Cruise Raider

Yes, it will equal 4 credits per cruise. You’ll be there even quicker!

You will attain elite status AFTER your 15th cruise credit .. so only one cruise after the end of the year for you!

That is so funny! When we had separate rooms one time, the crew members that knew us well pulled me aside and asked if everything was ok between us. We got a good laugh out of that.

Did she get billed for the visit from the nurse? If there was medical care that was billed on your folio, you can request they stamp your tickets for a refund for the excursion. In terms of the surveys, we know they do have an impact on individual crew members as well as some policies that go into effect. We have been thanked by crew members and even some officers for our kind words on the survey. I know they earn extra time off or other perks when they impress the passengers enough to include them in the commendations section of the surveys. We recently completely a focused survey about the premier package a few months before the new inclusions went into effect. The questions were centered around a more all inclusive type of experience. More recently, we were asked to complete a survey on the casinos onboard. If we see nonsmoking casinos on Princess in the future, I will believe it is because of the feedback on the surveys. I know much of this change had to do with the Star Princess fire onboard but I always wrote in my survey that it became useless for us to book a balcony cabin if we were smoked out from using it. Perhaps it was a bit of both for changing that policy.

I am surprised it took that long, too. I remember buying it for that price over a decade ago. I believe the lack of incremental increases is what has everyone so passionate about this. We always buy a package, too and when we order room service, we just have them bring an extra 6 bottles of water for the room. Of note, when we were on the Emerald Princess, everyone that had a package could find six bottle of water in their cabin. There was no note on it saying it was included due to your package so, during our CC meet and greet, one of the officers noted it was complimentary for those with the package. They were trying something, probably in an effort to keep down the room service calls. That experiment was short lived, though. I’ve not seen it gain since then.

Ah yes, I’ve seen that. I was thinking of two commodes when posting which is what we always seem to need at the same time.

I had a feeling that is exactly the information you were looking for. I asked the same question onboard through someone trying to tell the packages. One said no and the next one said yes! So, I think they are even confused. I promised the sale would go to the one who said yes and he was correct. One could even look at their app and will see the prorated amount on day 2.

Yes. We didn’t have any other charges. Of note, we were each refunded $10 for the shipping of the medallion when charged for the package, even though it was a B2B. Now I mention this, they will probably get right on fixing that in their system. 😂 Anyway, that more than covered the gratuities for one of us.

Not in my experience. I’ve NEVER been charged for local taxes when I have a package while ordering a drink while the ship is in port.

You are correct! We’ve never paid taxes on our drinks while in port when we’ve had the package. (Except for in the situation below) We were erroneously charged for wine corkage on the last night of the cruise while in port overnight on a bottle of wine we bought onboard. When I sent in for the refund after the cruise, I explained the charge was not valid. They refunded me the corkage and service charge for the corkage but not the Los Angeles local tax. That was fine as I realized they already paid it to the county/city. I was really more concerned with the nearly $25 charge.

We were just on a B2B and had only purchased the package for the first leg of the cruise. We had a lot of OBC for the second leg so, decided to wait to buy the package. We had gifts of wine from the first leg and even a complimentary specialty dinner for the second leg so, we chose to buy the package on day 2 of that cruise. This was less than a month ago so, it is current information. The package WAS prorated so it did NOT include any package charges the first day. That’s may change but this was my experience one month ago.

I learned my lesson with booking guaranteed cabins in 2006. They were fine for awhile but seems if you are picky about your location, they don’t work out very well. In my experience, they give you only cabins that are leftover. Even with bidding, we only do so if we would be happy with every single cabin in that category.

It seems like they increased their pre-cruise price to what it costs to buy it once onboard. $2 a bottle now pre-cruise or onboard. I don’t really see other items that are sold at such a discount if you buy it before your cruise. I have it on good authority that Princess is trying to make their product a more all inclusive experience. I believe Celebrity tried that years ago with their ‘all in pricing’ and only those last minute Celebrity selects pricing could go with the standard fare. That strategy failed. Seeing that a great percentage of passengers refuse the packages, it may or may not work for Princess any better than it worked for Celebrity. But, I can see where it would save them, not only on their workforce, but also on people sharing their packages with those that don’t have it. They may be trying to attract a different clientele now that some of the higher tier passengers are aging out. It may work in some demographics, definitely not with all. We had a lot of passengers with a package while onboard a short Alaska cruise last month. For cruises out of San Francisco, they’d be lucky to get even a fraction on that number of cruisers with the package.

Me, too! I know Celebrity changed over to aluminum cans for their water long ago. Also, I think I saw a water dispenser up on the buffet. I also have seen people go to one of the bars for their reusable water cup to be filled.

I’ve not stayed in a suite with a second bathroom on a cruise ship but, I know there are some out there, eg: sky suites and family suites. When they have had really good solo fares, we have gotten an inside cabin across the hall from a balcony or mini suite, mostly just for that extra bathroom, but also in case one of us got sick so, we both didn’t get sick. Alas, those great solo fares are gone now. I have nowhere near 2000 days and on cruises out of San Francisco or LA, I rarely even see an invite to the MTP luncheon. Those short cruises to Alaska out of Vancouver or Seattle attract much fewer elite level passengers. but wow, I’d really enjoy that Sabatini’s breakfast again. But, we like cruising more often in cheaper cabins than getting a special breakfast on one cruise a year. Too bad but thank you!

This was quite some time ago but, I learned that the social media monitor for Celebrity monitored this site. (I know that’s not Princess but I’m just sayin’) Although I’m not a complainer by nature and wrote a very complimentary post about my cruise but with one disappointment. We went with a group of friends to Murano and I always love to order a salad with my meal. But, I also wanted to order an appetizer. Apparently, this was against the rules at that time. The waiter refused me and I asked him politely if he’d rather see me go to the buffet for my small salad and bring it back to the restaurant. He still didn’t budge. Then, I ordered the lobster Murano which is cooked with bacon and I don’t eat pork. Since everyone else at the table ordered the same but with bacon, he refused to cook mine separately. So, I just ordered the regular lobster tail. The rest of the cruise was absolutely wonderful, as I noted in a post here on CC. No more than a week later, their social media monitor at Celebrity reached out to me to send him an email in which he made up for it on a future cruise by offering us a complimentary meal at Murano. I believe a laundry list of complaints takes on a life of its own on these sites. Recognizing the aspects of the cruise where everything was wonderful goes a long way as they know you will probably be returning whereas, it would probably be pointless to offer something to someone that says “never again”.

Are they still doing that with a milestone # of days? I would absolutely love that if they did. We very rarely book a suite.

I know they have someone watching these boards. I understand the reason they are trying this to make the experience more all inclusive. My theory is when something is limited to a set quantity, human nature for some dictates people feel like they have to get the absolute maximum out of it. I hear people say, “I can’t drink 15 drinks a day so, I feel perfectly ok with sharing those with my friends that don’t have the package”. That’s not the way it is supposed to work but I still hear it all the time. Or they state, “I paid for 15 drinks and I must make the most of my package” by over indulging in the process. When something is unlimited, people tend to set their own limits .. well, hopefully they will. Time will tell.

I do, it was scallops for the main and Stilton cheese for the appetizer. The lobster was served on the last night on that sailing.

We were on a five night cruise with one formal night and lobster night was not on formal night. They can move things around.

@IndyKid we buy the premier package not for the unlimited drinks but because of the better quality drinks. I never have gotten anywhere near 15 drinks! I also like the photos, reserved seating, and unlimited casual dining and definitely, Princess prizes. I plan on purchasing it on my next few cruises that are on Royal class ships and won’t be insisting on specialty dining every evening. It still has value to us.

I went to the normal personalizer on the website.

I did the same but logged off immediately after checking on my bookings. I wonder if others can see my info, who knows who can see mine.

That’s not good!

Oh my .. that is pricey! So, looks like she wasn’t overcharged. Ouch!