Onboard credit will not be accepted for pre-reservations

[jagoffee]

Princess has been our favorite for many years but the negative changes have finally got to us. We will still sail Princess in the Caribbean but will be doing more land tours internationally. And we will be sailing what used to be our second favorite cruise line much more often.

 

John

 

Just curious, what cruise line does not require payment on shore excursions booked prior to the cruise?

[Potstech]

Right now - Princess.

[Potstech]

Another Email from Princess:

 

The Customer Relations Department is in receipt of your email. Thank you for contacting our office. We appreciate the opportunity to respond.

 

If a pre-paid shore excursion is cancelled within 5 days of sailing or is cancelled during the voyage prior to the "Closing Time for Cancellation" listed for the particular excursion you wish to cancel, then the pre-paid amount will be refunded to the guest named on the pre-paid reservation as a “refundable” shipboard credit on this guest's shipboard folio.

 

Thank you once again for taking the time to share your concerns. We look forward to having you onboard Regal Princess in October for what we hope will be a completely enjoyable cruise vacation. Until then, we send our kind regards.

 

 

 

Sincerely,

 

Princess Cruises

Customer Relations Specialist

customerrelations@princesscruises.com

 

[RDC1]

Just curious, what cruise line does not require payment on shore excursions booked prior to the cruise?

 

The issue is not the prepayment itself. The issue is that the change reduces the value of OBC. That value used to give Princess a significant value advantage compared to the competition. On a cruise of 14 days I usually get OBC (Veteran, Stock, FCC, Sale Offers) between $800 and $1200. In the past I have used that OBC to pay for excursions. The OBC would cover between 40% and 70% of those costs. On the cruises I have been doing (South America, Norway/Iceland TA, Asia, south Pacific, etc) many of the excursions book up well in advance of the cruise. So to use my OBC as I have I would need to take the risk that the tours I want would not fill. Something that I am not willing to do. If I prepay then there is nothing else that I would spend anywhere close to that amount on board.

 

As a result except for the military OBC, which is refundable, the value of the OBC has dropped from about 90% cash equivalent to 50-60% cash equivalent (since I would basically be spending on things that I otherwise would not purchase) and the cruise cost has gone up by the 40%-70% of the excursion costs that I used to pay by OBC. At that rate the economic advantage Princess has had over their competition is no longer there. Have canceled a B2B in November 2017 starting in Hong Kong, and switched to a Celebrity cruise doing the same route with better pricing and dates. In 2016 I spent 70 days on Princess. In 2017 the planned days on Princess is now down to 10.

Edited November 22, 2016 by RDC1

[hockeygal54]

Princess had a competitive advantage in allowing pre-booked excursions to be paid for on board.

 

It is ridiculous to have to pay for excursions months before final payment for the cruise itself is due.

 

Standard domestic airline policy is to charge for every piece of checked luggage. Southwest stands out by allowed two pieces of luggage at no charge. Southwest has been consistently profitable. If they change their policy to be like all of their competitors, I think Southwest will lose a big chunk of business.

 

 

Totally agree and that's one of the main reasons I fly SW anytime possible. The first quoted paragraph is a major reason I let my season hockey tickets go back several years ago. Forcing me to pay for NEXT season when you haven't even made first round playoffs yet is bad business to ME. I decided to put that season ticket money towards a very nice flat screen tv and watch from my couch and not have to buy $9 beer and wait 20" to use the toilet.

 

 

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[Potstech]

Also in order to confirm a cruise that will cost many hundreds of dollars at final payment I only need my $100.00 FCC. Now they want me to pay full price for all my excursions for that same cruise upwards to 180 days before the cruise to the tune of several hundred dollars. Now that is not gonna happen. Why should I pay way much earlier for excursions before I pay for the actual cruise which I can cancel much easier.

 

I also notice there is NO MENTION of this change on the Princess web site. Would love to see them grandfather it in for those of us who have already put a deposit on a cruise before it goes into effect. Like they do when they are changing gratuities.

Edited November 22, 2016 by Potstech

[cruzrbachoua]

Also in order to confirm a cruise that will cost many hundreds of dollars at final payment I only need my $100.00 FCC. Now they want me to pay full price for all my excursions for that same cruise upwards to 180 days before the cruise to the tune of several hundred dollars. Now that is not gonna happen. Why should I pay way much earlier for excursions before I pay for the actual cruise which I can cancel much easier.

 

I also notice there is NO MENTION of this change on the Princess web site. Would love to see them grandfather it in for those of us who have already put a deposit on a cruise before it goes into effect. Like they do when they are changing gratuities.

You know never thought of it that way...that is a great example!

[Bill B]

Why should I pay way much earlier for excursions before I pay for the actual cruise which I can cancel much easier.

 

So Princess can collect interest on your money. It's unlikely you'll cancel a cruise on which you have prepaid excursions, and the 'profit focus' has shifted from cruise fares to on board revenue.

[Potstech]

For that exact reason I will not prepay any excursions as I have yet to get a refund on a cancelled land tour excursion back in May. Yes Princess keeps saying it will happen but it remains to be seen.

[dickinson]

How long does it take to get a response back from Princess? Sunday I emailed customer relations to tell them what I think of this new policy but have yet to get any type of response (including a thanks we will get back to you).

[cruzrbachoua]

How long does it take to get a response back from Princess? Sunday I emailed customer relations to tell them what I think of this new policy but have yet to get any type of response (including a thanks we will get back to you).

 

I got my phone calls the next day...but perhaps cause more and more of us are emailing them...they are getting swamped?:confused::D;)

[dickinson]

How did they know your phone number? They have my email and I also signed my first and last name at the end of my message but I did not give my phone #.

[cruzrbachoua]

I figured they looked me up in the system. I mentioned I was platinum and a loyal princess cruiser, with princess being my 1st choice....until this. I actually sent 3 emails and got 2 calls. my first one was to say I hope they didn't take it past just Alaska...she called and said some stuff and acted like I had questions...I wasn't able to connect so I sent the 2nd email saying I didn't have questions so much as I wanted to let it be known I hope it doesn't go past Alaska...whereas she then called back and said nope just Alaska for now....then I saw this thread and the TA letter so I sent another one saying how I felt lied to and how disappointed I was in the new policy.

 

Oh yeah and my TA just returned and emailed me said he was told it was just the "exclusive" excursions.......WHAT...I emailed him back and asked what are those...haven't heard back from him but this is only his 2nd day back.

[dickinson]

"exclusive" excursions???!!!!! What the heck are those? Never heard of them. Too much wrong info by Princess. I hope they decide this is a bad idea.

[cruzrbachoua]

I agree

 

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[jagoffee]

The issue is not the prepayment itself. The issue is that the change reduces the value of OBC. That value used to give Princess a significant value advantage compared to the competition. On a cruise of 14 days I usually get OBC (Veteran, Stock, FCC, Sale Offers) between $800 and $1200. In the past I have used that OBC to pay for excursions. The OBC would cover between 40% and 70% of those costs. On the cruises I have been doing (South America, Norway/Iceland TA, Asia, south Pacific, etc) many of the excursions book up well in advance of the cruise. So to use my OBC as I have I would need to take the risk that the tours I want would not fill. Something that I am not willing to do. If I prepay then there is nothing else that I would spend anywhere close to that amount on board.

 

As a result except for the military OBC, which is refundable, the value of the OBC has dropped from about 90% cash equivalent to 50-60% cash equivalent (since I would basically be spending on things that I otherwise would not purchase) and the cruise cost has gone up by the 40%-70% of the excursion costs that I used to pay by OBC. At that rate the economic advantage Princess has had over their competition is no longer there. Have canceled a B2B in November 2017 starting in Hong Kong, and switched to a Celebrity cruise doing the same route with better pricing and dates. In 2016 I spent 70 days on Princess. In 2017 the planned days on Princess is now down to 10.

 

Good explanation. Thanks.

 

The assumption that the popular shore excursions will be sold out when you board may not be correct, but it is a always a risk. I seldom find shore excursions not available when I board a Celebrity cruise. (they require prepayment)

 

Enjoy your cruise.

Edited November 23, 2016 by jagoffee

[RDC1]

Good explanation. Thanks.

 

The assumption that the popular shore excursions will be sold out when you board may not be correct, but it is a always a risk. I seldom find shore excursions not available when I board a Celebrity cruise. (they require prepayment)

 

Enjoy your cruise.

 

In heavily visited ports like the Caribbean or Alaska I would not worry about it. When you get to the more exotic locations a number of the stops are in small ports with limited excursion capacity. Basically the places that you spend a lot to get to, where you really want the excursions, are the places that often sell out well before the cruise starts.

[Lucky TGO]

Ugh... looks like I'll be taking a lot more independent tours.

 

I will be doing the same.

Tony

[cr8tiv1]

How did they know your phone number? They have my email and I also signed my first and last name at the end of my message but I did not give my phone #.

 

I received a phone call the next day too. I am guessing they either have your phone number from their Captain Circle Membership information or from your cruise history. Really never have given it much thought how they had my number. It does come up in caller ID as Santa Clarita...not Princess.

 

I'll get to your email soon, I promise. Swamped.

[dickinson]

I got an email response this afternoon. It was a form letter saying the same things others have reported. It was like "insert name here". I was very disappointed that they did not respond specifically to what I had said although not surprised.

[pms4104]

Perhaps Princess should run two programs for shore ex:

 

1. Prepay excursions when you make the shore ex reservation, and the usual policies regarding cancellatiln and refundability would apply, or

 

2. Do not pay when booking a shore ex, and the cost would be charged to the passenger's onboard account BUT these unpaid excursions would carry a 100% cancellation penalty as soon as the purchaser hits the "buy" button. Even if cancelled, the cost would be added to the onboard account. If one cancels the cruise (even for a cancel and rebook to take advantage of a price drop), Princess could charge the entire cost of unpaid excursions, in addition to any other applicable penalties.

 

Win win ... Princess gets their money and passengers could choose to prepay or use OBC. Well, and I would think people would be less likely to reserve excursions "just in case".

[Colo Cruiser]

Yes.

[RDC1]

Perhaps Princess should run two programs for shore ex:

 

1. Prepay excursions when you make the shore ex reservation, and the usual policies regarding cancellatiln and refundability would apply, or

 

2. Do not pay when booking a shore ex, and the cost would be charged to the passenger's onboard account BUT these unpaid excursions would carry a 100% cancellation penalty as soon as the purchaser hits the "buy" button. Even if cancelled, the cost would be added to the onboard account. If one cancels the cruise (even for a cancel and rebook to take advantage of a price drop), Princess could charge the entire cost of unpaid excursions, in addition to any other applicable penalties.

 

Win win ... Princess gets their money and passengers could choose to prepay or use OBC. Well, and I would think people would be less likely to reserve excursions "just in case".

 

I suspect that the issue of people booking just in case is not the reason. After all they still have to cancel 72 hours before the excursion and most get filled on the ship at higher cost. Even with prepayment you can cancel prior to the cruise and get the money returned.

 

This seems to be more aimed at reducing the amount of OBC spent on excursions (most of the money leaves Princess and goes to the excursion provider) and instead force it to be spent on other things on the ship, such as specialty dining, spa, jewelry, etc. all things where Princess has much higher margin and more of the money stays with Princess.

[Potstech]

If the OBC is refundably then why spend it on things that a person never i tended to. If that is what Princess is thinking I believe they will find out it is not going to be that much extra. I know I do not spend my OBC on many shipboard item as I think they are over priced or of poor quality. By wanting me to prepay ex ursions will not change that in any way shape or form.

[caribill]

If the OBC is refundably then why spend it on things that a person never i tended to. If that is what Princess is thinking I believe they will find out it is not going to be that much extra. I know I do not spend my OBC on many shipboard item as I think they are over priced or of poor quality. By wanting me to prepay ex ursions will not change that in any way shape or form.

 

The point was not about how a canceled excursion could be refunded, but was about the fact that if you pre-pay you cannot use your OBC to pay for the excursion.

 

Many people use onboard OBC to pay for excursions and this new policy eliminates that for those who want to be sure they get the excursions they want and thus book (and pay) in advance.