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Plenty of included food so all the paid options are optional. In the US Princess has fully refundable deposits most of the time. Now, other lines like X and RCI do not usually have refundable deposits, unless you pay a lot more for it. IMHO cruises are exceptional value for money compared with land based holidays. I would recommend canceling as I think your attitude isn’t likely to improve.
How much does it cost to go on Crown Princess?
It definitely is a bottomless money pit - as long as you keep throwing money into it. The math for plus or premium just doesn't work for us. We also don't spend much on board either, in fact I refer to us as a couple of freeloaders. We don't do many excursions, and we don't do specialty dining much either.
Fellow Passengers
Sunbeds on the decks are almost touching each other. Wine is served to you already in a glass and not by a sommelier. Evening meal portions are very small and the whole meal is rushed.
Crown Princess Roll Calls
It would be nice if you added location to your profile, but I had not read very many words at all before realizing you are from UK. It is unfortunate the travel rules there - or one PCL takes advantage of or has a contrary policy - mean your deposits are non-refundable. You yourself has said this experience has tainted the entire cruise for you. It won't get better, sounds like you will just dwell on it and especially if anything else goes wrong between now and then. I think based on your post, you should cancel and find another vacation.
I just can't wrap my head about how much do you actually need to spend before it actually feels like a care free all-inclusive experience, which it certainly doesn't feel like it at the moment, it's like there's a toll booth at every turn. They also hold you to ransom with the deposit by the "You want to cancel? sure, we have pocketed your £600"...so long sucker, so I am hanging in there in the hope that something good happens, although that's not looking too hopeful right now. Crown Princess deck plans include six room-only decks (Emerald, Dolphin, Caribe, Baja, Aloha and Riviera), four of which are sandwiched between other room-only decks, allowing for quiet nights in a large percentage of the cabins.
Once upon a time, cruising was an “ all included” vacation, or almost so. Advertised prices are base, lowest cost inside cabins per person. It doesn’t seem like much until you multiply by the number of passengers and add drinks, specialty dining, excursions and more. There is still a lot included in the price and many cruisers don’t spend much more than that, if at all. It’s up to you whether you want to buy alcoholic beverages or take excursions.
Where does Crown Princess sail from?
Regal Princess Cruise: Expert Review (2023) - Cruise Critic
Regal Princess Cruise: Expert Review ( .
Posted: Wed, 12 Jul 2023 15:38:27 GMT [source]
I never buy anything from the gift shops. With that said, there is no way for you to avoid adding some expense to this trip. As for the cost to get to the ship, that shouldn't be a surprise to you. Cruising can often be pretty cheap if you want it to be but you have to work at making it cheap. It can be very easy to let the dollars mount as you upgrade cabins, buy packages, add excursions etc.
Find a Crown Princess Cruise from $128
Good people work for every one of the cruise lines. From the top execs down to the hard working stewards. Don’t bring your attitude on board and spoil it for others. The complaint you and many others have with cruising is the community. Community is what makes cruising unique and fun for so many people.
Today's Birthdays - Enjoy your day!
Eat the non refundable deposit, book something else on land and forget cruising. Join your Roll Call on Cruise Critic often times people will be organizing excursions that are cheaper than the cruise line. Yes, it feels like a bottomless pit of money I am throwing my money into when Princess have changed the goal posts and I just have to suck it up, I just need someone to change my mind before I hit the cancel button....be gentle. Our costs before we even step on ship are £5k approx without the Plus package or any up selling which will occur either closer to the time or on board. For any cruises listed, Cruise Critic does not guarantee any specific rates or prices. In addition, average cruise prices are updated nightly.
Cruising is a great experience and IMO value for money whatever way you cut it but only if you do it your way and not the cruise line's way! Spend what you want to spend and no more and if that doesn't make cruising really attractive to you then best not to cruise IMO. Many, many people go in cruises every year and don’t buy anything more than the basic travel and they have a wonderful time. They aren’t worried about what other people on the ship get that they don’t get. Plenty of people do it on the cheap, don't drink and stick to the included offers you won't feel out of place and not fitting in.
You can sell the cruise for reasonable admin fees if you can find someone to buy it. As for moving forward there are options in the UK as the package regulations. What surprises me is you seem to feel some of this is a surprise and a money grab.
We would not cruise with Princess again. Cruising is not for everyone and if you decide not to cruise then that is a perfectly good decision for you. For some people they only need the bare basics of accommodation, food, water and entertainment to make a cruise a wonderful holiday especially if the stops are places they want to visit. You normally don't need to spend a small fortune on excursions... We normally just visit by foot or local bus/train. However, others want the extras of drinks packages, wifi, and many love the ship excursions or health spa services, private cabanas, speciality dining.
But you really don't need all that stuff to have a good time. There are plenty of cruisers who stick to the standard fare, don't eat at the specialty restaurants, don't drink alcohol, and don't purchase shore excursions directly through Princess. Personally, I don't eat at the specialty restaurants, have my alcoholic drinks at bars while in port, and book my shore excursions independently.
For me, how much you spend depends on the kind of holiday you want to have. Yes, Princess wants you to spend more but they are a business... Our job, as customers if you like, is to only spend what we are happy spending.
A little research prior to booking would have been ideal. I have a feeling that you’re convinced that you won’t enjoy yourself. You already feel cheated and disappointed. Seasoned cruisers understand the importance of being flexible. Itineraries change all the time and you have to expect the unexpected when you choose to cruise.
We only do specialty restaurants if they're included in a promo. We have a wonderful time on our cruises and don't feel deprived at all. We find that there's plenty to do on the ship without paying extra, and we enjoy getting off the ship and just walking around. I don't know if you'll be able to have a good time without all the extras. If you can't do that, then you'll either decide whether to pay whatever or just not cruise. I think you must have been lured by a low base price and as a result, your expectations were set too high.
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