Non-US Passengers - what would you like from Princess

[seb530]

I agree, companies are in business to make money and keep their Shareholders happy - of that there can be no dispute or agument and it is only right that they do so.

Whether Europeans are happy to pay is obviously yes - its a question of supply and demand - at the moment supply is low, demand high therefore higher prices. However, it would be interesting to know where Princess makes more money - a full US cruise or a 75% full European cruise. I would hazard a guess the latter but I could well be wrong!

[wolf67mex]

I was told from the US-TA that this policy has nothing to do with the regulations of any country but is the corporate policy of Proncess.

 

US-TA are actually forbidden (by Princess and some other cruise lines) to sell to customers who do not have either a US/Canadian residence or passport, this applies for the rest of the world and not just UK or Australia, as stated before it has nothing, absolutely nothing to do with taxation.

 

I contacted Princess and asked them to explain the reason for this discrimination (this is what I consider it to be) and just got a silly copy-paste reply which had nothing to do with the questions I asked them.

 

So the idea is to force non US-customers to pay higher prices. Does it make sense ? I don t think so - they put some great offers through US-agencies to fill the ships, calculating that they might not make a big profit with that prices, but it is still more profitable than an ampty cabin, and at the end people spend quite a lot on board (excursions, shops, spa, casino, drinks etc.). Will people who are refused the US-bargains pay a higher price somewhere else, or rather be annoyed and book on a different line ?

The latter might be the case.

 

At the end, the big price differences occur on great offers with which normally they fill the ships: but it seems that they prefer to fill them with US-Americans and Canadians only.

 

Has it anything to do with discrimination ? It is a legal practice, no doubt, although it might be illegal with products other than a cruise.

 

I think we should make them know that we don t agree !

[wolf67mex]

If you are not a US or Candian citizen you can still book through a US-TA if you have a residence in either US or Canada.

 

How do they check that - must you show them a Green card at the moment of boarding (I mean one can have a property in the US or Canada and not be a permanent resident - can I book through an US-TA then ?), and if you cannot show it, they force you to pay up at the check-in ?

 

Anybody knows how that works ?

[MMDown Under]

Just a fair go!

 

In the meantime, I choose not to be discriminated against and continue to travel overseas every year. It is a wonderful big wide world out there, even without cruising.

[rugbypopsie]

I agree... I can buy anything I want over the 'net it is nothing to do with Australian rules, sales tax etc purely a Princess thing probably because our T/as did not want to lose business ok give them the same booking conditions and prices and I will book locally.

 

We want a fair go, happy to pay in your currency etc. Oh and roll the tips into the fare happy to pay a bit more and stop all the angst. And yes I do "go with the flow when in Rome" we are just used to everyone being paid real wages down here.

 

Apart from that I love the real Princess ships that is not the locally based ones (Dawn and Sun) who are nowhere near as good imho.

[moniquet]

If you have a USA address and eg. have a UK passport some cruise lines ask for a utility bill. Prevents USA TA's slotting in a USA address:mad:

[redlac]

After chatting with Princess on the telephone months ago, we arranged our flight plans with the intention of keeping our luggage in our stateroom, and doing an early self-disembark in Los Angeles.

 

Once on board the Coral, we were advised that due to new regulations, the self-disembark is now only available to US citizens.

 

(High five and thanks to the Purser, who did adjust our disembark time, and we were on the street for our pre-arranged pickup by 8:05am!)

[kruisey]

After chatting with Princess on the telephone months ago, we arranged our flight plans with the intention of keeping our luggage in our stateroom, and doing an early self-disembark in Los Angeles.

 

Once on board the Coral, we were advised that due to new regulations, the self-disembark is now only available to US citizens.

 

(High five and thanks to the Purser, who did adjust our disembark time, and we were on the street for our pre-arranged pickup by 8:05am!)

 

Myself I would query this again with Customer Relations.

Do you think it is because all luggage not owned by a USA citizen has to be scanned again when taken of the ship?

Cannot understand that because it is scanned on embarkation and anytime one brings anything on board from ports it is scanned again.

Do check again by asking to talk with Customer Relations.

I myself always book in USA dollars. A couple of days ago a person at Princess told me because I was in Canada I must book in Canadian dollars.

I informed that I always book in $USD.Asked to speak with Customer Relations who told me just oposite that yes fine $USD.

I was born in UK and emigrated to Canada in 1968 and really still cannot understand this slightly unfriendly attitude between two neighbours on the same continent speaking the same language.

Could this be a spill over from the Civil Wars?:eek:

I am a dual citizen now and as for as I am concerned all 3 countries from the social side are the same to me I do not discriminate against anyone just because they were born in a different country.

Live a few miles from the border and the tone of voice the young lady used 'Oh you cannot book in USD if you live in Canada' ................

[redlac]

Myself I would query this again with Customer Relations.

Do you think it is because all luggage not owned by a USA citizen has to be scanned again when taken of the ship?

....

Live a few miles from the border and the tone of voice the young lady used 'Oh you cannot book in USD if you live in Canada' ................

 

It was stated that Customs/Immigration had changed the early disembark rule... not Princess.

 

As you see here.. I'm in Vancouver, and yes, I paid in US funds, making a good savings.

[kruisey]

It was stated that Customs/Immigration had changed the early disembark rule... not Princess.

 

As you see here.. I'm in Vancouver, and yes, I paid in US funds, making a good savings.

 

Well I would check this out with immigration if it were me.

i have often been given the wrong information from inexperienced persons when one presses 3 when phoning Princess.

Why I say this is because there is really no SENSIBLE expalnation for this.

I am on my way out so will look at this site later

[redlac]

Well I would check this out with immigration if it were me.

i have often been given the wrong information from inexperienced persons when one presses 3 when phoning Princess.

Why I say this is because there is really no SENSIBLE expalnation for this.

I am on my way out so will look at this site later

 

The folks at 1-800-PRINCESS told me that I could be first off.....

The Pursers' Desk clarified, once I was on board,that as of a new ruling made in February 2010, this was no longer the case. I didn't feel that this was a Princess ruling... more an immigration ruling.

 

I really didn't post this here to make a fuss... but merely to advise future travellers.

[wolf67mex]

Guys, I love all of you, but the topic of this thread shows just how little some of you know about how the world works. Don't feel bad, there is plenty of company who think the same thing here.

 

We don't have an international standard system of trade between the US, UK, EU, AUS, and NZ. There are some oddball rules that govern trade between the US and Canada (and Mexico). The trade agreements that do exist mostly apply to goods, but not SERVICES, which is where travel falls.

 

A quick example. I can do a job 2 miles north of the US-Mexico border for one price. When the same client wants to do the same job 2 miles south of the border, the price goes up about 5X. That is in spite of the FTA. Why? I can't just send my crew across the border. It has to be a crew based in Mexico. It costs a lot more to do business in Mexico, from setting up shop to the royalties (graft) that go to the national company that is in competition with our client. And then, lots of people are taking a cut. We earn about the same as we would in the US although our revenue appears to be higher.

 

As citizens of the UK, AUS, or wherever you have to comply with whatever rules are in place in you country when you travel. As a business operating in the UK, AUS, or where Princess has to comply with the local procedures put in place. AND...they cannot knowingly allow you to avoid certain fees and pricing or facilitate foreign competition by allowing you to avoid the regulations they operate under. The dirty little secret is that governments create rules, but leave it to service providers to comply, so that they take the criticism that is so common on these message boards.

 

Take heart, I expect the disparity in pricing to diminish in the next few years as we begin to move down the same path others have been on for decades. Your costs won't come down; instead, ours will go up since that is the way it always turns out when the powers-that-be decide to exercise their power over us. Cruising will soon enough be something only for the wealthy, powerful, and connected, and for most of us it will be only a dream or a once in a lifetime event.

 

Teh differences in prices have nothing to do with the fact that Princess PROHIBITS US-TA to sell their cruises to non-US clients (independently of the price). This has NOTHING whatever to do with government regulations but is the COROPORATE POCLICY of Princess and some other cruise lines - in other words: they discriminated against non US/Canadian passengers.

Why do they do it ? To make more money I guess forcing clients from other countries to pay higher prices, although I am not so sure that the srategy works.

 

I will simply not sail with them and rather enjoy me frequent-customer privileges on other cruise lines, altough I would like to sail with them, but I consider these rules unfair and silly.

 

I wrote to Princess asking them to explain their reasoning but only got a copy-paste response which had nothing to do with the questions I had askes.

[Lady Meer]

Some time ago I asked Princess about the difference in booking conditions for UK customers and this was the reply:

 

"I would advise that the UK and US cruise markets are very different and advertising reflects such. It is also worth mentioning that bookings in the US and the UK have different terms and conditions, as there are different laws in place for travel. I am sorry if you are unhappy with the way in which we advertise and/or sell our cruises, but we do believe it is in keeping with the UK cruise market as a whole."

 

"In keeping with the UK cruise market as a whole" - I have no idea what this means :eek:.

[kruisey]

When it comes to pricing cabins only that is solely Princesses decision.

No way can they say its Governments and the taxes that dictate the prices.

 

The only reason Princess allows Canada to book with them is probably it would be too expensive to have another Head Office in Canada.

 

Believe you me Canadians booking in Canadian dollars do pay more for their cruises then their USA counterparts.:eek:

 

Yes many of us book with Princess and TA's in $US but we then pay a little more again because of the Foreign Exchange rates.......Even if one has a US dollar account at the local Canadian bank one still has to convert those Canadian Dollars into USD..:eek:;) Alas paying those darn exchange rates yet again.

[wolf67mex]

You still don't get it. Princess isn't telling you that you cannot book under the same conditions. Your government is. They're just making Princess do the dirty work and take the blame. The people who remove their tips are hurting people who have no part in the process. What they really need to do is refuse to pay their taxes...then they'll find out who's really to blame. :D

It IS the corporate policy of PRINCESS (and some other cruise lines) and has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with goverment regulations.

[katiepe]

I would like to actaully have my Credit Card charged in US with MY credit card company calculating the exchange. Not Princess doing their 3% surcharge currency conversion.

I can never get Princess to do this for some reason. I have highlighted my choice, told them upon check in and gone to the Purser's Desk to make sure it was as I had requested. Each time I have been charged the Princess' Conversion with the 3% fee.

Why do they offer a choice if you can never get what you choose??:confused:

I know I am not the only Canadian this has happened to from previous posts.

[dudeoutthere]

What I can't understand is why so many people from countries other than the US get so worked up over these policies......if you don't like Princess policy then spend your cruising money elsewhere.....it is a classic case of the American saying of "it is what it is" either like or go elsewhere....Regardless of all the complaints, Princess is an American company catering primarily to American customers and if you would like to partake in their offerings you have to play by their rules.....just like I play by your rules when I visit your countries or use services from your countries....There are MANY cruiselines headquartered in Europe, use them if you are not happy with Princess....

[robgvic]

That is a rather obnoxious attitude, dudeoutthere. Notice too that the heading was non us passengers. I certainly see a lot of us passengers listing things they would like

[Maraprince]

what i can't understand is why so many people from countries other than the us get so worked up over these policies......if you don't like princess policy then spend your cruising money elsewhere.....it is a classic case of the american saying of "it is what it is" either like or go elsewhere....regardless of all the complaints, princess is an american company catering primarily to american customers and if you would like to partake in their offerings you have to play by their rules.....just like i play by your rules when i visit your countries or use services from your countries....there are many cruiselines headquartered in europe, use them if you are not happy with princess....

 

 

amen!

[Pochahontas]

What I can't understand is why so many people from countries other than the US get so worked up over these policies......if you don't like Princess policy then spend your cruising money elsewhere.....it is a classic case of the American saying of "it is what it is" either like or go elsewhere....Regardless of all the complaints, Princess is an American company catering primarily to American customers and if you would like to partake in their offerings you have to play by their rules.....just like I play by your rules when I visit your countries or use services from your countries....There are MANY cruiselines headquartered in Europe, use them if you are not happy with Princess....

 

 

Who is getting worked up? an opinion asked by the OP. Everyone that has contributed to this thread has been polite and courteous to each other - then on you come specificity to pee on it..... As has been said if you do not like a thread do not partake but please don't come in just to shoot people down for having an opinion.

 

And for your information Princess and Carnival specific have been investigated already by the Monopoly's and competition committee at that time (many moons ago) the commission was okay with the impact of it..... It certainly wouldn't surprise me if this wasn't investigated again at some point in the future - so again please don't make assumptions - P&OPC are operating in the UK as a UK company.

[moniquet]

The point is all the cruise lines are taking the same stance....Princess, Cunard, RCCL, HAL. Europeans cannot book through the USA with these lines, all major players. They have stitched up us Europeans. We have just booked Princess at a cost of (at least) $750 more than if we were allowed to book through a USA TA:mad:

[pablo222]

That is a rather obnoxious attitude, dudeoutthere. Notice too that the heading was non us passengers. I certainly see a lot of us passengers listing things they would like

 

If you were in charge at princess. ...and you have set up a system

that gouges non-US purchasers.

 

As long as people keep paying the prices, why would you change?

 

Your shareholders, and your board of directors don't care about some

whining on an internet forum, they care about the bottom line.

[sherri3802]

Personally, I am not worried about where people log on from as I enjoy finding out about how it is in other countries.

But one thing that I have noticed at times is that there can be an attutude of 'You have no right to complain.". This is more obvious when people complain about things that went wrong on a cruise.

Sometimes by the attitude they get back, you would think half the boardies worked for cruise companies.:)

That is on the aussie based part of these message boards, by the way. I am not on the international boards here as much.

 

I know none of us like constant whinging, but isn't there also a point that if we don't like the way something works-whether on a cruise ship or in any other industry or in govt etc-we have a right to say what it is that we don't like and how it could be improved?

I agree with dudeoutthere that if we really don't like a company, we can avoid buying from them. That's one option. But what if you are like me and live in a place where there is no local cruise company, where they are all foreign owned? If they are going to operate in my country all year round and are looking to us to be customers, then surely our input counts for something?

I am sure in any industry, customer feedback can be valuable and to give Princess their due, I think they have tried to tweak some things on their Australian based ships, to cater more for the locals.

Think vegemite.:):D

[Pochahontas]

I think they have tried to tweak some things on their Australian based ships, to cater more for the locals.

Think vegemite.:):D

 

Its Marmite! lmao!

[kruisey]

Although I wish I could pay in Canadian dollars and get the same value that I get when booking direct in USD.... I must admit Princess direct has been very fair to me and given me my Captain Circle discounts which are much lower than their advertised rates on the web when I book in USD

Most of the direct employees have been really kind and efficient .The same goes for the on board employees.

I do understand the frustration of those that are not allowed to book in USD having to pay so much more than we do for your cruises

I don't think that wining and moaning unnatural.Its very natural ,very human.

I bet if the shoe was on the other foot we would be in reverse mode would not we ???