Estimate of final bill

[mncbabu_yahoo]

We have booked the 1 week cruise with princess sapphire, through costco. My understanding is that the amount  we paid covers the basic charges and taxes and port fees. I am not planning to buy drinks package or any shore excursions through princess. I may buy one wi fi and few drinks. Now my question is how to estimate the final amount to be paid on disembarkation day. The major one will be gratuity. Howmuch will it be for two people in a cabin? Can it be pre-paid, if it helps to reduce the final amount?

[disneyochem]

You can go to your Princess Cruise personalizer and pre-pay for gratuities.  Just log on to your account and click on the Payment tab.  Gratuities are $16 pp interiors, ocean view balconies.  More if you’re in reserve class or suites.

 

A strategy that we use to save money is to purchase AARP gift cards for Princess—you save 8% (i.e., you buy a $500 card for $460).  We buy OBC ahead of time or just apply the cards on our account while on board.

 

Internet is about $25 per day now.  You can buy it on board and then apply any OBC to offset the cost.  One can purchase it by the day or the week.  I don’t think you can buy it precruise ?  Not sure—we always wait to purchase it on board due to a loyalty discount.  

 

 

[edinburgher]

1 hour ago, mncbabu_yahoo said:

I may buy one wi fi and few drinks.

you could always useWiFi ashore, either for free (often at the port terminal) or for the price of a beer or a coffee or some other small purchase in a bar or cafe.

 

And do ask crew where to find free or inexpensive WiFi ashore as they use it too and  ALWAYS know where to find it.😀

[CruiserBruce]

Just an FYI, we are not allowed to mention travel agencies by name on Cruise Critc.

[CaribbeanIsland]

On 2/24/2024 at 10:39 AM, edinburgher said:

you could always useWiFi ashore, either for free (often at the port terminal) or for the price of a beer or a coffee or some other small purchase in a bar or cafe.

 

And do ask crew where to find free or inexpensive WiFi ashore as they use it too and  ALWAYS know where to find it.😀

Crew I have spoken to often Facetime with their family from the ship. Ship's must now be giving them more affordable internet.

 

Depending on your cell carrier -- you may have good cell coverage in ports.

[mncbabu_yahoo]

I am not concerned about coverage in ports. I  assume that all US carriers may have decent coverage. I have T mobile.  My concern is wi fi coverage inside the ship, particularly during 3 sea days. It looks like we have to bite the bullet for the expensive wi fi price..

[wolfie11]

2 minutes ago, mncbabu_yahoo said:

I am not concerned about coverage in ports. I  assume that all US carriers may have decent coverage. I have T mobile.  My concern is wi fi coverage inside the ship, particularly during 3 sea days. It looks like we have to bite the bullet for the expensive wi fi price..

Normally you have to buy the WiFi package for the entire cruise, not just a few days.

[mncbabu_yahoo]

Yes..It is about $175 for one device ..

[SightCRR]

I would guess at $400. (16x2x7) +175. 

[wolfie11]

Princess is $50 per day for one device.  $25 if you’re elite.  They’re trying to force people to buy the Plus package.

[mncbabu_yahoo]

Doing the math for selecting princes plus. It is mentioned that princes plus option costs $60 pp per night. This is about $400 pp. It says that the crew appreciation is included. I assume it is a gratuity. If we select princes plus, my final bill be zero on disembarkation day, unless I buy any excursions, photos or shopping..please confirm..

[dctravel]

I don't know that anyone here can guarantee that you will have a zero bill at the end of your cruise. That said, if you prepay everything you want to/can (gratuities, excursions, drink package, wifi, specialty dining, [i'm sure i'm forgetting something)]), you COULD have a zero balance. Any purchases would be charged to your onboard account, which you are required to set up. Also consider whether  you have onboard credit as part of your booking?

 

The best place to answer your question is probably the Princess board, not the Alaska forum.

 

We did a cruise when my kids were little and ended up have a negative balance at the end on Carnival. They have a policy that if there is a negative balance of less than $10, the money is donated to St. Jude, but anything more than $10 is sent to you as a check about 6 weeks after your cruise. Princess may have something similar.

[kamelia]

3 hours ago, mncbabu_yahoo said:

Doing the math for selecting princes plus. It is mentioned that princes plus option costs $60 pp per night. This is about $400 pp. It says that the crew appreciation is included. I assume it is a gratuity. If we select princes plus, my final bill be zero on disembarkation day, unless I buy any excursions, photos or shopping..please confirm..

If you purchase the Princess Plus package that will cover gratuities (yes, crew appreciation) of $16 pp per night and Wifi package of $25 pp per night (available to purchase for the entirety of the cruise, no longer for individual days), as well as 2 specialty desserts pp per night, drinks pp up to $15 (any higher value choices will cost the difference over $15 plus an 18% additional gratuity) with a limit of 15 drinks pp per night, unlimited specialty coffees and cover charge for two casual dining meals.  If you pre-pay your shore excursions and do not purchase photos, opt to dine in a specialty restaurant, buy anything in any of the onboard shops or donate to the casino, it would be reasonable to expect a zero balance on your final bill.  HTH!

[mncbabu_yahoo]

Thanks lot. It make sense to buy premium package ($820), if both of us drink lot. Except wifi for two devices, pre paid gratuity, and 15 alcoholic drinks,  all other benefits are not that attractive in premium package.