F1guynz Posted July 31, 2023 Report Share Posted July 31, 2023 I hope that Royal learns a value lesson from Princess cruises regarding making changes to restaurants that are currently complementary, changing them to chargeable unless you purchase a package and then calling that an "enhancement" to your benefits. It is not an enhancement to a benefit when something is currently included at no cost now comes at an additional cost ($65 per person per day minimum) Imagine the outrage if Royal tried charging for Sorrentos or Cafe Two70 unless you had purchased an add-on to your original cruise fare. I know cruise lines needs to find additional sources of revenue to recover from the pandemic,but this is not the way to go about it. RCIfan1912, Vancity Cruiser and SweetPea 1 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rackham Posted July 31, 2023 Report Share Posted July 31, 2023 Sorrento's isn't the equivalent of Alfredo’s on Princess. What Princess is doing with the above is covering prix fixe menus at places that'd be the equivalent of say Royal's Playmakers or Giovanni's Wine Bar aboard their ships. Basically, they're including a limited version of a dining package with each bundle. Edit: Press release: https://www.princess.com/news/news_releases/2023/07/NR-Princess-Plus-and-Premier-Enhancements-27-July-2023.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokeybandit Posted July 31, 2023 Report Share Posted July 31, 2023 Seems like yet another package that looks better than it actually is Pattycruise and RCIfan1912 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ampurp85 Posted July 31, 2023 Report Share Posted July 31, 2023 Wow, what drinks are they charging $30 for?????? Or is it up to $30 in drinks a day? WAAAYTOOO and RCIfan1912 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Villageidiot Posted July 31, 2023 Report Share Posted July 31, 2023 13 minutes ago, smokeybandit said: Seems like yet another package that looks better than it actually is It's not a bad package if you were going to buy the drink package anyway. Includes drinks, wifi, and gratuities. Also gives you room service and food delivery through the app. $60/day not bad. We cruise on Princess occasionally and as we don't drink it doesn't give us the same value as someone else so we stick with the standard fare. RCIfan1912, tjcruisers and Allen2 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rackham Posted July 31, 2023 Report Share Posted July 31, 2023 2 hours ago, Ampurp85 said: Wow, what drinks are they charging $30 for?????? Or is it up to $30 in drinks a day? That's not USD... or at least that's my assumption with where the poster is located. "The package includes all beer, spirits, wine by the glass and cocktails $20.00 USD and under as listed on our menu(s), or $30.00 AUD and under for voyages departing from and returning to Australia and New Zealand." RCIfan1912 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted July 31, 2023 Report Share Posted July 31, 2023 OP is from New Zealand so it stands to reason his screenshot is from his region. The equivalent US site: To me it looks like a new attempt to add infamous "nickel and diming" charges, then bundle said "nickel and diming" into packages in a feel good play. "Crew Appreciation" must be a marketing spin on gratuity charges. Crew Appreciation We know you love our crew, and we do too. This charge – increased for all cruises that depart on or after February 20, 2023 – is shared among the team behind the service you love, from the ones who know just how you like your coffee to those you never meet. We make it easy to recognize the team that works hard to make your vacation wonderful with pre-paid crew appreciation. It looks like this has some elements of "The Key" with reserved seating in the top package. Reserved Theater Seating You’ll love the reserved seating section in the Princess Theater! In advance of the production show, just head to this special section, only for guests with Princess Premier℠. What the heck are "Princess Prizes"? Princess Prizes Princess Prizes is your chance to win big prizes on your cruise, everything from new experiences to free cruises. And it’s easy to play. Just open your stateroom door, and watch your door portal to see if you’ve won. Try as many times as you like while the casino is open! You’ll open the door to win prizes you’ll love like wine tasting, Chef’s Table and so much more! Premium Desserts? Premium Desserts The sky (and stomach) is the limit when it comes to our Princess Premium desserts. These tasty concoctions mix gelato, pastry and candy to create something you have to eat to believe. Available within Gelateria, Swirls or Coffee and Cones and unlimited with a Premier package. When I first saw "casual dining" I figured that meant the buffet, but it seems not. Casual Dining The fancy places are nice. But sometimes you’re just in the mood for chill yet delicious. Enjoy these restaurants, whether a gastropub, regular pub or pop-up, as many times as you like. Definitely some heavy handed marketing in the works but it feels a lot like "The Key" rolled out as another package level. F1guynz, Allen2, WAAAYTOOO and 2 others 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tjcruisers Posted July 31, 2023 Report Share Posted July 31, 2023 Never been on Princess, but that Princess plus would probably be something I'd jump on if Royal had an equivalent Villageidiot 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jolly Ogre Posted July 31, 2023 Report Share Posted July 31, 2023 9 hours ago, Villageidiot said: It's not a bad package if you were going to buy the drink package anyway. Includes drinks, wifi, and gratuities. Also gives you room service and food delivery through the app. $60/day not bad. We cruise on Princess occasionally and as we don't drink it doesn't give us the same value as someone else so we stick with the standard fare. I will never want the wifi, drink package or room service so why would I want to ever pay for it?? I do pay for the gratuities ahead but If i want to eat at the complementary casual places now they are going to charge me... this is not right. What if Royal started charging for el loco fresh, park cafe or the solarium bistro?? Vancity Cruiser and ChessE4 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cakemeister Posted July 31, 2023 Report Share Posted July 31, 2023 I recently booked my first Princess cruise, out of Galveston, sailing next November. I bought the Princess Plus package before this was announced. Since I would buy the Internet package and gratuities, I figured that all the benefits (drink package and everything else) would cost maybe $35 pppd. I think that's very reasonable for a drink package alone, even better for all the other stuff you get with the Plus package. The new stuff is just extra. ChessE4 and RCIfan1912 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xaa Posted July 31, 2023 Report Share Posted July 31, 2023 59 minutes ago, Jolly Ogre said: What if Royal started charging for el loco fresh, park cafe or the solarium bistro?? If I were a new cruiser and never had either included, it wouldn't bother me too much. Because I am not a Princess customer, I don't really grasp the part that is lost in a tangible way, but actually see value in the Plus or Premier. So this isn't a play to those that know what is lost, it's a play to the ignorant. There are more of us ignorant than there are of those informed. Villageidiot, ChessE4, USFFrank and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Villageidiot Posted July 31, 2023 Report Share Posted July 31, 2023 2 hours ago, Jolly Ogre said: I will never want the wifi, drink package or room service so why would I want to ever pay for it?? I agree and that's why I said if you were going to buy the drink package anyway it was not bad. Current price for the DBP on my next Royal cruise is $77.99/day. Makes $60/day look reasonable with the added wifi and gratuities. I cruise both lines and never buy anything but one device wifi on Princess and wifi and the soda package on Royal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokeybandit Posted July 31, 2023 Report Share Posted July 31, 2023 Offering new packages seems a gimmick to boost sales, which doesn't seem to be a concern for RC right now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ampurp85 Posted July 31, 2023 Report Share Posted July 31, 2023 I think Princess clientele asked for this. I know a lot of people who prefer the all-inclusive aspect of vacationing. This will work for those people. I can't see Royal changing that much, if it's not broke don't fix it. They literally just mentioned how a la carte spending is really working for them. USCG Teacher 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F1guynz Posted August 1, 2023 Author Report Share Posted August 1, 2023 I think the main issue was more the fact that some of the dining options have up to now been included as part of the base fare (i.e free) and in future will only be included if you spend money on a package on one of the two packages. No issue with that, but don't call it an enhancement to existing benefits as currently everyone is entitled to the benefit, in future it will only be a benefit if you pay extra for it. I only mentioned it because I see the cruise critic discussion on this quickly racked up 73 pages of comments before it was locked Villageidiot, Jolly Ogre and USFFrank 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WAAAYTOOO Posted August 1, 2023 Report Share Posted August 1, 2023 38 minutes ago, F1guynz said: don't call it an enhancement to existing benefits as currently everyone is entitled to the benefit, in future it will only be a benefit if you pay extra for it. I think this is the thing that causes me the most resentment about the cuts and changes to perks and amenities. They try and make you think it is somehow going to “enhance your experience” when it’s really a reduction of service. The single exception to this method (IMO) was the move to drink vouchers in synch with the cancelling of the open bar happy hour. This was truly an enhancement….but all of the other reductions/cuts have been money grabs or cost reductions (I’m not saying they aren’t perhaps necessary) and have not enhanced my experience in the least ! …please just don’t insult me and try think I will believe that it is an enhancement for my benefit ! teddy, Curt From Canada, USFFrank and 2 others 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fireclan Posted August 1, 2023 Report Share Posted August 1, 2023 "please just don’t insult me and try think I will believe that it is an enhancement for my benefit ! " Isn't that the truth! F1guynz 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F1guynz Posted August 1, 2023 Author Report Share Posted August 1, 2023 17 hours ago, twangster said: What the heck are "Princess Prizes"? Princess Prizes Princess Prizes is your chance to win big prizes on your cruise, everything from new experiences to free cruises. And it’s easy to play. Just open your stateroom door, and watch your door portal to see if you’ve won. Try as many times as you like while the casino is open! You’ll open the door to win prizes you’ll love like wine tasting, Chef’s Table and so much more! I wonder if you just see people standing in the corridor opening and closing their doors endlessly, could be the new slot machine. Carlos A., michaelp1446, SebagoSue and 2 others 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted August 1, 2023 Report Share Posted August 1, 2023 7 hours ago, F1guynz said: I wonder if you just see people standing in the corridor opening and closing their doors endlessly, could be the new slot machine. "Hello security? My neighbor is continually slamming his door". Princess cruise line, where the guest hallway is now part of the casino. Will we see hallways lined with people all swing their cabin doors like it's a handle on a slot machine? They made need to allow smoking in the hallways, at select cabin doors, just like in the casino. Cakemeister, USFFrank and Ampurp85 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottD Posted August 1, 2023 Report Share Posted August 1, 2023 10 hours ago, F1guynz said: I wonder if you just see people standing in the corridor opening and closing their doors endlessly, could be the new slot machine. I'm guessing the door portal is some kind of tablet or screen inside your room?? And you gain chances to win by swiping your room key... I guess? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vancity Cruiser Posted August 1, 2023 Report Share Posted August 1, 2023 11 hours ago, WAAAYTOOO said: I think this is the thing that causes me the most resentment about the cuts and changes to perks and amenities. They try and make you think it is somehow going to “enhance your experience” when it’s really a reduction of service. Kind of like Norwegian getting rid of all their big shows months ago to make room for exciting new opportunities, only to have radio silence on entertainment ever since? WAAAYTOOO 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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