Buy Plus Package on booking? Later? On Board?

[Boatsie]

With the Plus Packages adding “NEW” stuff 2 times after increasing price to $60…is just waiting to buy the Plus sometime after booking a smarter choice in case they add more “NEW” stuff?  Even people who bought a $10 upgrade to $60, missed out on the latest additions of the free room service & OnBoard delivery.  There doesn’t seem to be any benefit of giving up the $60 per day ($1920 in our case) until we see what more is behind the curtain.  Thoughts??

[Scirocco Breeze]

You are probably gambling with the risk of a price increase, other than that no downside.

[PMGS247]

The only other thing I could think of would be having to remember to babysit your $10 medallion shipping cost refund.  Without the package you'll be charged and will have to work out some way of getting that back.  Maybe there's a set process that occurs easily, quickly, & automatically but based on my experience with refunds I wouldn't bet my next paycheck on that lol 

[dreaminofcruisin]

6 hours ago, Boatsie said:

With the Plus Packages adding “NEW” stuff 2 times after increasing price to $60…is just waiting to buy the Plus sometime after booking a smarter choice in case they add more “NEW” stuff?  Even people who bought a $10 upgrade to $60, missed out on the latest additions of the free room service & OnBoard delivery.  There doesn’t seem to be any benefit of giving up the $60 per day ($1920 in our case) until we see what more is behind the curtain.  Thoughts??

 

I don't think this is correct. If you paid to upgrade to $60, I believe you now have all the perks. It's those of us who booked the $50-Plus package who chose to NOT upgrade that are missing the perks....or have to pay for them if we use them.

[Steelers36]

6 hours ago, Boatsie said:

With the Plus Packages adding “NEW” stuff 2 times after increasing price to $60…is just waiting to buy the Plus sometime after booking a smarter choice in case they add more “NEW” stuff?  Even people who bought a $10 upgrade to $60, missed out on the latest additions of the free room service & OnBoard delivery.  There doesn’t seem to be any benefit of giving up the $60 per day ($1920 in our case) until we see what more is behind the curtain.  Thoughts??

No matter when nor how a guest paid/pays $60 for Plus, all perks are included.  You have misunderstood the situation.  If there is a subsequent change to the perks, you will benefit or lose.

 

As for the mention of the Medallion shipping charge, those who have waited to purchase Plus on board have been getting $10 OBC automatically.

[BlerkOne]

If you buy Princess insurance, I believe the cost increases with pre-cruise purchases. If you wait until on the ship, there is no impact. 

[ExploringTheGlobe]

Another thing to think about is if you are on a Casino rate.  I have a discounted rate and yesterday I changed my booking from Plus to Premier for a 7 day cruise.  It should have been $140 more but because I am booking the Premier fare and not just an add on, the casino discount applies and I only paid $110 more. 

[Tedferg]

As well as lower insurance, you can apply OBC if you purchase onboard. FYI Plus does not hit your account until after you sail, so first drinks will be charged but you can have them removed.

[AndrewOu]

Is it possible they have post-booking sales on Plus/Premier upgrades. I know other lines do this with their beverage package where I'll get emails with 20% off or something like that. Does Princess ever do this with their packages?

[Steelers36]

32 minutes ago, AndrewOu said:

Is it possible they have post-booking sales on Plus/Premier upgrades. I know other lines do this with their beverage package where I'll get emails with 20% off or something like that. Does Princess ever do this with their packages?

The discussion has been about the cruise fare package and not the beverage package.  I would not expect any discounting.

[BarBug]

Strangely, I just booked on a casino rate, paid in full, and do not find the option to buy/add Princess Plus anywhere.

[L11]

I have the same problem as BarBug. No indication on the casino rate booking as to how to add Plus. I will be booking shortly. Unless anyone has any better idea, I will either do the booking by phone (braving what will probably be a long wait) or call just to add Plus (same long wait). Sigh.

[HiCCCs]

On 9/27/2023 at 5:48 AM, AndrewOu said:

Is it possible they have post-booking sales on Plus/Premier upgrades. I know other lines do this with their beverage package where I'll get emails with 20% off or something like that. Does Princess ever do this with their packages?

I don't believe so. I believe the rate is the rate. But does anyone know, is there a limited time to purchase a package once onboard?  I thought I heard you only had two days to get it.

[SCX22]

44 minutes ago, HiCCCs said:

I don't believe so. I believe the rate is the rate. But does anyone know, is there a limited time to purchase a package once onboard?  I thought I heard you only had two days to get it.

 

You have to purchase by the end of the 2nd day.  The tables with the crew trying to sell the package  are gone after lunch on the 2nd day, but Guest Services can still add Plus/Premier after the tables disappear.

[ccqueenanne]

On 9/26/2023 at 8:20 AM, Tedferg said:

As well as lower insurance, you can apply OBC if you purchase onboard. FYI Plus does not hit your account until after you sail, so first drinks will be charged but you can have them removed.

 

This wasn't our experience last week. We purchased Plus upon boarding to use OBC. The upgrade charge hit our account almost immediately - many hours before we sailed. None of our early drinks were charged to our account. And, for those curious, we did automatically receive the $10 credit for the medallion shipping (I say credit, not refund, as we picked up our medallions at the port.)

[vikkster]

On 9/26/2023 at 7:22 AM, ExploringTheGlobe said:

Another thing to think about is if you are on a Casino rate.  I have a discounted rate and yesterday I changed my booking from Plus to Premier for a 7 day cruise.  It should have been $140 more but because I am booking the Premier fare and not just an add on, the casino discount applies and I only paid $110 more. 

Do you know if you have to pay for it when you add it or can I pay with the final payment, which isn't due till January. It is a casino rate.

[ExploringTheGlobe]

26 minutes ago, vikkster said:

Do you know if you have to pay for it when you add it or can I pay with the final payment, which isn't due till January. It is a casino rate.

I added mine after I booked it and still got the discounted casino rate but it would definitely need to be done before boarding. 

[OzKiwiJJ]

We bought the Plus package for our Japan cruise last month before the last lot of changes but I received an email the other day clarifying that we would get the new inclusions. Note: I'm in Australia so the pricing is in AUD.

[Scirocco Breeze]

4 hours ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

We bought the Plus package for our Japan cruise last month before the last lot of changes but I received an email the other day clarifying that we would get the new inclusions. Note: I'm in Australia so the pricing is in AUD.

I got an email regarding the same cruise, we bought plus in May 2022 so it literally is just WiFi, gratuities and drinks. I can't see any value in upgrading from that package for us, especially as Diamond Princess doesn't even most of the casual dining venues. To be honest I wish Princess had kept Plus at that level, I was perfect for us at that price point and level of benefit.

[OzKiwiJJ]

18 hours ago, Scirocco Breeze said:

I got an email regarding the same cruise, we bought plus in May 2022 so it literally is just WiFi, gratuities and drinks. I can't see any value in upgrading from that package for us, especially as Diamond Princess doesn't even most of the casual dining venues. To be honest I wish Princess had kept Plus at that level, I was perfect for us at that price point and level of benefit.

Yes, I'd rather have just the original, basic Plus fare. Even though it was almost too much of a good deal when it was first released I feel like I've been forced to pay extra for things I will never have, like those revolting looking desserts.

[Essex Racer]

We are just about to finish cruise on Emerald and have the original plus. It had worked fine for us, have not missed any of the additions, picking up the medallion at the port and ordering drinks in person was no hassle.

 

I think they have missed a trick by making plus and premier too similar?

[FrankieSue]

One advantage I have noticed with the Premier package is that deposit is fully refundable!