buffetking

Lately I've been taking charter theme cruises. Just got off one last March. So that's probably why I haven't seen the latest pricing schemes for regular cruises. If that's the way cruising is trending.... then I'm not going. Not because of the money... Because they raise the cost, but cheapen the experience. I've been on 37 cruises all over the world, on all the major cruise lines and some minor ones. I've experienced first hand the steady decline of a once wonderful experience. I'll go to a high-class resort instead. Only thing missing will be the rocking of the sea.

Thanks for your input voljeep. Letting Princess choose your cabin will stick you in an unpopular location, and the cruise fare is non refundable. Princess will save the best cabins for those who pay the added cost. If they didn't.. that would defeat the purpose. So, you pick the option for Princess to choose the cabin. After it's paid for, you see the location and don't like it. When you complain... can't get a refund. It's not a discount. If it was a discount, then Princess would price the cabin to the higher cost. Then mention you can save $300 a person by letting Princess choose the cabin. That's how it used to be with "guaranteed category" booking. You got a discount by letting the cruise line pick your cabin. I know because I've done this many times with different cruise lines. Price for the balcony cabin was quoted when I picked that category. The next page then stated an increased price if I wanted to choose the cabin myself. Also making me aware the original price was non refundable. And best cabins/locations are available by paying the increased amount. Additionally disclosing increased cabin cost was refundable.

Today, wanted to book a cruisetour to Alaska, July, 2024. Used Princess website. Chose balcony category. After choosing fare type, (another controversial topic), a window popped up with this choice: Let Princess choose my cabin for the price quoted on the previous page, with non refundable fare. Or I could pay $300 more per person to choose my cabin with refundable fare. So Princess is now taking a page out of airlines' playbook with regard to consumer choice. We have to pay extra to choose a seat on a plane... now extra to choose a cruise ship cabin. Princess even alluded: Best cabins/locations reserved for those who pay extra. Experienced cruisers: What do you think? And, what once included perk, will soon cost extra? Thanks for listening (OK... reading)