I guess we missed the announcements. So now we pay for…?

[villauk]

11 hours ago, gottagocit said:

And I read somewhere they’re not even given all the new beanies to the folks who pre-purchased the packages at the lower cost! At least I think that’s what I read. This all just makes me want to forget cruising. It just never ends. The pencil pushers are ruining this company.

 

Correct and still not informing us!

[CruizinSusan70]

13 minutes ago, arxcards said:

I have no problem with the pricing of plus, or even premier on shorter cruises. Great value for us, but for most it isn't about comparing the price of packages or specialty restaurants. 

 

What about the people, and I figure it is still a large %, that are not Plus fare kinda people. The ones that don't drink much, or won't drink much because of the prices. The ones that just want the inclusive stuff when they board. The ones that had a coffee card so they could drink inclusive coffees and teas without getting their card punched. The ones that used to get free internet minutes for their elite status. The ones that will no longer dine at Alfredo's or get room service because there is a charge. The ones for which cruising becomes a less inclusive holiday year-by-year. The ones that could get service without a phone in their hand. These are the loyal elite status cruisers from the past generation for which other cruise lines are looking more attractive with each of these changes. Thanks for your loyalty.

Yes, it's 25% of those on board.  Do you think the bean counters care more about the 25% that cruise bare bones or the 75% that buy the packages?

[villauk]

3 minutes ago, CruizinSusan70 said:

Yes, it's 25% of those on board.  Do you think the bean counters care more about the 25% that cruise bare bones or the 75% that buy the packages?

Bought the package and still not included, or informed of the changes - strange when they continue to send me emails of everything else available on my imminent cruise 😏.

[arxcards]

15 minutes ago, CruizinSusan70 said:

Yes, it's 25% of those on board.  Do you think the bean counters care more about the 25% that cruise bare bones or the 75% that buy the packages?

We Aussies must be a bit behind. Definitely a slight majority that fit the no package category down here, partly because our typical cruises are 10 - 14 nights. The longer the cruise, the more expensive the package. Diamond loyalty and the suite concierge lounge on Royal doesn't require us to buy a package at all, as there are plenty enough drinks to go around.

 

The bean counters need to be careful not to bite the hands of the people that have made them what they are today. Next cruise was booked last year - suite & premier. Is it great value - yes, undoubtedly.  Then why would you think I feel squeezed to be paying an additional service charge and for Alfredo's when I already paid for those to be included when I booked? Why do you think I would be negative about an "upgrade" to a package which doesn't actually give us anything extra, but requires us to pay extra just to keep what we already had?  

 

[Jimmys Chippy]

12 hours ago, gottagocit said:

So the next axe to drop will be higher cost for the packages since they’re worth so much now…

Nah…I take that back. Time to slice off a few benefits from the elite or platinum loyalty levels and sell them as a special new level that comes with a surcharge. 

There is a heavy drive across the leisure industry to find new customers, or more specifically trip of a lifetime customers, than catering to the loyal ones.

 

I’ve had a season ticket for my football team for 35 years, there’s a waiting list for them so demand for those spare seats are high. The thing is the club would happily see the back of me and fill that seat with someone different every game who buys food, drink and merchandise, which something that I, and many other season ticket holders, don’t do. Disney World and Universal Orlando are similar, annual pass holders have the same spending habits and don’t spend anything like a once in a lifetime tourist so their perks have been cut, and same can be said for cruising. Elite and Platinum levels can be obtained by taking lots of short trips out of the USA  by people who don’t spend anything on the cash cow extras like excursions and spa treatments. Princess would rather see the back of those and fill those cabins with people who’ll get swept away with all those lovely perks being flaunted at booking and who’ll happily throw the bargain $60/90 per day at them. The days of Princess (and any other cruise line) being “honoured and humbled by your loyalty” are done.

[SargassoPirate]

12 hours ago, memoak said:

But my old E tickets are not any good even for the Matterhorn. 

I guess you've noticed that the term "E Ticket Ride" is still used to describe a premium ride at just about any amusement park or a premium experience of some sort.

 

I always chuckle a bit when I hear or read that.

[SargassoPirate]

10 hours ago, arxcards said:

World cruise on Princess usually = 4 sectors. The Ocean Now charge is listed per voyage. I wonder if that will translate to a per sector charge?

It will now since you brought it up! 😁

[kywildcatfanone]

2 hours ago, Jimmys Chippy said:

There is a heavy drive across the leisure industry to find new customers, or more specifically trip of a lifetime customers, than catering to the loyal ones.

 

I’ve had a season ticket for my football team for 35 years, there’s a waiting list for them so demand for those spare seats are high. The thing is the club would happily see the back of me and fill that seat with someone different every game who buys food, drink and merchandise, which something that I, and many other season ticket holders, don’t do. Disney World and Universal Orlando are similar, annual pass holders have the same spending habits and don’t spend anything like a once in a lifetime tourist so their perks have been cut, and same can be said for cruising. Elite and Platinum levels can be obtained by taking lots of short trips out of the USA  by people who don’t spend anything on the cash cow extras like excursions and spa treatments. Princess would rather see the back of those and fill those cabins with people who’ll get swept away with all those lovely perks being flaunted at booking and who’ll happily throw the bargain $60/90 per day at them. The days of Princess (and any other cruise line) being “honoured and humbled by your loyalty” are done.

Yep, this is 100% true.  If the loyal customers from days gone by take too many benefits, then cut the benefits, which has happened.  If they don't spend enough money, and that wonderful medallion device gives Princess 24/7 access to your habits onboard, then let's try to run them off and get more new people willing to spend for the "adventure of a lifetime" you mention.  I think you are 100% correct.  As I said in the other thread, I'm the kind of passenger Princess is trying to get rid of.  It's working too.  I'm not gone yet, but it likely won't take much more for me to love on to something else.  I don't like it, but it's all about the Benjamins anymore. 

[whitecap]

Just read an interesting article about Disney.  Seems the old, forced out CEO, has been brought back to run the company once again and has stated that he is looking for former executives to re-join the company.  Mr. Padgett, please call him and let him know you want to come back to fantasy land and please take all your crazy ideas with you.  Hey Jan, your old office is waiting for you!!!  😎 please come home.

[MissP22]

16 hours ago, gottagocit said:

BTW, I’m still pissed about the coffee card!!

It's hard to forget about that one. 😡

[Potstech]

5 hours ago, CruizinSusan70 said:

Yes, it's 25% of those on board.  Do you think the bean counters care more about the 25% that cruise bare bones or the 75% that buy the packages?

Where do you get your number from?

[whitecap]

9 minutes ago, Potstech said:

Where do you get your number from?

If I made it known to 25% of my customers that I no longer cared about them, I would expect that my business would close within months.  I truly believe that the current Princess management team is trying hard to convenience the younger family crowd to switch from RCCL.  I also believe that the 25% of Princess cruisers haven't seen all the changes yet.  There are more coming that will further disenfranchise loyal cruisers in hopes of getting the younger crowd, who they believe will produce higher profit, to cruise Princess.  A quick influx of income makes the world believe that you are doing well.  Smoke and mirrors.

[Mike07]

2 hours ago, kywildcatfanone said:

 As I said in the other thread, I'm the kind of passenger Princess is trying to get rid of.  It's working too.  I'm not gone yet, but it likely won't take much more for me to love on to something else.  I don't like it, but it's all about the Benjamins anymore. 

 

 

For the first time in six years, I have zero future itineraries with the Carnival Corporation fleet of ships across all of their brands. I have also not actively searched nor shopped for an itinerary.

 

I, too, have also noticed.

 

[kywildcatfanone]

40 minutes ago, whitecap said:

If I made it known to 25% of my customers that I no longer cared about them, I would expect that my business would close within months.  I truly believe that the current Princess management team is trying hard to convenience the younger family crowd to switch from RCCL.  I also believe that the 25% of Princess cruisers haven't seen all the changes yet.  There are more coming that will further disenfranchise loyal cruisers in hopes of getting the younger crowd, who they believe will produce higher profit, to cruise Princess.  A quick influx of income makes the world believe that you are doing well.  Smoke and mirrors.

Well, certainly the new class of ships is trying to enhance both the Carnivalization of Princess, and expand the "pay more onboard" experiences from what I have seen of the deck plans and images.  It's the direction they are headed.

 

As far as alienating 25% of their loyal customers.  I think marketing shows that there are people to fill those spots, many of whom will at least view their first cruise as a vacation to "splurge on everything", and therefore they will replace those of us who don't want to spend the outrageous amounts of money with people who will.  Sadly, my leaving won't affect them negatively, only positively.  They know that, and that is clearly the direction they are headed.

 

Someone posted that it won't be long before the package prices go up again, and I agree with that.  Seems to now be on a twice a year increase of pricing, and shifting of the benefits associated with it.  It's the new normal.

[SargassoPirate]

Anyone with any sense or anyone who has taken a Business 101 course should know that it costs more to find a new customer than it does to satisfy and retain an existing one.

 

They should also know that a satisfied customer will tell one or two people about their experience, but a dissatisfied customer will tell as many as ten.

 

We are all seeing what happens when the bean counters get to sit at the big table.

 

[roadster08]

8 hours ago, CruizinSusan70 said:

Yes, it's 25% of those on board.  Do you think the bean counters care more about the 25% that cruise bare bones or the 75% that buy the packages?

They need to care about both. The 75% cover the overhead of doing the cruise, and a good part of the 25% cover the profit for that cruise.

[MissP22]

I'd like to know just how many years it will take to convert RCCL people to Princess?

Obviously,  Princess has been ignoring them but with the demographics changing and many of the loyal customers leaving, something has to change. 

[Mike07]

22 minutes ago, CruizinSusan70 said:

The profit for a cruise is obtained by those cruisers that spend additional monies on board via packages, excursions, bar tabs and casino losses.   The bare bones cruiser who spends little to nothing on board, does private excursions, doesn't gamble and brings on their own soda to drink doesn't really bring much to the table profit wise for Princess and the bean counters really don't care whether this type of cruiser continues to sail with Princess or not.  Added value to the bottom line by spending on board  is what Carnival Corporation is after these days in order to get themselves out of the hole created by the billions that they bled during the shutdown. 

 

 

Unless princess is routinely selling out all of their itineraries across their fleet, they need the bare bones people to fill the berths otherwise the numbers don't work.

 

Not everybody likes to be nickel and dimed tho and there are higher tier lines that sell a more holistic and comprehensive package.

[Mike07]

38 minutes ago, MissP22 said:

I'd like to know just how many years it will take to convert RCCL people to Princess?

Obviously,  Princess has been ignoring them but with the demographics changing and many of the loyal customers leaving, something has to change. 

 

 

I think Princess is relying on age demographics for the conversion to happen.

[Guest ldtr]

9 hours ago, Jimmys Chippy said:

There is a heavy drive across the leisure industry to find new customers, or more specifically trip of a lifetime customers, than catering to the loyal ones.

 

I’ve had a season ticket for my football team for 35 years, there’s a waiting list for them so demand for those spare seats are high. The thing is the club would happily see the back of me and fill that seat with someone different every game who buys food, drink and merchandise, which something that I, and many other season ticket holders, don’t do. Disney World and Universal Orlando are similar, annual pass holders have the same spending habits and don’t spend anything like a once in a lifetime tourist so their perks have been cut, and same can be said for cruising. Elite and Platinum levels can be obtained by taking lots of short trips out of the USA  by people who don’t spend anything on the cash cow extras like excursions and spa treatments. Princess would rather see the back of those and fill those cabins with people who’ll get swept away with all those lovely perks being flaunted at booking and who’ll happily throw the bargain $60/90 per day at them. The days of Princess (and any other cruise line) being “honoured and humbled by your loyalty” are done.

Compared to the prices Princesses competition charges for packages they are a bargain. 

[Guest ldtr]

1 hour ago, MissP22 said:

I'd like to know just how many years it will take to convert RCCL people to Princess?

Obviously,  Princess has been ignoring them but with the demographics changing and many of the loyal customers leaving, something has to change. 

On 2 recent Alaska cruises I was on over 75% of the passengers on each cruise were first time Princess cruisers.

 

A lot of people are trying new things. Different cruise lines or for that matter trying cruising for the first time.

[Mike07]

6 minutes ago, ldtr said:

On 2 recent Alaska cruises I was on over 75% of the passengers on each cruise were first time Princess cruisers.

 

A lot of people are trying new things. Different cruise lines or for that matter trying cruising for the first time.

 

 

First timers are great, but I want the subscription model like the drug dealers offer.

[Bgwest]

1 hour ago, CruizinSusan70 said:

The profit for a cruise is obtained by those cruisers that spend additional monies on board via packages, excursions, bar tabs and casino losses.   The bare bones cruiser who spends little to nothing on board, does private excursions, doesn't gamble and brings on their own soda to drink doesn't really bring much to the table profit wise for Princess and the bean counters really don't care whether this type of cruiser continues to sail with Princess or not.  Added value to the bottom line by spending on board  is what Carnival Corporation is after these days in order to get themselves out of the hole created by the billions that they bled during the shutdown. 

If your analysis is correct, then Princess has clearly chosen to give us the finger!

[memoak]

28 minutes ago, ldtr said:

On 2 recent Alaska cruises I was on over 75% of the passengers on each cruise were first time Princess cruisers.

 

A lot of people are trying new things. Different cruise lines or for that matter trying cruising for the first time.

Same here for now on spare me Royal class ships with blue card families crammed 4 to a stateroom. All with backpacks slamming into me in the lift

[CruizinSusan70]

49 minutes ago, Mike07 said:

 

 

Unless princess is routinely selling out all of their itineraries across their fleet, they need the bare bones people to fill the berths otherwise the numbers don't work.

 

Not everybody likes to be nickel and dimed tho and there are higher tier lines that sell a more holistic and comprehensive package.

Then by all means move to a higher tiered line.  True, you get a more comprehensive product and of course since you get what you pay for, you will be getting a lot more and at the same time paying a lot more, which is the antithesis of what a bare bones cruiser is.  

You can't say you want a no frills don't spend another dollar on board cruise and then a minute later get upset and move to a higher end cruise line and spend substantially more for your cruise just because the rules of the game changed a bit.  Pick a lane and stay in it,  if you go bare bones and wish to change lines, then you need to go value and cruise on MSC or Carnival.  If you go with a package and are upset with Princess, then you go to the more expensive line with the comprehensive package.