Definitely take a few minutes each evening to read the Princess Patter. On Regal in January and got only gin. If youre a regular reader, youll know that my vacation tradition is to choose a piece of jewelry on most of my trips. Thanks everyone, I appreciate your answers and will just do the trade in when we get there. There are 3 choices of beer brands; there are no options for liquor brands. Youll be glad you did, because stateroom bathrooms are tiny and steamy. Miniature bottles of liquor (50 ml) may be exchanged on a one-for-one basis with other miniature bottles. If youre even considering another cruise in the next two years, its crazy not to get a future cruise deposit while youre on board. You can also order room service. On one, I received just beer and vodka for the alcoholic beverages. There has DEFINITELY been an impact with supply issues. CC Help Jenn Formal Nights are (usually) never on the first or last night of a cruise. If lots of people on a cruise are avoiding dressing up, the specialty restaurant reservations can fill up fast. Started June 21, 2021, By On your 7th through 16th cruises, or after completing 51-150 cruise days, youre Platinum level. Can anyone tell me what all is included in the mini bar setup ? CC Help Jenn I am a vodka girl, so it wasn't an issue to trade in my 3 gin and a cognac. https://book.princess.com/captaincircle/contactUs.page#elite_mini-Bar. PS -- if you call on the very first day, they might be right there but I have had them ask if they could bring it a bit later, a couple of times, even the next day. :). If you didnt get the Sip & Sail deal and youre looking to maximize your free alcohol on Princess, I hope you like Champagne! Each Platinum member receives a complimentary Internet package that can be used in the Internet Caf or on your own device. Call room service to get it switched out. On the Majestic in October, they werent charging non-Plus passengers for espresso drinks at the International Cafe (too busy, I presume), so coffee cards might be a waste. Theres no ventilation! Minisuite: Diamond Princess' 184 mini-suites are primarily located on Deck 9, with a few on Deck 8. We had a choice of Canyon Road Cabernet Sauvignon or Chardonnay. I call after boarding and switch everything to cans of Sprite Zero. Also, the specialty restaurants can be busier on formal nights, because they dont have a formal dress code. Perrier was available at virtually every bar onboard, but not through room service! No one has mentionedyou can also switch the whole thing for 2 coffee cards. Make friends with your bartenders. I've never had to worry about it. Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos, Click here to reload the page in order to enable certain features, Policy regarding COVID related Discussions, C858B0A9-6769-424D-B129-59363EDAC023.jpeg, B5073042-BF8A-4EEC-BD19-0938D8732763.jpeg. Thanks. For the guys on Princess formal nights, anything from a dress shirt and chinos with a blazer, to a suit or a tux is fine. Every cruise since we became Elite the beer has been Dos Equis in bottles. Last month the Cognac was Courvoisier. I always bring one diet coke with me at embarkation to have with lunch because there hasn't been a diet in the mini bar for as long as I can remember. I visit an Oxo minimart in Cabo or Mazatlan and get a 2L Coke Zero (sin azucar). I always tell them to dress as you would if you were a guest at a wedding. Push back again, and the manager will be called over, with yet again a better offer. They have not in the past, but over time Coke is changing products. LauraS I was going to swap all out for that. Between the savings and services our guests enjoy, it's no wonder why the Captain's Circle is one of the best cruise loyalty programs. I love sharing my best cruise tips with you, along with reviews of cruise destinations, shore excursions, cruise ships and cruise lines. The loyalty program on Princess Cruises is pretty fantastic, making it one of the best reasons to keep cruising with Princess. It would also be easy to supply the wine. When booking our upcoming cruise, I noticed that another travel agency was advertising OBC offered through a credit card issuer. Were more used to saving money with clearance sales and coupons. This includes a complimentary mini-bar setup that consists of a "selection of liquors, soft drinks, beer, still and sparkling water" according to Princess. Answer: If you do not wish to have any alcohol in your mini-bar we will be happy to exchange your mini-bar for one of the following: You will be able to leave a comment after signing in, By All the non-alcohol bottles are swapped for tonic water. Recently, Princess transitioned to an onboard account based specialty coffee package, much like how their other beverage packages function. I know Dos Equis is the default brand, but what others might be available for swapping? CC Help Jenn does it depend on your cabin category at all? Elite members will get a one-time complimentary mini-bar set-up (1per Elite stateroom) which consists of two (2) miniature bottles each ofCognac, Gin, Vodka and Scotch Whisky, two (2) 12 ounce cans of . We had Diet Coke on four out of four B2Bs on Ruby in Dec and Jan, but tonic was mysteriously absent on the first segment. I also request wine glasses & have a tip for the room service crewmember who makes the exchange. The Dirty Banana, a popular drink on Princess Cruises Elite Mini Bar Set Up Princess' past passenger program, Captain's Circle is one of the most generous programs. On the alcohol swapouts, the price of the replacement item must be equal to or less than the item you are trading. On a side note, our Elite bathroom amenities were just 2 Face scrubbers. Another example of how "new" isn't always "improved". Question: What if I have a specific request for how Id like my mini-bar stocked? So I might do a beer/diet sprite setup on Majestic today. If youre a night owl or a super-early riser, you may be wondering where to get food (or a coffee) outside of normal dining times. Are they now doing the swap? Disclaimer: I may receive a small commission when you make a purchase from a link on this site, at no added charge to you. There has DEFINITELY been an impact with supply issues. Its always held on sea days, sometimes in the Wheelhouse Bar, but often in the Crown Grill, normally a fee-based specialty restaurant. Our first (and to date only) cruise as Elite had supply issues and we didn't receive the proper mini bar. On Princess sailings with a formal night, the dress code is elevated in the Main Dining Rooms during the dinner service. You can however switch water and anything else for soda. You used to be able to trade in the mini bar setup for a bottle of wine. Then, you have to call them up for the exchange (along with scores of others). Read more: Princess Cruises Pub Lunch Review (With Menu). Ive had very good luck negotiating the price down in the Effy shops on Princess. Non-alcoholic beverages may be exchanged on a one-for-one basis with other non-alcoholic varieties. Not sure if this is happening on all ships or just the Discovery but the old rules about swaps likely no longer apply. Once on board, you may contact Room Service to change your mini-bar selection. Can someone please direct me to where I should look on the Princess website. You can expect a space ratio of 34% on this ship. Tip: Do you want something thats not listed on the breakfast hangtag? You have to own at least 100 shares, but youll get extra OBC for each Princess cruise that you take. While you relax on your lounger, attendants will come around with fleece blankets, popcorn, or milk and cookies, for free! Direct to check in counter. I inquired about it and was told that they were out of the small bottles, but that if I wanted Vodka, they could provide it, but I would have to trade in 4 of the small bottles. Also another note is no Crown Royal in bars still. Priority check-in at embarkation: dont wait in line! Elite Mini-Bar Question: What will my mini-bar consist of? Actually it would be 4 coffee cards if you swap out both setups. Whatever they might offer will be something in limited supply. I did a CC survey a year or so ago and the majority swap out some or all of their mini-bar. We had Diet Coke on four out of four B2Bs on Ruby in Dec. Recent bridesmaids dresses, I should say. Whats your favorite Princess cruise tip? Ladies, this is a great opportunity to re-wear those bridesmaids dresses you have hanging in the closet! We make it work for us by trading all of our booze for Skyy vodka to take home to use for tailgates, etc. I always bring one diet coke with me at embarkation to have with lunch because there hasn't been a diet in the mini bar for as long as I can remember. A quick search of the board will find MANY threads on the topic. They do come shrink wrapped. Complimentary mini-bar - A one-time only mini-bar will be placed into each suite prior to embarkation. If youre starving after a night of dancing or losing track of time in the casino, this is the place to go to refuel in the wee hours. Princess is owned by the Carnival Corporation, so Carnival shareholders are eligible for free extra onboard credit. For women, a dressy pants outfit can work, as can a less-formal dress (a dark color and some accessories can always make a casual dress look more dressy). I have to wonder why all the local liquor stores seem to have tons of mini bottles but Princess can't seem to get them. The mini-bar set up for Elites is actually somewhat useless to any who have bought the "liquor sticker" (AIBP). If youve read my article about food and drink on a cruise, youll know that you can choose between a traditional set dining time and Anytime Dining. The contents of the mini-bar are subject to change. Both ships held to the "as long as it is equal to or less than" (unwritten) rule. However, should the passenger require any additional supplies this will be at the discretion of the Passenger Services Director. I have a related question. CC Help Jenn Is this something new? Answer: Your mini-bar will consist of a selection of liquors, soft drinks, beer, still and sparkling water. They usually come pretty quickly. Answer: You may exchange all of your mini-bar items for one bottle of wine valued at $40 or less. For the last several summers, Princess has offered a Sip & Sail promotion where the first two passengers in a stateroom receive a complimentary Premier Beverage Package (for select sailings and stateroom categories). Question: What if I don't want any alcohol in my Elite mini-bar? my fave cognac substitution was when Remy XO made a brief appearance. Your $100 is held by Princess, and you can use it for your deposit for your next cruise. We were allowed to trade the brandy for Budweiser on our last two cruises. phabric, October 8, 2016 in Princess Cruises. You can join the free Captains Circle loyalty program at any time after completing your first cruise. CC Help Jenn 2 ea 50 mL bottles whiskey, Vodka, Gin, Cognac (most recently Dewars, Skyy, Beefeater, Hennessy, can vary), 2 ea Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, Tonic Water, Perrier, Still Water. On the Majestic in October, they werent charging non-Plus passengers for espresso drinks at the International Cafe (too busy, I presume), so coffee cards might be a waste. Many Princess ships offer Movies Under the Stars, where they play recent films on the big screen. On one, I received just beer and vodka for the alcoholic beverages. Wed much prefer this! For example, Mr. SBC and I both bought Future Cruise Deposits on our last Princess cruise. Is water included in your sticker? If on a b2b and wanting the 2 coffee cards for the complete minibar, I call room service near the end of the 1st cruise & they gladly bring me the cards without having to exchange a minibar setup. The contents of the mini-bar are subject to change. Im hoping they continue to allow the exchange for coffee cards. Question: What if I don't want any alcohol in my Elite mini-bar? I bring this topic up because some mentioned tipping and the majority do not tip above the daily amount charged to your account so you need not feel guilty if you don't tip. Just ask your cabin steward when he comes to introduce himself on embarkation day. You may notice an announcement in the Patter about a shopping talk, hosted by the ships Shopping Host. Princess began offering this level in 2016 on select ships, and its now rolled out to the entire fleet. So I don't think it's just a matter of availability. We typically keep one set up and trade one for coffee cards. Yes, I change ours out every time. :(. By The Absolute Vodka I received was 375ml. I thought that Princess discontinued the mini bar swap for coffee cards a couple years ago. Later in the day I exchange my mini bar for 20 diet cokes. Check out our New Cruisers section! They were booked as one cruise.. You will receive the second setup at the beginning of the second segment. Does anyone have any information on this? It is realistically much easier for Princess to simply supply every Elite passenger with a "standard' setup and deal with changes as requested. Question: Can I exchange the items in my Elite mini-bar for wine? When I wear it Im reminded of time spent with family and friends. Your shopping host will encourage you to visit these specific shops, will give out coupons, and will sometimes even be in a shop (usually a high-end jewelry store) when you visit ports. The Captain's Circle questions webpage explains the minibar & our options. ;). We traded all the sodas for Diet Coke and the beer for Perrier last month on the CB. Apparently they were out of the Courvoisier. And then they have to build new minibar combinations and again visit the cabins to pick up the old and deliver the right things - and that all takes time and delays. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. An Ultimate Balcony Breakfast is also available, for $45, but it doesnt come with the dedicated service, flowers, or a photo. Powered by Invision Community. I always tell them, "no hurry." Started June 21, 2021, By Started October 12, 2018, Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. ;p. You will get there in time. Question: Can I exchange the items in my Elite mini-bar for wine? The left column is what is included in your mini bar. Read more: Ultimate Guide to Princess Cays. People have said you can exchange the mini bar for two coffee cards. Thanks for providing your spread sheet. If you want to know where to find free WiFi in port, where to find a cheap but delicious meal at your next stop, or whats going on onboard that you absolutely cant miss, your bartender friends will know the answer. If youve been on a Princess cruise before, youve definitely noticed the Effy jewelry shop on board (or your other half has!) Last month the Cognac was Courvoisier. As we are Elite with Princess we will still get "the perks" on the short cruise? That has been the case on our last two cruises which were on the Coral and Royal. Ugh. Ref from Princess:https://book.princess.com/captaincircle/contactUs.page#elite_mini-Bar. Here are eight things that you might not know about traveling on a cruise ship. margord, June 3, 2012 in Princess Cruises. Additional stateroom benefits include canaps on formal nights and afternoon tea upon request. So keep on their good side by moving to a nearby chair when bar service is scheduled to close. Prizes that Ive seen include a piece of art, a spa voucher, and even a piece of diamond jewelry! I do agree that if you want a coffee package or the bottle of wine you should be able to pre-select. I can almost guarantee theyll whip out a calculator and give you a better offer. Unfortunately, I do not like wine. Im also always looking for a good deal, and I despise paying full price for anything. Many of the shops have drawings to win merchandise. Then, on Enchanted Princess, also in December, there were no small (what I call airline-size) bottles of alcohol, but there was a 375 ml bottle of Jack Daniels plus the usual assortment of sodas and two bottles of water. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. Check the Patter for locations and times. Then, on Enchanted Princess, also in December, there were no small (what I call airline-size) bottles of alcohol, but there was a 375 ml bottle of Jack Daniels plus the usual assortment of sodas and two bottles of water. We call soon after boarding and have always received the exchange sometime in the evening. Luck of the draw I guess. Summary Can anyone tell me what all is included in the mini bar setup ? I inquired about it and was told that they were out of the small bottles, but that if I wanted Vodka, they could provide it, but I would have to trade in 4 of the small bottles. On our recent Island Princess sailing, they had Canadian Whiskey instead of Scotch. It lasted about two hours, and the servers didnt hover over us (or wait inside our stateroom as I had feared). CC is a wonderful venue for sharing. Sometimes Ive been able to get Heineken or Stella Artois but like other things my experience has variedmaybe its due to their supply. EDIT: I see that "elliair" types faster than me while I'm watching CFB games. BTW, anyone notice that this thread was nearly a year old? Started October 12, 2018, Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. While other cruise lines are moving away from free 24-hour room service, Princess still offers this with a limited menu. The departure time was changed, and the cruisers missed the announcement in the newsletter. 20 items are included in the mini bar, they said we can get 20 items of what we would like. If you want a quieter, less crowded pool experience, definitely check out the adults-only Princess pools. And I agree - tipping is recommended. On our recent trip on the Enchanted, there was vodka, scotch, gin, and Canadian Club rye - no more cognacs apparently. We are booked on a Grand Mediterrean cruise which is actually two BtoB cruises. You will be able to leave a comment after signing in, By Have you been on a Princess cruise? Never say never. Call room service, they will handle it for you. I will be sailing as 'Elite' for the first time, on the Emerald Princess out of Sydney in January 2017. When boarding Majestic in October (LA) there were no DCs in our minibar because they were waiting for it to be delivered to the ship during turnaround day. Complimentary Grapevine Wine Tasting: this popular event usually costs $25 per person, and is not covered by any drink packages. Priority specialty dining reservations: If youd like to make a reservation for specialty dining, youll have VIP priority. Answer: You may exchange all of your mini-bar items for one bottle of wine. You made out. But what if you want to book reservations based on when the formal nights will be? The mini bars come pre-shrink wrapped. But what about if you know that youll need to have dinner at a certain hour like if you want to be sure that you get a seat for a show and you want to eat first? Two Elites in the same stateroom get the same mini-bar as one Elite and one non-Elite. Princess Cruises Elite Mini Bar Elite Mini Bar By Megotoo, March 1, 2022 in Princess Cruises 1 2 3 Next Page 1 of 3 Megotoo 597 January 12, 2005 Santa Clarita, California #1 Posted March 1, 2022 I've been reading that the Elite mini bar setup has been really sketchy lately. On Emerald Princess in December, we were able to switch out for coffee cards for what seemed to be the usual mini-bar set-up. They'll be there within minutes of calling. Food is complimentary, although there is a charge for coffee and tea. So, you can exchange the 10 alcohol for other alcohol or non-alcohol. The cards were transferable and could be used on multiple cruises. If youve noticed that theres always a line for the dining room at 6:30 save time by making a reservation. You can save a significant amount over the marked price if you do this! (Princess Cruises owns Princess Cays, but they allow Carnival cruises to visit as well. Started August 27, 2021, By By Obviously, a cruise line isnt going to be able to replicate the feeling of a village pub on a cruise ship full of tourists. Mr. SBC always wears a dark suit (I recommend a summerweight wool). Answer: No. The mini-bar set-up consists of the following items (subject to change and availability): - Two (2) 50ml bottles Cognac - Courvoisier V.S.O.P. Upon request, a complimentary selection of canaps will be delivered to your stateroom on formal nights. Platinum members plus anyone traveling with you in the same stateroom can go right to the Priority Check-In desk. We have always had bottles of beer in the set up. Started June 21, 2021, By So I might do a beer/diet sprite setup on Majestic today. One thing to be aware of though, is that not every suite has a balcony. Take a peek at my tips page for even more insider cruise information. Dont want to waste precious vacation time in the laundry room on your cruise? Question: Can I exchange the items in my Elite mini-bar for full bottles of liquor? Not only do they live on the ship, but they chat with passengers all day long! Whew. Looking for more cruise tips? Princess isn't. I usually dont like going to faux British pubs, for the same reason I dont go to American-style restaurants overseas. A recent survey indicated majority do not keep the default. Not sure how onboard credit works? I'd much rather have the mini bottles than whatever poop wine they are providing. There should be a card in your cabin that lists pricing. Assuming they have those items in room service, yes. Theyll often tell you the best way to get around the ports, and other information about whats going on when youll be visiting. For those with inclusive fares something other should be supplied. Well it does keep a lot of crew busy that first day. You can exchange alcohol for EITHER alcohol or non-alcohol and non-alcohol ONLY for non-alcohol. Also dont expect top-notch service if youre looking at these pieces. Megagirl, March 12, 2016 in Princess Cruises. We are still platinum, bot only 3 cruises to go until Elite. Look at various travel agencies to see what OBC theyre offering for your particular cruise. Golden Princess cruise ship deck plan has 1316 staterooms for up to 3158 passengers served by 1100 crew. Yes. Started October 12, 2018, Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. :D. No problem swapping the beer for two more 50ml mini bottles of your favorite spirits. :D, Sometimes a glitch or way of doing things is better still We booked a 3 week cruise of the med and as they also sold it as 3 separate weeks we actually had 3 set ups which was great HOWEVER this may not always happen - they also gave us 3 credits on our total of cruises:D:D:D. Did you not repeat a port in the 3 weeks? Onboard credit can be stacked on Princess, so dont worry if youve already received some from a Princess promotion or from your travel agent you can get even more if youre eligible. We call and get it changed to only the brandy, regular water, sprite, and Miller Lite. Princess Cruises Elites mini bar setup Elites mini bar setup By tourismtessy, January 28, 2022 in Princess Cruises 1 1 2 Next Page 1 of 2 tourismtessy 364 January 21, 2008 Texas, USA #1 Posted January 28, 2022 Can anyone tell me what all is included in the mini bar setup ? Complimentary mini bar set up; Deluxe canapes selection; Afternoon tea; Upgraded bathroom amenities; 10% discount in the shops of Princess; Complimentary wine tasting; Elite member recognition pin; Carrying just 1,970 passengers at full capacity, youll find it easy to make friends and discover this entire ship. Im so glad youre here! You can also use it to purchase shore excursions, spa treatments, and photos on the ship. Im Carrie Ann, the writer behind Should Be Cruising. Alcoholic drinks are rarely free on Princess cruises, but if youre looking to save on your alcohol budget, I have a couple of tips. Hubby does not like Dos Equis and the America beers on the room service list are higher priced that Dos Equis, but they have been willing to swap based on cost of the items as I've mentioned in this thread. L'Alcdia. So no bourbon at all in small bottles? How many bottles of each? Priority embarkation and disembarkation: You can skip the long line to check in on embarkation day and head right to Priority Check-In. We've come to like that brand best because of the mini-bar. On the Sky in December we didn't receive any Vodka. Our most loyal guests also receive complimentary laundry services and shoe polishing. Question: What if I don't want any alcohol in my Elite mini-bar? In the fridge were Cokes, Diet Cokes, San Pelegrno, beer, and water. I had the plus package so did not bother me too much. :eek: Don't understand this comment unless you are in a suite in which case you are misleading the OP. I have been on some ships which have run out of specific miniatures and they offer a 375ml bottle of a spirit in exchange Not quite par but still gratefully received. We would switch out the whole for CC, if we could instead its vodka. Usually we're at muster drill during the swap and they remove the bar and leave the cards. Check the Patter for the drawing times you have to be present at the drawing to collect your prize. Read Eight Things That Will Surprise New Cruisers to find out. You can exchange like for like10 alcohol for other alcohol; 10 non-alcohol for other non-alcohol. Answer: Elite members will get a one-time complimentary mini-bar set-up (1 per Elite stateroom) which consists of two (2) miniature bottles each of Cognac, Gin, Vodka and Scotch Whisky, two (2) 12 ounce cans of beer, two (2) 12 ounce cans/bottles of tonic water, two (2) 12 ounce cans of Coca Cola, two (2) 12 ounce cans of Sprite, two (2) 0.5 liter bottles of water, two (2) 11 ounce bottles of Perrier. Answer: No. We ended up with one beer and two Sprites left over. It is a thank you to you for being so loyal and doesn't require a tip. Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos, Click here to reload the page in order to enable certain features, Policy regarding COVID related Discussions, C858B0A9-6769-424D-B129-59363EDAC023.jpeg, B5073042-BF8A-4EEC-BD19-0938D8732763.jpeg, Alcoholic beverages may be exchanged for non-alcoholic beverages on a one-for-one basis, Full mini-bar may be exchanged for two (2) Coffee Cards, All water mini-bar setup will consist of eight (8) 1.5 liter bottles of water. Its nice to cool off after a shower in your robe before you get dressed. Whats in the sale? Enjoy! Miniature bottles of liquor (50 ml) may be exchanged on a one-for-one basis with other miniature bottles. Can anyone tell me what's included in the mini bar set up and how easy is it to swap contents for your own preference?:). Is it a standard set of drinks in each set up?