Platinum Happy Hour???

[teacherman]

Does Princess still have the Platinum/Elite "happy hour" in Skywalkers each afternoon? We have not been on Princess in a few years, but are thinking about doing a cruise in January. I will admit we have been totally "spoiled" by Royal Caribbean with their Diamond receptions each evening.

[caribill]

Yes, the suite/elite/platinum reception still exists (most evenings).

[NavyVeteran]

Princess has a reception for Platinum/Elite/Suites each evening with some food and a discounted drink special. Depending on the ship and itinerary, it may be in Skywalkers and it may be somewhere else. They will not have it the evening of the Captains Circle party.

 

It varies depending on the number of Platinum and Elite on the ship. On a recent Alaska round trip from Seattle on the Star, there were only 400 Platinum on the ship, and they used one side of Skywalkers.

 

The quality varies from ship to ship. For example, the guacamole on one ship was freshly prepared at the table on another ship was frozen that had not had time to defrost before serving.

[paul929207]

You will get a card showing each night's food and drink special and the time and location. Earlier this year on the Grand there were about 2000 platinum and elites, so the party was in the Visa Lounge and it was full

[Oxo]

Does Princess still have the Platinum/Elite "happy hour" in Skywalkers each afternoon? We have not been on Princess in a few years, but are thinking about doing a cruise in January. I will admit we have been totally "spoiled" by Royal Caribbean with their Diamond receptions each evening.

 

Totally agree that RCI and Celebrity do it much better. Drinks are free and there is a variety of drinks, not just 1 drink of the evening.

[caribill]

Totally agree that RCI and Celebrity do it much better. Drinks are free and there is a variety of drinks, not just 1 drink of the evening.

 

Platium on Princess is 5 completed cruises or 50 days.

 

Neither of these will get you to the reception with free drinks on RCCL. (I do not know about Celebrity.)

[fishywood]

Platium on Princess is 5 completed cruises or 50 days.

 

Neither of these will get you to the reception with free drinks on RCCL. (I do not know about Celebrity.)

 

..and it appears that the posters above have not sailed on X since they switched from having a nightly Diamond reception to just giving out (highly restrictive) coupons for "free" drinks.

[Topo Gigio]

Platium on Princess is 5 completed cruises or 50 days.

 

Neither of these will get you to the reception with free drinks on RCCL. (I do not know about Celebrity.)

 

From a business point of view they give you snacks, so you will keep ordering drinks at a discounted price. So in my eyes it's just a disguised method to make money..

[jnc411]

Last December we were on the Coral and the "Happy Hour" was held in one of the lounges, same concept different location. You will get a card in your staterooom when you board , re where it will be held , etc.

Cori

[fishywood]

From a business point of view they give you snacks, so you will keep ordering drinks at a discounted price. So in my eyes it's just a disguised method to make money..

 

If this is their sole motivation, certainly then there would be free snacks in every bar? Oh yeah, there are, just us platium/elite/suite passengers are upgraded from the spicy nuts in Wheelhouse to cheese, veggies and some nights shrimp cocktail at our little gathering. But just as in all other lounges, in the One5 on Grand in December there were those who nursed one drink through a half dozen plates of shrimp, and there were tables of five or six persons ordering round after round after round.

[paul929207]

From a business point of view they give you snacks, so you will keep ordering drinks at a discounted price. So in my eyes it's just a disguised method to make money..

Is there anything that a cruise line "gives" you that is not intended to gain revenue? Do you think RCI gives you a free drink because you are cute? No, they are hoping you will book another cruise or get drunk and go to the casino

[tombourn]

Wonder if the new "Ruby" Class will get invited to any functions???

[fishywood]

Wonder if the new "Ruby" Class will get invited to any functions???

 

Likely only a less crowded, better served and less rushed Captains Circle reception once they change to inviting only Ruby and above, excluding Gold. Why else would they have divided Gold into two levels?

[tombourn]

This will be our one and only "Ruby" cruise, so no biggie one way or another....

[caribill]

Why else would they have divided Gold into two levels?

 

To sell you trip insurance.

[paul929207]

Likely only a less crowded, better served and less rushed Captains Circle reception once they change to inviting only Ruby and above, excluding Gold. Why else would they have divided Gold into two levels?

I don't think Ruby will be invited. They are not going to do it on some cruises and not on others.

[fishywood]

I don't think Ruby will be invited. They are not going to do it on some cruises and not on others.

 

I was referring to the once-a-cruise Captains Circle party, not the nightly platinum/elite/suite happy hour. Most lines have cut back on inviting the opening loyalty level to their 'Captains Reception'

[tombourn]

I have no problem waiting one more cruise and not have the masses there. But that probably the elite flyer in me:)

[iceleven]

To sell you trip insurance.

 

Yep. It is incentive to buy Princess insurance instead of private insurance. They give you nothing but they hope you buy their service.

[sherryf]

Wonder if the new "Ruby" Class will get invited to any functions???

 

I was confused at first, but apparently they changed the name from Medallion to Ruby in the past week, while I was on my cruise. Left last Saturday as a Medallion member. They called it Medallion on the ship and that's what our cards say. We were invited to the Captain's Circle party on the 2nd formal night, but not to the nightly happy hour. I got back yesterday and now I'm reading that they changed the name to Ruby. Wonder if my "Medallion" cruise card is now considered a collector's item. ;)

 

Doesn't matter to me what they call it now, since we have just moved up to Platinum!! :D

[Pam in CA]

From a business point of view they give you snacks, so you will keep ordering drinks at a discounted price. So in my eyes it's just a disguised method to make money..

Of course it is! Why do you think RCI and Celebrity offer alcohol packages? Not because they're good guys. They make money and you, the passenger, help them achieve that goal! Cruise lines are for-profit companies. Everything is about the money. :)

[tombourn]

Yeah... I notice the Medallion name change to Ruby sometime last week. Wonder why they choice Ruby when once of their ships is called that as well.

[tombourn]

Damn auto correct. Chose and " one" of their...

[Margarita Jane]

We are platinum and we were just on the Caribbean Princess. We were not invited to the happy hour! It was for Elite, and I assume Suite, passengers only.

[caribill]

We are platinum and we were just on the Caribbean Princess. We were not invited to the happy hour! It was for Elite, and I assume Suite, passengers only.

 

It was also for you. Sometimes the invite does not make it to the cabin.

 

It you do not get the invite next time, see the Captain's Circle host.