Princess offering Free cruises? Am I reading it wrong?

[Frugalist]

Does anybody off the Oct. 18 cruise have their FCC yet?

[Frugalist]

Although it does not assist me I would love to clarify If you have the (mentioned above possible over allowance of $1000 FCC )is this on your account on board and can be used for your payments and drinks etc on that booked cruise?:)

My understanding is that any unused FCC will go back into your Captains Circle account to be used as a FCC to be applied against your cruise fare on a later cruise. Subject to the 7+ day cruise restriction and the 12/31/14 expiration.

[critterchick]

What I don’t understand is what Princess gets out of it.

I already booked and paid for my January cruise. I booked a Penthouse Suite for 11/4 afterwards. They said they would reimburse my credit card for the full fare. On top of that, I’m getting $50 OBC for an old FFC and another $50 OBC for stock on the 11/4 cruise.

Makes me happy….

 

They fill the ship and, at least on the weekend cruises, will have enormous revenue from the bars, casino, spa, etc. Many who sail will be first timers who get seasick in the bathtub so will never use the FCC. Others like us will make out like bandits.:D

 

We had booked a Window Suite on the 11/1 and toyed with the idea of upgrading to a balcony suite, but we love the WS and, at the end of the day, our out of pocket is the same, so we decided to stay put. I can either loan Princess $1500 for a year or $2600, so decided on the former option.

[WendyG]

I feel for you. We west coaster have these piddly mexico cruises but Miami, now there's a port to live near.

 

Agreed! I'd much prefer going to the caribbean vs mexico. :)

Sure hope the ruby sailings go on sale like the golden did!!!!

 

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk 2

[rubrrick]

They fill the ship and, at least on the weekend cruises, will have enormous revenue from the bars, casino, spa, etc. Many who sail will be first timers who get seasick in the bathtub so will never use the FCC. Others like us will make out like bandits.:D

 

We had booked a Window Suite on the 11/1 and toyed with the idea of upgrading to a balcony suite, but we love the WS and, at the end of the day, our out of pocket is the same, so we decided to stay put. I can either loan Princess $1500 for a year or $2600, so decided on the former option.

 

 

Great move Jean!

 

What does Princess get out of this?

 

First, they have all of our money! In the bank, making money on our money, they don't just let it sit in the bank.

 

Next, my guess is that less than 80% will ever use the FCC.

 

All of the Non Commissionables are not included in the FCC, as well as the port charges and taxes.

 

As Jean mentioned, the revenues from the above mentioned will bring in a great deal of money. I have met two people from my area that are going on their first cruise this week.

 

I spent a ton of money on my first cruise. So Princess is going to make out very well, as I see it.

 

So well........if all goes well, that they may do it again. ;)

 

As Royal Caribbean has abandoned the West Coast, Princess will be getting at least 50% of my travel money in the near future.

 

Royal Caribbean does not care, as their attraction is new business for their big ships, and those we will not cruise aboard.

 

Rick

[The Big Booper]

Great move Jean!

 

What does Princess get out of this?

 

First, they have all of our money! In the bank, making money on our money, they don't just let it sit in the bank.

 

Next, my guess is that less than 80% will ever use the FCC.

 

All of the Non Commissionables are not included in the FCC, as well as the port charges and taxes.

 

As Jean mentioned, the revenues from the above mentioned will bring in a great deal of money. I have met two people from my area that are going on their first cruise this week.

 

I spent a ton of money on my first cruise. So Princess is going to make out very well, as I see it.

 

So well........if all goes well, that they may do it again. ;)

 

As Royal Caribbean has abandoned the West Coast, Princess will be getting at least 50% of my travel money in the near future.

 

Royal Caribbean does not care, as their attraction is new business for their big ships, and those we will not cruise aboard.

 

Rick

 

Some former NOOTS have actually tried the big girls and had a good time.

 

As you are well aware, Princess is very strong on the West Coast and the Pacific and very weak on the East Coast, the opposite of RCI and =X=. And the Explorer, which is older but larger, drove the Crown and Caribbean out of the year round market in NY, even with the purpose built facility in Red Hook, Brooklyn.

 

You really do spread your cruise dollars around, don't you?

Edited October 23, 2013 by The Big Booper

[cruzsnooze]

Some former NOOTS have actually tried the big girls and had a good time.

 

As you are well aware, Princess is very strong on the West Coast and the Pacific and very weak on the East Coast, the opposite of RCI and =X=. And the Explorer, which is older but larger, drove the Crown and Caribbean out of the year round market in NY, even with the purpose built facility in Red Hook, Brooklyn.

 

You really do spread your cruise dollars around, don't you?

 

Besides taking advantage of this Princess offer and also cruising Princess when there are no offers there is also NCL. I just booked a Mexican Riviera Round trip out of San Pedro next year in a full suite for $999 . The ship is my destination and the Spa and Cagneys for breakfast and lunch ( reserved for suite guests) . So RCL did us a favor by forcing us to spread our cruising dollars around.

[rubrrick]

Some former NOOTS have actually tried the big girls and had a good time.

 

As you are well aware, Princess is very strong on the West Coast and the Pacific and very weak on the East Coast, the opposite of RCI and =X=. And the Explorer, which is older but larger, drove the Crown and Caribbean out of the year round market in NY, even with the purpose built facility in Red Hook, Brooklyn.

 

You really do spread your cruise dollars around, don't you?

 

 

You going with us??:D

 

Hope so!!

 

Rick

[rubrrick]

Besides taking advantage of this Princess offer and also cruising Princess when there are no offers there is also NCL. I just booked a Mexican Riviera Round trip out of San Pedro next year in a full suite for $999 . The ship is my destination and the Spa and Cagneys for breakfast and lunch ( reserved for suite guests) . So RCL did us a favor by forcing us to spread our cruising dollars around.

 

 

Thanks for opening my eyes......once again to NCL. As some old timers know, I have cruised NCL.........loved it, and am afraid to cruise with them again......because of all of the comments, most negative, about the line.

 

I'm game to try them again. I'll have to take a look at what kind of suite that you are talking about. It needs to normally be over 500 sqft, as we book for real estate, to be able to relax, and our cabin...........becomes our home when we are aboard.

 

The ONLY negatives that come back about NCL......is the food. And food is subjective, but if so many people complain about it.........it becomes THE problem.

 

Not that I like food..........I try to portion....but that portion should be tasty!

 

And....this is a Princess thread......not NCL, so I need to stick with the subject at hand.......which, I will be boarding in under 48 hours!:)

 

Rick

[trbarton]

Besides taking advantage of this Princess offer and also cruising Princess when there are no offers there is also NCL. I just booked a Mexican Riviera Round trip out of San Pedro next year in a full suite for $999 . The ship is my destination and the Spa and Cagneys for breakfast and lunch ( reserved for suite guests) . So RCL did us a favor by forcing us to spread our cruising dollars around.

 

 

Can you give us the dates and ship that you booked on? I just looked at the Norwegian Star and the least price that they list for a suite is $1,199. The mini suite is $999.

 

Thanks!

 

Tom

[bigenna]

What are "non commissionables"? I don't recall anything being said about that in regards to this promo, but fairly new to all this, so I probably missed it. I know port charges and taxes are in the $150 range and not applicable to the resulting FCC, but how much are the non commissionables? Hope I haven,t made an expensive mistake.

 

 

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Forums mobile app

[cruzsnooze]

Can you give us the dates and ship that you booked on? I just looked at the Norwegian Star and the least price that they list for a suite is $1,199. The mini suite is $999.

 

Thanks!

 

Tom

I booked Dec 14 2014 and i booked the family suite ( cat SJ with butler) which is available to book for 2 people. They show sold out but if you call it's bookable. It is a window suite, no balcony and I got the AARP rate. I see the rate went up on Dec 14 but the DEC 7 rate with the $300 OBC would be reasonably priced.

Edited October 23, 2013 by cruzsnooze

[The Big Booper]

Now that we have relocated to Florida from NY and air is not required, I thought we might try the new Royal Princess. But in reading the "Live" TA thread we decided not to do so. These are some of the biggest loyalists on the Princess boards and they, reading between the lines, are not totally happy with the first new Princess new build in over a dozen years. Lots of other ships available in Florida including the Celebrity S class, we have done Silhouette and Solstice and will add to that maybe once I see how tax season works out.

 

We liked the 3 Grand class ships, which are now getting older, but don't like the 4 newer Super-Grands so that rules that out.

 

We have no intention of flying to the West Coast for a cruise for the next two years.

Edited October 23, 2013 by The Big Booper

[rubrrick]

Now that we have relocated to Florida from NY and air is not required, I thought we might try the new Royal Princess. But in reading the "Live" TA thread we decided not to do so. These are some of the biggest loyalists on the Princess boards and they, reading between the lines, are not totally happy with the first new Princess new build in over a dozen years. Lots of other ships available in Florida including the Celebrity S class, we have done Silhouette and Solstice and will add to that maybe once I see how tax season works out.

 

We liked the 3 Grand class ships, which are now getting older, but don't like the 4 newer Super-Grands so that rules that out.

 

We have no intention of flying to the West Coast for a cruise for the next two years.

 

That is OK. We are coming your way in December, with a B2B on the Liberty, and then an 11 nighter Southern Caribbean cruise on the Legend of the Seas.

 

Rick

[sassyredhat]

Can you give us the dates and ship that you booked on? I just looked at the Norwegian Star and the least price that they list for a suite is $1,199. The mini suite is $999.

Thanks! Tom

 

We booked that cruise 2 years ago, and indeed, the price has gone up a lot. Tom, I believe that is the price for a suite now. We are booked for April 2014.

 

Pat

Edited October 23, 2013 by sassyredhat

[critterchick]

Great move Jean!

 

What does Princess get out of this?

 

First, they have all of our money! In the bank, making money on our money, they don't just let it sit in the bank.

 

Next, my guess is that less than 80% will ever use the FCC.

 

All of the Non Commissionables are not included in the FCC, as well as the port charges and taxes.

 

As Jean mentioned, the revenues from the above mentioned will bring in a great deal of money. I have met two people from my area that are going on their first cruise this week.

 

I spent a ton of money on my first cruise. So Princess is going to make out very well, as I see it.

 

So well........if all goes well, that they may do it again. ;)

 

As Royal Caribbean has abandoned the West Coast, Princess will be getting at least 50% of my travel money in the near future.

 

Royal Caribbean does not care, as their attraction is new business for their big ships, and those we will not cruise aboard.

 

Rick

 

My understanding is that the noncommissionables ARE included in the FCC - since many people book directly with Princess, that amount doesn't even show up on their invoices.

 

(Bigenna, the noncommissionable is a portion of the fare that the cruiselines don't pay commission to a TA on. As near as I can tell, it's an arbitrary number.)

 

This NOOT is being dragged onto Allure by her husband. The itinerary (Cozumel, Labadee, Falmouth) is boring, but we are going just to see the ship. We've always liked Princess, but usually found that RCI offered a better price per diem once the balcony discount was applied, and of course we could drink for free (my liver might tell you that's not a good thing!). But now that we've been abandoned, we have no trouble at all sailing Princess. We're using our FCC on a NYE cruise - we have been put off by the high prices (and, with RCI, have to include astronomically-priced air are well), but this will lessen the sting considerably.

Edited October 23, 2013 by critterchick

[The Big Booper]

Labadee as a docked private island is great with so much to do, including the Cabanas.

 

I won't do a cruise with a tendered private island which eliminates Princess and Carnival.

 

CHICAGO !

Edited October 23, 2013 by The Big Booper

[bigenna]

Critterchick thank you for your explanation.

 

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[boca7]

It does not come up on the Princess site for me--maybe targeted to West Coast cruisers?

This is common, on my transatlantic last April, Canadians were offered a better deal. Its a much smaller market than the US & they can limit the amount sold.

[windsor26]

On the thought that if you do not ask you do not get I e mailed the Australian Princess office and asked about this free cruise offer - She knew nothing about it and asked where I had got this stupid information from?

 

So obviously no chance for us down under:(:(:(

[chamima]

On the thought that if you do not ask you do not get I e mailed the Australian Princess office and asked about this free cruise offer - She knew nothing about it and asked where I had got this stupid information from?

 

So obviously no chance for us down under:(:(:(

 

 

Would you actually fly to Los Angeles for a 3 or 4 day coastal cruise to nowhere to take advantage of this?

I would think the airfare would be prohibitive even if it were offered.

[kiwipete]

Same with us Yvonne. I showed our travel agent the relevant CC thread and she forewarded it to Carnival but no good. Comment made was "maybe it's a North American thing"

 

On the thought that if you do not ask you do not get I e mailed the Australian Princess office and asked about this free cruise offer - She knew nothing about it and asked where I had got this stupid information from?

 

So obviously no chance for us down under:(:(:(

[waltd]

The fine print:

 

Offer is available to residents of the 50 United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, Mexico and the District of Columbia who are 21 years of age or older

[LCTrippers]

I see they're doing it again. This time only 50% back.

[faiz23]

I went ahead and upgraded to a penthouse suite...WOOOT WOOOT. They confirmed that I would receive the total fare as a FCC for use in 2013 or 2014 for cruises 7 nights or longer. I confirmed multiple times with online travel website over the phone and with princess that I would receive the full fare (notated on my account). I plan to call Monday to confirm (speak to the department incharge of this promo and try to get something in writing) this as well and if that is the case I will stick to the upgraded room.

 

With this upgrade my 2014 cruise will be paid in full for 3 people in a balcony. It worked out to be a buy a fancy suite on the golden princess and get a free balcony for 7 days in 2014 on pretty much any ship. I will still get $130 on board credit along with crown grill on embarkation nights, breakfast in the morning at sabatinnis and all the other perks. I would never imagine spending that much but now it takes care of 2 cruises for me at half price.

 

where did you come up with crown grill on embarkation night? If you think it's a suite perk it applies to cruises 7 nights or longer and these coastals are only 3 or 4 nights.

 

Sorry you are 100% correct that is only for 6 days or longer. We will probably end up booking the next cruise a suite too since most of it will be covered or we will end up loosing out on the FCC we don't use. We will be trading our mini bar setup for coffee cards and using that for the 4 day cruise as well as the 7 day cruise in 2014. Most people have been successful reusing coffee cards that have not been punched all the way thru.

 

http://www.princess.com/downloads/pdf/ships/PrincessSuite_eFlyer.pdf

 

 

I can verify that even though I was only on a 4 day coastal sampler. I was offered complimentary cover for Crown Grill or Sabatinis on embarkation. I had a nice letter stating that information and the rep on the dine line verified my cover charge was complimentary due to booking a suite. Princess claims it is valid on 6 days and longer journey but YMMV and you might be able to take advantage of complimentary cover charge like I did.

 

Also I can verify that I received $1299 FCC along with my wife as well received $1299. My son who was the third passenger received $649 FCC to use on a 2013 or 2014 cruise that is 7 days or longer. I have screen shots for my wife and my FCC. Since my son is only 3 years old and unable to create an account on princess. I called in and the rep looking into it manually using his captains circle number. I want to know if we can use it on multiple bookings or all on a single voyage. The old terms never stated single or multiple but the new terms do state single voyage. Due to the technicalities I think you could twist princess arm to honor multiple voyages if you received 100% FCC with original terms versus 50% FCC with new terms

suite dinner.pdf

Full page 50.pdf

princess.pdf

Full page photo.pdf

Edited November 5, 2013 by faiz23