Coffee Card (I'm sure it has been asked before, but I couldn't find anything with my search)

[INeedAMaiTai]

Does anyone know if we can still use the punches on a coffee card?  I was cleaning this weekend and found an old one and was hoping my kid could use it for blendeds.  Again, I know this has been asked a million time, but I didn't want to scroll through pages and pages of searches, so please don't harp on me.

 

Thanks!  

[oskidunker]

No.  Cards are now electronic. They took paper cards for a while but stopped months ago. You could try but I doubt it. 

[Outerdog]

You're more likely to lose the card again before you ever board a cruise ship.

[wallyj]

As you probably know, Princess updated the online info last year regarding paper coffee cards even with no expiration would ALL expire last year around end of Sept 2019? Coffee package is now either loaded onto cruise card or Medallion.

 

I have seen posts of passengers reporting a ship would keep the paper cards at the international cafe to be used during that cruise and would be discarded at the end of the voyage if not fully used. The barista wrote the name and cabin number on the card for identification. This was for sailings after the expiration date had passed and really depended on the crew, as others reported they were told the paper cards were not good anymore except to use as a coaster.

 

I know the Royal Princess this last January 2020, allowed a passenger to essentially get a coffee package added to thier Medallion by swapping thier almost new card like yours as it appears you only have one used punch. 

 

Passenger was told to 'buy' /add coffee package to thier Medallion, then was instructed to turn in card to Passenger Sevices where they would refund the cost of the coffee package. 

 

Who knows what policies will be followed when cruising resumes, so it does not hurt to ask, first go to passenger services to ask if they are willing to do the swap.

 

The official policy is the paper cards are EXPIRED. 

[Potstech]

Princess took your money that was paid to get 15 coffees and you only got one according to your picture.

[jagoffee]

3 minutes ago, Potstech said:

Princess took your money that was paid to get 15 coffees and you only got one according to your picture.

Wanna bet?  Highly unlikely someone paid for a coffee card and only used one punch.  Higher odds that it was a loyalty gift.

Edited August 4, 2020 by jagoffee

[Potstech]

9 hours ago, jagoffee said:

Wanna bet?  Highly unlikely someone paid for a coffee card and only used one punch.  Higher odds that it was a loyalty gift.

And you know this how?

[skynight]

All undated cards, yours, officially expired in August 2019. Bring it onboard. Maybe passenger services or the coffee bar will accept a trade in. Give it a try, nothing to lose.  

[Cruise Raider]

19 hours ago, INeedAMaiTai said:

Does anyone know if we can still use the punches on a coffee card?  I was cleaning this weekend and found an old one and was hoping my kid could use it for blendeds.  Again, I know this has been asked a million time, but I didn't want to scroll through pages and pages of searches, so please don't harp on me.

 

Thanks!  

 

On my last cruise, shortly before the pause, we had an old coffee card with nearly all the punches on it.  We were full well expecting them to say it was useless, but we asked the question at the International Cafe nevertheless.  Well, surprise surprise.  This is what they said without even batting an eye:

"Sure, you can use that but you have to turn it in to us and we won't be returning it to you at the end of the cruise, so use it up!"  Our card, along with our room number was placed into a coffee cup and each time we ordered a specialty coffee, they would find it and place a punch on our card before returning it to the cup.  We had one left over at the end of the sailing and purchased a latte for our very helpful guest services member with that last punch.  

Anyway, I'm not sure if it was just the policy on that one ship and how these will be handled when they resume but, we didn't even need to make a stink to use it and that was in late 2019.  We weren't prepared to make a stink, btw ... we just thought there would be no harm in asking, thinking the answer would be no.  

I still have one more full card left and will try asking again next year as well, as we don't have the beverage package on our summer sailing ... if it sails.  If they say no, I'm ok with that .... they aren't going to hit me with a baseball bat just for asking.   If they say yes ... well, it's Cappuccino time!!  

Edited August 4, 2020 by Cruise Raider

[INeedAMaiTai]

13 minutes ago, Cruise Raider said:

 

On my last cruise, shortly before the pause, we had an old coffee card with nearly all the punches on it.  We were full well expecting them to say it was useless, but we asked the question at the International Cafe nevertheless.  Well, surprise surprise.  This is what they said without even batting an eye:

"Sure, you can use that but you have to turn it in to us and we won't be returning it to you at the end of the cruise, so use it up!"  Our card, along with our room number was placed into a coffee cup and each time we ordered a specialty coffee, they would find it and place a punch on our card before returning it to the cup.  We had one left over at the end of the sailing and purchased a latte for our very helpful guest services member with that last punch.  

Anyway, I'm not sure if it was just the policy on that one ship and how these will be handled when they resume but, we didn't even need to make a stink to use it and that was in late 2019.  We weren't prepared to make a stink, btw ... we just thought there would be no harm in asking, thinking the answer would be no.  

I still have one more full card left and will try asking again next year as well, as we don't have the beverage package on our summer sailing ... if it sails.  If they say no, I'm ok with that .... they aren't going to hit me with a baseball bat just for asking.   If they say yes ... well, it's Cappuccino time!!  

Which ship were you on?  Just wondering by chance if that's the one for my next sailing.  I figured the same as you, the worst thing that could happen is they would say "no".  My daughter is going on a trip with her grandparents and won't have a drink package so I figured she could try and use the card to treat herself to some blendeds! 

 

And we better be able to cruise by next summer!!!  I have a 14 caribbean cruise planned for July... HAH!  Crossing my fingers.

[INeedAMaiTai]

13 hours ago, wallyj said:

The official policy is the paper cards are EXPIRED. 

I figured it was just a shot in the dark...

 

13 hours ago, jagoffee said:

Wanna bet?  Highly unlikely someone paid for a coffee card and only used one punch.  Higher odds that it was a loyalty gift.

Actually, it was purchased.  I would purchase them for the brewed coffee (I'm a snob when it comes to coffee and the syrup was not doing it for me.)

 

4 hours ago, Potstech said:

And you know this how?

It was paid for!

 

Anyone remember, back in the day, when they were like the Queen of Hearts or something like that?  I bought those too and used them up over the years.  This card was one of my last ones purchased, probably about 5+ years ago.  For my last couple of cruises I have purchased the drink package so haven't needed anything like the coffee card.

[Cruise Raider]

13 minutes ago, INeedAMaiTai said:

Which ship were you on?  Just wondering by chance if that's the one for my next sailing.  I figured the same as you, the worst thing that could happen is they would say "no".  My daughter is going on a trip with her grandparents and won't have a drink package so I figured she could try and use the card to treat herself to some blendeds! 

 

And we better be able to cruise by next summer!!!  I have a 14 caribbean cruise planned for July... HAH!  Crossing my fingers.

 

My fingers are crossed as well.  I still have one more sailing in early 2020 that will most likely be canceled.  I'm hoping my summer sailing isn't also affected.  

BTW, we were on the Grand.  The staff on that ship is known for their friendliness ... I always refer to it as the ship of 'yes'!  There are definitely some drawbacks to that ship ... the staff is not one of them.  

BTW, not sure what blendeds are but, we could only use the coffee card in the IC, not at Coffees and Cones up top.  The physical location of the card they held onto was down at the IC.  However, I have read that some ships were allowing passengers to turn in the coffee cards at the front desk for credit on their account.  Assuming they may still do that, it seems like a more equitable solution to getting those cards out of circulation.  

[Cruise Raider]

14 minutes ago, INeedAMaiTai said:

Actually, it was purchased.  I would purchase them for the brewed coffee (I'm a snob when it comes to coffee and the syrup was not doing it for me.)

 

 

Of note, the Royal Class ships have brewed coffee all over the ship ... they don't use that disgusting syrup, so the coffee is much much better.  You're not a snob for thinking it is gross ... it is!!  I couldn't for the life of me figure out how they made coffee taste like the bottom of a dirty ashtray until I found out they used that syrup.  It actually has improved a bit over time but, still not even on the same scale as brewed coffee.  

I actually would rather take my Starbucks Via and order hot water via room service.  It's not the best but, not so bad, either.  

 

[INeedAMaiTai]

1 hour ago, Cruise Raider said:

 

My fingers are crossed as well.  I still have one more sailing in early 2020 that will most likely be canceled.  I'm hoping my summer sailing isn't also affected.  

BTW, we were on the Grand.  The staff on that ship is known for their friendliness ... I always refer to it as the ship of 'yes'!  There are definitely some drawbacks to that ship ... the staff is not one of them.  

BTW, not sure what blendeds are but, we could only use the coffee card in the IC, not at Coffees and Cones up top.  The physical location of the card they held onto was down at the IC.  However, I have read that some ships were allowing passengers to turn in the coffee cards at the front desk for credit on their account.  Assuming they may still do that, it seems like a more equitable solution to getting those cards out of circulation.  

Blendeds are, what I call, the "fluffly" drinks.  Coffee or not, blended with creams, etc. and topped with whipped cream.  My 13 year old loves them so I figured she could treat herself.  I love the IC, that's my favorite early morning place and usually the only time I would get coffee.

I was on the Grand in the summer of  2018; I loved that ship.  Older, but nice.  And you are right, FABULOUS staff!

[Thrak]

1 hour ago, INeedAMaiTai said:

I love the IC, that's my favorite early morning place and usually the only time I would get coffee.

 

We're booked for 18 days on Island Princess next June. (No idea if the cruise will actually happen of course.) It's truly a bummer that there is no IC on Island Princess. To add insult to injury I don't think there's a Vines either. Ships with no IC or no Vines are crazy. I would never book on that ship except my wife really wants to do the itinerary.

[Sea Hag]

55 minutes ago, Thrak said:

 

We're booked for 18 days on Island Princess next June. (No idea if the cruise will actually happen of course.) It's truly a bummer that there is no IC on Island Princess. To add insult to injury I don't think there's a Vines either. Ships with no IC or no Vines are crazy. I would never book on that ship except my wife really wants to do the itinerary.

I wonder if La Patisserie on Plaza deck on the Island would be a satisfactory substitute for the IC. Looks like it might be similar.

[Thrak]

30 minutes ago, Sea Hag said:

I wonder if La Patisserie on Plaza deck on the Island would be a satisfactory substitute for the IC. Looks like it might be similar.

 

It is, in a word, pathetic.

[Sea Hag]

1 minute ago, Thrak said:

 

It is, in a word, pathetic.

Too bad. 

[coo359a2]

If it is like the Coral Princess, it is very small and has limited selections.  

[suzyed]

11 hours ago, INeedAMaiTai said:

I figured it was just a shot in the dark...

 

Actually, it was purchased.  I would purchase them for the brewed coffee (I'm a snob when it comes to coffee and the syrup was not doing it for me.)

 

It was paid for!

 

Anyone remember, back in the day, when they were like the Queen of Hearts or something like that?  I bought those too and used them up over the years.  This card was one of my last ones purchased, probably about 5+ years ago.  For my last couple of cruises I have purchased the drink package so haven't needed anything like the coffee card.

And there was another version after yours, I believe.  

 

[spookyfudge]

On 8/3/2020 at 4:30 PM, INeedAMaiTai said:

Does anyone know if we can still use the punches on a coffee card?  I was cleaning this weekend and found an old one and was hoping my kid could use it for blendeds.  Again, I know this has been asked a million time, but I didn't want to scroll through pages and pages of searches, so please don't harp on me.

 

Thanks!  

No it went the way of the dinosaurs! Sorry you can no longer use it.

[spookyfudge]

On 8/4/2020 at 3:41 PM, Thrak said:

 

We're booked for 18 days on Island Princess next June. (No idea if the cruise will actually happen of course.) It's truly a bummer that there is no IC on Island Princess. To add insult to injury I don't think there's a Vines either. Ships with no IC or no Vines are crazy. I would never book on that ship except my wife really wants to do the itinerary.

You think that is crazy, we will be on the Island for 110 days doing the WC without IC or a vines with the full drink package!

[INeedAMaiTai]

39 minutes ago, spookyfudge said:

You think that is crazy, we will be on the Island for 110 days doing the WC without IC or a vines with the full drink package!

NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!  I love the IC.

[susancruzs]

Booked on the Crown Oct. 2021, some are adding an Island cruise before the Crown.  I haven't sailed the Island, looking at deck plans I won't be either.  I don't do the buffet, eat my lunch at the IC, grab coffee there in the a.m., layout of the Island doesn't look appealing to me.  Casino looks small, too.  I like Crown, Emerald, Sapphire, can do longer cruises on them, can't see being on Island for a long cruise.

[Thrak]

4 hours ago, susancruzs said:

Booked on the Crown Oct. 2021, some are adding an Island cruise before the Crown.  I haven't sailed the Island, looking at deck plans I won't be either.  I don't do the buffet, eat my lunch at the IC, grab coffee there in the a.m., layout of the Island doesn't look appealing to me.  Casino looks small, too.  I like Crown, Emerald, Sapphire, can do longer cruises on them, can't see being on Island for a long cruise.

 

Did 28 days on Emerald and loved it. Like the ships that have Adagio. Many don't like them because of the extra passenger deck but we have never had a problem with them at all. We do the buffet as well as MDR but very rarely do Crown Grill as we just can't eat that much food. We do it when it's an included perk but don't find it "special" enough to pay for. We have a cruise currently booked that we could likely have had specialty dining added to for no extra cost and didn't want to hassle our TA to have it added. It's "that special" to us. (I don't really mind the specialty dining but the last time we did it they acted like we were total buttheads because we didn't finish our meals and didn't order dessert. We were full...)

 

We love sailing with the beverage package and love Vines in the evening. We also love IC in the morning and the afternoon. It's a bit of a hardship for us to sail without those venues. I also really miss Universe Lounge on Island. I love On The Bayou. I did see it performed in the Princess Theater on Island (don't know if they are still doing that) but it just wasn't the same at all.

 

Love that beverage package. We used to get coffee cards but like having the coffee included with the other package. I used up our cards in anticipation of the "end of life" for them. I bought a number of strangers coffee drinks. It was cool. 😎