Question about "Important update re: dining on your cruise!" email I recently received.

[MKAH]

Hello, this is me and my wife's 3rd Princess cruise.  

We are not sure how the new pricing has affected our packages. We are hoping someone could help us understand the changes with respect to food and drink delivery (not room service delivery)?

 

Our next cruise is:
11 Day | Grand Western Mediterranean
Ship: Enchanted Princess
Barcelona, Spain
Departure Date: Oct 21, 2023

 

We have paid for:

• Mini Suite M1, Reserve Collection (AKA: Club Class) room.
• Princess Plus Beverage package, Including Service charges.
• WIFI Package
• Crew Appreciation Included (suites)

The only time we order anything to be delivered is when we are in a lounge chair near the pool, or in a hot tub.  Those orders are specifically, some kind of booze, other beverage and maybe a hamburger or nacho's or something snack like on the menu.

 

The email details, "You currently have a package that doesn't include these new benefits.  But you can upgrade your package...."

 

Does this mean I need to pay for 2 quantity OceanNow delivery at $14.00 each, = $28.00 total for the entire cruise?

 

This illustration in the email shows a green checkmark next to the line items: NEW OceanNow Delivery & NEW Room Service Delivery. 
Or does this mean they are already part of my existing package?

 

I am just not understanding this email?

 

Thank you in advance,

Mark Nicholson (Retired)
Former, US Army - EFMB,
Combat Medical Specialist

 

See example below:

You currently have a package that doesn’t include these new benefits. But you can easily upgrade your package in the Cruise Personalizer® to take advantage of these additional perks.

 

 

[cr8tiv1]

You wrote a very informative summary.  It looks like you have the Princess Plus 50.  It was the older package that you purchased at $50 / pp/pd.  I believe the PP$60 started sometime near February 2022.  The new package was just announced, after your final payment was made.  
 

If you did purchase the older package at $60/pp/pd, then I don’t know what you have to do to upgrade.  I’m in the same boat…booked 3 cruises under the Plus 60  but the older one.  
 

Currently, there are three very confusing Plus packages.

 

1.  $50 a day that doesn’t include the desserts and gym classes.

2.  $60 a day that doesn’t include the enhancements (casual dining/delivery/room service)

3.  $60 a day is the latest pricing (new within the month)

[MKAH]

 

 

Edited August 21, 2023 by MKAH
duplicate

[MKAH]

1 hour ago, cr8tiv1 said:

You wrote a very informative summary.  It looks like you have the Princess Plus 50.  It was the older package that you purchased at $50 / pp/pd.  I believe the PP$60 started sometime near February 2022.  The new package was just announced, after your final payment was made.  
 

If you did purchase the older package at $60/pp/pd, then I don’t know what you have to do to upgrade.  I’m in the same boat…booked 3 cruises under the Plus 60  but the older one.  
 

Currently, there are three very confusing Plus packages.

 

1.  $50 a day that doesn’t include the desserts and gym classes.

2.  $60 a day that doesn’t include the enhancements (casual dining/delivery/room service)

3.  $60 a day is the latest pricing (new within the month)

Thank you for your detailed reply.

See below

I am not sure of the actual cost of the packages, because under Onboard Services on my booking (from my computer), it shows that they were compliments of my travel agent (I removed the name). 

So I am not sure which price point they are, since it looks like I didn't pay for them directly?  The cruise length is 11 days, but dividing the Plus Beverage Package of $753.61 by 11 days is $68.61. 
 

Interestingly, the WiFi package of $109.67 divided ny 11 is $9.97 per day rather than $9.99.

 

Crew Appreciation shows $170.50 divided by 11 is $15.50 per day.  I thought the cost was 17 USD (mini suites and club class cabins) per day?

 

I guess I should ask my TA?   LOL

 

• Oct 21, 2023 to Nov 01, 2023
• 11 Days

Reservations & Purchases

Communications

Item Type	Quantity	Price	Package Purchased By	Cancel
Wi-Fi Package	1	$109.67	Compliments Of Travel Agent	Complimentary Gift
Plus Beverage Package Including Service Charges	1	$753.61	Compliments Of Travel Agent	Complimentary Gift
Crew Appreciation Included(suites)	1	$170.50	Compliments Of Travel Agent	Complimentary Gift
Wi-Fi Package	1	$109.67	Compliments Of Travel Agent	Complimentary Gift
Plus Beverage Package Including Service Charges	1	$753.61	Compliments Of Travel Agent	Complimentary Gift
Crew Appreciation Included(suites)	1	$170.50	Compliments Of Travel Agent	Complimentary Gift

[caribill]

7 minutes ago, MKAH said:

Thank you for your detailed reply.

See below

I am not sure of the actual cost of the packages, because under Onboard Services on my booking (from my computer), it shows that they were compliments of my travel agent (I removed the name). 

So I am not sure which price point they are, since it looks like I didn't pay for them directly?  The cruise length is 11 days, but dividing the Plus Beverage Package of $753.61 by 11 days is $68.61. 
 

Interestingly, the WiFi package of $109.67 divided ny 11 is $9.97 per day rather than $9.99.

 

Crew Appreciation shows $170.50 divided by 11 is $15.50 per day.  I thought the cost was 17 USD (mini suites and club class cabins) per day?

 

I guess I should ask my TA?   LOL

 

• Oct 21, 2023 to Nov 01, 2023
• 11 Days

Reservations & Purchases

Communications

Item Type	Quantity	Price	Package Purchased By	Cancel
Wi-Fi Package	1	$109.67	Compliments Of Travel Agent	Complimentary Gift
Plus Beverage Package Including Service Charges	1	$753.61	Compliments Of Travel Agent	Complimentary Gift
Crew Appreciation Included(suites)	1	$170.50	Compliments Of Travel Agent	Complimentary Gift
Wi-Fi Package	1	$109.67	Compliments Of Travel Agent	Complimentary Gift
Plus Beverage Package Including Service Charges	1	$753.61	Compliments Of Travel Agent	Complimentary Gift
Crew Appreciation Included(suites)	1	$170.50	Compliments Of Travel Agent	Complimentary Gift

 

a) The values you quoted are those associated with the Plus-50 package which is apparently what you purchased. 

b)  None of this is compliments of your TA. You paid for this. Princess misleads people by not indicating this.

 

If you wish to have the inclusions of the current Plus-60 package, you can upgrade to it at a cost of $10/person/day for the entire cruise.  You can do this either now by contacting your TA or can wait until you on board the ship and do the upgrade on embarkation day.

[AJSkarbo]

If you booked your cruise prior to December 2022 then yes, you would have the old Plus package. You could upgrade to the current Plus package or pay the Ocean now activation fee. 

[MKAH]

Perfect, thank you again.

[charliedalrymple]

11 hours ago, MKAH said:

Thank you for your detailed reply.

See below

I am not sure of the actual cost of the packages, because under Onboard Services on my booking (from my computer), it shows that they were compliments of my travel agent (I removed the name). 

So I am not sure which price point they are, since it looks like I didn't pay for them directly?  The cruise length is 11 days, but dividing the Plus Beverage Package of $753.61 by 11 days is $68.61. 
 

Interestingly, the WiFi package of $109.67 divided ny 11 is $9.97 per day rather than $9.99.

 

Crew Appreciation shows $170.50 divided by 11 is $15.50 per day.  I thought the cost was 17 USD (mini suites and club class cabins) per day?

 

I guess I should ask my TA?   LOL

 

• Oct 21, 2023 to Nov 01, 2023
• 11 Days

Reservations & Purchases

Communications

Item Type	Quantity	Price	Package Purchased By	Cancel
Wi-Fi Package	1	$109.67	Compliments Of Travel Agent	Complimentary Gift
Plus Beverage Package Including Service Charges	1	$753.61	Compliments Of Travel Agent	Complimentary Gift
Crew Appreciation Included(suites)	1	$170.50	Compliments Of Travel Agent	Complimentary Gift
Wi-Fi Package	1	$109.67	Compliments Of Travel Agent	Complimentary Gift
Plus Beverage Package Including Service Charges	1	$753.61	Compliments Of Travel Agent	Complimentary Gift
Crew Appreciation Included(suites)	1	$170.50	Compliments Of Travel Agent	Complimentary Gift

 

I want your travel agent!

[Steelers36]

13 hours ago, cr8tiv1 said:

2.  $60 a day that doesn’t include the enhancements (casual dining/delivery/room service)

No such thing.

[Steelers36]

12 hours ago, MKAH said:

Thank you for your detailed reply.

See below

I am not sure of the actual cost of the packages, because under Onboard Services on my booking (from my computer), it shows that they were compliments of my travel agent (I removed the name). 

So I am not sure which price point they are, since it looks like I didn't pay for them directly?  The cruise length is 11 days, but dividing the Plus Beverage Package of $753.61 by 11 days is $68.61. 
 

Interestingly, the WiFi package of $109.67 divided ny 11 is $9.97 per day rather than $9.99.

 

Crew Appreciation shows $170.50 divided by 11 is $15.50 per day.  I thought the cost was 17 USD (mini suites and club class cabins) per day?

 

I guess I should ask my TA?   LOL

 

• Oct 21, 2023 to Nov 01, 2023
• 11 Days

Reservations & Purchases

Communications

Item Type	Quantity	Price	Package Purchased By	Cancel
Wi-Fi Package	1	$109.67	Compliments Of Travel Agent	Complimentary Gift
Plus Beverage Package Including Service Charges	1	$753.61	Compliments Of Travel Agent	Complimentary Gift
Crew Appreciation Included(suites)	1	$170.50	Compliments Of Travel Agent	Complimentary Gift
Wi-Fi Package	1	$109.67	Compliments Of Travel Agent	Complimentary Gift
Plus Beverage Package Including Service Charges	1	$753.61	Compliments Of Travel Agent	Complimentary Gift
Crew Appreciation Included(suites)	1	$170.50	Compliments Of Travel Agent	Complimentary Gift

You did not really pay these amounts.  You paid $550/pp for the Plus Cruise Fare Package.  Subtract that from your cruise fare shown on an invoice and the net is what the cabin cost was.  (If your TA discounts, that may or may not be easy since they may only show your net cost on the agency invoice).  Also, if your TA discounts the cruise fare, you will have received a discount on the $550/pp as well since it is all bundled. 

You did book quite some time ago as you even paid the old CA value $15.50/pp/day.

 

Princess shows their list price market value for each element.  In this way, the drink package is WAY over-priced, so don't worry about the numbers.  Just be concerned with the included elements.

 

PS - Princess will contribute $17/pp/day to the "tip pool", but you do not need to pay more.  If you upgrade to $60 Plus, of course that package will then indicate a CA amount of $17/pp/day.

 

Edited August 21, 2023 by Steelers36

[MKAH]

Steelers36

 

Thank you for the information.  Everyone here is very kind and helpful.

[Thrak]

The information in the Cruise Personalizer is bogus. Your TA did not gift these items to you. Princess always lists things this way but it's a lie. You paid for  the listed items via the Plus Fare when you booked. I hate that Princess does this and then people are fooled into thinking their TA gave them some super special deal.

[cr8tiv1]

19 minutes ago, Steelers36 said:

No such thing.

 

Please help me out here.  I have recently booked 3 cruises for 2025.  All were booked before the new "enhancements" were announced.  Each bought at $60 per person per day.  Each do not include the new enhancements.

 

$60 Plus current old package:

Everything from before plus juice bar, desserts, and gym classes.  Missing are the 3 new enhancements (Casual Dining/Ocean Now/Room Service).

 

Both packages are $60 per person per day.  So how do I go about getting the old replaced by the new?  The old package is listed in my personalizer.  I've asked my travel agent.  She didn't know, and it was not important enough for me to pursue this...yet.  I will inquire on my next cruise (without any packages).  

 

I suspect she would need to cancel old package and add new package for no additional charge.

 

I am letting the dust settle since no one seems to have a definitive answer to how this all works.

 

 

[caribill]

9 minutes ago, Thrak said:

The information in the Cruise Personalizer is bogus. Your TA did not gift these items to you. Princess always lists things this way but it's a lie. You paid for  the listed items via the Plus Fare when you booked. I hate that Princess does this and then people are fooled into thinking their TA gave them some super special deal.

 

And if your booking is directly with Princess, it will say that it is a gift from Princess.

 

Equally misleading.

 

Princess does this so they can advertise these "benefits" are free with certain fares. In other words, free if you pay for it.

[caribill]

2 minutes ago, cr8tiv1 said:

 

Please help me out here.  I have recently booked 3 cruises for 2025.  All were booked before the new "enhancements" were announced.  Each bought at $60 per person per day.  Each do not include the new enhancements.

 

$60 Plus current old package:

Everything from before plus juice bar, desserts, and gym classes.  Missing are the 3 new enhancements (Casual Dining/Ocean Now/Room Service).

 

Both packages are $60 per person per day.  So how do I go about getting the old replaced by the new?  The old package is listed in my personalizer.  I've asked my travel agent.  She didn't know, and it was not important enough for me to pursue this...yet.  I will inquire on my next cruise (without any packages).  

 

I suspect she would need to cancel old package and add new package for no additional charge.

 

I am letting the dust settle since no one seems to have a definitive answer to how this all works.

 

 

 

You will get all the new "benefits."

 

Don't worry about it. Anyone who paid $60 has all these new items included.

 

It may take a while (if ever) for Princess to update the information you see on your booking.

 

 

[memoak]

If you paid $60 per day for plus you will get all the new features

[Steelers36]

21 minutes ago, cr8tiv1 said:

 

Please help me out here.  I have recently booked 3 cruises for 2025.  All were booked before the new "enhancements" were announced.  Each bought at $60 per person per day.  Each do not include the new enhancements.

 

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

Posts 51 & 16.  Thumbs up there.  I gather you had not yet read that various documentation, including Travel Summary were not updated at roll-out.  Presumably they will get around to it some day.

 

[cr8tiv1]

@Steelers36 I count on members like you to keep me informed.  I may have read it (but forgotten).  Or used my Evelyn Woods Reading techniques to speed read through the dozens of posts...and quickly put it out of my mind "I read it!".  Or was too lazy to read the pages and pages that just confuse me more.

 

AND I do have one of those wooden nickels too.

 

Thank you all for making sure that I am supported in my posts and assured that all the time I spend on Cruise Critic is productive.

 

AND yes, I did catch the posts 51 and 16.

Edited August 21, 2023 by cr8tiv1