calikak Posted September 5, 2006 #1 Share Posted September 5, 2006 Didn't see this posted yet, sorry if someone has already posted it and I missed it: Princess Becomes First in Cruise Industry to Convert to All-Electronic Tickets Tuesday, September 05, 2006 5:30:21 AM (GMT-07:00) Provided by: PR Newswire Leader in Online Convenience Introduces New eTickets Program SANTA CLARITA, Calif., Sept. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Starting this week Princess passengers will receive their travel documents sooner and more conveniently with the company's new eTickets program. The line will be the first in the industry to convert completely to electronic ticketing, and will also provide the earliest cruise documents available to passengers. Princess eTickets will give passengers 24/7 access to print out their cruise details and boarding passes whenever they wish, and will deliver final booking and travel information through the company's online Cruise Personalizer. "There's nothing that travelers appreciate more than having their travel details confirmed well in advance and in-hand so they can rest assured their vacation will be their perfect escape," said Jan Swartz, senior vice president of customer service and sales for Princess. "This is yet another online innovation that delivers great customer service and convenience to our passengers," she said, referring to the line's earlier roll-outs of the industry's first online advance shore excursion and spa reservations. With the new eTickets, not only will passengers receive their travel documentation much quicker than the current mailed ticket package, the new technology provides passengers with their Princess Air details as soon as 75 days in advance -- earlier than any other cruise line. By receiving this travel information sooner, passengers have a greater opportunity to finalize their vacation plans and make changes if needed. Replacing the company's traditional paper documents, Princess eTickets will begin fleetwide for most sailings departing on and after November 17, 2006 (Golden Princess will begin with the December 16 sailing). Passengers sailing on or after this date will be able to access their boarding passes and travel summaries starting this week. The program currently applies only to bookings from North American passengers. "We've been testing eTickets on select groups of passengers for several months now," said Swartz. "Feedback has been overwhelmingly enthusiastic and our customers have told us what a great convenience it is. Giving our passengers their cruise and air details much sooner and, at their fingertips, provides them more control over their final travel arrangements, which is what we know is important to them." With Princess eTickets, travelers are provided with a comprehensive, personalized travel summary including cruise and flight information, itinerary, special request information, important notices, packages and transfers, shore excursion and spa pre-reservations, and a new boarding pass to be printed out and brought to the ship for check-in. Each passenger's travel summary will be available through the online Cruise Personalizer once the booking is confirmed. Air travel arrangements made through the company's Princess Air program will be included in this summary as soon as 75 days in advance of travel, well ahead of the industry standard of 30-day notification. When passengers complete their pre-cruise immigration information and their reservation has been fully paid, passengers will be able to access their new online boarding pass. Passengers who complete their information forms in a timely fashion will be able to print their travel documentation much more quickly than the traditional mailed ticket package, which is currently sent at 30 days prior to the sailing. The travel summary can also be easily forwarded to friends and family who might need a copy of the itinerary information. Suite passengers, as well as Platinum and Elite level members of Princess' Captain's Circle loyalty program, will receive a Preferred Boarding Pass to use at the Preferred Boarding check-in desk at the pier. Passengers will continue to receive by mail Princess' popular package of pre-cruise documents including a welcome letter, Cruise Answer Book, Adventures Ashore excursion booklet, passage contract, Princess Travel Care details (if applicable) and luggage tags. This packet will be mailed approximately 75 days prior to their sailing date -- earlier than the current 60-day-prior mailings. Travelers without internet access can receive their travel summary and boarding pass from their travel agent, or Princess will send them a copy of the travel summary in the mail upon request. "We've been an innovator in pre-cruise planning as we strive to make our passengers' pre-cruise preparation quicker and easier," noted Swartz. "We pioneered online shore excursion reservations, and even today, our Adventures Ashore tours are available for booking as early as 90 days out -- the earliest in the industry. We were also the first line to offer online reservations for spa treatments. We want to make it as easy as possible for a passenger to plan their perfect vacation with us." Additional information about Princess eTickets is available through a professional travel agent, by calling 1-800-PRINCESS, or by visiting the company's website at www.princess.com. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve20832 Posted September 5, 2006 #2 Share Posted September 5, 2006 It's not really 100% e-tickets Travelers without internet access can receive their travel summary and boarding pass from their travel agent, or Princess will send them a copy of the travel summary in the mail upon request. I see someone at Princess was looking after the elderly. My 90 year old grandmother has never touched a computer but loves to cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calikak Posted September 5, 2006 Author #3 Share Posted September 5, 2006 Good point, Steve. I am glad that they're keeping an option available for those who are not computer savvy. My TA says that this will be effective for sailings 11/17/06 and later. Those of you booked on later sailings, if you log into the personalizer, on the right hand side it should say "Print my travel summary" and "print my boarding pass." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newmexicoNita Posted September 5, 2006 #4 Share Posted September 5, 2006 yes, this was just announced this morning. I got the email from my boss about 1/2 hour ago. Of course, those who don't have computers will still get their docs the old fashion way, but for all prctical purposes they are going all E docs. This really isn't much of a surprise. It was going to happen one of these days and the other lines will soon follow. NMNita Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Love Boat Dream Posted September 5, 2006 #5 Share Posted September 5, 2006 I'll miss those big blue tickets though! And the joy of opening my mail and receiving the tickets! Not the same thing being able to print them from the Internet! But, hurray for Princess being on the cutting edge! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twelvevman Posted September 5, 2006 #6 Share Posted September 5, 2006 Of course now you can just hit print and do the doc dance anytime and as many times as you want :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KAWS Posted September 5, 2006 #7 Share Posted September 5, 2006 I'd much rather get my tickets this way. For my upcoming Princess cruise the TA is in Florida and I'm in Ontario, Canada. I almost died when I first saw how late they send the tickets out and thought if there were any sort of mail delay I'd be up the creek. No danger this way. So I'll do a predocument dance now! \o/\o/\o/\o/ Kim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cherylandtk Posted September 5, 2006 #8 Share Posted September 5, 2006 My TA says that this will be effective for sailings 11/17/06 and later. Those of you booked on later sailings, if you log into the personalizer, on the right hand side it should say "Print my travel summary" and "print my boarding pass."I think this only shows up if you have made full payment on the cruise...I think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coiran Posted September 5, 2006 #9 Share Posted September 5, 2006 Good point, Steve. I am glad that they're keeping an option available for those who are not computer savvy. My TA says that this will be effective for sailings 11/17/06 and later. Those of you booked on later sailings, if you log into the personalizer, on the right hand side it should say "Print my travel summary" and "print my boarding pass." I checked on our Dec 2 cruise and all they had to print out were the standard forms and travel summary - no boarding passes or other docs. But then we haven't hit final payment date yet. Ron Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alonzo14 Posted September 5, 2006 #10 Share Posted September 5, 2006 This atritcle also says we will receive a Welcome packet 75 days before departure including luggage tags and other info. I'm glad Princess is sending luggage tags even with e-ticketing. I know the RCCL does some e-ticketing, but when they do this I have heard they do not send any welcome packet or luggage tags. People have had to get them from the porters at the pier. So we will still get something in the mail, just not the tickets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiserjanet Posted September 5, 2006 #11 Share Posted September 5, 2006 DH and I are excited about this. We've been having "issues" with our post office about our mail. We were lucky we even got our tickets the last time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donna5 Posted September 5, 2006 #12 Share Posted September 5, 2006 I wonder if they will still be locking people out of the personalizer 5 days before a cruise? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hurstbear Posted September 5, 2006 #13 Share Posted September 5, 2006 Does this affect even those who booked thru a travel agency? :cool: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsmeeker Posted September 5, 2006 #14 Share Posted September 5, 2006 This is GREAT!! Hopefully, more cruise lines will follow suit in quick order. No need for a piece of paper to check in for an airline flight. None to check into a hotel. Cruises ought to be the same way. I'm sure they will eventually do what airlines do and start to charge extra for paper ticketing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mapu Posted September 5, 2006 #15 Share Posted September 5, 2006 I wonder if they will still be locking people out of the personalizer 5 days before a cruise? The answer to that is yes! Also, even if you book with TA you will be able to print your docs. gail Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Host CJSKIDS Posted September 5, 2006 #16 Share Posted September 5, 2006 I wish I could print out my documents for my 11/4 Crown sailing. Disney now allows you to check in on line and print out your papers, it was great. You were also allowed to make reservations for their alternative dining right on line, check you kids into their kids clubs and just like Princess make all of your spa appts right on line. . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToplessPony Posted September 6, 2006 #17 Share Posted September 6, 2006 Just logged on to My Princess and sure enough "Print Boarding Pass" is there. We're cruising Nov 19th and final payment day was today. Check in was pretty fast already, I wonder how much this will speed it up? Scott Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DesrtDrmr Posted September 6, 2006 #18 Share Posted September 6, 2006 Our cruise is at the end of November, final payment has been made, and our documents are at the "my princess" site.....to be printed out. Of course, shore excursions are not available yet, but tickets are! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TBR Posted September 6, 2006 #19 Share Posted September 6, 2006 I wonder if they will still be locking people out of the personalizer 5 days before a cruise? Yes and you may be denied boarding at the port if you don't fill out immigration forms prior to 5 days. Also first time cruisers and gold circle members will have to enter c.c. info. Platinium and Elite won't have to enter c.c. info and will have a different color boarding pass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calikak Posted September 6, 2006 Author #20 Share Posted September 6, 2006 I think this only shows up if you have made full payment on the cruise...I think. Good point! That makes sense, they wouldn't want to be issuing people boarding passes if they might not make final payment, that could get scary at the pier! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovebug33 Posted September 6, 2006 #21 Share Posted September 6, 2006 Why do they lock you out 5 days before your cruise? I just love getting online and staring at my trip! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovebug33 Posted September 6, 2006 #22 Share Posted September 6, 2006 Why do they lock you out five days before the cruise? I won't have anything to stare at endlessly! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JotWorld Posted September 6, 2006 #23 Share Posted September 6, 2006 Good point, Steve. I am glad that they're keeping an option available for those who are not computer savvy. My TA says that this will be effective for sailings 11/17/06 and later. Those of you booked on later sailings, if you log into the personalizer, on the right hand side it should say "Print my travel summary" and "print my boarding pass." We're on the Nov 29 Golden Transatlantic, & it's the only Exception:( Why do I always fall through the Cracks???:confused: Oh well 3 more cruises b/4 eTickets & Boarding Passes on Printer;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve20832 Posted September 6, 2006 #24 Share Posted September 6, 2006 This atritcle also says we will receive a Welcome packet 75 days before departure including luggage tags and other info. I'm glad Princess is sending luggage tags even with e-ticketing. I know the RCCL does some e-ticketing, but when they do this I have heard they do not send any welcome packet or luggage tags. People have had to get them from the porters at the pier. So we will still get something in the mail, just not the tickets. I received my welcome packet with RCCL about 2 months before our cruise and it had our luggage tags in it. The on-line docs were very easy to do and RCCL had special check-in lines for those who printed thier docs on-line. It was a very fast process when we got to port. One couple in line in front of us and we were on the ship within 10 minutes once we got out of the waiting room and through security. I hope Princess has those special check-in lines for those who printed thier docs on-line, the process for getting on the ship is very fast. Have your printed docs and credit card in your hand and it goes even faster. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RevSmith Posted September 6, 2006 #25 Share Posted September 6, 2006 Everything is going into the computer now a days...I can't even call in sick any more, I have to sign in sick...oh well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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