Upgrade just the drinks package to new Premier drinks package when you have Princess Plus

[memoak]

18 minutes ago, Suite Susie said:

Think you have made your point Memoak - I’ve obviously wasted my money. 

Just trying to be realistic and temper expectations. It would not be likely that a pool bar for instance would have 40 open bottles of wine available. As an example when we boarded the Majestic Princess in April we were at the Ocean Terrace bar and wanted to celebrate our first cruise in 2 years with a glass of champagne. However they did not have any champagne available at any price only Prosecco 

[prmssk]

25 minutes ago, Suite Susie said:

Think you have made your point Memoak - I’ve obviously wasted my money. 

Please report back about your experience with this package. I really don’t think any of us really know whether you wasted your money or not because Princess has not done a great job outlining the benefits of upgrading. The uncertainty has a lot of us worried drink prices are going to suddenly go up and significantly de-value the Princess Plus.  And I get that prices are going to go up but for those who were after final payment date when they first started promoting it, it really feels like a last minute switch. 
 

We personally prefer Celebrity and I really appreciate how they clearly outline what is covered under each package which makes the decision to upgrade easier. They also have had the two drink packages for a while so people have lots of experience with them.   I think once we see this new package implemented and people get enough experience with it, there won’t be so much pushback. 
 

Princess made the decision for us to not upgrade easy though when they gave no option for only one person in a cabin to upgrade just the drink package. My husband doesn’t drink and we have no interest in photos, extra Wi-Fi, or specialty dining. We can justify Princess Plus but can’t justify the additional $50 (US) per day for a couple to upgrade to Princess Premier just so I can enjoy nicer drinks that may or may not be available. 
 

I board tomorrow for a B2B and my second leg starts June 25. I will report back any changes I notice. 

[memoak]

1 hour ago, prmssk said:

Please report back about your experience with this package. I really don’t think any of us really know whether you wasted your money or not because Princess has not done a great job outlining the benefits of upgrading. The uncertainty has a lot of us worried drink prices are going to suddenly go up and significantly de-value the Princess Plus.  And I get that prices are going to go up but for those who were after final payment date when they first started promoting it, it really feels like a last minute switch. 
 

We personally prefer Celebrity and I really appreciate how they clearly outline what is covered under each package which makes the decision to upgrade easier. They also have had the two drink packages for a while so people have lots of experience with them.   I think once we see this new package implemented and people get enough experience with it, there won’t be so much pushback. 
 

Princess made the decision for us to not upgrade easy though when they gave no option for only one person in a cabin to upgrade just the drink package. My husband doesn’t drink and we have no interest in photos, extra Wi-Fi, or specialty dining. We can justify Princess Plus but can’t justify the additional $50 (US) per day for a couple to upgrade to Princess Premier just so I can enjoy nicer drinks that may or may not be available. 
 

I board tomorrow for a B2B and my second leg starts June 25. I will report back any changes I notice. 

Even if drink prices go up they should not affect that many cocktails.  For instance the $8.00 Sambuca I enjoy after dinner would have to rise by more than 50%!for it to move out of the Plus category but please report back the prices you see after the 25th. Bon Voyage 

[prmssk]

52 minutes ago, memoak said:

Even if drink prices go up they should not affect that many cocktails.  For instance the $8.00 Sambuca I enjoy after dinner would have to rise by more than 50%!for it to move out of the Plus category but please report back the prices you see after the 25th. Bon Voyage 

My favorite drinks were at Good Spirits that are priced at $12 and wines that are in the $10-12 range. I occasionally paid the $1.18 for a $13 glass of wine I like. So it wouldn’t take much of an increase to start adding up for me. But for those who normally drink the $6-9 drinks, any price increases probably won’t bump their drinks out of the Plus package.  We shall see.

[Suite Susie]

Prmssk - have a fabulous cruise and please let us know what happens with the bar menus on your second leg. 

[wowzz]

4 hours ago, prmssk said:

But for those who normally drink the $6-9 drinks, any price increases probably won’t bump their drinks out of the Plus package

We drink the cheap wine when by  the pool, as there is no alternative.  As soon as we get to an indoor bar, we switch to the $10-$12 wine.

I think that  what many  of of us are trying to say to Susie is that whatever package you have, you cannot get every wine in every bar.

[rumbalizw]

7 hours ago, Suite Susie said:

Think you have made your point Memoak - I’ve obviously wasted my money. 

Take no notice . Hope you have a nice cruise

[prmssk]

14 minutes ago, wowzz said:

I think that  what many  of of us are trying to say to Susie is that whatever package you have, you cannot get every wine in every bar.

I can't find where she said this.  She commented that she hoped they would have some (not all) premium wines at most bars.  Which I think should be reasonable, aside from maybe the pool bars.  If passengers have to hunt all over to find any wines in the premier package, then Princess isn't ready to offer the package (which I fear may be true).

 

I am very puzzled why everyone is trying so hard to discourage @Suite Susie.  Everything about this package is speculation.  No one actually knows what will be available and what prices will be after June 25.  Maybe those of you that think it is a waste of money will be right.  Maybe Princess will raise prices enough to devalue Princess Plus such that this package is worth it.  Or maybe Princess will actually deliver on what they promise.  We don't know.

 

For all of our sakes, it's actually a good thing if there are people willing to try out this package because they can then give the rest of us feedback on how it goes.

[Thrak]

7 hours ago, Suite Susie said:

Think you have made your point Memoak - I’ve obviously wasted my money. 

 

As far as I'm concerned it is "your money". I say spend it as you like. Obviously you can afford to pay for the Premier package, you want to have the Premier package, so why the heck shouldn't you have what you want? People "waste" money all the time. Look at the number of people who blow tons of bucks on smoking! I'm sure there are a lot of folks who consider paying for anything other than an inside cabin is a total waste of money. So what? If I want a balcony and can pay for a balcony then there is no reason for me not to book a balcony. Heck, if I had the financial means to book suites I would do so.

 

To a certain extent I appreciate folks here trying to "temper your enthusiasm" as I have seen Princess fail to provide what they promised in the past. Hopefully they will fulfill the promises they are making for the Premier package. I know they were out of a fair number of wines on some recent cruises. They cited "supply chain issues" but they have had issues in the past that were long before any Covid caused supply issues.

 

Enjoy your cruise. Enjoy your Premier Beverage Package. It's your choice to make and as I said above, if you want it and can afford it then I see no reason you shouldn't have what you want.

[cr8tiv1]

4 minutes ago, Thrak said:

 

As far as I'm concerned it is "your money". I say spend it as you like. Obviously you can afford to pay for the Premier package, you want to have the Premier package, so why the heck shouldn't you have what you want? People "waste" money all the time. Look at the number of people who blow tons of bucks on smoking! I'm sure there are a lot of folks who consider paying for anything other than an inside cabin is a total waste of money. So what? If I want a balcony and can pay for a balcony then there is no reason for me not to book a balcony. Heck, if I had the financial means to book suites I would do so.

 

To a certain extent I appreciate folks here trying to "temper your enthusiasm" as I have seen Princess fail to provide what they promised in the past. Hopefully they will fulfill the promises they are making for the Premier package. I know they were out of a fair number of wines on some recent cruises. They cited "supply chain issues" but they have had issues in the past that were long before any Covid caused supply issues.

 

Enjoy your cruise. Enjoy your Premier Beverage Package. It's your choice to make and as I said above, if you want it and can afford it then I see no reason you shouldn't have what you want.

 

As always, a voice of reason.  Thanks

 

[memoak]

1 hour ago, prmssk said:

I can't find where she said this.  She commented that she hoped they would have some (not all) premium wines at most bars.  Which I think should be reasonable, aside from maybe the pool bars.  If passengers have to hunt all over to find any wines in the premier package, then Princess isn't ready to offer the package (which I fear may be true).

 

I am very puzzled why everyone is trying so hard to discourage @Suite Susie.  Everything about this package is speculation.  No one actually knows what will be available and what prices will be after June 25.  Maybe those of you that think it is a waste of money will be right.  Maybe Princess will raise prices enough to devalue Princess Plus such that this package is worth it.  Or maybe Princess will actually deliver on what they promise.  We don't know.

 

For all of our sakes, it's actually a good thing if there are people willing to try out this package because they can then give the rest of us feedback on how it goes.

Yes no one knows what will happen on .June 25. So I would wait and not buy what my mother might call “a pig in a poke”

[jwattle]

Susie, we have Premier on our next two and are looking forward to enjoying all of the benefits of it 🙂

[caribill]

13 minutes ago, jwattle said:

Susie, we have Premier on our next two and are looking forward to enjoying all of the benefits of it 🙂

 

I wish you success in winning a decent prize in the open your door contest while at sea at times the casino is open.

[wowzz]

6 hours ago, memoak said:

Yes no one knows what will happen on .June 25. So I would wait and not buy what my mother might call “a pig in a poke”

It depends when you are sailing. As the packages have to be bought in advance, if you are sailing shortly after June 25th, you do not have the option of waiting. 

Personally,  I cannot see Princess suddenly increasing drink prices across the board at the end of June. It would be far too obvious.  However,  prices may gradually rise over the course of the next  18 months,  which may then make the basic PP look less attractive. 

[Linsifer]

On 6/16/2022 at 4:51 PM, memoak said:

Specialty dinners are around $29. Seems like paying for premiere to get 2 dinners means you are paying too much unless you are going for a lot of photos or a bunch of high priced wines by the glass

I agree!  I don’t drink wine and we’re bringing a couple bottles of our own to have in the cabin for my husband to drink all week.  Photos are nice, but we can use OBC for that.  

[flyguyjake]

https://www.princess.com/cruise-deals-promotions/plus-premier-cruise-packages/

 

Hi All,

 

New to Princess, we booked the Sky Suite on Discovery in 2023. I chose Princess Standard as the fare option because they didn't offer Premier. $75 pd/pguest is the cost of Premier according to the link above. If I go into the Cruise Personalizer just the cost of the Premier Bev. Pkg alone is $94.39 pd/pguest. Would I be able to upgrade our booking to Premier after the fact?

 

Thanks!

[Suite Susie]

4 hours ago, flyguyjake said:

https://www.princess.com/cruise-deals-promotions/plus-premier-cruise-packages/

 

Hi All,

 

New to Princess, we booked the Sky Suite on Discovery in 2023. I chose Princess Standard as the fare option because they didn't offer Premier. $75 pd/pguest is the cost of Premier according to the link above. If I go into the Cruise Personalizer just the cost of the Premier Bev. Pkg alone is $94.39 pd/pguest. Would I be able to upgrade our booking to Premier after the fact?

 

Thanks!

You should be able to upgrade to Princess Plus or the new Premier Plus by ringing your TA or Princess if you have booked direct. Definitely worth taking one of the packages, rather than just one of the drinks packages. New bar menus come out tomorrow so this should make your decision on which package is right for you once you have seen them. 

[tanyaewa]

In my opinion this is the way for Princess to raise all their liquor prices. IMO it’s overdue.  I’m always surprised at the reasonable prices vs an onland restaurant or resort.  Across the board all prices and costs have increased in the past few years and especially months and this allows them a vehicle to do it under the guise of “premier pricing”.  So much interest here  is being focussed on that when in fact I’m sure we will see all beverages significantly increase to new thresholds 

Edited June 25, 2022 by tanyaewa

[caribill]

2 minutes ago, tanyaewa said:

In my opinion this is the way for Princess to raise all their liquor prices. IMO it’s overdue.  I’m always surprised at the reasonable prices vs an online restaurant or resort.

 

No surprise at all. Princess purchases all alcohol beverages with no government taxes needing to be paid.

 

Selling just one or two drinks from a bottle more than likely covers the entire cost of the bottle.

[tanyaewa]

Just now, caribill said:

 

No surprise at all. Princess purchases all alcohol beverages with no government taxes needing to be paid.

 

Selling just one or two drinks from a bottle more than likely covers the entire cost of the bottle.

ALL liquor sales have very significant markups. There is no reason for Princess to not be in line with other pricing elsewhere which in turn increases revenues 

[toofewcruises]

On 6/17/2022 at 7:48 AM, Suite Susie said:

Thanks for your kind words wouzz.
 

Club Class dining does look nice, but unfortunately most of the menus that we have seen are not to our taste apart from the formal nights. You may all be right about the wines, but If Princess cannot supply what they promise, then they shouldn’t be selling this package. 

Please remember that all cruise lines are going through supply chain issues... Including Celebrity. So, availability of certain wines is uncertain to say the least