kywildcatfanone

Must be using starlink

I think the same people that do marketing for the company I work for, also do Princess marketing. 🙂

Would be great if all cruise lines agreed to do the same.

I never said they were, and my next sentence was they have that choice. Cruise lines have changed. Years ago it was about the cruise experience and alternative options to land vacations, and they had to make it special to draw people. That is no longer true. People are now conditioned to pay higher prices with little to no thought or concern of the true cost. Sort of a credit card mentality. This was accelerated by the pandemic shutdown, and now they are looking to maximize profits in every way. That's why things are changing every 3-6 months now on pricing and options. They are just working to wring every last dollar out of you they can. As long as you know that and are okay with it, everyone can make their own choices.

I agree 100%. They really don't want me anymore. We typically book inside cabins, don't frequent the casinos, and bring our own soda and water onboard( we don't drink sugary drinks anymore and they don't offer zero coke products. We also don't do ship excursions and typically have enough obc to pay tips. They now hose me on internet, but I need it unfortunately. They really do want me gone. I'm okay with that. They can get thousands of more dollars from someone else taking my spot.

Did you pay in full a month ago?

New ships look to be carnival and royal Caribbean like. They should have left it more like previous. They are merging their lines and competing with themselves.

If you follow the conversation, the answer is they are not concerned about loyalty. They have determined they do not have to be and that is their choice. Customers can continue to buy their product and that is their choice. While I do not like the changes, it's pretty clear that they don't care and instead are more interested in new cruisers who have no history of being able to cruise without packages and cruising being a value vacation. It is what it is.

Princess has no need anymore to be loyal. Trading black for blue makes them more money. Simple economics. How you respond as a past passenger is up to each person.

We did our first Celebrity cruise last fall. Personally I did not find the food any better or worse than Princess, but I was on the oldest ship they have, Infinity. We are on the Equinox in October, so looking forward to another comparison.

Yep. Also could trade minibar for coffee. Now you can't and that same coffee would cost an Elite cruiser $75 per person. Not something I consider inconsequential to me and my loyalty. Loyalty in today's world with Princess is single sided.

This is us. We used to eat at CG when it was $29 on formal nights. Not anymore. Everyone has their own breaking point on all the Individual changes. Not to mention the decline in food quality.

I wouldn't say that based upon the fact that these change now seems to be happening at an accelerated rate. Benefits to loyal passengers being removed and regular increases in price and changes to packages. If it were only one, then maybe, but this is obviously a pattern. Each change might be inconsequential viewed individually, but not so much as a whole. Depends on how you view them.

Yep. Such a huge benefit cut to your most loyal customers, and cost them very little to provide.

There is tremendous profit in alcohol sales. Especially if you can get people to buy it for the convenience and not use it. It's like printing money.

There are many apologists on here whiners happy to support these regular price increase and benefit cuts. It is what it is. Princess is not loyal to their past passengers. Every decision made is about increasing profits and discouraging loyal passengers from future bookings. They want to exchange black Medallions for blue because their research shows it will cost them less, and they in turn will spend more. Again, it is what it is. We are still cruising our remaining FCC's, but will monitor when the next cut in benefits and price increase occurs. Given past history, early 2024.

Yep, this is exactly us. Which is probably why we will avoid the new ships, since it looks like the adults only area is moving to the sanctuary from what I have been able to see, so no separate retreat area for adults only that I can tell. I've asked that question in the thread on the Sun, but never gotten a response, and at least looking at the deck plans a couple of weeks ago, saw nothing about a separate retreat area and pool. If anyone can comment, please.

Yep. This is us. From the current increases, I see nothing that impacts us. But, with the twice a year increases they now seem to be doing, I do expect IC, buffet, slice and trident to pick up charges in the near future.

The entire thread says all casual dining are now getting upcharges, and Alfredos is one of them. Agree with your comment about MDR.

100% agree. Well said.

My point was, it was previously free, and now a charge. And yes, up to $15 might be a better way to say it, but that wasn't the point I was making.

Agree. That's he reasons packages are being pushed so hard, and increasing in price. The cost to the cruise line is minimal and the profits are 10x on every pour.

This will be most cruisers, and the cruise lines know it. That's why prices go up twice a year regularly now. The vast majority don't care, and it won't change their cruise or package habits.

There is a discussion about that as one of the items in the big thread. Wouldn't surprise me given all the other fees they are now charging.

Someone commented in another thread that they now had the option to get Coke zero and sprite zero. Can anyone confirm this? I would trade the mini bar out for coke zero and sprite zero and not have to bring onboard if that were true. Would lessen the sting of having to pay for coffee now, but not much.