wallyj

I agree to take info on forums like these lightly and at least figure I may learn something. I am sure many novice cruises are not aware some of the departments are contracted since they all wear Princess badges. As far as the Future cruise packages, a few passengers have shared disappointment and redemption issues. Like any investment in future travel, research and ask as many questions and get everything in writing if possible. You missed out by not talking to the Princess consultants on board since 1/1/23 as Princess introduced an on board booking promo with select sailings at 50% off the Princess web rate and surprisingly the Plus package was also discounted 50%. Many times you would then be able to upgrade to Premier for only $10/day on these promos. On board, with these promos, Premier pricing was not available, but you were many times able to upgrade in the Personalizer. On a couple of sailings where the cruise Personalizer would not let me upgrade and calling shoreside, you would be told only the cruisefare was suppose to be discounted and not the packages. They were aware but never closed this loophole, as I was able to book promo sailings in Oct 2023 and upgrade in the Personalizer to Premier for only $10/day. The 50% off promo ended at the end of Oct 2023 and it was reported some cruises were then available at 20-30% off. My last conversation with the on board consultants was bookings are doing well without promos so Princess does not need to offer any additional discounts. I was able to book at least 6 additional sailings during the 50% off promo. Previously on Princess, there were very few xtra discounts/savings by booking on board. I will be boarding the Discovery soon to see if any offers are available, but a friend who disembarked a few days ago said he asked and was told there were no more on board booking discounts.

Reports are, you should complete survey by day3 of receiving, else the ship and employees will not get the individual recognitions. tabulations are done by day3. You can still submit survey till it expires but those results only go to corporate according to past threads/posts regarding this subject.

I have been sailing with Princess for over 20 years and have become acquainted with many former Captain Circle hosts and Future cruise consultants. They will confirm this information if you ask them directly they are O.N.E. Employees contracted by Princess. The Future cruise packages are available to see on board as posted and there have been previous threads regarding them and the company O.N.E. It is known most cruise lines contract out the Spa, Casino, Photo and Shops. A few will keep in house, I was told MSC still controls most of these venues instead of contracting out. Are you doubting my information?

It is a quick display saying what prize you won and easily missed. You can open the APP and under Packages, there is a link/box that says Prizes, click on this and any prizes you may have won will be listed. I have also read this feature is on your stateroom TV, but I have not used or verified as I check the APP on my iPad daily for drink counts and checking my folio.

I believe the Sapphire was in dry dock before returning to service in Sept 2022, so would not be scheduled for about another 3 years? I saw another post Sapphire had a 14 day dry dock in April 2023?

Yes, once you have been ‘verified’, you re open the APP and should see a ‘redeem’ button which will then allow you to provide ship and sailing date info. It will then usually say it can take up to 5 business days to process and your OBC posted.

Hi @coo359a2, a little clarification. My friend and I have seen previous posts, where persons do not want to use the APP and have sent email with booking details and brokerage statement in attachment in an email to hello@stockperks.com and they processed the request with no further action required. Now it seems you will get a reply to use the APP which you did, you used the email to send your brokerage verification, not them same.

Yes, Future cruises and Loyalty on Princess ships are in reality O.N.E. employees. Some previous Princess future cruise agents did decide to become O.N.E. Employees so you may encounter a previously knowledgeable agent/counselor. I believe the changeover was around 1/1/2023. Future cruise is now handled by a contracted third party like the Casino, Spa, Photo, and I think the Shops on Board, and wear Princess badges. I believe Effy, rents the space and they work for Effy, but again will wear a Princess badge.

Pretty sure email to hello@stockperks.com, will not process your shareholders benefit as some people were successful previously. A friend 2 days ago sent his info with attachment of brokerage statement and got reply to use Stockperks APP, so they have cut off this avenue. They state a web version to be released soon, but who knows what their definition of soon is.

Current reports are emails with brokerage statements as attachments are being rejected by Zac when sent to hello@stockperks.com with the reply message to use the APP ,but supposedly a web version is to be released ‘soon’ . When did you send your email? My friend sent Wednesday Feb 7, 2024 and got the email reject reply to use APP.

Hey @Teechur, your other thread goes off topic and refers to the Diamond Princess still having complimentary steam and saunas in the changing rooms by the Spa. I was on the Emerald last July and August 2023 and I can assure you, the Steam and Saunas are GONE. This thread is specifically regarding the Emerald.

You cannot get/buy the ‘old’ Plus or Premier packages(no desserts or fitness classes, juice bar)as they were offered BEFORE the prices were increased and the extra amenities were added.

FYI, Princess has contracted with O.N.E. to handle Future cruises(as of 1/1/2023)on board and now Loyalty(Captains Circle). Just like the Spa, Photo, Casino and other contracted departments, they all wear Princess badges. O.N.E. has access to everyone’s profile and Princess cruising history since they now administer Future cruise and Loyalty.

The changing rooms with the showers and lockers by the Spa on the Emerald and just recently sister ship Ruby were remodeled during their last dry docks with the complimentary steam and saunas being removed. There are still lockers and showers. My understanding was the reclaimed space became accessible/disabled spa treatment rooms. So there are no more complimentary steam and saunas in the changing rooms on the Emerald or Ruby. Emerald still has a ‘thermal suite’ with heated loungers which has always had a fee to use unless you were in a full suite.

I believe there are 2 places ships can dock at Cozumel, downtown and the piers at the far end outside downtown. Sounds like one area has more wind exposure?

@Jetswdo, you should also plan for the ‘system’ that GS uses to apply gift cards may be down/not working as my sister found out on our recent Sapphire sailing last December. I do not know if she tried everyday, but she did tell me later, GS made a notation in her account that she attempted to try and redeem gift cards and the system was down, so Princess would charge her credit card and when she returned home, Princess would allow her to redeem gift cards towards her account balance and refund the corresponding amount to her credit card which is a hassle, but will allowed her to not to have gift card money leftover.

The most recent reports are they are alternating the days Planks and Steamers is open, so one day Planks, the next day Steamers and so on. Believe Caribbean also has Vines which will have the Deli plate available after 4 or 5 pm. YouTube is your friend in finding recent reviews of these venues, food is subjective.

@dizgal64, the rates quoted in post #2 are if you are buying for the entire voyage. If you might only use a day or 2, you can buy a day plan for 1 device for a 24hour periods. Regular rate for 1 day plan 1 device was $20/day but believe the 1 day plan 1 device increased to $30/day?

@Cloudyrain, your pre booked dining reservation in MDR hopefully will reduce your wait time, if any. The MDR’s will usually have 2 lines, one with reservations and another ‘walk ins/no reservations’. Your pre booked reservation will usually self cancel/release after no show after 15 minutes of reservation time. I like to have pre booked reservation and know if my plans change, it is no problem and I can check out my options when I am ready to dine and what current waiting times are. Since there are 3 MDR’s, waiting times for walk ins can vary at each venue.

Glad to hear the A/C is back. I hope because it was not a quick fix, information regarding possible compensation has to been co ordinated with Corporate once fixed, so hopefully you will report back if any compensation is being offered.

It is possible there is a new protocol regarding getting a letter on Day 1 if you are Platinum or above outlining where the PES lounge will be held and hours along with other info such as Grapevine wine tasting and Captain Circle party, as I have not seen the Elite Lounge hours listed in the Events listing before and I last sailed on Princess Dec 2023. In case you did not know, as of Jan 2023, Loyalty/Captain Circle issues are now handled by Future Cruises, so go by and ask if you should have received a letter on Day 1 outlining your Captain circle benefits and hours of the PES lounge, etc. Long gone are the cards with the hours and special canapés by date that were delivered to your cabin. Some ships will have the weekly canapé menu for the PES lounge listed in the lounge on a sheet posted.

@cr8tiv1, you wrote without a beverage package, as the OP is a newbie, you can buy a stand-alone beverage package not the bundled Plus or Premier packages that are not only beverage packages but includes WiFi and crew appreciation and now Casual Dining, waived room service $5 fee , and waived Ocean Now $14.99 one time activation fee.

I believe you mistyped, Alfredo’s is now considered a casual dining venue with an upcharge unless you have the Plus or Premier Bundled packages/fare.

I believe the 50% selected cruises on board booking promo expired at the end of October 2023. Subsequently, Princess then offered a very select number of cruises that were 20-30% off and were sailing in the next few months. With bookings going well, meaning fuller ships, they have no incentive to ‘discount’, but may offer some that are not selling well, but the 50% off promo is long gone.

When I was on the Discovery with Premier for a 7 day last October, they allowed unlimited Gelato, any flavors. I think this policy varies by ship. Earlier in August on Emerald, had Premier and it was NO to getting Gelato as part of Premier at the IC(International Cafe).