Booked Basic Fare -will test "pay as you go"

[Itchy&Scratchy]

3 hours ago, cr8tiv1 said:

 

Do all 4 guests in a stateroom receive the Premier Beverage Package, Wi-Fi and crew appreciation?
YES. When this fare is selected 

This looks like it's talking about BSE terms. I am talking about a standalone beverage package and a refreshment package.

[roxievegas]

you can save money, but so much easier to have the plus package. 

[smbt1]

With the Shareholder OBC, the veteran OBC, the FCD OBC, converting the mini bar to coffee cards, even with buying some excursions, I have never had a bill when I left the ship that totaled the difference of the plus package.

[Ombud]

45 minutes ago, wowzz said:

4 hours ago, roxievegas said:

If you want to save money, you can do it.

 

Not much of a holiday though !

If someone only has a glass of wine or a beer then it doesn't make sense. That's all I'm saying. Lattes, afternoon tea, evening cocoa are nc for a lot of us

 

But to each their own 

 

 

[tonit964]

I just booked a 10 day to Mexico. The best value was $400 more than the best price.

Crew appreciation is $145, Wifi is $99.70, one specialty dining $29.00, that leaves $126.30 for the beverage package divided by 10 days costs $12.63 per day.

This is a no brainer for me for sure.

[brisalta]

On 2/11/2022 at 7:15 AM, Sentebale said:

We'll tip our room attendant and others in addition to suggested gratuities too. (It's got to be OK to slip $ to bartenders, right? I know they'll get a cut of the drink bill but still we'd probably tip them on top of that amount). 

Yeah, forgot about the wine. Will probably bring a few bottles of better wine, and pay corkage fee.

The idea that Princess cuts off drink package pax after 15 drinks/day. Who drinks 15 drinks a day?! I gotta imagine Princess pours light, and their wine pours are short. Otherwise, it's a drunkfest, no?

 

You have to remember that Princess does not pay any excise tax on the booze that they purchase wholesale for use on board ship so there cost is lower than a shore side establishment.

[vunico]

21 hours ago, tonit964 said:

I just booked a 10 day to Mexico. The best value was $400 more than the best price.

Crew appreciation is $145, Wifi is $99.70, one specialty dining $29.00, that leaves $126.30 for the beverage package divided by 10 days costs $12.63 per day.

This is a no brainer for me for sure.

hi...did you book the Drop and Go ? Iwas told you could add the Standard bev pkg for $40 pd but not the Premium.

now I can't confirm that with rep.

Thanks

[annlee]

I'm confused. Do I have this right?

Drop and Go is just the cruise, no extras.

Princess Plus is cruise plus unlimited drink/coffee/soda package, 1 wifi use, and gratuities. 

There's something called a Standard Package and it's what, exactly?

(Drop and Go) Pax can buy a 15-fancy coffee "ticket" either on board or before. Slight discount if purchased before. Plain coffee is included and not counted toward the 15 total limit.

(Drop and Go) Pax can buy internet (1 or 4 device) either on board or before. Slight discount if purchased before.

Pax can buy a drink package on board or before. Either soda/etc or alcohol- and the alcohol package also includes soda/coffee/fancy coffee. Slight discount if purchased before. 

Does International Cafe charge for plain cup of coffee?

 

Edited February 18, 2022 by annlee

[cr8tiv1]

Medallion Net does have a discount pre-cruise purchase and/or with Elite/Platinum loyalty.

 

Yes, The International Cafe (bar next door) does charge for brewed coffee if you do not have a coffee package or Beverage Package.

[tonit964]

14 hours ago, vunico said:

hi...did you book the Drop and Go ? I was told you could add the Standard bev pkg for $40 pd but not the Premium.

now I can't confirm that with rep.

Thanks

No, I booked this cruise about 8 months ago. When you go through the booking process, it'll give you the option for best fare or best value. The price difference for mine was $400.

[Itchy&Scratchy]

1 hour ago, tonit964 said:

No, I booked this cruise about 8 months ago. When you go through the booking process, it'll give you the option for best fare or best value. The price difference for mine was $400.

same $400 pp for our Nov Caribbean 10 day cruise, but we opted for just the basic fare plus pay as you go for alcohol. We don't really need wifi, and we don't drink that much (or sometimes don't even drink at all), and $400 for the 11 yo's non-alcoholic package is just too much.

 

[USCcruisecrazy]

On 2/16/2022 at 10:14 PM, tonit964 said:

I just booked a 10 day to Mexico. The best value was $400 more than the best price.

Crew appreciation is $145, Wifi is $99.70, one specialty dining $29.00, that leaves $126.30 for the beverage package divided by 10 days costs $12.63 per day.

This is a no brainer for me for sure.

I'm with you.   $40 a day for BSE...minus $15.50 for gratuities...minus $5 for OBC...minus $10 (rounded up a few cents) for Wi-Fi...that leaves $9.50 for beverages...since we will do anywhere from 5-10 drinks per day, it's a no brainer!! 

[pompeii]

On 2/16/2022 at 10:14 PM, tonit964 said:

I just booked a 10 day to Mexico. The best value was $400 more than the best price.

Crew appreciation is $145, Wifi is $99.70, one specialty dining $29.00, that leaves $126.30 for the beverage package divided by 10 days costs $12.63 per day.

This is a no brainer for me for sure.

It really all comes down to whether or not you drink alcohol.  For those who drink, maybe even only a couple drinks a day, you'll either come out ahead or at least break even.  Especially if you don't have much obc or if you already use your obc for excursions or spa visits, etc.

 

For us, using the above example, $400 minus $145 for grats, $50 for internet (plat/elite disc), $29 specialty dining, coffee packages from trading the mini bar, and a preordered case or two of bottled water equals $176 each overpaid if we booked the plus fare.   But since we also get plenty of obc to cover most of those expenses, we would be wasting even more money.  For us, it's a no brainer to not get it and I can't conjure up a scenario when it could be in our best interest.  My point being that for every instance where it's a good deal, there's an instance where it's a bad deal.  

[tonit964]

1 minute ago, pompeii said:

It really all comes down to whether or not you drink alcohol.  For those who drink, maybe even only a couple drinks a day, you'll either come out ahead or at least break even.  Especially if you don't have much obc or if you already use your obc for excursions or spa visits, etc.

 

For us, using the above example, $400 minus $145 for grats, $50 for internet (plat/elite disc), $29 specialty dining, coffee packages from trading the mini bar, and a preordered case or two of bottled water equals $176 each overpaid if we booked the plus fare.   But since we also get plenty of obc to cover most of those expenses, we would be wasting even more money.  For us, it's a no brainer to not get it and I can't conjure up a scenario when it could be in our best interest.  My point being that for every instance where it's a good deal, there's an instance where it's a bad deal.  

I do have several cocktails throughout the day and evening so as I mentioned, for me, it's a no brainer.

Since, I'm platinum, I didn't realize the discount for internet but even with that, I'm coming out way ahead.

[nursemom2]

I’ve never seen 40.00 a day…I’m doing a 25 day transatlantic, and the premium plus is 1700$ extra pp, and the premium drink pkg is 79$ a day… am I looking in the wrong place?😱

[voljeep]

3 minutes ago, nursemom2 said:

I’ve never seen 40.00 a day…I’m doing a 25 day transatlantic, and the premium plus is 1700$ extra pp, and the premium drink pkg is 79$ a day… am I looking in the wrong place?😱

what kind of fare did you book?

standard off website

solo

drop & go

casino

friends & family 

 

may make a difference

[nursemom2]

Drop and go… no extra perks, except my partner and I each have the military OBC, and I have the shareholding Benefit. 

[Thrak]

On 2/13/2022 at 6:29 AM, isosika said:

 

Not if you have Gout.  Too much alcohol triggers it, then the severe pain and inability to walk set in.  I've found that 2 beers is the limit - unfortunately.

 

I went to the doctor and told him I thought I had broken my big toe. He checked it out and said he thought it was gout but said he was ordering xrays in case I was right. He was pretty sure it was gout though. I went home and looked up gout and was pretty freaked out. Never has a person been sooooooooooooo happy to find that I really had broken my toe!

[sirclean]

6 hours ago, nursemom2 said:

I’ve never seen 40.00 a day…I’m doing a 25 day transatlantic, and the premium plus is 1700$ extra pp, and the premium drink pkg is 79$ a day… am I looking in the wrong place?😱

The Princess Plus plan (or The "Best.Sale.Ever") increases the price of the cruise by $40 a day more than the base or "best price" fare.  

(take the difference in fare, divide by the number of days, and it should be 40).

[RMMariner]

You may be looking at the drink package. The Princess Plus is part of the booking, and it is $40 a day. 

$50 right now for us Canadians.

[brisalta]

On 2/17/2022 at 5:44 PM, annlee said:

I'm confused. Do I have this right?

Drop and Go is just the cruise, no extras.

Princess Plus is cruise plus unlimited drink/coffee/soda package, 1 wifi use, and gratuities. 

There's something called a Standard Package and it's what, exactly?

(Drop and Go) Pax can buy a 15-fancy coffee "ticket" either on board or before. Slight discount if purchased before. Plain coffee is included and not counted toward the 15 total limit.

(Drop and Go) Pax can buy internet (1 or 4 device) either on board or before. Slight discount if purchased before.

Pax can buy a drink package on board or before. Either soda/etc or alcohol- and the alcohol package also includes soda/coffee/fancy coffee. Slight discount if purchased before. 

Does International Cafe charge for plain cup of coffee?

 

 

With Drop and Go fares you still get to choose between Best Price and Best Value fares.

The Best Value is still $40 per day per passenger more than the Best Price.

[Steelers36]

On 2/18/2022 at 3:51 PM, nursemom2 said:

Drop and go… no extra perks, except my partner and I each have the military OBC, and I have the shareholding Benefit. 

There have been many cases reported where Princess has cut the fares under Drop 'n' Go for the Saver (no perks option), but not so much for the Plus option.  Thus, the PLUS can work out to more than $40/pp/day.

[justafem]

14 hours ago, Steelers36 said:

There have been many cases reported where Princess has cut the fares under Drop 'n' Go for the Saver (no perks option), but not so much for the Plus option.  Thus, the PLUS can work out to more than $40/pp/day.

Yup.  We just booked a great deal (5 day, April 11, Ruby, $79, inside).  If I had booked with the princess plus, the fare went from $258 to $654.  Which is the exact cost of buying the internet, the $70 per day premium drink package and grats.  For $400 more over 5 days, it's not worth it to me.  Whereas $200 would have been.  Especially when (if I chose to purchase), internet would be $5 per day with the platinum discount, so I'd actually be overpaying.

 

I'm going to call my PVP on Monday and see if I can add the princess plus for $200. All I can do is ask!

Edited February 20, 2022 by justafem

[Sentebale]

I don't think I ever provided a followup to our 16 day Transatlantic March "pay as we go" cruise. Princess isn't a good fit for us but we came out ahead by not choosing the all-inclusive package of booze/tips etc.  On the 1st or 2nd day we won some top elite status (black medallion, I think) for the duration of the cruise - we entered some new cruisers raffle only because we were walking by and two staff members called out "are you new cruisers?" and we said yes, and they begged us to fill out form. We didn't stick around for the event but we walked by about an hour later and my spouse said "someone is calling out your name"...Long short is that it became a joke b/c laundry was free, specialty dining was free, internet was free, and other stuff I don't remember. Part of the prize was minibar setup, and when we said "thanks, but we don't need/want it" Princess gave us ~$76 OBC. We kept getting all these crazy perks. In the end the bill was under $400. I still don't know why it was so low, my spouse didn't hold back with his 2+ martinis/day or beer and we're big am coffee drinkers. They kept charging us for laundry; every few days I'd try to straighten it out at desk. The front desk had a heck of a time backing out those charges because "the best at sea" internet was down 99.99% of the cruise and something about the account department needing internet to back out the charges. What a mess. Anyway, I couldn't be bothered figured it all out but I imagine they gave us way more credit than we deserved. Whatever. So 16 days of cruising w/ booze/tips/internet/6 nights of specialty dining/transport to Victoria Station cost $362. Kinda weird because we tipped way more than $500. I did buy stock and got $250 OBC. I sold the stock shortly after submitting the form and made money on that, too. I see CLL is around $8 today, ouch. I think I bought low $20's and sold for $1 more per share than at purchase.

Anyway, skipping the all inclusive package was the right decision.

 

[wowzz]

33 minutes ago, Sentebale said:

Anyway, skipping the all inclusive package was the right decision.

Obviously the right decision for you,  because of a stroke of luck. 

But not for those who did not win the prize.