New Unlimited Features Make Princess Cruises' Premier Package the Best Value in Cruising

[So_Tweetie]

39 minutes ago, MsSoCalCruiser said:

I’m Elite status and I had a really hard time booking Speciality Dining. I was able to book one reservation for the Crown Grill at 8:50 PM towards the end of our b2b Sun Princess cruise (we usually go the first night). It constantly shows that nothing is available. We like to dine around 5pm so 8:50pm really won’t work for us. I made the reservation with hopes that I can change the date and time once I am on the ship. I don’t see how having Elite status helps at all. 

Status helps by giving you access before everyone else. You don't want 8:50 but it's better than no reservation. However, I am having the same issue with availability on the Sun even before the new Premier free-for-all so I don't know how Princess can resolve that, or if they even care to. 

[MsSoCalCruiser]

24 minutes ago, So_Tweetie said:

Status helps by giving you access before everyone else. You don't want 8:50 but it's better than no reservation. However, I am having the same issue with availability on the Sun even before the new Premier free-for-all so I don't know how Princess can resolve that, or if they even care to. 

Again, the status hasn’t helped at all when attempting to book SD reservations. Status only helps with the MDR reservations. I hope that Princess isn’t intentionally selling an unlimited product that they know they cannot provide. If that’s the case it won’t go over well at all. 

[paddingtonbear]

18 minutes ago, MsSoCalCruiser said:

Again, the status hasn’t helped at all when attempting to book SD reservations. Status only helps with the MDR reservations. I hope that Princess isn’t intentionally selling an unlimited product that they know they cannot provide. If that’s the case it won’t go over well at all. 

 

I think elite have access to MDR and SD early booking (from P.com):
 

“Elite and Platinum guests will have access to reservations for the main dining room and specialty restaurants as part of Dine My Way ( no full payment required) at the time of booking.”

 

Everyone else has to wait until 90 days before departure to book. 
 

not my underlining but can’t change it. 
 

I agree about selling a limited resource (SD) to hundreds of people who won’t get access. 

Edited August 17 by paddingtonbear

[paddingtonbear]

5 hours ago, MacMadame said:

We are in the same boat. We have Plus which saves us money -- how much depending on what we drink and how it is charged (like if DH orders a refill of his soda in the MDR, is that a 2nd drink?) 

 

The only limit is 15 alcoholic drinks so a soda doesn’t count towards the limit.

[MacMadame]

2 minutes ago, paddingtonbear said:

 

The only limit is 15 alcoholic drinks so a soda doesn’t count towards the limit.

But it costs money if you haven't got a package. That was my point. If every refill would cost us with the standard fare, then it's a lot easier to break even with Plus.

[caribill]

On 8/15/2024 at 10:29 PM, memoak said:

You are ignoring the fact that all suite guests are guaranteed specialty dining embarkation night. If they all want Crown Grill then that takes a lot of tables out of circulation. 

 

The benefit of nightly specialty dining does not mean you can dine at the restaurant you want.

 

It could be that all of the available slots for your entire cruise are only in your third choice restaurant.

[caribill]

17 hours ago, skynight said:

 

While I do enjoy a meal in some specialty restaurants, I can't imagine dining in them every evening.

 

In my experience, dining in a Princess specialty restaurant takes 50% to 100% more time than in a MDR.

 

So anyone wanting to dine in specialty restaurants throughout the cruise will spend many hours in total doing so.

 

Guess Princess prefers passengers spending this time in restaurants instead of in the casino or shops on board.

[BlerkOne]

8 minutes ago, caribill said:

 

The benefit of nightly specialty dining does not mean you can dine at the restaurant you want.

 

It could be that all of the available slots for your entire cruise are only in your third choice restaurant.

This is true. Perhaps you can't eat at the same restaurant on consecutive nights or more than 3 times a cruise. Or whatever. Unlimited does not mean guaranteed choice.

[caribill]

17 hours ago, adamtoonarmy said:

I know most are focused on drinks/SD but in case anyone is interested…..
 

UK live chat just told me the new max wifi will be available on all packages not just the new premier. 

 

• Unlimited MedallionNet Max Wi-Fi: Prioritized access to the highest quality and highest performance bandwidth available anywhere in the world

 

Not sure what "prioritized access" means.

 

Will passengers not purchasing the Premier package end up with slower Internet?

[caribill]

4 hours ago, MacMadame said:

So there must be something about packages that makes them more attractive than letting people buy things a la carte or Princess wouldn't push them so much. I think it's that getting a predictable revenue stream upfront (i.e., before the ship even embarks) is a benefit to them.

 

All cruise lines (not just Princess) have found that if people pay in advance, then once on board they will spend even more $$$ since there will not be a big bill at the end for drinks, tips, etc.

 

So, more money up front on profitable packages plus new spending once on board.

[paddingtonbear]

49 minutes ago, caribill said:

 

• Unlimited MedallionNet Max Wi-Fi: Prioritized access to the highest quality and highest performance bandwidth available anywhere in the world

 

Not sure what "prioritized access" means.

 

Will passengers not purchasing the Premier package end up with slower Internet?

 

P.com where "P introduces next level connectivity" says prioritized access to Max wifi is for both Plus and Premier guest. 

I am hoping "prioritized access" is selling lingo? 

Maybe it means if there is a bandwidth problem it will go to "max wifi" and not standard wifi.

 

Edited August 17 by paddingtonbear

[caribill]

On another cruise line with an unlimited package:

 

Two men who stole nearly $100,000 in Effy jewelry from a shop onboard MSC Cruises’ MSC Virtuosa on March 31, 2023 have avoided jail time in their sentencing.

 

The men –  age 30 and  Age 33 – boarded MSC Virtuosa in Southampton, UK on March 31, 2023 for a 7-night Northern Europe sailing.

 

Within hours, however, the two men had managed to overindulge in the all-included drinks and entered an unmanned Effy jewelry store, one of 11 retail stores onboard.

 

According to the Southern Daily Echo, one proceeded to stuff eight rings and two necklaces into his underwear – yes, you read that right – while the other kept a lookout.

The value of the stolen jewelry was estimated at £76,000, or approximately $97,000 (USD).

 

Once the ship’s staffed discovered that several pieces were missing, security was alerted and camera footage reviewed, which clearly showed the two men committing the theft.

They were located in different onboard bars by security officers. MSC Virtuosa has 21 different bars onboard, which the two men had clearly taken advantage of, as they were described as “extremely drunk.”

 

Cruise Guests Who Stole $100,000 in Jewelry Avoid Jail Time (cruisehive.com)

[Lolou127]

8 minutes ago, caribill said:

On another cruise line with an unlimited package:

 

Two men who stole nearly $100,000 in Effy jewelry from a shop onboard MSC Cruises’ MSC Virtuosa on March 31, 2023 have avoided jail time in their sentencing.

 

The men –  age 30 and  Age 33 – boarded MSC Virtuosa in Southampton, UK on March 31, 2023 for a 7-night Northern Europe sailing.

 

Within hours, however, the two men had managed to overindulge in the all-included drinks and entered an unmanned Effy jewelry store, one of 11 retail stores onboard.

 

According to the Southern Daily Echo, one proceeded to stuff eight rings and two necklaces into his underwear – yes, you read that right – while the other kept a lookout.

The value of the stolen jewelry was estimated at £76,000, or approximately $97,000 (USD).

 

Once the ship’s staffed discovered that several pieces were missing, security was alerted and camera footage reviewed, which clearly showed the two men committing the theft.

They were located in different onboard bars by security officers. MSC Virtuosa has 21 different bars onboard, which the two men had clearly taken advantage of, as they were described as “extremely drunk.”

 

Cruise Guests Who Stole $100,000 in Jewelry Avoid Jail Time (cruisehive.com)

MSC Virtuosa was delayed leaving Southampton last week while 2 passengers were escorted off the ship, not sure of the reason for it, but it’s not good is it? 

[555]

7 hours ago, MsSoCalCruiser said:

I’m Elite status and I had a really hard time booking Speciality Dining. I was able to book one reservation for the Crown Grill at 8:50 PM towards the end of our b2b Sun Princess cruise (we usually go the first night). It constantly shows that nothing is available. We like to dine around 5pm so 8:50pm really won’t work for us. I made the reservation with hopes that I can change the date and time once I am on the ship. I don’t see how having Elite status helps at all. 

In the future you better make sure to cancel that late reservation or pay their fine for not showing. 

[paddingtonbear]

3 minutes ago, 555 said:

In the future you better make sure to cancel that late reservation or pay their fine for not showing. 

What? There’s a fine for not showing at a SD restaurant? 

[555]

Just now, paddingtonbear said:

What? There’s a fine for not showing at a SD restaurant? 

There going to charge a fine of 1/2 the value for people who make reservations & don't show. (Specialty dining only, not 360.) 

It's a good move in my opinion. 

[cjpj]

My question is, does this unlimited SD cover the additional charge items (steak and lobster) in the main dining room? That would help relieve some pressure on the SD venues.

[Cruisemeister2002]

I know I have already commented on this Premium Package and my concerns that Speciality becomes the norm rather than Special. I also added to this wonder how long before OBC deals get the elbow in favour of additional things being added to Packages. I know things like excursions can be obtained using OBC, but some Company's include certain excursions in their cruise fare. I hope OBC continues as is because it's nice to use for goods in the shops and extra excursions etc.

[PacnGoNow]

1 hour ago, 555 said:

There going to charge a fine of 1/2 the value for people who make reservations & don't show. (Specialty dining only, not 360.) 

It's a good move in my opinion. 

Did you see that statement, when you booked a SD?  I didn’t see it.

[Mara4166]

1 minute ago, PacnGoNow said:

Did you see that statement, when you booked a SD?  I didn’t see it.

I just booked a few SD and received a message there is a $10 charge if you cancel within 24 hours of the booking.  This may be extended to all no-shows.  It would not be fair on other people who want to get in for someone to book multiple nights and then not bother showing up since it was free.  
 

I did not see anything about 50% charge, but think this would be very fair.

[PacnGoNow]

2 minutes ago, Mara4166 said:

I just booked a few SD and received a message there is a $10 charge if you cancel within 24 hours of the booking.  This may be extended to all no-shows.  It would not be fair on other people who want to get in for someone to book multiple nights and then not bother showing up since it was free.  
 

I did not see anything about 50% charge, but think this would be very fair.

That’s a new charge then, the cancellation $10 fee.

 

Have not booked since their new unlimited SD will be in effect.  They must have programmed the new fee now.

 

This will keep their duplicate bookings down, and no shows.  If it were 50%, it would really get some attention. 😆

 

Will be interesting to see how this is implemented.  Will it be auto programmed, upon a +24 hour cancellation?  Or, if someone wants to change/edit their reservation, after 24 hours?
We will see.  

 

 

[Cruisemeister2002]

6 hours ago, caribill said:

 

All cruise lines (not just Princess) have found that if people pay in advance, then once on board they will spend even more $$$ since there will not be a big bill at the end for drinks, tips, etc.

 

So, more money up front on profitable packages plus new spending once on board.

Don't see this Premier thing being extended to the Plus Package unless whereas the Premier before this upgrade got two SD's and Plus none they add two SD's to Plus, plus unlimited drinks up to $15 ??

[Mara4166]

2 minutes ago, PacnGoNow said:

Will be interesting to see how this is implemented.  Will it be auto programmed, upon a +24 hour cancellation?  Or, if someone wants to change/edit their reservation, after 24 hours?

Sorry, my wording was probably not correct.  It is within 24 hours of the actual reservation so most likely when you are already on the ship.  It is not 24 hours from making the reservation.

 

I am not certain if this is new or not.  All of our previous bookings have been free due to being in a suite or part of the old premier so do not remember seeing it before.  I just booked a few more SD for our 2026 TA cruise in anticipation of possibly upgrading to the new premier before then.  I wanted a few more nights in SD.

[PacnGoNow]

32 minutes ago, Mara4166 said:

Sorry, my wording was probably not correct.  It is within 24 hours of the actual reservation so most likely when you are already on the ship.  It is not 24 hours from making the reservation.

 

I am not certain if this is new or not.  All of our previous bookings have been free due to being in a suite or part of the old premier so do not remember seeing it before.  I just booked a few more SD for our 2026 TA cruise in anticipation of possibly upgrading to the new premier before then.  I wanted a few more nights in SD.

Thank you for clarifying.  That makes sense. 

So, you just cancel at least 24 hours before your SD reservation.  
It says, otherwise, there will be a $10 charge?

 

Would also apply if you’re a no show.

 

No, don’t remember seeing that either.  

[PacnGoNow]

59 minutes ago, PacnGoNow said:

Did you see that statement, when you booked a SD?  I didn’t see it.

 

55 minutes ago, Mara4166 said:

I just booked a few SD and received a message there is a $10 charge if you cancel within 24 hours of the booking.  This may be extended to all no-shows.  It would not be fair on other people who want to get in for someone to book multiple nights and then not bother showing up since it was free.  
 

I did not see anything about 50% charge, but think this would be very fair.

This post was clarified in post #298.