TN-Mountains

I called Princess and was told it would be the same price regardless of whether I added it today or onboard.

I hope you'll let us know how this works out for you. I'm planning on doing the same thing on my cruise in June.

As a rule I agree with this, but I'll offer a word of caution on picking the obstructed views...I booked an obstructed balcony similar to what @kguerrierodescribed above. It had an extra large balcony and the only obstruction was a metal railing instead of a glass railing. I read lots of reviews, watched youtube videos and decided this was the perfect compromise for me....extra large balcony, great views albeit while standing up, and save lots of $ to put towards shore excursions. Well a month or so after booking it, Princess decided to designate that room as part of their isolation area and moved me to a different obstructed balcony. While this was an unacceptable cabin in my eyes, it was the same category room that I reserved so it wasn't a downgrade. There was one cabin left that had similar obstructions to my original reservation, but I chose to upgrade to an unobstructed balcony. My upcoming cruise has scenic fjords cruising so being able to see the views and take pictures (unobstructed) form my balcony is a priority. I didn't want to risk another cabin change into a different, unacceptable-to-me obstructed view. If I were on a different itinerary, I might have chose to gamble with the obstructed view.

Your CVP must be a gem! I sent screen shots to mine and she just said, "I can't see them. It is a good idea to keep checking prices!"

I'm curious. How did you get the OBC and new CVP? I know we can't say much about CVP/TA on here, so mostly interested in how you got the OBC or a sympathetic ear. When I had issues with "bad" online pricing, I couldn't get any help from my CVP. I had marginally better luck with the 800 #. I asked to escalate to a supervisor, but apparently they don't have those at Princess. 🙄 I gave up. Eventually cancelled and booked a different cruise. Now I'm wondering if there was a better way to escalate issues like this. (I won't go into details here, but my story was in a thread titled: "Price goes up after I log into my account on Princess's website".)

I don't think big box bookings are eligible for bidding upgrades. I originally booked through big box and I saw that disclaimer somewhere, but I don't recall if that was on the big box booking or Princess' website.

This is what I found a few weeks back while researching the different drink packages to determine if the Plus Fare was too much of a splurge for us. It is copied from Princess' website. Hope it helps.... CLASSIC SODA PACKAGE The package includes all, fountain sodas, fresh juices (if available), mocktails, and smoothies as per the menu. The package includes one souvenir tumbler based on availability and while supplies last. The package may be used on our Private Islands and all onboard Food and Beverage Venues and other areas such as the Theater or public spaces that offer beverage service. Selections and service are limited to that venue’s menu offerings and operating hours. The Classic Soda Package is USD $12.99 per day plus 18% service charge (totaling $15.32 per day) for all itineraries except Australia. ZERO-ALCOHOL PACKAGE The package includes all specialty or premium coffees and teas, hot chocolate, fountain sodas, fresh juices and healthy smoothies (juice bar), bottled water, Frappes at Coffee & Cones, mocktails, and smoothies as per the menu, Red Bull Energy Drink and Milk Shakes (if available). The package provides a 25% discount on the following excluded items: canned items such as soda or bottled juices (if available). The package may be used on our Private Islands and all onboard Food and Beverage Venues and other areas such as the Theater or public spaces that offer beverage service. Selections and service are limited to that venue’s menu offerings and operating hours. Package Details and Qualifications There is no age restriction for purchase of the Zero-Alcohol Package. The Zero-Alcohol Package is USD $39.99 per day plus 18% service charge (totaling $47.19 per day) for all itineraries except Australia.

I thought CVP's were just there to book cruises for folks that weren't comfortable booking online. Based on your experience, it sounds like a CVP operates more like a traditional TA. Do you know if they're hourly workers or do they work on commission and/or get credit for bookings? I ask because if I'm working with someone that would make a commission, I always try to circle back to them once I'm ready to book vs just booking on my own. I know the big box TA's are hourly so it doesn't matter if you speak to TA-A for pricing and then call back and book with TA-B. Before booking my cruise I received a marketing email from my CVP that stated something like save an extra $100 plus get OBC if you book through me. I called to get prices and her prices were higher than what was listed on Princess' website. She didn't seem interested in finding out 'why', which made me think she was an hourly phone operator. I booked online to save the extra $, but might have tried working with her if I knew she was working for commission.

Yes, I put a hold on my most recent booking to secure it while dealing with the time difference and sorting it out with husband. The real push to do so was when the cabin I wanted disappeared. When it finally reappeared I snagged it. 🙂 Looking back I don't think a hold would have worked on those October prices--I probably would have gotten the error--but it would have clued me into the fact that they were "bad" prices. Seeing all the issues with their website over the last few months makes me very leery to spend $ on wifi while at sea. Also, maybe your TA can try searching on princess' website instead of the portal she typically uses. Maybe she can find the discounted fare there. She probably can't book it there, but at least she'd know it isn't limited to an issue with your log in.

Respectfully disagree with you here. Whether it is an intentional dirty commercial tactic or not, it has been going on since at least last October. Any system failure should have been resolved by now. Also, Merriam Webster's definition of bait and switch: "a sales tactic in which a customer is attracted by the advertisement of a low-priced item but is then encouraged to buy a higher-priced one"

I had a similar issue last fall for a sailing in June. The website would show something like $6000 total including tax & fees, but once I would log into my account it would jump up to $8000. I took a screen shot and tried to get Princess to honor it, but they wouldn't. I asked my PVP to match it and called the 800 number twice. The 2nd lady on the 800 number was the most helpful. She wouldn't match the price, but she did offer a discounted rate around $7200. I felt that was a nice gesture, but it was still over budget, so I declined. The problem with the website persisted for a few weeks...sometimes showing the $6k and others the $8k. I tried to book each time the $6k appeared but I would get an error message after typing in all the passenger information. Besides being disappointing for not getting that good deal, it made searching for a cruise extremely frustrating because I never knew if the price I saw was REAL. My husband was in Europe at the time. I would send him a price and itinerary to look at within budget, but by the time I'd hear back the price had changed. It is a shame they are having similar issues 4 months later!

Something similar happened to me last Oct. I called my PVP. I called the 800 # a couple of different times hoping a different person would eventually be able to help. I even had my husband call Princess from his hotel in Europe hoping the folks on that side of the pond might be able to help. No luck! I kept seeing the price for over a week on Princess' website, but they wouldn't match it. I did get one lady at the 800# that offered a compromise--it wasn't the $1500 savings I saw online, but it was a discount. You might try calling again.

I called Princess today and asked they mark my new cabin as "no upgrade". Since I was talking to a different CSR, I decided to ask about the Plus Fare to see if I got the same answers the other CSR gave me on Friday. She confirmed that the Plus Fare can be purchased onboard for today's price ($60pp/day). When asked if one guest could upgrade to the Plus FARE onboard without the 2nd upgrading, she took a moment to look and said, "both guests 1 & 2 would have to upgrade to the Plus FARE even if purchased onboard." I didn't ask about guests 3 or 4. Hope this helps!

While researching cruises last summer, I read that the plus FARE had to be purchased (X) days prior to boarding the ship. Since I was rebooking under a new Plus FARE yesterday I decided to read the FAQ again. I was surprised by that change and that prompted me to call Princess to confirm I that note 8 in the FAQ was referring to plus FARE and not the plus beverage package. I specifically asked the CSR to confirm that I could purchase the Plus FARE on board in June and if the price would be the same as it is today. She confirmed both were true it would be $60pp/day onboard. I then questioned her about the individual beverage plans because it didn't make sense to me that the Plus beverage plan that is included in the Plus FARE would cost more than the Plus FARE package. That is when she told me it didn't have to be purchased by both guests. I'm Ruby member so the math on the beverage package definitely doesn't work for me. With my new booking I went we the standard fare. I'm waiting for other CC members to share their actual experiences trying to upgrade to the Plus FARE on board the ship in March. If I start seeing folks are having issues upgrading, I'll likely go ahead and upgrade a week or two prior to boarding the ship.

I don't mind. My question was answered & I'm learning from everything else that is being discussed! 🙂

The CSR I spoke to yesterday said Plus Fare would have to be purchased by both guests, but I didn't specifically ask if that would be the case if we waited to purchase on board. Although she did confirm I could purchase it onboard. Hopefully someone sailing in late Feb/early March will ask once onboard and report back to us. The CSR did say the plus or premier beverage packages could be purchased by a single guest, but they are more expensive for the 1st guest than the Plus/Premier Fares and they don't include crew appreciation, wifi, etc. $76.70 vs $60 and $100.30 vs $80 I don't think there would be any true savings to do it this way after adding in crew appreciation.

Not necessarily. In my case Princess decided to designate my original cabin as part of the isolation zone. After 2020 and the known need for isolation zones, I'm not sure why they don't designate a group of rooms prior to releasing any cabins for sale. In the future if they determine an isolation zone isn't needed, they can always release those rooms. It is usually better to give "new options" than to "take away" a cabin that is already sold.

After my experience, I will be doing the same thing! I just put a deposit on a new cabin. It is a much better cabin Aft balcony. In fact it is the type I really wanted to book from the start, but when I saw how much money I could save with a not-so-obstructed view, I chose to do that. It never occurred to me that Princess might relocate me anyway. Lesson learned...if there are only a few cabins in a category that I find "acceptable" I need to reserve a higher category cabin!

It sounded like a no-brainer to me too, so I thought there must be a catch...especially since I hadn't seen it mentioned on CC.

In the eyes of Princess I was not downgraded. I was moved to the same category cabin which was D--obstructed deluxe balcony. You probably know this, but I'll say it incase there are some newbies reading....There is great variability in the obstruction for each room. The room I booked (Sky Princess E107) has an extra large balcony. It is at the front of the ship so the railing is part of the metal hull instead of glass. When you look over the railing you see the water. The one they moved me to was mid-forward section and has a life boat in front of it. I was on the phone for hours trying to get the room back, but they designated that room as an isolation area.

Before booking my cruise I spent a couple of months researching itineraries, fares, packages, cabins, etc. I decided to save some $ and book a not-so-obstructed deluxe balcony w/ extra large balcony. Yesterday, Princess through me a curve ball when they switched cabins on me. I didn't like the new cabin assignment as it went from not-so-obstructed to an obstructed balcony. They're the same category, so not much I can do except 1) suck it up & like it, 2) cancel or 3) rebook a better category. I've already booked airfare and really excited about the itinerary so I don't want to cancel. I found the "best" cabin left in my category and got reassigned to it. I can live with this cabin, but if Princess reassigns me again I'll likely get a true obstructed view, which I don't won't. I put a courtesy hold on a higher category cabin so I can have time to reevaluate the costs. With the changes to the plus package my previous research is out of date. On the up side, I noticed in the FAQ (and confirmed with someone at Princess) that I can book the standard rate now and purchase Plus package onboard. This would give me extra time to reevaluate the value of the more expensive Plus package and keep my final payment which is due next month slighter lower than my existing booking. It would be nice to defer that $1700 until June should I chose to purchase Plus! Does anyone know of any downside to purchasing it onboard? The only thing I can think of is possible long line/wait to add it to my portfolio and travel insurance might not cover it for in the event of trip interruption claim. I think this is a new policy, so I'm copying the FAQ in case it hasn't been discussed here: 8. Can I purchase Princess Plus or Princess Premier when I’m on board? Yes. Princess Plus and Princess Premier will be available to purchase on board beginning with voyages sailing 2/20/23 and beyond. You may purchase a package on the first day of your voyage.

Can you elaborate on this? My not-really-obstructed Deluxe Balcony cabin was designated an isolation zone and I got moved to a different cabin. I'm trying to find another one that isn't really obstructed.

Thank you all. I've been on the phone all day with the TA trying to figure out why I was able to get the fare adjusted, but lost my cabin. A supervisor just returned my call. He said Princess changed my cabin # yesterday because they designated it as part of the isolation zone.

OMG! I called the TA and was on the phone for an hour. I requested to keep the same cabin and for them to remove the "any available upgrade". No problem, she came back $200 cheaper plus $200 OBC. All is great....but, when I got the confirmation she changed the cabin! I'm waiting on a call back, but my original cabin doesn't appear as available on any of the websites! What can I do? Nothing??? I'm waiting on a call back from the TA!

I'm booked on Princess for June 2023. I've been checking prices and noticed a slight drop in prince with the Best Sale Ever promotion. I was going to call my big box TA and get the fare change applied, but I noticed this in the terms & conditions: Princess's Best Sale Ever with Princess Plus: Offer is valid on new bookings made 12/14/22-3/1/23. If guest cancels and reinstates booking, applies a fare change, or changes room category outside of valid booking window, offer no longer valid & will be removed. Is that normal? I thought fare changes were allowed prior to final payment? It is not a huge savings, but it would give me the new princess plus package instead of the older package. Not a big deal, but it would be nice to try the juice bar. Anyway, can someone explain when a fare change is allowed on Princess Bookings? TIA!