Which "NEW" Cruise Fare Package Do You Prefer?

[damiross]

9 minutes ago, Steelers36 said:

...Crew Incentive...

Regardless of what Princess calls it, it is gratuities.  A rose is a rose....

[2 cruises a year]

Just something to stir the pot.

 

Pre Covid, the Beverage Package alone, drinks only, no gratuities, no wi-fi was $69.99 per day, drink tips included.

 

Now off to get my popcorn.

[MissP22]

2 hours ago, kywildcatfanone said:

Those surveys are worthless.  I put in comments before to have someone contact me because  I wanted to discuss something, and you never hear from them.  I doubt most are even read.  They are computer scanned for your selections and then never viewed again by an actual person.

It's a shame because it incorporates the crew's ratings in them. It won't let you skip to the section you want to actually comment on so I just gave up on the whole thing. They've made it altogether to complex to bother with.

[2 cruises a year]

33 minutes ago, damiross said:

Regardless of what Princess calls it, it is gratuities.  A rose is a rose....

It is all a shell game.  No matter what you call it, or compartmentalize it, it is wages and the cost of doing business.  I'm sure there are tax benefits to to calling part of their wages what ever they call it.  At the end of the day, it is wages, and anyone that doesn't pay them, or decreases them is cheating the crew they so grandly praise.  It especially annoys me when citizens of other countries don't tip in the U.S. because in their country they pay a fair wage.  I agree with the fair wage part, but it is a fact of life that in the U.S., service industries are under paid and depend on the tips.  It is bread on the table no matter what you call it.  In other countries you will pay more for goods and cruises up front to pay those fair wages.

Now I'll step down off of my soap box.

Edited December 3, 2022 by 2 cruises a year

[cr8tiv1]

28 minutes ago, Steelers36 said:

The last time PCL increased Crew Incentive (it was Gratuities then), I didn't pre-pay since the voyage was somewhat in the future and I thought the crew deserved the increase.  It was well publicized and discussed here at the time.  PCL was going to be paying the crew the new amount at the effective date, even if guest had paid the old rate.  It's a personal choice, but I would likely let it go rather than have PCL pay without me paying.  Either that, or I would give the difference to my steward and waiters on board. 

 

Maybe that last idea is best.  Anyone who is taking advantage of pre-paying Crew Incentive at current rates, why not take that extra $3/cabin/day and give it to Stewart and your waiters?

 

As always, you present very good points.  I pre-paid with emotions.  I did not like Princess raising the prices of everything.  Made modifications on several cruises.

 

And your suggestion to take the difference and hand it out at the end...is something I have always done.  But there will always be those that won't or don't, including the ones that remove more than the increase.  

 

I am on the fence as to spreading the crew appreciation fleet wide..........I can see both sides, but would prefer it kept to the ship I was on.  From posters, t seems that the crew on most ships really do go above and beyond.

[Tedferg]

1 hour ago, 2 cruises a year said:

 I'm sure there are tax benefits to calling part of their wages whatever they call it.  At the end of the day, it is wages, and anyone that doesn't pay them, or decreases them is cheating the crew they so grandly praise. 

Interesting point about possible tax aspect, I have wondered why they do not just include gratuities in base price. To a degree I agree with your point about crew deserving the gratuity, however distributing it fleet wide and including others, like entertainers, is annoying to me. It does not feel like I am rewarding the crew on this ship that made my cruise enjoyable. Would never think of removing gratuities BTW.

[Jeter02]

1 hour ago, MissP22 said:

It's a shame because it incorporates the crew's ratings in them. It won't let you skip to the section you want to actually comment on so I just gave up on the whole thing. They've made it altogether to complex to bother with.

I still fill them out to entirety each and everytime, in high hopes for the crew acknowledgement section that it does truly indeed help those crew members with promotions. The crew work so hard each and every day to help provide a memorable trip, I feelmin my heart it's such an.easy way to say thank you and appreciation. Once again hoping that cooperate is at least paying attention to that section.

[Tedferg]

20 hours ago, Nelsj099 said:

  The only reason that I took the Plus package was when I booked it was the Love Boat sale and that got me 200 shore ex credit

Love Boat sale included Excursion OBC in Basic fare, you did not need to buy Plus to get it. 

[2 cruises a year]

10 minutes ago, Tedferg said:

Interesting point about possible tax aspect,

 

I have wondered why they do not just include gratuities in base price.

I agree, but here in San Francisco, a couple of high end restaurants raised their prices and said no tipping!.  It didn't work.  Tipping is so ingrained in us that people were turned off by the "high" prices.  People just couldn't look at the whole picture.  The restaurants had to lower their prices and go back to tipping.

 

To a degree I agree with your point about crew deserving the gratuity, however distributing it fleet wide and including others, like entertainers, is annoying to me. It does not feel like I am rewarding the crew on this ship that made my cruise enjoyable. Would never think of removing gratuities BTW.

I again agree, but it is what it is, and by not tipping, or reducing tips, only the crew suffers. (larger font for emphasis, I'm not yelling)  We pay the prepaid gratuities, it does go people that have made cruising enjoyable (again, as wages no matter what you call it), and reward the crew that we directly interact with with a little extra.  Right down to the crew cleaning the restrooms.  I give then some extra when ever I see them.

 

[Tedferg]

6 minutes ago, 2 cruises a year said:

 

Agree with your points, I am sure you know that cruise tipping used to be specific to crew member with envelopes. Disingenuous for cruise line to say, 'we are going to set the amount and charge everyone automatically FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE'.

[cr8tiv1]

Princess is flagged. in a foreign country for various reasons.  I do not understand why posters believe they should/shouldn't "tip" because they are traveling in the United States (Mexico/coastals/Hawaii/Caribbean, etc).  Granted, the majority of the passengers on these voyages are American, but it does not make it an American tipping culture.

 

2 hours ago, 2 cruises a year said:

It is all a shell game.  No matter what you call it, or compartmentalize it, it is wages and the cost of doing business.  I'm sure there are tax benefits to to calling part of their wages what ever they call it.  At the end of the day, it is wages, and anyone that doesn't pay them, or decreases them is cheating the crew they so grandly praise.  It especially annoys me when citizens of other countries don't tip in the U.S. because in their country they pay a fair wage.  I agree with the fair wage part, but it is a fact of life that in the U.S., service industries are under paid and depend on the tips.  It is bread on the table no matter what you call it.  In other countries you will pay more for goods and cruises up front to pay those fair wages.

No I'll step down off of my soap box.

 

25 minutes ago, Jeter02 said:

I still fill them out to entirety each and every time, in high hopes for the crew acknowledgement section that it does truly indeed help those crew members with promotions. The crew work so hard each and every day to help provide a memorable trip, I feel in my heart it's such an.easy way to say thank you and appreciation. Once again hoping that cooperate is at least paying attention to that section.

 

I really miss the onboard cards that go directly to the supervisors and then handed down to the crew.  The survey is a great place to let corporate know how the crew did, but there is only room for 3 names.  And then, the crew never sees these comments.  Bring the cards back.  

[t&atravel]

29 minutes ago, cr8tiv1 said:

but there is only room for 3 names

I was able to add 5 names on my survey from our cruise ending 11/7.

[2 cruises a year]

1 hour ago, cr8tiv1 said:

Princess is flagged. in a foreign country for various reasons.  I do not understand why posters believe they should/shouldn't "tip" because they are traveling in the United States (Mexico/coastals/Hawaii/Caribbean, etc).  Granted, the majority of the passengers on these voyages are American, but it does not make it an American tipping culture.

 

Tipping is obviously the "culture" on Princess ships.  It has always been encouraged and expected.  Envelopes and suggested amounts go way back.  And yes, it has always been a no-brainer for Americans and an irritation to travelers from countries where living wages are the norm.

I will repeat myself one more time and then quit.

Tips are expected by the crew.  Their wages are low and tips are necessary.  No matter what Princess calls it, or how they collect it, the crew counts on it.  By the way, this is also true of restaurant servers in America.  They work for less than minimum wage and need tips to make a living.  Also, tips in American restaurants don't go completely to the server.  You may not know it, but they share their tips with the back of the house, bussers and dish washers for example.  Yes, Princess has taken this policy to the extreme, but again, it is a shell game.  They all need the tips.

[roxievegas]

We have done most of the cruises to the locations in the world that we had on our bucket list.  We no longer want to hassle with flying, so we are now only doing cruises out of LA - our home port area.

 

We have done mexico, california coast 6- 7 times now, so we are doing repeats.

 

We are cruising to get out of the house, no cooking, no cleansing, gambling in the casino.  We are not big drinkers, so paying for a packages does not compute. 

 

If I buy one or two cases of water $7.00 per case of 12, get wifi for one (we get discount), and buy any coffee, glass a wine as needed, and pay the gratuities before we go.  We come out way ahead than buying a package deal.

 

We get offers from the casino for our cabin, and at times get the plus package included, then we are happy.  If no plus package, then we go without.

 

Everyone has to make their own decision as to what works for them.  We could pay for the plus package, but would rather spend the money in other places - my  choice.

[cr8tiv1]

IF...crew appreciation and wifi were included in the base fare, then we would pay taxes on the "new" enhanced total.  

 

Currently, we pay taxes on the base fare.  Insurance is calculated on base fare.  If you include gratuities, then the price of the base fare would increase AND we would pay a few extra pennies/well $$ for adding the cost of crew appreciation.  

 

Princess can not and never will please everyone.  Some days, my math brain is just too tuckered out to run numbers.  Other days, it is like a game and challenges my mind. I consider it pre-cruise foreplay.

[Tedferg]

3 minutes ago, cr8tiv1 said:

IF...crew appreciation and wifi were included in the base fare, then we would pay taxes on the "new" enhanced total.  

 

Currently, we pay taxes on the base fare.  Insurance is calculated on base fare.  If you include gratuities, then the price of the base fare would increase AND we would pay a few extra pennies/well $$ for adding the cost of crew appreciation.  

 

Princess can not and never will please everyone.  Some days, my math brain is just too tuckered out to run numbers.  Other days, it is like a game and challenges my mind. I consider it pre-cruise foreplay.

So if you add Plus to an existing booking, does Insurance get increased?

[Happiest when cruising]

On 12/2/2022 at 5:14 AM, chabad said:

How about this. I don't drink liquor. But I do enjoy soda. If I want soda, I have to buy a drink package which contains liquor among other items. How about bringing back the old soda only package from days of old. I am sure I am not the only one who feels this way. What do you all think?

You can still purchase a non alcoholic drink package, it’s just not part of your booking rate, unless you are the third and forth person  in a cabin. 

[2 cruises a year]

41 minutes ago, cr8tiv1 said:

IF...crew appreciation and wifi were included in the base fare, then we would pay taxes on the "new" enhanced total.  

 

Currently, we pay taxes on the base fare.  Insurance is calculated on base fare.  If you include gratuities, then the price of the base fare would increase AND we would pay a few extra pennies/well $$ for adding the cost of crew appreciation.  

 

Princess can not and never will please everyone.  Some days, my math brain is just too tuckered out to run numbers.  Other days, it is like a game and challenges my mind. I consider it pre-cruise foreplay.

Thank you, these some more really good reasons why I call cruise pricing a shell game.  These all have to be described and paid for one way or another.  No matter how they hide the pea, some will be happy, and some will not be happy. And I also agree, one day it is a headache, the next day a challenge. For the most part, I've accepted that it is what it is and I just book what I want, not what I need.

[Happiest when cruising]

20 hours ago, DeeTO said:

Can someone clarify who pays the new gratuities and when. Above It states it goes into effect for new bookings after Dec. 14 2022 which implies if you already have a booking old rates apply. Then last sentence says, clients with existing bookings can prepay at old rate until Dec13. Makes you think if you don’t prepay by then, even with existing booking, old rate may not apply? 
I’m confused. Am I totally misunderstanding there English and what if existing booking is for cruise after Feb 20, 2023? 

Yes, that’s correct. They did it that way before, as well. You  have a short time to pay it, or else…lol.

Sadly, some of us have enough OBC to cover them, but would need to pay the increased price up front, or, just lose a little more OBC. It’s not a big deal,  but I would be left with more OBC than I can use. Maybe that’s the point…use it or lose it. For example, we just booked a quick 6 night cruise that we’ve done a couple of times. We each got 100.00  OBC, 30.00 for using a FCD and we have shares…so, 330.00 for 6 nights, and no need to do excursions. We don’t usually drink alcohol and don’t need more trinkets. 
I guess we’ll be enjoying  a meal at the specialty restaurant even though we are usually very happy with the MDR meals. 
i think I’ll also wait to order the discounted WIFI onboard, and just pay the higher price and use it up that way. 
 

[c-boy]

4 minutes ago, 2 cruises a year said:

Thank you, these some more really good reasons why I call cruise pricing a shell game.  These all have to be described and paid for one way or another.  No matter how they hide the pea, some will be happy, and some will not be happy. And I also agree, one day it is a headache, the next day a challenge. For the most part, I've accepted that it is what it is and I just book what I want, not what I need.

😆 hard for ya to hang up those spurs,  What's the hourly minimum wage where you live ?

[Happiest when cruising]

8 hours ago, ceilidh1 said:

I always buy the Plus package and have managed to either break even or do better financially than I would without it, even with a teen as passenger two. My last 7 day cruise I upgraded to the premiere, which I justified to myself because I knew I wanted to get some nice pictures. We definitely got the moneys worth out of the pictures but the upgraded alcohol portion was a joke - they literally had nothing in stock that was at the higher pricing. I won $25 OBC in Princess Prizes, and we did use the specialty dining, which we would have paid for otherwise. There is no way I would upgrade on a longer cruise. Now that Plus is going up again, I would need to do the math to find the break-even point and would more likely just go with standard and pay-as-you-go.

 

I wonder what the end game for Princess is here. Is it to make the Premiere look more attractive? To enitce new cruisers who don't know any better? Psychologically, if I was a newbie, faced with ONLY standard or Premiere, I would likely just buy Premiere so I got everything and worried about nothing. With Plus awkwardly jammed in there, it would make me stop and think about what I was actually getting and whether it was worth it. I would do the math and likely opt out of any of them. As a seasoned cruiser, I look at the options and think "Wow! They are charging more for what?" It feels like they are trying to be all-inclusive without being all-inclusive. Personally, I would almost prefer that they just raise the overall cruise price and have everything included...but I guess that doesn't sell cabins.

 

I have loved Princess since day one and they have always been my go-to line. Sadly, they continue to make it harder to keep loving them. Every benefit they do away with, every decline in product or onboard experience, every attempt to nickel and dime, just makes me like them a little less. I'm not saying other lines don't do the same, but I haven't sailed on other lines enough to know the difference - and I'm sure that is what Princess is counting on from their "new" passengers....

Perhaps they realized they make more money if people book the standard fare, and then drink a lot…they would bake more money, I think. People don’t really change their vacation alcohol drinking habits that much. 

[Happiest when cruising]

6 hours ago, damiross said:

You need to sign up for Wi-Fi in the Medallion app.  You would think they would indicate this on the website.  At least, I didn't see it mentioned on the site. I had to contact Princess for this via chat. 

I find it interesting that I just looked at the app for my April cruise and checked the medallion net price. I haven’t ordered it yet. I think it would have been fair for a quick pop up, to let me know the price was going up, so pay now instead of waiting, since some of us are on the fence about needing it anyways. Of course… although it was not always fast, I never went over the amount that was free and allowed on the old system. I did pay for it on my September cruise, but I found I spent too much time surfing the net, because I could. 

[sirclean]

2 hours ago, Tedferg said:

So if you add Plus to an existing booking, does Insurance get increased?

I upgraded (and paid) to get to Princess Plus for an April Cruise.  On the webpage, it indicated that my insurance cost would also go up, so it looks like the answer is Yes. 

[cr8tiv1]

2 hours ago, sirclean said:

I upgraded (and paid) to get to Princess Plus for an April Cruise.  On the webpage, it indicated that my insurance cost would also go up, so it looks like the answer is Yes. 

 

Yes, when I hit that tell me more button, the cost was more than $50 x number of days (old pricing).  There was an addition $42 that I could not account for ($3.50 per day more).  I decided that it wasn't worth my analysis as to why.  Accepted and purchased.

[rdsqrl]

13 hours ago, ceilidh1 said:

. . . I have loved Princess since day one and they have always been my go-to line. Sadly, they continue to make it harder to keep loving them. Every benefit they do away with, every decline in product or onboard experience, every attempt to nickel and dime, just makes me like them a little less. I'm not saying other lines don't do the same, but I haven't sailed on other lines enough to know the difference - and I'm sure that is what Princess is counting on from their "new" passengers....

Beautifully stated.  Couldn't agree with you more.