Revamped Tier Levels Coming Soon

[Happy2cruise]

Wonder how they will handle wheelchair assistance boarding?

[Steelers36]

3 hours ago, Daniel A said:

Since priority embarkation is a Platinum benefit that gets grandfathered to Elite, did you exclude Platinum for the sake of brevity or are you suggesting 'watering down' the benefit for Platinum cruisers?

 

One of the unintended consequences of offering higher loyalty tier passengers too many perks like first crack at boarding, dining and show admissions is that they may well be shunning new customers.  I doubt if when I had a 'blue card' I couldn't get a decent dining time or it was standing room only for us at shows or I couldn't board the ship or disembark until later on, that I would ever have sailed with that line again.  After all, what is the main purpose of a loyalty program; is it getting those who have sailed 30+ times with you to sail again or is it to get the first time cruisers to want to return?  They need to be very careful when giving perks to some customers at the expense of other customers.  I firmly believe brand loyalty should be rewarded but it should be at the company's expense - not at the expense of other passengers.

No, it was inadvertent - I have mentioned all three in other posts.  After all, I used to be Platinum for quite a while myself.  Then, we could manage our on-board time by showing up early and being among the first to follow the Suites & Elites on board.  But just to be clear, the boarding process did separate such that S&E board first, followed by P group.  This only mattered for the early arrivals who waited in the terminal for general boarding to commence.

 

I think it is fine to give some advance access to boarding groups as Suites & Elites had the earliest opportunity to board a ship in the old system.  Platinum's followed with a higher opportunity than those with lower levels in Captain's Circle.  So, I could have expanded it to something like 48 hours for Suites & Elites, 24 hours for Platinum's to join in (along with Suites & Elite), and then the next day for all others.  It isn't to say that the S/E/P groups will entirely fill the early boarding group as some either arrive later or simply prefer to board later.  

 

Even if there is a "GO" date/time for all, the same thing is going to apply where S&E have their seating area, or "lounge", and P's have theirs and then everyone else in some order of arrival. At least I don't see why past practice would change.

 

 

In the past, dining preferences were recorded in Cruise Personalizer as part of the cruise booking process steps.  If one was booking far enough ahead, the choices were open.  As the voyage sold out, less choices were available.  Only makes sense.

 

At least those with some loyalty level or who are booking the most expensive cabins will have a head start on setting up dining choices.  I don't think it will totally exclude other cruisers, but it is true that they have to wait longer.  In other words a first-time Princess customer could potentially be among the very first to book, but has to wait for dining preferences. 

 

 

ETA - I was just referencing the Captain's Circle benefits and, although the practice is as described above, there is no specific benefit regarding priority BOARDING - just CHECK-IN.

 

Edited June 12, 2021 by Steelers36

[Steelers36]

3 minutes ago, Happy2cruise said:

Wonder how they will handle wheelchair assistance boarding?

I am sure they will have WC assistance throughout the day as they do now.  Not all WC passengers arrive at the same time.

[cruzsnooze]

Although not completely definitive it seems the tiers are being re-evaluated per todays web seminar posted. Not a rumor, my source was correct. 

 

"Loyalty program is being revised, but no details were given. It is recognized, for example, that the free Internet minutes were a valuable benefit which no longer has meaning for those booking Princess Plus fares."

[dreams_of_travel]

1 hour ago, cruzsnooze said:

"Loyalty program is being revised, but no details were given. It is recognized, for example, that the free Internet minutes were a valuable benefit which no longer has meaning for those booking Princess Plus fares."

They are making a huge assumption there.  If given the choice, I book the regular fare, not the Princess Plus fare.  I value my internet benefit, and don't need to buy the more expensive stuff. This allows me to cruise more often.  Same goes for my adult kids, who have earned their own internet benefit.  Going forward, when they cruise (since the bank of mom is "closing soon"), they likely will buy the value fare, not the Princess Plus.   I wonder what model Princess is going for?  Would they prefer people who cruise a couple times a year or more, or do they only want those willing to only cruise once a year or every two/three but spend just a little bit more?  

[Thrak]

I didn't get the impression that the free minutes were going away - just that they were somewhat devalued to many.

[caribill]

1 hour ago, Thrak said:

I didn't get the impression that the free minutes were going away - just that they were somewhat devalued to many.

 

But there have been semi-authoritative posts that the free minutes will be changed to a regular unlimited Internet plan with a 50% reduction in cost.

 

So, free turns into you need to pay something. Wow, what a benefit.

 

 

[pompeii]

10 hours ago, cruzsnooze said:

Although not completely definitive it seems the tiers are being re-evaluated per todays web seminar posted. Not a rumor, my source was correct. 

 

"Loyalty program is being revised, but no details were given. It is recognized, for example, that the free Internet minutes were a valuable benefit which no longer has meaning for those booking Princess Plus fares."

Fine, so take the minutes away for those who book Plus fares and leave them in place for those of us who don't!  Or else provide the basic one-device internet package in their place.  Just don't charge for something that was previously free.  

 

However, I do see the writing on the wall.  Now that all ships are medallionet, I really don't see Princess keeping any type of minutes based plans, even the free ones.

[Steelers36]

6 hours ago, caribill said:

 

But there have been semi-authoritative posts that the free minutes will be changed to a regular unlimited Internet plan with a 50% reduction in cost.

 

So, free turns into you need to pay something. Wow, what a benefit.

 

 

I hope for that.  A 50% unlimited plan will be terrific value for us.

[Daniel A]

1 minute ago, pompeii said:

Fine, so take the minutes away for those who book Plus fares and leave them in place for those of us who don't!  Or else provide the basic one-device internet package in their place.  Just don't charge for something that was previously free.  

 

However, I do see the writing on the wall.  Now that all ships are medallionet, I really don't see Princess keeping any type of minutes based plans, even the free ones.

Maybe they will be substituting a version of the app that actually works!  🤣

[Steelers36]

2 minutes ago, pompeii said:

Fine, so take the minutes away for those who book Plus fares and leave them in place for those of us who don't!  Or else provide the basic one-device internet package in their place.  Just don't charge for something that was previously free.  

 

However, I do see the writing on the wall.  Now that all ships are medallionet, I really don't see Princess keeping any type of minutes based plans, even the free ones.

Minutes are meaningless for any guest with PLUS fare (status or no status) since PLUS includes unlimited internet. 

 

I agree with your second paragraph.  Won't be surprised to see minutes retired.

[Ombud]

2 minutes ago, Steelers36 said:

Minutes are meaningless for any guest with PLUS fare (status or no status) since PLUS includes unlimited internet. 

 

I agree with your second paragraph.  Won't be surprised to see minutes retired.

Not everyone buys PLUS FARES. Its not cost effective for elites who don't drink very much (or at all). So maybe that's the primary agenda. Push all inclusive pricing and retire basic option

 

 

Edited June 23, 2021 by Ombud

[Steelers36]

1 minute ago, Ombud said:

Not everyone buys PLUS FARES. Its not cost effective for elites who don't drink very much (or at all)

Correct and we are Elite and not booking PLUS.  So, I will be very happy to see 50% discount on internet when it used to be 25%.  I know that doesn't make everyone happy, but there are other things I am not happy about that other guests like.  Can't please all the people all the time so I take advantage of the good and live with the not-so-good and the balance is still an enjoyable voyage with good value.

[Grego]

On 6/7/2021 at 12:52 PM, Daniel A said:

I think the fairest way would be to base it on dollars paid over time.  This would include both cruise fares and onboard spending, excursions and possibly casino.  I would prefer to see any complimentary OBC used to count into the amount spent on a cruise.

Huh?  That would be a nightmare to establish.  Back 30 years ago when we started the fares were a lot lower than today so where's the equality of that?  Spending on board is another hard thing to equate along with excursions and casino.  And then, you want to throw in OBCs which are not out of pocket so then you might have to subtract the SHB from the total as well.

 

Don't try to over engineer something that is simple.  Just count the number of days.

 

Regardless, not everyone will be happy and find fault.  We are sitting with 50 voyages with Princess counting the ones currently booked which we will be on and nearly 500 days at sea.  I'm happy with what Princess gives us which is a great voyage.

[skynight]

4 minutes ago, Grego said:

Don't try to over engineer something that is simple.  Just count the number of days.

Do agree. Amounts spent does not seem to be a good marketing method to attract returning passengers. Kind of says to those that book less expensive cabins, we don't really want you to be loyal customers. Go ahead book on another line. Passengers that book full and club class minis already receive extra benefits which are related to amounts spent, not loyalty levels. 

[Ombud]

On 6/7/2021 at 10:23 AM, ceilidh1 said:

This was sent to TAs last week....

 

 

New exclusive benefits for Elite and Platinum members If Dine My Way dining perks weren’t enough, we’re also excited to announce new benefits for clients who are Elite and Platinum members: • 10% off spa treatments and photo offerings • An exclusive 50% discount on MedallionNet® Wi-Fi (With this fast, reliable internet now offered on all our ships, no need to limit your time worrying about minutes anymore!) • 10% off shore excursions for Elite members

Juneau Tramway is almost 1/2 price if booked online. Last week $45 whether thru Princess or at the Tram. Now its $45 at the Tram but $25 within my booking. Great place to hike ..... the Ketchikan tour also dropped in price. (32 cruise points [solo] but only 203 days .... almost always booked for a week due to work demands / dog) So I will get a benefit from this especially if I can use it on shuttles to DIY

[pms4104]

Whatever changes Princess is planning likely will only APPEAR to be enhancements ... and will cost them near zero.

 

As to free internet minutes ... we had issues connecting or whatever (don't recall our exact problem) 3 years ago on, I think, the Royal.  The internet mgr helped us, but he did say that the MedallionNet was not built to be a "minutes" system.  So, for quite awhile, I've expected a change to this perk.

 

What other perks changes are they spinning?  My guess is that they are reassessing the mini-bar.  If they don't take it away completely, likely they will stop the tradeout option.  What you get is what you get.  Or, because of Plus fares, maybe Princess will no longer offer it as  perk?

 

Time will tell.

 

 

[san diego sue]

I like our free minutes. With mine and my husbands,  always enough for us.

However on one of our last cruises, it was a  28 day. There was still plenty of free minutes but I traded it in for unlimited and paid the difference. What I loved was I didn't have to remember to sign out, didn't have to compose off line  to save minutes, just enjoyed it. Probably didn't spend any more time on my computer than before .

[pompeii]

1 hour ago, Ombud said:

Not everyone buys PLUS FARES. Its not cost effective for elites who don't drink very much (or at all). So maybe that's the primary agenda. Push all inclusive pricing and retire basic option

 

 

That's what I think is happening.  We don't drink so Plus fare is a huge waste for us.  We have enough  obc to cover tips and usually then some, so tips being included is no incentive to book Plus.  Internet minutes and trading the mini bar for coffee packages took away any other reason there might be for us to choose the plus fare.  Not that those would be enough for it to pay for itself anyway.

 

But I think Princess is hip to all that, so they are chipping away at these reasons that the basic fare makes sense for many of us.  Now when more and more passengers start booking the plus fares, they can do away with basic fares, saying they weren't popular.🙁

[Sea Hag]

On 6/11/2021 at 11:31 PM, Steelers36 said:

Yes, I would think once general boarding begins and the second group comes in for check-in processing, the first group has gone aboard and as passengers are processed, they can proceed aboard and they will naturally be a lot more spaced out than the first group.  

 

 

I've wondered about how they planned to space the boarding groups. I was just able to get a boarding time for our 8/29/21 Alaska cruise, and it's a fifteen minute timeframe, 11:30 to 11:45.

[Turk1]

Maybe base it on number of days and then add a bonus depending on the level of cabin you book. Added as extra sea days to help you progress up the ladder.

[beg3yrs]

Here's a thought about Internet perks: Leave the free minutes in place for Platinum and Elites. Then allow those with free minutes on the Plus fare to trade them in for say allowing a second device to be simultaneously attached to the Internet. The benefit for us would be that when we want to use our laptop in our cabin (larger screen and keys!) we don't have to log off one of the phones. Everything could stay logged in all the time.

[dreams_of_travel]

2 hours ago, san diego sue said:

I like our free minutes. With mine and my husbands,  always enough for us.

However on one of our last cruises, it was a  28 day. There was still plenty of free minutes but I traded it in for unlimited and paid the difference. What I loved was I didn't have to remember to sign out, didn't have to compose off line  to save minutes, just enjoyed it. Probably didn't spend any more time on my computer than before .

 

Free minutes have worked for me, but I haven't sailed since the trade in/up for unlimited was on offer.  I'm curious, was there a discount for the buy up to unlimited? 

 

2 hours ago, pompeii said:

That's what I think is happening.  We don't drink so Plus fare is a huge waste for us.  We have enough  obc to cover tips and usually then some, so tips being included is no incentive to book Plus.  Internet minutes and trading the mini bar for coffee packages took away any other reason there might be for us to choose the plus fare.  

 

Exactly.  I've always had enough internet minutes to manage whatever I wanted to do.  If it wasn't enough, then I would buy a little bit more.  Certainly not enough cost to buy more to justify booking the much more expensive (to me) Plus fare.   My shareholder OBC is enough to use for any extras, so buying Plus isn't anything I would seek out. 

That said, if they offer Plus or a few of the perks as incentive to book a discounted fare, with no difference to the plain fare, I would book.  I have a December cruise booked where everyone (3 of us) got drinks, internet, specialty dining, and tips included.  I've never wanted to do specialty dining, but now I get to try it.  Same with the drinks offer.  It was never a need/want, but now I get to see how it works, and if I think the package is worth it for me. YMMV

 

2 minutes ago, beg3yrs said:

Here's a thought about Internet perks: Leave the free minutes in place for Platinum and Elites. Then allow those with free minutes on the Plus fare to trade them in for say allowing a second device to be simultaneously attached to the Internet. The benefit for us would be that when we want to use our laptop in our cabin (larger screen and keys!) we don't have to log off one of the phones. Everything could stay logged in all the time.

 

I don't need a second device but some people would use it as you suggested for a second device. Especially if they needed to take care of some business while onboard.   

[Steelers36]

53 minutes ago, beg3yrs said:

Here's a thought about Internet perks: Leave the free minutes in place for Platinum and Elites. Then allow those with free minutes on the Plus fare to trade them in for say allowing a second device to be simultaneously attached to the Internet. The benefit for us would be that when we want to use our laptop in our cabin (larger screen and keys!) we don't have to log off one of the phones. Everything could stay logged in all the time.

Not really good IMO since those booking PLUS each have unlimited internet.  So both in the cabin have it for a single device.  I hear you on the multiple thing, but I would not want to lose our internet discount perk since minutes are pretty useless for me.  I like the discount option in lieu of free minutes, but I get that some people are happy with the minutes they give.  My phone plan is unlimited - as most are these days - and hard to adjust otherwise.  LOL.

If want to have trade-in for a free second device OR discount on a plan, fine by me.

 

[Steelers36]

2 hours ago, Sea Hag said:

I've wondered about how they planned to space the boarding groups. I was just able to get a boarding time for our 8/29/21 Alaska cruise, and it's a fifteen minute timeframe, 11:30 to 11:45.

You might have the earliest group.  Often boarding can begin just before 11:30am, but I am thinking they think 11:30 is earliest.  This did occur to me... they don't want anyone sitting in the terminal after check-in.  Just check-in and go onto the ship.  11:30 start pretty much ensures that.  Do you figure you are in first group?  It is nice to read that functionality is working!!

 

That hurts my technique as we didn't have to be the very first persons at check-in.  We just needed to be the first persons (or close to) out the Elite room door and onto the ship (if going after Sanctuary booking).  Otherwise, anywhere in the early group make me happy as among the first few on board and get to relax with lunch and have lots of time to unpack and settle in and enjoy the afternoon waiting for sail-away.