Comparison of Princess Platinum and Elite Benefits Between 2019 and today

[Jimmys Chippy]

On 8/4/2023 at 6:56 PM, kywildcatfanone said:

Maybe to you.  Change are changes, and the cruise line can do what it wants.  When I earned elite, there were benefits to it that I could take advantage of because I had attained that status.  Now, some of those benefits have been changed or removed all together.  It it what it is.  

Someone might view the internet as a big deal, someone might view the coffee as a big deal, someone might view the boutique sales items as a big deal.  You can't make a blanket statement, you can only comment on how it impacts you.  That has been my point all along.  From my perspective, I have lost a couple of hundred dollars in benefits per cruise that I used to have access to, but no longer do.  

There are some Elite/Platinum perks that are irrelevant if you have attained those levels of loyalty and opt for a package. 50% off the internet, when it’s included in the package, and a stocked mini bar, when you have virtually a free reign at the bars outside the room, means those perks don’t really count for anything.

[kywildcatfanone]

4 hours ago, Mike07 said:

I cannot speak for said poster you responded to, but the English may be a bit off in that there is a difference between "I could not pay" and"I cannot pay".

 

There are many charged products on princess that "I could not pay.... In good faith.... For" but that doesn't mean I cannot afford it.

 

The specialty restaurants, while decent, are way over priced for what you get. Meanwhile, I've taken and will take itineraries that exceed the highest daily full suite price on princess.

Thank you.  I responded to him that my cost concern had nothing to do with affordability, but what you have said is also accurate.  It's one thing to be able to pay for some outrageous priced item, it's another to actually choose to do it. With the cost of all these things now, everyone one of them adds up, and we choose not to pay those costs for something that we know we can either do without entirely, or in the case of drinks, bring on board what we like and save a ton of money by doing so.

I understand why the default response to most of these is more about affordability or your own ability to justify paying the cost for a package or whatever, and that is for each individual to decide.

If people see the value in them, great.  Buy them.  That is what the cruise line wants anyway.   

Anyway, that person never responded to my affordability comment, so I hope they understood the difference.

[Mike07]

5 hours ago, CruizinSusan70 said:

Don't know your cruising history, but 39.00 for a specialty dinner on Princess is cheaper than similar venues on RCI, Carnival, Celebrity, HAL and MSC.

 

I get that, but it's not worth $39, IMHO. I'd be up for maybe a $20 surcharge. It could be that I've had poor experiences at crown, but the nights I've gone (included in my booking), the service has been great, but good quality underwhelming.

 

Again, I could not in good faith patronize that specialty restaurant at that price.

[Mike07]

1 hour ago, kywildcatfanone said:

If people see the value in them, great.  Buy them.  That is what the cruise line wants anyway.   

 

 

Princess would love nothing more than to fill a ship with people buying premier and willing to fill the specialty restaurants every evening before skipping the show and hitting the casino to the wee hours of the morning.

 

Entertainment, MDR, pool, MUTS and other evening entertainment are non revenue producing (unless you include drinks brought)

[kywildcatfanone]

25 minutes ago, Mike07 said:

 

Princess would love nothing more than to fill a ship with people buying premier and willing to fill the specialty restaurants every evening before skipping the show and hitting the casino to the wee hours of the morning.

 

Entertainment, MDR, pool, MUTS and other evening entertainment are non revenue producing (unless you include drinks brought)

Yep, and it looks like from the new class of ships, they are doing more to turn previous non revenue areas of the ship into revenue generators.  It would not surprise me to see them start to charge for every little thing they can including the items you mention.

[CruizinSusan70]

5 hours ago, Jimmys Chippy said:

I’m not really a hardcore drinker but a couple of cocktails, a couple of soft drinks and a coffee in the morning and a hot chocolate and bottle of water at bedtime takes me to the $29 fairly quickly. 

Fully agree.  It seems though that there is a major contingent of bare bones cruisers that can't comprehend that notion.  They bring on their soda, buy regular bottled water on board by the 12 pack and treat themselves to the occasional coffee.  I'm used to seeing this type of cruiser on Carnival, usually with multiple packs of soda in the stroller with their kid.  

[CruizinSusan70]

3 hours ago, Mike07 said:

 

I get that, but it's not worth $39, IMHO. I'd be up for maybe a $20 surcharge. It could be that I've had poor experiences at crown, but the nights I've gone (included in my booking), the service has been great, but good quality underwhelming.

 

Again, I could not in good faith patronize that specialty restaurant at that price.

Then you'll obviously never go to a specialty venue on any of the other cruise lines I mentioned if you think 39.00 is too much money since all of the other lines charge more.

When we first cruised on Princess last year, we were surprised that it was only 29.00 for Sabatini's and CG on the Discovery.  We had a visit included each week so it didn't matter to us.

[Steelers36]

10 hours ago, CruizinSusan70 said:

Don't know your cruising history, but 39.00 for a specialty dinner on Princess is cheaper than similar venues on RCI, Carnival, Celebrity, HAL and MSC.

Doesn't matter is the meal offerings are not up to whatever amount is charged.  IMO, the price has increased and quality of beef went down.  (I can only say this to late 2022 and IDK if PCL has taken any improvements in that area, but my sense is that it continued into Winter 2023 at least).

 

5 hours ago, Mike07 said:

 

I get that, but it's not worth $39, IMHO. I'd be up for maybe a $20 surcharge. It could be that I've had poor experiences at crown, but the nights I've gone (included in my booking), the service has been great, but good quality underwhelming.

 

Again, I could not in good faith patronize that specialty restaurant at that price.

When it cost $25 and $29 for a nice steak in CG, I thought it was good value, but now I question at $39 and not as good beef.

 

2 hours ago, CruizinSusan70 said:

Then you'll obviously never go to a specialty venue on any of the other cruise lines I mentioned if you think 39.00 is too much money since all of the other lines charge more.

When we first cruised on Princess last year, we were surprised that it was only 29.00 for Sabatini's and CG on the Discovery.  We had a visit included each week so it didn't matter to us.

Wasn't it $29 & $25?  Then up to $39 and $35 and I forget the exact date.  We were also using 5 free visits up last Fall, but I wouldn't have been forking out $39 each time for what I got.  Sabi's was fine enough.  I am not clamoring to get SD booked going forward unless I hear of changes.  I suppose we will go once to try CG out and see if any better.  It's not the $ cost that matters to me - rather, am I getting something special for the investment?

[Mike07]

37 minutes ago, Steelers36 said:

When it cost $25 and $29 for a nice steak in CG, I thought it was good value, but now I question at $39 and not as good beef.

 

 

 

 

That's exactly the rub. Comparing the price to competitors is unrealistic when I'm saying that the price they charge is not worth the product that is being offered.

 

I understand that I'm at sea. I'm being served and somebody else is doing the cooking. But spending $40 a plate on those steaks is a bit too much for me when I can get prime beef cheaper state side. The MDR food is fine with me, though I don't think princess could ever get away with requiring a plus package there.

[PescadoAmarillo]

On 8/5/2023 at 3:21 PM, coo359a2 said:

I’ve got a collection of  the gold 

bags. Even made up some bags for friends we have sailed with. Will never run out of the tubes of body lotion. Just about finished my tubes of shampoo, conditioner and shower gel.   Did like those items. 

I would take our gold bags (we’d have 10 or 15 of them after several cruises) on shore to Princess Cays and give them to the ladies who run the stalls outside the gates. They were so sweet and would want to reciprocate by giving me a bauble of some sort. Good memories there. 

[PescadoAmarillo]

I just phoned Room Service to trade in two mini bars worth of alcohol for gins to take home, and all the sodas for Perriers. We have the Plus program and haven’t touched the minibar for two cruises. I guess if I could have one wish it would be for a discounted Plus or Premium package for Elites. Between the mini bar and the half priced WiFi, you’d think they’d knock $5 or $10 a day off the price. 

[coo359a2]

6 minutes ago, PescadoAmarillo said:

I just phoned Room Service to trade in two mini bars worth of alcohol for gins to take home, and all the sodas for Perriers. We have the Plus program and haven’t touched the minibar for two cruises. I guess if I could have one wish it would be for a discounted Plus or Premium package for Elites. Between the mini bar and the half priced WiFi, you’d think they’d knock $5 or $10 a day off the price. 

Best Idea I have read!

[Oxo]

1 hour ago, Mike07 said:

 

 

That's exactly the rub. Comparing the price to competitors is unrealistic when I'm saying that the price they charge is not worth the product that is being offered.

 

I understand that I'm at sea. I'm being served and somebody else is doing the cooking. But spending $40 a plate on those steaks is a bit too much for me when I can get prime beef cheaper state side. The MDR food is fine with me, though I don't think princess could ever get away with requiring a plus package there.

Princess is the cheapest compare to the other cruise lines. Example: Celebrity Apex is $60 plus 18% tip. All cruise lines are charging more. Go to the store in your city and price food. It has gone up, too. 

[Gettingwarmer]

12 hours ago, Jimmys Chippy said:

There are some Elite/Platinum perks that are irrelevant if you have attained those levels of loyalty and opt for a package. 50% off the internet, when it’s included in the package, and a stocked mini bar, when you have virtually a free reign at the bars outside the room, means those perks don’t really count for anything.

 

2 hours ago, PescadoAmarillo said:

I just phoned Room Service to trade in two mini bars worth of alcohol for gins to take home, and all the sodas for Perriers. We have the Plus program and haven’t touched the minibar for two cruises. I guess if I could have one wish it would be for a discounted Plus or Premium package for Elites. Between the mini bar and the half priced WiFi, you’d think they’d knock $5 or $10 a day off the price. 

The Plus and Premium packages are good but have definitely eroded the Elite benefits. 

[Guest ldtr]

13 hours ago, Jimmys Chippy said:

There are some Elite/Platinum perks that are irrelevant if you have attained those levels of loyalty and opt for a package. 50% off the internet, when it’s included in the package, and a stocked mini bar, when you have virtually a free reign at the bars outside the room, means those perks don’t really count for anything.

Sure it is up to each individual if they use the benefits or not. If one chooses to buy a package that makes some of the benefits irrevelent that is up to them. The benefits are still there for those that chose to use them.

[Gettingwarmer]

13 minutes ago, ldtr said:

Sure it is up to each individual if they use the benefits or not. If one chooses to buy a package that makes some of the benefits irrevelent that is up to them. The benefits are still there for those that chose to use them.

We would choose to use them but the packages value makes them irrelevant. 

[Guest ldtr]

6 minutes ago, Gettingwarmer said:

We would choose to use them but the packages value makes them irrelevant. 

Still your choice to buy the package.  Basically you are saying to you the package is such a good deal that even with the Elite benefits you are going the package route.  Nothing wrong with that. 

[Thrak]

We're booked for 63 days on Grand Princess. The first 31 days are at the Standard Fare. I will be happy for the 3 mini-bar setups on those legs. 😉

[Mike07]

9 hours ago, Oxo said:

Princess is the cheapest compare to the other cruise lines. Example: Celebrity Apex is $60 plus 18% tip. All cruise lines are charging more. Go to the store in your city and price food. It has gone up, too. 

 

You all can keep pointing that out and I'll point out that it's not worth above $20 to me.

 

I've had good to great cuts of meat acquired locally at home from butchers and big box. I'd rather go with them.

[coo359a2]

8 hours ago, Mike07 said:

 

You all can keep pointing that out and I'll point out that it's not worth above $20 to me.

 

I've had good to great cuts of meat acquired locally at home from butchers and big box. I'd rather go with them.

Guess I have been one of the few lucky ones to have had good steak at the Crown Grill.    Will keep my fingers crossed for future dining there.

[Oxo]

9 hours ago, Mike07 said:

 

You all can keep pointing that out and I'll point out that it's not worth above $20 to me.

 

I've had good to great cuts of meat acquired locally at home from butchers and big box. I'd rather go with them.

No One is forcing you to eat or pay extra on a ship! So, why not chill out?

Do you pay $20 or less for a 3 course meal at any restaurant at home?

 

[kywildcatfanone]

21 hours ago, Mike07 said:

That's exactly the rub. Comparing the price to competitors is unrealistic when I'm saying that the price they charge is not worth the product that is being offered.

 

I understand that I'm at sea. I'm being served and somebody else is doing the cooking. But spending $40 a plate on those steaks is a bit too much for me when I can get prime beef cheaper state side. The MDR food is fine with me, though I don't think princess could ever get away with requiring a plus package there.

The last two times we at at CG, you could tell the quality of the steak was worse, probably just select.  And now that the price is higher, we will not be visiting there again.  Another nice thing lost to increased cost and cutbacks on quality.

[Guest ldtr]

I would prefer if Princess did away with the benefits as currently structured and go to a point based system where points earned can be converted to OBC or FCC. Maybe give a initial chunk of points based upon status tier at time of conversion, and have different point earn multipliers based upon Captains Circle status.  Kind of like how airlines and hotel systems work.

 

That way it would have value to everyone. You get rid of the top status bloat on benefits and the value going forward is determined by future cruise activity.

[Thrak]

Oddly enough, the best steak I have had on a Princess cruise was probably one I had in MDR on one of our cruises last year. I ordered the steak Medium and it arrived Medium Well. Sigh... I didn't send it back and it turned out to be tender and wonderfully flavorful. I was totally blown away. It was much better than either the Filet I had in Crown Grill on Royal Princess in March of 2022 or the Rib Eye I had in Crown Grill Ruby Princess in December of 2022. The great steak was in MDR on that Royal Princess cruise in May of 2022. Most unusual for MDR steak.

[voljeep]

lamb chops for me, lobster for wife in CG  I share, her not so much