SUN PRINCESS Ultimate Beverage Package

[kitman]

Hi to all, Just a note on the drinks package that may or may not be available aboard the Sun Princess. Have just recently completed a 7 day Brisbane to Brisbane Queensland coastal cruise to Airlie Beach, Yorkeys Knob, Port Douglas and cruised back past Willis Island. Prior to leaving I was aware that Princess Cruises had begun drinks packages for cruises for Australian based cruises for 8 days or more. This was noted quite a few months ago. When on cruise personaliser i found that for the cruise that i was on, that I was able to pre-purchase the Ultimate Drinks Package for about AU$460 for the 7 day cruise. I purchased the package and was pleasantly happy with the find. Upon boarding and entering my stateroom, a welcome note from Captains circle was on bed as well as a gift receipt stating my purchase of the drinks package in my name and for this cruise.

Off to have a bite to eat and a drink, asked where to get the sticker for the onboard card or whatever is needed, and thats when the fiasco begins. After been sent to the pursers desk, then to the International Cafe, then back to the Pursers desk, to be told that they would not honour the purchase and would just refund the amount onto the onboard account. It took four days for the right amount to be credited to my onboard account.

A problem i have and among many others onboard who also were refused, that i was not given a reason for the refusal of the purchase and the staff just didn't give a damn about it at all.

Future cruisers BEWARE, it seems to be more about making money from you, than giving good customer service.

[Working 2 Cruise]

Hi to all, Just a note on the drinks package that may or may not be available aboard the Sun Princess. Have just recently completed a 7 day Brisbane to Brisbane Queensland coastal cruise to Airlie Beach, Yorkeys Knob, Port Douglas and cruised back past Willis Island. Prior to leaving I was aware that Princess Cruises had begun drinks packages for cruises for Australian based cruises for 8 days or more. This was noted quite a few months ago. When on cruise personaliser i found that for the cruise that i was on, that I was able to pre-purchase the Ultimate Drinks Package for about AU$460 for the 7 day cruise. I purchased the package and was pleasantly happy with the find. Upon boarding and entering my stateroom, a welcome note from Captains circle was on bed as well as a gift receipt stating my purchase of the drinks package in my name and for this cruise.

Off to have a bite to eat and a drink, asked where to get the sticker for the onboard card or whatever is needed, and thats when the fiasco begins. After been sent to the pursers desk, then to the International Cafe, then back to the Pursers desk, to be told that they would not honour the purchase and would just refund the amount onto the onboard account. It took four days for the right amount to be credited to my onboard account.

A problem i have and among many others onboard who also were refused, that i was not given a reason for the refusal of the purchase and the staff just didn't give a damn about it at all.

Future cruisers BEWARE, it seems to be more about making money from you, than giving good customer service.

 

Sorry about the fiasco but... they did refund your money, so how exactly is that about making money?

[kitman]

Hi Working 2,

Princess Cruises has possibly realised that they would make more money from selling the drinks than what they would make by allowing the passengers to use the drinks package. An explanation from the cruise line would have been a courteous way to attend the situation, and not have the passengers guessing to what their reasoning is for disallowing the package.

A lot of companies would honour their error if a purchase was made, and i have not heard from Princess to advise otherwise, which leaves many passengers to speculate the cruise lines reasons for cancelling the package. Just an opinion.

[Aus Traveller]

Hi Working 2,

Princess Cruises has possibly realised that they would make more money from selling the drinks than what they would make by allowing the passengers to use the drinks package. An explanation from the cruise line would have been a courteous way to attend the situation, and not have the passengers guessing to what their reasoning is for disallowing the package.

A lot of companies would honour their error if a purchase was made, and i have not heard from Princess to advise otherwise, which leaves many passengers to speculate the cruise lines reasons for cancelling the package. Just an opinion.

I believe that the drinks package has only just become available on Australian cruises and I do not know if it was before your cruise. Maybe it wasn't available before your cruise and a mistake was made selling it to you in the first place. On the other hand, maybe your cruise was the first where this applied and the staff on board didn't know about it.

 

Either way, some of Princess staff made an error and I agree that they should be courteous about it and apologise for whoever's error it was.:)

[crochetcruise]

At this point, the package is only available for cruises of 8 nights or longer to my knowledge. I'm hoping that it becomes available for shorter cruises before I cruise in November 2016. I have planned to buy myself the Soda and More Package, and gift myself On Board Credit to the value of 4 Cocktails per day-Lunch, Pre-Dinner, Dinner and Nightcap, and I am in the Window Suite so will be enjoying at least 1 Mimosa with my breakfast. I've also found a listing of the prices for the contents of the Mini Bar-Crown Princess March 2015, so in USD$ but I saw on my Cruise Personalizer that USD$100 cost me AUD$125, so I just divided the cost of a can of Soda by 4 and multiplied by 5 to get the likely cost. I will have additional funds in Casino Credit so I have a Back Up Plan. HTH. Enjoy your Cruise!

[Wastegirl]

As Crochetcruise said it is only available on cruises 8 days more more, so Princess, while still getting used to the new system must have sold some packages to people on a 7 day cruise, realised their mistake and refunded. Not a good look, they should have not only apologised to the OP, but maybe honoured the package or offered a small OBC to cover a couple of drinks. After all it was an inconvenience.

 

To make it more confusing, they are now offering it on the Personalizer to pre purchase but at 10% more than what it would cost on board because they have to add GST (an Australian Goods and Services Tax). Some people say you will be credited the 10% back once you board but I think I will wait and buy it onboard.

 

Nothing is simple :)

[crochetcruise]

As Crochetcruise said it is only available on cruises 8 days more more, so Princess, while still getting used to the new system must have sold some packages to people on a 7 day cruise, realised their mistake and refunded. Not a good look, they should have not only apologised to the OP, but maybe honoured the package or offered a small OBC to cover a couple of drinks. After all it was an inconvenience.

 

To make it more confusing, they are now offering it on the Personalizer to pre purchase but at 10% more than what it would cost on board because they have to add GST (an Australian Goods and Services Tax). Some people say you will be credited the 10% back once you board but I think I will wait and buy it onboard.

 

Nothing is simple :)

 

When the All-Inclusive-Beverage-Package came up when I first logged into my Cruise Personalizer, the price per day in was AUD$73.75. HTH.