New Promo Starting 9/1?

[voljeep]

No $100 excursion credit with the 'no frills' base fare ...

[mtnesterz]

On 8/31/2022 at 8:06 AM, kywildcatfanone said:

Do these promos really ever actually change anything?  I think they just recycle a couple of different packages and rename them, but ultimately they are all the same.

So, as I understand it. You have to buy the Plus package to get drinks and gratuities. The only real "Sale" item is the US$100 excursion. Now, if I book the base, no frills fare, there is nothing. Am I reading that right? You have to pay to get the sale?

Edited September 1, 2022 by mtnesterz

[LACruiser88]

1 minute ago, mtnesterz said:

See, As I understand it. You have to buy the Plus package to get drinks and gratuities. The only real "Sale" item is the US$100 excursion. Now, if I book the base, no frills fare, there is nothing. Am I reading that right?

That is how it is coming up for me also...

[PRINCESS Sweet Pea]

If this is really how this Promo works..  Not worth the trouble, especially if you had a discounted fare offer before!  The increased fare is much more than that $100.

I am thinking that you can still book without the Plus Package, without the $50.00 per person per day.  Maybe that $100.00 credit would still apply.  I guess if somebody wanted to do that, and it wasn't showing up online, they would have to call.

[getaway101]

Our 22 night TA & British Isles is up $458pp.  Think I'll leave it there.  Took me too long to get the cabin I wanted on the back of the ship.

[getaway101]

1 hour ago, LACruiser88 said:

That is how it is coming up for me also...

Yes.  I believe you are reading that right.  That's what mine said also.

[SiliconCruiser]

8 hours ago, mtnesterz said:

So, as I understand it. You have to buy the Plus package to get drinks and gratuities. The only real "Sale" item is the US$100 excursion.

Looks like Princess has backed off of the mandatory Plus package purchase to offering it as their "Love Boat Sale".  You can now still get cruise fares at the Princess Standard pricing.

[Steelers36]

38 minutes ago, SiliconCruiser said:

Looks like Princess has backed off of the mandatory Plus package purchase to offering it as their "Love Boat Sale".  You can now still get cruise fares at the Princess Standard pricing.

Yes, but the PLUS fare package option was never mandatory. 

They do seem to be starting to actively discourage the Standard fare option by removing other promo perks like the Excursion OBC.  

 

 

[Happiest when cruising]

On 8/31/2022 at 8:44 AM, jp2746 said:

I have goodwill credits that I have to use before the end of the year.  We would rather cruise in January but they will not extend them and it would make me physically ill to lose them. 🙂

 

The funny thing is that they gave us goodwill credits in the amount of our cruise ticket.  My son was $1 because we booked him under that promo so he has $1 of goodwill credits.  It kind of stinks since these credits were basically an "I'm sorry" for canceling your cruise one hour before departure.  I would love to get the same price I paid originally!  It was the first time that I ever wished I had overpaid for a cruise! lol

Your son should have received 100.00, even if he only had the 1.00 deposit. That is what we received on a cancelled cruise with that 1.00 deposit. 

[Happiest when cruising]

On 8/31/2022 at 6:43 PM, kiwimum said:

I booked a Norway cruise on the Sky this morning and was able to get a Dolphin extended balcony for the price of an inside.   Happy camper.

How did that happen? Was it really a price drop, or you used some credits you had to offset the difference? 

[kiwimum]

4 minutes ago, Happiest when cruising said:

How did that happen? Was it really a price drop, or you used some credits you had to offset the difference? 

Nope it was a current promotion.  Looking for something to do in August 2023.   Love the fjords.

[Happiest when cruising]

17 minutes ago, Steelers36 said:

Yes, but the PLUS fare package option was never mandatory. 

They do seem to be starting to actively discourage the Standard fare option by removing other promo perks like the Excursion OBC.  

 

 

We usually just book the standard fare, and I am feeling a bit left out….

 

I get the discount for the wifi, and we stay away from alcohol, but always support the gratuities. One of us doesn’t drink coffee or tea and the other stays away from soda pop, so we are always better off with a pay as you cruise. 

[Happiest when cruising]

7 minutes ago, kiwimum said:

Nope it was a current promotion.  Looking for something to do in August 2023.   Love the fjords.

Congratulations…that is a great deal. 

[cr8tiv1]

10 hours ago, mtnesterz said:

So, as I understand it. You have to buy the Plus package to get drinks and gratuities. The only real "Sale" item is the US$100 excursion. Now, if I book the base, no frills fare, there is nothing. Am I reading that right? You have to pay to get the sale?

 

I was intrigued by the Love Boat Sale pre announcement.  I checked my currently booked cruise.  According to the sale:  "free wifi, drink, crew appreciation, and $100 excursion credit".  BUT ONLY offered for Plus fare or Premium (that includes wifi, crew appreciation, and drinks) and for a higher base fare.

 

No thank you.  I think I will keep my current booking without drink package but with $50 OBC.  Glad I have a TA that backs me up.  I sometimes miss the fine print or the obvious.  

 

I did see the free balcony for interior Get a Free Balcony Upgrade Europe bookings.

[Steelers36]

1 hour ago, Steelers36 said:

Yes, but the PLUS fare package option was never mandatory. 

They do seem to be starting to actively discourage the Standard fare option by removing other promo perks like the Excursion OBC.  

 

 

 

39 minutes ago, Happiest when cruising said:

We usually just book the standard fare, and I am feeling a bit left out….

 

I get the discount for the wifi, and we stay away from alcohol, but always support the gratuities. One of us doesn’t drink coffee or tea and the other stays away from soda pop, so we are always better off with a pay as you cruise. 

 

I did a quick analysis on a typical 10-night Caribbean voyage in Nov/Dec 2023 timeframe.  This one is on Enchanted and are what is available to past passengers in North America region.

 

The "always-available" Public Fares or CC Launch Fares:

 

Standard (NL1):             $1,119

Plus (NPP):                     $1,619                   (+$500 over Standard which is right in line)

Premier (NR1):               $1,869                   (+$250 over Plus which is right in line)

 

The Love Boat Promo is almost the same in pricing and includes the $100 OBC for ShoreEx:

Plus (N9D):                     $1,568                   (+$449 over Standard NL1 which is unusual)

Premier (NR9):               $1,868                   (+$300 over Plus which is unusual)

 

The Premier ends up to be same price with the new LB promo, but the split between Plus and Premier is different than normal.  Note that both options have $750 difference from basic Standard to Premier.  Plus is about $50 less with the LB Promo - and you get the $100 OBC if that is worth anything to you.  (I suppose if we wanted to do such a cruise we'd find something to spend the $100 on, but don't normally take PCL excursions). 

 

There is another launch type fare (PA1) which is a Plus fare code and is same cost as the N9D, but of course doesn't come with the $100 OBC.

 

[cr8tiv1]

1 hour ago, Steelers36 said:

 

 

I did a quick analysis on a typical 10-night Caribbean voyage in Nov/Dec 2023 timeframe.  This one is on Enchanted and are what is available to past passengers in North America region.

 

The "always-available" Public Fares or CC Launch Fares:

 

Standard (NL1):             $1,119

Plus (NPP):                     $1,619                   (+$500 over Standard which is right in line)

Premier (NR1):               $1,869                   (+$250 over Plus which is right in line)

 

The Love Boat Promo is almost the same in pricing and includes the $100 OBC for ShoreEx:

Plus (N9D):                     $1,568                   (+$449 over Standard NL1 which is unusual)

Premier (NR9):               $1,868                   (+$300 over Plus which is unusual)

 

The Premier ends up to be same price with the new LB promo, but the split between Plus and Premier is different than normal.  Note that both options have $750 difference from basic Standard to Premier.  Plus is about $50 less with the LB Promo - and you get the $100 OBC if that is worth anything to you.  (I suppose if we wanted to do such a cruise we'd find something to spend the $100 on, but don't normally take PCL excursions). 

 

There is another launch type fare (PA1) which is a Plus fare code and is same cost as the N9D, but of course doesn't come with the $100 OBC.

 

 

Thanks for doing this comparison.  I was too lazy to write down the numbers.  One day I will get Premier (not Premium) correct.  

 

This does not seem to be new.  When I booked a not so last minute cruise (a few months before final payment was due/but later for me), my TA said that the "best" deal she could get for me was the Princess Plus.  It's a short cruise so I didn't mind paying for the Plus package.  I am not a drinker, but enjoy the freedom to not worry about what I was trying out.  

 

It does look like Princess is trying to phase out the Standard Fare to keep up with the Jones/aka Celebrity and NCL.  Too many changes in too short of a time frame.  I don't like change.   

[dreaminofcruisin]

5 hours ago, Steelers36 said:

 

 

I did a quick analysis on a typical 10-night Caribbean voyage in Nov/Dec 2023 timeframe.  This one is on Enchanted and are what is available to past passengers in North America region.

 

The "always-available" Public Fares or CC Launch Fares:

 

Standard (NL1):             $1,119

Plus (NPP):                     $1,619                   (+$500 over Standard which is right in line)

Premier (NR1):               $1,869                   (+$250 over Plus which is right in line)

 

The Love Boat Promo is almost the same in pricing and includes the $100 OBC for ShoreEx:

Plus (N9D):                     $1,568                   (+$449 over Standard NL1 which is unusual)

Premier (NR9):               $1,868                   (+$300 over Plus which is unusual)

 

The Premier ends up to be same price with the new LB promo, but the split between Plus and Premier is different than normal.  Note that both options have $750 difference from basic Standard to Premier.  Plus is about $50 less with the LB Promo - and you get the $100 OBC if that is worth anything to you.  (I suppose if we wanted to do such a cruise we'd find something to spend the $100 on, but don't normally take PCL excursions). 

 

There is another launch type fare (PA1) which is a Plus fare code and is same cost as the N9D, but of course doesn't come with the $100 OBC.

 

 

I think Princess often has a Math problem.

I have been tracking some 2024 Caribbean cruises---looking to do a family group cruise. Prior to this sale, the Plus package was $400 more for a 7 day cruise than Standard. That works out to $57 / day more....not the $50 as advertised. We're not yet ready to book, so watching the prices...they now have 'corrected' that....by raising the Standard price. Now it works out to $49 / day more for Plus! Since Princess is often not doing Math correctly, let the Buyer beware...

 

Also, interesting to see how they will make the $100 for excursions only? I was wondering if that would be the case in reality...doesn't seem like their system would be able to figure it out. Maybe that's why it isn't included for Standard fares---it could then be used for gratuities. However, the fine print is interesting as it does state it can't be used in the casino:

 

†$100 Shore Excursion credit per guest. Offer is applicable to all four guests in a stateroom. Offer is only applicable on bookings with Princess Plus and Princess Premier fares. Guests with single occupancy will receive double the per guest credit amount. Shore Excursion credit may be used on a single voyage only, is not redeemable for cash, cannot be used in the casino, expires at the end of that voyage and is not applicable during the land portion of cruisetours. Shore Excursion credit is based on the ship’s onboard currency.

 

[Steelers36]

3 hours ago, dreaminofcruisin said:

 

However, the fine print is interesting as it does state it can't be used in the casino:

 

†$100 Shore Excursion credit per guest. Offer is applicable to all four guests in a stateroom. Offer is only applicable on bookings with Princess Plus and Princess Premier fares. Guests with single occupancy will receive double the per guest credit amount. Shore Excursion credit may be used on a single voyage only, is not redeemable for cash, cannot be used in the casino, expires at the end of that voyage and is not applicable during the land portion of cruisetours. Shore Excursion credit is based on the ship’s onboard currency.

 

This is standard language for any OBC.  It doesn't seem clear that it is OBC strictly for Excursions.

[jp2746]

9 hours ago, Happiest when cruising said:

Your son should have received 100.00, even if he only had the 1.00 deposit. That is what we received on a cancelled cruise with that 1.00 deposit. 

Really???  We got $1!  We have had three issues with Princess and have never even cruises with them yet!  I’m thinking that if we can get booked on something before the end of the year this will be our first and last Princess cruise.  They are so hard to reach and I actually lost money on the cruise that was canceled.  We paid with points and they never gave back $150 in points.  I tried for a couple of months and then let it go because I didn’t have time to be on the the phone for hours.  

[PRINCESS Sweet Pea]

jp2746, you booked your cruise on hold before the new Promo started, right?

[jp2746]

7 minutes ago, PRINCESS Sweet Pea said:

jp2746, you booked your cruise on hold before the new Promo started, right?

Yes

[caribill]

There are multiple new sales going on.

 

The "sale" that includes the $100 shore excursion credit is one of them. As pointed out in previous posts, it does not apply to standard fares. The "A value of $765 per guest on a 7-day cruise!" is based on the $100 shore excursion credit and the perceived savings of $665 by purchasing the Plus package instead of buying gratuities, Internet and beverage package separately. In other words, the only real part of the sale is the $100 shore excursion credit, assuming the cruise itself did not go up in price. Note that in past promotions that included a shore excursion credit it was as OBC and could be used as any other OBC was, not limited to shore excursions. This time that may or may not be the same.

 

A second sale (for North America residents only) is get a balcony for the price of an inside on select European voyages. This is a real sale. Applies to standard, plus and premier fares.  I saved 30% by rebooking with this sale. Note that if you rebook and had originally used what would be a now expired FCD, the expired FCD cannot be applied (will be refunded to original form of payment) and a new deposit (FCD or credit card) must be used. Of course if you rebook, any EZAir reservations will be lost and you will need to rebook them at current pricing which in my case was lower than the original airfare was.

 

Note that in the UK they have a different promotion "Book a Mini-Suite for the same price as a Deluxe Balcony before 31 October with just a £50pp low deposit*."

[caribill]

18 hours ago, getaway101 said:

Our 22 night TA & British Isles is up $458pp.  Think I'll leave it there.  Took me too long to get the cabin I wanted on the back of the ship.

 

You seem to have booked the two segments as one booking.

 

I am not sure if you are referencing the "$100 shore excursion credit" sale or the "get a balcony for the price of an inside" sale.

 

If the shore excursion OBC sale, you are correct, not worth it.

 

If the "balcony for the cost of an inside" sale it might be.

 

I also had a TA + additional segment and when I looked did not see that offer. But when I looked at the pricing for the individual segments, the offer was there for each segment. I saved about 30% by cancelling my 33 day booking and making it two bookings (17 day + 16 day) instead. It is of corse up to you if your cabin location is worth keeping instead of a great reduction in price for the cruise if that was the option you were looking for.

[JT1962]

I find it ironic that “The Love Boat” promo, which is being partially used as a promotion for the new dating reality show “The Real Love Boat”, does not appear to apply to singles. At least based on this section in the terms: 
 

 “These fares do not apply to singles or third/fourth-berth guests.”

 

https://www.princess.com/cruise-deals-promotions/

[partybarbie]

I only checked one of my upcoming cruises, the 10-day Mexico on the Crown. I have a Princess Plus, double occupancy rate of $1160 per person.  The same cabin is now $1310 per person. We have shipboard credits of $310 from our TA, vs. $200 from Princess.  I don't think the current sale is much of a sail.