Changes to Princess Plus, room service fees, Alfredo's and others. Fee changes. Etc

[kywildcatfanone]

17 hours ago, PrincessLuver said:

 

Correct.  Just because people book the Standard pricing in no way means they are not spending plenty of money on the ships.  We do spend but we do not want to subsidized the drinking habits of others by getting involved in Princess' all inclusive packages.  Why pay for things that we do not need, use or want.  Let others do that.  Cheers! 🙂

Yep.  This is us.  From the current increases, I see nothing that impacts us.  But, with the twice a year increases they now seem to be doing, I do expect IC, buffet, slice and trident to pick up charges in the near future.

[memoak]

3 hours ago, skynight said:

Let's say you plan to have dinner at Alfredo's or another casual location. You have already paid for a dinner as part of your fare in the MDR or the buffet. Now there is a charge for the casual meal. So the passenger is paying twice for the evening dinner. It is the definition of ripping off customers, paying twice for one meal. I can't imagine that the cost for any of the casual meals is greater than the cost for a DR or buffet meal, no matter how poor the quality of the DR/buffet meals would be. 

Remember only the pizza restaurants were free Salk others like sushi, Salty Dog etc already had a price tag

[whitecap]

2 minutes ago, azbirdmom said:

I had to giggle when I saw this on the Princess website a few minutes ago.  Maybe there is a new package for "Princes"?

 

As I said in one of my earlier post, the communication efforts by PrincesS, over the last year or so, have been so misleading, misspelled, misinformed and lacking clarity that you really have to wonder where they get these people.  

[PacnGoNow]

12 minutes ago, MissP22 said:

If I have the standard package with the classic soda package & request an attendant or waiter for a soda or mocktail would that incur a $14.99 per cruise charge?

We don't utilize room service- ever.

This whole thing is confusing me. 

Only if you order on the App. If you go up to a bar or ask a waiter for a soda, then you are not using the App, there should be no charge of $14.99.

 

If you order RS, then yes a $5 charge.

[Steelers36]

57 minutes ago, gah_cruise said:

is it possible to remove/reduce crew appreciation if you have Plus/Premier package?

No

[Steelers36]

43 minutes ago, kywildcatfanone said:

The entire thread says all casual dining are now getting upcharges, and Alfredos is one of them.

Agree with your comment about MDR.

This is wrong.  Of the many casual dining locations, some have fees and some are free.  The only change is to make Alfredo's/Gigi's have a fee.  Actually, I saw a Gigi menu with pricing and not sure if it is current or coming.  I had always thought Gigi was just a new name for the Alfredo concept.  In any case, it's only one addition to the fee list.

[mtnesterz]

4 hours ago, SteveTrafford said:

We were told by a former Princess Maitre D that the room steward (or whoever) are expected to hand cash tips in to go into the central pot, and they prefer in these circumstances for guests to give an Amazon card or voucher which they are not expected to hand in. 

For quite some time now stewards do not have to turn in cash tips, but this tale sticks around.

[SteveTrafford]

26 minutes ago, c-boy said:

🤨 how and who police's that ?

I can only pass on what what I was told by an acquaintance who I have no reason to doubt.

 

Please dont shoot the messanger 

[Steelers36]

20 minutes ago, MissP22 said:

If I have the standard package with the classic soda package & request an attendant or waiter for a soda or mocktail would that incur a $14.99 per cruise charge?

We don't utilize room service- ever.

This whole thing is confusing me. 

No.  As long as you are doing it in person and not via the App to your location.

[cruzsnooze]

56 minutes ago, gah_cruise said:

is it possible to remove/reduce crew appreciation if you have Plus/Premier package?

No you can't. You'll have to look at the total of the Package VS what you would spend if you  give a crew appreciation of YOUR choice. Also how many people need more then one devise but get two because of the package. I keep my computer on in the cabin and both of us use the one device.  I can't imagine wanting to drink mocktails all day with the excessive sugar and calories nor the included desserts on the premiere packages.  

  Everyone should do the math and see what works for them best. Cruising may still be a good option but you need to take a pencil to paper to see if it works for you.

[Steelers36]

3 minutes ago, SteveTrafford said:

I can only pass on what what I was told by an acquaintance who I have no reason to doubt.

 

Please don't shoot the messenger 

So how old is your information?  Yes, the line used to be that cash tips were turned in and kept if the guest had removed auto-tipping, but allowed to be kept if the guest had retained auto-tipping.  This changed sometime and there is no turning in by vast majority of reports.

 

Not shooting you - just correcting misinformation.

[homeinboca]

Having just spent a rainy Saturday morning reading through all these comments, I thought I would add my own. We are not purchasing a drink package and don't ever expect to. For the same reason we don't go to all-inclusive resorts, it just doesn't pay for us to do so. We aren't big drinkers. Maybe one or two a day. When we look back at our cruising history, we have never ordered room service. We do use the card to hang on the door for an early morning delivery to our cabin for a few things for DW. There are some cruises we went on, where we never used Alfredos Pizza and some where we did one time. The IC, Buffet, MDR, Slice and Burger Grill by the pool are more than enough for us. We usually do a specialty restaurant once a cruise also. 

 

Are we upset about price increases - of course we are. I get upset every time I go to the grocery store too. Everything is up in our post-Covid world. Airfares, hotels, utilities, fuel, cars, nothing is exempt. 

 

Having said all that, we enjoy being at sea, looking out at the ocean and spending a relaxing day by the pool or just going ashore and walking around the port in the Caribbean. We've been to most of the islands a few times now, so we don't do excursions either. If Princess doesn't like the type of cruiser that I am, so be it. These changes won't impact our future decisions on whether or not to cruise with Princess. 

 

Edited July 29, 2023 by homeinboca
spelling error

[dns65]

23 hours ago, cruzrbachoua said:

where do you see that in your personalizer i just checked ours and it doesnt show the new benefits?

You can see what you get included for your cruise from here https://book.princess.com/cruisepersonalizer/printTravelSummary.page    Scroll towards the bottom for the list

[whitecap]

6 minutes ago, homeinboca said:

Having just spent a rainy Saturday morning reading through all these comments, I thought I would add my own. We are not purchasing a drink package and don't ever expect to. For the same reason we don't go to all-inclusive resorts, it just doesn't pay for us to do so. We aren't big drinkers. Maybe one or two a day. When we look back at our cruising history, we have never ordered room service. We do use the card to hang on the door for an early morning delivery to our cabin for a few things for DW. There are some cruises we went on, where we never used Alfredos Pizza and some where we did one time. The IC, Buffet, MDR, Slice and Burger Grill by the pool are more than enough for us. We usually do a specialty restaurant once a cruise also. 

 

Are we upset about price increases - of course we are. I get upset every time I go to the grocery store too. Everything is up in our post-Covid world. Airfares, hotels, utilities, fuel, cars, nothing is exempt. 

 

Having said all that, we enjoy being at sea, looking out at the ocean and spending a relaxing day by the pool or just going ashore and walking around the port in the Caribbean. We've been to most of the islands a few times now, so we don't do excursions either. If Princess doesn't like the type of cruiser that I am, so be it. These changes won't impact our future decisions on whether or not to cruise with Princess. 

 

Boy, you two sound just like the DW and me.  We eat 95% of our meals at the buffet; 5% at the Lido grill/pizza and the IC.  We go to a specialty restaurant only if it is gifted.  We have sailed the Caribbean, with Princess, 39 times and have done about every excursion so none of those.  A slow stroll through the port area and back to the ship is our usual activity.  Relax, and decompress.  Now that Princess has decided to try being more like Royal Caribbean, Sun Princess, with two entire decks for kids/families (don't get me wrong, I have nothing against kids or families as long as the kids are seen and not heard and the parents maintain control 😂), and adding additional fees with less and less benefits for loyalty, the atmosphere aboard Princess ships might be changing.  We'll see and then make whatever change we need to in order to continue to cruise and enjoy ourselves without the feeling of being taken to the cleaners.  

[Steelers36]

20 minutes ago, homeinboca said:

............................

 

Having said all that, we enjoy being at sea, looking out at the ocean and spending a relaxing day by the pool or just going ashore and walking around the port in the Caribbean. We've been to most of the islands a few times now, so we don't do excursions either. If Princess doesn't like the type of cruiser that I am, so be it. These changes won't impact our future decisions on whether or not to cruise with Princess. 

 

Well thought out post - nice one.

[coo359a2]

7 minutes ago, whitecap said:

  the parents maintain control 😂),  

On a number of ships we have been on, that would be an oxymoron statement.  

[spunks]

6 hours ago, PacnGoNow said:

I don’t understand if you had a free cruise and drinks, why you would complain about paying $15 for a one time fee to use the App, IF you are even charged on your free drink package?

 

The $5 room service fee, IF you are charged on your drink package is still a steal IMO.  
 

I think a free cruise and drinks would be great, those new fees would be minor.

 

Maybe I’m missing something. IDK

No...I had a free cruise, but did not have a free drink package. I had VIP status which meant I could get drinks in the Casino when it is open.

 

My complaint is that things that I liked about Princess which included coffee ( plain old black coffee) delivery each morning,,,, occasional meals at Alfredo's. .free internet and such are now gone. This makes Princess cruises not worth the effort for me, even for free passage. I can get the same benefits on RCCL ( well....actually much better) with less trouble. The free laundry and Most traveled guest luncheons with the Captain mean less and less to us.

[MissP22]

58 minutes ago, Jeter02 said:

No you will not inquire the $14.99 activation fee because you're not using an app You're using a beautiful wonderful warm body to place your order. And honestly you'll probably get the drink much quicker than those who order on the app or through RS

 

48 minutes ago, PacnGoNow said:

Only if you order on the App. If you go up to a bar or ask a waiter for a soda, then you are not using the App, there should be no charge of $14.99.

 

If you order RS, then yes a $5 charge.

 

42 minutes ago, Steelers36 said:

No.  As long as you are doing it in person and not via the App to your location.

Thanks guys.

I believe they've made it so confusing than many people will just buy the drink package so to be done with the charges. I can just see the line at the service desk with people asking for an explanation about the unknown charges. 😉

[LMaxwell]

1 hour ago, cruzrbachoua said:

Wow..I thought we were all able to express our frustrations not sure why you singled me out to basically tell me to stop whining on a thread that basically we are all complaining on...I was simply explaining to someone who assumed because we booked the suite we had money to just toss around 

You are expressing your frustrations. I didn't tell you to stop. I encouraged you to take action. Cruises are a lot of money and planning/budgeting for a suite on a premium line even more so. To have your included amenities changed and nickel and dimed isn't right. 

[whitecap]

3 minutes ago, coo359a2 said:

On a number of ships we have been on, that would be an oxymoron statement.  

With the emphasis on "moron". 😃

[palolake]

Just getting the pizza at Alfredos is a $12 charge.

 

[villauk]

33 minutes ago, homeinboca said:

Having just spent a rainy Saturday morning reading through all these comments, I thought I would add my own. We are not purchasing a drink package and don't ever expect to. For the same reason we don't go to all-inclusive resorts, it just doesn't pay for us to do so. We aren't big drinkers. Maybe one or two a day. When we look back at our cruising history, we have never ordered room service. We do use the card to hang on the door for an early morning delivery to our cabin for a few things for DW. There are some cruises we went on, where we never used Alfredos Pizza and some where we did one time. The IC, Buffet, MDR, Slice and Burger Grill by the pool are more than enough for us. We usually do a specialty restaurant once a cruise also. 

 

Are we upset about price increases - of course we are. I get upset every time I go to the grocery store too. Everything is up in our post-Covid world. Airfares, hotels, utilities, fuel, cars, nothing is exempt. 

 

Having said all that, we enjoy being at sea, looking out at the ocean and spending a relaxing day by the pool or just going ashore and walking around the port in the Caribbean. We've been to most of the islands a few times now, so we don't do excursions either. If Princess doesn't like the type of cruiser that I am, so be it. These changes won't impact our future decisions on whether or not to cruise with Princess. 

 

 

I think it’s more about the pax who have already paid and are taking cruises shortly and are now being told that they can’t access those amenities which they originally paid for in the description when they booked. It’s like booking a vacation at a certain hotel only to find not everything that was described is now available to you, even though you may have paid extra (old Plus/Premier package) to enhance your cruise. I know we had already planned to visit Alfredo’s on certain days of our imminent cruise, when we on particular excursions - we now will have to pay extra for all 7 of our party for those days as we have the Plus 50 package.

[gah_cruise]

1 minute ago, palolake said:

Just getting the pizza at Alfredos is a $12 charge.

 

Really !!!  ...where can I find the new menu?

 

[CruzinNoony]

10 minutes ago, coo359a2 said:

On a number of ships we have been on, that would be an oxymoron statement.  

Hi Tina,

You should have been on our Hawaii cruise on the Emerald (July 6 - 22).  LOTS of kids and teens.  No supervision by their parents.  Yikes!!  Sure would like to see you and Ken sometime on a cruise!!  We mostly sail out of LA.

[palolake]

Sorry, someone posted the Alfredos menu on FB this morning.  Try googling? I think appetizers were $5.  I didn't see what deserts were.  I think apps, pizza and desert is what you get for $14.99.