No more free internet for platinum & elite

[JF - retired RRT]

8 minutes ago, Therese S. said:

Princess told me that an email is going out today or tomorrow explaing all the changes. 

This will be interesting...a lot of us never get emails from PCL.

[memoak]

10 minutes ago, dog said:

Received email about this right now from Princess. 
 

 

I also go the e-mail on elite perks.  Did anyone else notice that they are discontinuing the loyalty OBC based on number of cruises taken ?

[Sincity]

That was our most "valuable" benefit. Very disappointed they did this as all of us are looking forward to cruising again.

[TM]

Just got the e-mail on the elite benefits changing and saw they're also taking away the loyalty credits based upon number of cruises taken.  Do they really want to try that hard to alienate loyal customers?  Certainly makes one want to consider other cruise lines.  The laundry perk is of no value to me based upon their ability to lose, destroy and shrink items.  And certainly not interested in spa, shore excursion and photo 10% discounts.  What's next - eliminate the mini bar setup for elites?

Edited July 1, 2021 by TM

[RRFan]

3 minutes ago, TM said:

Just got the e-mail and saw they're also taking away the loyalty credits based upon number of cruises taken.  Do they really want to try that hard to alienate loyal customers?  Certainly makes one want to consider other cruise lines.  The laundry perk is of no value to me based upon their ability to lose, destroy and shrink items.  And certainly not interested in spa, shore excursion and photo 10% discounts.  What's next - eliminate the mini bar setup for elites?

Totally agree and also taking away the OBC based on # of cruises is ANOTHER slap in the face for those of us who have been loyal to the Princess brand.  They are giving us more reasons to try out the other cruise lines every day!!  NOT HAPPY AT ALL!!

[remydiva]

I just got the email and checked first and last page of this thread plus the PDF attached in email.

WHAT IS THE PRICE of the internet packages that we get the privilege of paying 50% for?

With hubby and my 150+ mins AND we are on holidays so should unplug other than send emails to kids back home, I don't need more or unlimited minutes.

So can someone attach a link to the pricing options? how little do I need to be dinged for?

[CruisinFinsUp]

2 hours ago, RRFan said:

I’d speculate that unless PCL sends P’s & E’s an email telling them the free minutes were being replaced with a 50% discount on unlimited WiFi, the vast majority of them will only discover that when they board and go to sign on for their free minutes. 

I received an email just now telling me about the changes.  So I guess the emails are going out!   

[Thrak]

I haven't gotten the email. We don't get the Loyalty OBC as we don't have anywhere near enough cruises but I can't really see that it would have been costing Princess all that much. What a weird thing to discontinue. One really has to wonder who makes these decisions.

[RRFan]

Wonder what would happen if every P & E responds to that email with a VERY unhappy reply about these changes?

 

We could at least crash their email server.  Might not change anything, but they won't have to wonder how we feel!!

 

Let's DO IT!

[remydiva]

5 hours ago, CanuckCurlers said:

We are in the same frame of mind. Our two Covid cancelled cruises would have made us Elite but see no reason to stay with Princess. Most other lines are offering all the perks now anyway. Our travel agent had been trying to get us to try others for the last five years and we had been resistant but no longer.

I too am loyal Princess fan...or was...plus with our cancelled Covid cruise I now have tons of future cruise credits to use AND OBC and FCD...all worthless unless we use them. So why mickey mouse with 150 mins or so of internet. I get that unlimited is necessary for those they want to intice to cruise AND still be able to 'work from sea' but not everyone wants to be on the internet. Some of us spend our money in other ways...shore excurisons, the shops, casino, bars....don't ding everyone in order to meet the needs of what I think? are a few.

[remydiva]

5 hours ago, CanuckCurlers said:

sorry double post

 

Edited July 1, 2021 by remydiva

[remydiva]

8 hours ago, 1965 said:

Yesterday my pvp confirmed no more free mins for platinum & elite. She explained the new medallian net can't be done by the minute, it's many advantages, etc. She made sense & won me over. For less than $70 total for our upcoming 14 day TA I'll have unlimited wifi, fast, no accidentally losing minutes, etc. It's not as nice as free, but it's doable. I have drunk the koolaid. Lol.

Is that per cabin ie. two people can use?

[Italy52]

Just got our loyalty benefit letter.  The free internet was a biggie for us, we don't need more than what was offered as a perk --- not willing to purchase something we don't really need even if it is at a discounted rate.  We will finish out the remaining cruises with Princess and then will probably start shopping around as we have loyalty with other lines.  Such a shame this is happening. 

[LACruiser88]

33 minutes ago, memoak said:

I also go the e-mail on elite perks.  Did anyone else notice that they are discontinuing the loyalty OBC based on number of cruises taken ?

This sucks!  The $100 obc was nice.  What's next limiting the toilet paper!

[Sincity]

14 minutes ago, RRFan said:

Wonder what would happen if every P & E responds to that email with a VERY unhappy reply about these changes?

 

We could at least crash their email server.  Might not change anything, but they won't have to wonder how we feel!!

 

Let's DO IT!

Done

 

[steveww48]

My goodness, what a terrible marketing decision.  As Platinum cruisers, losing the free internet minutes is an absolute downgrade and is something that truly matters to us.  Princess' "loyalty" program now has no value to us--this change has obliterated our loyalty.

 

Our "status" will absolutely not be a factor in future cruise decisions and we will actively evaluate all cruise lines for every cruise we consider. Princess is now just one of many cruise lines to us and it will get no preference of any sort when we evaluate cruise possibilities.

 

I will write to Princess and as noted in an earlier post it appears that others will too. Perhaps there will be enough of us to matter.

 

[dog]

59 minutes ago, dog said:

Received email about this right now from Princess. 
 

 

And I just replied to this email letting them know how disappointing this is. 

[Renmar]

All the comments & complaining here on these boards don't mean anything to PCL management. The only way they will find out how we think about these changes is with our wallets. 

Just in case Princess is monitoring these boards I will put my money where my mouth is and cancel our cruise we booked for September 2022. 

On top of the earlier cutbacks (like the removal of the 2nd chair) these last set of changes is for us the straw that broke the proverbial camels back. Maybe we will be back in the future if things change for the better.

 

Theo

[By The Bay]

52 minutes ago, TM said:

What's next - eliminate the mini bar setup for elites?

Don't give them any ideas.☹️

[nocl]

54 minutes ago, TM said:

Just got the e-mail on the elite benefits changing and saw they're also taking away the loyalty credits based upon number of cruises taken.  Do they really want to try that hard to alienate loyal customers?  Certainly makes one want to consider other cruise lines.  The laundry perk is of no value to me based upon their ability to lose, destroy and shrink items.  And certainly not interested in spa, shore excursion and photo 10% discounts.  What's next - eliminate the mini bar setup for elites?

Don't give them any ideas.

[By The Bay]

1 minute ago, nocl said:

Don't give them any ideas.

Snap

 

[1965]

35 minutes ago, remydiva said:

Is that per cabin ie. two people can use?

I don't know about that. My DH has no interest in it so I will be the only one in our cabin using it.

[Ken the cruiser]

Just got the email. Not that impressed, especially since they still don't give double cruise day points when we book a suite. But as long as we get free laundry when we finally reach Elite, as we're platnium now, and continue to get the Princess insurance discount, we're happy. But I will also say we very much appreciate the military OBC perk Princess gives as we are both retired. On many of the 14+ day cruises that adds up to $500 in total OBC along with another $250 OBC in shareholder benefits. No other cruise line we sail with comes close to offering a similar military perk.

[Ombud]

48 minutes ago, cruisintoddler said:

I received an email just now telling me about the changes.  So I guess the emails are going out!   

That's what I got too. No mention that Loyalty OBC based on number of cruises is gone.

[nocl]

With the elimination of the minutes and the Loyalty OBC program they could just give the new package instead of the 50% discount and still come out ahead.  Especially since a lot of people will book the packages with the Internet included.