What comes with a Princess free or discount offer, i.e. drinks

[Mississippian]

I have received a number of mailers from Princess touting their casino program (I played a decent bit on my last cruise). The mailers are kind of confusing. I recently did some cruise searches and found that I was entitled to a number of Alaska cruises for free. Further searches showed some heavily discounted Europe cruises, but no transatlantics. My question is, if I book one of these heavily discounted cruises, do I get a drink card? I know that on NCL I can drink in the casino for free, no hassle, but would like to know how Princess operates. Does taking a free or heavily discounted cruise make me a VIP?

[negn]

I have never gotten a drink card like they give at NCL.  Most of my cruises have included the Princess plus and if not, I purchased it.   Unlike NCL they do not charge extra for gratuities on drink package.  Princess also included free Wi-Fi and daily service charge in the package unlike the FAS package.  Princess also does not charge an “administration fee” on the comped cruises.  

[memoak]

I have had offers with and without the plus pancake and sometimes free play sometimes not. All offers are different you can get more detailed information on individual cruises by calling the casino department or your CVP if you have one

[NRWPA]

I played a good deal on Caribbean Princess this last 2 weeks. I had about 19K points the first week and 9K points the second week. I was somewhat disappointed that my "come back and play" offer was for a balcony and $600 free play for up to 15 days with no Plus package. Only good for cruises through 12/23/2023. Must book within 45 days of issuance but "isn't available for booking until 10 days or more after the cruise it was issued" (their wording). Small print says valid for bookings made between June 06, 2023 and July 21, 2023. I highlighted items that were new since my last offer of this type. My previous offers were good for cruises up to 20 days, $750 (or more) free play, included Plus package and good for a longer period of time.

 

BTW, I had "free drinks while playing" however, drinks were charged to my 15 drink limit from Plus package while I played video poker at the bar. I asked about it and bartender told me people without the Plus or Premier package got their drinks free but if you had the package they were charged to the package. Seems a bit odd to me, but she was the main bartender so I guess that was the answer she was told to give. I don't think I ever went to 15, but know at least twice I was at 14.

[memoak]

4 hours ago, NRWPA said:

I played a good deal on Caribbean Princess this last 2 weeks. I had about 19K points the first week and 9K points the second week. I was somewhat disappointed that my "come back and play" offer was for a balcony and $600 free play for up to 15 days with no Plus package. Only good for cruises through 12/23/2023. Must book within 45 days of issuance but "isn't available for booking until 10 days or more after the cruise it was issued" (their wording). Small print says valid for bookings made between June 06, 2023 and July 21, 2023. I highlighted items that were new since my last offer of this type. My previous offers were good for cruises up to 20 days, $750 (or more) free play, included Plus package and good for a longer period of time.

 

BTW, I had "free drinks while playing" however, drinks were charged to my 15 drink limit from Plus package while I played video poker at the bar. I asked about it and bartender told me people without the Plus or Premier package got their drinks free but if you had the package they were charged to the package. Seems a bit odd to me, but she was the main bartender so I guess that was the answer she was told to give. I don't think I ever went to 15, but know at least twice I was at 14.

My offers are also not what the used to be last year lots of offers for free balcony and $600 - $1,000 free play. Now most of the ones I am seeing are for free interior and $400 free play.  Maybe they are filling ships without  our help these days

[NRWPA]

2 minutes ago, memoak said:

My offers are also not what the used to be last year lots of offers for free balcony and $600 - $1,000 free play. Now most of the ones I am seeing are for free interior and $400 free play.  Maybe they are filling ships without  our help these days

My thoughts exactly. They don't need us so much anymore

[memoak]

1 minute ago, NRWPA said:

My thoughts exactly. They don't need us so much anymore

I will still take what I can get. The pendulum swings back and forth

[Ace_Caliente]

On 5/30/2023 at 11:14 AM, NRWPA said:

I played a good deal on Caribbean Princess this last 2 weeks. I had about 19K points the first week and 9K points the second week. I was somewhat disappointed that my "come back and play" offer was for a balcony and $600 free play for up to 15 days with no Plus package. Only good for cruises through 12/23/2023. Must book within 45 days of issuance but "isn't available for booking until 10 days or more after the cruise it was issued" (their wording). Small print says valid for bookings made between June 06, 2023 and July 21, 2023. I highlighted items that were new since my last offer of this type. My previous offers were good for cruises up to 20 days, $750 (or more) free play, included Plus package and good for a longer period of time.

 

BTW, I had "free drinks while playing" however, drinks were charged to my 15 drink limit from Plus package while I played video poker at the bar. I asked about it and bartender told me people without the Plus or Premier package got their drinks free but if you had the package they were charged to the package. Seems a bit odd to me, but she was the main bartender so I guess that was the answer she was told to give. I don't think I ever went to 15, but know at least twice I was at 14.

Do you remember what Video Poker games were available on the Caribbean Princess?

[NRWPA]

10 hours ago, Ace_Caliente said:

Do you remember what Video Poker games were available on the Caribbean Princess?

I only played at the bar. It was jacks or better, deuces wild, Bonus poker, double double and triple double. I saw other video poker machines with the other games on the casino floor but didn't play. 

[muggo11]

On 5/30/2023 at 11:59 PM, memoak said:

My offers are also not what the used to be last year lots of offers for free balcony and $600 - $1,000 free play. Now most of the ones I am seeing are for free interior and $400 free play.  Maybe they are filling ships without  our help these days

Agreed. . . I’m getting ready to go on a comped cruise with the Plus Package but I booked it last September.  I have another 4 cruises booked but NONE have the Plus package.  I’m hoping my play on the next cruise gets me back into PLUS status.  I’m not a big drinker and it’s still a good deal for me but sad to see PLUS eliminated from casino comps.  

[roxievegas]

16 hours ago, muggo11 said:

Agreed. . . I’m getting ready to go on a comped cruise with the Plus Package but I booked it last September.  I have another 4 cruises booked but NONE have the Plus package.  I’m hoping my play on the next cruise gets me back into PLUS status.  I’m not a big drinker and it’s still a good deal for me but sad to see PLUS eliminated from casino comps.  

We have taken two cruises so far this year, both free balcony and plus package, booked last year.  We are leaving at the end of July for our last cruise and it was a VIP cruise, free balcony, some free play money and no plus package.

We are going to wait until we get back from this cruise to see what offers we get, If they do not include a balcony or the plus we will not book.

[EZ1]

When we're on the ships, the come back offer is never so good & only up to 7 months later. Seems that the better offers are from emails that we get, & those go out thru Dec 2024.