Princess calle our TA with an exchange offer on upcoming cruise

[temeculagirl]

Hi there. We leave on the Star Princess in a few days and today our TA called to say that Princess wants us to give up our two Baja Deck Balcony cabins, and in exchange, they will give us 2 outside cabins and give us shipboard credit in the amount of $899 per cabin (total of $1798 in shipboard credit). Sounds like alot of money and I'm not sure we would even USE that much shipboard credit!!

 

What would you do?

[cruzin2paradise]

Hi there. We leave on the Star Princess in a few days and today our TA called to say that Princess wants us to give up our two Baja Deck Balcony cabins, and in exchange, they will give us 2 outside cabins and give us shipboard credit in the amount of $899 per cabin (total of $1798 in shipboard credit). Sounds like alot of money and I'm not sure we would even USE that much shipboard credit!!

 

What would you do?

 

Just one question, what is an "outside" cabin? There are balcony cabins, mini-suites, oceanview cabins, but I'm not sure what an "outside" cabin is.

 

If you mean oceanview, I would NOT under any circumstances take it. My attitude would be "how dare they try to down-grade me." I would say no and stand my ground. Upgrade, maybe - downgrade - absolutely not! I don't care how much money they want to give me. If I picked a balcony cabin, there is a reason I picked it. JMHO.

 

Enjoy your cruise, regardless of what you decided to do. And remember one thing - if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!

[sept10dsm]

I guess it depends how important the balcony is to you. Also, I would check to see if any unused onboard credit can be refunded. I would most likely do it. The onboard credit will cover tips and any other expenses. What is the difference in price for the ocean view to the balcony? That would also guide my decision. Have a great cruise no matter what you choose!!

[howard6933]

I know what I'd do if that happened to me. I would tell them that they could take their "on board credit and shove it". But I would make them a counter offer. Give me the CASH instead of on board credit, or another alternative I'd accept would be a free cruise. :rolleyes: One thing cruise lines NEVER want to do is give back cash. They are always looking for the edge in their favor. Make them a counter offer and see what happens. :p

[coiran]

I would take it - If the credit is non-refundable take it out in cash at the casino on the last night - it will cost 3% but is better than nothing.

 

Ron

[Baxter]

Bye-bye balcony. Hello Lotus Spa (or casino, or bartender, or excurision desk...)

[Ted&Molly]

Hi there. We leave on the Star Princess in a few days and today our TA called to say that Princess wants us to give up our two Baja Deck Balcony cabins, and in exchange, they will give us 2 outside cabins and give us shipboard credit in the amount of $899 per cabin (total of $1798 in shipboard credit). Sounds like alot of money and I'm not sure we would even USE that much shipboard credit!!

 

What would you do?

First: agree to nothing without knowing the exact cabin number to which you would be moved. How can you determine the value of their offer without knowing the value of cabin offered? Second: I would not take an OBC as compensation--it's use or lose and that's too much money. I doubt they will give you cash under any circumstances. So, if you decide to move and have calculated the acceptable level of compensation for your trouble and the value of the alternative cabin, I would insist on either a free cruise (with the cabin category, expiration date of offer, maximum length of cruise, and any region or date blackouts specified) or a FCC (Future Cruise Credit). The benefit of the FCC over the free cruise, all other things of value being equal, is that it does not expire and can be credited to any cabin on any ship on any itinerary at any time. Unless the free cruise terms were substantially higher value than the FCC, I would take the FCC for the flexibility of its future use. I would not accept the OBC. FYI, I hold the highest certification level for travel agent training offered by Princess (Commodore).

[ilovetocruisetoo]

MAKE SURE they are offering you the SAME SAILING DATES. Many times they will make a nice offer but it's for a different date. So be sure you are clear that it's for the same dates, not a future cruise.

[wdrl]

Hi there. We leave on the Star Princess in a few days and today our TA called to say that Princess wants us to give up our two Baja Deck Balcony cabins, and in exchange, they will give us 2 outside cabins and give us shipboard credit in the amount of $899 per cabin (total of $1798 in shipboard credit). Sounds like alot of money and I'm not sure we would even USE that much shipboard credit!!

 

What would you do?

 

Do you get any cash refund since you purchased a more expensive cabin and they downgrading you to a cheaper cabin? You must have paid an additional dollars for the two balcony cabins versus if you booked an oceanview (outside) cabin. If that's the case, Princess is really only giving you part of the shipboard credit and you paid for the rest. I think Princess is the one coming out ahead on this one.

[Coral]

You can cash out the extra shipboard credit at the end.

[Coral]

MAKE SURE they are offering you the SAME SAILING DATES. Many times they will make a nice offer but it's for a different date. So be sure you are clear that it's for the same dates, not a future cruise.

 

I have had this happen on the same date. It sounds like they oversold the balconies but have extra cabins in lower categories.

 

I personally wouldn't take the offer.

[Tannersgramp]

I'd take it in a heartbeat

 

They are paying you $100 a day each cabin not to sit on a balcony

[debbieinva]

Bye-bye balcony. Hello Lotus Spa (or casino, or bartender, or excurision desk...)

 

Thats what Im thinking...LOL

I just got off the Star last Sat... first time cruiser... had Baja inside 211 right up front.... the motion or the inside didnt bother me a bit.

It amazed me how fast you can run up your on board bill!!!!

[Familycruzer11]

We had a balcony and our friend had an oceanview last week. She was kicking herself the whole time. SHe come to us every day to hang out. Other posters here are correct. My friend saved money (substantial) and said "never again - not worth it". It is your vacation, you save for it and how many do you take per year? It sounds like Princess's "deal" is mostly refunding you the money difference between a balcony and an ocean view (maybe a little extra).. but as they say in the commercials.... mimosa breakfast on your own balcony... priceless... This was my first balcony and I assure you, I will never cruise any other way - it was a different trip.

[temeculagirl]

Well I made them a counter-offer and they said no! They won't give anything other than OBC and also did not tell us the exact cabin numbers we'd be moved to. The TA indicated that if we moved cabins, then our family would be split up (the cabins wouldn't be next to each other). While this is not unworkable and could be done for the right price, it would cause more headaches (and this is supposed to be a relaxing vacation!)

 

The TA put me on hold while she talked to Princess about what the difference in price between the balcony cabins we already have and the cost of the unobstructed view/oceanview cabins they were offering. Since we booked our cabins over a year ago, and got a sweat deal for for the balcony cabins, the price difference for moving was NOT in our favor. The oceanview cabins Princess is offering, would have only cost $50 cheaper than what we paid for the balcony cabin.

 

So unless they give us something other than OBC, we said "No Deal"! Now we wait to see if "the Banker" calls again. If not, we are perfectly happy with our cabins together, and having the balcony dividers opened between the 2 cabins. Afterall, we've looked forward to this cruise and to having the 2 balconies for a long time! Now its only 2 days away! I'll post a review when we get back.:)

[cruzin2paradise]

Well I made them a counter-offer and they said no! They won't give anything other than OBC and also did not tell us the exact cabin numbers we'd be moved to. The TA indicated that if we moved cabins, then our family would be split up (the cabins wouldn't be next to each other). While this is not unworkable and could be done for the right price, it would cause more headaches (and this is supposed to be a relaxing vacation!)

 

The TA put me on hold while she talked to Princess about what the difference in price between the balcony cabins we already have and the cost of the unobstructed view/oceanview cabins they were offering. Since we booked our cabins over a year ago, and got a sweat deal for for the balcony cabins, the price difference for moving was NOT in our favor. The oceanview cabins Princess is offering, would have only cost $50 cheaper than what we paid for the balcony cabin.

 

So unless they give us something other than OBC, we said "No Deal"! Now we wait to see if "the Banker" calls again. If not, we are perfectly happy with our cabins together, and having the balcony dividers opened between the 2 cabins. Afterall, we've looked forward to this cruise and to having the 2 balconies for a long time! Now its only 2 days away! I'll post a review when we get back.:)

 

 

Wise Decision!! Have a GREAT cruise on your balconies!!! Don't let them talk you in to something you don't want! 'Cause if you had, you would have booked it that way in the first place.

 

Have fun!

[Coral]

duplicate...

[spongerob]

So unless they give us something other than OBC, we said "No Deal"! Now we wait to see if "the Banker" calls again. If not, we are perfectly happy with our cabins together, and having the balcony dividers opened between the 2 cabins. Afterall, we've looked forward to this cruise and to having the 2 balconies for a long time! Now its only 2 days away! I'll post a review when we get back.:)

They'll sweeten the deal...but probably to someone else!

 

Whether you agree or disagree that this might have been a good deal (personally, I'm not sure what I'd do under the same circumstances) remember that when you are given OBC's, it is costing Princess much less than the dollar value you have been given. As a rule, I think it's safe to say that the cost to Princess for any OBC is about 50% of the dollar value to a passenger. Or less.

[gambit57]

I wouldn't have done it either. I'm perfectly happy with where I am. I don't like OBC b/c if I'm gonna spend it, I'd rather just get a refund and use my credit card to pay for it so I can get cash back or other rewards. I don't lose that, let alone possibly pay 3% to cash it out.

 

Since I normally only vacation once a year at most, they'd REALLY have to sweeten the pot for me to downgrade. However, if I cruised often, I'd consider downgrading only if they offered a free upgrade on a future cruise AND some credit towards that cruise (as prices tend to go up).

[tbag124]

maybe someone can shed some light on this for me...is it really possible that all of the mini-suites and suites are booked? b/c why would princess offer a lower cabin w/all of that OBC?? wouldnt they just rather move them to a mini or a full suite?? wouldnt that be cheaper for princess AND the cruiser would be happy w/ an upgrade?? i mean, it's 2 days away now, if the suites not booked and paid or, it's 99% not going to be before the cruise....so why not move the ppl there??

[Jacqueline]

When cruises are overbooked this happens. I was offered $1200 in OBC and cash for whatever we didn't spend (3/17 Crown Princess)

We would have had to trade 2 balcony cabins for one handicapped (370ft) balcony cabin that was a quad.

Its a matter of how much the money means to you versus how happy you will be with the switch. After all- its vacation.

[Ted&Molly]

Well I made them a counter-offer and they said no! They won't give anything other than OBC and also did not tell us the exact cabin numbers we'd be moved to. The TA indicated that if we moved cabins, then our family would be split up (the cabins wouldn't be next to each other). While this is not unworkable and could be done for the right price, it would cause more headaches (and this is supposed to be a relaxing vacation!)

 

The TA put me on hold while she talked to Princess about what the difference in price between the balcony cabins we already have and the cost of the unobstructed view/oceanview cabins they were offering. Since we booked our cabins over a year ago, and got a sweat deal for for the balcony cabins, the price difference for moving was NOT in our favor. The oceanview cabins Princess is offering, would have only cost $50 cheaper than what we paid for the balcony cabin.

 

So unless they give us something other than OBC, we said "No Deal"! Now we wait to see if "the Banker" calls again. If not, we are perfectly happy with our cabins together, and having the balcony dividers opened between the 2 cabins. Afterall, we've looked forward to this cruise and to having the 2 balconies for a long time! Now its only 2 days away! I'll post a review when we get back.:)

Bravo. You were spared a tough decision by an offer that would be an insult to the intelligence of an artichoke.

[willysgrandma]

I think you made a great decision. Had they offered you a future cruise credit for the difference, I would have jumped at it, but who can use $1800 in OBC? I have never ever spent that much in OBC's on one cruise in my life.

[NthernLgts]

Well I made them a counter-offer and they said no! They won't give anything other than OBC and also did not tell us the exact cabin numbers we'd be moved to. The TA indicated that if we moved cabins, then our family would be split up (the cabins wouldn't be next to each other). While this is not unworkable and could be done for the right price, it would cause more headaches (and this is supposed to be a relaxing vacation!)

 

The TA put me on hold while she talked to Princess about what the difference in price between the balcony cabins we already have and the cost of the unobstructed view/oceanview cabins they were offering. Since we booked our cabins over a year ago, and got a sweat deal for for the balcony cabins, the price difference for moving was NOT in our favor. The oceanview cabins Princess is offering, would have only cost $50 cheaper than what we paid for the balcony cabin.

 

So unless they give us something other than OBC, we said "No Deal"! Now we wait to see if "the Banker" calls again. If not, we are perfectly happy with our cabins together, and having the balcony dividers opened between the 2 cabins. Afterall, we've looked forward to this cruise and to having the 2 balconies for a long time! Now its only 2 days away! I'll post a review when we get back.:)

 

There is no right or wrong here. The only 'right' was to make an informed decision, which you did. Congrats.

[Crown08]

who can use $1800 in OBC?

I'm sure I could if I tried hard enough. :D