-inclusive offerings is what makes it so expensive and risky for cruise lines. Changes like this is like standing next to two twirling jump ropes trying to find the right time to jump into a round of double dutch. Different than double dutch, making changes like this is like jumping in with 15 or 100 jump ropes twirling. There is never a best time. 

[Cruise Raider]

10 minutes ago, New2cruise2022 said:

Cruising is a unique product to market by the cruise lines because of the planning. The difficulty to forecast all-inclusive and semi-inclusive offerings is what makes it so expensive and risky for cruise lines. Changes like this is like standing next to two twirling jump ropes trying to find the right time to jump into a round of double dutch. Different than double dutch, making changes like this is like jumping in with 15 or 100 jump ropes twirling. There is never a best time. 

If I recall correctly, Celebrity implemented their room service charge in much the same way.  However, their pricing for the delivery is more than twice as much.  Plus, they don’t deliver it just anywhere on the ship like Princess does.  Thus, we just never used it.  
 

[getaway101]

9 hours ago, CruizinSusan70 said:

Carnival still allows it, but according to your signature you've never cruised on her so you wouldn't know.

Princess is the last one that allows stockholders to still claim the OBC even though they got a special deal or have other OBC.  Royal & Celebrity did away with that years ago. 

 

You forgot to post the rest of my post.  I was only referring to the ones I mentioned.

But you are correct.  I have never been on Carnival.

Edited August 6, 2023 by getaway101

[JGmf]

7 hours ago, cruise_critical said:

Princess should have grandfathered the benefits to previously booked customers, and only change/omit them for new bookings post-change-date.

 

Doing so would be a practical and operational nightmare for Princess and cause confusion with staff and passengers into 2024.

[memoak]

13 hours ago, Wink87 said:

And now they eliminated scheduling an embarkation time.

They never enforced it anyways

[memoak]

12 hours ago, New2cruise2022 said:

I know I throw it out like it is easy, but I understand the difficulties that would arise in creating and implementing. But … if there is a way to increase profits AND customer satisfaction, they will find a way. Not to mention, the data provided by the medallions is already there to see what people want. The data is there to know that X percent of people NEVER go to the gym. (Great, we can include a basic gym entry, but have better hours and equipment for people that purchase the upgraded gym.) The data is there to know how many people only go to the buffet and what time they go to the gym. X percent like to be in the buffet when it first opens. (Great, breakfast buffet for standard is 7-9 am. Upgrade to have exclusive access at 6:30 am and come in at 9:30 am for late breakfast.)

 

If they are smart and understand the value of data, Princess has ALL of this at their fingertips. 

So you are going to check the medallion of everyone walking into the buffet?  I can see that line out to the pool and arguments every day. We observed many people trying to force their way into reserve class dining 

[CruizinSusan70]

On 8/3/2023 at 5:43 PM, gah_cruise said:

So when you get on your 2025 cruise @memoak and find that the $60/day Plus package you purchased in 2023 no longer provides you with 15 alcoholic beverages a day (up to $15) but you must now either upgrade to the new Plus++ package (upgrade for only cost $30/pp/pd) or you are limited to a maximum of 8 alcoholic drinks................are you going to roll over and upgrade?

What other nonsense are you going to try to run up the flag pole and hope comes true?  The drink packages on Carnival, Princess and HAL will remain at a 15 quantity limit.  Many moderate drinkers have hoped for a lesser limit because they don't want to spend as much.  If you don't want to spend as much all you need to do is cruise on Princess and buy the plus package.  You get drinks, drinks tips, regular tips and wifi for 60/day.  On Carnival, it would cost you over 100 for the same inclusions.  60 for Cheers, 10.80 for drink tips, 16 for grats, 17 for wifi.

[CruizinSusan70]

On 8/3/2023 at 6:19 PM, cruzsnooze said:

There in lies the issue. For those that don't drink for reasons of health, abuse of alcohol, liver disease or anything else the package doesn't work and previous resources are removed. 

There are a small percentage of cruisers that the package works for that don't consume a drop of alcohol.  It has been reported on the boards that some like to consume the non alcoholic options of the package and combined with the wifi and grats, it still brings them value.  

There are three different options between the two packages and the standard fare that will meet the needs of all cruisers depending upon what their preferences are.  

[MissP22]

11 hours ago, cruise_critical said:

But yeah, I fully get why many people are upset by the change, and really, Princess should have grandfathered the benefits to previously booked customers, and only change/omit them for new bookings post-change-date.

That would have been the honorable thing to do but the dollars got in the way, even for their most loyal customers.

(if there is such a thing anymore)

[CruizinSusan70]

On 8/3/2023 at 10:22 PM, cruzsnooze said:

It would take an awful lot to drink $60-$80 . A 6 pack of water prepaid is $7.08 which includes the gratuity. I usually purchase this water bottle package and change my mini bar to 20 diet cokes. Diet cokes 6 for $11. If you don't use sugar the juices and ice creams are not going to be consumed. 

  If you drink alcohol it probably pays to get a package. 

It's not 60-80 worth of only beverages.  You're forgetting about the 16.00 per day for grats and the whatever per day for wifi.  As drwbrt said, there are a small percentage of people that can consume a lot of non-alcoholic drinks on a daily basis in order to make the plus package valuable to them after factoring in the wifi and gratuities as well. 

[CruizinSusan70]

On 8/4/2023 at 5:05 AM, Jim_Roberts said:

Princess Cruises are free to include and exclude what they wish provided this is made clear at the time of booking.  Cutting back on services for people already booked without compensation, is bait and switch at its worst.   I'm sailing with them in two weeks' time, but never again.  I don't trade with crooks.

Peruse the boards of all of their competitors.  Long time cruisers of just about every cruise line are complaining about one thing or another.  The grass is not always greener elsewhere.  But, if you have not cruised on X or Y before and you give them a try, you don't know what you're missing from what was previously offered.

[CruizinSusan70]

On 8/4/2023 at 11:40 AM, roadster08 said:

There are like about 10 tables in Alfredo's. I want to see what princess does when half the cruisers with plus or premiere scrum to use their casual dining benefits. The closer to the end of the cruise, the crazier it will get. I see a lot of tipped chairs at empty tables in Alfredo's future.

Maybe on some of the older ships in the fleet that we will never cruise on, but there are substantially more that 10 tables on the Majestic as well as Discovery.  And on the Discovery for 14 days last year, sea day lunch time waits were over an hour for lunch, so we decided to just go to the MDR and enjoy Alfredo's on a port day when it was easier to get in without a long wait.

[CruizinSusan70]

On 8/4/2023 at 12:38 PM, mtnesterz said:

 

Passengers may never have gone to those casual dining places when included, but now that they pay, they will insist upon it. These venues will become more crowded.

Alfredo's won't be more crowded, but places like the sit down Salty Dog will be.   Cruised on the Discovery for 14 days last year and the most people that we ever saw in the venue were 6, a table of 2 and a table of 4.  Most of the time, it was crickets and cobwebs.

[roadster08]

54 minutes ago, CruizinSusan70 said:

Maybe on some of the older ships in the fleet that we will never cruise on, but there are substantially more that 10 tables on the Majestic as well as Discovery.  And on the Discovery for 14 days last year, sea day lunch time waits were over an hour for lunch, so we decided to just go to the MDR and enjoy Alfredo's on a port day when it was easier to get in without a long wait.

Lol. Maybe on Sapphire they should swap the casino space and Alfredo's. Talk about a dead zone. 

[New2cruise2022]

57 minutes ago, CruizinSusan70 said:

Alfredo's won't be more crowded, but places like the sit down Salty Dog will be.   Cruised on the Discovery for 14 days last year and the most people that we ever saw in the venue were 6, a table of 2 and a table of 4.  Most of the time, it was crickets and cobwebs.

There is a little medallion that everyone willingly wear around and collects data for Princess. They know where the people are and what times they are there. They are making very educated guesses as they make changes to what is free … and what is included. 

[CruizinSusan70]

On 8/5/2023 at 6:05 PM, mikjr said:

The value is there, only for those who drink alcohol.  For those of us who don't drink (health issues, AA, etc), those packages are worthless, and have lessened our experience AND value! 

Mike, how can an optional package that you have no interest in purchasing since it brings no value to you makes your cruise a lessened experience? And if you have read all of the posts in this thread, there are a small percentage of non drinkers that still purchase the plus package because it does bring them value with the combination of no n alcoholic options with the grats and wifi.

[arxcards]

On 8/4/2023 at 2:12 AM, wcflats said:

Princess in my opinion is trying to move us long time loyal princess cruisers to another cruise line.  

Do you think they want us to ...

[CruizinSusan70]

On 8/5/2023 at 8:13 PM, Z0nker said:

The changes do make the Plus package more appealing for non drinkers, but is there $60/day of value here?  

After factoring out the gratuities and wifi, I believe the balance is 29 per day for all of the non alcoholic drinks, plus the 2 included casual specialty visits, and the included ocean now and room service.  Only you can determine if it's valuable or not.