Sky Princess S4 description screw-up by Princess gets big credit and shipboard credit!

[pgmrdev]

Greetings. We booked the January 18, 2020 cruise last year but I have been away from CC for a while. We are booked in an S4 suite. I am puzzled about a recent event. We have been on a few Princess cruises as can be seen by my signature. We have been elite for our last few cruises now. It is a nice perk, especially free dry cleaning and laundry. But booking a suite gets you that and after you hear this story you will wish you had booked an S4 on Sky .. or maybe not. My TA contacted me a few days ago to let me know Princess has made a few mistakes in its description of the S4 and the mistakes are in marketing publications everywhere. Apparently from what my TA tells me it is not a 2 room type setup that most (non mini) suites are where a curtain can be put up to separate the sitting area from the bedroom area. BTW, they will do this in a mini suite if you ask. Anyway, the S4 is one big room instead. So to compensate us they gave us each $250 each shipboard credit (added to TA credit and shareholders credit) plus they refunded our credit card $1595! This made the price ridiculously low! I am trying to find out what else is missing but so far only size (sometimes size doesnt matter!) is the thing. There is a smaller balcony too. But it it is still treated as a full suite as far as perks may be concerned (i.e. club class dining, free Crown Grill first night, Sabatini's breakfast each morning, etc. https://www.princess.com/downloads/pdf/ships/PrincessSuite_eFlyer.pdf ). Maybe someone who has previously had an S4 on the Sky can weigh in. We have had an S4 on other ships but haven't seen a photo of a Sky S4 that isn't an animation.

[worldtraveller]

I too would be very interested in this because we too are in an S4 but haven't received any credits (either on-board or reduction in price); I booked back in August.

[puppycanducruise]

OBC and reduced price!

Lucky you.

Enjoy.

[pgmrdev]

1 hour ago, worldtraveller said:

I too would be very interested in this because we too are in an S4 but haven't received any credits (either on-board or reduction in price); I booked back in August.

It is rather puzzling. We booked around end of September last year and our price was around $3000pp so the new price after the OBC and refund puts it around 2k per person. We have never paid that little for a regular suite. I have to think a club class mini would be more than that? You should contact your TA. BTW this only applies to S4s booked on the Sky Princess. All other S4s on other ships are per spec.

   Tom

Edited January 12, 2020 by pgmrdev

[kitty2264]

We are also in an S4 suite in March on the Sky.  Could I ask what cabin you are having the issue with?

[Colo Cruiser]

On 1/10/2020 at 5:23 PM, pgmrdev said:

Greetings. We booked the January 18, 2020 cruise last year but I have been away from CC for a while. We are booked in an S4 suite. I am puzzled about a recent event. We have been on a few Princess cruises as can be seen by my signature. We have been elite for our last few cruises now. It is a nice perk, especially free dry cleaning and laundry. But booking a suite gets you that and after you hear this story you will wish you had booked an S4 on Sky .. or maybe not. My TA contacted me a few days ago to let me know Princess has made a few mistakes in its description of the S4 and the mistakes are in marketing publications everywhere. Apparently from what my TA tells me it is not a 2 room type setup that most (non mini) suites are where a curtain can be put up to separate the sitting area from the bedroom area. BTW, they will do this in a mini suite if you ask. Anyway, the S4 is one big room instead. So to compensate us they gave us each $250 each shipboard credit (added to TA credit and shareholders credit) plus they refunded our credit card $1595! This made the price ridiculously low! I am trying to find out what else is missing but so far only size (sometimes size doesnt matter!) is the thing. There is a smaller balcony too. But it it is still treated as a full suite as far as perks may be concerned (i.e. club class dining, free Crown Grill first night, Sabatini's breakfast each morning, etc. https://www.princess.com/downloads/pdf/ships/PrincessSuite_eFlyer.pdf ). Maybe someone who has previously had an S4 on the Sky can weigh in. We have had an S4 on other ships but haven't seen a photo of a Sky S4 that isn't an animation.

What cabin is this?

[getting older slowly]

Looking at deck plans for the Sky

 

S4 is a Penthouse suite   mid ship deck 14 or forward deck 17

 

Generally we travel is a vista S5 or penthouse S4 suite which have all been on large area with a curtain to separate the bed from lounge  

also bathroom is two rooms shower/bath and toilet/hand basin

 

Cheers Don

[pgmrdev]

Deck plans are incorrect. That is the problem. The deck plans came out b4 the launch. We've stayed in every type of suite and each one is differenfrom ship to ship. No 2 S4s are the same from ship to ship. Plus they inflated the prices of all cabins pre launch. Buy hey, the price is now right for all the amenities. Plus many dont realize they do a free second bar setup for an elite in a suite. Sadly the Sky doesnt have a Thermal Suite which is a nice perk for being in a suite. When we first started cruising on Princess we had butler service even in a mini suite! That disappeared around 2002.

[Lucky TGO]

Lucky you very nice 👍

Tony

[CarolCoupon]

We're on the Sky in an S4 cabin on the Sun deck in March.  Would be interested in knowing more about this.  Our TA is a big company/not personal service.  Thank you for the head's up.

[pms4104]

18 hours ago, pgmrdev said:

Deck plans are incorrect. That is the problem. The deck plans came out b4 the launch. We've stayed in every type of suite and each one is differenfrom ship to ship. No 2 S4s are the same from ship to ship. Plus they inflated the prices of all cabins pre launch. Buy hey, the price is now right for all the amenities. Plus many dont realize they do a free second bar setup for an elite in a suite. Sadly the Sky doesnt have a Thermal Suite which is a nice perk for being in a suite. When we first started cruising on Princess we had butler service even in a mini suite! That disappeared around 2002.

Which S4 suite?????  Cabin #?????

Edited January 14, 2020 by pms4104

[Woobstr112G]

Happened to us as well for the second leg of a b2b on the Sky embarking next week.  We had booked S111 which is categorized as an S4 suite.  My T/A said a Princess rep called her a couple of days ago and was told that my cabin was not a 2 room suite.  My T/A insisted that all I would take was a suite. Lo and behold a PH only four cabins away from our first cabin opened up.  I am very happy for those who got a tidy sum back as a refund, but I am happy with the way things worked out for us.....🙂🙂🙂

Bob

BTW, Princess is still listing those "S" cabins as S4 suites.....

[orientodyssey]

On Sky, S4 Suite is located on Sun (Deck 17), and Riviera (Deck 14).  Per description, it is a suite at smaller side  - 440 sq ft.  The cabin # are as below:

On Sun Deck *Deck 17 - S109, S111, S105, S110, S112, S114

On Riviera Deck *Dec 14 - R603, R605, R607, R609, R611, R615, R617, R604, R606, R608, R610, R612, R614, R616

 

Since all Royal class ship (Sky, Majestic, Royal, Regal) has the similar S4 layout on Riviera Deck, the problem might be related to the new layout on Sky's Sun Deck (Deck 17) S4.  From the ship diagram it has a different shape / size, and am not sure whether it has separate living room / bedroom area.  Size wise, per Princess description, the S4 is considerably smaller (@up to 440 sq ft) than S3 (@ up to 682 sq ft).  S3 are those suites located at aft corner.

 

Another unique suite to Sky (and I think it is a superior value) is S7 - window suite with no balcony.  It is located on Sun (Dec 17) forward two corners.  It is large @710 sq ft, lots of space for sure.   No balconies, but spectacular wrap around floor to ceiling windows.

 

[orientodyssey]

It is a little confusing, that Princess list both S3 & S4 with the same name "Penthouse Suite", while the size difference (S3 up to 682 sq ft, while S4 up to 440 sq ft) is substantial.  It is kind of misleading when they are under the same name.   But now on many sailings, these two "Penthouse Suite" categories are already priced differently.   So they kind of "corrected" the mistake.

[smf81]

We were in R616 (category S4) on the Sky for a week in December.  The floor plan is reasonably accurate; there was a curtain between the bedroom and living room areas.

 

Aside from the listed perks, there were also a couple of special events in the concierge lounge for suite guests: a reception with some ship's officers (including Captain Tuvo!) one evening and another with a guitarist performing.

 

And Helena the suite concierge was delightful.  She even helped me carry some snacks and coffee that I was fetching for my wife back to our room!

[pgmrdev]

7 hours ago, orientodyssey said:

On Sky, S4 Suite is located on Sun (Deck 17), and Riviera (Deck 14).  Per description, it is a suite at smaller side  - 440 sq ft.  The cabin # are as below:

On Sun Deck *Deck 17 - S109, S111, S105, S110, S112, S114

On Riviera Deck *Dec 14 - R603, R605, R607, R609, R611, R615, R617, R604, R606, R608, R610, R612, R614, R616

 

Since all Royal class ship (Sky, Majestic, Royal, Regal) has the similar S4 layout on Riviera Deck, the problem might be related to the new layout on Sky's Sun Deck (Deck 17) S4.  From the ship diagram it has a different shape / size, and am not sure whether it has separate living room / bedroom area.  Size wise, per Princess description, the S4 is considerably smaller (@up to 440 sq ft) than S3 (@ up to 682 sq ft).  S3 are those suites located at aft corner.

 

Another unique suite to Sky (and I think it is a superior value) is S7 - window suite with no balcony.  It is located on Sun (Dec 17) forward two corners.  It is large @710 sq ft, lots of space for sure.   No balconies, but spectacular wrap around floor to ceiling windows.

 

I've come to find out published square footage is incorrect for the Sky. Dont believe all you read. We have been in every kind of suite Princess has and with just 2 of us, a suite is a suite as all perks are similar unless like us, you are elite. They give us a second courtesy bar setup as elite in a suite. It isnt advertised. As for cabin size if you spend a lot of time in the suite, the extra square footage may matter, but to us less cost per suite means more cruises. Suites give you double cruise credit getting you to elite faster. Bon appetite!

[pgmrdev]

7 hours ago, orientodyssey said:

On Sky, S4 Suite is located on Sun (Deck 17), and Riviera (Deck 14).  Per description, it is a suite at smaller side  - 440 sq ft.  The cabin # are as below:

On Sun Deck *Deck 17 - S109, S111, S105, S110, S112, S114

On Riviera Deck *Dec 14 - R603, R605, R607, R609, R611, R615, R617, R604, R606, R608, R610, R612, R614, R616

 

Since all Royal class ship (Sky, Majestic, Royal, Regal) has the similar S4 layout on Riviera Deck, the problem might be related to the new layout on Sky's Sun Deck (Deck 17) S4.  From the ship diagram it has a different shape / size, and am not sure whether it has separate living room / bedroom area.  Size wise, per Princess description, the S4 is considerably smaller (@up to 440 sq ft) than S3 (@ up to 682 sq ft).  S3 are those suites located at aft corner.

 

Another unique suite to Sky (and I think it is a superior value) is S7 - window suite with no balcony.  It is located on Sun (Dec 17) forward two corners.  It is large @710 sq ft, lots of space for sure.   No balconies, but spectacular wrap around floor to ceiling windows.

 

Window suites were retrofitted some years back on older ships where there wasnt a cabin prior. I prefer some fresh air!!

[pgmrdev]

On 1/12/2020 at 1:29 PM, kitty2264 said:

We are also in an S4 suite in March on the Sky.  Could I ask what cabin you are having the issue with?

I believe the issue applies to all S4 cabins on Sky. They apparently have some price corrections going forward. I'm also told some of what they did was because we are elite. Apparently the $250pp shipboard credit was an extra perk that wasnt being done for everyone. Whatever the cabin size, I'm very happy with the new cost and shipboard credit. Given we booked pre launch and we are within 90 days they could have done nothing and been.within policy.

[AF-1]

pgrmrdev;  have fun on your cruise and how about you post a pic of your suite so people can see what it actually looks like?  Cheers

[Colo Cruiser]

8 hours ago, pgmrdev said:

I believe the issue applies to all S4 cabins on Sky. They apparently have some price corrections going forward. I'm also told some of what they did was because we are elite. Apparently the $250pp shipboard credit was an extra perk that wasnt being done for everyone. Whatever the cabin size, I'm very happy with the new cost and shipboard credit. Given we booked pre launch and we are within 90 days they could have done nothing and been.within policy.

What cabin are you in??

[pms4104]

6 hours ago, Colo Cruiser said:

What cabin are you in??

Obviously, a well-guarded secret ... I asked, you asked twice ... guess it's none of our business

[pgmrdev]

I am in an S4 on deck 17 forward near the small pool. I did figure out why the refund and credit. It is much smaller than any other suite we have had. And we have had all types. That said, I love the suite despite the smaller size. The balcony is also smaller and cannot accomadate a lounger. It has nice wooden chairs that recline, 2 small tables and one larger meal table. The bathroom has 2 sinks and the tub is not a whirlpool in the round like shape but a more conventional shape tub plus a separate shower. The bed faces the balcony. There is also more closet space. I like the proximity to the midship dining rooms, Sabatini's, Lotus Spa which is now on Level 5 forward and of course the casino. Given it is still a suite with all the amenities, it may be the best deal at sea. The Sky is amazing and the medallion tech has been near flawless for us. I'm not sure if all S4's next to us are the same though. They have also made a photo center with no more photo racks but tech access to the photos taken of passengers. Not sure if it uses face recognition to bring up your pics or the Medallion. Since it brought up pics of others too, I suspect it uses face recognition from your Medallion and security photo. 

  I haven't yet been able to figure out why friends got refunds and credit who have an inside and a balcony. They haven't said the amounts they received but they also booked pre launch.

  I didnt give my exact cabin number as I had problems once in the past with a drunk who got my cabin number from CC. And since we are cruising this week, I chose to not reveal the exact number. We are in Raotan today which is miserable weather. They gladly refunded excursions for those who choosing to stay on ship. Rain was very heavy earlier. The internet access is superb including video streaming. It's pretty seamless but apparently some smart phones with little memory have issues using the Medallion app. One member of our party has had this problem. 

[worldtraveller]

Can you post photos of the balcony and inside the cabin (bathroom, sleeping area, sitting area)?  Would appreciate it so I can see what you mean.

[deise17311]

The S4 the OP is referring to are actually S6 and are Vista suites on Sun Deck - the S4’s are all on Riviera Deck - this mistake has been corrected