Brucerw

7 hours ago, wallyj said:

I am surprised there are still people posting comments regarding what they assume was a ‘mistake’ fare when you were upgraded. As I posted in one of my previous replies in this thread, Princess has and obviously still does give complimentary upgrades during the booking process, but it seems mostly with accessible/handicapped cabins if the category you are looking to book is sold out. I know ‘handicapped’ is not used anymore but it seems when I have said accessible, some people do not know what I am talking about.

 

The OP also shared, he eventually canceled the sailing where he was upgraded, so that is not the issue, as he did not sail, but I think it added to his frustration with Princess in getting them to ‘honor’ the fare.
 

The straw that broke the camels back was being ‘double’ charged for the upgrade from Plus to Premium pkg after being refunded once for a double billing.

 

The OP also posted in post #43, the issue was resolved. So it seems some people are making comments without reviewing all of the history/past posts regarding this thread!

 

Please read my reply post #12.

Someone who read and comprehended my post <grin and a big atta person>. I know my writing at times can be a bit scattered. I also know I clarified more than once what the issue was. I added the issue of the 28 day cruise to show the level of frustration I was at. I mean what would it take for you to cancel your dream vacation, especially at a great price? The bottom line as you pointed out. The issue is resolved to my satisfaction. I did get my money back. Someone actually listened and gave a damn.  

10 hours ago, warren buffet said:

how did they explain that their mistake happened and how did the other princess rep's not realize it? did they say the pricing was a computer glitch but this particular supervisor would honor it?

Actually, I did/do not care what caused it. The fact is their computer network can use some real work. From their website to their on board medallion app. What I did care about was getting the issue fixed and someone to listen and hopefully fix the one woman's attitude. As far as the real deal 28 day cruise? Everything is relative. This will eventually if my health holds be a life time trip. It also will cost anywhere from the base of 18k to over 26k final cost. This is more than a years income for my house. With that said, it really was a factor that I had thought it was fixed then was broken in such a way. Then that the woman told me she would just cancel the booking with me losing over 2k when I tried to explain that I had proof. 

 So what did I learn? IF I am going to make changes to my booking to do it via a person. That people are very dedicated to their channel of booking cruises aka TA's. That without a doubt princess needs to get some new programmers in and fix their networks.

I am lucky it worked out, and glad it did. We board the ruby in a week for 12 days. then in may discovery. I am back on track to try and get to elite status by 11/24.  

  On 3/17/2023 at 9:24 PM, startedwithamouse said:

Please don't bash TAs. They take care of their clients. 

You apparently joined Cruise Critic just to post this thread.  

We get it. You booked and it was a glitch and thought you got a steal of a suite for a balcony price.

A TA would have given you real pricing and advised you of this, and you wouldn't be spending hours or days rehashing this. 

A TA is not a third party involved in a business deal. They are professionals. 

Note: I'm not a TA.

Folks this person did not read my original post correctly. There are many channels to book a cruise. Each of us have to pick the one that is right for us. happy cruising

As I said I would do, I got a call from a princess rep and we got everything fixed. I want to thank everyone for their comments and reading my vents. The person whom called me showed me that even though my experience sucked there are people there who understand the nature of their business. 

6 hours ago, RedIguana said:

Booze from the duty free shops is usually cheaper than shore side. Always good to check prices to verify. 

After my last heart procedure I do not drink.....I have in the last 6 months gave away my bar. Which included different alcohol I bought with an old drinking buddy after his wife passed. 300 dollar bottle of tequila unopened. Assorted rums (my old drink of choice). Brandy's etc. In total over 5k. We take care of our own. 

8 minutes ago, startedwithamouse said:

They do sell lots of candy treats in the shops on Princess, along with alcohol bottles to bring home, prices are pretty good and they have a decent selection. Just bring those home for your family, they will love them. The chocolate is good quality British chocolate. 

Not my point 🙂 I normally do not drink. I was making a tongue in cheek comment. IF I am going to buy booze it will not be at cruise lines prices. As far as candy? I get from switzerland when I want real good chocolate. Occasionally some american. The grand babies do not care how good it is as long as it is chocolate.

9 hours ago, coo359a2 said:

First time to post pictures so hope it is correct.  On the Regal Princess now and these are the prices for the special desserts.  All are $12 US and no prices I saw for adding the small bottle of alcohol.  This is a picture of the Godfather and didn't look bad but don't think I could do 2 a day.  Reminded me of a milk shake. /Asked about the glasses and they are pre dipped with chocolate in this type of a glass.  I wanted to be on a ship and see the actual dessert before making a decision on what the dessert might be like.

 

 

 

 

I will be on the Ruby in a few weeks. I am wondering where other than swirls you can get these or the cakes. I really was getting happy figuring the lil bottles of booze I could take home to my son. and as the lillipop was wrapped brought home for the grand babies. Now it is only a shot and unwrapped suckers. Oh well The free medallion holder is not worth it. This with the premier package. Originally was excited as it was suppose to pick which one.

20 minutes ago, Steelers36 said:

No (see my CC avatar and I am from Ontario, Canada).  Perhaps I am wrong, but thought I saw a photo of those ice cream sundaes with the prices I mentioned.  I recall thinking if I was on the ship we might share one, but $12 is a lot for some dressed up ice cream or gelato.  At $18, no way - I don't see the value over just ordering a dish or cone of gelato.

It was just one more thing Princess put out there because they where raising prices. I chose to get the premier package that was part of what started this whole thing in case my wife would want something. I have a bad heart, so I am not suppose to drink. I am diabetic so my sugar intake is continually monitored. I will probably enjoy a cake with the cherries. I would not pay 18 dollars either for one but as part of the package? ya maybe. I am getting a whole new appreciation for people whoc an sort through all the different plans. So far VV seems to be my next cruise line. I need to get more info about how crowded entertainment is excursion costs etc. I love the fact that soft drinks are included, but not mock drinks. As is tips etc.

16 minutes ago, Steelers36 said:

Did you get the above menu from an Australian member, or?  I am sure I saw one of these posted - or a partial menu - and the prices were $12 and $14.

No I got it off a group I used to be in on fb. I have seen a few of these now. The most disappointing thing for me was it was suppose to come with wrapped suckers and lil bottles of alcohol. Because of my health I do not really drink. I figured if that was the case then the suckers for grand babies and booze for my son. It is the cakes that interest me. I also shared the desserts from the MDR when I went. Shame princess had to screw all my plans up. I really was looking at getting to elite status....I get obsessed per my wife. Now another six months of research and hopefully I will find a cruise line worthy of my loyalty. Happy cruising....If you are an aussie, I am hoping to be in your neck of the world woods end of the year. 

25 minutes ago, disneyochem said:

In your cruise personalizer on the Princess website—sign in and then click on My Account.  All of your upcoming cruises will be listed.  Click on the Manage My Cruise button to access each voyage.

 

You can also find upcoming cruises on the medallion app.

Oh on the princess site I am very familiar with how to get the info. Thank you! 

42 minutes ago, nijh said:

I think it’s the listing that shows under posts you’re after.

 

Click on your profile avatar, then Profile > Account Settings > Signature.

 

Enter and format it in the Signature box

thank you 🙂

PS where do you go to list the cruises you have already booked and scheduled?

please enjoy the eye candy....In 16 days I will get a chance to enjoy some of these.....not sure if I can do the sugar overload. Originally, I had planned to take the suckers home to my grand girls and the lil bottle of booze to my son. But I am now told they add the shot to the dessert and the sucker is not wrapped. It is the over the top cake I really want to try. Might as make the best of it as I am out of pocket an extra 424 dollars.

1 hour ago, LibertyBella said:

I am getting a bit of a headache just reading through all the issues on this thread.   I doubt very much whether a state AG will have any impact on Princess computer glitches.  

 

Planning vacations is supposed to be enjoyable, but mistakes can happen, and it is easy to get overwhelmed and frustrated. I 100% agree that you should consider hiring a  travel agent to assist with all your cruise efforts.

 

I'm sorry that you think never cruising on Princess again will be the solution, as the same issue could easily arise on any cruise line.  Many of the cruise agents are low paid, at-home, part-time workers, and lack the ability or the expertise to easily resolve more complicated issues.  

 

I make it a habit to check all my travel reservations at least weekly, sometimes daily if there are issues, so I know it is a time-consuming challenge, but I accept it because the joy is in the wonderful cruise experience!

 

I hope everything works out for you.

 

 

 

 

You right it should be enjoyable. Mistakes can happen, I agree. The difference? is when a mistake happens and the company makes the situation worse. IF they had stopped with returning my over payment amount, then all the rest would not have happened. Yes I would have been a touch upset. BUT that would have fell under "crap happens". But to fix it then break it again? Further tell me that you will cancel the booking that I already have 2k in? Rather than get into a dialog and let me send you proof of my position. No to me that is extortion. Going through a TA would not have solved this. Besides why would you me or anyone feel the need to have a third party involved in a business deal? I mean I get they off service, so does princess as far as booking airlines. IF I had not checked my cc which I do regularly and if there had not been a credit on my payment section for this cruise. I would not have known they had done a double billing. As far as any cruise line could do this? Yes I agree this could have happened to me via any of them. Yet it did not because I had decided for now I would sail exclusively on princess. I am not a seasoned cruiser. I have been on one total cruise thus far. I have three more in the next 7-8 weeks. After that? I will give another company my money, IF they do this same crap? then another one I will not use. I will keep up this pattern until either I find one or two I can trust, or I just blow off cruising period. Hope you have great cruises in the future

25 minutes ago, Notalotofinfo said:

I agree with the problem of double billing. We were on for 14 days. And called or visited guest services Damn near daily. Simple things like charged for drinks when we had drink package. The irritation really started to add up. Princess please pay attention to this issue!

 

I had read on line that that may have been an issue. So I made sure to check my folio daily for errors.

The onboard staff IMO was excellent. Unfortunately thanks to their corporate off ice I have to recoup part of the money took took. So less out of pocket tipping

37 minutes ago, wallyj said:

Actually, Princess has been known to do this complimentary upgrade for accessible cabins, maybe because there are so few? There is a current thread regarding this same issue for the Island Princess late December 2023 sailing. Thru the Princess website booking process, the passenger is trying to book an OV accessible cabin, princess says sorry no OV accessible left, but we will upgrade you to Balcony for same OV fare and displays this fare and the balcony cabins left you can select. Unfortunately, when you get the confirmation email or go directly to the cruise Personalizer to check the payments page, the fare listed is the Balcony fare not the OV fare shown throughout the booking process. 
 

Fortunately as suggested, the OP of this wrong price thread did a screenshot and eventually was able to speak to Princess agent today and they corrected the pricing, so they honored the upgrade.

 

I think the OP of this thread said he eventually cancelled the cruise with the upgrade and now is dealing with being double charged for a different sailing for upgrade to premier from plus package, which if he had been reading current threads, he could have done on day 1 or 2 of his sailing and not deal with current mess.

 

 

You have a very valid point. Yet this never should have been this bad. I had the issue solved. It was clearly a double booking or why refund? Then their system spazed out. I had gotten the upgrade on the 28 day cruise I had canceled and yes this was the second part of a b2b that I planned all in the last 30ish days. All I can say now, is I will wait and see what the company will do. Then take the proper action from there. For that same 16-18k I can see all the places I wanted to see with another cruise line. Thank you notalotofinfo for interpreting what I wrote.  

13 minutes ago, skynight said:

Here is an option for the poster. Assuming you are correct:

Write a hard copy letter to the California Department of Consumer Affairs in Sacramento which details all payments, discussions, and current standing. Include hard copies of all disclaimers and legal fine print from your Princess booking, especially the print that shows or does not show that your deposit is not refundable. 

Send a copy of your letter with backup to the Princess legal department.

 

I will be writing to the MO,KS attorney general. With screen shots and the e-mail I already sent to the top executive of Princess. I will give them time to address this. I also have the original refund notice on the booking confirmation and what they sent me trying to keep same. I will note your suggestion and thank you for same. It really is a shame their land based side of the business is this bad. The ship side was really good. Thank you for the info

44 minutes ago, billco said:

In my experience with Princess Customer Service over the years I have found the best way to deal with it is to learn from what others have had to deal with and to be careful to not put myself into similar situations. One way is not to book specialty dinners prior to the cruise.  We haven’t had an issue booking the time we want on board.

I get that....I had paid for a pair of specialty dinners and I canceled them. I have 2 dinners coming for my wife and I. I will schedule them once on board. I refuse to give this company anymore of my money. I bought stock to get the stock holders credit....I am waiting for the stock to get back over 10 so I can dump it. I had to hold on to it until after the may cruise as unlike them I am honest.

17 minutes ago, startedwithamouse said:

 

The website made an error, giving you a suite for the price of a balcony and you jumped on it, because it was in your favor?  But, when they went to correct it, that's where the problems started?  

 

Why would you pay for something that was clearly a website error in the first place?

errr no.....I had put a deposit down and it was booked and then they had sent me a confirmation with a different price. That was the cruise I canceled and not at issue here. I booked a cruise with plus. I saw that premier was only a couple hundred dollars more so I went to upgrade on their website. I was double charged. I called and the woman saw the same thing. They refunded the duplicate payment. Two days later I get an e-mail stating that I had to pay the 224 that they had just refunded back to me as the double payment or they would cancel my booking. I called, woman was very nasty and after putting me on hold to call whoever, she cam e back and said I got two refunds. When I said no I had not she said I could pay the 224 or lose my booking. I was not going to lose almost 2k. I felt/feel like I had zero options. So I canceled the great deal future cruise. To which I am now told that deposit is forfeit also. This was my final straw with this company. I did everything right. Moral of this story? If there is one, is once you book something just leave it alone. Then they can not f it up. 

That may solve some of this. The issue in this case was I had already booked my base cabin. I decided to the price I would upgrade from the plus drinks package to the premier. The web site double charged me. Then when I jumped through the hoops they credited me back one of the charges. IF that had been it, this whole issue would not be had. Instead whatever wizard there decided to do G-d knows what and decide I had to give back the over payment or they would cancel and I would lose all my money. It is not worth going to court over 450 dollars. It is worth me spending the time I have plenty of to write to the attorney generals of three states. To write to newspapers and cruise magazines and everywhere else. I may never get my money back but I will make sure they have a hell of a time doing it to anyone else. I guess if you can not trust the company why would you have a third party handle the front end of the business for you???

No I went to their web site and the site quoted me a suite for a balcony handicap room. After numerous calls I e-mailed and they finally agreed to honor the pricing. This was a 28 day transatlantic cruise and still would have been 16-18k base. I had a friend who told me early on their on land people sucked but the on ship was worth it.The service on ship was very good. I took my first cruise in part to learn. The fact the price on the 28 day was very good for the suite, it should give you an idea how angry I am. I had already sent them screen shots of both paypal and my credit card showing the payments and what they refunded. My letter to Mr Pradett was clear I expected a refund of both the 250 over payment and the 200 dollars for the canceled booking. I also explained that IF they could prove they had refunded both payments, I would take ownership of my mistake but that is impossible as I keep checking my bank. Shame too as I will have made platitium by my Alaska cruise in may. I had planned to be elite by the 28 day. Now I have to research all the other lines and see where that leads me. This may just take me away from cruising totally not sure yet. take care 

I was double billed. After waiting 2 hours I got one of the charges refunded. Two days later I get notice that I was short that charges amount. So I called, and another 90 minutes then another 30 to be put on hold. The woman who was nasty to begin with, came back and said I had gotten two refunds. Did not ask me to prove otherwise when I told her "no I had gotten one". Instead she threatened to cancel my booking. AKA I would lose close to 2000 dollars. So I repaid the over payment amount again. I also told her to cancel my 28 day cruise in 11/24. She did this then sent me an e-mail claiming that my deposit was forfeit also. I am currently out 450 dollars over an issue that was not my mistake. I have e-mailed the company explaining all this but if others experience is any example I do not hold out hopes of ever seeing that money again. buyer beware.....As I posted this on fb complaints group, at least one other went through pretty much the same thing. I will never do business with this company again. I know my lil 10k I have spent on 4 cruises in 90 days is a drop in the bucket. Yet they keep treating people like this and they will not have a company left. Unfortunately for me I can not just stop doing business with them as 8k of that is in 3 bookings that still have to happen.

1) had to go through 2 princess ta's before I got one who had a clue.

2) had to write a letter to get them to honor an offer for the 28 day cruise.

3) Only time previously I got a call back form their staff was when I was pricing cruises and left it before making a deposit. Even though I was promised a call for other things.

4) They double charged me, read above for the unresolved issue to date.

I have 3 cruises that have been fully paid for and yet to be done. As I will not lose the over 8k paid for them, I will go on them. Please do not get me wrong my first ever was a decent experience. Enough so I booked a b2b, This extended experience has left me ticked off. Should not have upgraded from the plus to premier.

 

As of earlier this week, your right you can not get the same benefits if you need a handicap room. Take their bid for upgrades. No way to get an upgrade to a better room at a lower price. IF you wait until prices come down you can not get a handicap room period. As they can and will give those rooms to people who do not need them. This is partly why I will no longer travel with princess