New Princess Plus Fares Coming - Includes Bev Pkg, Grats, WiFi!

[voljeep]

so far doesn't sound like their will be the "add-on" feature of the BSE … looks like a re-book to new pricing and Princess Plus without any other Perks like in 3 for free, landmark 

[idahospud]

More details...

 

This fare, which starts March 2, 2020, has everything that made Best. Sale. Ever. so incredibly popular, meaning it includes drinks, Wi-Fi and gratuities — and it’s here to stay! It’s available for every destination we sail, and even includes World Cruise and Grand Voyages. Of course, if your clients want the best fare and no perks, they can still book into our Princess Savers fares. 

Edited February 27, 2020 by idahospud

[jwattle]

This fare sounds great! The BSE had the same disclaimers about potentially not being combinable with other offers, but we were able to get all of our OBC (military, shareholder) as well as the casino rate... 😄

 

[voljeep]

going to be hard to beat the BEST2DG as an "ADD-ON"

[Tedferg]

54 minutes ago, voljeep said:

going to be hard to beat the BEST2DG as an "ADD-ON"

That was a once only event, maybe to bring pax into BSE by not needing to rebook and keeping prior perks.

 

I compared options for a 3 day Pacific coastal and the only way to beat BSE, assuming I wanted drinks etc. was Basic fare plus BESTDG. Basic plus Buy Drinks and pay Grats; Basic plus PBP for one plus Grats, did not beat BSE.

[AtlantaCruiser72]

Princess has published an initial FAQ that answers many (but not all) questions raised here: 

https://book.princess.com/pdf/onesource/pc/sales_marketing/Promotions & LTO/PrincessPlusTAFlyer-FAQs-02-2020.pdf

 

 

Edited February 28, 2020 by AtlantaCruiser72

[Thrak]

9 hours ago, greenie082756 said:

I am concerned that we would or could loose our OBC if we take the BSE.

Am I understanding that correctly?

It seems that getting the OBC as a stockholder and my husbands military OBC going away if we take this package would be a no brainer. 

 

No. They always have disclaimers about not being combined with other offers. Your OBC is not another "offer". They are talking about other types of bookings with special types of fares that likely won't affect 99% of all cruisers. They "may" not allow combining it with Casino offers as well. Your Shareholder OBC, Military OBC, and FCD OBC won't be affected.

[Thrak]

2 hours ago, AtlantaCruiser72 said:

Princess has published an initial FAQ that answers many (but not all) questions raised here: 

https://book.princess.com/pdf/onesource/pc/sales_marketing/Promotions & LTO/PrincessPlusTAFlyer-FAQs-02-2020.pdf

 

 

 

There are also "add on" codes just like the BSE so you can add on to bookings.

 

 

IMPORTANT:

Edited February 28, 2020 by Thrak

[Papa Yoda]

Looks like BEST3 went from $40 pp/d with BSE to $50 pp/d in Princess+ 

 

Q: What if a guest booked under a rate that doesn’t have Princess Plus amenities? A: The Travel Advisor can apply the amenities for the client using an offer code to add the amenities for a modest upcharge. For example, using the code BEST3 provides drinks, wi-fi, and gratuities at a charge of $50 per person per day.

Edited February 28, 2020 by Ferd Berfle

[Potstech]

22 hours ago, AF-1 said:

For those who don't drink or drink very little;  you can swap out the beverage package for a coffee and soda package to include mocktails

.Q: What if a guest doesn’t drink alcohol?

A:There are no substitutions for the Premier Beverage package. However, this package offers many non-alcoholic drinks, including fountain sodas, fresh juices (if available), specialty coffees & teas, Frappes, smoothies, milk shakes, Red Bull energy drinks, bottled water, etc.Also, there is a pricing option if a guest does not want any of these amenities and wants

[AF-1]

So what is the main reason behind people not wanting to have this new program implemented?  I just booked a cruise for next year; and I was given the option;  I could select a cabin without the wifi/drinks package/and paid gratuities; or select a cabin with all three.  The price difference was $275.  The cruise I selected is 9 nights/10days. The gratuities alone almost makes up for the price increase.  Then you add wifi in;  and I do use wifi; I run a family blog for my relatives; and the premier drink package.  I think it is a great deal.

[Thrak]

2 hours ago, AF-1 said:

So what is the main reason behind people not wanting to have this new program implemented? 

 

I think they fear that, with the rollout of this new pricing structure, promotions such as the 3 for Free will disappear. To a great many folks that seems to be the preferred promotion. It's been such a success it would be a shame if it was no longer offered.

[AF-1]

Thrak;  thanks for the update

[antmaril]

I booked a Caribbean cruise on the Enchanted Princess for 1/21 yesterday (BSE).  I did a mock booking today and the price has gone down $232.  I called Princess and they made the adjustment.  

I’m happy.  

Edited February 28, 2020 by antmaril

[Italy52]

I wish I could take advantage of the promotions.  However, we only need grats --- we get wifi free minutes from our Princess status and we don't drink alcohol.  The soda we do drink is very minimal so no value to us there.  I wish we could have a code that would give us OBC and free grats----that is something we could use.

 

[Knickearth]

On 2/26/2020 at 5:46 PM, idahospud said:

It was only a matter of time! There aren’t many details out there yet. I’m guessing it’ll start sometime after BSE? 
 

Introducing Princess Plus – with drinks, wi-fi, and gratuities included

Because our Best. Sale. Ever. was so successful, we’ve created Princess Plus, a new fare type that includes our Premier Beverage Package, unlimited Wi-Fi and gratuities paid on guests’ behalf.

Disclaimer: 

General Terms (applicable to all portions of Princess Plus) – Available to legal residents of the 50 United States, DC, Canada, and Puerto Rico. One guest’s participation in Princess Plus may be dependent on the other guest in his/her stateroom’s participation in the Princess Plus, as determined by booking method. Princess Plus is contingent on ship capacity and only available on select voyages, while capacity lasts. Princess Plus and its parts are non-transferable, is not redeemable for cash at any point, and may not be combined with other offers or other onboard credits. Drinks, Wi-Fi, and Gratuities are only available on board the ship (not applicable to land portions of cruisetours), may only be used on a single voyage, and expire at the end of such voyage. Only available on cruises/voyages indicated as Princess Plus. Visit princess.com for additional terms, inclusions and restrictions.

 

Fares are per guest and apply to minimum lead-in categories on a space-available basis at time of booking. Fares are non-air, cruise- or cruisetour-only, based on double occupancy and apply to the first two guests in a stateroom. Fares and other values quoted in U.S. dollars.

 

 

†Premier Beverage Package applies to guests booked in an interior stateroom or above. It is valid only for guests 1 & 2 per stateroom who are 21 years or older. Guests who are under 21 years of age at the time of sailing can still book Princess Plus, but will receive the Premier Coffee & Soda Package and will not receive any refund or otherwise for that portion of the Offer. A daily limit on alcoholic beverages will apply. Bar tips are included in the package and value per day stated.

‡‡Wi-Fi included for one device per guest. Wi-Fi details will be delivered to the stateroom. All internet usage subject to Princess Cruises’ standard policies, which may limit browsing of sites due to network security and bandwidth usage. Applications that use high bandwidth may be blocked and offerings subject to change with or without notice.

 ‡Gratuities valid on select items only and are in U.S. dollar amounts. Amount of gratuities paid on behalf of guest may vary based on stateroom type. This amount is paid on the behalf of guests (up to 4) in a stateroom only. Princess Plus does not include gratuities added to bar charges, dining room wine accounts, or Lotus Spa services.

 

Available on select cruises sailing starting on April 1, 2020.

 

A deposit is required for guests 1 and 2 only and is refundable. The amount of deposit varies according to the cruise length and stateroom type.

 

Reference promotion code: NP*.

We just did a ten day cruise without the base.  But we have a 26 day cruise booked later this year.  It was offered with two different prices.  One was with bse and the other without it.  For the longer cruise we felt we should take it as the gratuities alone would cover a lot of the addtl. Cost.  So long trips yes, short ones not worth it for us

[AF-1]

knickearth.  I agree with what you just posted.  I too was offered two different prices.  Our ten day cruise was well worth the extra money.

[polmcs]

1 hour ago, antmaril said:

I booked a Caribbean cruise on the Enchanted Princess for 1/21 yesterday (BSE).  I did a mock booking today and the price has gone down $232.  I called Princess and they made the adjustment.  

I’m happy.  

I have a HI circle cruise that I had booked under S+S. On Monday I had called my TA to switch to BSE as it only added about $300 to the fare and the WiFi and grats is worth $700+ on this cruise. I did a dummy booking this morning and the fare has dropped $200, so it’s  time to call my TA back for a refare. There should be no issues this go round as I have a refundable deposit on that cruise.

[hobbyfarmer2]

18 hours ago, Thrak said:

 

No. They always have disclaimers about not being combined with other offers. Your OBC is not another "offer". They are talking about other types of bookings with special types of fares that likely won't affect 99% of all cruisers. They "may" not allow combining it with Casino offers as well. Your Shareholder OBC, Military OBC, and FCD OBC won't be affected.

Thanks Thrak.  Many posters are "awful-izing" what appears to be just another choice.

[AtlantaCruiser72]

17 hours ago, Ferd Berfle said:

Looks like BEST3 went from $40 pp/d with BSE to $50 pp/d in Princess+ 

 

Q: What if a guest booked under a rate that doesn’t have Princess Plus amenities? A: The Travel Advisor can apply the amenities for the client using an offer code to add the amenities for a modest upcharge. For example, using the code BEST3 provides drinks, wi-fi, and gratuities at a charge of $50 per person per day.

 

Princess has updated the FAQ and the Princess Plus fare is now showing a $40/day differential amount. Supposedly this fare differential will be based against the prevailing Saver fares for that particular voyage. 

[voljeep]

we're on vacation !!  we drink !! BSE ROCKS !!

[polmcs]

3 hours ago, polmcs said:

I have a HI circle cruise that I had booked under S+S. On Monday I had called my TA to switch to BSE as it only added about $300 to the fare and the WiFi and grats is worth $700+ on this cruise. I did a dummy booking this morning and the fare has dropped $200, so it’s  time to call my TA back for a refare. There should be no issues this go round as I have a refundable deposit on that cruise.

Well no issues with the re-faring, but it looks like I encountered a known problem with the shareholder OBC in that it disappeared from my booking. According to Princess, it should come back on its own at some point tonight. I think I’ll spend it on an excursion so it doesn’t disappear on me again. 🙂  

[polmcs]

3 hours ago, AtlantaCruiser72 said:

 

Princess has updated the FAQ and the Princess Plus fare is now showing a $40/day differential amount. Supposedly this fare differential will be based against the prevailing Saver fares for that particular voyage. 

 

When I was looking at my TA website just prior to calling in for the refare, the bare bones cruise fare was $1200 cheaper than BSE. As this was 15 day cruise, then 15*40*2  comes right in at $1200, so it shouldn’t be too difficult for Princess to switch over from BSE to Princess + fares and that will kill PBP purchases, even if just 1 person in the cabin drinks and wants the package as $70+ for the package plus 1 person grats is more than 2 *$40 Plus addons (which also covers the 2nd passengers grats and soda, coffee, mocktails, etc. too and both get free WiFi to boot).

 

I was never a fan of 3 for free as I’m more than happy with a far forward BE balcony on the Caribe deck on a Grand class ship, so would pass on the free category upgrade.

[AF-1]

On 2/27/2020 at 1:04 PM, greenie082756 said:

I am concerned that we would or could loose our OBC if we take the BSE.

Am I understanding that correctly?

It seems that getting the OBC as a stockholder and my husbands military OBC going away if we take this package would be a no brainer. 

I just booked and did not lose my obc.  Pricing was not bad

[AtlantaCruiser72]

10 minutes ago, CarelessAndConfused said:

So I'm still a bit confused (no pun intended).  Does the PBP no longer exist considering it makes no sense in any situation since someone would just buy the $40 package of PBP, Grats and Wi-FI?

 

The Premium Beverage Package is till available for purchase, though not sure why anyone would with the new pricing model. 

 

I have a feeling that several months from now that bar menu pricing quietly be increased and we will see numerous drinks jump above the current $12/drink value limit of the Premium Beverage Package (or the value of each drink ordered under the program will drop to say $8-9/drink and pricing remain somewhat flat)  and that you will  then have the "opportunity" to upgrade to a new, higher tier bev package for $XX amount per day (following the Celebrity & NCL pricing model)

Edited February 29, 2020 by AtlantaCruiser72