FancyPants21

I am not saying they are the only option... you might be able to convert your Standard cruise fare into a Plus or Premier cruise fare, including the extras, gratuity etc, when on board... that I am not sure of... perhaps someone else can confirm this for us. But what I am saying regarding the beverage packages I believe is correct. 🙂

Princess makes the packages very confusing IMO. There are three types of cruise fare... Standard, Plus and Premier. These are cruise fares and include the appropriate beverage package (see below) and other extras like gratuities, wifi, meals etc. So, if you book a Plus or Premier cruise fare when you first make your booking the package cost becomes part of your ticket cost and so it is included as far as cancellation and insurance is concerned. Consequently, if you book a Plus or Premier cruise fare you cannot cancel the package without cancelling your entire cruise as it is an integral part of your fare. If you book a Standard fare you will then have to pay on top for all your drinks, wifi, speciality and casual dining meals, crew appreciation etc. This works well for a lot of people that won't want to use these extras. But for those on the Standard fare that may be only want the drinks, without the other extras that are included in the cruise package fares there are several optional add-on packages which you can purchase on board or before boarding through the app. So, if you get the Standard fare (which remember, doesn't include anything) but you still want to have drinks included, but not the other extras that are included in the cruise package fares, you can add the Plus or Premier beverage package. This is different to the cruise package fare in that it does not include the extras like wifi, gratuities meals etc. Just beverages. If you don't drink alcohol and you are on the Standard fare you can add the zero-alcohol package which just includes Sodas, Fruit juices, Smoothies, Mocktails, Hot chocolate, Premium and speciality coffees and teas, Bottled water, San Pellegrino, Evian and Red Bull. So, at the time of booking, you have to decide which cruise fare you are going for... Standard, Plus or Premier... and with Plus and Premier you get the wifi, meals, gratuities etc etc. With Standard you get nothing but you can then add the Plus or Premier beverage package or the zero-alcohol package after booking or when on board. It is very confusing because they use Plus and Premier as names for the cruise fare packages as well as the add-on beverage packages but as you can see they are different. There is also a classic soda package for those on the standard fare that just want sodas, fruit juices, mocktails and smoothies. Confused? Yup... so was I. I think I have all this right. If not then please say.

Tipping extra is always optional. Now they are adding 18% I will not be adding any extra unless the service was truly exceptional.

The recommendation for LHR for international flights is to check in no later than 3 hrs before departure. I know that the cut-off times are probably less than that but it can take a very long time to get through security at LHR. I would not feel comfortable arriving just 2 hrs prior but I know people that do.

Is that plus 18% ?

That helps a lot... thank you 🙂

I have read and read so many threads about speciality dining and yet I am still confused... clearly it doesn't take much in my case 🙂 My confusion is over how much it costs and whether the 18% is added if you have a package. It used to be $39 with no added service charge but now I am not so certain. I have seen posts that say a meal in CG is $39 no added service charge if you have a cruise package. I have seen $39 with added service charge and I have seen other prices too. Can someone help me out and say with certainty how much a meal in say, Crown Grill, is now please. I need to be put out of my misery!

@XBGuy Thanks for sharing. Looks like you only drink wine? I wonder if, and if so by how much, that might skew the figures down and away from the packages? It isn't unusual for us to get through $100 a day on cocktails and other alcoholic drinks and that is on top of wine we have at dinner. So that would all be covered by the package so we would have a zero for alcohol under the packages and $100pd added to the standard fare... things then look very different 🙂 I think the fact that you would still pay for your wine on a package, albeit with the discount, makes the packages unattractive for you. This would not apply to most people I suspect.

I don't know about most people but whether the ship is in port or at sea the bulk of my alcohol consumption is in the evening. The fact that the ship is in port during the day makes very little difference to my consumption... yes, a bit may be, but I generally drink coffees in the daytime.

If you can get bookings at all that is. I tried to book within days of the booking becoming available through the app and all times in all restaurants were already fully booked! I am in a suite so I will likely ask the concierge to see if he can obtain bookings otherwise the 2 included speciality dining meals with Premier will be lost 😞

Thanks for all your comments/recommendations. All duly noted 🙂 I am a big fan of Merlot and Malbec but a good Cab is also appreciated. I have never tried Caymus so that is on the cards if I can find it. Shiraz (Syrah) is a fav too but that can be quite hit and miss IME As for whites... to drink on its own I like a good Riesling (dry not sweet) or a good Chardonnay (ideally oaked, Chablis excepted) but with food Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio are often good. Unusually (in my experience), I am not a big fan of French red wines generally although there have been exceptions... perhaps I could use the Premier package to good effect by sampling more French and old-world wine when it is available. I generally prefer new-world wines from USA, Aus and South America. Wine, like coffee, is so subjective... getting recommendations from someone else is often difficult unless you know they have similar tastes to you but I really appreciate your comments. Whatever I have I am sure I will enjoy the wine and the experience 🙂 2 weeks to go!

I realise that what constitutes "good" wine to one person can be "bad" wine to another. It is highly subjective. But I suppose I am just after your opinions. What is the best wine under $40 per glass that you have had on board? Or any wine sold by the glass for that matter! Of course, I realise that better wines will be available by the bottle but my DW does not drink wine so I'd be on my own with it so prefer to stick to wine by the glass. I am on Sky in 2 weeks with a Premier package and I'd like to try out one or two that I wouldn't necessarily buy at the full price but I might try with the $20 contribution from the package. Any advice appreciated.

That quite clearly just wrong because we don't go ashore much so for us having a near empty ship is perfect for us and we get great value from our package thank you very much. Not everyone does it the way you do it 🙂

I will wear chinos, a open-neck shirt, a sports jacket and dark shoes... I am looking for a wastecoat made from Cornwall tartan I might wear that also on the "formal" nights just to jazz it up a bit in a smart way 🙂

True but other issues came up in the discussion so are we not allowed to discuss? I thought that is what a forum is for... discussion... it isn't an FAQ!

Yes, that is what it says but it is not compulsory and a lot of people do not wear formal gear.

It isn't a strict dress code. Living in the UK most of our cruises are from the UK. Until the last cruise we would always take our formal wear and enjoy the experience but on our next cruise (2 weeks 🙂 ) we are just taking smart casual. Providing you were not scruffy you would not feel out of place with anything... smart casual is the recommended dress on non-formal nights but you will find loads of people in smart casual on formal nights too. So, for the first time since I started cruising many years ago, I will not be wearing any kind of tie... I'll still take a jacket as I wear them normally at home anyway but no bow-tie. Trousers will be chinos rather than tux trousers. Not sure how I'll feel about it but it is a sign of the times so I shan't complain and I am sure I'll enjoy the evening no less as a result 🙂

First post... please be kind 🙂 There is no way I could ever justify any of the packages purely on financial grounds but I want my cruise to be a holiday where I don't have to think about or worry about anything unless I have to and so I get the package... like the OP... it then is a no-brainer to have what I want. I know many people will not do anything unless they can justify it financially but money is not the only incentive 🙂