kywildcatfanone

Cruise lines no longer care about loyalty. They have figured out that blue medallion people will spend as much, if not more than black medallion people. Therefore, loyalty benefits are reduced/removed/changed to benefit the cruise line, so that revenue producing items can replace them. Loyalty is no longer a consideration.

Welcome to the future of cruising. You will pay more, get less, and get charged for things you used to not get charged for. And you will like it or find another vacation type.

Well, certainly the new class of ships is trying to enhance both the Carnivalization of Princess, and expand the "pay more onboard" experiences from what I have seen of the deck plans and images. It's the direction they are headed. As far as alienating 25% of their loyal customers. I think marketing shows that there are people to fill those spots, many of whom will at least view their first cruise as a vacation to "splurge on everything", and therefore they will replace those of us who don't want to spend the outrageous amounts of money with people who will. Sadly, my leaving won't affect them negatively, only positively. They know that, and that is clearly the direction they are headed. Someone posted that it won't be long before the package prices go up again, and I agree with that. Seems to now be on a twice a year increase of pricing, and shifting of the benefits associated with it. It's the new normal.

Yep, and it looks like from the new class of ships, they are doing more to turn previous non revenue areas of the ship into revenue generators. It would not surprise me to see them start to charge for every little thing they can including the items you mention.

Yep, this is 100% true. If the loyal customers from days gone by take too many benefits, then cut the benefits, which has happened. If they don't spend enough money, and that wonderful medallion device gives Princess 24/7 access to your habits onboard, then let's try to run them off and get more new people willing to spend for the "adventure of a lifetime" you mention. I think you are 100% correct. As I said in the other thread, I'm the kind of passenger Princess is trying to get rid of. It's working too. I'm not gone yet, but it likely won't take much more for me to love on to something else. I don't like it, but it's all about the Benjamins anymore.

I guess plus is included in suite pricing, isn't it? If not, can you explain why you think it's dumb for someone to book a suite but not a drink package? Genuinely curious.

Thank you. I responded to him that my cost concern had nothing to do with affordability, but what you have said is also accurate. It's one thing to be able to pay for some outrageous priced item, it's another to actually choose to do it. With the cost of all these things now, everyone one of them adds up, and we choose not to pay those costs for something that we know we can either do without entirely, or in the case of drinks, bring on board what we like and save a ton of money by doing so. I understand why the default response to most of these is more about affordability or your own ability to justify paying the cost for a package or whatever, and that is for each individual to decide. If people see the value in them, great. Buy them. That is what the cruise line wants anyway. Anyway, that person never responded to my affordability comment, so I hope they understood the difference.

No harm in asking

You sound like me. Ultimately I can make this work. When they start forcing packages or not allowing you to bring drinks on at embarkation or ports, then they will see me no more.

Yep. That seems to anger folks the most. They paid for something included when they booked and paid, now they have to pay more for it. And the cruise line has your money in the bank drawing interest as well.

Join the crowd with me. Benefit cuts now cost me $200 more per cruise.

Loyalty for most businesses are deteriorating rapidly. Cruise lines are the same. They are currently filling the ships regardless of loyalty programs

All of this is coming.

Oh you are going to get it now. 🙂

Nothing has been sent to booked passengers.

You will get a cabin of their choosing, pay a lot for it, and like it. It's the future of cruising.

Revenue and profit, and lots of it.

I mentioned this earlier, but we went on our first Celebrity cruise last year when ships were still sailing at 50% or so capacity. We had their AI package because overall it was reasonably inexpensive at the time. We are booked on the Equinox because we did one FCC last year and wanted to try a newer ship than the Infinity. The price of the AI was double what I was paying for the room. I was somewhat shocked. We are just doing standard fare this time, and bringing our own soda and water on as needed. Their cost for decent wifi is also astronomical, although in both areas Princess is trying to catch up.

You really aren't hurting them, but I do get the sentiment. It's not like they paid much for that pour anyway.

Yeah, I mean, it's not like they aren't making money on it. I pay tips, and give extra for good service. I buy the wifi (which is outrageous by the way), but it's even higher on Celebrity, the other line we have cruised and will again. For me, I'm wired to think about the cost onboard compared to my cost at home. I realize I'm a captive audience, just like an an airport or other places, but I know I can buy that can of soda for $.50 at the grocery store, and paying them $4 for it, instead of just bringing it wit me just makes me feel like I wasted $3.50. It's why we rarely go to restaurants and dine in unless we are traveling. I can save a lot of money just by doing takeout and not buying an iced tea for $4. Same as not going to ball games and buying drinks and food there. It's just the way my mind works. Can I afford it, yes, but I also think that if I save that money, I then still have it to spend on something else. I realize that way of thinking goes against how most view it, but it works for me and I'm lucky my wife sees it the same way.

No, not us. Standard fare are most affected if they use those services for sure. Never ordered room service, never use the app except to locate shipmates, which if they charge for that will not use, and we do casual dining where it's included in the fare. If it's not included in the fare price, we will not use it. Plenty of options still (IC, buffet, burgers, pizza). I'm fine with the pizza on the pizza deck, do not need Alfredo's. I'm fine with the burger bar, and don't need to go to the Salty Dog. Never seen a need to pay for something when similar is available for free. I'm beginning to think we are the exception than the rule, which is fine, that is how Princess wants it. I bring on my own drinks (non alcoholic), but will still have to pay for coffee if we want a latte, so they are still making money off me. I can't avoid them completely from having their hand in my pocket 🙂

I don't disagree with anything you are saying, but it does seem at least by the reaction on cruise critic, they have handled this transition poorly. As I recall when they instituted tip increases they did something like "after X date, tips will increase" which gave the customer an option. This seems more like "we are changing the Plus packages and increasing the cost, so if you want the changes, you have to pay an upgrade fee". Seems they could have handled it better by reading all the complaints. In either regard, it doesn't impact us because we don't purchase packages anymore.

Yeah, I know it states pricing and benefit changes are at the whim of Princess. I was just responding to the person mocking him. Princess is allowed to move the goalposts after getting your money, but it's still poor customer service.

This is us, and as I said, not because we can't afford it, but we choose to save money where we see fit, and the drunk packages would cost us a lot of money with little to no return. Our crossroad would be not cruising and start going on different vacation types. The value in cruising is changing for us. We would not consider a lesser cruise option.

That is their goal