Cruise Cards as a take home souvenir?

[Oh2Travel]

On a recent Alaska sailing on the Star, we were required to turn in our cards as we left the ship. This is the first time we encountered this and there wasn't a clear answer as to why. We had heard rumblings about this before sailing and even inquired but were reassured by the Pursor's desk that we could keep them. Is this the new practice on all Princess ships? Have you been required to turn your cards in? My guess is this is a cost savings measure. If it's the expense, I'd gladly pay a dollar. Heck---that might be another source of revenue.

[Toto2Kansas]

On a recent Alaska sailing on the Star, we were required to turn in our cards as we left the ship. This is the first time we encountered this and there wasn't a clear answer as to why. We had heard rumblings about this before sailing and even inquired but were reassured by the Pursor's desk that we could keep them. Is this the new practice on all Princess ships? Have you been required to turn your cards in? My guess is this is a cost savings measure. If it's the expense, I'd gladly pay a dollar. Heck---that might be another source of revenue.

 

 

We have had this happen only on a few sailings, and it seems to be a combination of the itineary and/or the ship.

Next time, if you want to be assured of keeping that cruise card as a keepsake, just ask for a replacement from the pursers desk as you (ahhhh hummmmmm) misplaced the original, sometime during your sailing.

[catmand]

Not only is that a good suggestion but it always seems to happen to one of us (honest) within the first hour of boarding.

[bhopal21]

I don't see how it could be a cost saving measure as the cards would not be reusable for another passenger and even if they were the time spent sorting and filing them would far outweigh their worth.

 

Mike:)

[Oh2Travel]

"I don't see how it could be a cost saving measure as the cards would not be reusable for another passenger and even if they were the time spent sorting and filing them would far outweigh their worth."

 

Actually, what I forgot to say is that the cards were different--they had a peel off film w/ the passenger information on it so I believe they might be reusable, that's why I mentioned the cost savings

[Ceresgal]

I just returned from a cruise on the Dawn Princess and I knew they would keep our cards - So a couple days into the Cruise I LOST my card and went to the reception desk and asked for a new one. It took all of 30 seconds. At the end of the cruise they took my duplicate card and I have the original in my scrapbook.

[bhopal21]

Actually, what I forgot to say is that the cards were different--they had a peel off film w/ the passenger information on it so I believe they might be reusable, that's why I mentioned the cost savings

 

That must be really new. I haven't seen a card with peel off information on them.:confused:

 

Mike:)

[paul929207]

The only time we have not been able to keep our cards was on a b2b2b on the Star this spring.

[rcacace]

It also happened to us on the Dawn in SF in July. Someone posted that it was an order from port security & that Princess has nothing to say about the matter. It's to bad since from now on I intend on losing my card on every sailing no matter which port we disembark at. What a waste of money just to get a souvenir.

[Cruzman]

Sailed on the Star the last week of May, 2008 and based on information gleaned from this board, I knew it was likely that they would require the cruise cards to be turned in. With that in mind, we did as others have already suggested; "lose" the original and get a replacement, one of which you will keep. I have my souvenir card in hand and there is nothing on this card that could possibly be peeled off.

[mii]

Like I have noticed and mentioned before it seems to happen just on the Star and the Dawn. Weird I know but every case that has been reported here they have traveled either on the Dawn or the Star. It is very strange indeed.

 

marilyn

[margeg]

Like I have noticed and mentioned before it seems to happen just on the Star and the Dawn. Weird I know but every case that has been reported here they have traveled either on the Dawn or the Star. It is very strange indeed.

 

marilyn

 

We just got off the CB and we have our cards. We have all 7 of our princess cards except for the first one on the Island. I dont remember if they took it or we just did not save it.

[CruisenOne]

Like I have noticed and mentioned before it seems to happen just on the Star and the Dawn. Weird I know but every case that has been reported here they have traveled either on the Dawn or the Star. It is very strange indeed.

 

marilyn

 

 

We were on the Grand, in July, British Isles Cruise and they took our cards.:(

[rdsqrl]

You don't even have to have a replacement card made (I mean, why cost Princess more money and kill another plastic tree?!) -- just do as I did and when it's your turn to "ding out" with your card on the last morning, say you can't find it (artistically patting your back pocket and fumbling in your carry-on's outside pocket is an optional touch). Believe me, sadly, they'll still let you disembark. The officer just asked me my cabin number and pulled up the photo and said, "Is this you?" I said yes, and was on my way -- with my cruise card safely "hidden" inside my wallet.

[legaljen1969]

Are Princess Cruise cards set up different from RCCL Cards? How do you know that someone unscrupulous person is not going to get your information and keep using your card to charge things to your attached credit card?

[eqj60]

We were on the Diamond early Sept. SB Alaska and got both our cards. In fact DH tried to leave it and attendent gave his to me when I asked for it!.

Seems to vary - we have been able to keep our cards from 4 different Princess ships- Sun, Island, Emerald & Diamond!

Dick & El

[avcruz]

I was especially glad to be able to keep my most recent card from the Coral Princess in May, as it was my first black :D card! But the other poster is correct, as I was rubbing it in my palm one day I felt a little bit of plastic at the edge. When I rubbed my thumb along it, the entire piece of plastic with all the info on it started to peel off, leaving nothing but the plain black plastic with the logo, "Princess Captain's Circle" and "Elite" on it. So I guess technically pPincess could re-code and re-use the cards.

[tvaud]

If you conveniently lose your cruise card and it has a soda sticker on it, will they also replace the sticker on the new card?

[Times Prince]

Princess started the policy of keeping the cards shortly after 9/11 as a security measure to insure no unauthorized persons could reenter the ship in port. As one can see from other posts since, the policy was not consistently implemented throughout the fleet and from cruise to cruise.

 

I believe you will find almost all plastic cards consist of a laminate, where the basic plastic has a picture layer over it, followed by some sort of protective layer on top. What I have noted is that the top layer of the Princess cruise card has the printing on it, with no further protective layer, allowing the print to rub off. Usually about half the print rubs off in my pocket each cruise. This has been the case ever since we started cruising. If the laminate can peel off, it is likely due to an inexpensive manufacturing process rather than some desire to recycle and reuse the card.

[Times Prince]

If you conveniently lose your cruise card and it has a soda sticker on it, will they also replace the sticker on the new card?

The Pursor checks your cruise account to see if you purchased a soda sticker, and if you have they provide a new one.

[bdjam]

Interesting what people will do to keep the cards - are they really worth lying about to keep? :rolleyes:

 

We had to surrender ours on Dawn Princess in September. There was a big box on the floor where they were tossed as they were cleared upon disembarkation - I guess I'm jaded after 21 Princess cruises - it was no big deal...

[chasetf]

......Actually, what I forgot to say is that the cards were different--they had a peel off film w/ the passenger information on it so I believe they might be reusable, that's why I mentioned the cost savings

...Actually... it would cost them more to pay someone to peel off those stickers so they could reuse the card..... than that 3 cent card is worth. ;)

[chasetf]

We were on the Grand, in July, British Isles Cruise and they took our cards.:(

....and we were on the Golden for the British Isles cruise......and they didn't take our cards. Go figure.

[rcacace]

After they confiscated ours in July I emailed Princess asking them if I could get a replacement & questioned them for an answer. I also requested a replacement to which they didn't even respond to.

 

Their reply was,

 

Dear Mr. and Mrs. XXXX:

Thank you for your correspondence regarding your cruise onboard Dawn Princess. We appreciate the time you have taken to share your concerns regarding your cruise cards, and we welcome the opportunity to respond at this time.

While we were pleased to learn you enjoyed your sailing overall, we regret to note your concerns regarding the confiscation of your cruise cards at the end of your sailing. We take all cruise cards from passengers when leaving the vessel for the last time during disembarkation. This is done for security reasons and to help us ensure that all passengers have disembarked from the ship. We can assure you that all cruise cards are immediately destroyed following their surrender at the gangway. We are sincerely sorry for any confusion and disappointment you experienced due to this situation.

 

Mr. and Mrs. XXXXX, again, thank you for contacting our office. Passenger satisfaction is of utmost importance to us, and we are sorry for your disappointment in this area. We are pleased you enjoyed all other areas of your sailing, and it will be our pleasure to welcome you onboard again for what, we are certain, will be a completely enjoyableholiday at sea. Until then, we send our kind regards.

Sincerely,

Katie Olson.

Specialist, Customer Relations

 

Princess Cruises

[Menolly]

We weren't asked for our cards when we disembarked Sapphire Princess at Whittier on 13th September - in fact, we were told we could keep our cards as a souvenir (!). As we disembarked, we simply pushed the card in to the reader and left the ship.