Princess Coffee Cards now have expiration dates

[Redwing55]

Personally, I never assumed that Princess meant to sell me a "Free coffee for life" card. It just didn't seem to make good business sense and I figured they made a mistake in labeling/marketing that they would eventually correct. That's not to say I haven't taken advantage of it as long as the ride has lasted but it's no surprise to me they're working to close the loopholes.

Free coffee for life isn't the issue. It's buying 15 cups that one can choose when to drink them. How do you figure it was ever a free coffee for life?

[diane.in.ny]

I too have unused cards and a card with some punches left.

 

I think this is a lousy decision. When I buy the card I am buying 15 specialty coffees, period! Not 15 specialty coffees to be drunk within a specific time period.

 

If this stays the new policy, I won't be buying the card. I can manage my cruise without a cappuccino.

 

Or maybe I'll just buy it ashore where it will probably be cheaper and I'll be contributing to the local economy :D

[hpeabody]

I am in the camp of I get the coffee card in order to get the brewed coffee and I understand that free is on the current cruise and brewed coffee requires a punch on subsequent future cruises. OK, that is the rule I signed up for. I only occasionally have a specialty coffee (1 or 2 per cruise, maybe)

If Princess chooses not to fix the big issue, that being the horrible syrup coffee in locations other than the IC Coffee Bar, then perhaps they need to have a separate coffee card for brewed coffee only sold by the cruise, like soda pkg and the like. That could eventually work with *****

[greenie082756]

We always buy 2 coffee cards knowing they will be good for specialty coffees on future cruises becasue some cruises we use the entire card,and other shorter cruises some have punches left over. If this new practice is instituted, we will no longer buy the cards and just pay as we go.

 

Agreed. The no expiration on specialty coffee on future cruises is why I bought the card. If there is a time restraint on the coffee card for specialty coffee then I will pay as I go and they will lose money.

[floridalover5623]

Free coffee for life isn't the issue. It's buying 15 cups that one can choose when to drink them. How do you figure it was ever a free coffee for life?

People who still parrot the "free coffee for life" statement are holdovers from years ago when it was possible to do so.

At they time people were selling them/loaning them etc. to be used forever to whoever presented the card.

No longer- and now not even for the 15 coffees you've paid for. :(

Thanks Princess.

This move really leaves a good taste in my mouth. :mad:

[indygirl99]

These are my thoughts as well.

I don't see how they can refuse to honor a previously purchased product, and completely change the terms after purchase.

 

The 'free regular brewed coffee' thing does seem dicey at best.

I know people have tried to use, and use, and use that feature. But, I do not think that this was supposed to be 'forever'.

 

If Princess begins to print Expirations on the cards, then as I said, this would be a fair and informed purchase. And, maybe the number of cards sold and the perceived revenue will decline greatly, based on that. So, they could change their minds and this could be one of those failed 'trials'.

 

As far as the coffee program going *****, they haven't even got the first ship fully functional...

Should be quite some time in the future before this is fleet-wide!!!! Just sayin'.

 

This is what the people that had the AIBP said when Princess went to the new PBP and they found out that Yes Princess can change the terms and conditions as it states in their contract.

 

I think what will happen is that Princess will honor the punches on cards with no expiration date until the end of the year but not give free brewed coffee on those cards without a punch.

 

I also see a new "version" of the coffee card coming by the first of next year be it on the ***** or cruise card to help prevent all the abuse much like the PBP and soda and more are now on the cruise card.

[Cruise Raider]

I can see it now .... disembarking pax will be hitting up those that are ready to embark right there at the pier to sell their partially used coffee cards. The entrepreneurs will have quite the little business venture going ... heck, I live near one of the ports. Maybe I can even set up a stand at the pier. First, get those that are selling them and then hitting up those that are embarking and see if they want to buy a card at a discount Just kidding ... but honestly, I think you will see this happening in the near future. :D

[TinaLee]

I think it’s about time that Princess put an expiration date on the coffee cards. All of you who are bitching about the price of this and that have to realize that Princess Cruise line has to make a profit so if you want to call it nickel and dimeing so be it. Coffee cards is just small part of the picture. As a major stockholder in Carnival corp. I’ve seen my stock triple in price and that makes me happy.

 

 

 

I would disagree here. I purchased 15 specialty coffee or tea beverages and I should be able to use the card until I have received all 15 THAT I PAID FOR!

 

 

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[bbum]

I think they should honor all the old cards with no expiration dates on them as those were sold and bought in good faith that they were good for the number of punches on them regardless of which cruise/date they were purchased on. We haven't heard anything official from Princess as to how they are going to deal with the old cars yet, but hopefully this will be the case. Now my take on what they should consider is selling a tiered coffee card, such as a 5/10/15 punch card that is only good for the cruise that you are on. That way if you are on a short coastal cruise you may opt to buy a 5 punch card and when the cruise is over toss it. If on a longer cruise buy a 10 or 15 punch card and once again when the cruise is over, the card is over. If you're not sure you will consume 15, then purchase a 10 and if you need more then purchase an additional 5 punch card. With this in play it would completely eliminate Ebay sales, if Princess thinks this is a concern. The cards could be color coded much like the soda stickers used to be, with a different color for each cruise, so no cheating there, for free brewed or carry overs. As it is now if Princess doesn't honor carry over on old cards, I will be buying everyone in sight a free coffee on the last night to use up my unused punches, so at the very least someone will benefit.

[annwingtoo]

We were just on the Grand, mine had an expiration date. I just made sure I used it all.

 

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[cr8tiv1]

Okay, time to chime in. I have a minimum of 67 unused punches on multiple cards (three brand new ones plus and an assortment of used). That doesn't count the cards that I don't know where they are. These are not the recently modified cards that date before the expiration cards (I know...how many changes).

 

Doing the math, Princess will owe me $201 for not using the cards before they "expire". Do you think they will really refund me for my unused punches? I would be happy to take in in trade for a cruise.

 

I've noticed that this has not been posted on Princess' Facebook page. Any brave takers?

 

I sure hope that Princess reviews this "new" idea and discards this policy. What are they thinking?

[AussieGypsie]

The wording on the back of my card states "unused specialty coffees redeemable on next voyage. Complimentary coffee/tea only applicable to voyage of purchase" Purchased in Sydney last November. No expiry date just Vessel & voyage date. But being a coffee drinker I had no problem using the 15 punches on two cards

 

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[crows nest club]

Just a thought. Ar present you can exchange a mini bar set up

for two coffee cards. For those on short cruises and wish to do this, may not physically be able to use all punches within the time. I know they can swap for non alcoholic drinks but it may be prudent now for Princess to consider say just one coffee card for half items in mini bar.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Island wannabe]

I would disagree here. I purchased 15 specialty coffee or tea beverages and I should be able to use the card until I have received all 15 THAT I PAID FOR!

 

 

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I wish CC had a “like” button!!

[ckb104]

We were just on the Grand, mine had an expiration date. I just made sure I used it all.

 

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What was the expiration date on your card?

[floridalover5623]

An interesting post by lor74 who is currently sailing on the Regal indicates that the latest coffee card comes without an expiration date, only the sailing date of the ship. I'm still unsure what to make of it.:confused:

 

 

We generally switch the week2 Elite mini bar for 2 coffee cards...to be used on our next Princess sailing. They would always come un-marked. With the talk of new expiry dates, I was curious to see what we would get....no expiry date, but both marked with today's sailing....so no brewed coffee on our next cruise.

 

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[pablo222]

An interesting post by lor74 who is currently sailing on the Regal indicates that the latest coffee card comes without an expiration date, only the sailing date of the ship. I'm still unsure what to make of it.:confused:

 

Never believe anything until there are at least a dozen current posts substantiating it.

[floridalover5623]

Never believe anything until there are at least a dozen current posts substantiating it.

 

My thoughts are that on his current Regal sailing they're using up the old stock of coffee cards to save a buck. :confused:

We shall see.

On Princess every penny seems to count lately, even a few pats of butter. :rolleyes:

 

As I was posting this he confirmed that his new coffee cards did not have an expiration date on them. Only a ship & voyage.

[voljeep]

Seems to me that Princess is finally getting around to correcting a loophole ( no dates, etc. on the coffee card ) that will prevent passengers from nickel and diming Princess for 'freeeee' brewed coffees for unlimited voyages, that was never intended.:cool:

[floridalover5623]

Seems to me that Princess is finally getting around to correcting a loophole ( no dates, etc. on the coffee card ) that will prevent passengers from nickel and diming Princess for 'freeeee' brewed coffees for unlimited voyages, that was never intended.:cool:

But that loophole has been gone for maybe 5 or 6 years at this point and was eliminated when they introduced the ship & voyage written on the back.

 

Adding an expiration date is only cheating customers for what they legally paid for.

[voljeep]

lots of posts about blank cards, jess sprayin'...

 

and is Princess placing an expiration date on cards previously purchased, or just on the new cards where the passenger is fully aware of the change and has a decision to make on whether the new terms are compatible with their coffee habits?

[Griller]

When will Princess realize its counter productive to make all these petty penny-pinching restrictions and cuts in quality and availability.

 

And at the same time put fares up.

 

Yet at the same time offer very cheap prices to certain groups of passengers who tell others that they have no idea why they get those offers?

 

I know some of those passengers personally, and they are not heavy users of the Casino, or heavy on board spenders, in fact they only go on the cheap cruises to minimize their expenditure, even to the extent of taking off the tips.

Never go on shore excursions, never buy the photos, not drinkers, don't go to pay extra restaurants, don't play bingo. And they get stockholder and military and other OBC which can sometimes leave them with a profit after cruising.

 

Why do they get the dirt cheap offers? Its not just location either, I live near Florida ports and never get the offers.

 

I have a few spare coffee cards, it seems I will have to do something with them before they are worth nothing.

 

I have nearly stopped cruising Princess as its got so expensive for me that I can cruise a much better line for not so much more money.

[FritzG]

I would disagree here. I purchased 15 specialty coffee or tea beverages and I should be able to use the card until I have received all 15 THAT I PAID FOR!

 

 

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Yes!

[Justprettynpink]

We were just on the Grand, mine had an expiration date. I just made sure I used it all.

 

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Perhaps the expiration is just a "suggestion" like the boarding times. Customers like this will make sure to use to all the punches so they will need to buy a new card for their next cruise. I do not think Princess will not honor the punches of old cards. They are making a sense of urgency to use it on the same cruise it was bought. (Use it or loose it thinking)

 

Just my two cents....

[victory2020]

Perhaps the expiration is just a "suggestion" like the boarding times. Customers like this will make sure to use to all the punches so they will need to buy a new card for their next cruise. I do not think Princess will not honor the punches of old cards. They are making a sense of urgency to use it on the same cruise it was bought. (Use it or loose it thinking)

 

Just my two cents....

That makes sense, sort of like the Bed Bath & Beyond coupons!