While I am pretty much a positive person, especially when it comes to cruising, there are things I get irritated with but don’t rant on and on about them. However, there is a problem that occurred last week and it still bothers me. I waited to write this post until I am calmer about the whole situation.
My friend, that travels quite frequently, told me about a promo that was being offered for extra onboard credit. I checked all my future bookings I had the promo showing on half of the cruises I checked under my log in. I am perfectly ok with that! Some booking increased in price so, the extra OBC was awash. I sent what I wanted done to my CVP on 2 bookings and the bookings were adjusted and the new invoices reflected the additional OBC. However, when I looked into my cruise personalizer, half the OBC disappeared under these bookings the next day. Then, Princess sent me new invoices later that day and all the additional OBC also disappeared.
I wrote to my CVP and she told me there was no evidence I ever had that promo, which doesn’t expire until the end of the month. I again checked the Princess website and I was locked out from looking up any cruises under my log in the remainder of the day. I checked the following day and bingo, the promo was no longer showing up under mine or my DH’s login.
In further inquiry, my CVP told me that they are targeting people that haven’t traveled with Princess in over a year with the promo and that’s why I didn’t receive it. Well, that’s certainly not true as my friend that told me about it travels as frequently as I do. Plus, I had the promotion but it was then pulled! So, WTH? Isn’t my money as green as anybody else’s? Why would Princess want to tick off their frequent passengers? It was explained this comes down from corporate and that’s the way they want to grow their business with new guests. But, when I recommend a vacation to my friends and family, do they really think Princess would now be my #1 recommendation after they’ve decided they aren’t so ‘humbled by my loyalty’ after all??
I just have such a bad taste in my mouth about this whole situation, even though they would have been on very thin ice trying to deny me the additional OBC with the original invoice showing it. While I’m thankful my CVP was able to retrieve it for me on those two bookings, I’m still very disappointed they decided to take the promotion away from us and then only offer it to their new target demographic and then some others of their choosing. Isn’t someone that cruises an average of once a month, always buys the package, doesn’t complain about much, is not demanding while onboard and is both kind and generous to their staff exactly the type of demographic they would want at the end of the day? If Princess has decided they can easily do without this type of passenger, I may have to reevaluate my relationship with them.
Just of note, I am not saying I will never travel with them again .. I just may look elsewhere, too.