Unsigned coffee cards

[bconley351]

I was looking on eBay today and found a listing for unsigned coffee cards (the green/brown New Grounds ones). If I buy these do I just enter our sailing info and have my dh sign it? The card is for him since he has developed a liking for lattes. I'm fine with the regular coffee.

[jennybenny]

It would not be good for all you can drink drip coffee, as that is only on the sailing they are purchased on but they are good for drip coffee (one punch required) or specialty coffee for your cruise

 

 

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[wheezedr]

If you purchase one do not enter anything on it until you take it to use at the coffee area by the IC. At its first use the crew will enter the ship and cruise # for your cruise. If you enter stuff beforehand they may think it was from a previous cruise. When we swap out a bar setup for coffee cards they always come unmarked and we do as above.

[jennybenny]

I've heard there are new coffee cards, just an FYI

 

 

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[Colo Cruiser]

I would not take the chance.

What do you save $15?

Its a vacation

[Griller]

I've heard there are new coffee cards, just an FYI

 

 

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New as in new this month or new as in new last year which is hardly new at all?

OP is talking about new green/brown cards. Are they not the new ones which are in fact current and have not been replaced yet?

That's what I got last month on board, green/brown "New Grounds" coffee cards.

 

Like you say Just an FYI

Edited February 19, 2017 by Griller

[Griller]

It would not be good for all you can drink drip coffee, as that is only on the sailing they are purchased on but they are good for drip coffee (one punch required) or specialty coffee for your cruise

 

 

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Sorry but that is a ridiculously misleading answer the real situation is if you have a blank current coffee card wherever you got it from then if the barrista is bothered enough to check and sees it is a current but unmarked coffee card then he/she will just mark the back with the number of the current voyage and that's all there is to it.

Then its good on that voyage for unlimited regular filter coffees etc without a punch and 15 specialist coffees with a punch.

And if some punches remain its good on a subsequent voyage for that number of specialist coffees.

Buy it on Ebay from a reliable vendor and you will save money and have the same card as if you spent more on board ship

[Thrak]

The only issue I can see is if the ship you sail on isn't using the new style of cards yet. (People are reporting that some ships are still issuing the brown cards that are laid out horizontally.) If you have a new card on a ship that isn't using them yet the barista may not want to take it as you obviously didn't purchase it on that voyage.

 

However you decided to handle things I concur with others that, if you purchase a card in this manner, do not write on it!!!

[Griller]

The only issue I can see is if the ship you sail on isn't using the new style of cards yet. (People are reporting that some ships are still issuing the brown cards that are laid out horizontally.) If you have a new card on a ship that isn't using them yet the barista may not want to take it as you obviously didn't purchase it on that voyage.

 

However you decided to handle things I concur with others that, if you purchase a card in this manner, do not write on it!!!

Are there any ships still issuing the old cards?

Its been about a year now since the new green/brown ones came out.

[jennybenny]

Sorry but that is a ridiculously misleading answer the real situation is if you have a blank current coffee card wherever you got it from then if the barrista is bothered enough to check and sees it is a current but unmarked coffee card then he/she will just mark the back with the number of the current voyage and that's all there is to it.

Then its good on that voyage for unlimited regular filter coffees etc without a punch and 15 specialist coffees with a punch.

And if some punches remain its good on a subsequent voyage for that number of specialist coffees.

Buy it on Ebay from a reliable vendor and you will save money and have the same card as if you spent more on board ship

 

 

 

Maybe misleading but not intentional.

I have heard that Princess has been careful about only honoring new card purchases on current voyages.

I have not experienced it but you can search cruise critic go see that people have experienced that even with a brand new card from a previous cruise that it's not been honored for unlimited drip coffee on new voyages. So if I had purchased it on eBay I would be disappointed if I had a problem on my cruise.

 

The remaining punches are available on future cruises but not drip coffee.

 

Getting a coffee card is already a savings (or suite benefit if you turn in your mini bar for coffee cards) and I wouldn't buy a used one on eBay for fear that I could not use it for unlimited drip, as I drink that more than specialty coffee. But that's just me.

 

So feel free to try it yourself or recommend it but I would be disappointed if there was an issue.

To each his own

 

 

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[easyboy]

I've heard there are new coffee cards, just an FYI

How does it look like.

Edited February 19, 2017 by easyboy

[jennybenny]

How does it look like.

 

 

 

I don't know what the current cards look like. I haven't gotten one for a couple of years because we've gotten the drink package. I can post a photo for my upcoming April cruise which I will have a coffee card.

 

 

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[Griller]

Maybe misleading but not intentional.

I have heard that Princess has been careful about only honoring new card purchases on current voyages.

I have not experienced it but you can search cruise critic go see that people have experienced that even with a brand new card from a previous cruise that it's not been honored for unlimited drip coffee on new voyages. So if I had purchased it on eBay I would be disappointed if I had a problem on my cruise.

 

The remaining punches are available on future cruises but not drip coffee.

 

Getting a coffee card is already a savings (or suite benefit if you turn in your mini bar for coffee cards) and I wouldn't buy a used one on eBay for fear that I could not use it for unlimited drip, as I drink that more than specialty coffee. But that's just me.

 

So feel free to try it yourself or recommend it but I would be disappointed if there was an issue.

To each his own

 

 

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Unfortunately still misleading, any passenger who had a problem getting unlimited drip (filter) coffee had an old style card. All brown.

AFAIK no one ever had a problem with an unmarked newstyle green/brown card.

 

And you mention you wouldn't buy a used card on Ebay. Well no one is talking about buying a used card, just unused unmarked new style cards.

[whitecap]

I am just of a 21 day on the Regal Princess which was followed by a 14 day on the Caribbean Princess and here is what I have learned about the "new" coffee card vs the "old" coffee card as well as the "new" policy going around the fleet: if you have the old style coffee card, whether used or unused and no matter what ship you received it from, you can still use it for specialty coffees and brewed coffee but they will punch the card for either; if you have the new card that is marked on the back from another ship, it can still be used for specialty coffee or brewed coffee but again, 1 punch for either; if you purchase a card from the ship you are on there will be 1 punch for each specialty coffee and NO PUNCHES FOR BREWED COFFEE.

Now with that said, I also learned that Princess is attempting to implement a fleet wide policy concerning brewed coffee: the person presenting the coffee card for brewed coffee can receive ONE cup of coffee each time the card is presented. I use to go to the IC each morning and get two cups, one for me and one for my DW, and take them back to the cabin. I was advised on the Caribbean Princess that Food and Beverage Managers had been instructed to limited each card holder to ONE CUP AT A TIME! On the Caribbean Princess, several mornings there was a "manager/supervisor" standing there observing.

The baristas were not happy with this new procedure and took a lot of flack from passengers. One passenger in front of me one morning laid into the barista and after walking away I told the barista I understood what he was going through and that I would follow the new procedure; I ordered ONE cup of coffee, turned and walked to the end of the counter, came back to the barista and ordered ONE cup of coffee; he smiled, thanked me and I was off to the cabin with coffee. Every morning thereafter that he was working, I walked up, ordered ONE cup of coffee and with a nod, got two. :D

[Griller]

"if you have the old style coffee card, whether used or unused and no matter what ship you received it from, you can still use it for specialty coffees and brewed coffee but they will punch the card for either; if you have the new card that is marked on the back from another ship, it can still be used for specialty coffee or brewed coffee but again, 1 punch for either; if you purchase a card from the ship you are on there will be 1 punch for each specialty coffee and NO PUNCHES FOR BREWED COFFEE. "

Above post is correct, the only thing I would add is that you don't have to purchase the card from the ship you are on, wherever you got it from as long as its new unmarked condition it will work for free filter coffee. though the barista may well write the ship name and voyage number on the back of it when you use it and that ties it to that cruise for the free filter coffee without a punch.

[whitecap]

"if you have the old style coffee card, whether used or unused and no matter what ship you received it from, you can still use it for specialty coffees and brewed coffee but they will punch the card for either; if you have the new card that is marked on the back from another ship, it can still be used for specialty coffee or brewed coffee but again, 1 punch for either; if you purchase a card from the ship you are on there will be 1 punch for each specialty coffee and NO PUNCHES FOR BREWED COFFEE. "

Above post is correct, the only thing I would add is that you don't have to purchase the card from the ship you are on, wherever you got it from as long as its new unmarked condition it will work for free filter coffee. though the barista may well write the ship name and voyage number on the back of it when you use it and that ties it to that cruise for the free filter coffee without a punch.

 

 

One other thing I would add to this: if you pre-purchase the coffee card via Princess website, you will also be charged a gratuity (35.65 + 18%); if you purchase the card once aboard the ship (in Ft. Lauderdale) you will be charged not only the gratuity but local sales tax as well (35.65 + 18% + tax). I see the card on a website being sold for 25.00. Small savings to some, big savings to others.

[JF - retired RRT]

The only issue I can see is if the ship you sail on isn't using the new style of cards yet. (People are reporting that some ships are still issuing the brown cards that are laid out horizontally.) If you have a new card on a ship that isn't using them yet the barista may not want to take it as you obviously didn't purchase it on that voyage.

 

However you decided to handle things I concur with others that, if you purchase a card in this manner, do not write on it!!!

Thrak

I don't think that would be an issue. If I have a leftover card from a previous cruise and it isn't marked...go to a different ship that's not using the new card, the barista would know there are new cards and shouldn't question how or when you got it.

[whitecap]

Thrak

I don't think that would be an issue. If I have a leftover card from a previous cruise and it isn't marked...go to a different ship that's not using the new card, the barista would know there are new cards and shouldn't question how or when you got it.

 

 

Both on the Regal Princess and Caribbean Princess, the "old" cards were accepted without hesitation.

[wrongwaywatson]

One other thing I would add to this: if you pre-purchase the coffee card via Princess website, you will also be charged a gratuity (35.65 + 18%); if you purchase the card once aboard the ship (in Ft. Lauderdale) you will be charged not only the gratuity but local sales tax as well (35.65 + 18% + tax). I see the card on a website being sold for 25.00. Small savings to some, big savings to others.

 

I just purchased 2 cards for our upcoming cruise. The $35.65 includes gratuity. I paid $71.30 for 2 cards. I just double checked on the website, and it says (copied from Princess site) "Packages are not added to your booking until they are paid for. Prices include gratuity."

[whitecap]

I just purchased 2 cards for our upcoming cruise. The $35.65 includes gratuity. I paid $71.30 for 2 cards. I just double checked on the website, and it says (copied from Princess site) "Packages are not added to your booking until they are paid for. Prices include gratuity."

 

 

Oops! My bad! :o Sorry.

[wrongwaywatson]

Oops! My bad! :o Sorry.

 

No worries! :cool:

[Griller]

I just purchased 2 cards for our upcoming cruise. The $35.65 includes gratuity. I paid $71.30 for 2 cards. I just double checked on the website, and it says (copied from Princess site) "Packages are not added to your booking until they are paid for. Prices include gratuity."

 

 

So its a saving of $21.30 buying 2 cards on Ebay from a reliable vendor.

[whitecap]

So its a saving of $21.30 buying 2 cards on Ebay from a reliable vendor.

 

 

$21.30 to one, a big savings; to someone else, no big deal. Me, I'd rather take the $21.30 and put toward an excursion or dinning. So, I give the Ebay deal a "thumbs up"

[san diego sue]

Recently on the Regal. had card with some punches left and two new cards we got on the ship (turned in Mini Bar and received from Room Service). New cards were unmarked. Went to coffee bar, Barista saw my cards and said he would have to punch for the two brewed coffees. I told him these new cards were gotten on the ship from turning in mini bar. he accused me of getting them on land. I didn't even know what he was talking about and told him to check with room service. Finally , and he gave me a disgusted look, poured two cups of coffee and didn't punch.

What got me mad was I wasn't trying to beat the system in any way and basically was being accused of fraud.

 

We have the coffee cards mostly for the specialty coffees and seldom get brewed anyways.

[hllwdcruiser]

Recently on the Regal. had card with some punches left and two new cards we got on the ship (turned in Mini Bar and received from Room Service). New cards were unmarked. Went to coffee bar, Barista saw my cards and said he would have to punch for the two brewed coffees. I told him these new cards were gotten on the ship from turning in mini bar. he accused me of getting them on land. I didn't even know what he was talking about and told him to check with room service. Finally , and he gave me a disgusted look, poured two cups of coffee and didn't punch.

What got me mad was I wasn't trying to beat the system in any way and basically was being accused of fraud.

 

We have the coffee cards mostly for the specialty coffees and seldom get brewed anyways.

 

 

Your example is exactly why I wouldn't buy the card on eBay. Who needs that kind of stress on vacation for just $10 in savings? I'd be afraid that they would question the card and then look at my onboard account and see that I neither turned it in (if I were elite) nor purchased it.

 

We travel on a budget and try to save every penny we can but imho $10 just isn't worth it.