Putting The Pencil To Princess Plus

[SiliconCruiser]

6 hours ago, Steelers36 said:

Security didn't bat an eye and after clearing the scan, I saw where the wine table would be, but not manned few minutes after 10:00am.  We were boarding at 11:00am and among first on (love that).

We noticed the same thing on an Alaskan cruise in July.  Actually the table wasn't even there.  But after noticing that no one seems to care if you bring back alcohol (of any kind) back from port calls.  In Shanghai (years ago) I brought back some sort of Chinese liquor (120 proof, and godawful tasting) that was left over from a luncheon.  No one batted an eye.  I soon discovered that other than at embarkation, they didn't seem to care about bottles or cans brought back from port calls.  (I have to wonder if anyone would care if they brought on one of those Jim Beam bottles that was in the shape of a gun 🤣.)  But one of the Princess security people freaked out when he saw a knife in the zip-loc that I put all my metal in for the scanners.  Had to explain to him the blade on my Swiss-Army knife was well below the 2.5" maximum but he insisted that he had to confiscate it until the end of the cruise.  He backed off after he saw the knife and I just acted very offended (though I do know that most of them don't really know what they're doing and that is also from one of my employment experiences where I really did have to know.)

[kywildcatfanone]

12 hours ago, caribill said:

Steelers36 did the math and showed for that set of circumstances if each person would spend more than $33/day on beverages in the package, the Plus package is worth getting.

Yes, I wasn't disputing that.  I was stating that it was a cash cow for the cruise lines which is why they offer it and why most people take it.  It's both a convenience thing, and a "I can drink all I want" thing, but the reality is most people wouldn't drink more than normal, and are spending way more money by having it than they would without and paying separately.  It's good overall marketing in the name of convenience.  And it must be working well, as all of them do it, and it's now a standard pricing item.

[wowzz]

2 hours ago, kywildcatfanone said:

but the reality is most people wouldn't drink more than normal, and are spending way more money by having it than they would without and paying separately.  It's good overall marketing in the name of convenience

Well, I drink like normal when on holiday,  seven or eight alcoholic drinks a day as a minimum, and I am saving a fortune by buying the PP package! 

[phabric]

I don’t drink alcohol or coffee/tea.

I booked a 10 day cruise.  
If I had booked with Plus it would be $1,500 CDN$/pp, the difference between Plus vs Standard

I booked at the Standard cruise fare.

I booked separately - tips, soda package, WiFi (Elite @ $5/day)

Total $422 CDN$/pp.

 

 

[sonomaphil]

So basically it works for some and not for others.   What a surprise. 

[cruiser113]

3 hours ago, phabric said:

I don’t drink alcohol or coffee/tea.

I booked a 10 day cruise.  
If I had booked with Plus it would be $1,500 CDN$/pp, the difference between Plus vs Standard

I booked at the Standard cruise fare.

I booked separately - tips, soda package, WiFi (Elite @ $5/day)

Total $422 CDN$/pp.

 

 

I'm confused.  Is  the  CND exchange  rate  that  high??   For  US a 10 day  cruise  with plus  is $50  p/p more  than  standard    ...10  days =  $500  p/p.

[phabric]

7 minutes ago, cruiser113 said:

I'm confused.  Is  the  CND exchange  rate  that  high??   For  US a 10 day  cruise  with plus  is $50  p/p more  than  standard    ...10  days =  $500  p/p.

10 day cruise in CDN$ for a balcony - 

Standard - $1,105.65/pp - cruise fare only

Plus - $2,618.65/pp - cruise fare only

Cruise fare difference between Standard and Plus is $1,513/pp

 

No sure, I think the exchange rate is $1.35?

[wowzz]

3 hours ago, phabric said:

I don’t drink alcohol or coffee/tea.

But for those of us who do, the package is worth every cent.

[sloopsailor]

9 minutes ago, phabric said:

10 day cruise in CDN$ for a balcony - 

Standard - $1,105.65/pp - cruise fare only

Plus - $2,618.65/pp - cruise fare only

Cruise fare difference between Standard and Plus is $1,513/pp

 

No sure, I think the exchange rate is $1.35?

 

Of all the cruises I have priced out, I have never seen the Plus package costing more than about $500pp US for a 10 day cruise, and certainly not $150 more. Are you certain those numbers are correct? Could the $2,618.65 fare be for the room with double occupancy and Plus?  

Edited October 12, 2022 by sloopsailor

[phabric]

1 minute ago, wowzz said:

But for those of us who do, the package is worth every cent.

That is why I like Princess, everyone has a choice of which fare they want to pay

[phabric]

Prices from Princess website that I used to book my cruise. I first checked Standard price (second picture).  When back and checked Plus (first picture) to see the best price for what I wanted.

 

First picture is Plus shows cruise fare only per person $2,618.65 CDN

Second is Standard shows cruise fare only per person of $1,105.65 CDN

 

I received a casino rate for this cruise if that makes a difference.

Edited October 12, 2022 by phabric

[sonomaphil]

9 minutes ago, phabric said:

Prices from Princess website that I used to book my cruise.

 

First picture is Plus shows cruise fare only per person $2,618.65 CDN

Second is Standard shows cruise fare only per person of $1,105.65 CDN

 

I received a casino rate for this cruise if that makes a difference.

Is the basic fare without Plus you're showing us involve a casino rate discount?  I know mine shows up exactly like that also.  You just add on the package separately after booking the casino rate.  

Edited October 12, 2022 by sonomaphil

[sonomaphil]

23 minutes ago, phabric said:

Prices from Princess website that I used to book my cruise. I first checked Standard price (second picture).  When back and checked Plus (first picture) to see the best price for what I wanted.

 

First picture is Plus shows cruise fare only per person $2,618.65 CDN

Second is Standard shows cruise fare only per person of $1,105.65 CDN

 

I received a casino rate for this cruise if that makes a difference.

Sorry missed the part about you saying it was a casino rate.   That's it then.  The Princess web site seems to have issues adding on the Plus or Premier to the casino rate.  Log out and then try it.  You'll see the regular price without the casino discount and then the math will work out. 

[sloopsailor]

39 minutes ago, phabric said:

Prices from Princess website that I used to book my cruise. I first checked Standard price (second picture).  When back and checked Plus (first picture) to see the best price for what I wanted.

 

First picture is Plus shows cruise fare only per person $2,618.65 CDN

Second is Standard shows cruise fare only per person of $1,105.65 CDN

 

I received a casino rate for this cruise if that makes a difference.

 

Thanks for the screenshots. The casino rate is the problem. For some reason the Plus package isn't picking up on that. I would speak to a Princess rep about the discrepancy. You should be getting that same casino rate with or without the Plus addition. Then the difference should only be around $600pp Canadian, about half the difference shown. 

 

EDIT: I just saw that others pointed out the casino rate as the culprit. Sorry to duplicate what had already been mentioned. 

Edited October 12, 2022 by sloopsailor

[phabric]

17 minutes ago, sonomaphil said:

Is the basic fare without Plus you're showing us involve a casino rate discount?  I know mine shows up exactly like that also.  You just add on the package separately after booking the casino rate.  

I received an email for casino rate for a few cruises.  I clicked the cruise and date I wanted on the email.  It directed me to the Princess website,  It showed 2 cruises for the destination I wanted.  I logged in.  I followed how I normally check for prices.

. Selected 2 guests, stateroom type (balcony), cruise package option (first Standard), stateroom location, select cabin location, deck, cabin, price is shown.Then went back to the beginning to select Plus to get the price. 
 

If you select Standard, you get no perks.  Once booked, can go to On Board Services and upgrade to Plus.

 

I get the prices as I posted.  If I do not log in the price is much higher than the casino rate.

 

We had the Plus on our last cruise in August.  I only had soda or virgin cocktails and my travel friend had soda, cocktail and 1 alcohol drink so not really worth it for us.

 

I paid CDN$ $422/pp for tips, soda package and Elite WiFi.

 

[dog]

3 hours ago, phabric said:

I received an email for casino rate for a few cruises.  I clicked the cruise and date I wanted on the email.  It directed me to the Princess website,  It showed 2 cruises for the destination I wanted.  I logged in.  I followed how I normally check for prices.

. Selected 2 guests, stateroom type (balcony), cruise package option (first Standard), stateroom location, select cabin location, deck, cabin, price is shown.Then went back to the beginning to select Plus to get the price. 
 

If you select Standard, you get no perks.  Once booked, can go to On Board Services and upgrade to Plus.

 

I get the prices as I posted.  If I do not log in the price is much higher than the casino rate.

 

We had the Plus on our last cruise in August.  I only had soda or virgin cocktails and my travel friend had soda, cocktail and 1 alcohol drink so not really worth it for us.

 

I paid CDN$ $422/pp for tips, soda package and Elite WiFi.

 

If you call Princess can they add Plus to your booking? 10 days x $50 US?

 

when I go to my existing bookings, go to Payments- I can add the Plus package after I have paid in full, right up to now-3 weeks prior to my cruise.

convert today approximately:

$50US=$69CAD

$75US=$104CAD

Edited October 13, 2022 by dog

[Doug R.]

Picked up my pencil, pad and calculator. Yawned, put them away and took a nap. Sounds too much like work.

[phabric]

On 10/12/2022 at 11:32 PM, dog said:

If you call Princess can they add Plus to your booking? 10 days x $50 US?

 

when I go to my existing bookings, go to Payments- I can add the Plus package after I have paid in full, right up to now-3 weeks prior to my cruise.

convert today approximately:

$50US=$69CAD

$75US=$104CAD

I have a 14 day Med & Israel (2023) cruise booked in CDN$.  We have 2 balcony cabins booked. 
 

1 cabin with Plus - $4,434.32/pp - cruise fare only

 

1 cabin with Standard - $3,404.31/pp - cruise fare only

+ paid separately + tips ($253.75) +  WIFI ($87.50 Elite rate) + soda ($206.36) total $547.61/pp

Total Standard cruise fare + purchases = $3,951.92/pp

 

Difference Plus vs Standard + purchase $482.39/pp savings.

 

For me, I have found not drinking alcohol/coffee, it is cheaper to purchase Standard and purchase what I want.

 

With Princess you can purchase cruise fares with different price options.

[memoak]

Princess Plus packages have saved us tons of money. Prior to drink packages we were budgeting $50 per day per person for drinks. Now we pay that and get our WiFi and grats paid as well

[ldubs]

On 10/1/2022 at 5:48 AM, SargassoPirate said:

I have a cruise booked with the Princess Plus package.  I am Elite with Princess.

 

I'm having second thoughts about the value of the Princess Plus package.  First of all, I don't drink that much, maybe a wee dram or two of scotch in the evening.  I don''t drink many chi chi coffees either.  I don't wifi much on board.  Specialty restaurants are not a big deal to me.

 

With my Elite wifi package discount and mini bar setup that I can swap for a coffee card, I'm thinking paying gratuities, wifi, and drinks ala cart may make more sense.

 

Thoughts?  Experience?

 

My experience is similar to several others who have already posted.  My usage does not justify the cost of the package. 

[jeeper2]

On 10/1/2022 at 10:21 AM, Dar & Bob said:

For us it was only $40 pppd extra on our last 2 cruises. The gratuities were $15 pppd -so that left us at $25 pppd - one coffee and a couple of glasses of wines and we were at break even.  Bottles of water, sodas and several other cocktails made it a deal for us. I also don't like to think about the fact of spending money once on board.  It's one and done.

Yes, it was an easy decision T $40 pppd.  I would have to really think about it now.

[OccasionalSanta]

6 hours ago, jeeper2 said:

Yes, it was an easy decision T $40 pppd.  I would have to really think about it now.

 

The old rate for Plus was $40/person/day.... When Premier was introduced, the Plus package was increased to $50/person/day   (U.S.dollars)

[bjkTX]

On 10/1/2022 at 7:48 AM, SargassoPirate said:

 

  First of all, I don't drink that much, maybe a wee dram or two of scotch in the evening. 

 

Not really related to the subject - but I had to laugh when I saw that comment.  We just returned from a British Isles cruise and our tour guide in Scotland had told me about his favorite scotch and that in fact he had a flask in the car and when we were finished with the tour I should taste it.  Sure enough at the last stop he got out his flask, then a box from which he took out a small silver cup with handles on both sides and engraved inside the cup was "A Wee Dram." 🙂  I'm a slow learner so he had to pour me two!

[bjkTX]

We just returned from a Princess British Isles cruise and were debating the Plus Package - did we break even.  We are in our 70s and hardly ever drink at home.  But on a cruise DW will want a Mimosa, a drink or two after an excursion, a couple of glasses of wine with dinner and maybe a drink after dinner.  And every night we'd get a couple of double Baileys to take to the room.  I'm guessing we broke even.  And being Elite we got to bring home most of the mini bar miniatures 🙂  We have the package on our next two cruises as well and since they are warm weather cruises I think we'll make sure to break even!

[wowzz]

4 hours ago, bjkTX said:

I'm guessing we broke even

The drinks you listed would have cost well in excess of $60 pppd

I would say that you more than broke even !😃