Increased drinks package prices ????

[rockdoctor]

On other threads it's being reported that drinks have already increased by $1-$2 and that bottles of wine have increased about 10%.

 

Thanks for the info. I was haven't been on a Princess in about a year and was wondering how they were charging more in the Elite cocktail lounge than for drinks in the ship's bars. For us the inclusion of specialty coffee and water makes up for the increased price. Celebrity has been doing this for some time. As others have said, level the playing field. But then the Celebrity price for bottles of spirits is outrageous compared to Princess.

[Wishing on a star]

The wine isn't a huge issue for us.

And, neither is the size of the bottles of water.

 

We have booked with S&S...

If Princess is going to make a big deal about getting soda on Princess Cays, then, that just means we might indulge in a few more, more costly, (but free/included) acloholic beverages while there.

Don't know why the have to make soda such an issue!!!! : (

[ccruisequeen]

What you say makes some sense. For the last 4 or 5 days the AIBP has not been available in the cruise personlizer. If you want the package call Princess today, maybe it's still available at the current price. The soda & more package is available on line @ US$8.05/day. Doubt there are any changes.

That's the price I ordered it at. It still is that price on the site. Fingers crossed

[Thrak]

Yes, they are still saying it can't be shared. From the terms and conditions:

 

"Packages may not be shared and are non-transferable and non-refundable. "

 

And the penalties are (bold added):

 

"Shipboard management reserves the right to add additional restrictions, revoke or cancel the Premier Beverage Package at any point during a guest’s voyage for any reason with or without a prorated refund. Additional actions may be taken if guests:

 

 

• Become intoxicated 

  
• Provide beverages to the other guests or do not comply with the terms, conditions and limitations of the package
  
• Exhibit behavior that is inappropriate, a safety risk to themselves or others, or become offensive or disruptive to the other cruise guests or staff
  
• Exceed or attempt to circumvent the daily limits and service limitations outlined 
"
  

 

In another thread I was called out by someone for posting blatantly inaccurate information when I said they could cancel your package with no refund. The post was really pretty snarky. It seems that the above verbiage verifies that I was correct.

[beg3yrs]

In another thread I was called out by someone for posting blatantly inaccurate information when I said they could cancel your package with no refund. The post was really pretty snarky. It seems that the above verbiage verifies that I was correct.

 

Agreed, no refund is an option. I really don't like the "for any reason" language but I suppose it's way too onerous to try to list all the reasons they might need to cancel your package. There should be some recourse for the purchasers if they feel they were wronged. Oh well, I'll just follow the rules and play nice as usual.

[land lover]

So no more canned soft drinks?....I always liked to keep a canned ginger ale in the cabin in case the sea became rough.

Disappointed in 40% to 25% for win........it was nice while it lasted. Guess that means we will be carrying bottles on...but maybe that's what they want. So they don't deplete their reserve. Last few cruises they were running out of our favorites.

[NavyVeteran]

The wine isn't a huge issue for us.

And, neither is the size of the bottles of water.

 

We have booked with S&S...

If Princess is going to make a big deal about getting soda on Princess Cays, then, that just means we might indulge in a few more, more costly, (but free/included) acloholic beverages while there.

Don't know why the have to make soda such an issue!!!! : (

What makes you think alcoholic beverages are more costly to Princess? Pouring you a drink from a bottle purchased without local taxes may well be less expensive than providing a can of soda.

[Thrak]

So no more canned soft drinks?....I always liked to keep a canned ginger ale in the cabin in case the sea became rough.

Disappointed in 40% to 25% for win........it was nice while it lasted. Guess that means we will be carrying bottles on...but maybe that's what they want. So they don't deplete their reserve. Last few cruises they were running out of our favorites.

 

Just take a 6 pack or 12 pack of Ginger Ale onboard with you. Cheap to do and problem solved. Ginger chews from Trader Joe's would be smaller and there's a lot of ginger in them. (I love those things. :hearteyes:)

[land lover]

Just take a 6 pack or 12 pack of Ginger Ale onboard with you. Cheap to do and problem solved. Ginger chews from Trader Joe's would be smaller and there's a lot of ginger in them. (I love those things. :hearteyes:)

 

There is a word called convenience;p......and I do take ginger chews but thx for the info to find them at trader joes.

 

BTW when are you taking off your elite comment .....you have got to be there by now......

[karena1]

15 alcoholic drinks per day.

How much alcohol can a person drink??? It's like a drink per hour.

 

That is not the point! The point is this - they are raising the prices, limiting the number of drinks you can buy and then trying to "sugar coat" it by saying you can now get drinks up to $12 and more off on wine. Basically, they have cheapened themselves to Carnival.

 

Many people can drink more than 15 drinks on a sea day and not be drunk. That is an individual choice. What really ticked me off about the email I received was how they tried to make it sound like they were doing US a favor! Just say it like it is! You raised the prices and gave us nothing! In fact you took away by putting a limit on the drinks that can be gotten each day

 

This is NOT A DEBATE about whether 15 drinks is more than enough! If is about the fact that Princess lowered themselves to Carnival's level and tried to make it sound like they were doing us a favor. What a bunch of crap!

[karena1]

I found my email. Here it is. What a boatload of crap! How dare they act like they are doing US a favor. Get real Princess!!

 

Hello everyone,

We’re shaking up our onboard beverage offerings and introducingour new Premier Beverage Package, serving a new twist to the onboard experienceand emphasizing quality over quantity!

Though the bar tab has gone up a bit – the value is fantastic!The price is still one of the lowest in the cruise industry.

• 
  
• The Premier Beverage Package retails for US$59.99 per day (with an additional 15% service charge for all itineraries except Australia).
  
• All beer, wine by the glass and cocktails up to US$12 are included, compared to the previous limit of US$10.
  
• The new package includes a 25% discount on ALL bottles of wine, whereas the previous discount included bottles under $100 only. This can add up to substantial savings, especially on premium wines and Champagnes like Opus One and Dom Perignon.
  
• Conveniently the beverage package can be used on our Private Islands and all food and beverage venues that offer beverage service.
  

Here it is straight – we are now limiting the number of alcoholicdrinks to 15 per day (and no sharing!). We will continue to serve unlimitednon-alcoholic beverages, including bottled water (500ml per serving), fountainsodas – our nod towards a more environmentally friendly model, fresh juices(when available), specialty coffees and teas, Frappes at Coffee & Cones andRed Bull energy drinks. Guests must purchase the Premier Beverage Package forevery day of sailing. Guests that pre-purchased the All-Inclusive BeveragePackage or took advantage of our Sip + Sail promotion will benefit from thisnewly updated package.

[Thrak]

Ahhhhhh.... Marketing speak. When I was in school we made fun of marketing majors. They rarely have any contact with reality and seem to think that whatever they say will automagically be believed by others no matter how totally idiotic it is.

[Astro Flyer]

Ahhhhhh.... Marketing speak. When I was in school we made fun of marketing majors. They rarely have any contact with reality and seem to think that whatever they say will automagically be believed by others no matter how totally idiotic it is.

No kidding! :eek:

 

With that kind of gibberish spin on something that doesn't benefit most passengers the Princess marketing department could have a future in politics. ;p

[Host CJSKIDS]

No kidding! :eek:

 

With that kind of gibberish spin on something that doesn't benefit most passengers the Princess marketing department could have a future in politics. ;p

 

:'):'):')

[Woobstr112G]

No kidding! :eek:

 

With that kind of gibberish spin on something that doesn't benefit most passengers the Princess marketing department could have a future in politics. ;p

Frank;

I was thinking the same thing.....:D:D:D

 

Bob

[Woobstr112G]

I found my email. Here it is. What a boatload of crap! How dare they act like they are doing US a favor. Get real Princess!!

 

Hello everyone,

We’re shaking up our onboard beverage offerings and introducingour new Premier Beverage Package, serving a new twist to the onboard experienceand emphasizing quality over quantity!

Though the bar tab has gone up a bit – the value is fantastic!The price is still one of the lowest in the cruise industry.

• The Premier Beverage Package retails for US$59.99 per day (with an additional 15% service charge for all itineraries except Australia).
  
• All beer, wine by the glass and cocktails up to US$12 are included, compared to the previous limit of US$10.
  
• The new package includes a 25% discount on ALL bottles of wine, whereas the previous discount included bottles under $100 only. This can add up to substantial savings, especially on premium wines and Champagnes like Opus One and Dom Perignon.
  
• Conveniently the beverage package can be used on our Private Islands and all food and beverage venues that offer beverage service.
  

Here it is straight – we are now limiting the number of alcoholicdrinks to 15 per day (and no sharing!). We will continue to serve unlimitednon-alcoholic beverages, including bottled water (500ml per serving), fountainsodas – our nod towards a more environmentally friendly model, fresh juices(when available), specialty coffees and teas, Frappes at Coffee & Cones andRed Bull energy drinks. Guests must purchase the Premier Beverage Package forevery day of sailing. Guests that pre-purchased the All-Inclusive BeveragePackage or took advantage of our Sip + Sail promotion will benefit from thisnewly updated package.

 

Didn't the old package give you a 40% discount on bottles of wine under $100.00?

 

Bob

[RaeBay]

Ok just spent over 1 hour on the phone to princess. Learnt something because we are getting charged more then other Australians on all these prices for 2 of us if we get the Alcohol package works out an extra $720 compared to other Australians the soda package an extra $150 and coffee cards an extra $6 well has to do with time of booking and exchange rate they where offering then not what current exchange rate now. Therefore getting screwed over. As not just a standard price for Australians.

 

Also warning to other Aussies your ship account will not be charged at the current rate but that at time of booking. So for us 68c to $. Advice from supervisor do not put a card on your booking pay cash when you board you will not be able to print boarding passes till 5 days before cruise this way but will work out better and buy packages onboard.

 

So with current exchange rate 79c I will buy some USD and watch exchange rate over next few months and top up amount if AUD goes up.

 

 

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[martin jenkins]

I found my email. Here it is. What a boatload of crap! How dare they act like they are doing US a favor. Get real Princess!!

 

Hello everyone,

We’re shaking up our onboard beverage offerings and introducingour new Premier Beverage Package, serving a new twist to the onboard experienceand emphasizing quality over quantity!

Though the bar tab has gone up a bit – the value is fantastic!The price is still one of the lowest in the cruise industry.

• The Premier Beverage Package retails for US$59.99 per day (with an additional 15% service charge for all itineraries except Australia).
  
• All beer, wine by the glass and cocktails up to US$12 are included, compared to the previous limit of US$10.
  
• The new package includes a 25% discount on ALL bottles of wine, whereas the previous discount included bottles under $100 only. This can add up to substantial savings, especially on premium wines and Champagnes like Opus One and Dom Perignon.
  
• Conveniently the beverage package can be used on our Private Islands and all food and beverage venues that offer beverage service.
  

Here it is straight – we are now limiting the number of alcoholicdrinks to 15 per day (and no sharing!). We will continue to serve unlimitednon-alcoholic beverages, including bottled water (500ml per serving), fountainsodas – our nod towards a more environmentally friendly model, fresh juices(when available), specialty coffees and teas, Frappes at Coffee & Cones andRed Bull energy drinks. Guests must purchase the Premier Beverage Package forevery day of sailing. Guests that pre-purchased the All-Inclusive BeveragePackage or took advantage of our Sip + Sail promotion will benefit from thisnewly updated package.

 

 

 

and here is the crap they told the aussies

 

 

(5:50 p.m. EDT) -- In an effort to more closely align itself with industry standards, Princess Cruises has raised the prices and reworked the offerings for its alcohol-inclusive beverage package.

Formerly known as the All-Inclusive Beverage Package, the cruise add-on, now called the Premier Beverage Package, will cost US$59.99 per person, per day -- up from US$52 per person, per day -- plus 15 percent gratuity. In Australia, the new price is AU$86.99 per day including gratuity. (For more details on Australian pricing, see our note below.)

[Hammer61]

I think the best the Australian Cruisers can hope for is a customer backlash and sales take a dive on sailings down under, if that happens we may see a back track to some degree.

 

Prices increases happen and I think most of us accept that but it’s the size of this one that I cant believe, and im going to guess drinks prices across the board will be going up quite a bit as well to make the package attractive again, as to me unless you really are a heavy drinker it just isn’t worthwhile, the 15 alcoholic drinks I can also understand, you need to be going some to get through that many in a day.

 

 

Then what if the exchange rate keeps going higher??? Only a few years ago the Aussie was on par or higher than the $US, it’s around 80 cents today and been slowly rising all year, and even right now if you could pay in $US it’s slightly cheaper at about $85 taking into account the gratuity!!! But if it keeps moving higher then Australian will be increasingly paying a hefty premium for the package…………What then

[Burgmeister]

 

Then what if the exchange rate keeps going higher??? Only a few years ago the Aussie was on par or higher than the $US, it’s around 80 cents today and been slowly rising all year, and even right now if you could pay in $US it’s slightly cheaper at about $85 taking into account the gratuity!!! But if it keeps moving higher then Australian will be increasingly paying a hefty premium for the package…………What then

 

Think yourself lucky, you could be having to pay for it in £ and they are worth diddly squat at the moment!

[anniegb]

Just wondering - have their been any posts on Princess Fb page?

 

I don't do Fb - curious.

 

annie

[newport dave]

Think yourself lucky, you could be having to pay for it in £ and they are worth diddly squat at the moment!

[emoji1303]

 

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[adcondon68]

Last year cruising on Ovation of the Seas through Asia it was 35 dec C and very humid. It was easy to drink 15 light beers, Ciders or Cocktails which seemed to be mainly ice but they were cool and refreshing. If you started at 11am and had 1 say every half an hour you would have used up your 15 drinks by 6:30pm. So no drinks for dinner or before and after a show and especially none if you wished to visit the Casino till late. Its bad enough sitting in the Casino with all the smokers let alone not being ably to enjoy a drink while playing Blackjack.

 

I'm seriously thinking of cancelling my 22 night cruise (Majestic Princess) next year and re booking a similar cruise on Ovation. This will hugely affect the Aussie market as we are all big drinkers. I think Princess will find that Aussies will will chase value for money and putting a limit on drinks affects that value.

[newport dave]

Last year cruising on Ovation of the Seas through Asia it was 35 dec C and very humid. It was easy to drink 15 light beers, Ciders or Cocktails which seemed to be mainly ice but they were cool and refreshing. If you started at 11am and had 1 say every half an hour you would have used up your 15 drinks by 6:30pm. So no drinks for dinner or before and after a show and especially none if you wished to visit the Casino till late. Its bad enough sitting in the Casino with all the smokers let alone not being ably to enjoy a drink while playing Blackjack.

 

I'm seriously thinking of cancelling my 22 night cruise (Majestic Princess) next year and re booking a similar cruise on Ovation. This will hugely affect the Aussie market as we are all big drinkers. I think Princess will find that Aussies will will chase value for money and putting a limit on drinks affects that value.

You may get a similar response in the UK too. As we also like a drink, it's probably why we never get the free drinks promotion here, as they know they'll lose out massively.

 

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[adcondon68]

I was speaking to one of the barman on "Ovation of the Seas" last year and he told me that they have competitions amongst the RCCL ships crew to see who could sell the most drinks package. It seems the winning ship was working in Australian waters.