likeadisguise

They've likely converted all the locks to RFID, so no more holes in cruise cards!

I don't think it's unreasonable for you to expect your TA to at least try on your behalf.

They haven't actually rolled out the program yet - it's being tested on one ship. Why would they make an announcement if it's still being worked out?

 

And if there's no change to Platinum and Elite benefits, how is that a reduction in your benefits?

The below is a moderator response on their FB page:

 

Hi, Robert. As this is a trial package at the moment we're still working on getting full details, but our understanding is that once this is rolled out fleetwide the "per minute" purchase option will be eliminated. Guests who have pre-purchased minutes will work with our onboard team to apply the credit to the most appropriate package.

 

The moderator is also telling people that the Platinum and Elite internet minutes are NOT being eliminated.

And, FWIW, I didn't get notified about my Nov 5 Royal cruise, but I do see the change in my personalizer.

 

If you booked through a travel agent, the notifications generally go to them.

Why are you peeved at Princess? They didn’t create the hurricanes nor have anything to do with the destruction. Princess does not determine which ports will be open and which won’t. They can’t tell YOU anything until they know themselves.

 

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Also, once they know which ports are unavailable, they can't just randomly pick replacement ports and say, "Okay, we're going there!" Every cruise line that sails the Caribbean is trying to do the same thing, so determining port availability must be nuts. Itineraries are planned years in advance -- I don't envy the people working to get all of these changed quickly.

Did you book your air through Princess? If so, they won't sell you a flight that would get you to the ship too late.

Island Princess has almost no 3rd or 4th berths that can be booked (regardless of cabin size) because of the refurbishment they did a few years ago, when they added over 100 new cabins. The max capacity of the ship hasn't really changed, so it's almost all lower berths.

Considering the published top speed of the ship is 21.5 knots, it's kind of impressive if it'll go more than three knots FASTER after it's fixed.

Which ship?

Didn't they also give 25% of your cruise fare as a future credit? Were the news reports wrong about that?

When they move a port they have to cancel all the tours in the system and then rebuild them on the new date. It usually takes about a week.

The problem began right after the ship's most recent dry dock in March (which is when they installed all the Medallion doodads). She doesn't have another dry dock scheduled at this time, though would be expected to have one in 2019, as they go in every two years.

When did Princess say it was going to be repaired on October 7?

You're only allowed off the ship in Colon (and now presumably in Cristobal) if you're on a Princess shore excursion anyway, so does it really matter how "nice" the port is?

A TA gets a commission for the work they do servicing a client. It's their job to communicate things like itinerary changes to their clients.

 

If you book with a PVP you're treated like any one else who books directly with Princess, and the notices go to you.

 

Princess also puts a copy of the message in your online Cruise Personalizer, no matter how you booked.

Because taking a ship the size of Caribbean Princess into an unscheduled drydock is just like taking your car in for a service call?

Does any major cruise line use Ensenada as an embarkation port? That seems very wrong in the article.

Depending how far out your cruise is, it's likely agencies are holding group space in that category.

Probably not - it looks like they're announcing the changes in waves, and they probably haven't gotten to yours yet. The agents on the phone will see the same itinerary you do.

Oh, just realized you needed a horizontal photo... Sorry!

I have one! I'm not sure what the quality will be attaching it here, so let me know if I need to send it through other means.

Call Princess. They can do it over the phone.

I couldn't agree more.

As well as my problem detailed in post #92 I had 2 other occasions to request help:

 

1) I requested compensation for the missed bus portion of our tour from Genoa to Portofino. At first, I was told 'you could have gone to Santa Margarita'- well everyone else on the ship also could. They didn't have to pay for the tender ride!

At my 2 nd request for the refund, I was told they would phone me.

Late in the morning of our final sea day I went to the Excursion desk for a 3rd time. This time I was told ' you must have been out when we phoned.'

No, I had been in the cabin packing all morning. I was then told that I had indeed been refunded $35p.p. I have waited 7 weeks for that to be sent to me.

 

 

2) We reached Platinum status half way through the cruise. Next to the last Sea Day I spoke to the Captain's Club person who said we would have a letter sent to our cabin that evening- no letter!

So back I went again. The C.C person then went to check on the computer. Nothing was said, but a letter was printed and given to me, together with 2 pins.

I wasn't going to leave this, because if we ever sail with Princess again, I will now get a very decent Internet allowance.

#1 should have been a credit to your folio if you were still on board, not something sent to you afterwards.

 

#2 unless you booked a cruise that could have been purchased as two separate cruises, there's no such thing as switching status levels partway through a cruise. You would be Platinum on your next cruise.

It's likely that the $500 is the maximum payout for embarkation delays, not overall.