Toto2Kansas

We are being charged for a decent cup of coffee. Either thru the purchase of a coffee card or cup by cup for brewed. Question - Does Carnival, Celebrity, RCI, HAL, etc. server syrup based coffee in their dining rooms?

Actually, my post should have read 'charged EXTRA for a decent cup of coffee'. ;)

I would like to see Princess do a card for brewed coffee, we buy the cards but never get the specialty coffee, probably 4 or 5 brewed coffee on a 7 day cruise, mainly because there is no other coffee available on the same deck as the IC. I suppose some will consider this abuse, but we never redeem the punches for specialty coffee. I don't disagree about the need for a limit on it. Now that the IC is the only late evening food venue, there are no free beverages available with the free food. Ironically some pax are reporting that even though HC is now closed for food in the evening, coffee is still available there.

Once the rules change where you can not use that coffee card from cruise to cruise for fresh brewed, it might be less expensive for you to just purchase your brewed coffee as you want it. Unless they do come up with a brewed coffee card (but I feel this isn't going to happen as that would be like advertising just how awful their complimentary coffee is. And some would actually resent loudly that they are being charged for a decent cup of coffee).

call me ignorant but I am astounded to read how low some pax stoop for a cup of coffee- give me strength

Now you understand why Princess has changed the rules about these coffee cards. Way too many taking advantage of a small loop hole. ;)

I've only sailed with RCL and Celebrity, but will be trying Princess next year.

 

I'm not sure I understand what the coffee cards are. Do they charge you for your morning cup of coffee, or is this a special coffee?

 

 

Nancy

The coffee cards you purchase are for a certain number of speciatly coffees (a type of punch card) or unlimited brewed coffee. The complimentary coffee is available, although it is made from a syrup concentrate and many don't like it at all. ;)

Can you order a latte thru room service in the morning, even if I charge it to my account and not use the coffee card?

vickie

Nope! :( Can't even do this in a full suite.

Sorry if this has been asked & answered. What coffee is served at the full suite breakfast in Sabatinis? Syrup or brewed and is a coffee card needed? Also, (our first full suite) can we have brewed coffee as part of room service? Or coffee card needed? Not an issue as we always buy at least one if not two.

Brewed coffee or specialty coffees are included in your Sabatinis breakfast, no coffee card is needed.

Brewed coffee is not part of the room service offerings, so coffee ordered from RS will be the same as any dining room onboard (or the Horizon Court), made from concentrated syrup.

They Have. It's called Sabitinis and Crown Grill. :rolleyes:

 

But I must admit it is a great dining experience. :cool:

Exactly what I was talking about, they have carried this to the dining experience. $$$$$

Lets hope that logic doesn't transfer to the food dept also. ;)

From what we have seen, it already has. :(

The sad thing is that fresh brewed coffee used to be free at the Patissere (sp?) and hot chocolate used to be free with all meals.

 

It is ridiculous that Princess is charging for this. I am not a coffee drinker but think this is just incredible cheap by the cruise lines. Would it be that difficult to include these items with the cruise fare? Or provide a decent drink of coffee through out the ship?

Coral, YES, I totally agree. It such a small thing to provide for passengers overall. But it seems they found a way to make extra $$$'s, and the worse the shipboard coffee gets, the more they make on selling the coffee cards and freshly brewed coffee by the cup. It belongs in that class of "how cheap can you get Princess"? IMHO

On the Sapphire this past summer we overheard an irate passenger arguing with the coffee guy at the IC the day before the cruise ended. He was very angry and stomped off to go to Passenger Services with his complaint. The little bartender was one of the best we've ever had so I asked him what happened. Apparently, this man had purchased a new coffee card at the beginning of the cruise and used it for only brewed coffee the whole time. On the day before disembarking, he showed up w/o the card and said it was in his cabin. They wouldn't give him a coffee. The bartender went up to Passenger Services to explain what happened as he didn't want a bad remark on his record, and guess what.....the guy had previously turned his coffee card back in for credit on his account. Then he shows up to get his free coffee figuring the bartender would recognize him and give it to him w/o the card! This guy has probably done this trick several times and more than likely bragged about it to other people (maybe even on cc). We shouldn't be surprised when some of our little "benies" are eliminated.

That is absolutely ridiculous isn't it? Just goes to show there are those that will push the limits with everything. And is just sad that someone would go to that extent. :(

I hope no one minds my asking in this thread, but how bad is the coffee? I'm a one cuppa day person with a taste for strong Columbia coffee.

If I only drink one cup a day, does it make sense to buy this card?

I'm saving my next cruise $$$$ for a ta on the QM2 (hubby loves the ship), so I don't have any plans to cruise again with Princess in the near future. Can you fill out a room service breakfast request and place it outside your door the night before? That's how I usually get my coffee. I'm not a morning person :eek:

The complimentary coffee is made from a syrup concentrate. Some actually like it, so I would try it first before purchasing a coffee card. I have to admit, it does have a very strange smell and to me doesn't even smell or taste like regular coffee. But give it a try, the coffee cards are easily available for purchase if you decide the complimentary stuff is not for you. Good Luck!

What about the 'free' hot chocolate you can get now if you still have one hole not punched? Will this be treated the same way as brewed coffee???

Probably!

When does this go into effect?

January 1, 2012

So does this mean that after next year, If I still have unpunched old cards, I can still get brewed coffee till all of the punches are used up?

My guess is NO, you will only be able to use the punches for specialty coffees on the old cards after the first of the year. ;)

That is what confused me as there is no ship named on my card

But there will be on the new cards. ;)

Since these 'specialty coffee cards' were sold under the pretense they did not expire, Princess seems to be keeping their word. You can still use any and all punches left on your old cards until they are used up. But if you want unlimited fresh brewed, you will have to have a new card with the name of your ship and sailing on it. That is how I am understanding this, and I would bet cha I am correct.

No problems with that here

I wonder though if the free brewed coffee will be available until the punches have gone on the old card

From the way this reads ("However, the added benefit of free brewed coffees and specialty teas will only be applicable during the cruise indicated on the card."), I would say NO. Since the older cards do not indicate the cruise you are sailing on.

Andy, thanks for coming back to report what you found. Glad to hear you were not charged at the tables this time. ;)

The English Muffin breakfast sandwich was added to the 'Room Service' menu not all that long ago. But that does leave an option now for a hot breakfast sandwich directly from room service on (I think it's available now on) ALL ships in the fleet.

I assume that you can order somethings for breakfast...not necessarily hot, but cereal and pastries?

I so wish they would fix the search engine, as I know there are copies of the room service menu posted somewhere, but I can't locate them without the search feature. :(

Anyway, yes, there is a room service breakfast menu (you can either put the order form on your door the night before or call in your order about 20-30 minutes before you want it delivered). One thing we have had problems with in the past, especially when our stateroom is located by the elevators, is that the door order form seems to disappear quite frequently and breakfast has not been delivered), although it is a pretty basic continental breakfast with the new addition recently of a hot breakfast sandwich. ;)

Ladies and gentlemen, whatever the policy may be now, and on whatever ships, I can say that on the Crown last October, there was a surcharge! Those who contradict this are invited to refund these SURCHARGES to me - I will accept them gladly.:):)

 

Caveat emptor.

 

Shalom, Andy.

Andy, nobody is doubting that you were charged. I think what some of us are trying to say is that either you shouldn't have been, or the rules have now changed. ;)

Thanks. So why prepay?

Because some like to have things ordered before they arrive, and like to pay off the charges before they leave. ;)

I expected it - it is written somewhere - but I can't remember where. Not only that but this charge is discussed all around the boards. This is actually the first time I've seen anyone say that there is no charge for chips at the tables! If you're right then there will be no need for purchasing casino credit in advance. I'll ask when I'm aboard this coming week.

Andy, I would ask to talk to the Casino hostess or the Casino manager if they charged me 3% for chips at the tables while I was gambling. Good luck, I hope you find out the actual rules. Maybe I just got lucky.

Sorry Toto, but my statement stands. We in fact got chips and immediately played them - there was a 3% charge. In sum, tables and slots are handled differently!

That's very strange Andy................not sure why you were charged.:confused:

Is it the same price whether you preorder or buy it onboard?

Is this new? Last October there was a 3%charge for cash at the tables on the Crown, and similarly for cruises before that one.

 

Put your cruise card on the table and tell the dealer how much you want. They will take the card, swipe it and bring back a slip for you to sign. Then the dealer gives you the chips. You may take the chips to the cage if you want actual cash.

 

BTW I've learned my lesson and for my upcoming cruise Sunday I purchased casino credit in advance. No charge.

Andy, I think you missed the part where it says "To Gamble" ;) I should have phrased it differently that at the tables you will purchase chips (sorry for my error). Getting just cash does add a 3% charge.