Free Internet eliminated from all suites

[BugsyCruiser]

It IS being honored. That's the bottom line. While people were calling and complaining, the PTB were meeting and decided to grandfather it in for booked guests. Don't blame to CS people; they are probably just finding it out now. Take a deep breath and relax. You're going to get your Internet. Let's move on.

 

I'm not the OP, nor was I complaining... I also wasn't aware that they were honoring it. I am glad you let everyone know that they are. It doesn't affect me either way because free internet in a suite isn't a dealbreaker for me to sail Princess again

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

Agree. The solution here is to eliminate the free internet effective immediately and give everyone who booked a suite prior to July 1 $100 OBC per cabin. ... If it were up to me, I would just pull the plug on the internet and give people OBC.

 

$100 times the number of booked suites is likely a figure which scares the bean counters !!

 

.. but I agree that would be a "quick" way to settle things down to where very few would be able to bitch...

 

Tom

[compozer]

Pam,

 

Deep breathe or not, I spent a good deal of time on the phone with customer service yesterday after they called and there were very clear that we were not being grandfathered even though we have paid in full already for our suite. Someone is putting out conflicting info and I do not know why except to perhaps allow this issue to go away. If on the other hand they are grandfathering some and not others..........well that's a whole different issue.

 

 

I was the one that was told I would get it on all of the cruises that I have booked suites on. Now, I'm wondering if I need to call back. I first talked to a very nice man who knew nothing about it. Shortly after that, a lady called me back and gave me the information. Now, I did not write down either name. Guess it is time to call back.

[butternut1]

it is being honored. That's the bottom line. While people were calling and complaining, the ptb were meeting and decided to grandfather it in for booked guests. Don't blame to cs people; they are probably just finding it out now. Take a deep breath and relax. You're going to get your internet. Let's move on.

 

Amen!!

[geesherry]

YAY!!!

Have just received the coveted "in writing" conformation that we have been grandfathered!!!!

Dear Ms. geesherry-

 

We apologize for your continued disappointment. For those passengers who have a suite booking made prior to July 15, 2012, we will honor the offer of complimentary internet for that voyage. Please see the Passenger Services Desk during your cruise and they will waive any internet charges.

 

We look forward to welcoming you onboard..

Sincerely,

 

Princess Cruises

Customer Relations Specialist

customerrelations@princesscruises.com

 

 

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

YAY!!!

Have just received the coveted "in writing" conformation that we have been grandfathered!!!!

Dear Ms. geesherry-

 

We apologize for your continued disappointment. For those passengers who have a suite booking made prior to July 15, 2012, we will honor the offer of complimentary internet for that voyage. Please see the Passenger Services Desk during your cruise and they will waive any internet charges.

 

We look forward to welcoming you onboard..

Sincerely,

 

Princess Cruises

Customer Relations Specialist

customerrelations@princesscruises.com

 

 

 

Does that apply to WIRELESS as well as their cafe computers?

 

Tom

[TheBestIsYetToCome]

YAY!!!

Have just received the coveted "in writing" conformation that we have been grandfathered!!!!

Dear Ms. geesherry-

 

We apologize for your continued disappointment. For those passengers who have a suite booking made prior to July 15, 2012, we will honor the offer of complimentary internet for that voyage. Please see the Passenger Services Desk during your cruise and they will waive any internet charges.

 

We look forward to welcoming you onboard..

Sincerely,

 

Princess Cruises

Customer Relations Specialist

customerrelations@princesscruises.com

 

 

 

 

Great news! Thanks to those who brought this issue forward and pressed for it to be resolved. Now people can make an informed decision going forward.

[geesherry]

Does that apply to WIRELESS as well as their cafe computers?

 

Tom

 

Please see the Passenger Services Desk during your cruise and they will waive any internet charges.

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

Please see the Passenger Services Desk during your cruise and they will waive any internet charges.

 

My skeptical radar is up... ;)

 

... because some have pointed out that wireless had not been part of the previous (recent?) plan...

 

I have no idea -- being a total newbie to Princess, but having enough experience dealing with cruise lines to not take everything at face value.

 

Tom

[mringenoldus]

I have also received the response that the internet fees will be waived for those already booked in full suites.

 

We apologize for your continued disappointment. For those passengers who have a suite booking made prior to July 15, 2012, we will honor the offer of complimentary internet for that voyage. Please see the Passenger Services Desk during your cruise and they will waive any internet charges.

 

We look forward to welcoming you onboard.

 

Sincerely,

 

Princess Cruises

Customer Relations Specialist

customerrelations@princesscruises.com

[compozer]

Can they really tell if you are using a computer in the cafe or on your own laptop in your cabin. Never have tried it, but can you take your laptop to the cafe and use it. I don't like doing personal thing on a public computer.

[Matcodixon]

Can they really tell if you are using a computer in the cafe or on your own laptop in your cabin. Never have tried it, but can you take your laptop to the cafe and use it. I don't like doing personal thing on a public computer.

The biggest difference is that with todays smart phones as well as personal laptops, Ipads Etc, many of us are accustomed to leaving them connected to the internet 24/7. Most of us have unlimited internet time.

I remember horror stories from some of the first reports of smart phones taken to Europe and as a result of their constant connections, there were some roaming bills ranging into the thousands of $$. :eek:

A computer in the internet cafe can have software that disconnects it after a period of elapsed time, or, at least, asks for a confirmation that the user is still there.

Realize the importance of the time factor when you look at all of the Platinum and Elite internet benefits as well as the packages that are available for purchase. They are all based on minutes, not MB, for a reason. Those of us that use these packages are certainly aware of the available minutes that we have remaining and how much we are using.

What I have proposed all along was for Suites to be given a block of free minutes, instead of the all or nothing approach. JMHO.

[Matcodixon]

YAY!!!

 

Have just received the coveted "in writing" conformation that we have been grandfathered!!!!

 

Dear Ms. geesherry-

 

We apologize for your continued disappointment. For those passengers who have a suite booking made prior to July 15, 2012, we will honor the offer of complimentary internet for that voyage. Please see the Passenger Services Desk during your cruise and they will waive any internet charges.

 

We look forward to welcoming you onboard..

Sincerely,

 

Princess Cruises

Customer Relations Specialist

customerrelations@princesscruises.com

 

 

This is excellent news and is what should have happened in the first place. It will be interesting to see what their program is moving forward. Perhaps this thread will finally go to sleep..

[caribill]

A computer in the internet cafe can have software that disconnects it after a period of elapsed time, or, at least, asks for a confirmation that the user is still there.

 

But they do not have that logic.

 

I once sat down at an Internet computer that had not been occupied in the Internet Cafe and found the previous occupant's minutes still counting down. I needed to sign him/her off before starting my session.

[caribill]

My skeptical radar is up... ;)

 

... because some have pointed out that wireless had not been part of the previous (recent?) plan...

 

 

That was based on obsolete Princess web pages or e-mails from Princess based on that obsolete information.

 

Wi-Fi has been included for suite passengers recently and for more than a year.

[caribill]

YAY!!!

 

Have just received the coveted "in writing" conformation that we have been grandfathered!!!!

 

Dear Ms. geesherry-

 

We apologize for your continued disappointment. For those passengers who have a suite booking made prior to July 15, 2012, we will honor the offer of complimentary internet for that voyage. Please see the Passenger Services Desk during your cruise and they will waive any internet charges.

 

We look forward to welcoming you onboard..

 

Sincerely,

 

Princess Cruises

Customer Relations Specialist

customerrelations@princesscruises.com

 

 

 

 

Bring a hard copy of that coveted e-mail with you on the cruise.

 

It is possible that the Passenger Services Desk personnel are not in the information loop on this.

 

And check your onboard account to make sure they are not adding Internet charges. There is a difference between removing charges and not putting them on in the first place. You do not want to be in the PSD line on disembarkation day getting the charges removed from the final bill.

[Matcodixon]

But they do not have that logic.

 

I once sat down at an Internet computer that had not been occupied in the Internet Cafe and found the previous occupant's minutes still counting down. I needed to sign him/her off before starting my session.

OOPs!:eek: I suspect that person will be at the Customer service desk wanting those minutes back.. Blaming Princess for charging for minutes that they did not use! (unless they had a suite? :rolleyes:)

 

That software is easy to load and should be incorporated if it has not been.

[caribill]

For those who have sympathy for Princess and say this is just a product of these tough economic times, here are a few sentences from the CCL press release about the 2ndQ results.

 

This covers the time period before this perk was removed from suites.

 

“Cruise ticket prices (excluding Costa) held firm close to sailing which, combined with stronger than expected onboard revenues, drove yields above prior year levels. Our North American brands performed well, achieving a 3 percent revenue yield improvement compared to the prior year, which more than offset slightly lower yields for our Europe."

 

"Changes in currency exchange rates and fuel prices for FY 2012 are expected to increase FY 2012 earnings by $0.30 per share compared to March guidance."

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

That was based on obsolete Princess web pages or e-mails from Princess based on that obsolete information.

 

Wi-Fi has been included for suite passengers recently and for more than a year.

 

Thanks for clearing up the confusion. :)

 

Tom

[geesherry]

Bring a hard copy of that coveted e-mail with you on the cruise.

 

It is possible that the Passenger Services Desk personnel are not in the information loop on this.

 

And check your onboard account to make sure they are not adding Internet charges. There is a difference between removing charges and not putting them on in the first place. You do not want to be in the PSD line on disembarkation day getting the charges removed from the final bill.

Oh, I fully intend to! Otherwise, what good is it to have it in writing?

 

Thanks for the advice!

Now to dig up a thread with instructions on how to set up an account. I guess a visit to the computer center is on my list of day 1 must-do things!

[WarEagle76]

Just received the same email from Princess grandfathering the complimentary internet access for our booking and am pleased with their decision. For those that provided constructive input on the subject, both pro and con, I appreciated your input. For those that decided to be derisive and petty, I'll follow the advice my mother taught me which was "If you can't say something nice, then don't bother to say anything at all".

[cellyml12]

Congrats to everyone that got grandfathered in! It was the right thing to do.

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

Just received the same email from Princess grandfathering the complimentary internet access for our booking and am pleased with their decision. For those that provided constructive input on the subject, both pro and con, I appreciated your input. For those that decided to be derisive and petty, I'll follow the advice my mother taught me which was "If you can't say something nice, then don't bother to say anything at all".

 

BINGO!

 

Thumper's Principle: ""If you can't say something nice, don't say nothing at all" :)

 

... though WOW, how that would alter the face of CC if everyone got with the program!

 

Tom

[Roses2]

We also received our mea culpa from Princess Customer Relations this morning.

 

While the business decision probably was appropriate, the implementation was botched horribly. It makes one wonder what level of management was involved in the original and the application decisions.

 

Princess management at some level finally realized that the downside was far more unfavorable over the long haul than the upside, and they wisely did the right thing by upholding the original idea, but tempering it with the grandfathering of current paid bookings.

 

Business school MBA programs probably will add this little example to next years practical exercises. It is a good one.

 

P&J

[MustangGT]

Never underestimate the power of the people!:D

 

Glad to know that Princess will honor their promise!