Promo codes for only certain passengers

[Cruise Raider]

While I am pretty much a positive person, especially when it comes to cruising, there are things I get irritated with but don’t rant on and on about them.  However, there is a problem that occurred last week and it still bothers me.  I waited to write this post until I am calmer about the whole situation.  
My friend, that travels quite frequently, told me about a promo that was being offered for extra onboard credit.  I checked all my future bookings I had the promo showing on half of the cruises I checked under my log in.  I am perfectly ok with that!  Some booking increased in price so, the extra OBC was awash.  I sent what I wanted done to my CVP on 2 bookings and the bookings were adjusted and the new invoices reflected the additional OBC.  However, when I looked into my cruise personalizer, half the OBC disappeared under these bookings the next day.  Then, Princess sent me new invoices later that day and all the additional OBC also disappeared.  
I wrote to my CVP and she told me there was no evidence I ever had that promo, which doesn’t expire until the end of the month.  I again checked the Princess website and I was locked out from looking up any cruises under my log in the remainder of the day.  I checked the following day and bingo, the promo was no longer showing up under mine or my DH’s login.  
In further inquiry, my CVP told me that they are targeting people that haven’t traveled with Princess in over a year with the promo and that’s why I didn’t receive it.  Well, that’s certainly not true as my friend that told me about it travels as frequently as I do.  Plus, I had the promotion but it was then pulled!  So, WTH?  Isn’t my money as green as anybody else’s?  Why would Princess want to tick off their frequent passengers?  It was explained this comes down from corporate and that’s the way they want to grow their business with new guests.  But, when I recommend a vacation to my friends and family, do they really think Princess would now be my #1 recommendation after they’ve decided they aren’t so ‘humbled by my loyalty’ after all?? 
I just have such a bad taste in my mouth about this whole situation, even though they would have been on very thin ice trying to deny me the additional OBC with the original invoice showing it.  While I’m thankful my CVP was able to retrieve it for me on those two bookings, I’m still very disappointed they decided to take the promotion away from us and then only offer it to their new target demographic and then some others of their choosing.  Isn’t someone that cruises an average of once a month, always buys the package, doesn’t complain about much, is not demanding while onboard and is both kind and generous to their staff exactly the type of demographic they would want at the end of the day?  If Princess has decided they can easily do without this type of passenger, I may have to reevaluate my relationship with them.  
Just of note, I am not saying I will never travel with them again .. I just may look elsewhere, too.  



 

[that]

 

@Cruise Raider

totally can relate to your disappointment in this treatment by Princess Cruises!  
 

 

 

[Ken the cruiser]

You have me curious. Where is this OBC promo listed on the website, or does it magically appear somewhere when I log onto the Personalizer? We currently have 8 cruises booked with PCL and it would be nice to see if any of them qualify?

[MacMadame]

I think it's perfectly fine for a company to make a promotion only for new customers or with other restrictions. What I don't think is okay is to give you the promotion and then take it away. If it turns out they gave it by mistake, they should have just eaten the cost and updated the software so that the promotion codes work properly for anyone trying to apply them going forward.

 

Princess's IT does not impress me. If you weren't eligible for the code, the software should not have let you (or your CVP) apply it. It's not that hard to do.

[memoak]

There are many deals that only apply to certain people, different areas or even countries and many are just for limited times. I travel on casino deals which means I usually get free balconies with casino free play and can upgrade to full suites for not much money. The worst deal I ever get is a minimum of a 30% discount

[SCX22]

It's selective marketing, no different than what Princess does to those who make donations to the casino.  You're already loyal to Princess so what's the point in marketing this extra OBC to you, if you're going to cruise on Princess anyway?  They want to entice those who haven't cruised with Princess in a while to come back.

 

Last year, there was a 50% off promo for passengers that booked through Future Cruise while onboard.  That promo was targeting current guests onboard Princess ships.

 

Is is fair?  No.  Is it good marketing?  Yes.

[PacnGoNow]

That really stinks!  I guess a lot of us on CC are a very similar, loyalty guest, as you.  
 

Surprised the CVP couldn’t honor the OBC.  
 

I really do feel your frustration. 
 

[Cruise Raider]

45 minutes ago, Ken the cruiser said:

You have me curious. Where is this OBC promo listed on the website, or does it magically appear somewhere when I log onto the Personalizer? We currently have 8 cruises booked with PCL and it would be nice to see if any of them qualify?

You can just try a mock booking and go almost all the way through and check what is included in your fare.  That’s what I did.  

[Ken the cruiser]

11 minutes ago, Cruise Raider said:

You can just try a mock booking and go almost all the way through and check what is included in your fare.  That’s what I did.  

Were you logged in when you did the mock bookings?

 

Update: I just checked all 8 of our bookings while logged on, and nothing. But then we just got back mid-February from cruising on the Sapphire.

Edited March 27 by Ken the cruiser

[Cruise Raider]

40 minutes ago, MacMadame said:

I think it's perfectly fine for a company to make a promotion only for new customers or with other restrictions. What I don't think is okay is to give you the promotion and then take it away. If it turns out they gave it by mistake, they should have just eaten the cost and updated the software so that the promotion codes work properly for anyone trying to apply them going forward.

 

Princess's IT does not impress me. If you weren't eligible for the code, the software should not have let you (or your CVP) apply it. It's not that hard to do.

I do agree with luring new customers, too .. but that wasn’t the case.  It was given to my friend that told me about it who cruised with them just a couple of months ago. So, that wasn’t a valid explanation.  I think maybe that’s what bothered me the most is that I was lied to.  Plus, I had it and it was yanked from my account.  Perhaps I was given that by mistake .. so then, say so.  

[Rick&Jeannie]

2 hours ago, Cruise Raider said:

While I am pretty much a positive person, especially when it comes to cruising, there are things I get irritated with but don’t rant on and on about them.  However, there is a problem that occurred last week and it still bothers me.  I waited to write this post until I am calmer about the whole situation.  
My friend, that travels quite frequently, told me about a promo that was being offered for extra onboard credit.  I checked all my future bookings I had the promo showing on half of the cruises I checked under my log in.  I am perfectly ok with that!  Some booking increased in price so, the extra OBC was awash.  I sent what I wanted done to my CVP on 2 bookings and the bookings were adjusted and the new invoices reflected the additional OBC.  However, when I looked into my cruise personalizer, half the OBC disappeared under these bookings the next day.  Then, Princess sent me new invoices later that day and all the additional OBC also disappeared.  
I wrote to my CVP and she told me there was no evidence I ever had that promo, which doesn’t expire until the end of the month.  I again checked the Princess website and I was locked out from looking up any cruises under my log in the remainder of the day.  I checked the following day and bingo, the promo was no longer showing up under mine or my DH’s login.  
In further inquiry, my CVP told me that they are targeting people that haven’t traveled with Princess in over a year with the promo and that’s why I didn’t receive it.  Well, that’s certainly not true as my friend that told me about it travels as frequently as I do.  Plus, I had the promotion but it was then pulled!  So, WTH?  Isn’t my money as green as anybody else’s?  Why would Princess want to tick off their frequent passengers?  It was explained this comes down from corporate and that’s the way they want to grow their business with new guests.  But, when I recommend a vacation to my friends and family, do they really think Princess would now be my #1 recommendation after they’ve decided they aren’t so ‘humbled by my loyalty’ after all?? 
I just have such a bad taste in my mouth about this whole situation, even though they would have been on very thin ice trying to deny me the additional OBC with the original invoice showing it.  While I’m thankful my CVP was able to retrieve it for me on those two bookings, I’m still very disappointed they decided to take the promotion away from us and then only offer it to their new target demographic and then some others of their choosing.  Isn’t someone that cruises an average of once a month, always buys the package, doesn’t complain about much, is not demanding while onboard and is both kind and generous to their staff exactly the type of demographic they would want at the end of the day?  If Princess has decided they can easily do without this type of passenger, I may have to reevaluate my relationship with them.  
Just of note, I am not saying I will never travel with them again .. I just may look elsewhere, too.  



 

Yeah...that really stinks!  They should have just left your booking alone once they "discovered" that a *supposed* mistake had been made.  Or better still...charged it back to the IT department!

[Cruise Raider]

30 minutes ago, memoak said:

There are many deals that only apply to certain people, different areas or even countries and many are just for limited times. I travel on casino deals which means I usually get free balconies with casino free play and can upgrade to full suites for not much money. The worst deal I ever get is a minimum of a 30% discount

I totally understand the casino deals are a completely different animal.  

[Cruise Raider]

20 minutes ago, PacnGoNow said:

That really stinks!  I guess a lot of us on CC are a very similar, loyalty guest, as you.  
 

Surprised the CVP couldn’t honor the OBC.  
 

I really do feel your frustration. 
 

 My CVP did honor it after all, as I sent back the original invoice I had received.  
 

[memoak]

1 minute ago, Cruise Raider said:

I totally understand the casino deals are a completely different animal.  

There are others like deals only good for people who live close to a port or 50% discount for plus in the UK

[Cruise Raider]

7 minutes ago, Ken the cruiser said:

Were you logged in when you did the mock bookings?

Yes, I was. 

[Ken the cruiser]

1 minute ago, Cruise Raider said:

Yes, I was. 

I just checked all 8 of our bookings while logged on, and nothing. Oh well. But then we just got back mid-February from cruising on the Sapphire. 

[Rick&Jeannie]

1 minute ago, Ken the cruiser said:

I just checked all 8 of our bookings while logged on, and nothing. Oh well. But then we just got back mid-February from cruising on the Sapphire. 

With you, they figure you're doing well enough and do not need extra OBC! 😄

[Ken the cruiser]

2 minutes ago, Rick&Jeannie said:

With you, they figure you're doing well enough and do not need extra OBC! 😄

Yea, not much needed to entice us cruiseaholics to book another cruise! They got us with their "double' Military OBC perk and longer itineraries to cool places! 🤣

 

Edited March 27 by Ken the cruiser

[Cruise Raider]

30 minutes ago, SCX22 said:

It's selective marketing, no different than what Princess does to those who make donations to the casino.  You're already loyal to Princess so what's the point in marketing this extra OBC to you, if you're going to cruise on Princess anyway?  They want to entice those who haven't cruised with Princess in a while to come back.

 

Last year, there was a 50% off promo for passengers that booked through Future Cruise while onboard.  That promo was targeting current guests onboard Princess ships.

 

Is is fair?  No.  Is it good marketing?  Yes.

That was exactly the explanation that was given to me but as noted, it wasn’t what I see to be true.  
I get that some cruises didn’t offer the OBC .. I say, that is ok!  But to tell me it isn’t for those that that have not travelled in over a year wasn’t a true statement.  And the fact that I had it but then it was pulled, further irritated me.  Believe me, I am so much more calm about it now than I was over the weekend. 
The whole scenario has questioned my loyalty. I do love the staff so much on Princess … that’s the thing I struggle with the most.  

[Ombud]

Booked 2 this morning & no OBC. Well outside of FCDs. Will need that shareholder OBC but they know I'll repeat without any promo code 

[Wishing on a star]

I totally understand how you feel...   Princess has a way of being this way.  And, it isn't good.

We received notice of a little extra OBC..  Great!!!   Our TA had somehow put a hold on a full 14 day cruise, instead of the one 7 day.

Well,  we went to correct that 'hold' and book the 7 day that we wanted...  

BECAUSE OF THAT 'HOLD' THEN THIS WAS NOT A 'NEW BOOKING' AND THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO WAY THAT PRINCESS WAS GOING TO ACKNOWLEDGE OR GIVE ONE LITTLE BIT.

 

The problem is not the selective marketing...  but it is HOW Princess is handling this kind of thing.   To be lame enough to 'take-back' an OBC that was there... That is a real problem, and shows a serious lack of respect for the loyal customers.

 

We have enjoyed the Princess product onboard (for the most part). But Princess CORPORATE has a lot of issues.   Totally unacceptable lack of decent customer service, look at the fiasco that was the roll-out of the new ship.  etc....

I don't know what is going on with at a corporate level, all the way up to a man whom I will not name...  But, something is very very wrong.

Edited March 27 by Wishing on a star

[Cruise Raider]

2 minutes ago, Ombud said:

Booked 2 this morning & no OBC. Well outside of FCDs. Will need that shareholder OBC but they know I'll repeat without any promo code 

I think it’s just that we shouldn’t be penalized for having a number of bookings with Princess.  We shouldn’t be rewarded for that?  I know it’s marketing but really?  
That is what has got my goat!  

[dog]

Yep, losing my loyalty as they just don’t care if their website gets us to book under falsely advertised inclusions.

[Ombud]

@Cruise Raider FWIW I agree 100%. Wish I had known about this before booking but not much I can do about it now

[Cruise Raider]

2 minutes ago, Wishing on a star said:

I totally understand how you feel...   Princess has a way of being this way.  And, it isn't good.

We received notice of a little extra OBC..  Great!!!   Our TA had somehow put a hold on a full 14 day cruise, instead of the one 7 day.

Well,  we went to correct that 'hold' and book the 7 day that we wanted...  

BECAUSE OF THAT 'HOLD' THEN THIS WAS NOT A 'NEW BOOKING' AND THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO WAY THAT PRINCESS WAS GOING TO ACKNOWLEDGE OR GIVE ONE LITTLE BIT.

 

We have enjoyed the Princess product onboard (for the most part). But Princess CORPORATE has a lot of issues.   Totally unacceptable lack of decent customer service, look at the fiasco that was the roll-out of the new ship.  etc....

I don't know what is going on with at a corporate level, all the way up to a man whom I will not name...  But, something is very very wrong.

 Yes, you said it loud and clear!  I don’t need a parade or even recognition but JP is no Jan Schwartz!  
Just respect for all your guests.