Increased drinks package prices ????

[Host CJSKIDS]

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

 

Bob

 

Yes it did. I have the print out of the All Inclusive Beverage Package that I purchased in August for my December sailing. Interesting spin on making it sound better!

 

They quote in the email that a poster put on here "guests that PRE-PURCHASED the all inclusive beverage package will benefit from this newly updated package." What benefits are those exactly?! Are the benefits that you cut out large bottle of water, the % one receives off of bottled wines, canned soda & bottled juice, and a set cocktail limit. And since canned sodas are out then so is drinking soda on Princess Cay. As far as I can understand, these are things taken away not benefits! Is the benefit drinks now up to $12? Well supposedly they raised drink prices by $1.50 so how is that a benefit? Well okay Princess, explain to me the BENEFIT that I'm getting to enjoy since that is how you have chosen to word it.

 

Sip & Sale aside since that's not what I'm talking about. It's a great program and one I have taken advantage of in the past. I still feel like it's bait and switch to offer something that people actually purchase with cash and then make such large changes to it.

 

CC members, am I seeing this incorrectly? What benefit am I receiving for something I purchased other than being able to order wines over $100 at a 25% discount?

[Funkat]

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......

 

Thanks for the tip on the ginger chews. I've never heard of them but will be making a trip to Trader Joe's before our next trip. With them being a food item, will there be any problem bringing them into Australia for our Sun Princess cruise?

[anniegb]

Yes it did. I have the print out of the All Inclusive Beverage Package that I purchased in August for my December sailing. Interesting spin on making it sound better!

 

They quote in the email that a poster put on here "guests that PRE-PURCHASED the all inclusive beverage package will benefit from this newly updated package." What benefits are those exactly?! Are the benefits that you cut out large bottle of water, the % one receives off of bottled wines, canned soda & bottled juice, and a set cocktail limit. And since canned sodas are out then so is drinking soda on Princess Cay. As far as I can understand, these are things taken away not benefits! Is the benefit drinks now up to $12? Well supposedly they raised drink prices by $1.50 so how is that a benefit? Well okay Princess, explain to me the BENEFIT that I'm getting to enjoy since that is how you have chosen to word it.

 

Sip & Sale aside since that's not what I'm talking about. It's a great program and one I have taken advantage of in the past. I still feel like it's bait and switch to offer something that people actually purchase with cash and then make such large changes to it.

 

CC members, am I seeing this incorrectly? What benefit am I receiving for something I purchased other than being able to order wines over $100 at a 25% discount?

 

You are correct but you knew that.

 

Not a lot of reaction on these boards but maybe that is because so many benefited from the Sip and Sail promos that are not available in all markets.

 

Annir

[Carolyn R]

Recently on Facebook there have been quite a few discussions about sharing beverage packages with many defending the practice. I can understand why Princess has increased the price. To limit alcoholic drinks to 15 per days they must have analyzed card swipes and seen way too many that showed over 15 per day, incompatible drinks and purchase times. Next will be a return to all adults in cabin needing to purchase the drinks package. It truly amazes me how willing people are to publicize their lack of integrity, proud of it too!

[anniegb]

Recently on Facebook there have been quite a few discussions about sharing beverage packages with many defending the practice. I can understand why Princess has increased the price. To limit alcoholic drinks to 15 per days they must have analyzed card swipes and seen way too many that showed over 15 per day, incompatible drinks and purchase times. Next will be a return to all adults in cabin needing to purchase the drinks package. It truly amazes me how willing people are to publicize their lack of integrity, proud of it too!

 

Agreed that is the reason for the rule change.

 

Annie

[jefa]

cjskids, yes of course you are correct. There is no benefit to anyone with the new package. Us Brits don't even get the S and S offers either, so it's pay up for the package or Pay as You Go. Myself, no way can I afford the package, even though as a Brit I do like a cocktail or three, for my 20 day cruise so will pay as I drink.

[Womble99]

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.)

 

It is an interesting solution they have come up with for the Australian market. You take the US price with gratuities added and convert it to aud and make that the price. Only draw back I can see is that the gratuities are already included in the fare for the Australian market so the are charging them twice? If it was just the $59.99USD converted it would be closer to $75AUD not such a price hike.

[figmentdj]

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!

 

I agree completely EXCEPT when you say they lowered themselves to Carnival. Get this. We just came off a Carnival Cruise and had their Cheers program. I was worried about the 15 drink limit. It didn't seem too enforced. We hit it every night but it was REAL late. BUT you could have any drink up to $50. We sampled a few really expensive tequilas we would have never paid for. AND they still included canned sodas. So their package is not only cheaper but includes more.

 

Bottom line, Princess has lowered the value of the package below Carnival's. Shame too cause I'm a Princess cheerleader. Thank goodness we have S&S for our next two cruises. Guess we'll have to carry on our sodas.

[rocky1]

Recently on Facebook there have been quite a few discussions about sharing beverage packages with many defending the practice. I can understand why Princess has increased the price. To limit alcoholic drinks to 15 per days they must have analyzed card swipes and seen way too many that showed over 15 per day, incompatible drinks and purchase times. Next will be a return to all adults in cabin needing to purchase the drinks package. It truly amazes me how willing people are to publicize their lack of integrity, proud of it too!

 

Very well stated, and I agree that the "cheaters" contributed to the price increase decision. Being able to purchase the package for only one passenger in a cabin is a big advantage for many of us, and I hope Princess doesn't change that policy.

 

That being said, I think Princess made a mistake by raising the price and lowering the benefits at the same time. Normally a business will at least maintain the same terms or add some small perceived benefit when increasing prices. (If they want to keep their repeat customers.)

[Woobstr112G]

The new program is an absolute insult to our intelligence. Losing on the wine bottle discount, No more large bottles of water, no more canned sodas, paying more for everything? Course there are those slick marketing techniques.....:mad::mad::mad:

 

Bob

Edited September 23, 2017 by Woobstr112G

[Lucky TGO]

The new program is an absolute insult to our intelligence. Losing on the wine bottle discount, No more large bottles of water, no more canned sodas, paying more for everything? Course there are those slick marketing techniques.....:mad::mad::mad:

 

Bob

 

Hi Bob,

Just a reminder the drinks are free on the Rowboat.. :D:D:D

The Captain of the Rowboat,

Tony

[Woobstr112G]

Hi Bob,

Just a reminder the drinks are free on the Rowboat.. :D:D:D

The Captain of the Rowboat,

Tony

 

Good point sir.

It's just that I really use to admire Princess for being better than the rest. Now they seem to have become just another mass market line. I have been a loyal cruiser to them and have spent $$$$$ being exclusively loyal for my last eleven cruises since 2008. I am seriously thinking of canceling my Alaska cruise in April 2018 and my Hawaii cruise in November 2018. I have full suites (Grand Suite on The Star and a Penthouse on the Emerald) booked for both cruises which are not cheap. I may just go to a line that I believe appreciates their customers and doesn't try to spin some slick marketing techniques to make it look like they are doing us a favor.

 

Just my two cents and I know I could get flamed for my mini rant.....:D:):D

 

Bob

Edited September 23, 2017 by Woobstr112G

[Lucky TGO]

Good point sir.....:D:D:D

Bob

 

Bob,

Your an Honorary member of The Rowboat . Please call me Tony...:):):).

The Cabin of The Rowboat,

Tony

[jagoffee]

The new program is an absolute insult to our intelligence. Losing on the wine bottle discount, No more large bottles of water, no more canned sodas, paying more for everything? Course there are those slick marketing techniques.....:mad::mad::mad:

 

Bob

 

I agree.

 

Princess has done a poor job of communicating the benefits of the new package. The 25% discount for bottles of wine over $100 is One, but actually it has no value for most of us. They have increased the limit to $12, but in my one experience Princess had very few options above the $10 limit. If they are adding items that tover $10 per drink limit by increasing prices that is not really a benefit.

I am left wondering if Princess perhaps is added additional drink options above $10 with new offerings? More options would be a benefit.

 

Increasing the package cost by 20% while eliminating the cans and large bottles of wines could not be popular with any cruisers.

 

I could not care less about limiting the number of alcoholic drinks to 15 each day. I would imagine the limit affects very few customers except those that might be sharing or even taking unopened drinks off the ship. Seems like any people abusing the system could be managed without affecting those that do not.

 

I think Princess is just increasing prices to be more aligned with the competition as Princess has some of the lowest drink prices in their category.

 

Jim

[Steelers36]

Recently on Facebook there have been quite a few discussions about sharing beverage packages with many defending the practice. I can understand why Princess has increased the price. To limit alcoholic drinks to 15 per days they must have analyzed card swipes and seen way too many that showed over 15 per day, incompatible drinks and purchase times. Next will be a return to all adults in cabin needing to purchase the drinks package. It truly amazes me how willing people are to publicize their lack of integrity, proud of it too!

 

Must be hard to catch the sneaky ones because the penalty is stiff - cancellation for rest of cruise and no refund.

[Lucky TGO]

[/size]

It's just that I really use to admire Princess for being better than the rest. Now they seem to have become just another mass market line. I have been a loyal cruiser to them and have spent $$$$$ being exclusively loyal for my last eleven cruises since 2008. I am seriously thinking of canceling my Alaska cruise in April 2018 and my Hawaii cruise in November 2018. I have full suites (Grand Suite on The Star and a Penthouse on the Emerald) booked for both cruises which are not cheap. I may just go to a line that I believe appreciates their customers and doesn't try to spin some slick marketing techniques to make it look like they are doing us a favor.

 

Just my two cents and I know I could get flamed for my mini rant.....:D:):D

 

Bob

Bob,

You know I like to kid around. I’m being serious now. I totally agree with you. It’s hard to say but your so right

about Princess at this time.

Tony

[Steelers36]

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.

 

Non-Alcoholic drinks do not count towards the limit. Not judging, but if I had 15 alcoholic drinks during an afternoon, I wouldn't make it to dinner, let alone have a drink there. ;p

[Astro Flyer]

The new program is an absolute insult to our intelligence. Losing on the wine bottle discount, No more large bottles of water, no more canned sodas, paying more for everything? Course there are those slick marketing techniques.....:mad::mad::mad:

 

Bob

 

Bob...I completely agree with both of your posts!

 

Another thing that's infuriating affected passengers who got it (bought or with S+S) before 9/19 is the change in the terms & conditions. They purchased under one set of rules which are now changing with many are posting it's bait & switch. Apparently the T&C changes are "legal" but it's creating a considerable amount of ill will & anger towards Princess. And their gibberish about doing it to benefit passengers is an insult to our intelligence.

[villauk]

I have a small amount of experience with changes to a drink package after boarding on a Celebrity sailing this past August. Their Classic package has always previously included canned sodas until very recently, and it appears to differ by ship :confused:. After we had set sail, we attempted to get a can of soda only to be informed that they were no longer on the package and it was fountain drinks only. Unfortunately, not all bars carry the same drinks so sometimes it was off the gun and other times the bartenders opened a new can/or poured from a can that had previously been opened and was sitting on the counter into a glass. This resulted in 'flat' drinks a couple of times as the cans had been left opened for a considerable amount of time before the next request of that particular drink. You were never poured the full can, even if it was from a previously unopened one.

 

This experience, together with a few other points, was one of the reasons we decided to consider other cruise lines for our Alaska sailing next year. We felt it had 'cheapened' Celebrity to the stage where they were okay with supplying copious amounts of alcohol in the package, yet were penalising those that mainly drank sodas, which obviously cost considerably less than any alcoholic beverage.

 

You were able to receive a can if you upgraded to the most expensive package and the bartenders checked your card every time before they would hand a can of soda (again, you could purchase more expensive alcoholic drinks on this package).

 

I know some will say it's only a can of soda so get over it, but it's the principle, especially when the policy appears to be different by ship (or perhaps it's just sailing area as Reflection was in the Med?). I'm interested to see if the policy changes when their ships return to the US in the next couple of months. So I'm slightly disappointed to hear that Princess has followed in X's footsteps, especially when I read that even Carnival provides cans on their beverage package :o.

[chamima]

Good point sir.

It's just that I really use to admire Princess for being better than the rest. Now they seem to have become just another mass market line. I have been a loyal cruiser to them and have spent $$$$$ being exclusively loyal for my last eleven cruises since 2008. I am seriously thinking of canceling my Alaska cruise in April 2018 and my Hawaii cruise in November 2018. I have full suites (Grand Suite on The Star and a Penthouse on the Emerald) booked for both cruises which are not cheap. I may just go to a line that I believe appreciates their customers and doesn't try to spin some slick marketing techniques to make it look like they are doing us a favor.

 

Just my two cents and I know I could get flamed for my mini rant.....:D:):D

 

Bob

 

 

 

Bob

I don't think you're going to get flamed. Just the opposite. I think you'll find most people agree with you.

The most troubling part is marketing of this. I , too, used to think they took the high road in how they treated their customers but reducing what the program covers while raising the price (and I'm pretty sure that $12 will just cover the increase in drink prices rather than include more offerings) and then expecting us to swallow it as a benefit is ???????????

The only thing I have no problem with is the 15 alcoholic drink limit.

The no cans of pop and no big bottles of water is ridiculous.

In the past Princess has listened to their customers and rescinded some poor decisions.

I'm hoping that they'll rethink the parameters of the "Premium" package and at least change those two things for their new high priced program.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[anniegb]

Bob

I don't think you're going to get flamed. Just the opposite. I think you'll find most people agree with you.

The most troubling part is marketing of this. I , too, used to think they took the high road in how they treated their customers but reducing what the program covers while raising the price (and I'm pretty sure that $12 will just cover the increase in drink prices rather than include more offerings) and then expecting us to swallow it as a benefit is ???????????

The only thing I have no problem with is the 15 alcoholic drink limit.

The no cans of pop and no big bottles of water is ridiculous.

In the past Princess has listened to their customers and rescinded some poor decisions.

I'm hoping that they'll rethink the parameters of the "Premium" package and at least change those two things for their new high priced program.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

 

Well Princess do not appear to be reading these boards.

 

Annie

[Maverick911]

Think after this decision there will be a lot of bar tenders just cleaning glasses. The drinks package for our upcoming cruise 15 nights works ot at the price of a cruise. So no way are we paying that.

[rocky1]

The new program is an absolute insult to our intelligence.

 

 

Absolutely!

 

I agree.

 

Princess has done a poor job of communicating the benefits of the new package.

 

I think Princess is just increasing prices to be more aligned with the competition as Princess has some of the lowest drink prices in their category.

 

Jim

 

I agree with the second statement quoted above. If they had just raised prices and not reduced benefits we would have a hard time justifying our complaints (IMHO) even though we may not like it .

 

 

As far as doing a poor job of communicating the benefits.......I don't see a single benefit to communicate.

[anniegb]

Think after this decision there will be a lot of bar tenders just cleaning glasses. The drinks package for our upcoming cruise 15 nights works ot at the price of a cruise. So no way are we paying that.

 

Bar tenders will be busy serving the passengers who have the s&s included as a perk.

 

Annie

 

BTW I don't have s&s.

[beg3yrs]

Well Princess do not appear to be reading these boards.

 

Annie

 

They definitely read these boards. What they do not do is implement all the suggestions, respond to rants, etc.. If they did they'd have been out of business long ago. Bear in mind that CC members are a small percentage of the cruising community. As well-informed (and sometimes mis-informed) as we are, Princess depends more on market surveys, focus groups and post-cruise surveys to understand the ins and outs of their customers desires.

 

 

There is even a verified Princess account here on Cruise Critic. They don't respond often. IIRC the last response had to do with announcing upgraded tables on balconies after many CC members complained.

 

There have also been reports that some CC members have been "outed" at Princess as they were approached by staff on a cruise for a discussion regarding concerns they'd posted. I suppose if you put your past and future sailings in your signature along with your home town, it probably isn't very difficult for someone at Princess to identify you.