Captain's Circle Pricing

[jlines]

We are thinking about sailing the Golden in March. The price is quite a bit less once I put in my CC#. Question is, there are others that want to come with that haven't sailed Princess before - how can we get this price for them?

[Toto2Kansas]

I doubt there will be a way around this for your friends. Your price is dictated by your past passenger status. Since they are not past passengers, they won't find the same pricing.

BUT, I would check out a few discount TA's before looseing hope. Many times you can save enough to make up the difference by booking through a TA instead of direct through Princess.

[grandbanksguy]

We are thinking about sailing the Golden in March. The price is quite a bit less once I put in my CC#. Question is, there are others that want to come with that haven't sailed Princess before - how can we get this price for them?

 

We ran into this on our recent cruise on the Ruby when we traveled with friends who were not CC members. DW and I each booked a stateroom for 2 and all 4 of us got the CC rate. It was recommended by Princess and our TA that we do this. Once onboard the purser switched our rooms without a problem.

[ken_ll]

The preferential pricing situation came up yesterday when I booked the Caribbean Princess with Princess. I noticed that all obstructed OV's were priced less than the inside cabins once I had put in my CC#. I was booking 2 cabins for DW and her two DD's and myself. On Princess, DW and I have different addresses. Also, I wanted to apply FCC's to both cabins.

 

First cabin booked ok for me and one DD. The second cabin next door and same category as the first was $320 higher. Although DW was a CC member, she was not targeted as I was for preferential pricing. Also, I was not allowed to book a second cabin on that cruise at the preferential rate. Well, I didn't book the second cabin. I could go through an internet travel agent and get a better price than Princess. I was ticked off. With this rep. that was the price.

 

I called back to Princess, explained the situation, I had an understanding Princess rep., she contacted their Customer Care and a few minutes later, DW and DD was booked with the preferential pricing. In this situation commonsense prevailed. Bonus points to Princess and this rep.

 

DW now has preferential pricing on her CC account also when I looked at it an hour ago.

 

If the OP cannot get preferential pricing for the friends, at least refer them through Princess for the referral OBC's.

[Huckster1]

The Captain's Circle "Preferential Pricing" is a way to make passngers think that booking through Princess is a bargain. There is not a single major cruise on-line broker that cannot beat this price by at least a few hundred dollars. Our next cruise (Oct 10th), the OV was nearly $1400 for 2 through Princess. We booked on-line with an OBC or $400.00 less.

[paul929207]

Have you tried a discount TA? I find our cruises are cheaper than thru Princess.

[d5480]

The Captain's Circle "Preferential Pricing" is a way to make passngers think that booking through Princess is a bargain. There is not a single major cruise on-line broker that cannot beat this price by at least a few hundred dollars. Our next cruise (Oct 10th), the OV was nearly $1400 for 2 through Princess. We booked on-line with an OBC or $400.00 less.

 

You are probably right 95% of the time but not always.

[ramblingrose]

You are probably right 95% of the time but not always.

Definately not always... I saved $400 on my upcoming cruise with CC pricing. What was interesting was that for interior or OV the price was no better than outside deals, and the price break kicked in on balconies or suites.

[ggprincess2004]

Definately not always... I saved $400 on my upcoming cruise with CC pricing. What was interesting was that for interior or OV the price was no better than outside deals, and the price break kicked in on balconies or suites.

 

I agree, most of the time a discount internet TA can beat the Princess preferential pricing, but of all our open bookings, two are still directly with Princess because no one can beat the pricing they are offering. Not that I won't keep checking, but right now, they are, in one case, more than $1000 better than anything on the internet.

[Colo Cruiser]

CC pricing is just that.

Why would they extend that to someone thats not entitled to it. :confused:

[jlines]

Have you tried a discount TA? I find our cruises are cheaper than thru Princess.

 

I have been checking through internet agencies and the same thing happens - lower price once CC# is entered. Our friends probably won't go if they can't get the same price as us as it is fairly substantial. I understand the perk of offering this to get you to sail again but I also think that Princess would want us to bring newbies along.

[robgvic]

On my last cruises I have checked Princess and discount agents. I hve yet to find the web agents cheaper. We are booked on the Caribbean in December and I booked a balcony guarantee and ended up in a BA on Lido deck for US710 each

I don't think you can beat that.

[grandbanksguy]

I have been checking through internet agencies and the same thing happens - lower price once CC# is entered. Our friends probably won't go if they can't get the same price as us as it is fairly substantial. I understand the perk of offering this to get you to sail again but I also think that Princess would want us to bring newbies along.

 

I'll give this one more shot because I'd like to see your friends go with you on the cruise. We were in the same situation when we booked our 12 day Grand Med cruise on the Ruby. Our CC rate for a balcony stateroom on Caribe was $1800 PP, while our friends were quoted $3500 PP for the stateroom next to us. So on the advice of our TA and Princess my DW and I each booked a stateroom, me with my friend and DW with his wife. Our TA set up the billing so that each couple paid for their own fare. When we got on board we went to the purser and he moved me in with DW and my friend with his DW. Our friends saved $3400. If you are both CC members its worth a shot.

[jlines]

I'll give this one more shot because I'd like to see your friends go with you on the cruise. We were in the same situation when we booked our 12 day Grand Med cruise on the Ruby. Our CC rate for a balcony stateroom on Caribe was $1800 PP, while our friends were quoted $3500 PP for the stateroom next to us. So on the advice of our TA and Princess my DW and I each booked a stateroom, me with my friend and DW with his wife. Our TA set up the billing so that each couple paid for their own fare. When we got on board we went to the purser and he moved me in with DW and my friend with his DW. Our friends saved $3400. If you are both CC members its worth a shot.

 

Thanks for the advice. This is exactly what I was wondering if we could do. Now the question is, what kind of TA did you use? An online discounter has the best price - would this strategy work with them? We also have a FCD in with Princess. Does anyone know how this is handled when booking online?

[travel guy]

An online agent shouldn't have a cheaper price than any other TA, unless they have a group set up on that specific sailing. If it's not a group price then they are rebating which is against the rules and they face being black listed by the cruise line. Be careful who you book with. The internet is a zoo. In my opinion it's better to book via an actual person you can talk to and follow up with if necessary. But make sure it is a TA that doesn't charge a booking fee. There are many that don't charge booking fees.

[Toto2Kansas]

An online agent shouldn't have a cheaper price than any other TA, unless they have a group set up on that specific sailing. If it's not a group price then they are rebating which is against the rules and they face being black listed by the cruise line. Be careful who you book with. The internet is a zoo. In my opinion it's better to book via an actual person you can talk to and follow up with if necessary. But make sure it is a TA that doesn't charge a booking fee. There are many that don't charge booking fees.

 

Sorry, but I will have to correct you on this statement. It is not 'against the rules' for TA's to discount their commision booking Princess cruises. This is how discount TA's work without a group booking. Other lines have outlawed this practice, but Princess has not, and it is totally allowed.;)

[grandbanksguy]

Thanks for the advice. This is exactly what I was wondering if we could do. Now the question is, what kind of TA did you use? An online discounter has the best price - would this strategy work with them? We also have a FCD in with Princess. Does anyone know how this is handled when booking online?

 

We used a local cruise specialist TA. This worked very well, because all 4 of us were in her office when she spoke with Princess. Since we were using a CC rate I don't believe that any TA could beat that rate. But she did kick in an extra $50 PP OBC in addion to the $100 PP OBC we received from Princess for using FCC's. Plus she gave us a bottle of wine oer stateroom. :)

[Fabian52]

By reading the above posts I have a question: we are booked on the Sun Princess for Nov. 14th. We have only sailed with Princess one time before so are you all saying that the more times you sail with them the more discount.

when I sign on and price a cruise for next year it is $100 per person less than if I didn't sign in with the Personalizer.

If I sail two times with them will it be $200 per per cheaper if the more times you sail:confused::confused:

[Toto2Kansas]

Discounts do not actually double the more times you sail. There is usually a set discount (as you are seeing) for past passengers.

Princess at times has a past passenger rate, other times they do not, it all depends on the sailing, ship and itineary.

 

TA's are where the discount comes in. Where Princess usually offers the $100 off, a TA can discount over 10% and save you money on top of that past passenger rate.

[Fabian52]

We got no discount on this cruise by either signing in or not. I guess they did not discount Australia/New Zealand cruises.

Hopefull next cruise will be discounted.

Everytime I use a travel agent I get no better price than doing it on-line.:)

[Toto2Kansas]

We got no discount on this cruise by either signing in or not. I guess they did not discount Australia/New Zealand cruises.

Hopefull next cruise will be discounted.

Everytime I use a travel agent I get no better price than doing it on-line.:)

 

You just haven't found the right travel agent yet, keep searching. ;)

[grandbanksguy]

Thanks for the advice. This is exactly what I was wondering if we could do. Now the question is, what kind of TA did you use? An online discounter has the best price - would this strategy work with them? We also have a FCD in with Princess. Does anyone know how this is handled when booking online?

 

I always use my local TA cruise agency so I'm dealing with a real person. Whenever I have checked her prices against the online outfits for the exact same category and room location I have found her prices to be competitive.

[grandbanksguy]

We got no discount on this cruise by either signing in or not. I guess they did not discount Australia/New Zealand cruises.

Hopefull next cruise will be discounted.

Everytime I use a travel agent I get no better price than doing it on-line.:)

 

I'm not sure anyone has been able to crack the CC pricing code. I think more has to do with your zip code than how many times you have cruised before. I know that my CC friends in other states generally don't get the same pricing that we get. Sometimes we are lower and sometimes they are lower. But we check our pricing online every week and if there is a significant drop we re-book. But be sure that your TA does't charge a re-booking fee.

[sept10dsm]

We are thinking about sailing the Golden in March. The price is quite a bit less once I put in my CC#. Question is, there are others that want to come with that haven't sailed Princess before - how can we get this price for them?

You could do the referral where each receive the $25. Also, if there are 2 couples, you could book one Capt. Circle member in each cabin. I hear that others do this and not have a problem. Also, you could get the referral as well.

[sept10dsm]

I'm not sure anyone has been able to crack the CC pricing code. I think more has to do with your zip code than how many times you have cruised before. I know that my CC friends in other states generally don't get the same pricing that we get. Sometimes we are lower and sometimes they are lower. But we check our pricing online every week and if there is a significant drop we re-book. But be sure that your TA does't charge a re-booking fee.

My husband and I receive different offers at times! We have only 1 cruise difference in total. Also, my daughter receives different offers. I don't think it's the zip code, by my experience. One time I had a 499 pp price for a cruise and my husband did as well online. When I called to book directly with Princess, I had the 499 and HE DIDN't and Princess wouldn't accept his price. We wanted to book 2 cabins one with him and my son in law and one with me and my daughter. We ended up booking mine on the phone with Princess and his online to get the 499 Go Figure!!