April 1st - How Best To Respond????

[ccrain]

I've been kicking around various response scenarios to the changes Princess will introduce to Platinum and Elite level internet access as of April 1st. The prices have either all been raised or will be raised.

 

The scenarios range from ensuring we use every bit of our $75 each to boycotting the internet completely.

 

The question is, how best to respond to at least have Princess re-think their internet practices. The problem is, how much of my time do I want to spend to question lags, quality of connection, extra charges for not logging off, etc. with the purser's desk.

 

The bottom line is that I've come up with a scheme, probably based more in sophistry than in reality, to hopefully cause Princess a little discomfort in their decision.

 

The scheme is simply to not use the internet at all. Boycott the use, period. My rationale is as follows -

 

Past use factors, including reimbursements on use by Platinum and Elite members were used as the basis of agreement with the new Internet Cafe subcontractor. If use falls precipitously, and stays there, after 1 April, the new subcontractor may have an out from their current contract, or at the least will renegotiate the terms of the exisiting agreement, based on the new use factors. The result will be to increase the cost of the internet, or at the very least reduce the revenue, to Princess to either attract another sub or provide more allowances for the existing one.

 

If the demand drops significantly, the corporate suits will either have to attract more users to the internet by lowering prices, or improving service or some other method. (Of course, they could always raise prices to make up the difference and thus drive people to use intenet cafes on shore or have some docks offer free wi-fi access.)

 

Princess has claimed only 5% of the Circle's membership will be affected and have based their calculations on that number. If enough people boycott the use of on-board internet, we might just affect a change.

 

On the other hand, if only 5% are affected and only 1-2% quit using the internet, the capitalist system of voting with dollars will have spoken and my scheme will join others in the dustbin of history.

 

Although I actually believe the raise in prices to $0.75 a minute will do more to lower usage than any other factor.

 

So no more Live From threads for me, which will please some of you as I do rather tend to drone on. It will give me more time to kick back and relax, that's for sure. But I do intend to take my laptop next time and check out on-shore wifi and see what's available.

 

So what are you going to do come April 1st?

[Pam in CA]

I say, relax and enjoy your cruise. You're on vacation with lots to do and see.

[Colo Cruiser]

If you did boycott it would take many months if not a year or two for the results to be seen.

 

I agree with Pam, enjoy the cruise, be happy. ;)

[Julia’s Journey’s]

We just became platinum so this would be our first in September with the so called 'perks' 30 days with lots of sea days and I am going to have to keep in touch with the family and my office as my projects due date was moved to September which is not good considering the length of my cruise. (I did tell them if they cannot survive a month without me they have major problems:rolleyes: )

I tend not to spend to long on the internet while on vacations so boycotting would not be a problem for me and don't really think it will happen or have the impact - JMO

I'm happy to use on shore internet cafe's for the couple of timesI will check in:eek:

[Coral]

While Princess is my favorite affordable line and the line I prefer, the internet was the "key" that kept me from looking at other lines recently.

 

With out the internet benefit, I am considering other cruise lines, especially those lines with smaller ships (as I am not a fan of Grand class but often went because it had the itinerary I wanted and I had free internet).

 

My last cruise and my next cruise are not with Princess. Maybe Princess will see that I used to sail 3-4 times a year and right now I don't have anything booked with them. I am contemptating a fall foliage or November Europe cruise with them but I am going to look at all the lines and see what ship and itinerary look best to me and let that be the deciding factor - it will no longer be automatic that my next cruise will be with Princess.

[karen_cpa]

Was printing included in the free perks for Elite? I ask because we never really use the internet, but now thanks to the boarding passes for the airlines, we had to. We spent $6.00 in the internet cafe - $4 of that for printing. It seemed absolutely absurd to me that it's a dollar to print a page.

 

I think with more and more airlines going towards the on-line check-in, it's going to force more and more of the population to use the internet, so even know the Elite cruisers may be boycotting, I don't know if overall usage would be down. I could be totally wrong though.

[cusyl]

I am Platinum with Princess and I feel the $75. is fair. There is no need for the average person to use more internet time than that during a 7 day cruise. I only check to make sure things are okay at home. I don't read message boards or surf the internet. I am grateful for having any free internet time, I don't get it on Cunard even though I am Platinum there as well.

[seattlec5]

While I have heard all the reasons people need the Internet when on vacation I am simply amazed that Internet access is becoming a major if not the major decision making factor for some people when choosing a vacation style or a cruise line.:(

 

How did we all vacation 10 or more years ago before we had this perceived need to always be accessible. My suggestion would be that if you perceive yourself as being too indispensible at work or where ever to not be out of touch and end up spending an hour or two or more on the computer every day, then maybe this isn't the right time for you to be going on vacation or at least be at sea where access is very limited.

[pablo222]

I think your suggestions on how to 'show' Princess are rather silly.

 

If you really want to 'show' Princess, get 10,000 of your cruise

critic friends to cancel their future bookings, and refuse to

cruise on Princess until the policy changes.

 

The $75 / 7-days is fine with me, and if at some point, I feel

it's not, there are other cruise lines I can choose.

 

Now, what happened to italian waiters, a pasta course

with dinner, and $1 Bass Ales during London Pub night?

 

THOSE are important issues!

[traveling1969]

The next time your cable TV provider raises rates, cancel your subscription and see what happens. The same thing will happen if you boycott internet usage. There will never be enough particpation to make a difference as internet addiction is now widespread. I would be grateful for their generous policy. If internet usage continues to soar, and no doubt it will, cruise lines will be forced to increase capacity to meet demand and costs will continue to rise. Enjoy your free time now as that party is just about over. It is never wise to cut off one's nose to spite one's face.

[seattlec5]

I think your suggestions on how to 'show' Princess are rather silly.

 

If you really want to 'show' Princess, get 10,000 of your cruise

critic friends to cancel their future bookings, and refuse to

cruise on Princess until the policy changes.

 

The $75 / 7-days is fine with me, and if at some point, I feel

it's not, there are other cruise lines I can choose.

 

Now, what happened to italian waiters, a pasta course

with dinner, and $1 Bass Ales during London Pub night?

 

THOSE are important issues!

 

 

HA! Indeed I would agree that these are much bigger issues than Internet time.:D

[Lynda90]

Was printing included in the free perks for Elite? I ask because we never really use the internet, but now thanks to the boarding passes for the airlines, we had to. We spent $6.00 in the internet cafe - $4 of that for printing. It seemed absolutely absurd to me that it's a dollar to print a page.

 

I think with more and more airlines going towards the on-line check-in, it's going to force more and more of the population to use the internet, so even know the Elite cruisers may be boycotting, I don't know if overall usage would be down. I could be totally wrong though.

Printing was and still is included in the free internet perks.

[bubbadog]

im just glad it does'nt affect me,i dont have to use it for anything,and i can send an e-mail for under 75$ if i really have to or want to:)):p :rolleyes:

[Coral]

While I have heard all the reasons people need the Internet when on vacation I am simply amazed that Internet access is becoming a major if not the major decision making factor for some people when choosing a vacation style or a cruise line.:(

 

My suggestion would be that if you perceive yourself as being too indispensible at work or where ever to not be out of touch and end up spending an hour or two or more on the computer every day, then maybe this isn't the right time for you to be going on vacation or at least be at sea where access is very limited.

 

I have a parent who is ill due to a strange incident. She has been ill for 13 years. I use the internet to stay in touch with her. If I waited until she is no longer ill, I would never be able to travel. My brother (who is my backup) has been out of the country 4 of the last 5 years due to military deployment.

 

While it is easy for some to say "just leave everything behind" - this is not possible for all of us.

[lwnbwlr]

Boycotting the internet is inane. If you don't like the policy, sail with someone else. Princess instituted the policy because of a few internet hogs who tied up computers for hours on end to the detriment of us all.

Another "restriction" because of the selfishness of a few boobs.

[spongerob]

I consider myself part of the 95%. Between the two of us we get more than enough "free" time, more than we've ever actually used on any cruise. I can check e-mails, delete the spam, and even post an update to CC from the ship if need be. I have no intention of spending hours upon hours on line while on vacation; I'm spending far too much money for that. If my employer misses me while I'm going, it will just reinforce the value I provide while I am present.

 

I do encourage the boycotting the internet plan. If it helps me find a seat in front of a terminal more easily when I do decide to log in, so much the better. The servers will be faster, too. :)

[Lynda90]

I have a parent who is ill due to a strange incident. She has been ill for 13 years. I use the internet to stay in touch with her. If I waited until she is no longer ill, I would never be able to travel. My brother (who is my backup) has been out of the country 4 of the last 5 years due to military deployment.

 

While it is easy for some to say "just leave everything behind" - this is not possible for all of us.

Amen, Theresa! I also have an aging, ill parent and I need to keep in touch often.

[joyride]

I only think it would work if you got everyone else to agree to do the same. Personally, my DH and I probably check email every couple days while on the cruise and we will be fine with our alloted time on our April Cruise.

 

I work on a computer all day long and use email and internet several hours a day. My cruises are also a "vacation" away from the computer for me!! :)

I haven't been very successful when I have intended to do a "LIVE FROM" type of thread, because I am usually having too much fun on the ship to take the time to make a daily post.

 

I will post my review on CC when I get home from my Crown Cruise in April.

Other than that, I'm going to be reading in the Santuary, visiting the Spa, playing in the casino, watching a movie on MUTS, playing trivia & bingo, watching a show, swimming or hot tubbing, EATING, DRINKING, sunbathing, and I will be no where near the internet cafe! But, hey - that's just me! :)

[latitude 22]

actually, this will make them THRILLED if you boycott using just the internet...

 

when I was just on the Dawn my 2/27 sailing...i was told by a unnamed but VERY reliable inside source that close to 75% of usage each cruise is refunded to platinum and elites. That's a large chunk of money there.

 

Princess' competition won't give you the internet perks (the new ones) that Princess will.. and they know that...

 

printing is include in the perks.

 

Cusy...most of us long time cruisers no longer sail on 7 days cruises...if you are on 12 day or longer cruise this really does have an impact!

 

why anyone needs to use the internet is no one elses business...

 

and the thread that I just did about being onboard the dawn that was enjoyed by so many...would not have been possible without these perks!

[happyscot]

So what are you going to do come April 1st?

 

 

Perpetrate some form of practical joke.

 

What's "the internet"??

 

:D

[bdjam]

So what are you going to do come April 1st?

I will use the limited free internet that I've been given and I will be thankful that I don't have to pay for all of my internet time. If I go over the limit I will pay for it without question. I think the limited free time I'm given will be plenty for me to check home on family, etc. The fluffy emails that I send to friends trying to make them envious of my cruise can wait until I get home - where I pay quite a chunk of money for my monthly broadband connection. :confused:

[Charles4515]

I will use the limited free internet that I've been given and I will be thankful that I don't have to pay for all of my internet time. If I go over the limit I will pay for it without question. I think the limited free time I'm given will be plenty for me to check home on family, etc. The fluffy emails that I send to friends trying to make them envious of my cruise can wait until I get home - where I pay quite a chunk of money for my monthly broadband connection. :confused:

 

Same here. In addition to being thankful for the internet time they have given me, even though capped, I will also be thankful that I have enjoyed enough cruises on Princess to get that free time, unlike the majority of those cruising with me on on Princess with under six cruises, and those on other cruise lines with no free internet time at all who will be paying for every minute they use.

[PescadoAmarillo]

While it is easy for some to say "just leave everything behind" - this is not possible for all of us.

 

Coral, you are so right. But, frankly, I am tired of feeling I have to justify my internet time on a ship. Whether it's for work, or family, or whatever reason, it's nobody's darn business. I don't hover over those sunbathing commenting about skin cancer, those drinking commenting about alcoholism, those in the casino commenting about gambling addiction, etc. etc. etc

 

Yes, I would love to be wealthy enough to charter my own boat and sail around the islands, but it's not going to happen. So I choose to cruise with 2000+ fellow passengers. Part of the program is that I be tolerant of the differences between us. I only ask that they do the same.

 

On April 1st, I'm hoping to be on a last minute Celebrity cruise, where, despite my Elite status, I'll get NO free internet. So, am I happy about the Princess change? Of course not. Is their's still the best deal around? Definitely.

[jlp20]

...The question is, how best to respond to at least have Princess re-think their internet practices.....

 

I have a little different stance to this problem. We had already made our down payment for our next cruise before the change was announced. Our final payment will be due in a couple of days, weeks before the change takes place. I think we, the wife and I, are victims of a “bait and switch” since we booked under the old rules.

 

As I understand it, an outside company has come in and is running the Internet cafes, much like one of the boutique stores in the atrium, they rent out the store front from Princess.

 

A boycott may not affect Princess since the third party may be paying a flat fee to Princess and making profit from the difference in passenger charges. A boycott may in fact make the third party company go belly up, pulling their equipment from the ship, leaving nothing for the passenger.

 

I have never had a problem with one of the onboard stores. If there is a problem with a purchase, does the pursuer’s desk handle it, or are you asked to go to the store to have things straightened out. I have a vision of the Pursuer saying “sorry, but any problems with charges from the Internet café have to be taken care of there”.

[S&M in Pgh]

OK, you get $75 in internet usage right? Thats about 150 minutes. 2 and a half hours. To be frank, I think there a lots better things to do on a cruise than spend time surfing the net. I use it to check emails and print the return flight boarding pass. We have a Yahoo email account that we give to family and to work. They are told only to send a message if it is something we need to know before we get home. They also have instructions on how to call the ship, but we tell them only use that in a life or death matter. I tell work to leave me a voice mail on my cell. I check that every morning and every evening. Vacation is for being out of touch. And don't send your friends an email saying guess where I am. Do it the old fashon way, send a postcard. Then they have to look at the picture on the front and just get even more envious.

 

Mike