Reduction to my All Inclusive beverage package but not our friends?

[kfq61]

Hi All,

 

Hoping some-one can help. We're going on Princess cruise at the beginning of March with another couple. We've decided we'll both pay for the all inclusive beverage package but they're differing in price by £5 per day!

 

We've only ever been on a 1 cruise with Princess, our friends haven't so that is the only difference. I've logged into her account on my macbook and it's £45 per day on hers and £40 on mine. Needless to say we decided to prebook this offer and paid yesterday but we want the same offer for our friends. The internet prices for us are also lower?

 

Is this normal and can anyone explain?

 

Many thanks

 

Katie

[Colo Cruiser]

Hi All,

 

Hoping some-one can help. We're going on Princess cruise at the beginning of March with another couple. We've decided we'll both pay for the all inclusive beverage package but they're differing in price by £5 per day!

 

We've only ever been on a 1 cruise with Princess, our friends haven't so that is the only difference. I've logged into her account on my macbook and it's £45 per day on hers and £40 on mine. Needless to say we decided to prebook this offer and paid yesterday but we want the same offer for our friends. The internet prices for us are also lower?

 

Is this normal and can anyone explain?

 

Many thanks

 

Katie

 

 

They are currently updating the pricing for the AIBP by a $1 or 2, that's probably why.

I would follow up with Princess to make sure they are the same.

[kfq61]

Thanks for the reply Keith,

 

If we got it at £40 per day, can our friends then request the same then, it was only last night we booked and paid?

 

I assume Princess can't change ours now we've paid at the lower price?

 

£5 per day seems a steep increase :(

Edited January 12, 2017 by kfq61

[jennybenny]

Thanks for the reply Keith,

 

If we got it at £40 per day, can our friends then request the same then, it was only last night we booked and paid?

 

I assume Princess can't change ours now we've paid at the lower price?

 

£5 per day seems a steep increase :(

 

Hurry up and get yours for the cheaper price NOW before the update happens.

THEN worry about your friend getting the same deal.

 

You can contact Princess, but it's possible they will not honor the lower price.

 

I prepaid for mine for my upcoming cruise, and only got wind of the update from someone at Cruise Critic who said when they called Princess to ask about something else they were asked if they were aware of the price increasing.

 

I didn't mention it to mom or sister and now they have to pay the higher price. USD it's only a little over a $1 difference so no biggie. My sister will just pay it. Mom on the other hand was never going to get it, so no loss there. I logged in, noticed the AIBP was no longer available. Then a few hours later it was back at the higher price.

 

But if I were you I would buy it and then have your friend contact Princess ASAP and ask for someone to help. Get a supervisor if you need to.

 

Let us know how it all works out for you both!

[billyvegas]

Did you book the Cruise at the same time as the other couple? The reason I ask is the price of the pre pay packages varies on the value of the pound against the dollar at time of booking. the pound has taken a knock over the last few months as you know.

[VTX-AL]

Deleted

 

...VTX-Al

Edited January 12, 2017 by VTX-AL

[kfq61]

Thanks all for your replies.

 

We booked our cruise 12 months ago, our friends booked 6 weeks ago.

 

We paid for the AIBP yesterday fortunately :)

 

Still though very surprised at the actual increase in the price per day as in the UK we are paying equivalent to $6 per day extra :( ........means an extra $43 per week per person.

[billyvegas]

As I said the pound has took a knock since you booked. I sailed on the Regal in November and was getting a rate of $1.43 for pre pays, when the actual going rate was $1.20. You can also pay your gratuities and buy on board credit or Casino credit at that better rate up to three days before departure. Well worth doing. If you look at your friends' personaliser all those other up front charges will be more expensive for them too.

[cherylandtk]

FWIW, Princess does not have a daily exchange rate for the £ to the $. They set those rates once every 6 months to a year(!). Shocking, I know. But I do think it might be partly the reason for the package price difference.....

 

My best guess at this is that they are re-pricing the packages. Here in the US, we know this is happening. As of early yesterday, you could buy a package at the old rate and early today you could not; it shows as "sold out" until they re-program the price in the system. The new price is rumored to be less than a dollar per day increase. If this were also coupled with a semi-annual exchange rate update, it might explain the price difference for your friend, $1 actual price increase and $5 or so exchange rate change from whenever they last set the rate.

 

The best answer to this, however, should come from Princess, as in "Why is my drinks package priced differently than my friend on the same cruise?" It wouldn't be interesting to see what answer(s) you are given depending on how many times you call.

[Thrak]

Holy cow! I hadn't even considered the horrible exchange rate. In the US $1.10 per day is negligible. The new price in the UK is terrible!

[SteveH2508]

As I said the pound has took a knock since you booked. I sailed on the Regal in November and was getting a rate of $1.43 for pre pays, when the actual going rate was $1.20. You can also pay your gratuities and buy on board credit or Casino credit at that better rate up to three days before departure. Well worth doing. If you look at your friends' personaliser all those other up front charges will be more expensive for them too.

 

This is almost certainly the reason for the discrepancy in pricing.

 

OP - you could perhaps finagle this by buying OBC to the value of two packages and then buying them on-board for your friends. Or maybe you could 'gift' them OBC to the amount required and then settle up.

[easyboy]

Thanks all for your replies.

 

We booked our cruise 12 months ago, our friends booked 6 weeks ago.

 

We paid for the AIBP yesterday fortunately :)

 

Still though very surprised at the actual increase in the price per day as in the UK we are paying equivalent to $6 per day extra :( ........means an extra $43 per week per person.

Your friend's AIBP percentage price difference over yours is way above the US' recent increase. A call to Princess may explain, as others suggest.

[jones721]

I also think it is to do with exchange rate. I booked my Crown cruise last June and I get a rate of $1.40 or $1.42 to £1 for purchases in my cruise personaliser. People who booked six months before me were getting around $1.50. People who just booked will be getting the true exchange rate. You would think they would change everyone's cruise personaliser to reflect the current exchange rate - but I think it is based on when you booked.

 

Yes, good idea to add OBC to your account, buy the packages for them (if you are allowed - and don't see why not) and then settle up with your friends privately.

 

We have bought OBC at $1.40 so that all our purchases on the ship are at that rate and not at $1.20. It's a big difference.

 

Tracey

[kfq61]

Thanks everyone for your advice and comments.

 

My friend phoned Princess the following day and was told the same ...when you book your cruise it ties you in with that exchange rate.

[billyvegas]

Thanks everyone for your advice and comments.

 

My friend phoned Princess the following day and was told the same ...when you book your cruise it ties you in with that exchange rate.

 

I rest my case:)